in later times, to give Levi an equal weight with the other tribes. It is most probable, that the course was not strictly followed of having precisely six out of each tribe in the Sanhedrim. But the circumstance of the members being so supposed elected representing the twelve tribes, must be pronounced a convincing proof of their being all considered present in the country from which they might be chosen. Thus they became judges of the whole nation, not of two or three tribes only; and thus St. Peter, when brought before the court, could justly address them as "rulers of the people, and elders of Israel."
In later times, the distinction of tribes and the registration of genealogies grew gradually but completely out of consideration. The sacerdotal race must necessarily be expected to have attended to them the longest; and some individuals may thus, even in the present day, be enabled to declare themselves of the tribe of Levi. The next tribe that seems longest to have kept up their distinctive character was, unfortunately for the advocates of the Afghan theory, that of Simeon. Of this tribe chiefly — as we have direct statements of the Jewish writers themselves, quoted in all the works on the subject — were the Scribes, a numerous and powerful body in the time of our Saviour, comprising the lawyers, copyists, and expounders of the law and other teachers. (Jenning's Jewish Antiquities, i. p. 313; Tomline's Elements, vol. i. p. 244.) Of the other tribes we have only a few individual notices: Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, and St. Paul of Benjamin, besides the Levites and Judah. In the present day, no one can show himself to be of the tribe of Judah even, or of Benjamin, which tribes, therefore, have become immerged in the general body as completely as the others.
Having already referred to the interesting work of the American Missionary, Grant, 'Nestorians, or the Lost Tribes,' it will not be out of place here to refer to it in detailing some other conclusions deducible from the foregoing considerations. From the statements in this work, it appears unquestionable that the Nestorians whom he visited were of Israelitish descent, not only from their traditions, their patronymic appellations and general appearance, but, what is much more important in the question, from their language, their rites and institutions, and their peculiar manners and customs agreeing with those of the professed Jews in their neighbourhood, by whom also they were acknowledged to be of kindred descent. But the excellent missionary has proved too much for his supposition of their being descendants of
