their close contact with the civilization and ideas of the
Greek world.

IV. The Rule of the Ptolemies. The long-continued rule of the Ptolemies
in Egypt is one of the most astonishing phenomena in this remarkable
period in human history. Far outnumbered by the native population,
involved in almost constant war with their fellow-Greeks, they succeeded
by sheer audacity and vigilance in maintaining their authority during the
many crises through which they passed. Egypt's natural defences also made
its conquest by outside powers exceedingly difficult. Alexandria with its
fleet commanded Egypt's one entrance by the sea. In order to protect its
eastern gateway, the Isthmus of Suez, it was essential that the Ptolemies
should control Palestine. Southern Palestine also commanded the great
commercial highway that led southward and eastward to Arabia and
Babylonia. Alexandria's ancient rivals, Tyre and Sidon, also lay on the
borders of Palestine, and it was essential that they be under the control
of Egypt, if Alexandria was to remain the mistress of the eastern
Mediterranean. Furthermore, Palestine and the Lebanons (known to Josephus
as Coele-Syria, that is, Hollow Syria), alone of the countries adjacent to
Egypt, possessed the timber required for the building of Alexandria's
navies and merchant-men. Hence Ptolemy, the son of Lagus, and his
successors spared no effort to maintain their control over the lands lying
along the eastern Mediterranean.

In the division of the empire which followed the death of Alexander three
rivals struggled in turn for this coveted territory: Ptolemy, in the
south; Antigonus, who soon became master of Asia Minor and northern Syria;
and Seleucus, to whom fell the Tigris-Euphrates Valley and the more
distant eastern provinces. In the decisive battle of Ipsus in 301 B.C.
the overshadowing power of Antigonus was broken and the control of
southwestern Asia was divided between Seleucus and Ptolemy. By the
treaty that was made after the battle, Coele-Syria was given to Ptolemy;
but Seleucus and his descendants, who were known as the Seleucids or the
Seleucidae, soon attempted to wrest it from Egypt, and during the
following century frequently, with varying success, renewed the attempt.
In 295 and again in 219 they were for a brief period masters of Palestine,
but during most of this period it was held by the Ptolemies.

V. Fortunes of the Jews of Palestine. Josephus's figure of a ship in a
storm, smitt