the date of its surrender for the
duration of the siege: such an hypothesis is, however,
unnecessary, since it is very probable that we have here one
of those exaggerated estimates of time so dear to the hearts
of popular historians. If we are to believe the account
given by Diodorus, it was in Syria that Psammetichus granted
the honour of a place in the right wing of his army to the
Greek mercenaries: the capture of Ashdod must, in this case,
have occurred before the emigration of the native troops. In
Jer. xxv. 20, reference is made to "the remnant of Ashdod,"
in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, i.e. about 603 B.C., and
the decadence of the city is generally attributed to the war
with Egypt; it might with equal probability be ascribed to
the Scythian invasion.

The attack of the Scythians, which might have proved dangerous to Egypt,
had it been pushed far enough, had left her unharmed, and was in the
end even advantageous to her. It was subsequent to the retreat of the
barbarians, no doubt, that Psam-metichus sent his troops into Philistia
and succeeded in annexing the whole or part of it. After this success
he was content to wait and watch the course of events. The surprising
revival of Egypt must have had the effect of infusing fresh life into
the Egyptian factions existing in all the autonomous states, and in the
prefectures of Syria. The appearance of the Pharaoh's troops, and
the toleration of their presence within the territory of the Assyrian
empire, aroused on all sides the hope of deliverance, and incited the
malcontents to take some immediate action.

We do not know what may have happened at Tyre and Sidon, or among the
peoples of Edom and Arabia, but Judah, at any rate, under the rule of
Josiah, carefully abstained from any action inconsistent with the pledge
of fidelity which it had given to Assyria. Indeed, the whole kingdom
was completely absorbed in questions of a theological nature, and the
agitations which affected the religious life of the nation reacted on
its political life as well. Josiah, as he grew older, began to identify
himself more and more with the doctrines taught by the prophets, and,
thanks to his support, the party which sought to complete the reforms
outlined by Hezekiah gained fresh recruits every day. The opposition
which they had formerly aroused among the priests of the temple had
gradually died out, partly as the resu