Page:Early Christianity in Arabia.djvu/49

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IN ARABIA.
37

with him to Hamyar some Jewish doctors. It was in his time that the league was made between the people of Yaman and the tribe of Rabyah.[1]

This tobbaa was succeeded, according to Abulfeda, by Hareth, a son of Amrou,[2] or, according to others, by Morthed, the son of Abd Celâl.[3] On the death of Morthed the kingdom of Hamyar was divided amongst his four sons, who reigned together, each with a separate diadem. On their way to Mecca these kings were attacked by the tribe of Chenan, three of them slain, and the fourth thrown into chains.[4] The throne of Hamyar is said to have been next occupied by their sister, who was deposed and put to death by the people.[5] After her reigned in succession Wakiah, the son of Morthed,[6] and Abrahah Ibn Sabak, who is celebrated only for his learning and liberality.[7] The next king was Sahban, the son of Morthed,[8] whom many of the Arab tribes, not included in the kingdom of Hamyar, acknowledged as their sovereign. He placed Hareth, the son of Amrou, over the Saadites, who divided his kingdom between his three sons, placing Hogr over the tribe of Asad and Kenan, Sjerhabîl over that of Keis and Temeem, and Salus over Rabyah.

  1. Hamza, p. 54.
  2. Abulfeda, p. 10.
  3. Hamza, p. 34. Nuweir, p. 62. Abulfeda makes Morthed the successor of Hareth.
  4. Hamza, p. 34. Nuweir, p. 62.
  5. Nuweir, ibid.
  6. Abulfed. p. 10. Hamza, p. 34.
  7. Abulfeda and Hamza, ib. Nuweir, p. 74.
  8. Idem, ibid.