It may be safely asserted, that the grand distinction, which divided all mankind into Jews

and Gentiles, was not only religious, but also social. However near the cities of the

heathen to those of Israel, however frequent and close the intercourse between the two

parties, no one could have entered a Jewish town or village without feeling, so to speak,

in quite another world. The aspect of the streets, the building and arrangement of the

houses, the municipal and religious rule, the manners and customs of the people, their

habits and ways--above all, the family life, stood in marked contrast to what would be

seen elsewhere. On every side there was evidence that religion here was not merely a

creed, nor a set of observances, but that it pervaded every relationship, and dominated

every phase of life.

Let us imagine a real Jewish town or village. There were many such, for Palestine had at

all times a far larger number of towns and villages than might have been expected from

its size, or from the general agricultural pursuits of its inhabitants. Even at the time of its

first occupation under Joshua we find somewhere about six hundred towns--if we may

judge by the Levitical cities, of about an average circumference of two thousand cubits

on each side, and with probably an average population of from two to three thousand.

But the number of towns and villages, as well as their populousness, greatly increased

in later times. Thus Josephus (Life, 45) speaks of not fewer than two hundred and forty

townships in Galilee alone in his days. This progress was, no doubt, due not only to the

rapid development of society, but also to the love of building that characterised Herod

and his family, and to which so many fortresses, palaces, temples, and towns owed their

origin. Alike the New Testament, Josephus, and the Rabbis give us three names , which

may be rendered by villages, townships, and towns--the latter being surrounded by

walls, and again distinguished into those fortified already at the time of Joshua, and

those of later date. A township might be either "great," if it had its synagogue, or small,

if it wanted such; this being dependent on the residence of at least ten men, who could

always be reckoned upon to form a quorum for the worship of the synagogue (the so-

called Batlanin  29); for service could not be celebrated with any less number of males.

The villages had no synagogue; but their inhabitants were supposed to go to the

nearest township for market on the Monday and Thursday of every week, when service

was held for them, and the local Sanhedrim also sat (Megill. i. 1-3). A very curious law

provided (Cheth. 110), that a man could not oblige his wife to follow him if he moved

either from a township to a town, or the reverse. The reason of the former provision was,

that in a town people lived together, and the houses were close to each other; hence

there was a want of fresh, free air, and of gardens, which were enjoyed in townships. On

the other hand, a woman might object to exchange residence in a town for one in a

township, because in a town everything was to be got, and people met in the streets and

market-place from all the neighbourhood.

Statements like these will give some idea of the difference between town and country

life. Let us first think of the former. Approaching one of the ancient fortified towns, one

would come to a lo w wall that protected a ditch. Crossing this moat, one would be at the

city wall proper, and enter through a massive gate, often covered with iron, and secured

by strong bars and bolts. Above the gate rose the watch-tower. "Within the gate" was

the shady or sheltered retreat where "the elders" sat. Here grave citizens discussed

public affairs or the news of the day, or transacted important business. The gates

opened upon large squares, on which the various streets converged. Here was the busy

scene of intercourse and trade. The country -people stood or moved about, hawking the

produce of field, orchard, and dairy; the foreign merchant or pedlar exposed his wares,

recommending the newest fashions from Rome or Alexandria, the latest luxuries from the