The great empires which followed each other in Western Asia, in destroying its hope of a terrestrial kingdom, threw it into religious dreams, which it cherished with a kind of sombre passion.

Caring little for the national dynasty or political independence, it accepted all governments which permitted it to practise freely its worship and follow its usages.

Israel will henceforward have no other guidance than that of its religious enthusiasts, no other enemies than those of the Divine unity, no other country than its Law.
And this Law, it must be remarked, was entirely social and moral.

It was the work of men penetrated with a high ideal of the present life, and believing that they had found the best means of realizing it.

The conviction of all was, that the _Thora_, well observed, could not fail to give perfect felicity.