i^-^/ OF THE Theological Seminary, PRINCETON, N.J. (U(S(' DivisiaTrc:XCa.l.J--j: Hon./.^!7.8..... ^ Shclj Sect liooh. No. i TO THE Rev. JOSEPH HOLDEN POTT, a.m, PREBENDARY OF LINCOLN, AND ARCH- DEACON OF ST. ALBANS. Dear Sir, TH E happinefs I enjoy from that friend- fhip with which you have long honoured me, and the reverence I entertain for the various excellencies of your charader, excite me to pro- fit, by every occafion of exprefling towards you my fentiments of fincere acknowledgment, and lively regard. At the firfl appearance of the following work, I did not think myfelf authorifed to in- dulge my v/ifhes in dedicating it to you ', becaufe it had not been previoufly fubmitted to your examination. Aware of that juft veneration for the facred volume, which you derive from an intimate acquaintance with its contents, I A 2 knew ( iv ) knew with what concern you would find your name employed to fandion an account of the infpired writings, if that account {hould prove unworthy of your countenance. Since, how- ever, the work has experienced a favourable reception, and you yourfelf have ftamped a value on it, by your approbation; I do not hefitate, though ftill without your permiffion, to infcribe to you the firfl fruits of my applica- tion to thofe ftudies which you have alTiduoufly encouraged me to purfue. I could not, I truft, offer you a more welcome tribute, than a proof of my admiration of thofe Ploly Scriptures, of which, by your judicious and elegant remarks, you have often pointed out the perfections, and of which you conffantly illuflrate the beneficial influence, by the diftinguifhed example of your converfation and life. I beg at the fame time to remain, with fin- cere and affedionate refpedt, DEAR SIR, YOUR MOST FAITHFUL, AND OBEDIENT SERVANT, ROBERT GRAY. [ V ] PREFACE. TH E ufeful Key to the New Teftament published by Dodor Percy, BiHiop of Diomore, firft fuggefted the idea of the prefent work. It was apprehended that a fimilar affifl- ant to the perufal of the Books of the Old Teftament, would prove equally convenient to thofe who have neither leifure nor opportu- nities to confult larger publications, for fcat- tered information. A difference in the cha- radler of the books here treated of, has Com- pelled the Editor to adopt a more diffufe and difcurfive method of conducting his fabjedt than that which is followed by the learned Biihop. The uncertainty of the dates and authors of fome books, the objedions to opi- nions generally eftablifhed, and the mixed cha- A 3 raster. Vi PREFACE. radler, and mifcellaneous contents of the works confidered, have necefTarily occafioned compli- cated and extended difcuffions. The Editor was defirous of exhibiting In one point of view, the probable period of each book, the chara(5ler and defign of its author, and the proofs of, or objecftions to its infpira- tion. He willied to prefent the Reader with a general idea of the refpecftive importance of each, of its intrinfic pretenlions, and external fandions, and to furnifh, in a compendious de- fcription, whatever might contribute to illuf- trate its hiftory and contents. This the Editor has done in a^ manner as concife as pofTible, confidering it 6onfiflent with his plan to prefix general information and remarks as introduc- tory, and feparately to examine fuch queftions as were immediately conned:ed with the fcope of the individual book. He judged it im- proper to deliver opinions without ftating the reafons on which they were founded, or to adopt decifions on difputed or doubtful points, without producing, at leafl, the mofl important objections that might be urged againfl them, left the Reader Ihould be led to decide on par- tial grounds. Since PREFACE. Vli Since the books often contain paflages of obfcure interpretation, and doubtful import, as likewife dates, names, and other particulars, upon the explanation of which their character for antiquity and authority mufl:, in fome mea- fure reft, it was impoffible fometimes to avoid critical and chronological queftions. In con- fequence of thefe, the notes have been in- creafed in number and extent, beyond what wa^ at firft intended. The Reader will, however, hereby be faved the trouble of referring to commentators j or, if unwilling to acquiefce in the decifion adopted, he may readily find the foundation and authorities on which it was eftabliflied. As the infpiration of the canonical book$ was to be proved, it was often requifite to point out the accomplifhment of prophecy, which, therefore, the Editor has done, in the mofl fignal inftances, though commonly by reference only and curfory obfervation. He prefumes, how- ever, that he has thereby often unfolded an interefting fcene, or opened a fruitful fource of inftrud:ive enquiry. The imiportance, likewife, of fome difcoveries and remarks v/hich learned commentaries have furnifhed, has fometimes tempted the Editor to introduce particulars that mav via PREFACE. may be thought too minute for a general and compendious introdu(5tion ; but he has ufually endeavoured to confine himfelf to fuch com- ments as contribute to general illuftration, or are explanatory of pafTages immediately fub- jeded to the Reader's attention. He appre- hends, that if the Reader fhould occafionally difcover obfervations which refledl only an oblique or partial light on the facred volume, he will not be difpleafed, even though it fhould appear that a larger fpace is thereby allotted to fome books than their comparative importance might feem to juflify. It was thought expedient alfo, occafionally to advert to thofe popular miflakes, and light objedrions which float in fociety, and operate on weak minds to the prejudice of the facred books, as the Editor was confcious that fairly to fliate was to refute them, and that they pro- duce more than their due effedt becaufe indif- tind-ly viewed. In confequence of this defign, he may, perhaps, be thought to have intro- duced remarks too obvious and trivial. The fincere and difpaflionate enquirer after truth, v/ho has deliberately weighed the evidence on which the fcriptures reft, cannot readily believe that a palfage partially confidered, a mifconcep- tion PREFACE. IX tion of a revealed defign, or a fanfied incon> fiftency with pre-conceived opinions, fliould be allowed to affed: the charadler, or diminifh the influence of the facred books ; but experience fully proves, that thefe are the foundations on which ignorance and infidelity ground their dif- refped: for the infpired writings. - The Editor has been cautious in treating of the canonical and apocryphal books, to difcri- minate their refpedive pretenfions with accu- racy ; fince, however valuable the latter may- be confidered for their general excellence, it is neceflary to keep inviolate, and free from all intermixture, that confecrated canon in which the holy oracles were preferved by the Jews, which was flamped as infallible by the teftimony of Chrift and his apoflles, and which, in th^ firft and pureft ages of the church was reve- renced (together with the infpired books of the New Teftament) as the only fource of revealed wifdom. The whole defign of the Editor has been to affift the Reader to form a jufl idea of the Old Teftament, and of thofe uninfpired books which were written under the firft difpenfation, and to furnifti him with fuch introdudory intelli- gence. X PREFACE. gence, as may enable him to read them with pleafure and advantage. He lays claim to no praile, but that of having brought into a regular form fuch information as he could colled; from various works. He acknowledges himfelf in the moft unreflrained terms, to have borrowed from all authors of eftabliflied reputation, fuch materials as he could find, after having deli- berately confidered and impartially collated their accounts. He has appropriated fuch ob- vious information as was to be collected from thofe writers who are univerfally known to have treated on the facred books [a], and he has endeavoured farther to enrich and fubflantiate his accounts by diligent and extenfive refearch. He has not wiflied to conceal the fources from which he has drawn his information, nor has he fcrupled in fome minute inftances to employ the words of thofe writers from whom he has borrowed. He has often produced numerous authorities, not for oftentation, but to confirm intercfting particulars, and to afiift thofe who may be inclined to inveftigate fa6ts, or to pur- fue the fubjed under confideration. In impor- tant and controverted points, he has induf- [a] As St. Jerom, Gi^otius, Huet, Calmct, Du Pin, Patrick, Lowth, Scc. 6 trioufly PREFACE. Xi trioufly confulted the authorities on which his affertions reft, but in matters of little moment, and where there could be no reafon to fufpedt mifreprefentation, he has fometimes taken up with cited references. He has adopted that plan which he thought would render his book moft generally ufeful j and prefumes, that the uninformed may find it an inftrudive, and the learned a convenient compilation. His wifhes will be fully gratified if it fhould be thought a fit companion for the work in imitation of which it was compofed, or in any degree cal- culated to elucidate the fcriptures. CON. [ xH } CONTENTS. PPage Page REFACE - - V General Pref. to the Introduction - - i minor Prophets - 417 Of the Pentateuch 4^ Genesis - - - 78 Exodus - - - 96 Leviticus - - loi Numbers - - no Deuteronomy - 116 General Pref. to the historical Books 124 Of Josh ua - - 139 Judges - - 150 Ruth - - i6z Of the first Book of Samuel - - 169 General Pref. to the Of the second Book apocryphal Books 510 of Samuel - - 177 _ _, Of the first Book of ^f the first Book of Kings - - - 182 E^dras - - 523 Of the second Book ^^ \"^ ^^^^'-^'D Book OF Kings - - 187 of Esdras - - 529 Of the first Book of Of Tobit - - 543 Chronicles - 192 ^ Judith - - 55^- Of the second Book Of the rest of the OFCHRONiCLES - I98 Ch APTERS OF ESTH E R 56 J Of Ezra - - 202 Of the W isdom or bo- Nehemiah - 212 ^^"i^'^^ - - 57* Esther - - - 221 Of Ecclesiasticus 5X5 Job - - - 228 _ ^^^^ " - - 597 Psalms - - 257 Of the Song of the Proverbs - - 277 Three Children 607 EcCLESiASTES - 289 ^^^ -^"^ HiSTORY OF Susannah - - on Of Hosea 423 Joel Amos Ob ad I ah 438 44^ Jonah jVl I C A H Kahum h a b a k k u k 4s' 460 466 473 Zephaniah HagGAI r Zechariah 480 485 491 Malachi 504 THE Song OF Solomon 29'; Of the History of Bel General Preface to and the Dragon 616 the Prophets - 311 Of the Prayer of Ma- Of Isaiah - - 359 nasseh - - 621 Jeremiah - - 372 Of the first Book of Of the Lamentations Maccabees - 624 OF Jeremiah - 383 Of the second Book Of Ezekiel - - 390 of Maccabees - 6^^ Daniel - - 40a INTRO^ INTRODUCTION. THE Bible, which in its original import im- plies only the book [a], is a word appropri- ated by way of eminence, to that colledion of Scrip- tures, which have at different times been compofed by perfons divinely infpired. It contains the feveral revelations delivered from God to mankind for their inftrudion. Thofe communicated before the birth of Chrift, are included under that divifion of the Bible, which is diftinguiflied by the title of the Old Teftament [b], and of that divifion only it is here meant to treat. The Old Teftament comprehends all thofe facred books which were written by the defcendants of Ifrael, a people feleded by God for important purpofes, to " be a Kingdom of Priefts, and an Holy Nation [c]." Among this people fuc- cefiive prophets and infpired writers were appointed [a] Bt^Aioi- vcl /3i?X««, Liber, from |3ii3^o?, an Egyptian reed, of the ikin of which paper was made. Chryfoft. Vol. x. p. 349. and Heum. de Origin. Nom. Bib. The Bible is by the Jews called Mikra, Le6lure : thus the Koran means the reading, [b] Teftament fignifies covenant, agreeably to the import of the Hebrew word Berith. Hieron. in Malach. cap. ii. [c] Exod. xix. 6. xxxiii. 16. Levit. xx. 24, 26. Pfalm cxlvii. 19. Rom, iii, 2. ix. 4. B by '2 INTRODUCTION. by God to convey fucli prophecies and inflruclions as were inftrumental to the defigns of his providence. As thefe fcriptures were produced, they were admit- ted into the facred V9luine, which by gradual accu- mulation, at length increafed to its prefent fize. Thefe being delivered to the Hebrews, in their own language [d], with every mark that could charac- terize divine revelations, were received with reve- rence, and prefcrved with the mofl anxious care, and attention. Such only were accepted, as pro- ceeded from perfons unqueftionably invefted with the prophetic characlcr [e], or evidently autliorized by a divine commiiTion, who acted under the fanftion of public appointment, and miraculous fupport. The books which contained the precepts of the prophets, contained alfo the proofs of their infpiration, and the teftimohies of their character. By recording contemporary events they appealed to well known evidence of their authority, their impartiality, and their adherence to truUi, and every fucceeding pro- phet confirmed the charader of his predeceilbr, by relating the accompliniment of prophecy in the hif- tory of his own period, or bore teflimony to his pre- tenfions, by repeating and explaining his predidions. To the writings of thefe infpired perfons, other productions v/ere afterwards annexed, on account of [n] The Hebrew language, if not the firft language of man, fecms at Icaft to have as high pretenfions to antiquity as any other. The books of the Old Tcllament, are the only writings now extant in pure Hebrew. [e] Jofcph. cont. Apion. Lib. I, tUeir INTRODUCTION. 3 tiiclr valuable contents, and inftru6tive tendency, though their claims to infpiration have been juftly rejefted. Such only as were undeniably dictated by the fpirit of God, were confidered by the Jews as canonical [f], and fuch only are received by us as a rule of faith and dodrine. The contents of the firft divifion of the Bible are therefore diftinguiflied into two clafles. The firfl containing the books of ac- knowledged infpiration ; the fecond comprifing thofe which are intitled Apocryphal, as being of dubious, or fufpedled character, and authority. The latter will be fpoken of in a proper place, as in the prefent preliminary dilTertation, it is purpofed to treat of fuch only as are canonical, to trace a fliort iketch of their hiftory in a general way j a particular ac- count of each individual book being referved for a feparate chapter. Though the books of the Old Teftament are not always chronologically arranged according to the order in which they were written, yet the Pentateuch was probably the firfl of thofe produdions which are contained in the infpired volume. " These five books written by the hand of Mofes, and confequently free from error, were fecured as a facred depofit in the tabernacle, where the ark of the covenant was placed [c] ; and were kept there, as well during the journey through the wildernefs, as [f] The word Canon is derived from xuveov, which may be interpreted, a rule or catalogue. Athan. Vol. x. p. 228. Hie- ron. Vol. X. p. 41. It here means a rule of dodrine. [g] Deut. xxxi. 36. B a {qv 4 INTRODUCTION. for fome time after at Jerufalem. To the fame fane- tuary were configned, as they were fucceffively pro- duced, all thofe hiftorical [h], and prophetical books whiclv were written from the time of Jofliua, to that of David, including their own works ; during which period a fcries of prophets flouriflied in regular fuc- ceffion. Solomon having afterwards erected a tem- ple to the honour of God [il, appointed that in fu- ture the facred books fliould be depofited in this holy receptacle, and enriched the colleftion by the in- fpired productions of his own pen. After him a fucceilion of illuflrious prophets continued to de- nounce vengeance againfl the difobedience of the Hebrew nation, and to predict the calamities which that difobedience mult inevitably produce. Jonah, Amos, Ifaiah, ?lofea, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Zcpha- niah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Obadiah I'uccef- fively fiourlflicd before the dcftrudion of the temple, and contributed by their unerring prediftions, to demonftrate the attributes and defigns of providence, and to enlarge tlie voluii^e of infpired wifdoin by in- valuable additions. About 420 [k] years after its foundation, the temple being rifled and burnt by Nebuchadnezzar, [n] The books do not Hand in the order in which they were written : they were perhaps not arranged at firft according to dates, or they might have been accidentally tranfpofed in the maniifcript rolls : in different vcriions, they are differently placed. Dupin DifTcrt. Prcl. Lib. I. ch. \. fert. 7. [i] The Temple was dedicated about A. M 3000. [k] Jolcphus lays 470, others 428. Uflicr 424 years. It was dcllroycd about ^SdO yeari betbic Chrilc. the INTRODUCTION. 5 the original manufcripts of the law and of the pro- phetical v/ritings mult have been removed ; and were poffibly carried to Babylon, except indeed we fup- pofe, that the part of the Hebrew nation which re- mained at Jerufalem, obtained permillion, or found means to retain them [lJ. 1 hofe Hebrews who were difperfed in the captivity, probably ufed fuch copies as had been previoufly diftributed -,. though Daniel who refers to the law [m], might by his intereft with the Babylonifh kings, have procured accefs to the original, if we fuppole it to have been transferred to Babylon. Within the feventy years during which the Jews were detained in captivity, were compofed the aft'eding lamentations of Jeremiah, the confola- tory prophecies of Ezekiel, and the hiftory and pro- phecies of Daniel. On the acceffion of Cyrus to the throne of Perfia,, the Jews being releafed from theiu captivity, returned to Jerufalem about A. M. 3468, having doubtlefs procured or recovered the original books of the law and of the prophets, with a dehgii to place them in the temple, which after much op- pofition from the Samaritans, they rebuilt in about twenty years, being encouraged to perfevere in this pious work, by the exhortations of Haggai and Zechariah ; they alfo reflored the divine worfliip according to the law. About fifty years after the temple was rebuilt, Ezra, who fmce the return from [l] In the account of the things carried to Babylon, no mention is made of the facred books, z Kings xxv. 2 Chro* nicies xxxvi. Jerem. lii. [m] Dan. ix. 11, 13. B 3 Babylon, 6 INTRODUCTION. Babylon, had been engaged in reflorlng the Jewifli church, is related by tradition to have made, in conjunction with the great fynagogue, a collection of the facred writings [n] -, and being aflifted by the Holy Spirit, he was enabled to difcriminate what was authentic and divine, and to reject fuch parts as refted but on falfe preienfions ; this collection was therefore free from error, and refcued from all accidental corruptions. It muft be obferved, how- ever, that as a long refidence in Chaldca, during which the Jews were difperfed and feparated from each other, had fo far precluded the ufe of the Hebrew letters that they were almoft forgotten and fuperfeded by thofe of Chaldea, Ezra, partly in compliance with cuftom, and partly to differ from the Samaritans, which obnoxious fett employed the old Hebrew letters, fubflituted the Chaldean or fquare letters, which we now call the Hebrew, for thofe which prevailed previoufly to the captivity [o], [n] Nchcm. viii. i, 3, 9. Jofcph. Lib. I. Cont. Apinn, Traft. Megil. in Gemar, cap. iii. Hieron. cont. Helv. cap, 1. Hilar. Prolog, in Pfalm ; Auguft. de Mirac. Sac. Scrip, Lib. II. Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. cap. i. Geneb. Chron. p. clxxxiii. and ccli. &: ad A. M. 3640. Jans, ad Cap. 48 Kccles. Buxtorf. Tiberiad, Cap. xi. Com. in Mafor. Thco- dor. Prasf. in Pfalm. Prid. Conncdt. Part I. Book v. Diipin DifT. Prel. [o] Some aifert alfo, that Ezra introduced the points or charac^^ers which fervc to mark the Hebrew vowels ; others maintain that thcfc arc as ancient as the language j and a third clafs, that they v/ere invented by the dodors of the fchool of Tiberias, INTRODUCTION. 7 as we changed our old black letter for the Roman characters. There have, indeed, been fome difputes on this fubject, but this opinion appears to be bell fupported [p]. To this genuine colledion of Ezra, v/ere after- wards annexed his own infpired writings, as well as thofe of Neheniiah, and of Malachl. Thefe were probably inferted into the canon by Simon the Jufl:, who is related to have been the lad of the great fy- nagogue [q.], and by this addition was completed the canon of the Old Teftament, for from Malachi, no prophet arofe till the time of John the Baptift, who, as it were, conne6led the two covenants, and Tiberuis, generally called the Maforites, about i;o© years after Chriil, or as fome fay later. The Maforites feem to have been a fucceffion of critics, profefllng a traditionary fcience of reading the fcripture, as the Caballils did of interpreting it- [p] This account is founded on a Jewifla tradition generally received, and is related on the teftimonies of Eufebius an St. Jerom, but thofe who maintain that the fquare were the ancieiit Hebrew letters, have attempted to invalidate thefe au- thorities. The canon, however, was certainly compofed about the time of Ezra, if not by himfelf. Vid. Eufeb. Chron. ad A. M. 4740. Hieron. Prtef. ad 2 Reg. Com. in Ezekiel, in Prol. Gal. & Sixt. Senens. Lib. II. Biblioth. Sancl. Morin. Cong. Orat. Alfo Scaliger, Bochart, Cafaubon, Voffius, Grotivis, Walton, and Capellus. [ qJ\ The great fynagogue is a term applied by the Jews to a fucceflion of Elders, fuppofed to have am'ounted to one hun- dred and twenty, who had the government of the Jewifli church after the captivity. They are faid to have fuperin- tended and clofed the canon of the fcriptures, Vid. Prid. Con. An. 292. B4 of S INTRODUCTION. of whom Malachi prophefied, that he fhould pre- cede the great day of the Lord [r]. Tills canon of the Old Tcftament was by the Jews computed to contain twenty-two books [s], a number analogous to that of the letters of the He- brew alphabet, and correfponding with the catalogue of thofe which are received by our Church as cano- nical. With the Jews, however. Judges and Ruth were reckoned but as one book ; as likewife the two books of Samuel, thofe of Kings and of Chronicles were reipectively united into fmgle books ; Ezra and Nehemiah were alfo joined together, as the pro- phecies and lamentation of Jeremiah were taken un- der one head ; fo that if we confider the twelve mi- nor prophets as they were comprehended in the Jew- ifh canon, as one book, the number of the books will be exactly twenty-two. If the Prophets wrote any other books, they are now loft, but as no more were admitted into the canon, we have reafon to fup- pofe, that no more were infpired, though many other books are mentioned and referred to in the fcrip- tures, which having no pretenfions to infpiration, were never received into the facred lift [t]. Thefe twenty- [r] Malach. iv. ^. [s] Jol'eph. cont. Apjon, Lib. I. Hieron. Pro!. Galeat. Sixt. Senens. Lib. L c. ii. Epiphan. &c. [t] Orig. Horn. 1. in Cant. Auguft. De Civlt. Dei, Lib. XVIif. cap. xxxviii. Qvixll. 42. in Numb. It has been faid, likewife, that fome paHages are cited by the Evangelifts, as from the prophetic writings, which .ire not extant in them, as in Matt. ii. 23. but St. Matthew might here allude to Judges x'm. INTRODUCTION. g twenty two books have an unqueftlonable title to be confidered as the genuine and infpired productions of thofe authors, to whom they are feverally affigned. They contain prophecies, and every other intrinfic proof of their divine origin ; they were received as authentic by the Hebrews, and pronounced to be infpired oracles by the Evangelical writers, who cite them as complete, and uncorrupted. They were like wife confidered as exclufively canonical in the Chriflian Church, during the four firfl: centuries, after which, fome provincial councils attempted to increafe the number by fome apocryphal books, which however, they annexed only as of fecondary authority, till the council of Trent pronounced them to be equally infallible in do6lrine and truth [uj. The Jews divided the facred books into three clafTes [x]. The fir(t, which they called the law, contained, as was before obferved, the five books of Mofes, The fecond originally included thirteen xiii. 5. or to Ifaiah xi. i. where according to St. Jerom, " A branch fliall go out of his root" might be tranflated, " a Na- zarite fhall grow from his root," or he might refer to the pro- phetic accounts in general, which had foretold, that Chi^ flrould be confecrated to God, as all the Nazarites were. The Evangelifts ufually cite more accor-ding to the fenie, than to the words, and they fometimes perhaps allude to well known traditional prophecies, to '* that which was fpoken by the prophets." See other inftances in Ephef. v. 14. 2 Tim. iii. 8. James iv. 5. Jude 14, 15. which refer to paflages now ex- tant, or to traditional relations. Hieron. de Opt. Gen. In- terpr. Vol. I. p. 122. [u] Preface to the Apocryphal books. [x] Prolog, to Ecclus, Phllo de Vita Contemp. p. 691, books, iO I N T R O D U C T I O iV. books, which they confidered as the works of the prophets. The third comprifed four books, called by the Jews, Chetubim, and by the Greeks, llagio- grapha j thefe are conceived to have been the Pfalms, and the three books of Solomon [yJ. The fcrip- tures were fo divided in the time of Jofephus [z], probably without ^ny refpecl to fuperiority of infpi- ration, but for diftinction, and commodious arrange- ment. From the time of St, Jerom, the fecond clafs has been deprived of fome books [a], which have been thrown into the third clafs, and the He- brew doctors have invented many fanciful refine- ments, concerning the nature and degrees of infpi- ration, which are to be afcribed to the books of each clafs refpedively. They aflign an higher authority to the books •f the two firft divifions, though they attribute alfo the writings included in the third clafs, to the fuggeftion of the facred Spirit [b]. It would be idle to trouble the reader with the difcuflion of thefc, and fuch like rabbinical conceits, and it may be fufficient here to remark upon this fubjedt, that though the fcripture mentions different modes, by which God communicated his inlfrudions to the prophets, and particularly attributes a fuperior de- [y] Sixt. Senen. Bib. Sac. cap. vi. p. 313. and Vitrin. Ob- fervat. Sac. Lib. VI. cap. vi. p. 313. [z] Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. I. [a] Job, Daniel, Ezra, Nehenuah, Eilhcr, 5 Books of Chroniclos. [e] Maimon. Mor. Ncvoch. p. 2. ch. xxiv. and Smith on. Prophecy, alfo Mifa. Jud. c. iii. n, 5. Bava Bathra, cap. i. grec INTRODUCTION. 11 gree of eminence to Mofes, yet that thefe diiFerences, and this diftindion, however they may affect the dignity of the minifler employed, cannot be fuppofed to increafe, or to leffen the certainty of the things re- vealed. Whatever God condefcended to communi- cate to mankind by his fervants muft be equally in- fallible and true [c], whether derived from imme- diate converfe with him, from an external voice, or from dreams or vifions, or lailly from the internal and enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit. The mode of communication, where the agency of pro- vidence is eftablifhed, can in no refpe6l exalt, or de- preciate the intrinfic characler of the thing revealed. Other divifions, befides that already mentioned, were afterwards adopted, and the order of the books was fometimes changed, as defign or accident might produce a tranfpofition, but no additioA or diminu^ tion whatever wgs permitted to be made among the Jews [d] ; " never any man, fays Jofephus, hath dared to add to, or to diminifn from, or to alter ought in them [e] ; though other books were writ- ten, which deferved not the fame credit, becaufe there was no certain fucceffion of prophets fi'om the time of Artaxerxes, and it was a maxim, ingrafted into the Jews in their youth, to cfleem thefe writings [c] 2 Tim. 111. i6. [d] Hleron. pricL m Lib. Reg-. Bava Bathra, cap. 1. Mai- mon. in Tad. Chan. p. 2. f. 95, and R. Gedalias in Schalfch hakkab. f. 67. [e] Deut. iv. 2. and Jofeph. cont. Aplon. Lib. L Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IH. cap. ix. x. Prsp. Evangel. Lib. VIIL ES 12 INTRODUCTION. as the oracles of God, and remaininf^ conflant in their veneration, willingly to die for them, if necef- fary." Thus were they configned to the reverent acceptance of poflerity, and confecrated by the ap- probation, and teftimony of Chrifl: himfelf, who Ramp- ed as authentic, the law of Mofes, the prophets, and the pfalms [f]; (the pfalms, comprehending under that title, the Hagiographa) [g] ; the apoilles like- wife confirmed the fame [h]. Besides the great temple at Jerufalem, many fy- nagogues were founded after the return from the captivity, and furnifhed by the induftry of the rulers of the church, with copies of this authentic collec- tion of the fcriptures, fo that though Antiochus Epiphanes in the perfecution, which he carried on againft the religion of the Jews, tore in pieces, and afterwards burnt the facred original of Ezra, and fuch copies as he could procure [i] ; ftill, as faith- ful copies exifled in all parts, the malevolence of his intention was baffled by God's providence, and Ju- das Maccabseus, when he had recovered the cuy, [f] Matt. V. 17, 18, 39. xxi. 42. xxii. 29. xxvi. 54. Luke xvi. 16. xxiv. 27, 44. John i. 45. v. 39. [g] Philo de Vit. Contemp. Lib. VL Jofcph. contra Apion. Lib. I. Hieron. in Prolog, in prcef. in Dan. Epiphan. Homil. xxix. cap. 7. [h] Ac.s iii. 18. xviii. 28. xxiv. 14. xxvi. 2:^ 27. xxviii. 23. xxix. 7. Rom. iii. 2. xv. 4. Heb. i. i. 2 Tim. iii. 16. J Peter ii. 6. 2 Peter i. 19. Acts viii. 32. Rom. iv. 3. ix. 17. X. 4. [i] I Mace. i. 57. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XIL cap. 7. Sul- pit. Scv. Hifl. Sac. Lib. II. and INTRODUCTION. I3 and purified the temple, procured for it a perfect and entire colledion of the fcriptures, or perhaps depofit- ed therein, that, which had belonged to his father Mattathias [k], and doubtlefs fupplied fuch fyna- gogues with frefh copies, as had been plundered during the perfecution. Many of thefe, however, mud have periflied with the fynagogues that were deflroyed by the armies of Titus, and Vefpafian, though the religious veneration of the Jews for their fcriptures, refcued every copy that could be faved from the general de{lru6lion which overwhelmed their country, as the fcriptures furnifhed them con- fiderable confolalion in all their afflidlions. Jofephus himfelf, we are informed, obtained a copy from Ti- tus [l], and the authentic volume, which till this final demolition had been depofited in the temple, was carried in triumph to Rome, and placed with the purple veils in the temple of Peace [m], fo that, henceforth, no copy of the Hebrew fcriptures was preferved from injury by the vigilance of public guardians, except thofe which were kept in the fcat- tered fynagogues of foreign and difperfed Jews [n], [k] I Mac. li. 48. lii. 48. xU. g. 2 Mac. ii. 14. viii, 23. XV. 9. [l] Vide his own Life. [m] De Bell. Jud. cap, v. [n] The Jevvifli fynagogues in all countries were numerous: wherever the apoilles preached they found them ; they were eftabliflied by the direcftion of the rabbins in every place where there were ten perfons of full age and free condition. Vid. Megill, cap. i. fedt. 3. Maimon. in Tephill, Lightfoot's Har- mony, feft. 17. Exercit. in St, Matt, and 14 INTRODUCTION. and it is from this time, probably, that errors and corruptions crept into the facred text. As there \va3 no longer any eftabliflied ftandard of correftnefs, by which the fidelity of diflerent copies could be tried, faulty and miftakes were infenfibly introduced j the careleffnefs of tranfcribers occafioned accidental omif- fions ; marginal annotations [o] were adopted into the text; and the rcfemblances between diiferent Hebrew letters, of which, many are remarkably fi- mllar in form, contributed, with other circumftances too numerous to be here fpecified, to produce altera- tions, and imperfections in the different copies, which, from the difficulty of collating manufcripts for cor- redion, were ncceffarily perpetuated. Hence origi- nated thofe various readings, and occafional differ- ences which we find in the feveral manufcripts of the Hebrew Bible, and thefe differences mufl have confiderably multiplied, fmce it was enacted by a conftitution of the elders, that every man fliould [o] The Hebrew Bibles have marginal readings, called kcri, which fignifies, that which is read, (the te.\t is called cctib, that which is written :) thefe marginal variations are by fome afcribed to Ezra, but as they arc found in his Books, as well as in thofe which were inferted in the Canon after his time, they feem to be conjetftural emendations of corrupted palfagcs by latex writers, probably by the great fynagoguc, or the Maforites J thefe words amount to about looo, and all except a very few, have been found in the texts of ditfercnt manufcripts. Vid. Kennicott DifT. Gener. Vitring. Obfcrvat. Sac. vol. ii. cap. 19. Capcllus, JVIorinus, Walton, Anan. Punft. Rev. Lib. I. cap. v. Buxtorf. Vind. Verit. Hcb. Par. ii. c. 4. poffcfs INTRODUCTION. 1^ poffefs a private copy of the fcriptures. Fortunately however, it has happened, that thefe differences are feldom important in their nature or confequences, as appears from a collation of thofe various copies which pious and munificent men have induftrioufly collect- ed ; and it fliould indeed feem to be an efpecial ef- fect of fome peculiar providence, that thofe paflages which relate to faith and dodrine, thofe which de- fcribe the attributes and perfeftions of God, and treat concerning our obligations and duty, are in general preferved uniform, and uncorrupted. Se- cure in their integrity from the confiftent teflimonies of every copy, we may confidently rely on the in- ilruftions which they reveal, and ftedfaftly adhere to the principles which they inculcate. There could not ihdeed be any temptation for the Jews defignedly to corrupt the doctrine of their fcrip- tures, before the appearance of the Mefliah ; during the greater part of which time it was watched over by the prophets : and had fuch a defign prevailed fmce the birth of Chrift, the Jews would not have overlook- ed thofe paffages which fo ftrongly authenticate our Saviour's pretenfions [p] j indeed fuch a defign muft then [p] When the Hebrew text differs from the Greek, it is fometimes more unfavourable to the Jewifh opinions, as in. Pfalm ii. 12. The paffage in the i6th verfe of the xxiid Pfalm, which has been produced as a concerted alteration, is certainly only corrupted by accident, for the copies which differing- from the Septuagint, inftead of Tii^D caaru, " they pierced" my hands and feet, read n«D caari, " as a lion" my hands ■And my feet, can hurdly be conceived to have been intention- ally l6 INTRODUCTION. then have been fruitlefs, fince it could not be general, and it mud have been liable to immediate detection ; for as chriftianity was built on the foundation of the Old Tellament, and appealed to the Hebrew fcrip- tures for its fupport, wherever the gofpel was re- ceived, the law and the prophets were called into notice and efteem, and preferved with as much care and vigilance as prevailed among the Jews ; and when the chriftian converts were commanded under the Dioclefian perfecution, to furrendcr them, they ftigmatized fuch as complied with the requifuion, as betrayers [ Q,]. Copies then mufl have multiplied by increafmg veneration, and however trivial inac- curacies might proportionably prevail, contrived al- teration muft have become more impradicable. Thus every circumftance feems to have confpired to pre- ferve the integrity of the fcriptures free from a fuf- picion of intended corruption, or of change in any effential point. The jealous care with which they were preferved in the tabernacle, and in the temple, being not more calculated to fecure their integrity, than that reverence which afterwards difplayed itfelf in the difperfed fynagogues, and in the churches con- fecrated to the chriftian faith ; and hence we find in the fcriptures only fuch corruptions as might have ally altered to nonfenfe, nor is it probable that two verfcs Hiould have been Jefignediy omitted from ch. xv. of Jofliua, merely becaufe i ley defcribc, as in the Septuagint, that Beth- lehem was in the territory of Judah, a circumftancc otheruili well known. [ cl] Traditores. been INTRODUCTION; IJ been accideutally produced [r]. The mod ancient •Hebrew manufcripts that modern enquiry hath ever: been able to procure, do not ufually feem to be above 600, or 700 years old, arid none exceed the age of 900 ; thefe however have been copied from others more ancient. In proportion to their anti- quity, they are found to be more free from cor- ruptions [s], and for the reafon before affigned 5 that thefe corruptions are but the natural efl^ects of frequent tranlcription, the confequence of carelefs hade, or cafual inadvertency. In important points, almoft all, though colleded at different times, and in different places, correfpond, or are eafily recon- cileable with each other. But the purity of the fa- cred volume is eflablifhed, not merely by the general coincidence of the Hebrew copies, it is ftill farther proved beyond a poffibility of fufpicion, by the agree- ment which fubfiils between the Hebrev/, and the Samaritan Pentateuch [t], and by the correfpond- ence [r] See Morlnus, Capellus, Grotius, and Kennicott's B'ble. The precepts of fcriptuije are generally repeated in the diffe- rent Books, fo that errors in thefe muil be immediately deteft- ed ; the miftakes are chiefly in proper names^ and numbers j in the latter often occafioned by the ufe of letters for numbers. IrencEus, Beza, &:c. [s] The belt are thofe copied by the Jews of Spain : thofe by the Jews of Germany are Icfs correft. [t] The Samaritans, whether the defcendants of the toil tribes, who feceded under the reign of Rehoboam, or of the colony, faid to have been brought from Cuth, or other parts of Afl'yria, {2 Kings xvii. 24.) profefled the Hebrew religion^ C and iB INTRODUCTION* cnce prefer ved in the Septuagint verfion of the Old Teftament, (as colle£led by Ezra) with the original Hebrew. The Samaritan Pentateuch is a copy of the Hebrew original, and according to the moft general, and bell fupported opinion, written in the old Hebrew or Phoenician characters [u]. Though this Sama- ritan copy has fome variations, tranfpofitions, and additions, which render it different in fome refpefts from the Hebrew manufcripts, yet thefe are never of fuch a nature as to impeach the integrity of the fcrip- and had a Temple, a Prieft, and a Pentateuch. When that Pentateuch was copied, is uncertain ; fome fay at the time of their firll revolt; others contend that it was copied from Ezra's colledion, as it contains fome Interpolaiions afcribed to him. As the Samaritans rt-jefted the regulations eftabliflicd by Jofliua, as alio the authority of the Hebrew prieflhood, they difre- ijarded not only the Books which were written fubfequently to the revolt of the ten tribes, and which were addreifed more particularly to the kingdom of Judah, but alfo thofe that were written previoufly to the dlvifion of the two kingdoms, as the Books of Jofliua, of Samuel, of David, and of Solomon. There is ftlll a remainder of the Samaritans who have thtir high prieft, fald to be of the race of Aaron, and who offer up their facrifice upon Mount Gerizim to this day. The chief part of this fed refule at Sichem, which was afterwards called Flavia Neapolis, and now Naploufa. They have fynagogucs in other parts of Palcflinc, and are numerous in Syria, and Egypt, and fome of them are difperfed in the north of Europe, vid. Jofeph. Ant. Lib. 11. Prid. Con. Part I. Book vi. Ben- jamin Itincr. GalTcn. in Vita. Pierefcii, and Hotting. Bib. Critic. Scaljg. dc Emend. Temp. [u] Scaliger, Vollius, CapcUus. Univer. Hill. Book I. ch. vii. Prid. Con. Part I. Book vi. Q turc 1 N T R O D U C T I C !<:, ig tare doclrlne, or to leflen our confidence In the pu- rity of the Hebrew copies ; for if we except fome chronological variations, which are perhaps not ut- terly irreconcileable, and a defigned alteration dif- covered in the Samaritan Pentateuch, that was ma- nifeflly inferted to fupport an opinion, that Mount Gerizim [%] was the place which God had chofen for his temple, we fiiall find that the variations of this copy are not more than might reafonably be ex- pected from frequent tranfcription during a period of 2O0O years [y] ; for fo long a time had elapfed from the apoftacy of ManafTeh [z], to the introduc- tion of this copy into Europe. [x] Deut. xxvii. 4. They have put GerlzIm inflead o£ Ebal into this verfe. [y] The fathers are fuppofed to have had a Greek tranflatlon. ©f the Samaritan Pentateuch, but from the fixth, to the feven- tccnth century no mention is made of the Samaritan Penta- teuch : Scaliger firll lamented, that no one had procured a copy of the original. In confequence of this hint, the learned Uflier obtained two or three copies of it by means of Sir Thomas Davis, then at Aleppo; and not long after, Sancius Harley, a prieft of the Oratory of Paris, brought home another, which he depoiited in the library of his Order at Paris, fi"oni which copy Morinus publiflaed it in the Paris Polyglot. Vide Prid. Con. Part I. Book vi. The Samaritans have likewife a tranilation of this Pentateuch into the language vulgarly fpoken among them, their language being now fo corrupted by foreign innovations, as to be very different from the origi- nal Samaritan. This tranflation is publiflied in the Paris and London Polyglots, and is fo literal, that Morinus, and Walton thought, that one verfion would ferve for both, only noting the variations. Vid. Prid. Con. Part II. Lib. L [z] The fon-in-law of. Sanballat, who was compelled by Nehemiah to quit Jerufalem, and who carried away a copy of C 2 "the 20 I N T R O D U C T I O K. ■ This common agreement is therefore a ftrib* ing proof of the general integrity of the different copies, and we fliall be ftill farther convinced, that the facred volume has preferved its genuine pu- rity in every important point, if v^^e confider how little, the Septuagint verfion of the fcriptures dif- fers from the Hebrew copies, notwithllanding the niany ages that have elapfed fmce the time of Ptole- my Philadelphus, the king of Egypt, who was the fecond monarch of the Macedonian race, about 270 years before Chrift, and under whofe reign this tranllation was made into Greek. It has been main- tained indeed by fome learned men, that only the Pentateuch was tranflated at firfl, and that the other books [a] were rendered into Greek fucceffively at different times ; however this may have been, they were all tranflated long before the bivth of Chrift [b]. This verfion has no important variations from the the law to Samaria. He is called IManaffeh by Jofephus. Vid. Nchem. xiii. 28. • Jofoph. Antiq. lib. XI. cap. 7. [a] Eufeb. Dcmonft. Evang. Lib. III. cap. uk. Hody de Bibl. Text. Origen. &ic. [b] The Septuagint was probably the firll verfion into the Greek, though loir.e have contended that there was a previous tranilacion into that language, made before Alexander's ex- pedition. Vid. i?\uguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIll. cap. xi, Huet. Prop. IV. cap. xii. feci:. 3. The account of the Sep- tuagint tranllation, attributed to Arillsas is loaded with fo ninny fabulous circumflances, that it deferves but little credit, though repeated by Philo, Jofephus, and other writers. Vid. Arirtxas Hill. 70. Interp. Philo in Vit. Mof. Lib. II. Jofcph. Anticj. Lib. XII. cap. ::. The truth feems to be, that a ver- fion INTRODUCTION. 21 the Hebrew, except in fome chronological accounts, occafioned probably by the careieflhefs of the copyhls [c]. It was ufed in all thofe countries where Alex- ander had eftabliflied the Grecian language, and feems to have been admitted into the Jewifli fynagogues in Judrca, and even at Jerufalem, where that language prevailed ; and the Septuagint was certainly molt ufed there in the time of our Saviour, for the cita- tions in the New Teftament from the Old, feeni to have been made according to that verfion [d]. At tliat fion was begun in the reign of Ptolemy, and perhaps finifiied at different times ^or the ufe of the Alexandrian Jews, but before the time that the Book of Ecclefiailicus was written, and confequently at lead two centuries before Chrift. Vid. Prolog, to Ecclus. Hody de Bibl. Text. Lib. II. cap. viii. Comp. 2 Sam. xxii. with Pfalm xviii. Other tranflations into Greek were afterwards made by Aquila, Theodotion, and Symmachus. Vid. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I, V. Eufeb. Praep. Evan, c vi. Prid. Con. Part If. Book i. [c] In the vth and xith ch. of Genefis, every Patriarch is faid to have lived lOO years longer according to the Septuagint than in the Hebrew, except Jared, and Methufalem. [d] St. Jerom was of opinion, that the evangelical writers cited from the Septuagint when it did not ditfer from the He- brew, but that they had recourfe to the original when there was any difference ; but the inilances which he has produced, do not prove, that they referred to the Hebrew ; and the evan- gelifts fometimes cite from the Septuagint when it diil'ers from the Hebrew, as in Rom. x. i8. from Pfalm xix. 4. Rom. xv. 12. from Ifaiah xi. 10. In the time of Chriil, the original, and the tranflation agreed more exactly than they now do, as fnany corruptions mufl have been fubfequent to that period ; C 3 i^ 22 INTRODUCTION. that period then it was uiiqueflionably an authentic copy of the infpired books, or it would not have received the fanQion of our Saviour, and of his apoftles i and though fince that time it has been re- jedled by the Jews on account of the eflimation in which it was held by the Chriflians, yet was it for the two firft centuries exclufively ufed, and has ever fince been held in great veneration by the Chriflian church, as a very faithful, though not a literal verfion. Thus does the general coincidence between the Hebrew copies, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the Septuagint verfion of the Old Teftament, demonflrate the unaltered integrity of the fcriptures in important points, as we now poflefs them, and this integrity is it is therefore in fome degree uncertain, whether the citations are made from the Hebrew, or from the Septuagint, though they appear indeed, to be made chiefly from the latter, except perhaps by St. Matthew, who probably writing in Hebrew, might cite from the Hebrew. Vid. Hieron. adv. Ruffin. Mede's Works, p. 785. Dr. Brett imagines that our Saviour read out of a Targum when he read the leflbn in the fyna- gogue. Vid. Luke iv. 18. comp. with Ifaiah Ixi. i. and that he cited a paraphrafe on the crofs. Vid. Matt, xxvii. 46. for SabaC-lhani is found only in the Chaldaic Tongue, and in the Hebrew it is »jrau? yazabcani. Chrill and the Apollles probably cited what was moft known to the Jews, the leiife being the fame, whether from Original, Verfion, or Para- phrafe. The language fpoken by the Jews in our Saviour's time was the Hebrew mixed with the Chaldaic, and Syriac, which dialeifts compofe likewife the bafis of the modern He- brew ; Greek however was generally underllood. Vid. Brett's Dilfert. on the aacient verfion of the Bible, Blair's Lectures, fliU INTRODUCTION. 23 flill farther confirmed by the conformity which fubfifts between thofe various tranllations of the Bible into different languages, which have been performed fmce the time of our Saviour [e]. It appears therefore that from the time of their fir ft infpiration, to the prefent day, the facred writings have been difperfed into fo many different" hands, that no poflible opportunity could be furnifi-ied for confederate corruption, and every defigned alteration muft immediately have been detected. The firft Hebrew Bibles were publifhed towards the conclufion of the fifteenth century, by the Jews of Italy [f]. Many were afterwards pub- lifhed [e] The general integrity of the test is likewife confirmed by the evidence of the Chaldee paraphrafes, which are called targums or verlions ; thefe were tranllations of the Old Tefta- ment from the Hebrew into Chaldee, for the benefit of thofe who had forgot the Hebrew after the captivity ; vid. Nehem. viii. 8. The two moft ancient, and authentic, are that of Onkelos on the Law, and that of Jonathan on the Prophets ; thefe were probably made foon after the captivity, or at leaft before the time of Chriil, but they are blended with more modern comments. The other targums are of much later date. The targums are printed in the fecond edition of the Hebrew Bible, publifhed at Balil, by Buxtorf the Father, in 1610. [f] The Hebrew Bible, according to Houblgant, (Proleg. p. 94, 96,) was firit printed by R. Jacob ben Chaim, but Kennicott fays, that this was not publifhed till I528, and that therefore it was fubfequent to that revifed by Felix Pratenfis, publifhed at Venice, 1517. There is flill extant in Eton Li- brary, a printed copy of the Chetubim, or Hagiographa, printed, fays Dr. Pellet, in 14S7, at Soncinum, (vid. Le Longs Biblioth, 5cc.) by Abraham the fon of Chaim, and as 24 INTRODUCTION. iilhed at Venice, Antwerp, and Amfterdam, as well as in otlier places, which have their refpeclive merits and dcfccls ; but perhaps, the mod important edition, that, which does honour to our country, is the ce- lebrated woik of the late Dr. Kennicott, who a few years (ince, publiflied his Bible, containing the very accurate text of Vander Hooght, with the variations of near 700 different manufcripts, colle6ted at a great expence, and collated with great labour, and care [g], together with the variations of numberlefs Samaritan manufcripts compared with the Samaritau text, as publifhed in the London Polyglot [n]. From an edition of the priorprophets was printed at Soncinum, in 1 486, which originally contained the later prophets, it fecms to have been the liril part to Pel.et's, which was followed by others. That of Vander Hooght, publiflied at Amfterdam in 1705, is the moft correiSl. The iirll: Bible, and it fliould feem the firfl book that ever was printed, was a Latin Bible, publiflied at at JMentz, about A. D. 1452. A copy of a fecond or third edition of this printed at Mentz in 1462, with metal types, by John Fauft, (whom fome fuppofe to have been the firfl print- er) and Peter Schaffer, is in the king of France's Library, and a firft volume of this edition, was lately brought to England in the Pinelli colle6tion, together with a laft volume of one which had the appearance of being fliil more ancient ; it had no date. There certainly were two Bibles publiflied before 1462, vid. Pinelli Catalogue. Michael IMaittaire, Ann. Ty- pogr. T. 1. p. 272. Catalog. Hiftorico-Critic. Biblioth. In- Itruft. Vol. Theol. p. 32. and 14 Vol. of Acad, dcs Infcrip. p. 238. [g] The learned M. de Rofli has fince publiflied the vari- ations of many more, which he collated. [h] The word Polyglot is derived from UoXv? much, and >a-'tI« a tongue ; it means a Bible with the texts of feveral languages : INTRODUCTION. 25 From the earlieft ages of the primitive church tranflations have been made into various languages [i] ; but it would be foreign from the defign of this introdudlion to enter into a particular account of the different verfions that have been made, at different times, into other languages : we are concerned only with our Englifli tranllatioR, of which it may be ne- cefTary to give fome account, after we fliall have taken a fhort view of the preceding verfions, which have been made into the language of this country. It is polTible that the firft inhabitants of Britain, who are faid to have been converted to chridianity, had at leafl fome of the fcriptures in their own tongue [k] ; but the earliefl tranflations, of which we have any account in our hiflory, are thofe of the Saxon writers, who enabled their countrymen to read the fcriptures in their own language. It appears from writers contemporary with Adelm, or Aid helm, that there was then extant, a tranilation of the fcriptures, or of a part of them at lead, in the vulgar tongue [l] ; and it is known that xAdelm, who was the firfl bifnop of Sherborne, tranllated the Pfalter into the languages ; there are Polyglots publiflied in Spain, at Ant- werp, at Paris, and London. [i] Theodor. ad Grxc. Infid. Serm. 5. Eufeb. Dem. Evan. Lib, III. c. ult.'Uflcr. HilL Dogm. de Script. & Sac. Vernac. [k] M. Parker, de Antiq. Ecc. Brit. Tell. Uili. de Primord, Eccles. Britan. [l] The Saxon homilies exhort the people to read the fcriptures. Vid. alfo Adelm. de Virginit. 3i Bede, Lib. 111. pap. 5. ab Ann. 634. Saxoii 26 INTRODUCTION. Saxon tongue, about A. D. 706. Ingulphus [m] fpeaks of a Pfalter of St. Guthlack, who was a con- temporary of Adelm, and the firlf Saxon anchorite, and who influenced Ethelbald, king of Mercia, to found the monaftery of Croyland, and this Pfalter in the Latin tongue, Lambert profefles to have feen, [n] among the records belonging to Croyland [o]. This was foon followed by the Latin, and Saxon tranilations of the Pfalter, and Gofpel, which indeed frequently appeared, efpecially upon any change in the language. The Pfalter and the Gofpel [r], or as fome fay, all the books of the Bible [ q^], were tranflated into the Anglo-Saxon, towards the beginning of the [m] Ingulf. Cent. I. c. 83. [n] Lambert in Rcfpon. ad Art. 26, Eplf. [o] There is alfo in the public library at Cambridge, a tranllation of the Pfalms into Latin and Englifli, and another old Latin tranflation with an intcrlineary Saxon verfion was in the Cotton Library, in the fame charadter with the charter of King Ethelbald, which is dated at A . D. 7 36. Vid . Ufler. Hift. Dogmat. p. 104. Ufher informs us, t^iat Mr. Rob. Bowyer was in pofTeffion of a Saxon tranflation of the Evangclifls, by Ecbert, (who is called alfo Ekfrid, Eadfi-id, and Eckfrid, Bifliop of Landisfern,) who died A. D. 721. vid. Ufler. Hift. Dogm. c. 5. Egbert wrote alfo, a copy of the Evange lifts in Latin, to which, Aldred a prieft, added a Saxon interlineary tranfla- tion, which was in the Cotton Library. Vid. Wharton, Ang- lia Sac. Pars I. p. 695. Fox, by the encouragement of Mat- thew Parker, publiflred in 1571, a Saxon verfion of the Evange- lifts, made from the Vulgate, before it was revifcd by St. Je- rom, of which the author is unknown. [p] Vid. Bale. [ q^] P'ox, and Cains de Ant. Cantab. Lib. I. eighth INTRODUCTION. 2/ eiglitli century, by venerable Bede, who is related to have fifilfhed the lad chapter of the gofpel as he ex- pired [r]. The whole Bible was tranflated into the Anglo- Saxon, by order of king Alfred. He undertook the verfion of the Pfalms himfelf, but did not live to complete it. Another Anglo-Saxon verfion appears to have been made foon after [s]. Several books of the Old Teflament were tranf- lated into the Anglo-Saxon, by Elfred or Elfric, Ab- bot of Malraefbury, and afterwards A. D. 995. Arch- bilhop of Canterbury. The Pentateuch, Jofnua, and Judges, of this tranflation v-ere preferved in the Cotton library, and publiihed at Oxford in 169^, by Edmund Thwaites [t]. One of the firfl attempts at a tranflation into the Englifh language, as fpoken after the conqueft, ap- pears to have been made by Richard Rolle, an Her- mit of Hampole in Yorkihire, who tranflated, and wrote a glofs upon the Pfalter. He died A. D. 1349. A COMPLETE tranflation of the whole Bible, in- cluding the apocryphal books, was foon afterwards [r] Fox fays, that he tranHated the gofpel of St. John a fecond time, but Cuthbert his fcholar tells us, that he finiflied at John vi. 9. [s] This was publifhed with a Latin interlineary text, by- John Spelman, in i6^.o. Dr. Brett fuppofes this to have been Alfred's Pfalter. There is another interlineary Pfalter in the library at Lambeth, apparently of a later period. Spelman publiflied, with his Pfalter, the various readings of four nianu- fcripts. [t] Le Long. Calinet. & Lewis Hifl. of Tranflat. perform! d 2S INTRODUCTION. performed by John Wickliff [u].- It was a literal verfion, made from Latin, with the prologues of St. Jerom, to the books of the New Tellament, and appeared about A. D. 1360. The New Teftament of this tranflation, which is ftill extant in many ma- nufcripts, was publifhed by Lewis in 1731. Some writers have conceived that an Englifh tranllation was made before the time of Wickliff ;^x], and there arc fbme copies of an Englifh tranllation at Oxford [y], which Ulher affigns to an earlier period ; but it is pro- bable that thefe may be genuine, or corrected copies of Wickliff's tranllation. Lewis is of opinion, that John Trevifa, who is by fome related to have made an entire Englilli verfion of the fcriptures about 1387, [u] Huff. llcpHcat.' con. T. Stokes, Aruud. Confiit. Lyn- wood's GlofTaiy, &c. The New Tellament of Wickliff's ver- ■fion fold for four marks and forty pence, as appears from the regifier of W. Alnewich, Bifliop of Norwich, 1429, as quoted by Fox. Vid. James, Corrupt, of Fathers, p. 277. Fox's preface to Saxon 'Gofpels, A. D. 1571. [x] Dr. James was of this opinion ; fee Corrupt. Fathers, p. 225. Billiop Bonner profeflTcs to hnvc feen one traullated above eighty years before that of Wicklifi"; fo little, however, were the fcriptures ufed in the lime of Wickliff", that fome fe- cular priefts of Armagh, who were fent by archbifliop Fitz- raiph, (the tranllator of the Bible into Irifli) to ftudy divinity at Oxford, about A. D. 1357, were obliged to return, becaufe they could no where find a Latin Bible. The Clergy were then feldom able to read Latin. See Fox's Extrads from Longland's Regifter. [y] There is a copy of the Old Teftament of this tranllation in the Bodleian Library, one at Queen's College, and one at Lambeth ; and of the New Teftament, one in the Bodleian, and two at Cambridge, in Sydney, and Magdalen Culleges. dicl INTRODUCTION, 29 did in raft only paint a few fentences on the chapel walls of Berkeley Caftle, and interlperfe a few verfes in his writings [z], with feme variations from the received tranflation. It is however highly probable that others befides WicklifF, 'undertook this impor- tant work, and tranflated at leall fome parts of the fcriptures. Hitherto tranflations were made only from the Itahc verfion, or from that of St. Jerom. About this time great objections were made to tranflations, as promoting a too general, and pro- mifcuous ufe of the fcriptures, which was conceived to be produdtive of evil confequences, and Wickliff 's Bible, particularly as it was judged to be an unfaith- ful tranflation, was condemned to be burnt. In the time of Richard the Second, a bill was brought into the Houfe of Lords, A. D. 1350, to prohibit the ufe of Englifh Bibles. The bill, however, being ftrongly reprobated, and oppofed by John Duke of Lancafler [a], was rejefted; but about A. D. 1408, Arundel, Archbifnop of Canterbury, decreed in a convocation of the clergy at Oxford, that no unau- thorized perfon fhould tranflate any text of fcripture into Englifh, or any other language by way of book, and that no tranflation made either in, or fmce Wickliff 's time fliould be read, till approved by ths [z] Lewis Hift. of Tranflations. [a] Uflier, Parker, Linvvood, and Collier. The Duke is related to have faid, " We will not be the dregs of all, feeing other nations have the law of God, which is the law of our faith, written in their own language." Via. Fox's pref. to Saxon gofpcl, A. D, 1571. Ulher de Script. & Eacr. Vern. bifliop 3d INTRODUCTION. biHiop of the diocefe, or in a provincial council. This decree was enforced by great perfecutions^ and as about the fame time Pope Alexander the fifth condemned all tranflations into the vulgar tongue^ they were as much as it was poiTible, fuppreffed till the reformation. It appears, indeed, from our bifhops regiflers, that in c6nfequence of Arundel's commillion, feveral pcrfons were burnt, on rcfufing to abjure their prin- ciples, for having read the New Teflament, and the Ten Commandments, in Wicklifl's tranflation [b]. In the reign of Henry VIII. whofe violent paffions were providentially rendered conducive to the refor- mation in this country, William Tyndal, or as he was otherwlfe called, Hickins [c], having left the kingdom on account of his religious principles, tranf- lated at Antwerp, by the Ailiftance'of John Fry, or Fryth, and William Roye, the New Teilament from [e] At that time the people were fo little acquainted with the fcriptures, and fo ignorant even ot" the language in which they were originally written, that upon the appearance of printed editions of the fcriptures in the Hebrew and Greek originals, fome of the more illiterate Monks, declaimed from the pulpits, that *' there was now a new language difcovered called Greek, of which people fhould beware, lince it was that which produced all herelies : that in this language was come forth a book called the New Tcrtament, which was now in every body's hands, and was full of thorns and briers. And there had alfo another language now flarted up, which they called Hebrew, and that tiiey who learnt it were turned Hebrews." Vid. Hody de Blbl. Text. p. 465. Erafni. Epift, Lib. XXXI. No. 42. edit. 1642. [c] Hift. & Antiq. 0::on. Lib. II. p. 375. vol. ii. the INTRODUCTION. 3I the Greek, and printed It in o6lavo, in 1526 [d]. The written copies of WickhfF's tranflation had been long known, but this was the firft time that any part of the fcriptures was printed in Enghlh. It appeared at Hamborough, or Antwerp, and was dif- perfed at London, and Oxford. Wolfey, and the bifliops publiftied prohibitions, and injunctions againft it as falfe, and heretical. Tonftal, bifiiop of Lon- don, and Sir Thomas More, bought up almofl the whole impreflion, and burnt it at St. Paul's Crofs, which, whether or not defigncd to fervc Tyndal [e], did mofl certainly affift him in the continu- ance of his defigns [f1. Tyndal afterwards, by the help of Miles Covcrdale, tranflated the Pentateuch, with prologues to each book, refleding on the bifhops and clergy, which were eagerly read by the people. The venders of Tyndal's work were condemned by the liar-chamber to ride with their faces to the horfes tails, with papers on their heads, and with the books which they had difperfed tied about them, to the flandard in Cheapfide, and they themfelvcs were [d] Fox's Afts. Uflier de Script, p. 187. Joye's Apology. [e] Jortin's Life of Eraf. Collier's Ecclef. Hift. vol. ii. p. 22. Sir Thomas More's Engl. Works, vol. ii. p. 369. The Dutch editions were foon publifhed, and difperfed at a ciieap rate, at about thirteen pence each. The Englifh Books were fold for about 3s, 6d, Three Editions were fold before 1530. Thus were eyes opened to the abufes of poperv. [f] Sir Thomas More did not objeft to tranflations in general, but confidered Tyndal's as erroneous, and chiefly in matters of church government, and in others which v/ere of lefs confequence. Vid. More's Diiilogue. com- 21 I N T H O D U C T I O N. compelled to throw them into the fire, and were af-^ terwards amerced by a confiderable fine [g]. The clergy now profefied an intention of publifhing the New Teftament themfelves. Tyndal, however, in defiance of proclamations, proceeded with his de- figns, and tranflated the Pentateuch, which was printed in fmall o£tavo in 1530 [h]. As he had but little knowledge of the Hebrew, he probably tranllated from the Latin, and his work had great merit, confidering the difadvantages under which he laboured [i]. His prefaces and prologues were chiefly objeded to, and provoked Kenry, at the in- fligation of his minifters, to procure that he fliould be fcized in Flanders, where he was afterwards burnt. In 1535, Miles Covcrdale publilhed a tranfiation of the whole Bible, which, as fome have fuppofed, was printed at Zurich. It was dedicated to the king, probably by permiffion, though Tyndal was now in prifon for his work. Coverdale lliled it a fpecial tranfiation, and it paffed under his name ; but it is [g"I Hall, Henry VIII. Fuller, c-vc. [11] Mr, Thorefby fpcaks of u copy printed at IMarlborow, lu HelTe, by Hans Luft, in 1530. Vld. Ducat. LeoJ. Lewis fays, that Tyndal tranllated this Pentateuch horn the Hebrew. Vid. Hift. Tranll. p. 70. [i] The tranflation of the Pentateuch was finilLed in 1528 ; but Tyndal being- fliipwrccked in his Voyage to Hainborough, lort all his papers, and was obliged to begin his work again. He was llrangled and burnt near Felford Caftle, about eigh- teen miles from A.ntwerp, praying that God would open the king of England's eyes. Vid. Fox's Martyrs. He received «uly 14s, Flcmllh fur hh work. fuppofed INTRODUCT*ION. 33 fuppofed to have contained much of Tyndal's la- bours, though none of his prologues, or notes [k]. When the papal reftridions were no longer re- fpeded in this country, it was ftrenuoufly urged, that if Tyndal's tranflation were erroneous, a nev/ one fhould be made j and Cranmer had fufficient in- terefl: in convocation, in 1535, to obtain, that a pe- tition (hould be made to the king for that purpofe. Henry, influenced partly by argument, and partly by the intereft with Queen Ann [l] had in his af- fections, commanded that it fliould be immediately fet about. Cranmer began with the New Teftament, afligning a portion of the tranflation to be revifed by each bifliop. But the refufal of Stokefly, Bifliop of London, to corred his portion, appears to have put a flop to the work at prefent. In 1536, Cromwell directed, in his injundions to the clergy, " that every parfon or proprietary of a church, fliould pro- vide a bible in Latin and Englifli, to be laid in the choir for every one to read at his pleafure." In 1537 was publiflied a folio edition of the bible, which was called Matthews's Bible, of Tyndal's and Rogers's tranflation ; it was printed by Grafton, and Whitchurch, at Hamborough [m]. Tyndal is faid to have tranflated to the end of Nehemiah, if not all the canonical books [n], and Rogers completed [k] This was reprinted in large quarto ia 1550, and again with a new title in 1553. [l] Ann Bolcyn. [m] The 1500 copies coft 500I. then a large fum. [n] He certainly tranflated Jonah. See More's Confut. of Tyndal's Anfwer, 1532 ; and others tranflated different parts. D the <4 INTRODUCTION. the reft, partly from Coverdale's tranflatlon. He had compared it with the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles, and inferred prefaces and notes from Luther. As the name of Tyndal, who had been burnt for an heretic, was now become in fome degree obnoxious, Rogers publiihed it under the fiflitious name of Matthews. It was dedicated, and prefented at Cran- mer's requeft, by Cromwell, to the king, who gave his afl'ent that it (hould be printed in England, and generally read; and notwithftanding the oppofition of the clergy, the book was received by the pub- lick with great joy. Another edition was afterwards prepared, col- lected, and collated with the original, by Miles Co- verdale j and Grafton and Whitchurch obtained leave to publifh it at Paris on account of the cheap- nefs, and fuperiority of the paper. But notwith- ftanding the French King's licence, the Inquifition in 1538 obliged the printers to fly as heretics, and very few of the impreflions could be refcued from the flames [o]. But the prefles, and other printing appurtenances, being aftervv-ards procured and brought to London, the bible was publiflied here in 1539 [p], and fold by the King's authority. This was called the great Bible. It was publiflied in folio, and had- a frontifpiece before it, faid to have been deligned by Holbein j but neither Coverdale's, nor Cranmer's preface ; only an account of the fucceflion [o] A few that an officer of the inquifition had fold as wafte paper, were recovered. The imprclhon confifted of 2500. [p] Sirype's memoirs of Craamer, p. 444.. of INTRODUCTION. 35 of the Kings of Judah, and dire6lions in what man- ner the Old Teftament ihould be read [ oj]. It was objeded to by the Bifhops as faulty j but as they ad- mitted that it contained no herefies, the King faid, " then in God's name let it go abroad among our people." The epiftles, gofpels, and pfalms, of this tranilation, which were inferted into our Liturgy when compiled, and afterwards revifed, in the reign of Edward the Sixth, were retained in it till the reftoration of Charles the Second, when the gofpels and epiflles were changed for thofe of King James's tranflation. The old pfalter, however, was retained, and is flill read as excellent, and familiar by long ufe. An order was foon afterwards iffued out, that every church (hould be furnilhed with one of thefe Bibles. In 1539, a fecond or third edition of this was re- vifed, and publiihed by Richard Taverner, which had many marginal notes of Matthews's Bible j and this v/as followed by other editions. In 1540, appeared a very improved edition, corredled by Archbilhop Cranmer. It contained a judicious preface, written by him, and was called Cranmer's Bible, or the Bible of the greater volume. It was republifhed in 1541, and countenanced by authority, and a proclamation [ a,] This edition, as well as Matthews's Bible, is divided into five tomes. The apocryphal books, which are contained in the fourth of thefe divifions, are improperly entitled the books of Hagiographa, as fome of them are called in a fecon- dary fenfe, or perhaps by corruption, by St. Jerom. Vid. Hieron. praef. in Job. Reinold's Prxledl. and James's Cor- rupt, of Fathers, Par. II. p. 22. Da w'as 36 INTRODUCTION. was ifTued, that every parifh church which was yet unprovided fhould procure it, under a penalty, if neglected, of 40s. per month [r]. The Romifli Bifhops ftill continued their endeavours, in oppofition to Cranmer, and attempted to corrupt the fubfequent editions by a muhiphcation of Latin words [s] j and though Cranmer obtained an order that the Bible Ihould be examined by both univerfities, it appears not to have been put in execution. In 1542, an a6l of Parliament was obtained by the adverfarics of tranflations, condemning Tyndal's Bible, and the prefaces and notes of all other edi- tions [t], and prohibiting their perufal in publick, under pain of imprifonment. Cranmer procured an indulgence for the higher ranks to read them in pri- vate. The ufe of the fcriptures being very much abufed, the interdidion was continued, and confirm- ed during Henry's reign. In the fiiort reign of Edward the Sixth, all perfons ^vere allowed the ufe of tranflations ; and new edi- tions of Taverner*s and of Matthews's Bibles [u] were publifiied, and the Bible of the larger volume [rj It was publiflied in folio ; the price was fixed at los. unbound, and 1 2s. bound j fix were placed in St. Paul's church by Bifliop Bonner. [s] jMatt. Parker. Antiq, Lewis, p. 146. [t] Sec an ad for the advancement of true Religion, An. 34. Henry VIII. . [u] One of Tavcrncr's in 1549, and one of Matthews's in «55l. Vid. Fuller and Lewis. was INTRODUCTION. 37 was ordered to be procured for churches [x]. Every ecclefiaflical perfon under the degree of Bachelor of Divinity, was enjoined to provide a New Teftanient in Latin and Enghfh, with the paraphrafe of Eraf- mus ; and Gardiner, Bifliop of Winchefter, was com- mitted to the Fleet for refufing complinnce with thefe meafures, and perfifting in his opinions, he was at length deprived. It was ordered alfo, that the epif- tle and gofpel fhould be read at high mafs on Sun- days and Holidays, and a chapter of the New Tef- tament in the morning, and of the Old at evening fong. In Mary's reign, different principles prevailed : all books which were confidered as heretical, as thofe containing the Common Prayer, and fufpecled copies of the Bible, were condemned. The Gofpellers, as they vvere then called, fled abroad, and a new tranf- lation of the fcriptures into Englifli, appeared at Geneva, of which the New Teftament was publifhed in I. "57 ; but the remainder of the work did not come forth till 1560. It was diiVmguifhed by cal- viniftical annotations, and held in high eflimation by the puritans [y]. Eliza- [x] Thefe were to b^* procured at the expence of the parifli. Before, the impropriator defrayed half the charge of the books ufed in the church, or fometimes the parfon. In tim.es of po- pery, miifals, breviaries, and manuals, being written, were very expenfive, and bought by the re6k}rs, as alfo when reftoi-ies were eftabliflicd- But there were many difputes upon this fubjeiSV, and the rectors often compelled the vicars to pay for binding the books. Vid. Lewis, Hiih Tranf. p. 176. [y] The New Teftament of this is faid to have been the firft Englifli edition of the fcriptures which was divided into verfes. D 3 The 38 INTRODUCTION. Elizabeth was indlreftly requefled at her coro- nation, to countenance a tranflatlon, the Bible be- ing prefented to her in her proceffion, which fhe ac- cepted with great appearance of gratitude and vene- ration ; and the Bifhops were foon afterwards ap- pointed to prepare a tranflation. New editions of the Geneva, and of the great Bible were publifhed. An afl: of Parliament was likewife paffed lor a tranf- lation of the Bible into Wellh, which was printed in 1556. In 1568, Archbifhop Parker's very correct and improved tranflation, as revifed by the Bifl:iops, and The Greek and Latin Bibles were not anciently divided into chapters or verfes, at leaft, not like thofe now ufed. Ste- phen Langton, archbifhop of Canterbury, in the reigns of King John, and of King Henry III. is faid to have firlt con- trived the divifion into chapters ; others afcribe the invention to Cardinal Hugo, a Dominican Monk, of the thirteenth cen- tury, who adopted alfo fubdivilions, dillinguiflied by the fevcn firft letters of the alphabet placed in the margin, as conve- nient for the life of the Concordance, which he firft planned for the Vulgate. About 1445, R''bbi Mordecai Nathan, alias Rabbi Ifaac Nathan, a wel'.ein Jew, to facilitate the condud of a controverfy with the Chriftians, introduced this divifion of chapters into the Hebrew Bibles, and refumed alfo the an- cient divilion into verfes numerically u'iilinguiflied by marginal letters at every fifth verfe ; and from him the Chriftians re- ceived and improved the plan ; and Robert Stephens adopted the divifion into the New Teftament, of which he publilhed a Greek editien in 1551. Vid. Prefat. Buxtorf. ad Concord. Bibl. Hebraic. Morin. Exercit. Bibl. Par. If. Exert vii. cnp. iii, Praef. ad Concord. Grac. N. Tcfl. Fabrici Biblioih. Grsc. Lib. IV. c. v. Prid. vol. I. Book V. c . called INTRODUCTION. 39 called the Bifliop's Bible, appeared in folio [z], with a preface by Parker, and the initial letter of every tranflator fubjoined to his portion ; and towards the conclufion of Elizabeth's reign, Ambrofe Uflier, bro- ther of the primate of Armagh, rendered much of the Old Teftament into Englifh, from the Hebrew ; which was never publifhed [a]. Objections, however, being raifed againft all thefe tranllations, as well as againft others made in oppofition to them, it was determined in the reign of King James the Firft, when the principles of the re- formation were thoroughly eftabliflied, to have a new verfion, which fhould be as much as poffible free from all the errors, and defeds of former tranf- lations. Accordingly fifty-four learned, and unpre- judiced men, were appointed. Seven of thefe, how- ever, either died, or from diffidence declined the talk. Every poffible precaution was taken to pre- vent objeftion to the execution of the work. The remaining forty-feven were ranged into fix divifions [b]. Every individual tranflated the portion affigned to the divifion, all of which tranflations were collated together, and when each company had determined [z] It was printed in large oftavo in 1569. This Bible was ufed in the publick fervice for near forty years j but the Ge- neva Bible being more adapted to the pi-evailing opinions, was mod read in private. [a] Daniel, Ecclefiartes, Lamentations, and Job, were tranf- lated by Hugh Broughton. The manufcript of this verfion is flill in three tomes quarto, in the library of Trinity-college, ■ear Dublin. [b] Vid. Johnfon's account. Fuller and Selden. D 4 on 4-0 INTRODUCTION. on the conftruclion of their part, it was propofed to the other divifions for general approbation. They had the benefit of confulting all preceding tranfla- tions, but were directed to follow, as nearly as it might be confident with fidelity, the ordinary Bible, which was diftinguifhed by the appellation of the Bifhop's Bible. The contributions and affiftance of the learned were follicited from all parts, and dif- ferent opinions were deliberately examined by the tranflators, without any regard to the complaints afrainfl: their tardinefs in the execution of the work. The tranflators met at Oxford, and Cambridge, and Weftminfler [c]. They began the work in 1607, and finifhed it in about three years. The death of Mr. Edward Lively, who was well (killed in the original languages, fomewhat retarded the pub- lication. It came out, however, in 161 1, with all the improvements that could be derived from united induflry, and conjoined abilities. It was firfl publifhed in folio, in black letter, but a quarto edi- tion was publiflied in 1612, in the Roman type. It has fmce been repeatedly publiflied in both. The [c] Three copies were fent to London, and two per- fons from each company were felec^ed to revifc the whole work. It was afterwards reviewed by Bilfon, Biihop of Win- chefter, and Di. Myles Smith. Thefe two perfons prefixed the arguments to the feveral books, and Dr. Smith, afterwards Bifliop cf Gloucefter, wrote the preface now prefixed to the folio editions. The marginal references, and the chronologi- cal index annexed, which are punliflied chiefiy in the quarto editions, were afterwards furniflied by Bifliop Lloyd. Romanifls INTRODUCTION. 4I Romanics [d] ftarted many unreafonable objedions againft this tranflation ; and the Prefbyterians pro- feffed themfelves diflatisfied. It was however allow- ed, even by Cromwell's committeCj to be the beft ex- tant ; and certainly it is a moft wonderful and incom- parable work, equally remarkable for the general fidelity of its conftruftion, and the magnificent fim- plicity of its language. That it is not a perfed work is readily admit- ted ; the great advancement made fmce the pe- riod of its tranflation, in the original languages; the improvement that has fucceeded in critical learn- ing J and the many difcoveries that have been ftruck out in the general purfuits of knowledge, have much tended to illuftrate the facred writings, and enabled us to dete£l many errors and defe6ls of tranflation that might now be correded and re- moved. Preceding verfions were, perhaps, in fome inftances, more fuccefsful ; and fubfequent tranf- lations of individual books may, in fome parts, have been more faithful ; and, which is a (till more important advantage, we are now in pofleflion of many hundred manufcripts that the tranflators under [d] The Englifli Romanifts, finding it impoffible to prevent the introduftion of tranflatlons, publillied the New Teftament at Rheims in 1582 from the Latin, in a manner as favourable to their opinions as poflible, and afterwards in i6og, they pub- iiflied at Doway a tranilation of the Old Teftament, from the Vulgate, with annotations. They have therefore a tranflation of the whole Bible, which, however, they are forbidden to read without a licence from their fuperiors. The French Ro- manifts have iio authorized tranflation into their language. King 42 INTRODUCTION. King James had no opportunities of confulting [e]. We are likewife emancipated from fuperflitious pre- judices concerning the univerfal purity of the He- brew text, and from a flavi/h credulity v/ith regard to the Maforetic points. Whenever, therefore, it fhall be judged expedient by well-advifed and con- fiderate meafures, to authorize a revifal of this tranf- lation, it will certainly be found capable of many, and great improvements [f]. As fuch a work, de- liberately planned, and judicioufly executed, would unqueftionably contribute much to the advancement of true religion, many pious men have exprefled their earnefl wifhes for its accomplifhmcnt j and doubtlefs, in due time, by the blefling of God, the prudent governors of our church will provide for its execution. It is a work not lightly to be taken in hand, and perhaps no fmgle perfon is adequate to the talk. It. is to be prefumed, at leafl:, that when a new tranflation Ihall be countenanced by publick authority, it will be undertaken with the fame cau- tious, and deliberate meafures, that were obferved under King James. It fhould be the produdion of colledive induflry, and general contribution ; and the prejudices and miftakes which muft characterize the works of individuals, fhould be corrcded by [e] Our tranflation was made from manufcripts of three, and four hundred years old, lince it agrees with thofe only. But more ancient manufcripts are more corrc*^, and more con- fident with the Samaritan Pentateuch, and ancient verfions. [f] Bifliop Lloyd's edition of our tranflation is improved in fome rcfpedts. Dr. Paris likewife revifed it in 1745. united INTRODUCTION. 43 united enquiry, difpaffionate examination, and fair criticifm. They, who already confecrate their la- bours to the talk of tranllating the whole, or any part of the fcriptures, are entitled to the public gratitude and encouragement [g] j their endeavours muft at leaft contribute to illuftrate the facred pages, and tend to facilitate the great work of a national tranflation. Till, however, the execution of this work fhall be judged expedient, every fmcere and well-difpofed admirer of the holy oracles may be fa- tisfied with the prefent tranflation, which is, indeed, highly excellent ; being in its dodrines uncorrupt, and in its general conflrudion, faithful to the origin- al. The captious chiefly, and fuch as feek for blem- ifhes, are difpofed to cavil at its minute imperfedions ; which, however in a work of fuch ferious and in- terefling value, they may require corredion, fhould not be invidioufly detailed. The few paffages, which, by being erroneoufly tranflated, have furnifhed oc- cafion for unjufl; and licentious afperfions againft the facred volume, are fo clearly and fatisfadorily ex- plained, and vindicated by judicious comments, that no one can be mifled in h\s conceptions, who is de- firous of obtaining inftru6tion. To amend the ren- dering of thefe paiTages, will be the objeft of all fu- ture tranflators, who will undoubtedly be defirous of adhering as much as pofTible to the prefent ver- fion, and of adopting, where they can, a conftruc- [g] Dr. Geddes has publifhed a profpedus of a new tranf- lation, tion, 44 INTRODUCTION. tion, familiarized by long ufe, and endeared by ha- bitual reverence ; of which the flyle has long ferved as a ftandard of our language, and of which the pecuHar harmony and excellence could never be improved by any change .that refinement might fub- ftitutc. [ -45 ] OF THE PENTATEUCH. THE Pentateuch, under which title the five Books of Mofes are ufually diftinguifhed, is a word of Greek original [a]. It was probably firft prefixed to the Septuagint verfion, and was defigned to include Genefis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy ; all of which were written by Mofes, in his own hand, probably in the order in which they now ftand in our tranflation, though not diftributed by their author into books, but com- pofed in one continued work, as they remain to this day among the Jews, with no other divifion but [a] From ritvls five, and leuj/o? volume. It is called by the Jews, Chomcz, a word fynonymous with Pentateuch ; alfo Thorah, with which word the book begins ; it being cuftomary among the Jews to denominate a book from its firft word. that 46 OF THE PENTATEUCH. that of little, and great Parafches [b]. It is uncer- tain when they were divided into books, but pro- bably the divifion was firlt adopted in the Septuagint verfion, as the titles prefixed are of Greek deriva- tion ; they were however diftinguifticd as five books in the time of Jofephus. That the Pentateuch was written by Mofes, we are authorized to affirm by the concurrent teftimony of antiquity, and by the uniform report of uninter- rupted tradition. He fpeaks of himfelf in many [b] Parafches, from li'lD, to divide. The divifion of the law into parafches, or feftions, is, by fome, attributed to Mofes ; by others, with more probability, to Ezra ; they amounted to fifty-four, that by reading one of thcfc portions every Sabbath in the fynagogue, the people might fulfil a fancied obligation to read the law once publickly every year ; the intercalated years contained fifty-four Sabbaths, and in other years a reduction corrcfpondent to the number of Sab- baths was ealily made, by an occafional jundion of two chap- ters. Thefe greater portions were fubdivided into feven fmal- ier parts, called pefukim, or verfes, which were probably in- ferted by Ezra for the ufe of the Targumifts, or Chaldec in- terpreters, who after the captivity read a Chaldaic verfion of the fcriptures, with the original, for the benefit of thofe who had forgotten the Hebrew tongue, reading verfe for verfe alter- nately. The fame divifion was adopted in the prophetical books, when the reading of the law was forbidden by An- tiochus Epiphanes, but in them three verfes were read toge- ther. Thefe divifions are by no means the fame as thofe in our Bibles. The Jews read half of the fection on the Monday, the remainder on the Thurfday, and on the Sabbath the whole of the feftion, both morning and evening. Vid. Prid. fub. An. 444. parts, OF THE PENTATEUCH. 47 parts, as the appointed author of its contents [c]. It is mentioned as the work of Mofes under the title of the Law, by almoft all the facred writers, and cited as indifputably his work [d], and it was received as fuch by the Jews and Samaritans, by every fed of the Hebrew, and ©f the Chriftian church. These books, indeed, could not have been writ- ten fubfequently to the time of Mofes, for they are addreffed to the Ifraelites as contemporaries, and they never afterwards could have been impofed as a ge- nuine work upon his countrymen, whofe religion and government were built upon them. But what is fufficient to eftablifli, not only the authenticity of thefe five books, as the work of Mofes, but alfo their claim to a divine original, as dictated by the fpirit of God ; is, that the words and laws of Mofes are cited by the facred writers, as the words and laws of God [e], and that they were appealed to by our Saviour, and his Apoftles, on various occafions, as the genuine work of Mofes ; as the production of an infpired perfon, or prophet [f] j and on a folemn occafion, Chrift confirmed every jot and tittle of the [c] Exod. xvii. 14. xxiv. 4 — 7. xsxiv. 27. Numb, xxxiii. 4. Deut. xxxi. 9, 19, 22, 24. Abbadle, Verlte de la Relig. Chretien. Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. I. [d] Jofliua i. 7, 8. Judg. iii. 4. 2 Kings xxlii. 25. xiv. 6. 2 Chron. xxx. 16. xxiii. 18. Ezra viii. 3. Nehem. i. 7, 8. ix. and the Pfalms and Prophets paffim. [e] Nehem. viii. 14. Jerem. vii. 23. Matt, xv, 4, Galat. iv. 30. Heb. viii. 5. x. 30. James ii. 8. [f] Johni. 45, V. 46, 47. Law, 48 OF THE PENTATEUCH. Law, and bare teftimony to the infallible accompliili- ment of its defigns, and promifes [c] These books, as has been before obferved, were immediately after their compofition depofited in the tabernacle [hJ, and thence transferred to the tem- ple, where they were prefervcd with the mofl; vigi- lant care ; every expreflion was deemed infpired by the articles of the Jewiih creed. The Jews main- tained that God had more care of the letters and fyllables of the Law, than of the ftars in Heaven, and that upon each tittle of it, whole mountains of doctrine hungi hence every individual letter was numbered, and notice was taken how often it occur- red [r]. It was read every Sabbath day in the fy- nagogues [k], and again folemnly every feventh year. The prince was obliged to copy it [l], and the people were commanded to teach it their chil- dren, and to wear it as " figns on their hands, and frontlets between their eyes" [m]. In the corrupt, and [c] Matt. V. 17, 18, Luke xvl. 17, 31. [h] Dent. xx\i 26. Somewhere on the outfidc of the ark. Vid. I Kings viii. 9. 2 Chron. v. 10. [i] The Jews reduced the whole Law to 613 precepts, ac- cording to the number of the letters of the Decalogue, inti- mating that the whole Law was redutflivcly contained therein. [k] Luke iv. 16. Ads xiii. 15, 27. xv. 21. xxvii. 23. Hieron. cap vi Bava Bathra. Maimon. prasf. in Chaz. Aben. Ezra, in ch. xxv. 16. R. David. Kimchi. Deut. xxxi. 10, 34, 26. [l] Deut. xvii. 18, 19. xxvii. 3. xxxi. 10, 11. [m] Exod. xiii. 9. Lcvit. x. 11. Deut. vi. 6 — 9, 21. xi. x9, ig. This was probably a figurative precept which the Jews OF THE PENTATEUCH. 49 and idolatrous reigns, indeed, of fome of the kings of Judah, the facred books appear to have been much neglecled. In the reign of Jehofliaphat it was judged necelTary to carry about a book of the law, for the inflrudion of the people [n], and many copies might have periflied under Manafleth ; yet ftill a fufficient number was always preferved by God's providence. It is mentioned, indeed, in the book of Kings [o], as a particular circumftance, that in the time of Jofiah, the book of the Law was found by the high-pricft Hilkiah ; but this by no means implies, that all other copies had been de- flroyed 1 for whether by the book of the Law there mentioned, be underflood the original autograph of Mofes, (which was probably intended [p] ;) or only an authentic public copy, which might have been taken by the priefts from the fide of the ark of the covenant, to preferve it from the facrilegious violence of Manafleth ; it can by no means be fuppofed to have been the only book of the Law then extant, as every King was obliged to copy it on his accef- Jews fuperflitioufly fulfilled in h literal fenfe, with phylafle- ries, infcribed bracelets, &c. Vid. Ifaiah xlix. 16. Buxtorf. Synagog. Jud. c. 9. [n] 2 Chrorii xvii. 8, 9. This indeed might have been an ancient pradice only revived by Jehofhaphat, for the.Hebrews had probably few, if arty, eilabliflied fynagogues before the captivity, and this account only proves, that public copies Were not generally difperfed through the cities of Jad^a. Vid. 2 Chron. XV. 3, [o] 2 Kings xxii. 8, 11, [p] z Chron, xxxiv. 14. E fioa 50 O F T H E P E N T A T E U C H . fion to the throne, and as it was the very bafis of every civil, as well as of every religious regulation ; and not to mention private copies, Jofiah muft cer- tainly have fccn the book of the Law, or he would not have projected the reformation of his kingdom in the manner recorded in the book of Kings [ q,]. The furprize, therefore, that Hilkiah, and the grief that Jofiah are related to have felt, were owing either to the extraordinary circumftance of finding the book in the time of cleanfmg the temple, and of their en- deavours to eiTeft a reform.ation, or to the multipli- city and importance of thofe precepts, which, as they mud have been confcious, had been violated and ncgleded. Whether or not Moles wrote out twelve copies, as is related by tradition [rj j it is probable, that each tribe was furniihed with a book of the Law. The fchools of the prophet? likewife, the ten tribes of Ifrael, and the Levites, who were appointed to read the Law in all parts, mud have been provided with books ; and it is certain that authentic copieg were preferved during the captivity [s], and pub- lickly read after the return [t] ; it may be added alio, that as fcribcs of the Law were at this 'time eftabhflicd [uj, there is no improbability in the ac- [ qJI Hotilnger. Hift. Eccles. N. T. lech XVL PaiJ 4. p. 137- [r] Huet. Prop. Iv. [s] Dan. ix. 11, 13. Toblt. vi. 12. vil. 13- [t] Ezra iii. 2. vi. 18. Nehcm. i. S, 9. fu] Jerem. viii. 8. Ezra iv. S. c counts. OF THE PENTATEUCH. 5I counts, which ftate, that Ezra and Nehemiah fur- niflied 300 copies for the congregation and fyna- gogues, founded on the re-eftablifliment of the Jew- ifli church. The fame reverence which hencefor- ward occafioned a multiplication of the copies of the law, produced alfo more numerous guardians to watch over its purity, and the encrcafing accuracy of the Mafora, contributed ftill farther to fecure its integrity. The Jews believed that Mofcs was enlightened by a much higher and more excellent infpiration than any fubfequent prophet [x], and his fuperiority is exprefsly aflerted in an eulogium on his characler in the book of Deuteronomy, which may have been inferted by Ezra. In the New Teftament he is al- ways mentioned diflincLly, and with peculiar re- fpecl [y]. He converfed with God " face to face, as a man fpeaketh unto his friend [z],** in that priviledged and familiar intercourfe that St. Paul promifes to the heirs of future falvation [a]. Some indeed have fuppofed that Mofes did not literally contemplate God himfelf; for our Saviour fays, that " no man hath feen God at any time" [b], and we are told that " the Law was given by angels" [c]. He beheid, however, as much as it was pof- [x] Vid. Maimon. de Fund. Legis. [y] Mark ix. 4. Luke xvi. 29. Ads vii. 35. Rev. xv. 3- [z] Exod. xxxlii. 1 1. [a] I Cor. xiii. 12. Smith's Difcour. on Prophecy, ch. il. and xi. [b] John i. 18. V. 37. [c] Adts vii. 38, 53. Heb. ii. z. Gal. iii. 19. E 2 fible 52 OF THE P E x\ T A T E U C H. fible for man to behold, fome apparent and diftlnc^ reprefentation of the divine prefence, miraculouily difplayed, though veiled perhaps in a glorious cloud ; it being impoflible, as Mofes vi'as informed, for man to contemplate the attual face, or untempered ma- jefly of God [d]. It muft therefore be underftood that God fpake to him not in vifions and dark fpeecheSj but in clear and manifeft revelations [e]. Mofes was likevvife priviledged to addrefs God at all times [f], without the afliftance of the high-prieft, who confulted by means of the Urim and Thum- mim. From this power of obtaining revelations immediately from God, proceeded thofe ftriking prophecies which he delivered. And thefe prophe- cies, as well as many others which he records, as uttered by the Patriarchs, to whom God difclofed his will, were gradually fulfilled in fucceffive events, or finally accompliflied in the Meffiah. Mofes was likewife eminently invefted with the power of miracles, and performed many illuflrious wonders in Egypt, and in the wildernefs ; for the truth of which he appeals to his countrymen, and grounds the au- thority of his government and laws upon them [g]» The Egyptian magicians, who were interefted to de- feat his meafures, acknowledged that " the finger of God [h]" was fhewn in his miracles, and the [d] Exod. xxxlii. 30. [e] Numb. xii. 7, 8. [f] Numb. vii. 8, 9. ix. 8, Exod. xxv. 22. [g] Numb. xvi. 28 — 35. Exod. xiv. 31. xix. 9. [h] Exod. viii. 19. Eufeb. Trxp, Evan. Lib. IX. cap. 10. I Ifraelitcs, OF THE PENTATEUCH. 53 Ifraelites, who vvitneiTed his power, were fo fatis- fied of the truth of his pretenfions, (themfelves hav- ing witneffed the fupport which he received from God), that they adopted his laws, and incorporated them into the very frame of their government, fo that their civil and religious polity was founded on the platform that he had drawn. They beheld his extraordinary qualities ; his open and generous tem- per ; his fortitude and meeknefs fo admirably blend- ed [i] ; his piety and wifdom ; his zeal for God's fervice, and for the welfare of his people [k], which led him to prefer " afflidlion to the treafures of Egypt [l]." They faw, that in obedience to God's fentence, he continued to wander with them in a defart, where even fullenance could be obtained only by a miracle, and that he exerted the fame ftrenuous endeavours for the attainment of the promifed land after it had been revealed to him, that he fhould not jive to conduct the people to its poffeffion [mJ. They beheld, likewife, that difmterefted liberality with which he diftributed wealth, and honors on other families, while he left his own to attend on the ta- [i] Ecclus. xlv. I — 5. [k] Exod. xxxii. 32. By entreating to be " blotted out of God's book," Mofes meant, that he would fubmit to death, and the lofs of God's promifed bleilings, if he could obtain a remillion of the lins of the Ifraelites. Com. with Numb, xl, [l] Heb. xi. 24 — 28. Exod. xlv. i — 5. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. IV. cap. 8. [m] Numb, xxvii. 12, 13. E 3 bernacle ^4- OF THE PENTATEUCH. bernacle in a fubordinate characler [n], appointing a llranger to fucceed him in the government of the people, and directing them to look to the tribe of Judah for their future fovereigns. If our knowledge of the truth of the exiflence of thefe qualities be drawn from the accounts of Mofes himfclf, it mud be recollected that he addrelTed his contemporaries, who could from their own experience judge of his veracity. His wifdom and integrity are difplayed likewife in the dcfcription of his adions, and not- by artful encomiums on his own character, of which he feldom fpeaks, but to illuftrate his condudt. If, indeed, he be fometimes provoked to aflert that claim, to which he was juftly entitled [o], he con- feffes with equal candour, his own faults and mif- conduct [p]. With the fame ingenuous regard to truth, he alio records the errors and fins of his own [jt] Numb. xi. 29. xxvii. 15 — 17. xxxiv. 17. Deut. i. 38. [o] Numb. :<\\. 3. [p] Exod.iv. 10 — 14. Numb. xx. i — 12. It is not in this laft inftancc preciftly ftated, how Mofes and Aaron hud excited the divine wrath, and many ftrange conje(5tures have been formed on that fubjccft ; all that can be colleifted from the text, is, that in the tumult of the people, they had betrayed fome want of confidence in God's protedion, or promifcs. They had, perhaps, uttered fome timid or impatient expreffions ; and nny want of faith in them was more otfenfive and danger- ous, as they had received fuch fignal aifarances of favour, ana were confpicuous objcfts of example to the people. Vid. I'falm cvi. 32, 33. Numb, xxvii. 14. Dcut. xxxii, ^i. vid, jilfo Numb. xi. n — 15. anccllors, 6'F THE PENTATEUCH. 55 anceftors and relations [ cl], and boldly cenfures the difobedience of the people whom he addrefles. He uniformly reprefents them as a " diff- necked and rebellious people," reminds them of their bafe ingratitude to God, and fearlefsly threatens them with farther marks of the divine vengeance [r]. He delivered his laws without refpedl to perfons ; fpoke in the peremptory tone of one commifiioned by God, not as defirous to conciliate favour, but as confiding in the affiliance of him, whofe minifter he was. If the contemporaries of Mofes, who were the fpedators of the works, and qualities which he difplayed, had inconteftible evidence of the divine appointment of their legifiator ; fucceeding genera- tions had alfo fufficient proofs of the truth and au- thority of thofe writings, which he bequeathed for their inftruftion. They mud have been convinced that the deliverance from Egypt, and the fuftenance procured for fo large a multitude, during the con- tinuance in the wildernefs, could have been obtained only by divine interpofition. They mufl have been perfuaded, that their forefathers qould not have ac- cepted the difpenfation of Mofes, but in the aiTurance of its being revealed from God, and they beheld permanent teftimonies of his veracity and divine commiilion, in the perpetual obfervance of thofe • [ qJ\ Gen.xxxiv. 13 — 30. xlix. 5 — 7, Exod. vi. 20. Nmnb. xH. I, 2, 10. xxxii. 4. Capell. ad. A. INI. 2481. [r] Dcut. ix. 6 — 24. xxxii. 20 — 25 — 28. E 4 many 56 C F T H E P E N T A T E U C H, many feftivals [s], laws, and rites [t], of which he recorded the inftitution, as well as in thofe Handing vouchers of the truth of his hiflory and pretenfionSj the ark and tabernacle [u] •, the urlm and thum- mlm ; and the attcftation of the prophets ; and lallly in the accoinplifhment of his threats and promifes which they experienced in various vicifTitudes ; in the covenanted protection affovdcd during their at- tendance on God's fe^vice at their folemn feafts [x] 5 in the fuperfluous abundance that preceded the fab- 'batical, and the jubilee years [\] i .in the miracu- lous efFeds of the waters of jealoufy [z] j in the defcent of the celellial fire, which confumed the fa- crifices [a] j and in many other particulars, which need not be enumerated, but which fully account for thofe firm convictions, and for that rooted attach- ment for the m.emory and writings of their great lawgiver, which they have entailed on their pofterity. MosES was of the tribe of Levi, the fon of Am- ram, and an immediate defcendant of Abraham. He was born about A. I\l. 2432; and diftinguifhed [s] As thofe of the fcafts of the Paflbver, of Pentecofl, of Tabern:icles, of Sabbath, ^.'c. [t] As that of Circumcifioii. [u] As alfo the rod of Aaron, which blofTomcd In the night; the preferved manna, and the brazen fcrpent, kept till the time of Hczekiah. Vid. 2 Kings xviii, 4. Exod. xvi. 53, 34. Numb. xvii. 5— 8. Heb. ix. 4. [x] Exod. xxxiv. 23, 24. [y] Levit. XXV. 3 — 22. [z] Numb. xi. 5 — 31. [a] I Kings xviii. 38. 2 Chron. vii. i. 2 Mace. ii. 10. for OF THE PENTATEUCH. 57 lor the attractive beauty of his form. He was mi* raculouily preferved from deftrudion, and educated *' in all the wifdom of the Egyptians" [bJ. He dlfplayed early marks of fuperior qualities, and be- ing feleded by God for the deliverance and inftruc- tion of the Ifraelites, he maturely examined the truth of the divine appearance, and diffidently dechned the commiffion [c], being, as he faid, " flow of fpeech fo]," and apprehenfive that he was of too little eftimation, to be appointed as the deliverer of the Ifraelites. But when encouraged by God, he accepted of the appointment, and with a perfeverance and fortitude that have never been equalled, con- tended for, and by divine affiftance effedted, the de- liverance of the Ifraelites from their fevere bondage ; and conducted them through difficulties miraculoufly fubdued, to the borders of the promifed land ; he communicated to them a code of revealed laws, and modelled their government to a form adapted to the conqueft and polfeffion of the country, and calculated in every refped to anfwer thofe high purpofes which it was intended to fulfil. Having accompHflied his miniftry, and completed the Pentateuch, that work which unfolds the wifdom of the firfl: difpenfation, and which opened a fource of facred inftrudion to mankind ; he " in the faith" relinquiflied the pro- fped of Canaan ; and in the expectation " of the [b] Arts vii. 20—22. Phllo. de Vit. Mof. Lib. I. p, 606, lyiacrob. Saturn, Lib. II, cap. 15. [c] Exod. iii. [c] Exod. ?v. 10. recompenfe 58 OF THE PENTATEUCH. recompenfe of an higher reward," refigned that life which had been devoted to God's fervice, in the 1 20th year of his age, to be fucceeded by no equal prophet, till the arrival of the Maffiah, of whom he was a fignal type [e] ; having in many various circumflances of his chara£ler, and eventful life, obvioufly prefigured the fpiritual redeemer of man- kind [f]. The fepulchre of Mofes, thougii faid to have been ** in the valley of Moab [g],*' feems to have been miraculoufly concealed, in order to prevent any idolatrous veneration of it ; his character, how- ever, was remembered by his people, with a reve- [e] Ezra, or the propliet, who annexed to the Pentateuch the account of Mofes's death, obferves, that no prophet had fince arifen like unto Mofcs ; meaning-, perhaps, that the great prophet, the Meffiah, whom Moles promifed, was not yet ar- rived. Deut. xviii. 18, 19. xxxi*. 10. [f] Eufcb. Demon. Evang. Lib. III. cap. 2. Jortin's Re- marks on Eccles. Hid. Vol. I. p. 196 — 226. Hcb. iii. 2. [g] Deut. xxxiv. 6. Some Maronitc fliepherds were faid to have found his tomb in Mount Nebo, A. D. 1565 ; but this is an idle fiftion. Vid. Bafn.ige's Hid. of Jews, Lib. IV. cap. 7, and Patrick in Deut. iv. 6. St. Judc, in his epiftle, ■fpeaks of a difpute between Michael and the Devil, concern- ing the body of Mofes,' alluding probably to a tradition re- ceived among the Jews, as poflibly does St. Paul, when he mentions the names of Jannes and Jambres, who w^ithltood Mofes, and relate?, that Mofes faid, he " exceedingly feared and quaked" on Mount Sinai, fince thefe particulars are not recorded in the Old Tellamcnt J tide 9. 2 Tim. iii. 8. Hcb. xii. 21. An account of the difpute concerning the body of Mofcs, was formerly in an npocryphal book, entitled fls^i Mvxhrj^iui Mkjciu^, videOrigcn. Utp xix,^y, Lib. IH. cap. 2. rcncc OF THE PENTATEUCH. 59 rence that approached to fuperftltion. By the Greeks and Romans alfo, and other Heathen nations, he was acknowledged not only as the mod ancient lawgiver [h], and as an hiflorian of unimpeached veracity [il ; but by an apotheofis, under which the venerable characters of antiquity were ufually reverenced, he was tranflated among the gods, and worfhipped under different names [k] ; for it is eafy to trace the features of the Hebrew legiflator, veiled under the perfonage of many a pagan deity, and to difcern his qualities and actions under the borrowed attributes and condud which idolatry af- cribed to the objects of its veneration. So alfo v/ere the cuftoms, laws, and ceremonies of many nations, evidently derived from the Mofaic inftitutions [l]. Every one, however flightly coverfant with the po- licy and religion of pagan antiquity, will difcover in the Pentateuch, the fources from whence they were often drawn. In the heroes and benefactors confecrated by Heathen admiration, are defcribed the Patriarchs and iliuftrious perfons of fcripture. In the fictions of pagan mythology, we behold the disfigured relations of facred hiftoryj and the proud [h] Juftin Martyr, Oper. p. 9. Diodor. Sic. Lib. I. p. 84. Edit. Rhodom. Strabo's Geogr. Lib. XVI. p. 1103. Tacit. nh\. Lib. V. Juit. Lib, XXXVL cap. 2. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. I. cap. 3. [i] To this even Porphyry bore teftimony. [k] Artapan. in Eufeb. Voffius, Bocharr, Juft. Martyr, Apol. c. 57. Huet. Prop. IV. cap. 8, 9, [l] Juftin. Farxn. cap. 35. Waterland's Charge to the Clergy of ]Mi4dlefex, May 19, 1731. ^ difcoveries 6o OF THE PENTATEUCH. difcoveries of philofophy are often but the imperfect tranfcript of revealed wifdom [m]. In fliort, the hiflorians, the poets, and the philofophers of anti- quity have enriched their feveral works with dif- torted accounts from the facred volume. The pages of fucceffive writers are pregnant with its relations, and the names of numbcrlefs authors might be pro- duced, whofe works either confirm the truth of the Pentateuch, or bear teftimony to the character and pretenfions of its author [n]. But this has been fo often done, that it muft be unneceflary to dwell on the fubjedt here. [m] Eufeb. Praep. Evan. Lib. IX. cap. 6, 12, 14, 15. Lib. XIIL cap. 12. Cyril coi>t. Jul. Lib. I. p. 8. Tatian. ad Grsc. cap. 61. J,ofeph. cont. Apion. Lib. L cap. 22, Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. L [n] If -there were no tranflation of the fcripturea into Greek before that of the Septua2:int, yet the Heathen writers might have derived much facred intelligence from colloquial intercourfe, and Plato indeed profefles to have fo collected Phoenician and Syrian, that is Hebrew accounts. Vide Plato in Cratyl. Nations appear to have been at firft dillinguiflied for civil and religious knowledge, in proportion to their prox- imity to, and communication with, thofe countries where the light of revelation fhone. The difperfion of the Jews into foreign countries afterwards furnifhed channels of informa- tion to the Heathen nations, and fome of this people were certainly fcattered into Greece about the time that the Greek mythology was compofed. Vid. Joel iii. 6. Bochart's Pha- leg. Lib. IV. cap. 24. Grotius de Verit. Lib. cap. 16. Lib. HI. cap. 16. Huet. Prop. IV. cap. 2. Bryant's Mythol. Prcf. to Shuckford's Conneft. Edwards's Difcour. Vol. I. Hartley's Difcourfe on the Truth of the Chriftian Religion in Watfon's Trads, Vol. 2d. u OF THE PENTATEUCH. 6l In a general confideration of the cbarafter of that dirpenfation, which is unfolded in the following books, there are fome remarks which fhould be ftated for its illuftration. In the firft place it fhould be ob- ferved, that we are authorized by the facred writers to efteem it as in fome refpefts imperfed;, as a par- ticular and a temporary covenant to endure only for a feafon [o] ; imperteft, in condefcenfion to the un- difciplined Itubbornnefs of the Ifraelites [pj, and im- perfect as elementary and figurative only of a fpiritual covenant [ qJ. As a code of law^s defigned for the civil government of the Ifraelites, it vi^as contrived with a view to the regulation of the external condud. It was framed rather with intention to control the lawlefs and difobedient, than to cfFeft an inward and perfed: purity of heart. So farther as the law could not juflify mankind from the guilt of original fm, and as an obedience to carnal ordinances could n6t be perfed or fatisfaftory, the Mofaic difpenfation did [o] Jerem. iii. i6. xxxi, 31 — 34. Heb. vli. 18, 19. viii, 7 — 13. ix. 10. [p] Exod. xxxiii. 23. Deut. xxxii, 28. Ezck. xx. 2c. Matt. xix. §. Ads XV. 10. Gal. v. 1. i Tim. i. 9, 10. It is a great miftake, however, to fuppofe that any ritual precepts were ordained by the Mofaic law, in accommodation to cuftoms which prevailed in Egypt, lince its defign was to legregate the Ifraelites from all other nations, and to wean them from all tendencies to idolatry, and lince it inculcated a particular ab- horrence of Egyptian praftices, Levit.xvili. 3. Circumcifion was certainly a divine appointment firit obferved as a religious lite by Abraham. Gen. xvii. n. [ 0^] Heb. vii. 18, 19. Gal, iv, 3 — 9. cot 62 OF THE PENTATEUCH. not ftipulate for thofe rewards which are offered by Chrifl; [r], though it held out intimations of im- mortality, and prepared mankind for the gracious promifes which were made by the gofpel. As a covenant of worl<:s,it required undeviating obedience under the fevercfl denunciations of wrath [s], and made no allowance for unintentional offences ; cal- culated, not like the gofpel, to proffer gracious terms of reconciliation and favour, but to point out the condition of man obnoxious to God's wrath [t], and the infufficicncy of his endeavours to propitiate forgivenefs, and to atone for fm [u]. It is hkewife obvious to remark, that Mofes, though appointed to communicate a divine law, muft, with refpeQ; to the Ifraelites, be contemplated as an human legiflator. He addreffes them, indeed, as a (late fubjeded to a theocracy ; but God had deigned to be confidered in the light of a. temporal king to his chofen people [x] : Mofes, therefore, fpeaking a^the legiflator of a civil government, and deliver- ing his laws to the people confidered in their collec- tive national character, enforces them chiefly on tem- poral fantlions [y] j on motives of prefent reward [r] Rom. iii. 20. vlii. 3. Gal.il. 16. iii. 21. Heb. viii. 6. ix. 14, 15. [s] Dcut. xxvii. 26. Gal. il'i. 10. [f ] I John i. 7. Fvom. iv. 15. viii. 2. 2 Cor. Ui. 6— g. Col. ii. 14. [u] Rom. iii. 19, 20. vii. 5 — ti. Gal. iii. 23. [x] Exod. xix. 6. I Sam. xii. 12, 17, 19. Ifaiah xxxili, 22. Hagg. ii. 4, 5. Warbuit. Div. Legal. Lib. 5. Scift. 3. [y] Porter's Dill', p. 260. and OF THE PENTATEUCH. 63 and prcfent puniflmient ; thus annexing civil benefits to the obfervance, and civil penalties to the breach of political laws, as refpedively their proper and pro- portioned confequences. To the dull apprehenfions, likewife, and fenfual minds of the Ifraelites, promifes and threats of fpeedy accoinplifhraent were neceflary, and well calculated to control them, in fubfervi- ency to thofe laws, of which the violation was im- mediately hoftile to the declared intention of God, in the conftitution of the Hebrew polity. Mofes, refting alfo on the miraculous proofs of its divine original vv'hich accompanied the promulgation of the law, and confident of the divine fupport in its efla- blifliment, was under no neceflity of recommend- ing its acceptance by a dired: appeal to thofe high and important inducements which might have been derived from the confideration of a future life and judgment. As the minifter, however, of a divine revelation, as a teacher of religion, in which light alfo Mofes muft be contemplated ; he undoubtedly intimated higher encouragements than thofe of tem- poral reward, and endeavoured to animate his people by the difplay of a more glorious profped. He did not abfolutely propofe an eternal recompence to the righteous, but held out the cxpedation of immor- tality to thofe who relied on God's promifes. Hence it is that he fo particularly defcribes the attributes and defigns of God [z] j fo flrongly in- - [z] Exod. iii. 6. comp. with Luke xx. 37. Gen. i. 27. ii. 7. iii. 15. Numb. xxiv. 17. Deut. xxxii. 39. fifta 64 OF THE PENTATEUCH. fifts on the advantage of obedience, and occafionally adverts to that final retribution, which fliould take place after death [a]. It was, however, not fo much by the pofitive declarations, as by the figura- tive promifes of the law, that Mofes held out the confideration of eternal recompence to his people ; for it was confident with the typical character of the firfl difpenfation, which was figurative in all its parts, to fiiadow out, rather than directly to reveal thofe fpiritual rewards, which were to be annexed, as more exalted fanctions to an higher covenant [b] ; and that the promifes of the Mofaic law, were the figures and reprefentations of " better things to come'* [c], as alfo, that its threats were fignificant of ftronger denunciations, is evident, not only from their cor- refpondent and allufive charadler [d], but alfo from the interpretations of the prophets ; and it is cer- tain that if the fenfual and duller ranks were unable to difcover the full extent of the promifes, yet the more inflrucled aad more enlightened perfons un- [a] Deut. xxxii. 29 (where Acherlth-am fliould have been tranflated, their future ftate). Numb, xxiii. 10. Deut, xxxii. 39- [b] Hcb. viii. 6. Though the law was defigned rather to con- vince mankind of fin, by the feverity of its requifitions, than to furnifli them with any diitinfl: afTurance of immortality ; yet, i^vcrthelefs, falvation was unqueftionably to be obtained in virtue of Chriil's atonement, by thofe who fulfilled the terms ©f the old covenant. Rom. iil. 19, 20. Gal. iii. 22. [c] Pfalm cxxxiii. 3. Deut. xxx. 15 — 19. comp. with Luke x. 25 — 28. [d] Hicron. Epift. Dardan. dcrllood OP THE PENTATEUCH. 65 derftood and confided in its fpiritual import [e]. Still, however, it muft be repeated, Mofes does not ground his laws on fpiritual fandions, but ra- ther has recourfe to the ftrongefl and mod affeding motives of prefent confideration, urging God*s threat, *' of vifiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children [f]." It remains to be remarked, with refped to the laws delivered to the people of Ifrael, that fome were of a general and permanent, others of a con- fined and temporary nature. They are ufually dif- tinguiflied into moral, ceremonial, and judicial. The ceremonial and the judicial laws are in the following books joined together, as the Hebrew re- ligion and polity were built up together in one fa- brick J thefe laws, as adapted to the particular ftate and government of the Ifraelites [g], and as often [e] Heb. xi. 8—16. The Mofaic covenant included that made to Abraham, which was a counterpart of the gofpel covenant, and of which the promifes were certainly fpiritual, and in the renewal of this covenant, together vvith that made at Sinai, Mofes blends temporal and fpiritual promifes. Vid. Gen. xyii. 7. Deut. xxix. 13. xxx. Gal. ili. 8, 17. &c. [f] Exod. XX. 5. Deut. V. 9. This denunciation againfl idolatry applied to punifliments only in the prefent life, for God afterwards declared, that as to future retribution, the fon iliould not bear the iniquity of the father, Ezek. xviii. 20. [g] Circumcifion, as a rite of dillin^llon, was ufelefs when the barriers between the Jew and Gentile were thrown down, its figurative intention to promote purity of heart was pre- ferved in the gofpel precepts, and its aftual prad^ice in hot countries, as conducive to cleannefs, was not forbidden, or difcouraged, but as it implied a fubferviency to the ritual law. F incapable 66 OF THE PENTATEUCH. incapable of general application [h], are colleclively reprefcnted as not obligatory on other nations. Many of thefe laws are indeed pronounced by Mofes, to be " laws and ordinances for ever," " through all generations [i]," and hence the Jews believe, that they never fliall be abolifhed [k], but it is cer- tain, that thefe expreffions muft be underftood to mean only, that fuch laws fhould not be liable to ab- rogation by any human authority, and that they fhould long continue ; but by no means, that they fliould never be reverfed by the fame authority, on which they were firft eflablilhed [l]. The ceremonial laws were unqueftionably tran- fient inftitutions, defigned to intimate and forelhevv evangelical appointments. As therefore in their na- ture, figurative of future particulars, they have paf- fcd away on the accomplifliment of thofe things, of which they were the fhadows [m] j ritual obferv- ances are now unprofitable as fpiritual righteoufnefs [h] The number of the pricfts and Levhes was limited. All nations could not be lerved by the Aaronical pricflhood, neither could they rcfort three times a year to one place. [ij Exod. xii. 14 — 17. xxxi. 21. xl. i^. Levit. iii. 17. vi. 18. vii. 36. X. 9. xxiii. 14 — 21 — 31 — 41. xxiv. 3. Numb. XV. 15. xix. 10. [k] Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch. Par. II. cap. 38. [l] The ceremonial laws were fometimes difpcnfed with, as was circumcifion in the wijdcrncfs, where it was of but little ufe. So David eat of the ihew bread, and our Saviour juftified his conduifl. Vid. i Sam. xxi. 6. Mrom. I. N J o? [ i82 ] OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. THIS and the following Book [a] were In the Hebrew canon reckoned but as one. They cannot be pofitively affigned to any particular author, though fome have afcribed them to Jeremiah [b], and fome to Ifaiah. There are many, likewife, who contend that they are the produ£lion of Ezra ; and probably this opinion is mofl juft, for they appear to be a colle6lion, or hiftorical abridgment, fele£led from the memoirs and books of the prophets ; which are herein frequently referred to [c], as records, doubtlefs, of contemporary prophets. Thus " the Book of the A^s of Solomon/* is mentioned in this very book [dj, and was probably written by Nathan, [a] The Jews call them the Third and Fourth Book of Kings. In the time of Crimen they denominated them from the firil words " Vammelech David," David the King. Orig. ap. EulVb. Pra?p. Lib. VI c. xi, [b] Bava Bathra, Grotius, Ifidore, Procopius, Kimchi, Sec, [c] Diodor. in \ Sam. ix. 9, Theodor. Prsef. in Lib. Reg, Huet. Propof. iv. [u] Chap. xi. 41. Ahijah OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 183 Abijah the Shilonlte, and Iddo, the feer [e]. And hence thofe who by the Book of the Ads of Solo- mon have underftood the Books of Kings, have fup- pofed that they were coinpofed by thefe prophets [f] ; but we elfewhere read that Shemaiah the pro- phet was employed with Iddo the feer, in writing the a£ls of Rchoboam [g] ; that the afts of Abijah were written in the ftory of Iddo [n] ; the book of Jehu the prophet likewife related the ads of King Jehofhaphat [i] j and Ifaiak wrote the ads of Uzziah [k], of Hezekiah [1.], and probably of the two in- termediate Kings, Jotham and Ahaz, in whofe reigns he flourifhed ; fo that we may conclude, that from thefe feveral records, as well as from other authentic documents, were compiled the Books of Kings. They appear to have been arranged b^' one pcrfon, as the (lile and manner are uniform j and therefore they may with much probability be affigned to Ezra, who polTibly compiled them during the captivity f m]. The firit book comprifes a period of 126 years, [e] 2 Chron. ix. 29. [f] Caijetan, Serrarius, &c. I^g] 2 Chron. xii. 15. [h] 2 Chron. xiii. 22. [i] 2 Chron. XX, 34. and i Kings xvi. i. [k] 2 Chron. xxvi. 22. [l] 2 Chron. xxxii. 32. and Ifa. xxxvi. sxxvii. xxxviii, and xxxix. where much of Hezekiah's hiflory is incorporated with Ifaiah's prophecies. Theodor. Prasf. in Lib. Reg. [m] The Chaldaic names by which the months in thefe books are denominated, were not ufed by the Jews till in, or affer the captivity. N 4 from 184 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. from the death of David, A. M. 2989, to that of Jchofhaphat. After the defcription of the decay and death of David, we are prefented with a mod flrik- ing hiftory of the reign of Solomon j of his wifdom and maguiiicence; of the building of the temple; of his extended commerce to Ophir [n] ; and of the vifit of the Queen of Sheba [o]. To this fuc- [n] Various have been the conie^.'^turcs concerning the lituation of Ophir. Jofephus places it in the Eaft-Indies, in a country which, by his defcription, fliould appear to he Ma- lacca. Bochart contends that it was Taphrobana, or Ceilon. Calmet places it in Armenia. Montanus in America. And Hiietius in the eafiern coalt of Africa. As various have been the fentiments with refpeft to Tharfliifli, fome confidering it as having been near, and others as diflant, from Ophir : all that the fcriptures tell us, is, that the navy of Tharfliifli came In once in three years, and furniflied Solomon immenfe wealth ; of which we know not the amount, fince we can make no ex- aft eftlmate of the value of the talents fpecified ; they were, however, certainly of lefs value than the Mofaic talents. Vid. Prid. Pref. to Con. Bochart Phaleg. L. 11. c. xxvii. Bruce'3 rfravels. [o] The moil learned writers maintain, that the Queen of Shcba came from Yemen, in Arabia Felix. She is called by Chrift, " the Queen of the South," and is faid by him to *' have come from the utmoft parts of the earth," as the fouthern part of Arabia was conlidered by the ancients. She is fuppoi'ed to have been adefcendant of Abraham by Keturah, whofe grandfon Sheha peopled that country. She therefore probably relortcd to Solomon for religious inftruiTtion, Vid. I Kings X. I. -and hence our Saviour's encomium, Matt xii. 42. She is called Baikic by the Arabians. The Ethiopians pretend that file ivas of their country, and many fabulous florics are told of her by diftercnt writers, under the names of Nicaule, Candacc, IMarqueda, &:c. Vid. Ludolph's Hill, of Ethiopia. Dr. Johnfon'c Difc. on Queen of Shcba, vol. xv, Calmet. Did. under word Nicaule. ceedfi OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 1S5 ceeds an account of the miferable dotage and apof- tacy of Solomon ; and of his death, preceded by a profpe6l of that threatened rending of the kingdom which (liould take place under his fon [p]. After- wards are related the acceflion of Rehoboam j his rafli and impolitic condudt, and the confequent re- paration of the ten tribes, which happened about A. M. 3029. This is followed by a concife fketch of the hiftory of the two kingdoms, in which particular periods are chara6terifed by very animated relations ; as that of the difobedient prophet ; of the widow of Zarephath ; of Elijah and the prophets of Baal ; of Benhadad's pride and defeat ; of Ahab's injuflice and puniihment. In the courfe of thefe events, we contemplate the exad: accomplifhment of God's pro- mifes and threats ; the wifdom of his difpenfations, and the mingled juflice and mercies of his government. The book is ftamped with the intrinfic marks of infpiration : of the prophecies which it contains, ibme were fpeedily completed [ q^], but that which foretold [p] Chap. xi. II, 12. God is reprefented in fcripture as Sometimes (efpecially in cafes of idolatry) " viliting the in- iquities of the fathers upon the children," when the meafure -io. Vid. alfo, for other prediLlions, chap. xvli. J. (compared with James v. 17.) xx. 13. xxi, 19 — 24. Cbferve, that in the nineteenth verfe of the twenty- firft chapter, inllcad of in the place nvherc, we ftiould read, /« h'ie fnafiNcr, as th'^ dogs licked Ahab's blood in Samaria. The prophet points only to the caufe of Ahab's punlfliment. Vid, Patrick, &cc. [r] Chap. xiii. i — 3. compared with 2 Kings xxiii. 15 — 20. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. v. [s} Chap. xxii. 17. [t] Chap. xxii. ig — 28. Vid. alfo 2 Kings vi. 17. Job i, 6—12. [u] Matt. xii. 42. Luke iv. 25—27, Ads vii. 47. Rom, ati. 2 — 4. James v. 17, i8. 9 O F [ i87 ] OF THE SECOND BOOK of KINGS, CONCERNING the author of the Second Book of Kings, it has been treated in the pre- ceding preface ; and it is here only neceflary to re- peat, that the Second was united with the Firfl Book of Kings in the Hebrew canon, and confidered but as one with it ; and that it was compiled by Ezra, or fome other infpired perfon, from the records of for- mer prophets. The hiftory contained in this Book records the government and aftions of many fucceffive Kings of Judah and Ifrael, for the fpace of about 300 years : from the death of Jehoihaphat, A. M. 3115, to the deftrudion of Jerufalem and the temple, A. M. 3416. The connection and occafional quarrels v/hich lub- fifted between the two nations during part of this time, till the conquefl: of Samaria by Shalmanezer, fcem to have induced the facred writer to blend the two hiftories, as in fome meafure treating of the fame people. Both nations appear to have departed with almoft equal fteps from the fervice of the true God J and in the hiftory of each we are prefented with l8» OF THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS. vith a fucceflion of vicious and idolatrous Kings, till each had completed the meafure of its iniquity. Both Ifrael and Judah, though they invariably ex- perienced profperity and afiliclion in proportion to their obedience or difobedience, were infatuated by their perverfe inclinations ; and in a long fcries of their refpective fovereigns we find a few only who were awakened by God's judgments to a fenfe of their true interefl: and duty. The whole period feems to have been dark and guilty, the glory of the king' dom being eclipfcd by the calamities of the divifion ; and by the increafing miferies of idolatry and am- bition. Succeffive tyrannies, treafons, feditions, and ufurpations, and the inflant punifliment which they produced, ferve at once to illuftrate the evil charader of the times, and the vigilant equity of the divine government. The events are defcribed with great fim« plicity, though in themfelves highly interefting and important. The account of Elijah's aflumption into heaven ; of Eliiha's fucceflion to his miniffry ; and of the feries of illudrious miracles performed by Elifha ; the flory of Naaman ; and of the panic flight of the Syrians ; the hiftory of Benhadad and Hazael j of the predicted death of Ahab and Jezebel, and their chil- dren ; and of the deftrudion of Baal's prophets, are all pregnant with inflru(5lion, and have furnifhed theme for frequent difiertation. We perceive in thefe impreflive hiflories the charafters and qualities of men, painted with great fidelity ; and the attri- butes of God difplayed with great efted. The par- ticulars ?>nd circumftanccs are fketched out with a brief OF THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS. 189 brief and lively defcription, and the imagination lingers with pleafure in filling up thofe flriking out- lines that are prefented to our view. The facred au- thor, regardlefs of minute order, and of the fuc- ceflion of events, feems fometimes defirous only of furnifliing us with a view of the ftate of religion among the people, and of illullrating the genealogy of Chrift. In particular, we obferve, how the revolt of the ten tribes and their fubfequent captivity, con- tributed to keep up the diflindion of the tribe of Judah ; and to make the prophecies which foretold that the Mefiiah fhould defcend from this branch, more confpicuoufly accomplifhed. The predictions defcribed as delivered and fulfilled in this book, are thofe which foretold the death of Ahaziah [a] ; the birth of a fon to the Shunammlte [b] ; the recovery of Naaman [c] ; plenty in Sama- ria [d] ; the crimes and cruelty of Ha^ael [e] ; the fuccefs of Joalh [f] 5 the defeat of Sennacherib [g] ; the [a] Chap. i. 16. [b] Chap. iv. 16. [c] Chap. V. 10. [d] Chap. vii. i. [e] Chap. viii. 10, 13. [f] Chap. xiii. 19. [g] Chap. xix. 6, 7, 28, 29, 33. and Herod. Lib. I. This dellruftlou is faid in the Babylonifli Talmud, and in fome Tar- gums, to have been occalioned by lightning. It might, per- haps, have been efFeded by the deftruftive hot winds fo fre- quent in thofe parts. Vid. Thevenot's Travels, Part II. Book I. ch. XX. B. II. ch. xvi. Part I. Book 11. ch. xx. Je- remiah calls this a dellroying wind, where the Arabic renders it IgO OF THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS. the prolongation of Hezekiah's life [h]-, the Baby- lonilh captivity [i] ; and the peaceful reign of Jo- fiah [k]. After the captivity of the ten tribes, the colony brought up from Babylon and other places, adopted the Hebrew religion, and blended it with their own idolatries ; and henceforward, in point of time, we hear little of the inhabitants of Samaria. The king- dom of Judah (lill continued for above a century to provoke God's anger by its difobedience and idolatry, rotwithflanding Ifaiah and many other prophets con- fpired during all this period to exhort the people to repentance, by every motive of interefl; and fear. The good reign of Hezekiah, though lengthened by divine providence, was too foon fucceeded by the *' evil days of Manaffeh," in whofe time the temple, and even the volume of the law feem to have been almofl entirely negleded. In the reign of Jofiah re- It an hot pedilcntial wind. chap. li. i. Ifaiah threatens Sen- nacherib with " a blali," which might be called the angel of the Lord. Ifaiah xxxvii. 7. 2 Kings xix. 7. [h] Chnp. XX. 6. [i] Chap. XX. 17, 18. God appears to have revealed to Hezekiah the calamities which awaited his defcendants in the Babylonifli captivity, as a punifliment for his ollentatious dif- play of his treafures, in which he fcemed to confide i and for not having rather profelTed his confidence in God, whofe mer- cies he had fo recently experienced. Thefe prophecies, how- ever, and thofe in the enfuing chapters relative to the fame captivity, were literally fulfilled above 100 years after. Vid. chap. xxi. 12 — 14. xxiii. 27. compared with ch. xxiv. 13. and Dan. i. I — 6. [k] Chap. xxii. 20. ligion OF THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS. 19! lig'ion for a fliort time revived ; the public copy of the law was difcovered, and read [l], and idolatry for a few months fupprefled ; but the tide of iniquity hav- ing rolled back with accumulated force, Jerufaleni is befieged and taken, the city and temple fpoiied, and the nobleft of the nation led captive to Babylon. The book concludes with the account of the fecond fiege by Nebuchadnezzar, which happened about eighteen years after the firfl ; then the city and tem- ple [m] were burnt, and foon after the whole de- ftruction completed by the maflacre, or flight of the remnant which had been left amidfl: the ruined cities of Jud^a. [l] Chap. sxii. 8. xxiii, 2. [m] According to Uflier's computation, the temple was burnt about 424 years after it was built. Jofephus, who conceives it to have been burnt 470 years, 6 months, and 10 days from the time of its building, obferves with aftonifliment, that the fecond temple was burnt by the Romans in the fame month, and on the fame day of the month that the firll temple was fet on fire by the Chaldsans ; and the Jewifli doftors add, with as little truth, that the Levites were finging the fame hymn in both deftruftions, repeating from Pfal. xciv. 23. thefe words : *' He fliall bring upon them their own iniquity, and he fliall cut them off in their own wickednefs, yea, the Lord our Cod fliall cut them off." Vid. Antiq. Lib. X. c. xi. OF [ 192 ] OF THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES. THE Jews formerly reckoned the two Books of Chronicles but as one [a] ; which was en- titled the Book of Diaries [b], or Journals, in al- lufion to thofe ancient journals which appear to have been kept among the Jews. The Books of Chroni- cles, indeed, as well as thofe of Kings, were in all probability copied, as to many of their hiftorical re- lations, from thefe ancient chronicles of the Kings of Ifrael and Judah. Such chronicles mud unqueftion- ably have exifted, fmce in the books of Kings there are frequent references to books of Chronicles, as containing circumftances which are not found in thofe fo entitled in our canon, not to mention that [a] They now adopt our divifion, as well as in the pre- ceding books, in conformity to our mode of citation in con- cordances, of which they borrowed thfe ufc from the Latin church. [b] CD'D'n nm, dlbre hajjaraim, Verba dlerum, that is, The words of days ; extradls from diaries. They are called. Chro- nicles from the Greek word ,->(;.'on«a. thefc THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES. I93 thefe were written after the books of Kings. The books of Chronicles which we now pofTefs, were fo named by St. Jerom : they are diflingnifhed in the Septuagint as the books of " things omitted [c] ;" and they are fuppofed to have been defigned as a kind of fupplement to the preceding books of fcripture ; to fupply fuch important particulars as had been omit- ted, becaufe inconfiftent with the plan of former books. They are generally, and with much proba- bility, attributed to Ezra [d] ; who has ufedafimilar ftile of expreffion, and whofe book appears to be a continuation of them [e]. Ezra, if he were the author, might have digefted them by the affiftance of Haggai and Nehemiah ; as well from hidorical re- cords, as from the accounts of contemporary pro- phets. These books were certainly compiled after the [c] napxT^tmof/.aa*. Thus Xenophon wrote the paralipo- mena of the Peloponnefian war, as a fupplement to the hiftory of Thucydides. [n] This book appears to have been compiled before that of Nehemiah, by whom it is cited (Neh. xii. 23. )> though the genealogy of the delcendants of Zerubbabel is faid to h« brought down much below the time of Ezra ; for if the Zerubbabel kere mentioned were the fame who conducted the people back from the captivity, the account may have been fwelled by collateral kindred ; or poffibly increafed by a fubfequent ad- dition. St. Matthew, however, gives, in his firft chapter, a genealogy fo different, that it appears to be that of a different branch, if not of a different family. Comp. i Chron. iii. ig-. et feq. with Matth. i. 13. et feq. and Grot, in Matt. i. 23. [e] Comp. the laft verfes of 2 Chron. with beginning of Ezra, Patrick's Comm. in 2 Chron. xxix» 21* O captivity. 194 THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES. captivity, as they mention the refloration by Cyrus, and fome circumftances that occurred after the return [f]. The author, however, appears fometimes to fpeak as one v/ho lived previous to the captivity [g] ; but this mufl: have been in confequence of his tran- fcribing, without alteration, the accounts of earlier writers. The books of Chronicles, though they contain many particulars related in preceding books ; and fupply feveral circumflances omitted in preceding ac- counts ; are not to be confidered merely as an abridg- ment of former hiftories, with fome fupplementary additions ; but as books written with a particular view ; in confiflency with which, the author fome- times difregards important particulars in thofe ac- counts from which he might have compiled his work ; and adheres to the defign propofed, which feems to have been to furnifli a genealogical fketch of the twelve tribes, deduced from the earlieft times : in order to point out thofe diftindions which were ne- cciTary to difcriminate the mixed multitude that re- turned from Babylon ', to afcertain the lineage of Judah ; and to re-effablilTi, on their ancient footing, the pretenfions and functions of each individual tribe. 1 he author appears to have intended to furnifli, at the fame time, an epitome of fome parts of the Jew- ilh hiftory ; and in this firft book, taking up the ac- count at the death of Saul, he prefents his country- [f] z Chron. xxxvi. 21 — 23. xxxv. 2s. [g] I Chron. ili. ig. iv. 41 — 43. 2 Chron. v. 9. xxi. 20, xxii. 26. XXV. 25. 9 men THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES. 195 men with the pi6lure of David's reign ; efpccially di- lates on his zeal for religion ; and on the preparations which he made for the building of the temple 5 pro- bably with defign to excite the reverence and emu- lation of thofe who were about to rebuild it. He defcribes particularly the regulations and arrange- ments adopted by David with relation to the Priefts and Levites ; as well as to the appointment of the muficians and other perfons employed in the fervice of the temple, which David eftablifhed on a great and magnificent fcale : improving it with the intro- duftion of hymns, of which there is a fine fpecimen in the fixteenth chapter of this book. The author, in repeating fome particulars related in the preceding books, fpecified the names of the perfons employed, and adive on great occafions ; and by this means furnifhed each individual tribe with an account of the adions of its refpective anceftors. The genealogical tables of this book mull have been highly important among the Jews, who were led by the prophetic promifes to be extremely obfervant of thefe particulars [h]. Their precedence, like- [h] The genealogies contained in this book are carried back without interruption to Adam, through a period of near 3500 years. They furnifli a ftriking proof of the folicitude which prevailed among the Jews to afcertain the completion of the promifes ; as alfo of the vigilant care with which the facred accounts were preferved. They could not be corrupte'd for- merly, for moil of the people could repeat them memoriter. The veneration for them was condemned by St. Paul as ex- celTive and ufelefs, after the appearance of the Meffiah. i Tim. i. 4. Tit. iii. 9, O 1 . wife. 196 THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES. wife ; their marriages ; and many advantages, were often dependant on the accuracy of thefc accounts ; and they, who could not prove their defcent were deprived of many privileges. A regular and unpol- luted lineage was efpccially neccffary to thofe who afpired to the priefthood ; and fuch as could not pro- duce it were deemed incapable of ad million to that high office [i]. Ezra, likewife, by pointing out the divifion of families, as recognized before the de- ftrudion of Jerufalem, enabled each tribe at the re- turn from the captivity, to be rcftored to its appro- priate inheritance. Thefc genealogical accounts are likewife ftill ufeful in many relpefts [r] i and, how- ever they may appear fomerinies irreconcileable with modern fyftems of chronology, they were certainly confidered as accurate by the evangelical writers, as they are cited in the New Teftament [l]. The authority of the book is likewife ellabliflied by the accommodation of a prophetic paflage felecled from it to the character of our Saviour by St. Paul [m] ; and by a pofitive prophecy of the eternity of [i] Ezra il. 61, 62. Seidell, de Saccefs. ad Pontif. Lib. If. cap. ii. p. 213. and cap. iii. p. ci 5. Joleph. cont. Apion, Lib, I. Maimon.in Miihnah Biath. c. vi. fed. 11. [k] We collect from them, among other things, that Nathan from whom, according to St, Liikc, our Saviour was defccnd- ed, was the fon of David by Bathlhua, or Bathflieba, i Chron, [l] Matth. i. Luke iii. jofcph. cont. Apion, Lib. L Grotius Annot. in Lib. Carpzov. p. 292. Huct. Demonftrat. Evang. Prop. IV. Walton OHicln. Bib. p. 555. Lightfoot Chron. Vet. Teft. p. 142. [n] I Chron. xvii. 13. xxii. 10. Heb. 1. 5. Chrift's THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES. 1 97 Chrifl's kingdom [n] ; as well as by other occafional predicYions [o]. It may be added alfo, as remark- ablcj that an infpired acclamation of David to the praife of God in this book, breathes the fame fen- tiiiients of piety which were afterwards uttered in fimilar expreflions by our Saviour, and which by St, John, in his enraptured vifions, are afcribed to the bleifed fpirits who celebrate the praifes of God in heaven [p], [n] I Chion. xvii. 14. [o] Chap. xxii. 9, 10. [p] Compare i Chron. xxlx, 10, II, with Matth, vi. 13. and with Rev. v, 12, 13, O 3 OF [ 198 ] OF THE SECOND BOOK of CHRONICLES. THIS Book, as well as the former, with which it was originally united, was probably collect- ed by Ezra, from the writings of the different pro- phets who are feverally mentioned in fcripture as the hiftorians of their refpeclive periods [a] ; as well as poffibly from ancient chronicles which are fuppofed to have exifted, and which may be conceived to have been compofed by the Priefts, fome of whom are called memorialifls, or recorders, as Jehofliaphat [b] and Joah the fon of Afaph [c]. The book con- tains many things omitted in the hiflorical books "which precede. It begins with a defcription of the reign of Solomon ; and dilates with particular exacl- nefs on the munificent piety of that monarch, in the conftrudion of the temple j minutely fpecifying its [a] I Chron. xxix. 29. 2 Chron. ix. 29. xil. i^. xiii. 32. XX. 34. xxvi. 22. xxxii. 32. xxxiii. 19. xxxv. 25. [e] 2 Sam. viii. 16. [c] 2 Kings xviii. 18, ornaments THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES. I99 ornaments as typical of fpirltual decorations which were to embellifh the chriftian church ; a fubjcd highly interefting and ufeful to the Jews, who at the time when this book was written, were preparing to rebuild the temple. Hence the account of the folemn confecration of the firft building ; of the noble and comprehenfive prayer of Solomon ; and of the covenanted promifes which God gracioufly imparted at the dedication, mufl: have furnifhed much confo- lation to the Jews, fcarce yet reviving from the de- fpondence of captives. Then is repeated from the book of Kings, the reprefentation of the magnificence and profperity which Solomon enjoyed, agreeably to God's promife [d]. After this we are furnifiied with a recapitulation of the hiftory of the Kings of Judah, occafionally intermixed with relations refpeding Ifrael, when con- neded with Judah. Great part of this hiftory is felecled either immediately from the book of Kings ; or both Kings and Chronicles were copied from fome larger annals, known under the title of the books of Kings ; fmce frequent references are herein made to fome books of Kings, and fometimes for circumftances not extant in the canonical books [e]. Thefe ac- counts, however, in the books of Chronicles, are enriched with many additional particulars. They prefent us with a lively pidure of the ftate of the [d] Chap. i. II, 12. [e] Chap, xvi, II. xxi. xxiv. 27. xxv. 26. xxviii. 26. xxxli, 32. xxxiii. 18. XXXV. 27. O 4 kingdom 200 THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES. kingdom of Judah ; and of the various viclffitudcs and revolutions which it fuitaine-d under different princes. They ferve, as the author feems to have defigned, greatly to illuftrate the necelTity of depending on God for defence, without whofe proteftion kingdoms muft fall, l^ie advantage derived from obedience to God, and the miferies that refulted from vvicked- nefs and fin, are ilrikingly fhewn. The book abounds ivith ufeful examples ; and the charaders are forcibly difplayed by a contrafted fucceffion of pious and de- praved princes. The change and defection even of individual perfons, and their decline from righteouf- nefs to evil, is ihewn with much effed. The rebel- lion of Ifracl, and the contefl; between the two king- doms ; the prefervation of Joafh from the deftrudlion which overwhelmed the reft of the houfe of Judah ; the ftruggles between idolatry and true religion ; the opportune difcovery of the copy of the law ; with many other interefting particulars which exhibit the interpofition of the Almighty, defeating evil, and ef- fecllng his concerted purpofes, deferve to be con- fidered with great attention. Several predictions are fcattered through the book: as the promifes made to Solomon [f] j to Je- holhaphat [g]; and to others [h]. Some fentiments appear to be tranlcribed from it into the New Tefta- ment [i]. [f] Chap. i. 12. vii. 17 — 22. [g] Chap. xix. 2. XX. 15, 17, 37. [h] Chap, xxxiii. 8. [i] Comp. 2 Chron. ii. 5, 6. with At'^s vii. 48, 49. and xvli, ^4; alio 2 Chron. xix. 7. with i Pet. i. 17. The THP SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES. 201 The varieties and apparent differences which exift between thefe books and thofe of Kings, with re- [pcQ. to numbers, names, and dates, have deterred the Hebrew writers from commenting on them. Thefe, however, are to be attributed to thofe various caufes which have been before detailed [k] ; to our ignorance of periods fo long elapfed ; to the different fcope of the facred writers ; and to thofe mutilations and corruptions in minute particulars which have cfpecially prevailed in the books of Chronicles ; for thefe appear to have been copied with unufual care- leffnefs ; and in none is the pun£tuation fo de- fe£live. The fecond book contains a brief fketch of the facred hiftory, from the acceffion of Solomon to the throne, A. M. 2288, to the return from the captivi- ty, A. M. 3468 : a recapitulation not only very ufe- ful to the Jews, but which reflects great light on other parts of fcripture [l]. The two books jointly confidered, farnifli In a connefted view, a compendium of the Jewifh hillory ; in the Hebrew copies they were placed as a con- clufion to the whole Bible, though in moft tranfla- tions, as in our Bible, they immediately fucceed the book of Kings. [k] Introduction, and Preface to Hiftoiical Books. [l] Hieron. Epift. IX. ad Paulin. & Epift. ad Domnion. St. Jerom juftly remarks, that it were folly to pretend to a knowledge of fcripture without an acquaintance with the Book of Chronicles. [ 202 ] OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. THIS Book was certainly written by Ezra. That he wrote the four laft chapters has never been queftioned, fince, in feveral parts of thefe, he evidently profelTes himfelf the author, by fpeaking in the firil perfon [a]. But fome critics have pre- tended that the fix firft chapters mufl have been written by a perfon more ancient than Ezra, becaufe Ezra is faid in the feventh chapter [b], to have gone up from Babylon after the events defer ibed in the fix firft chapters, in the time of Artaxcrxes Longi- manus ; whereas in the fifth chapter, the author feems to fpeak of himfelf as prefcnt at Jerufalem, in the time of Darius Hyftafpes [c] : but Ezra poffibly [a] Chap. vii. 27, 28. viii. i, 15, 24. ix. 5. [b] Chap. vii. i. [c] Chap. V. 4. This verfe is ufually confidcred as an anfuer of the Jews. Some would folve the difficulty by fup- pofing it a quclVion of Tatnai and his companions. Perhaps we fliould read as in the Greek, Syriac, and Arabic vcrfions, *' then faid they," and the objcdion is removed, and the fcnfe amended, 5iccompanie4 OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. 203 accompanied Zerubbabel in the flrfl: return from the captivity [d] ; and might have been again fent up to Babylon to counteraft the reprefentations of thofe who oppofed at the Perfian court the rebuilding of the city and temple ; and the account of his de- parture, which is given in the feventh chapter, per- haps refers only to his going up with that commiffion and power which he received from Artaxerxes. But whether Ezra were or were not at Jerufalem at the time when this anfwer was made to Tatnai, he may well be conceived, either as copying a public record of the tranfaclion, or as relating a fpeech of the Jews, to have ufed the expreffion of ** We faid unto themj" meaning by " we," his countrymen ; which is furely no uncommon mode of fpeaking. Such ob- jedions are very futile : and there is no reafon to queftion the authenticity of any part of the book, v/hich from the higheft antiquity has been attributed to Ezra ; who certainly at leaft digefled it ; and pro- bably towards the end of his days [e]. This book is written with all the fpirit and fidelity that could be difplayed by a writer of contemporary events. It is a continuation of the Jewifli hiflory, from the time at which the Chronicles conclude 5 and [d] Nehem. xii. i. If the author of this book were not the fame perfon with the Ezra mentioned by Nehemiah, he might ftill have gone up from Babylon to Jerufalem before the feventh year of Artaxerxes, [e] Huet. Demon. Evang. Carpzov. Introd. in Lib. Hift. V. Teft. Brentii Prasf. Calouii Bibl. lUuft. in Lib. Efd. Wal- Jeri Officin. Biblic. p. 559, the 204 ^^ "^"^ BOOK OF EZRA. the connedion of the two accounts is evident, fince the book of Ezra begins with a repetition of the two verfes wnich terminate the books of Chronicles. The facrecl writers pafs over the time of the captivity as a fad period of aflhclion and puniihment : during which, if the people were indulged in the exercifc of their religion, they had few hiftorical events to re- cord ; and therefore we have no general hiftory of their circumftances; and mud have recourfe to the books of thofe iiluflrious prophets who flourifhed among tlicm in Aflyria, for the only particulars that can be obtahied concerning their condition. The prefc^nt book begins with an account of God*s having difpofed Cyrus, either by pofitive injunction, or by difcovering to him his long-predicled defigns, to promote the rebuilding of the city and temple of Jerufalcm. It relates the accomplifliment of fome illudrious prophecies in the releafe [f] which that monarcli granted in the firft year of his reign over Babylon J and in the return of the Jews [g] to their own country after a captivity of feventy years [h], A.M. [f] Ifalah xliv. 26 — 28. A prophecy uttered concerning Cyrus, dcfcribcd by name near 200 years before he appeared ; juftly noticed with admiration by heathen writers. [g] Scalijjcr Ifag. Lib. III. p. 260. et de Emend. Temp, Lib. VL p. 576. [h] The name of Jews feems lirfl to have been applied to this people after the return from the captivity. Jofcph. Antiq. XL c. V. The Jews returned from Babylon fifty years after the taking of Jerufalcm ; but the feventy years which Jere- miah predi(ited as the period for the duration of the captivity, arc OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. 20^ A. M. 3468. We then are prefented with a lift of the leaders and numbers of the captives who returned under Zerubbabel, and perceive how fatally the na- tion had been diniiniflKd and brought low by fuc- ceffive defeats and difperfions [i]. We contemplate the pidure of an harafled people reilored from cap- tivity, and returning to their country, which had long lain defolate [k]. We behold them erecting a tem- porary altar and fervice, and laying the foundation of their temple. Afterwards are defcribed the lamen- tations of thofe who remembered the magnificence of Solomon's building ; the oppofition excited by the Samaritans and others, whole aififtance had been rejected J the interruption occafioned by their in- are reckoned from the third or fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign, A. M. 3398. Vid. Jer. xxv. i, 11. xxix. 10. whea Nebuchadnezzar firft invaded Judcea, and carried off captives. Dan. i. I, 3. 2 Kings xxiv. i. Patrick in Jerem. xxv. 11. xxix. 10. Dan. i. i. Zech. i. 12. vii. i — 5. and Prid. Ant. A. C. 518. [i] Many of the Jews remained in the countries into which they had been carried. The Jewifli writers fay, that only the dregs of the people returned. It fliould be remark- ed, that Ezra fays, that " the whole congregation together was 42,360 ;" though if we calculate the feparate numbers, they amount but to 29,818. Ezra, perhaps, omits the detail of fome individuals, coUedively reckoned : as thofe of the ten tribes, or thofe who could not find their regiller ; or poffibly the numbers are in fome inftances corrupted. [k] As the land had lain defolate only fifty-two years from the death of Gedaliah, Prideaux fuppofes that the Jews had neglefted the law concerning the fabb^tical year, only from the beginning of the reign of Afa ; that is, 364 years. Vid. Preface to Leviticus, p. 109, note g, trigues J 206 OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. trigues ; and at lad, the finlfliing and dedication of the temple, about A. M. 34B9 [l], and the celebra- tion of the Paflbver [m]. Ezra then relates his re- turn with his companions to Jerufalem ; confeffes the difobedience of the people to God's laws, in inter- marrying with the Gentile nations of the land ; de- fcribes his own pious and conciliatory prayer ; the repentance of the people, and their feparation from the wives and children, who not being of the holy feed, might, if fuftercd to intermingle with the Jews, have rendered uncertain the accomplifliment of the promifes ; and he concludes with an enumeration of thofe who had tranfgrefied : fligmatizing, with im- partial indignation, the names of even the priells and [l] The Jews tell our Saviour, that their temple had been forty-fix years in building- ; which midt mean the temple as re- paired and enlarged by Herod. This work was begun in the eighteenth year of his reign ; from whence to the thirtieth year of Chrift was a period of forty-fix years ; and the temple was not even then entirely finiflicd ; nor according to the ac- count of Jofephus till the time of Agrippa, near fixty years after the death of Chrift. Vid. John ii. 20. Jofcph. Antiq. Lib. XV. c. xiv. Lib. XX. c. viii. [m] It is neceffary here to mention, that Juftin Martyr in his dialogue with Trypho, aflcrts, that the following fpeech of Ezra was in the ancient Hebrew copies of the Bible, but ex- punged by the Jews, viz. " Ezra faid to the people, this palfover is our Saviour, and our refuge; and if you will be perfuaded of it, and let it into your hearts, that we are to humble him in a fign, and afterwards fliall believe in him, this place fliall not be deftroyed for ever, faith the God of hofts ; but if you will not believe in him, neither hearken to his preaching, ye fliuU be a laughiug-Uock to the Gentiles." rulers OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. 20/ rulers who had oitended in this important violation of the law. The hiilory contains a period of about feventy- iiine years : from A. M. 3468, when Cyrus became mafter of Perfia, to A. M. 3547, when Ezra effect- ed the reform defcribed in the lad chapter of his book ; for between the dedication of the temple, and the departure of Ezra from Babylon in the feventh year of the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, is a period of fifty-feven or fifty-eight years ; which this book palfes over in filence, only mentioning that the Jews had during that time intermixed with the Gen- tiles. This book is v/ritten in Chaldee [n] from the eighth verfe of the fourth chapter to the twenty- feventh verfe of the feventh chapter ; for as this part of the work contains chiefly letters, converfation, and decrees uttered in that language ; it was confif- tent with the fidelity of the facred hiftorian, to de- fcribe the very words w4iich were ufed ; efpecially, as the people recently returned from the captivity were familiar, and perhaps more converfant with the Chal- dee, than even with the Hebrew tongue ; and it was probably about this time that the Chaldee para- phrafes began to be ufed ; for it appears by Nehe- miah's account [oj, that all could not underfland the law, which may mean that fome of them had forgot- ten the Hebrew during their difperfion in the cap- [n] The Chaldee or Syriac, was the language then ufed over all Affyria, Babylonia, Perfia, &c. [o] Neh. vili. 2, 8. Cafaubon Epift. 590. tivity. 2o8 OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. tivity [p]. Some alTign, likewife, to this time, the origin of the Jevvifli fynagogues, though it is polilble that they exifled before the captivity [ ojj. Ezra was of the facerdotal family, a defcendant of Seraiah [r], in a right line from Aaron. He fucceeded Zerubbabel in the government of Judaea, by a commiffion which laftcd twelve years, to A. M. J558; at the expiration of which term, he either returned to Babylon to give an account of the ftate of the province of Judaea ; or clfe retired into a pri- vate ftation in his own country : co-operating, doubt- lefs, in the pious defigns of Nehemiah his fucceflbr, by whom he is related foon after to have produced and read the law of Mofes to the people. Ezra, indeed, appears to have been particularly well (killed in the law, to have given much attention to the ftudy of the fcriptures, and to have been well verfcd in the interpretation of them. He lliles liimfelf a\ ready fcribe [s], and profeffes to have prepared himfelf to inflruct [p] Univ. Hift. vol. X. Book II. p. 220. [ (i2 Pfa. Ixxiv. 7, 8. [r] Chap. vii. i — ;;. He calls himfelf the fon of Seraiah, which only implies his defcendant ; or at leali, it is not pro* bable that he was the immediate fon of the high-prieft Seraiah, who was llain at the taking of Jerufalcm. 2 Kings xxv. 18. Prid. Con. Part I. B. V. [s] Ezra vii. 6. The word "iSD, fopher, implies one fkilful in the interpretation of fcripture. The origin of the fcribea is uncertain ; they were probably firft employed in fubfcrviency to the prophets, and, perhaps, educated in their fchools. Judges V. 14. I Chron. xxvil. 32. Jercm, xxxvi. 26. They feem to have been cllabliflied as an order of men after the captivity. OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. 209 infl:ru6l the people in the ftatutes of God : the tra- dition, therefore, of his having made a colledion of the facred writings is extremely probable. We know, indeed, from Jofephus, that the Jewiili priefts after every important war, were accuftomed on the eflabliPament of peace, both at home and abroad, publicly to afcertain, recognize, and copy out the regifters of the priefthood [t] ; by which we mufl; either underftand the fcriptures, or believe that the fame pradice prevailed as to them. Ezra, therefore, may well be fuppofed to have |)ubli(hed a correct edition, after the re-eftablifliment of the Jews ; and probably with the affiflance of the great fynagogue [u], which panicularly flourilhed In the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus ; not that there is any reafon to imagine that the facred books were lofl: during the captivity ; as fome have abfurdly conceived, from the fabulous relation of a pretended captivity, and to have rifen into repute after the ceffation of prophecy. They are mentioned in the New Teftament as idoftors of the law, and teachers of the people. Matt. xxii. 35. and Mark xii. 28, &c. They appear in later times to have •corrupted the law by their traditions, and to have become de- ficient in purity of manners. Matr. xv. 3. v. 20. Luke xx. 46. Of the infpired fcribes, of whom Simoh fpeaks, there is no account in fcripture. [t] Ot "jErafa-XEfTrof^Evot rm npuv y.ciiva. 'C7aXt> tx tuv af%aia)» ypx/x- fji,ci\u;y Qvvirafiut, are the words of Jofephus. Lib. I. cont. Apion. [u] IreniEus. adv. Hsrcs, Lib. III. c. xxv. Tertul. de Habit. Mulier. c. iii. Clem. Alex. Strom. L Bafil. Epift. ad Chilon, &CC. Chryfoft. Homil. in Epift. ad Hebra. Herbelot Biblioth. Orient, fub Voce Ozair. Ben Seraiah & Koran, cap. Bacra. Introd. p. 6. P burning 2IO OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. burning of the law, and of the rcfloratlon of the fcriptures by divine revelation, which account is given only in the apocryphal book of Efdras [x] : a work of little or no authority. The copies of the law were too much reverenced to be loft ; and Daniel [y] we know was in poifeflion of one during the captivity. He likewife quotes the prophecies of Jeremiah [z] ; and probably other perfons had copies of the fcrip- tures, many of them being favoured by the con- querors ; and if the facred veflTcls of the temple were fo carefully preferved, we may well conceive that the authentic manufcripts of the Hebrew fcriptures were fafely depofited at Babylon ; and perhaps reftored to Zerubbabel, or Ezra, on their return to Jerufalem. But wherever preferved, Ezra certainly produced the Law, and read it to the people [a] ; and the other books of fcripture were collected by him and Nehemiah [b], or by the great fynagogue. Ezra was a molt ufeful perfon to the Jews, who reverence his memory with a regard almoft equal to that which they entertain for Mofes. He is not par- ticularly ftilcd a prophet in fcripture ; but our Saviour makes no diftindion between the authors of the facred books, except that of " Mofes and the Prophets." Ezra was undoubtedly an appointed minifter of God ; and he wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit, [x] 2 Efdras xiv. 21. [y] Chap. ix. II, 13. [7-] Dan. ix. 2. [a] Nchem. viii. 2. and ancient Uiuv. Hift. vol. iii. p. 418. £»] 2 Mace. ii. 13. or OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. 211 or his book would not have been admitted into the Hebrew canon ; or received as facred from the earlieft ages of the chriflian church. Ezra is reported by fome traditionary accounts to have died in the hundred and twentieth year of his age, and to have been buried at Jerufalem [c] j though others fay that he died* in Perfia, and was buried on the banks of the river Samura ; where his tomb is fhewn [d]. Befides the books which arc afcribed to Ezra in the apocryphal part of our Bible, there have been fpurious conftitutions j benedi6lions ; and prayers attributed to himj as likewife a revela- tion ; a dream j and a prophecy relative to the Roman empire ; together with a calendar of pretended au- fpicious and unlucky days, none of which require attention. [c] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XL c. v. [d] Benjamin Tudda. Of [ 212 ] OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. TH E Book of Nehemiah being fubjoined in the Hebrew canon to that of Ezra as a continuation of his hiftory, was often confidered as his work [a] : and in the Latin and Greek Bibles it is called the Second Book of Ezra ; but it undoubtedly was written by Nehemiah, for be profeiTes himfeif the author of k in the beginning, and uniformly fpeaks in the firft perfoR. It v/as probably admitted into the cata- logue of the facred writings by fome of the great fynagogue [r]. Ezra appears to have continued near ten years in the government of Judxa, after the reform which he mentions in the lafi: chapter of his Book : perfifting probably in his endeavours to reflore religion, and to [a] Hieron. Praef. in Reg. Eufeb. Chion. ad An. 1584. [r>] When Ifidore airerted, that the fccond book of Ezra was not in the Hebrew canon, he meant the apocryphal book attributed to him ; for he fays, that Ezra's firlt book contain- ed the words of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ifidor. Orig-. Lib. VI. e. iiv promote OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 213 promote the profperity of his country. Circumftances were, however, fo unfavourable and adverfe to his defigns, that in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes Longimanus [c], A. M. 3559, we find, from Ne- hemiah, that reprefentations were made to him at Babylon of the afilided ftate of the Jews ; and of the ruinous condition of their city, of which the walls were yet unrepaired. This book begins with an account of Nehemiah's grief at this report ; of his application to Artaxerxes for permiffion to vifit and rebuild Jerufalem, " the place of his fathers fepulchres." This he obtained, probably by the entreaty of Efther, the Queen [d], who favoured the Jews. Nehemiah then relates his departure, and arrival at Jerufalem with authority ; feelingly defcribes the defolate flate of Jerufalem, and his exertions to repair its difmantled walls. He records the names of thofe patriotic men who aiTifted him on this occafion ; the confpiracy of the Ammo- nites, and other enemies againft the work, and the defeat of their defigns. After the finifhing of the walls and fortifications, Nehemiah applied himfelf to other public objeds. The fcarcity of the inhabitants in the large city of Jerufalem firft excited his at- tention. He fortunately at this time found a regifter [c] Not Artaxerxes Mnemon, as fome have imagined. Vid. Scalig. Proleg. Oper. de Emend. Temp, Lib. VI. & Patrick. The month Chifleu, mentioned in the lirft verfe of Nehemiah, anfwers to a part of our November and I)ecember. [d] Chap. ii. 6. P 3 of 214 OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. of thofe perfons who returned from the captivity under Zerubbabel : which he repeats in the feventh chapter [e] : in order to complete the reftoration of their pofleffions to the rcfpcclive tribes j and that none but the Levites and defcendants of Aaron might of- ficiate in the fervice of the temple and of the prieft- hood. Nehemiah then defcribes the public reading of the Law to the people ; the celebration of the Feaft of the Tabernacles [f] j and other religious appoint- ments, [e] Chap. vii. This genealogy differs from that given by Ezra in the fecond chapter of his book, with refpedl to names and numbers ; which difference Prideaux attributes to altera- tions made by Nehemiah, in compliance with changes that had happened fince the departure from Babylon. It is remark- able that the two accounts agree in the total amount ; and the fum of the numbers which are feparately detailed, will cor- refpond, if to the 29,818 fpecified by Ezra, wc add the 1765 perfons reckoned by Nehemiah, which Ezra has omitted ; and, on the other hand, to the 31,089 enumerated by Nehemiah, add the 494 which is an overplus in Ezra's book, not noticed by Nehemiah : both writers including in the fum total 10,777 of the mixed multitude, which is not particularized in the in- dividual detail. The accounts unquellionably agreed when they were received into the canon, unlefs where there might be fome caufe for a variation ; and probably the differences that now exill, hnvc originated in the carelefTnefs of the copy- ifts. Vid. Commentators. [f] The Scenopegia, or feaft of Tabernacles, was a grand feflival in memory of the Ifraclitcs having dwelt in tents in the wildernefs. It began the i i;th of September, and was celcr brated for eight days with great joy. The obfcrvance of it fecm» OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 215 ments, obferved with a pathetic commemoration and thankfgiving for God's former mercies, as defcribed in preceding books of fcripture. Then follows an account of the renewal of the covenant of obedience and refpedl to God's law, recorded as a memorial, with the names of thofe who figned it j a catalogue of thofe who were appointed by lot, or confented to live at Jerufalem, which was furrounded by hoftile neighbours ; and the book concludes with a defcrip- tion ot the reformation, both civil and religious, which Nehemiah effefted -, the lafl: ad of which, the removal of the ftrange wives, was, according to the general computation, accomplifhed about A. M. ^^574 [g] ; but which could not have happened, as Prideaux has on very fufficient grounds determined, till A. M. 35gs [h] J ^^ which time he fuppofes the fird period of DaniePs prophecy to conclude [i], and the fcripture hiftory to clofe, Nehemiah feems to have been much infifted on by the prophets ; and as it argued a fenfe of God's former mercies, it feems to have been attended with a blefling. Vid. Zech. xiv. 16, 17, [g] Blair's Chronol. [h] The Lift acl of Nehemiah 's reformation took place un- der the pontificate of Joiada ; (for the original of chap. xiii. 28. will not admit a conilru6tion which fliould reprefent Eliafliib as the high-prieft.) and Joiada fucceeded to the prieilhood, A. M. 3591. [i] Prideaux dares the period of the feven weeks from the feventh year of Artaxcrxes, An. A. G. 458 ; when Ezra was commiinoned by a decree to rebuild the temple, and to refrorc Jerufalem j from that time, to the reformation effedcd by Ne- P 4 hemiah. 2l6 OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. Nehemiah was the fon of Hachaliah ; and ac- cording to traditior, of the tribe of Judah [k], though it has been fanfied, from an apocryphal ac- count of his offering facrifices at the head of the priefts, that he was of the tribe of Levi [l]. lie appears to have been a different perfon from the Nehemiah mentioned by Ezra [m], and in this book, as one who returned from the captivity with Zerub- babel ; fince from the firft year of Cyrus to the twentieth of Artaxerxes Longimanus, no fewer than ninety-one years intervene ; fo that Nehemiah mufl, on the fuppofition that they were the fame perfons, have been at this time much above an hundred years oldi at which age it can hardly be thought [n] pro- bable, that he fhould have taken a journey from Shu- fhan to Jerufalem ; and have been capable during a government of twelve years, and afterwards, of all thofe aftive exertions, which in this book be is de- fcribed to have made. Nehemiah, however, the au- thor of this book, appears to have been born at Ba- bylon ; and was fo diitinguifhed for his family and hemlah, were forty-nine years, when the Church and State were re-eilabliihcd ; or, according to the figurative dcfcription of Daniel, when " the llreet and the walls were rebuilt in troublous times." Vid. Dan. ix. 25. frid. Con. An. Ant. C. 409. [k] R. Abarb. in Cabal. Eufeb. Chroa. Can. A. 1584. Ifidore, Gcneb. &c. [i.] 2 Mace. i. 18. and following verfes. [m] Ezra ii. j. Nehcm. vii. 7. [n] Michael. Prx-f. in Nehcm. qualities^ OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 217 qualities, as to be fele6led lor the office of cup- bearer to the King : a fituarion of great honour and emolument in the Perfian court. He was "^ikewife difUngui filed by the title of Tcrfhata, which was in general appropriated to the King's deputies and go- vernors [o]. By his privilege of daily attendance on the King, he had conftant opportunities of conciliat- ing his favour j and was enabled by the royal bounty to fupport his government with great magnificence at his own private charge, and generoully to relieve his people from the burden of that expence which they had necefiarily fuftained under preceding go- vernors [p]. In every other refped, likewife, he difplayed the moil exemplary and dihnterefted zeal for the profperity of his country [ol. If Nehemiah were not abfolutely a prophet, he profeffes himfelf to have a6fed under the authority and guidance of God [r]. He feems to have conipired with Ezra in all his pious defigns ; and probably affifled him in the revifal of the canon [s]. The Jews report him to have been one of the great fynagogue. The author of the fecond Book of Maccabees attributes to him writings which are now no longer extant [t], if they ever exifted. [o] Neh. il. 63. X. I. and Michael, in Loc. [p] Neh. V. 14, 18. His nanie fignified confolation. [ qJ EccIus xlix. 13. [s] Neh. ii. 8, 18. [s] 2 Mace. ii. 13. [t] 2 Mace. ii. 13. Vid. Carpz. Introd. ad Lib. Hift. Vet. Tell:, p. 343. Frifchmuth's Diff. de non Sperand. Reflitut. Areas. Fsedor. ill. cap. x. After 2l8 OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. After a continuance of twelve years [u] in the government of Judaea, Nehemiah appears to have returned to Shuflian, agreeably to his promife [x]. What length of time he continued in Perfia cannot be afcertained. Prideaux, to allow a fufficient in- terval, for the corruptions that took place during his abfence, fuppofes at lead five years ; the text only fays " certain days [y]," which is an ambiguous expreflion. It is probable that he foon obtained permiffion to return to his country, where he appears to have ended his days. It is not poflible to deter- mine how long he furvived his return. "Many learn- ed writers conceiving that Jaddua and Darius, men- tioned in the tvventy-fecond verfe of the twelfth chapter of this book, muft have been the high-prieft Jaddua, and Darius Codomannus, who was contem- porary with the former during his priefthood [z], and [u] Chap. xill. 6. [x] Nehem. ii. 6. [y] Neh. xiii. 6. In the Hebrew it is, *' at the end of days," which means, perhaps, at the end of the year. [z] Some have imagined that Darius, the Perfian, might have been Darius Nothus ; but the only Darius who was con- temporary with the priefthood of Jaddua, was Darius Codo- mannus. Befides, the text enumerating the fucceflion of the high-priefts, evidently fpcaks of Jaddua as high-prieft, who did not enter on his office till A. M. 3663 ; and therefore the verfe muft have been written above 100 years after Nehemiah went up from Babylon, when we cannot fuppofe him to have been lefs than 120 or 130 years of age. The text would even lead us to fuppofe that it was written after the death of Jofliua ; which would tend ftill farther to convince us that the pallagc is OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 219 and who did not begin to reign till no years after the date of Nehemiah's commiffion : have remarked, that he muft have Hved an extraordinary length ot time to have inferted this account ; and, indeed, though it is by no means incredible that Nehemiah might have been permitted by God to live 130 or 140 years, becaufe his eminent virtues were highly conducive to the reftoration of his country ; yet it is, perhaps, more probable to believe, that the whole, or at lead the latter part of the regifter contained in the twenty-fix firft verfes of the twelfth chapter was a fubfequent addition [a], made by thofe who received the book into the canon ; that is, by fome members of the great fynagogue -, and, indeed, the whole de- tail appears to be an unconnected and foreign inter- polation. Nehemiah frequently in this book calls upon God not to wipe out the good deeds that he had done : rather in pious fupplication to be remembered on their account [b], than in any arrogance of heart. To have concealed the actions of his government, would have been inconfiflent with the office of a faith- ful hiftorian ; and have deprived poflerity of an ex- is a fubfequent interpolation. Jofephus fuppofes Sanballat to have lived to the time of Alexander the Great ; but the hif- torian muft have meant a different perfon from Sanballat the Horonite, who oppofed Nehemiah ; or he muft have been mif- taken. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XI. c. viii. Prld. An. Ant. Chrift. 459. [a] Voifii Chron. Sac. c. x. p. 149. Prid. Con. An. Ant. Chrift. 458. [b] Chap. V, 19. xiii. 14, 22, 31. cellent 220 OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. cellent example. The facred writers, confclous of their own dignity, are equally fuperior to difguife or vanity. They record their ov/n virtues and their own failings with equal fmcerity. Nehemiah was probably the laft governor dele- gated by the Perfian Kings ; who, poffibly, after his death, left the government of Judcea to the high- prieft of the Jews, till the Perfian empire was dc- ftroyed by Alexander the Great [c]. [c] Cornel, Bertram, de Rep. Jud. p. i68, 173, 175. O F t 221 3 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER* TH I S Book Is in the Hebrew (tiled « the vo- lume of Efther:" it was received into the Jev/i(h canon with peculiar veneration j and efteeraed above many of the prophetic Books, probably be- caufe therein are defcribed the origin and ceremonies of the feaft of Purim. It is called the Book of Eft- her [a], becaufe it contains the hiftory of this Jewifli captive, who, by her remarkable accomplifliments, gained the afFe£lions of Ahafuerus j and by a marriage with him, was raifed to the throne of Perfia. The author of the Book is not certainly known. Some [a] The word Efther is of Perfian derivation, Starith, Allram, E^Epa ; its fignification is uncertain. The vowel i» prefixed for foftnefs, according to the Hebrew idiom. Vid. Caftel. in Lexico.Perfico, col. 329, & Pfeifl'er in Dub. Vex. p. 458. The original word was defcriptive, and fignified Dark, which was deemed beautiful by the Jews. Hilar. CEcon. p. 621. Theocrit. Idyl. x. 26 — 29. Eflher was called by her own family Hadaffah, which implies a myrtle. Vid. Targura. ad chap. ii. 7. of 222 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. of the fathers [b] fuppofe it to have been written by Ezra ; others contend that it was compofed by Joa- chim high-prieft of the Jews, and grandfon of Jofe- dech. The Talniudifts attribute it to the joint la- bours of the great fynagogue [c], which fucceeded Ezra in the fuperintendance of the canon of fcripture. The twentieth verfe of the ninth chapter of the book has led others to believe that Mordecai was the au- thor [d] j but what is there related to have been written by him, feems to refer only to the circular letters which he diftributed [e]. There are, laftly, other writers, who maintain, that the book was the produdtion of Eflher's and Mordecai's united induftry [f] ; and probably they might have communicated an account of events fo interefting to the whole na^ tion, to the great fynagogue at Jerufalem j fome of the members of which may with great reafon be fup- pofed to have digelled the information thus received into its prefent form [g]. We have, however, no fufficient evidence to determine, nor is it, perhaps, of much importance to afcertain precifely who was the author ; but that it was a genuine and faithful [b] Epiphan. de Ponder, & Menf. cap. iv. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxxvi. Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. cap. ii. [c] Bava Bathia, cap. i. f. 15. [d] As moft of the Latin fathers, and Clemens Alexandrinua among the Greeks, Strom. Lib. I. Vid. alfo, Elias in MalT. Aben-Ezra, Abrah. Hifpan. &c. [e] Chap. ix. 20, 23, 26. [f] Chap. ix. 29. [g] Huet, Demonftrat. Evang. Prop. IV. dcfcription OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 223 defcription of what did actually happen, is certain ; not only from its admiffion into the canon, but alfo from the inftitution of the feaft of Purim, which from its firfl eftablifliment has been regularly obferve4 as an annual folemnity [h] ; on the fourteenth and fif- teenth of the month Adar, in commemoration of the great deliverance which Efther by her interefl: had procured ; and which is even now celebrated among the Jews with many peculiar ceremonies, and with rejoicings even to intoxication. This feftival was called Purim, or the feaft of lots (Pur in the Pcrfian language fignifying a lot) from the events mentioned in chap. iii. 7. ix. 24. The Jews [i] maintain that this book was un- queftionably infpired by the Holy Ghofl ; and that though all the books of the Prophets, and of the Ha- giographi (hall be deftroyed at the coming of the Meffiah, that of Efther fhall continue with thofe of Mofes, for Efther had faid, that " the days of Pu- rim fliould not fail from annong the Jews [k]." This is meant, however, only of that part of the book [h] 2 Mace. XV. 36, 37. Codex. Theod. Tit. de Judasis. The feaft is called alio the feaft of Hainan and Mordecai. The month Adar correfponds with our February and March. Eft- her and Mordecai appear to have ordained only a feaft ; but the Jews obferve, as they profefs long to have done, a faft on the 13th, which was the day deftined for their extirpation, Jofeph. Antiq. "Lib. XL c. vi. Huet. Prop. IV. Chriflian Magaz. vol. iv. p. 260. Prid. Con. Ann. 452. Buxtorf. Synag. Jud. c. xxiv. Calmet. Did. word Purim. [i] Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. IL c. xlv. [k] Chap. ix. 28. PfeifFer. Thefuur, Hermeneut. p. 599, i which 224 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. which our church confiders as canonical ; for the fix chapiters which are only in the Greek and Latin copies, were never received by the Jews j and they are rejected as apocryphal by us, in conformity to the fentiments of the ancient church, for this and other reafons which will be hereafter afiigncd [l]. It is to be larnented, indeed, that the fpurious chap- ters (lioLiId ever have been annexed to the authentic part, fince they tended to difcredit the f^icred book j and it has been fuppofed thar a difrcfped for the apocryphal additions induced fome ancient writers to leave it out of the catalogue of tlie canonical books [m] ; and occafioncd Luther to exprefs a wifli that it might be expunged from the lift [n]. Thefc however being refcinded, the remainder is entitled to our reverence as canonical. It is eftabhfted by the fuffrage of antiquity, and bears every mark of authenticity and truth [o]. There has been much difference of opinion con- cerning the period which v.e fliould afiign to the events recorded in this book. It is certain, from [l] Preface to the apocryphal chapters of Efther. [m] Eufcb. Hift. Ecclcs. Lib. IV. c, xxvi. Athan. Epifl. 39^ Gregor. Nazianz. de Ver. Si Gen. Lib. S. Script. Soiiie think that Efther was included in thefe catalogue^, under the book of Ezra, as it was fuppofed to have been written by Ezra. It was in the catalogues of Origen, Cyril, Hilary, Epipha- nius, and Jerom, and in that of the Council of Lajdicea. Yid. Infra, Preface to Apocryph. chapters of Efther. Note £♦ [n] Conviv. Scrm. f. 494, and Lib. de Serv. Arbit. torn. iii. f. 82. [o] Eufcb. Hift. Ecclcf. L. VL c. xxv. Hilar. i» Pfalm i. 2 many GF THE BOOK OF ESTHFR. 22^ iiiaTiy Inftances, that the Jews difl:inguin;ied foreign perfons by names different from thofe which they bear in prophane hiftory [p] ; as, indeed, all nations are accuftomed to corrupt proper names in confor- mity to the genius and pronunciation of their own language. Scahger contends, from a fanciful re- femblance of names, that Ahafuerus was the fame with Xerxes [ qJ ; whofe C)ueen, Ameftris, he con- ceives, might have been Efther. Others, upon grounds nearly as conjedural and fallacious, have imagined, that Ahafuerus was Cyaxares ; and others contend that he was Cambyfes [r]. Uflier fuppofes, that by Ahafuerus we are to underftand Darius Hy- fiafpes [s] J who refided at Sufa, and whofe extent of dominion and a£lions correfpond with the accounts of this booki But to each of thefe opinions con- fiderable objections may be drawn from the accounts of prophane hiftorians [t] ; and probably the opinion of Prideaux is befl fupported, who maintains, agree- [p] Vitrlnga In Hypot. Sac. p. lOo. § 49. [ Q^] Scaliger de Emendat. Temp. Lib. VI. p. 2S4. Grotius, Mlchaelis, &c. Capellus places the hillory fo late as the time of Ochus, who was the fucceflbr of Artaxerxes Mnemon. [r] Targ. R. Salomon, Seder Olam Rabba, p. 86. [s] Uffei-i Annal. Vet. Teft. Period. Jul. An. 4193. Du Pin, Maius CEcon. V, T. p. 1073. The advocates for this opinion maintain with the Rabbinical writers, that Efther was the Artyftona of Darius ; but Artyftona was the daughter of Cyrus ; and the hiftory of Atofla by no means accords, any more than does that of Parmis, with the account here given of Vafhti. Vid. Herod. Lib. IIL and Lib. VIL [t] Vitringa, Lib. VL p. no. Q^ ably 226 OP THE BOOK OF ESTHER. ably to the account of Jofephus [u] ; of the feptua- gint ; and of the apocryphal additions to the book of Efther, that Ahafuerus was Artaxerxes Longimanus [x] i whofe extraordinary favour to the Jews might in fome meafure arife from the fuggeflions of Efther; the hiftory, therefore, may be fuppofed to have com- menced about A. M. 3544 [y], and it contains an account of a period which extends from about ten to twenty years. The book defcribes the advancement of Efther ; who, by the intereft which fhe concihated with Aha- fuerus, delivered the Jews from a great deftrudtion which had been contrived for them by Haman, an infolent favourite of the King. It prefents an in- terefting defcription of mortified pride, and of mahcc baffled to the deftrudlion of its contrivers. It like- wife exhibits a very lively reprefentation of the vex- ations and troubles, of the anxieties, treachery, and diftimulation of a corrupt court. The manners arc painted with great force and fidelity ; and the vicif- fitudes and charaders are difplayed with dramatic efte£t. The author feems to have been fo intimately acquainted with the Perfian cuftoms, that fome have [u] Jofeph. Ant. Lib. XI. c. vi. [x] Prid. Con. An. 470. Sulpit. vScvcr. Hill. Sac. Lib. IL p. 307. Calmct Diift. word Vafliti. Lightfoot, vol. i. p. 137. The chief objcdion to the period of Artaxerxes Longimanufl is drawn from Ellher ii. 5, 6. but that paflage may J"iply, that Kifli was carried away captive with Jeconiah ; or that Mordecai was a defcendant of fome one of Nebuchadnezzar's captives. [y] Pctav. Indodt. Templi XII. c. xxvii. Auiitor. Ecclcf. Goth. p. 319. conceived OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 22/ conceived a notion that he tranfcribed his work from the Perfian chronicles [z]. It has been remarked, that the name of God is not mentioned throughout the book i his fuperintendent providence is, how- ever, frequently illuftrated : it is fhewn, indeed, in every part of the work : difconcerting evil deiigns, and producing great events by means feemingly in- adequate. Calmet aflerts, on the authority of Paul Lucas, that the tombs of Mordecai and Efther are ftill fhewn at Amadam in Ferfia, in the fynagogue of the Jews, who are very numerous there. [z] Hottinger Thefaur. Philolog. Lib. II. ch. i. p. 488. Abcn-Ezra, Com. in Procem. Selden in Theolog. Lib. III. Exercit. V. p. 486. 0^2 OF [ 228 ] OF THE BOOK OF JOB. CONCERNING the nature, and author of this Book, various opinions have been enter- tained. Some, as well Chriflian as Rabbinical wri- ters, have ventured to confider it as a fiditious rela- tion of the parabolical kind, without any hiftorical foundation [a]; and others as a dramatic work, grounded on fome traditional accounts of a real per- fonagc ; or as an allegory, in which, under real cha- rafters and circumflances, are lliadowed out the Jewifli nation, and fome particulars of the Jewifh hiftory during [b], or after the Babylonifli cap- tivity. [a] Bava Bathia, Anabaptlfts, &c. [e] Garnctt taking up fome ideas of Bifliop Waiburton, has etched out an ingenious allegory, in which the condition of Job is confidcred as defcriptive of the Jewifli fuffeiings during the captivity. But though he has flniincd every cir- cumHance in the hiftory in order to accommodate it to this re- prefentation, he has produced no convidion. A lively fancy may readily difcover fuch refcmblances as he has pointed out; but if the judgment be allowed to rcfleiSl:, it wili fugged un, aufwcrable objcdions to the theory, however fpecious it may be. OF- THE BOOK OF JOB. 229 tivky [c]. But to indulge in fuch unauthorifed fancies is very dangerous, and inconfiftent with the refpecl due to facred writ -, and in the prefent inftance there is no fafficient foundation for fuppofing that the book is any other than a hteral hiflory of the temp- tation and fulFerings of a real character [d] ; fince it has every external fanftion of authority, and is (lamped with every intrinfic mark that can charac- terize a genuine relation. Of the real exiftence of Job no reafonable doubt can be entertained, if we confider, that it is proved by the concurrent teflimony of all eaftern tradition; that the whole hiflory of this illuftrious charader, v^ith many fabulous additions, was known among the Syrians and Chaldnsans ; that many of the nobleft families among the Arabians, are diflinguifhed by be. Vid. Garnett's DifTert. on Job. The Ufe and Intent of Prophecy, Dilf. II. Maimon. More Nevoch, p. 3. c. xxii. Bava Bathra, c. i. fol. 15. Senthnens de quelq. Theolog. Holland, p. 184. Grot. Com. in Job, Lib. I. Le Clerc, &e. [c] Bifliop Warburton imagined, that Job vvas intended to perfonate the Jewifli people on their return from the captivity j that by his three friends were meant the three great enemies of the Jews : Sanballat, Tobiah, and Gefhem ; and by Job's wife, the idolatrous wives which fome of the Jews had mar- ried, as we learn from Nehemjah. A ftrange conceit, of which the improbabilities are by no means gloffed over by the elaborate reafoning, and extravagant affertions of the learned writer. Vid. Peter's DifTert. on Job. [d] Spanheim Hift. Job. Schultens Com, in Job, and Com* mentators in general. 0.3 his 230 OF THE BOOK OF JOB. his name [e], and boa ft of being defcended from him ; and ladly, that Job is mentioned as a real character by Ezekiel [f] and St. James [g]. The book of Job was likewife certainly written as a literal relation of adual events : for this is evident from the (lile of the author ; from his mode of in- troducing the fubjeft ; and aifo from the clrcum- Hantial detail of habitation, kindred, and condition, as well as from the names of the perfons therein mentioned : which correfpond with other accounts of that age and country, in which Job is generally fup- pofed to have exiited [h]. The book then muft be [eJ a? was Zaluch Eddin, ufually ftlled Saladln, fultan of the Mamalukes : who bore the name of Job, as did alfo his fa- ther. Vicl. Elmccln. Hiit. Saracen. Job appears alfo to be mentioned by Aiitiotle in his Diflertation de Magnitudine Ani- malium. There are even now tfadirionary accounts concern- ing the place of Job's abode. Vid. Thevenot's voyage, p. 447, Le Roque Voyages de Syrie. torn. i. p. 239. [f] Ezek. xiv. 14. [g] James v. 11. Vid. alfo Tobit ii. 12, 15 in Vulgate. Clemen. Epift. ad Cor. ch. xvii. and Araft. ap. Eufeb. Prxp. Evang. Lib. JX. c. xxv. [hJ It has been faid, that the names of Job and his friends have a myftical meaning ; but mofi of the eaftern names have fome defcriptive fignification. Spanheim derives the name of Job from an liebrew root, d«', £7rt7roSa>, amare, a word which imports love, or beloved. And this is more probable than the derivation fometimes given from a word expreihve of grief ; which, if accepted, mull be fuppofed to have been applied after Job's niistortunes. Michaelis in his preface derives the name of Job from a word which fignifies repentance, which was perhaps fuggcflcd by Mahomet. Vid. Koran, ch. xxxviii. 40, 44. allowed OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 23I allowed to contain a literal hiftory of real events ; though agreeably to the opinion of Grotius, the fub- ject is poetically treated ; for though the firft and lad parts of the book being entirely narration, be expreifed in a ilile nearly as hmple as that of the hiftorical books of Samuel or of Kings : the reft re- fembles rather the poetical works of David and of Solomon. Considering then that the work is in a great meafure poetical ; and that probably it was written in metre ; we (hall readily account for that want of order and arrangement, which by the omiiTion of tri- vial particulars, and by the neglect of diftindion of times, fometimes gives an air of improbabihty to the book i for many circumftances which muft have oc- curred at intervals, are related in a continued and uninterrupted feries by the author: intent only on delivering to pofterity memorable events, and fub- lirae in(lru6tion J and neglecting every particular not immediately conducive to this defign [i]. It muft likewife be obferved, that the verhy of the book is not invalidated by the allegorical manner in which fome things are related. Human events are literally [i] The c?,lamities of Job fucceeded each other y'uh a mira-- culous rapidity. His friends might have literally obferved feven days filcnce in aflies, from refpe^l to his affliflloxi. Ti\e artificial regularity which the learned Michaeiis conceived to exift in the numbers rnentioned in this book, does not appear really to obtain ; except that when Job's poffeffions are faid to have been doubled, they are enumerated by an intereihng periphr^fis. Comp. chap. i. 3. and xlii. 12, 0^4 defcribed -, 232 OF THE BOOK OF JOB. defcribed $ but the proceedings of providence, of which we are unable to form any apprehenfion, un- lefs from figurative illuftration, are perhaps here, as in other parts of fcripture [k], parabolically repre- fented under familiar allufions. Thus are " the fons of God,'* or the obedient angels, defcribed as appearing before the prefence of the Lord, as at the tribunal of an earthly judge j fo alfo the difcourfe and agency of Satan are indirc£lly (hadowed out, in a manner agreeable to the mode of human inter- courfe : in order to accommodate to our conceptions, what would otherwife be utterly unintelligible. The government of God, in permitting, and in reftricling the temptations of the faithful, is not immediately referable to our fenfes ; though his juftice and mercy may be obliquely intimated by familiar allegory [l]. The interlocutory parts of the book fliould be con- fidercd alfo as defcriptive of real difcourfe, at leaft as to the fubftance. They are conduced with every appearance of probability, and the paffions of the fpeakers feeni to kindle as they proceed. There is, alfo, no fufficient reafon why we fliould not fuppofe God (whofe decifion of this important controverfy had been earneftly defired) [m], to have adually fpoken by himfe'.f or his angel out of the whirl- [k] Gen. xxviil. 12. Ha. vi. 1 Kings xxii. 19— 22. Zcch, ill. I. Rev. xii. [i.] Le Clerc in Loc. Codurc. Prjef. in Job. PfclfferDub, Vex. Cent. iii. Loc. 31. [m] Chap. X. 2. xii. 5. xlii. 3, 21, 22, 24. wind. OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 233 Vmd [n] ; though fome writers have chofen to con- fider the introduAion of the deity as a prophetic vifion, reprefented to Job and his friends in a trance. This account, then, of the faSering and reftoration of Job, mufl be admitted as a real and authentic hiftory : no-where allegorical, except, perhaps, in thofe parts which reveal the agency of fuperior beings. The origin of Job is uncertain. There is an appendix [o] annexed to the Greek, Arabic, and Vulgate verfions of the book, faid to be taken from the ancient Syriac, which reprefents Job to have been the fon of Zareh, a defcendant of Eiau ; and which relates that he reigned in the land of Aufis, upon the borders of Idumssa and Arabia ; and upon this au- thority many ancient writers, and moft of the fa- thers, concur in fuppofing that he was the fame with Jobabj the fon of Zerah, mentioned in Genefis [p] ; but f n] The Chaldee Paraphraft taking the word whirlwind in a metaphorical fenfe, renders it improperly " out of the whirl- wind of grief;" as if God had fuggetted to Job, amidll the conflift of his forrows, the following thoughts. [o] Sixt. Senen. Bib. Lib. I. and u tranllation of this Apr pendix in Wail's Critical Notes. Vid. alfo, Athan. Synopf, Chryfoft. de Patient. Horn. II. Ariftie. Philo, Polyhiftor. Eufeb. Praep. Lib. IX. cap. xxv. Augull. de Civit. Dei. Lib. XVIII. cap. xlvii. [p] Gen, xxxvi. 33. and i Chron. xliii. 44. Spanbeim in Job, ch. iv. Mercer. Pineda, &c There is likewife in the Greek, a difcourfe of Job s wife, which is generally rejeded as apocryphal. Vid. Origen ad African. Hieron. Pr^f. in pan, &i in Job. & in Quoell. Heb, in Gen. Chryfos. Polych. Olymp, 234 ®^ '^HE BOOK OF JOB. but as this addition is not found in the Hebrew copies it is confidered as fpurious ; and the learned Span- heim has, upon very ftrong grounds, endeavoured to prove, th'i.: Job, who is the fubjed of this hiftory, was a very different perfon from the fon of Zerah; and that he derived his origin from Uz, the fon of Nahor, brother to Abraham [ cl] ; or from Abraham himfelf, by Keturah. We may aflent, hkewife, to the opinion of Bifliop Lowth, that Job dwelt in that part of Arabia Petrsea which was called Edom [r], and bordered upon the tribe of Judah to the South : being fituated between Egypt and the land of the Olymp. Prooem, & ad Caten. in Job. Some have imagined that Job's wife was Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. She is called Rachman by the Arabs ; and is fuppofed by them to have been the daughter of Ephraim ; or according to others, of Machir, the fon of Manafleth. Vid. Sale's notes in Coran. She was probably of the country and religion of Job, though cenfured by him upon one occalion, as having fpoken fool- Ifhly. Vid. Welley's Differt. XXVI. [ Q^'J Hieron. Qux'Tt. Hebr. in Gen. Spanheim. Hift. Job. cap. iv. Bochart, &:c. [r] Uz, was Edom. Vid. Lament, iv. 21. Numb, xxxiv. 3. Jofli. XV. 12. Jercm xxv. 20. Lowth's Pracl. Poet, xxxii. and notes. Wefley's Bifl'. XXIX. Hodges conceives Job and his friends to have lived fomewhere between Chaldxa, and Judaea. Some place him in Arabia Deferta. All the country Isetween Egypt and the Euphrates was called Eafl, with rc- • fpeft to Egypt ; and the Jews who there adopted the ex- preflion, afterwards ufed it abfolutely without reference to their change of fituation. Vid. Mede, fol. p. 467. and Matt, li. I. If Mofcs were the author of this part, he might, in Midiun, which is to the Well", properly called Edom the Eaft, Philiftines 5 OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 235 Phillflines -, and we may Tuppofe that his friends in- habited the country immediately adjacent. Job does not appear to have been a fovereign [sj, though ftiled the greateft man of the Eaft, with re- fpedt to his poiTeflions. He and his friends were, however, perfons of confiderable rank and import- ance, as may be collefted from various circumftances incidentally mentioned in the courfe of the hiftory. If they were not diredlly deTcended from - braham, they mud be clafled among thofe, who, out of the family of Ifrael, worihipped God in fincerity and truth. The exa6l period in which they exifted, can- not be determined. Without defcending to minute enquiries on the fubjed [t] we may remark, that they appear to have lived fome time during the fer- vitude of the Ifraelites in Egypt ; and that the period of their hiftory may properly intervene between the death of Jofeph and the departure from Egypt [u] : which includes a fpace of about 140 or 145 years j [s] The crown mentioned in xix. 9. is only a figurative ex- preflion for prolperity. Job and his friends are in the Greek called fovereigns : that is, great men. [t] Some Talmudifls have aflerted, that Job was born in the very year of Jacob's defcent into Egypt, and that he died in the year of the Exodus ; a conceit founded on a fuppo- iition, that as the camels and oxen were rellored twofold to Job, fo the years of his life were doubled ; and that, as he lived 140 years after his afflitflion, fo he lived feventy years before it. Vid. Bava Bathra. The Rabbins fuppofe that Mofes alludes to the death of Job when he fays of the Gentiles, that " their defence is departed from them." Vid. Numb, xiv. g. [u] Spanheim Hilt. Job. cap. vi. p. 106, in 226 OF THE BOOK OF JOB. in which cafe Job might be fix or feven generations removed from Nahor. And fmce he furvived his relioration to profperity 140 years, he may be fup- pofed to have Hved at leaft: during part of the time that the Ifraehtes wandered in the wildernefs [x]. As the age of man in that period did not ufually ex- ceed 200 or 220 years [y], Job Vvas probably over- whelmed in calamities in the prime and vigor of his life : when if poffefTed of the greatefl fortune to fuf- tain his afHiclions, he was alfo endued with the live- lied fenfibility to feel them. How long his fuffer- ings may have lafted is uncertain ; the feven years for which fome contend, would have been a longer period than can be admitted. It required not fuch a continuance of time to demonftrate his faith and unfliaken confidence : and God delights not in unne- celfary fcverity. Put from a confideration of par- ticulars, it will be evident that lefs than a year can- not be afiigned for the duration of his diltrcfs ; and this is agreeable to the general Hebrew calculations. In alligning this period to Job and his friends, we fuppofe them to have flouriihcd before, or about the time of Mofes ; and the fentiments and religious opinions v»'hich are maintained in their difcourfe, are in general fuch as were confiftent with the informa- [x] Grot. Prxf. Diodat. Argum. in Job. [y] Few of Job's fuppofed contemporaries lived fo long^ ; but Job was blcfled with a long life. He is by fomc fuppofed fo have died about A. M. 2449. tion OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 2tf tion that obtained before the Momic difpenfatlon [z]. Job appears to have worfhipped God in the manner of the Patriarchs, before the priefthood was confined to Aaron j and in the detail of his piety, he affords a tranfcript of thofe primitive principles which he might have derived from Abraliam and Nahor. He and his friends feem to have been ac- quainted with the rules of traditional religion [a], as colleded from occafional revelations to the Pa- triarchs y together with the deductions of that con- fcience which was " a Law to the Gentiles [b].'* But it mud alfo be obferved, that they fometimcs difplay a greater knowledge of important truths than was confident with the general notions that muft have prevailed in their time. All of Abraham's defcendants, indeed, who were contemporary with Job, may be fuppofed to have been acquainted with the attributes of God ; and with the ufe of facrifice [c]. They might, from tradition, have collefted fome knowledge of the creation ; of original fm [d] ; and even of a promifed Meffiah. Yet flill there will remain fome particulars of which they were in- formed, that appear to be above the general infor- mation which the Gentiles pofleffed \ and therefore we may affent to an opinion which is maintained by [z] When Elilni reckons up the modes of revelation, he takes no account of the Mofaic. [a] Peters's Critical DifTert. on Job, p. 151. [e] Rom. ii. 14. and TertuU. cap. ii. [c] Chap. xlii. 8. [d] Chap, xii, 16. xlv. 4. xv, 14. xsvl, 13. xxxi. 33. many. 238 OF THE BOOK OF JOB. many, both Jewifii and Chriftian writers [e], that Job and his friends were enlightened by a prophetic fpirit : as certainly fome tew perfons among the Gen- tiles were [f] ; and the conviction that Job was to be confidered as a patriarchal prophet, was probably the inducement, which influenced the Jews to admit his work into the canon of their fcripture, if we fuppofe it to have been written by himfelf ; and not to have been compiled by an infpired author of their own nation. Job and his friends were unqueftionably diftln- guiflied by extraordinary marks of God's favour ; and we are authorized by the book to confider them as fometimes favoured by divine revelations. Eliphaz received inftruclion, " from the vifions of the night [g],'* and heard the voice of a fpirit, in fecret ftill whifpers, Hke the " ftill fmall voice" which Elijah heard [h]. Elihu alfo felt a divine power [i] ; but Job himfelf appears to have been invefled with pecu- [e] Patrick's Appendix to his Paraplirafe. St. Auflin calls Job " Eximius Prophetarum." [f] As Balaam, whom the Jews conceived to have been the fame perfon with Elihu. [g] Job iv. 13, 16. Hence R. Sol. Jarchi was led to re- mark, that the Shechinah was upon Eliphaz. [h] I Kings xix. 12. [i] Chap, xxxii. 8, 18. xxxiii. 15, 16. The name of Elihu, which fignitics " He is my God," and other circumftances, have led fome writers to confider him as a reprefentativc of the Mef- liah ; but it mud detrad from the dignity of his character to find that he condemns with too much fevcrity, and even millatcs the fentimcnts of Job* Q liar OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 2^^ liar dignity ; and he enjoyed pras-eminent diftinOiions above the Gentile prophets. God fpoke to him " out of the whirlwind Ik];" and it has been fup- pofed, from the fifth verfe of the forty-fecond chapter, that he beheld the manifeftation of the divine pre- fence: as perhaps, in a glorious cloud, for fo the feventy underilood it. He undoubtedly in many places, fpeaks by the fuggeftion of the Holy Spirit j and exprclles himfelf concerning the doctrine of gra- tuitous juftification [i,], and of a future ftate, with a clearnefs and information that were evidently the refult of prophetic apprehenfion. We can, indeed, attribute the precife and emphatic declaration con- tained in the nineteenth chapter, to nothing but im- mediate revelation from God ; and muil, agreeably to the opinion of the mofl judicious writers, ancient and modern, confider it as an evident profeffion of faith in a Redeemer [mj, and of entire confidence in .a refurrection and future judgment [n]. Having [k] So the fpirlt defcended on the apoftles at the feaft of Pen- tecoft, *' fuddenly, with a ruftiing mighty wind." [l] Chap. ix. 2, 3. XXV. 4. Hodges's eiiquiry into the defign of the Book of Job. [m] It is not neceflary from this expreffion to conclude, that the whole myftery of the redemption was revealed to Job ; but only that he entertained aconfolatory affurance of feme future perfonage, who fliould appear to deliver mankind from the curfe of Adam, and to judge the world in rig^hteoufnefs. [n] Chap. xix. 25—29. Some Commentators, it is true, confider this palTage as expreffive of Job's confidence only in a prefent reflorarion] which is to reftri)c"H' 0 xi'ptoj. The author of which mufl have believed that Job defcribcs his alTurance of a future refurreftion in this book, as particularly, in the con- tefted paflage ; for where clfe in the Old Teftamcnt is it writi ten that Job fliould rife again ? [s] The book of Job, it is faid, was read in the ancient church on fall days, and at Eafter : Job being confidered as a figure of Chrift. Vid. Origen in Job, of OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 251 of him, not from the unguarded expreflions which his fufterings occafionally provoked [t] ; but from the dehberate flrains of his piety ; and his patient fubmiffion to the divine will : under every poffible afflidion but the pangs of guilt, and the terrors of defpair. If the miftaken feverity of his friends fome- times provoked him to tranfgrefs the decency of an humble and modefl doubt of his own innocence, yet reproof and recolledion inflantly called him to a confelTion of unworthinefs, and to a becoming re- fignation to the divine decrees [u]. It was, indeed, hi vindication of his own charader that he difplayed the fair defcription of his life : eminently diftinguilhed as it was for integrity and benevolence ; and it has been a want of fufficicnt attention to the fcope of the dialogue, and to the firm principles to which Job, notwithftanding his occafional impatience, ultimately adheres, that has caufed fuch flrange mifconceptions as have been entertained with refped to his character [x] and difcourfe. To obviate, however, all erro- neous objections to an example which the facred writers have confidered as excellent [y] ; and to pre- clude falfe notions concerning fentiments reprefented as confiftent with the divine wifdom fz], it is necef- fary to advert to the provocations which Job had re* [t] Chap. vi. 26. [u] Chap. vlii. 20. xxxiv. 31, 32. xl. 4, 6. xlii. 3, 4, [x] Garnett and Warburton. [y] Ezek. xiv. 14. James v. u. Vid. alfOj-Tobit. li. iz, yer. 15, Vulgate. [z] ChryfoH. Horn. v. ad Pop. Antioch. ceived. 252 OF THE BOOK OF JOB. ceived ; and to the complicated diftrefs that difcon- certed his mhid, and irritated his paflions. His friends, who anpear to have vifited him with cha- ritable intentions [a], did in reality only aggravate his misfortunes ; for having taken up a common, but mlftakcn notion, that profperity and affliclions were dealt out in this life according to the deferts of men [b], they accufe him cf having merited his extra- ordinary misfortunes by fome concealed guilt [c] ; and are led on by the heat of contention to " vex his foul by thtir reproaches, and to break him in pieces with words." Job, felicitous to refute the charge, and to vindicate the ways of Providence, affirms, on the contrary, that adverfity is no proof of divine wrath, but often defigned as a trial [dJ. That in this life the good and the bad indifcriminate- ly flourifh, and often perifli in promifcuous deftruc- tion [e] ; and that, confequently, there muft be fomc period for judgment and equal retribution, for which the wicked are referved [f]. With refped to him- felf, he difclaims all fear from reflecting on his pad conduct ; and then defcribes with fomewhat too much of pride and confidence, the excellency of thofe virtues, with which he had '* arrayed" his profperity. With an impatience, likewife, that his [a] Chap. ii. 1 1 — 13. [e] Chap. iv. 7, 8. [c] Chap. iv. 7, 8, 9. vlil. 13. xviii. 21. xxii. 5. [n] Chap. vii. 18. xxili. 10. [eJ Chap. ix. 22 — 24. xii. 6. xxi. 7 — 15. [f] Chap. xxi. 3Q. xxvi. 6. xxvii. 8, 9, 19. xxxi. 3. fufl?erings. CF THE BOOK OF JOB. 253 fufFerings, great as they were, could not juflify, he profeffes a thorough defpondence and difregard with refped to the prefent life ; earneftly wiflies [g] for death, and appeals to the decifions of a future judg- ment for juftification [h[|. For this afTumption, and for this impatience, he is juflly cenfured by Elihu : whofe " wrath was kindled againfl Job, becaufe he juftified himfelf rather than God." Elihu, however, reprehends him with rather too much harflinefs, and in fome meafure mifreprefents his fentiments [i]. Yet inafmuch as Elihu had refted the equity of the divine difpenfations on the acknowledged attributes of God, he had reafoned juflly as far as he had pro- ceeded ; and therefore, perhaps, is only tacitly [k] cenfured by the deity, when God pronounces that " Job had fpoken the thing that was right." God even purfues the argument of Elihu, and in a (file of inimitable majefty, proclaims his own uncontrolled power, and unfathomable wifdom to the difcoun- [g] Chap. vi. 8 — II, vil. 7. ix. 21. x. i. xvi. 22. xvii. II — 16. Thefe paflages fully prove, that Job did not look forward to any temporal reftoration : of which he declares alfo the improbability, and laments only that he fliould not live to fee his reputation vindicated. Vid. chap. xiv. 7 — 14. vii. 8 — 10. X. 21, 21. Peters's Diflert. on Job, Part II. feft. 4. Scott's Verfion of Job, Appendix II. [h] Chap. xiii. 15 — 19. xiv. iz — 15. xvi. 19. xvii. i^. xxiii. 3 — 10. xxvi. 6. xxx. 23, 24. xxxi. 14. all confiftently with chap. xix. 25 — 29. [i] Chap, xxxiii. 8, 9. xxxlv. 5, g, 35. [k] Some have conceived that the opening of God's fpaech. was addrefled as a reproof to Elihu, though the fubflance of the aafwer was defigned for Job. tenancing 254 OF THE BOOK OF JOB. tcnancing of human knowledge. After the moll awful and impreffive reprefcntation of his own glo- rious works and attributes [l], and after fome re- prehenfion of Job, for his arrogant profcllion of in- nocence, the Almighty condemns the falfe reafoning of the three friends, and ratifies the conclufion which Job had made with refpect to a future judgment [m[]. Such is the fcope of the difcourfe, which hnely unfolds God's dcfigns in dealing out afiliclions to mankind [n] ; which, when it firft appeared, muft have conveyed truths that unaflifted reafon had not learnt ; and have been well calculated to refute the abfurd notions which then began to rife concerning the two independent principles of good and evil [o]. When the book was received into the Jewifli canon, it muft likewife have been well adapted to counteract any erroneous conceptions that might have been formed from a conhdcration of the temporal promifes of the Law : which though they covenanted prefent reward to the Hebrew nation, confidcred as a com- [l] Chap. xl. 8, TO. [m] Job had fpokeu right by having rccourfc to the .ir- rangemcnts of a future judgment. If the divine juftice did not reft on this foundation, it muft have executed its decrees m the prefent life, as the friends of Job maintained. God docs not condefcend to explain the equity of his own counfels any farther than by approving the convidions of Job; this was never qucftioued in the controverfy, but defended on both fides, though on dilfercnt principles. [n] Job's charader was fully proved and pcrfccled by this trial, and the pride and impatience of his temper corrected. [o] Ufe and Intent of Prophecy, p. 207. m unity. OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 2^^ tiaiimty, by no means aflured to individuals a juft and exa6t remuneration in the prefent life [p]. The book likewife admirably ferves to prove, that the power of temptation, allowed to evil fpirits, is re- drifted in merciful confideration of human weaknefs. It exhibits in an interefling hiflory, the viciflitudes of human affairs. It illuftraies the danger of con- tention ; the ingratitude and bafenefs of common friendihip [ qJ ; the vigilant care of providence j and the neceflity of refignation to the divine will. Through the whole work we difcover religious in- flrudion fhining forth amidfl: the venerable fnnplicity of ancient manners. It every where abounds with the nobleft fentiments of piety, uttered with the fpirit of infpired convidion. It is a work unrivalled for the magnificence of its language, and for the beautiful and fublime images which it prefents [r]. In the wonderful fpecch of the Deity, every line de- lineates his attributes, every fentence opens a pidure of fome grand objed in creation [s] characterized by [p] This is evident from the relations of facred hiflory ; from the complaints of the Pfalmift ; and from the fuffcrings and de- nvmciations of the Prophets. [ qJ J^^ ^^^** I ^• [r] The book, in fome of its beauties of imagery and de- fcription, has been compared with, and juftly preferred to the works of Homer. Vid. Welley's Dilf. VI. ex Gnom. Homer. Jacob du Port. [s] Various have been the conjeftures concerning the Be- hemoth, and the Leviathan, which are fo forcibly defcribed in this book. The former is by fome fuppofed to have been the elephant, by others, the hippopotamus ; the latter is 9 ufually 256 OF THE BOOK OF JOB. by its mofl flriking features. Add to this, that its prophetic parts refled much light on the oeconomy of God's moral government : and every admirer of facred antiquity, every enquirer after religious in- flruclion, will ferioufly rejoice, that the enraptured fentence of Job [t] is realized to a more effectual and unforefeen accomplifhment : that while the me- morable records of antiquity have mouldered from the rock, the prophetic aiTurance and fentiments of Job are graven in fcriptures, that no time fliall alter, no changes fliall eft'acc. ufually reprefented to have been the crocodile. But as the dcfciiptions exceed the charafler of all animals now known, they have been conceived to contain fome myflery. It is one defign of fcripture to convince mankind of ignorance ; and difficulties, while they exercife fagacity, inculcate the ufeful leflbn of humility. Vid. Bochart liierozoicon. Lib. V. c. sr. [t] Chap. xix. 23. OF [ ^Sl ] OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. TH E Book of Pfaltns, which in the Hebrew is entitled Sepher Tehillem [a], that is, the Book of Hymns, or Praifes of the Lord, contains the produdlions of different writers [b]. Thefe pro- duiflions are called, however, the Pfalms of David, becaufe a great part of them was compofed by him, who for his peculiarly excellent fpirit, was diflinguifh- ed by the title of " the Pfalmift [c]." Some of them were perhaps penned before, and fome after the time of David ; but all of them by pcrfons under the influence of the Holy Ghoft, fmce all were [a] In the New Teftament it is called by Chrift and his apoftles, BiC^o; •4"^'^/>'-wi'- Luke xx. 42. Ai5ls i. 20. The word Pfalter is derived from il/aXlrpiot, pfaltery, a mufical inftru- ment, ftiled Nabal in Hebrew. It was ftrung and made of wood in the llile of a harp, and in the fliape of a Greek delta, A. Vid. I Kings x. 12. Athsn. Lib. IV. cap. xxiii. and Calmet's Dill', fur les Inftrum. [b] Hieron. ad Cyprian. & Sophron. Hilar. Prasf. in Pfal. Genebr. in Pfal. i. R. David Kimchi. [c] 2 Sam. xxiii. i, S judged 258 OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. judged worthy to be Inferted into the canon of facred writ. Ezra probably collccled them into one book, and placed them in the order which they now pre- fervc, after they had been previoufly collected in part [d]. It appears that the 150 PHilms therein contained vvere feledcd from a much greater number, which, it may be prefumed, were not fuggefted by the Holy Spirit. The Levites were, indeed, enjoined to prefcrve in the temple [e], all fuch hymns as might l^e compofed in honour of God •, and of thefe, doubtlefs, there mud have been a large quantity ; but fuch only could be admitted into the canon as were evidently infpired corapofitions ; and we may judge of the fcrupulous feverity with which they were examined, fince the numerous hymns of Solo- mon were rejected; and even, as it is faid, fome of David's himfelf were thought unentitled to infertion [f]. The authority of thofe, however, which we now poflefs, is eftabliihed, not only by their rank among the facred writings [g], and by the unvaried teliimony of every age, but I'.kewife by many in- [d] 2 Chron. xxix. 2^ — 28. They wsre fo colle(51ed in the time of Chrilt. ViJ. Luke xx. 42. The fecond rialm is cited by St. Puul in the order in which it now llands, Acts xiii. 33. Vid. Athan. in Synop. torn. ii. p. 86.' Hilar. Prol. in Lib. Ezra iii. 10, 11. & Proleg-. in Pfabn. Eufcb. ad Pfal. Ixxxvi. [il] Jofcph. Antiq. Lib. IIL c. i. & Lib. V. c. i. [[■] The prophets vvere not always empowered to write by the lug^^cltion of the Ipirit ; though St. Anibrofe thoii [i] R. Albo, Maam. III. c. x. Khnchi Madrafli Slllim, vol. ii. The Jewifli gradations of prophecy are often very fancifully determined ; but David muil be pronounced a pro- phet by the Jewifh rule, fince he is a true prophet who is not deceived in foretelling future events. Vid. Maimon..de Fun- dam. Legis, cap. x. § 2. Deut. xviii. 22. Jerem. xxviii. g« Maimon. More Nevoch. Par. II. cap. xlv, S 2 but 26o OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. but from fome internal influence urging, and en- abling him to fpeak and utter inftruclions on divine, as well as human fubjefls, with more than his wonted powers, and in a IVile fuperior to that of the pro- ductions of human abilities. But the prophetic cha- racter of David is efl:abliflied on much higher au- thority, and the importance and clearnefs of his pre- dictions demonftrate his title to the higheft rank among the prophets [k]. Many attempts have been made to afcertain precifely which Pfalms were de- rived from David's pen, as likewife to difcover the authors of the others. Some are faid to have been compofed by Mofes ; and fome were written in, or afttr the captivity [l]. It is neceflary to refer to the commentators at large for various opinions upon this fubjeft ; and without dilating, to canvafs the date and author of each individual Pfalm, or to fpecify the circumflances that occafioned its production, it may be briefly obferved, that the Talmudifts [m] and Maforetic writers admit, as authors of the Pfalms, Adam, Melchifedcc, Abraham, Mofes, the fons of Korah, David, Solomon, Afaph, Jeduthun, and Ethan ; and that Calmet, after a judicious in- vefl;igation of particulars, has adopted nearly the fol- lowing arrangement, if we confider them as dif- tributed in the Hebrew, and in our tranflation. [k] 2 Sam. xxi. i. xxiii. 2. 2 Chron. xxix. 25. Nehem. 3cii. 24. Ezck. xxxiv. 23. Mm. xiii. 35. xxii. 43. xxvli. 35. Markxii. 36. Afts i, 16. 11. 30. Iv. 25. Heb. ill. 7. [l] Lightioot Chron. of Old Tell. Mains CEcon. V. Tefl. Hammond's, Patrick's, and Home's Commentaries. [m] Bava Bathra, cap. i. Kimchi, ^c. Under OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 261 Under the firft head, are twelve Pfalms, of which the chronology is uncertain j viz. i. iv. v. viii. xix. Ixxxi. xc. xci. xcix. ex. cxxxix. cxlv. The firfl of thefe was probably compofed by David, or Ezra ; the Ixxxifl. [n] is attributed to Afaph ; the xcth. to Mofesi and the cxth. to David. The authors of the others are unknown, though foine of them are infcribed to David. Under the fecond head are included the Pfalms which were compofed by David, during the perfe- cution carried on againfl: him by Saul, or other enemies j thefe are in number twenty ; viz. vii. xi. xvi. xvii. xviii. xxii. xxxi. xxxiv. xxxv. lii. liv. Ivi. Ivii. Iviii. lix. Ixiv. cix. cxl. cxli. cxhi. Under the third head are placed fuch as David compofed on difi^rent occafions, after his acceffion to the throne ; thefe, which amount to forty-four, are as follow : ii. vi. ix. xii. xx. xxi. xxiii. xxiv. xxviii. xxix. xxxii. xxxiii. xxxviii. xxxix. xl. xh. li. Ix. Ixi. Ixii. Ixiii. Ixv. Ixviii. Ixix. Ixx. Ixxxvi. xcv. xcvi. ci. ciii. civ. cv. cvi. cviii. cxviii. cxix. cxx. cxxi. cxxii. cxxiv. cxxxi. cxxxiii. cxliii. cxli v. The fourth head contains thofe which were writ- ten by David during the rebellion of Abfalom, amounting to fix j which are the iiid. xlii. xhii. Iv. Ixxi. Ixxxiv. The fifth head includes thofe written from the death of Abfalom to the captivity ; thefe, which ap- [y] This was probably defigned to be fang In the Temple \ipon the feafl of Trumpets j as alfo at the feafl of Taber-* jiticles. S 3 pear 262 OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. pear to be ten, are the xxxth. xlv. Ixxii. Ixxlv. Ixxvi, Ixxviii. Ixxix. Ixxxii. Ixxxiii. cxxxii. Of thefe, pro- bably, David compofed the x?;xth. the Ixxiid. and poliibly the Ixxviiith. Th<: Ixxvlth. feems likely to have been produced after the miraculous deliverance from the AlVyrian army, in the days of Hezekiah. The fixth head comprehends the Pfalms compofed during the diftrefles and captivities of the church ; thefe were v^^ritten chiefiy by Afaph and Korah, and their defcendants. They may be reckoned thirty in number, and are the xth. xiii. xiv. xv. xxv. xxvi, xxvii. xxxvi. xxxvii. xliv. xlix. 1. liii. Ixvii. Ixxiii. Ixxv. Ixxvii. Ixxx. Ixxxviii. Ixxxix. xcii. xciii. xciv. cii. cxv. cxxiii. cxxv. cxxix. cxxx. cxxxvii. T o the lail head are alligned thofe hymns of jov and thankfgiving which were written, as well after other deliverances as upon the releafe from the Baby- lonilh captivity, and at the building and dedication of the temple. Thefe, which arc tv^'enty-eight, are the xlvith. xlvii. xlviii. Ixvi. Ixxxv. Ixxxvii. xcvii. xcviii. c. cvii. cxi. cxii. cxiii. cxiv. cxvi, cxvii. cxxvi. cxxvii. cxxviii. cxxxii. cxxxiv. cxxxv. cxxxvi, cxxxviii. cxlvi. cxlvii. cxiviii. cxlix. cl. According to Calmet's account, from which this in fome refpeds varies, only forty-five Pfalms are pofitively afTigned to David -, though probably many more (hould be afcribed to him. It is, however, of lefs confequence to determine precifely by whom the Holy Spirit delivered thefe oracles, fmce we have jjidubitable evidence of the f?crcd character of the 5 whole OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 263 whole books for It is colleftively cited in fcripture [o], and is prophetical in almoft every part f p] ; and feveral of thofe perfons who are fuppofed to have contributed to the compofition of the work, are ex- prefsly reprefented as prophets in fcripture [ q,]. The name of David is prefixed to about feventy- three ; and many perfons have colleded from the lad verfe of the feventy-fecond Pfalm, which reports, that *' the prayers of David the fon of JefTe, are ended," that David's hymns do there conclude ; and if we confider that this Pfalm was probably produced on the eflablifhment of Solomon on the throne of his father, it is not unlikely that it contains the lad cf- fufions of David's prophetic- fpirit [r] ; but as his compofitions are not all placed together, many which follow in the order of the book, may have been writ- ten by him ; and we may fuppofe him to have been the author of at lead all thofe which are not particu- [o] The evangelical writers eke the Pfalms in general un- der the name of David. [p] Gutheri Theolog, Proph. p. 98. Eientius ad 2 Jam. xxiii. 26. [ qJ\ Heman, Afaph, and Jeduthun, fuppofed authors of feme of the Pfalms, are in fcripture called leers, and faid to have prophelied. Vid. 2 Chron. xxix. 30. xxxv. 15. i Chron. XXV. I — 5. Vide alfo, i Kings iv. 30, 31. where Ethan (whom fome confider as the author of Pfal. Ixxxviii. and Ixxxix.) is fpoken of as eminent for wifdom. [r] In the profpetl: of the profperity of his fon's govern- ment, David, on the flrength of divine promifes, breaks out into an enraptured defcrlption of the duration, ext^ent, and character of the kingdom of Chriil. Vid. vcr. 7, 11, 12, ij. S 4 larly 264 OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS, larly affigned to others, nor confident with his time [s], The Pfalnis are certainly not arranged with any regard to chronology [t], and many which fol- low the feventy-fccond in the order of the book, are ii;f ribed with the name of David. It muft be obferved, however, that the titles prefixed to the Pfalms, fome of which are not in the Hebrew manu- fcripts, are often of very queftionable authority ; and foinetimcs undoubtedly not of equal antiquity with the tej^t, being pollibly affixed as conjectural. They wxre not always defigned to point out the au- thor, but often apply to the muficians [u] appointed to fet them to mufic. They likewife fometimes ap- pear to be only terms of inftruments [x], or direc- tions for the choice of tunes [y]. But it muft be [s] St. Peter cites the fecond Pfalm as David's, though it is not infcribed to hi-n ; and others which have no title, were undoubtedly written by David. Coinp. Pfal. xcv. 7, 8. with Heb. iv. 7. Pfiil. xcvi. with i Chron. xvi. 7, &c. Pfal. cv. with I Chron. xvi. S. Pfalm cvi. 47, 48. with i Chron. xvi. 35, 36. On the other hand, fome which have no title were not written by David, as cxxxvii. which was not written till the Babylonlfli captivity. [t] Hieron. in Jerem. xxv. [u] Some of the names prefixed to the Pfalms are alTigned to the Muficians whom David appointed. Vid. i Chron. xv. 16 — 22. xvi. 7. The word Lamnctzeach is fuppofed to mean, " to the leader of the band." It is derived from IMnatzeach, which fignifies Overfeer. [x] As, perhaps, Nehiloth, Sheminith, Gitith, INIichtam, Aijeleth Shahar, Scc. Vid. Geirus ad Pfa. v. Michaelis, &c. [y] As Neginoth. Vid. Burney's Hift. Muf. i vol. p. 235. Harmer's Obfervations on PalTagcs in Scripture, vol. ii. ch. ii. pbferv. III. 4 confeffedj OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 265 confelTed, that upon this fubjecl the opinions are fo various and conjeftural, that nothing fatisfaftory can be offered, any more than upon the word Selah [zj, which fo often occurs. Many fanciful divifions of this book have been made. The Jews, at fome uncertain period, divided it into five fedions, probably in imitation of the divi- fion of the Pentateuch [a]. The four firft books of this divifion terminate with the word Amen ; the fifth with Halleluiah. Our prefent order of the Pfalms is, perhaps, that In which they were fung In the tem- ple [b], and this may account for the occalional re- petitions. Moses may be confidered as the firfl compofer of facred hymns [c] ; all nations feem afterwards to have adopted this mode of exprelhng their religious fentiments, and to have employed hymns in cele- brating the praifes of their refpedive deities [d], on [z] Selah is tranflated in the Septuaglnt o'la^/a^./xa, a paufc i« finging, or a change in tune. Vid. Hieron. EpilL ad Mar- cel. & Calmct Differt. fur Selah. [a] Madrafli Sillim. fol. 2. vol. i. Hieron. Praf. in Pfalm. 3uxt. Heb. Verit. Hilar. Prol. in Pfalm. Huet afligns this divifion to the time of the Maccabees. Vid. Prop. IV. ia Pfalm. Gregor. Nyff. in Pfalm, Lib. I. c. v. Lib. IL c. xi. 2 Mace. ii. 13, 14. [b] Euthym. Prol. in Pfalm. Comp. Pfalms xiv, and liii. [c] Exod. XV. Deut. xxxii. [d] Eufeb. Hift. Eccl. Lib. If. c. xvii. Pharmut. de Nat. Deor. Targ. in Cent. i. i. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. VL Porphyry de Abftin. Lib, IV. h 8. Alex, ab Alex. Genial. Dier. Lib. IV. c. xvii, an 266 OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. an idea derived, perhaps, from revealed truth, that they were acceptable to the divine nature. The compofition of facred hymns was carried to great excellence by fucceeding prophets i but was improved to its higheft perfedion under David ; who, if he did not firft introduce, certainly eftablifii- ed the cuftom of finging them in public fervice [e], with alternate interchange of verfe, as in our cathe- dral fervice [f]. David was, indeed, a great patron of facred mufick [g] ; he introduced many new in- ftruments and improvements in this fpiritual part of the Jewifli worfhip, which was fuperinduced over that of facrifice [h]. The pradice of Pfalmody muft have received fome interruption from the fuf- penfion of the temple fervice, during the captivity [i]. It was however reflored, with lefs fplendour, by Ezra [k1 ; and continued till it received the fanc- tion of Chrifl and his apoftles, who theinfeJves recom- mended the cuftom by their precept and example [l]. Th« [e] I Chron. vi. 31. xvl. 6, 7. Ecclus xlvii. 9. [f] Ezra iii. 1 1. [g] I Chron. xvl. 42. xxiii. 5. xxv. i. 2 Chron. vil. 6, xxix. 26. and Jofeph Antiq. Lib. VII. [h] Aiiguft. de Civic. Dei, Lib. XVII. c. xiv. Codurc, Catcn. in Pfahn. Prajp. p. 10. [i] Pfalm cxxxvii. [k] Ezra iii. 11. Nehem. xli. 24, 31, 38, 40. [l] Matt. xxvi. 30. I Cor. xiv. 15. Ephef. v. ig. Col. iii. 16. Rev. xiv. 2, 3. Vid. Cahnet's Preface, Boffuct, Ham- mond, Allix, &:c. All vocal and inftruinental performers were cxeUuled from the Jcwifli fvnagogues after the delbudion of Jerufalem. The little finging now ufed is of modern intro* dudion. OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 267 The hymn which our Saviour fung with Ws difci- ples at the conckifion of the laft fupper, is generally fuppofed to have confifted of the Pfalms that are con- tained between the one hundred and thirteenth and the one hundred and eighteenth inclufive [m]. This was called by the Jews the great Hallel, or Hymn, and was ufually fung by them at the celebration of the PafTover. Chrill alfo exclaimed, in his folemn invocation on God from the crofs, in the complaints of the twenty-fecond Ffalm [n], and breathed out his iaft fentiments of expiring piety in the words of David [o]. *' No tongue of man or angel," fays Dr. Hammond, " can convey an higher idea of any book, and of their felicity who ufe it aright." The chriftian church has therefore, by divine appoint- ment, adopted the Pfalms as a part of its fervice, and chofen from its firft inftitution to celebrate the praifes of God in the language of fcripture [p] j and thefe ^ facred ^uflion. The Jews, indeed, confider it as improper to in- dulge in fuch expreffion of joy before the advent of their ex- pefted Meffiah. The German Jews, however, entertain dif- ferent notions, and have a mufical eftablifliment. They have, likcwife, fome melodies, fuppofed to be very ancient ; but it is thought that the ancient diatonic notes are preferved more in the Pfalmody of our church, than in the Jevvifh fynagogues. [m] Buxtorf. Lex. Talmud, i^'^n. Col. vi. 13. Lightfoot, vol. ii. p. 354, 444. [n] Comp. Matt, xxvii. 46. with Pfa. xxii. i. [o] Comp. Luke xxiil. 46. with Pfii. xxxi. t;. [p] I Cor. xlv. 15. Ephef. v. 19. Colof. iii. 16. James V. 13. Conllit. Apoft. Lib. II. c. Ivii. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. I^ib. III. c. xxxiii. Theod, Hill. Ecclef. Lib. II, c. xxiv. Auc:ull. 263 OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. facred hymns arc, indeed, admirably calculated for every purpofe of devotion. The cxprefhons and defcriptions of the Pfalms may feem to fome perfons to have been appropriate and peculiar to the Jewifh circumftances ; and Da- vid, indeed, employs figures and allufions applicable to the old difpenfation. But as in recording tempo- ral deliverances and bleflings vouchfafed to the Jews, we commemorate fpiritual advantages thereby fig- nified, we ufe the Pfalms with the greateft propriety Augafl-. Conf. Lib. IX. c. vi. § 2. Lib. X. c. xxxiii. § 2. PLn. Epift. Lib. X. Epift. xcvii. Tertul. Apol. c. ii. p. 3. c. xxxix. p. 36. Fabric. Bib. Graec. vol. v. c. i. The prac- tice of pfalni-finoing, as ufed in our choir, is derived, pro- bably, from the ancient alternate chanting of the Jews (Ezra jii. II. Nehem. xii. 24.) authorized by the apoftles, and adopted into the earliefl: chriflian churches. It was certainly inftituted at Antloch, between A. D. 347 and 356, by Fla- vianus and Diodorus ; who divided the choir into two parts, which fang alternately. Singing was foon afterwards intro- d.iced into the Wellern church by St. Ambrofe ; and adopted •with improvements hv Gregory the Great, who eftabliflicd the grave Gregorian chant which now prevails in the Romifh c'lurch. Choral mufick was brought into England by the cjmpanions of AuiVin the IMonk, A. D. 596, and firft eOablifli- ed i.t Canterbury. Objcdions were often made in this countiy to church muf.c, but it was approved by the compilers of King Edward's Liturgy, and foon after was compofed the formula that now regulates (with little variation) the choral fervice, which, though occafionally fufpended till the reftora- tion of Charles the Second, has lince been uniformly con- tinued. Vid. Mart. Gcrbert. Mufic Sac. Bedford's Temple Mufic. Hawkins's Hill, of Mufic, vol, i. and ii, Buincy's Hill, of Muiic, vol. i. p. 154, 5ic. in OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 269 in our church. We need, as an elegant commenta- tor has obferved, but fubftitute the Meffiah for Da- vid, the Gofpel for the Law, and the church of Chrift for the church of Ifrael, We need but con- fider the ceremonies and facrlfices of the Law as the emblems of fpiritual fervice, of which every part hath its correfpondent figure ; and we appropriate the Pfahiis to our own ufe as the nobleft treafure of infpired wifdom [ qJ. They finely illuflrate the con- nexion which fubfifted between the two covenants, and fhed an evangelical light on the Mofaic difpen- fation by unveiling its inward radiance. The vene- ration for them has in all ages of the church been confiderable. The fathers aifure us, that in the earlier times, the whole book of Pfalms was generally learnt by heart [r], and that the minifters of every gradation were expedled to be able to repeat them from memory : that Pfalmody was every where a conflant attendant at meals and in bufinefs : that it enlivened the focial hours, and foftened the fatigues of life. The Pfalms have, indeed, as Lord Claren- don obferves, been ever thought to contain fome- thing extraordinary for the inftrudion and reforma- tion of mankind [s]. Numberless [ Q_] Bp. Home's Preface to Com. on the Pfalms. [r] " Paeri modolantur doml, vlri foro circumferunt,'* {^lys an ancient writer. Vid. Bafil, & Ambrofe Prasf. ia Pfalm. [s] Home's Preface. It is remarkable, that this Book of Pfalms is exaftly the kind of work which Plato wiflied to fee for the inftruftion of youth, but conceived it impoffible to ex- ecute, 270 OF THE BOOK OF PSALiMS. Numberless are the teftimonies that might be produced in praife of thefe admirable compofitions, which contain, indeed, a complete epitome of the hiftory, doctrines, and indrudions of the Old Tefla- ment [t] ; delivered with every variety of flile that may encourage attention, and framed with an ele- gance of conftruction fuperior far to the fmeft models in which Pagan antiquity hath inclofed its mythology, Thefe invaluable fcriptures are daily repeated with- out wearinefs, though their beauties are often over- looked in familiar and habitual perufal. As hymns immediately addreffed to the Deity, they reduce righteoufnefs to practice, and while we ^acquire the fentiments, we perform the offices of piety ; as while we fupplicate for bleffings we celebrate the- memorial of former mercies. Here, likewife, while in the exercife of devotion, faith is enlivened by the difplay of prophecy. Da- vid, in the fpirit of infpiration, uttered his oracles with the moft lively and cxadt defcription. He ex- prefled the whole fcheme of man's redemption : the incarnation [u] ; the paffion ; the refurreftion [x] ; and afcenfion of the Son of God, rather as a wit- nefs, than as a prophet. As an eminent type of his ecute, as above the power of human abilities. T»% h 0£a, n 0£»8 T»»o;, a.y e»y/ but this muft bc the work of a God, or of fome divine peribn. [t] Luther called the Pfalms a final! Bible. The Pfaltcr was one of the firft books printed after the difcovery of the art. [u] Pfa. ii. 8. Ads xiii. 33. Talmud Sucah. cap. v. Abcn- Ezra. R. Kimchi. [x] Pfalin xvi. 9 — 11. dcfcendant. OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 27I defcendant, he is often led in the retrofpeft of the circuinftances of his own hfe, to fpeak of thofe of Chrilt : while he is defcribing his own enemies and fufFerings, the fpirit enlargeth his fentiments, and fwelleth out his exprefTions to a proportion adapted to the charafter of the Mefliah. Hence even the perfonal fuffcrings of Chrift are defcribed with minute and accurate fidehty ; and in the anticipated fcene of prophecy we behold him pidured on the crofs, with every attendant circumftance of mockery and horror, even to the " parting of his garments," and to the " calling lots for his veflure [y]." David apprifed that the Meffiah fhould fpring from his own immediate family [zl, looked forward with peculiar intered to his characler and affli6lions. In the foreknowledge of thofe fuiferings which Chrift fliould experience from his " familiar friends," and from the numerous adverfaries of his church, David fpeaks with the highell indignation againft thofe ene- mies who prefigured the foes of Chrift ; and impre- cates, or predids, the fevereft vengeance againft them [a]. So fignal a reprefentative of Chrift, in- deed, [y] Pfalm xxii. 16 — 18. compared with Matth. xxvii. 35, Burnet's loth aiiJ nth fermons in Boyle's ieftures. [z] 2 Sam. vii. 12. Pfalm cxxxii. 11, 18. [a] The feverity with which David inveighs againft the wicked, has been erroneoufly confidered as inconfiftcnt with the Ipirit of true religion. 'I'he paflkges, however, which are objetled to on this fcore, are either prophetic threats, or general denunciations of God's wrath againft (in, as it were, perfonilied. It is the fpirit, rather than David, which utters its 272 OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. deed, was David confidered by the facred writers, that our Saviour is often exprefsly diftinguiflied in fcrlpture by his name [b] ; and the Jews themfelves perceived that the Mefiiah and his kingdom were ihadowed out as capital objects in the defcriptions of the Pfahnlft. Senfible that what David uttered as often not applicable to his own perfon and hillory [c], muft have had reference to fome future charac- ter, they tranfcribed whole paffages from them into their prayers, for the fpeedy coming of the great ob- je£b of their hopes ; though with that blindnefs that characterizes their conduct with the marks of glaring inconfiftency, they deny that thcfe fpirltual allufions are applicable to the perfon of our Saviour ; and therefore fllU pray in the words of the Pfalmift, for the arrival of the Meffiah [d]. JosEPHus afierts [e], and moft of the ancient writers maintain, that the Pfalms were compofed in its imprecations againll: the unrighteous enemies of the church. Forgivenels and mercy towards the perfon of his own enemies were dilKnguillicd parts of David's charader, of which we fee very beautiful proofs in i Sam. xxiv. 4, 10. xxvi. 7 — 13. 2 Sam. i. 17 — 27. xix. 16 — 23. He curfed only thofe whom God inftruded him to curfc ; and the church, in its public fervicc, joins in thcfe curfes, as a religious fociety, and con- liftently with the fpirit of charity. [e] Ifa. liii. 3. Jcrem. xxx. 9. Ezck. xxxiv. 23. Hof. [c] Pfa. xvi. 10. xxii. 16 — iS, &c. [d] Chandler's Defence, ch. iii. feft. 2. Comp. Pfa. xxxii. with 13th, 16th, iSth, and other prayers. Hofan Rabba. [e] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. VII. c. x. Hieron. Epiil:. ad Paulin. metre. bt* THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 27I metre. They have undoubtedly a peculiar confor- mation of fentences, and a meafured diftribution of parts. Many of them are elegiac, and moft of Da- vid*s are of the Lyric kind. There is no fufficient reafottj however, to believe, as fome writers have imagined, that they were written in rhyme, or in any of the Grecian meafures. Some of then! are acrofric -, and though the regulations of the Hebrew meafure are now lofl:> there can be no doubt, from their harmonious niodulation, that they were written with fome kind of metrical order, and they muft have been compofed in accommodation to the mea- fure, to which they were fet [f]. The Maforetic writers have marked them in a manner different from the other facred writings [g]. The Hebrew copies and the Septuagint verfion of this book contain the fame number of Pfalms 5 only the Septuagint tranflators have, for fome reafon which does not appear, thrown the ninth and tenth into one [h] ; as alfo the one hundred and fourteenths and [f] It is probable, that the Pfalms were originally divided into verfes terminating with the conclufion of the fenfcjj though many of the Jews maintain, that the Maforites intro* duced the diilinftion. Vid. Buxtorf. Com. Maforet, p. 38; [g] Some perfons fuppofe, that the points were at firft mu« iical charadlers, and, it is faid, that they flill fcrve, not only to mark the accentuation in reading, but alfo to regulate the melody in finging the prophecies ; and that as to high and low, as well as to long and fliort notes. Vid. Burney's Kifto bf Mufic, vol. i. p. 2c;i. [h] So that the Romanifls, who ufe St. Jcrom's tranflationo .reckon one bclilnd us from the xth. to the cxivth. and two T from 274 ®^ '^^^ BOOK OF PSALMS. and the one hundfed and fifteenth ; and have divided the one hundred and fixteenth, and the one hundred and foi»ty-feventh> eadh into two. In the Syriac [i], and Arabic verfions. Indeed, and alfo In moft copies of the Septuagint, as well as in an Anglo-Saxon verfion, there is annexed to the hundred and fifty canonical Pfalms, an additional hymn, which is en- titled, " a Pfalm of thankfgiving of David, -u hen he had vanquiflied Goliah.'* This though admitted by fome [k] as authentic, was probably (as it is not in the Hebrew) a fpurious work of fome Hcllenlfli- cal Jew j who might have compiled it out of the writings of David, Ifaiah, and Ezeklel. The verfion of the Pfalms in our Bible, which was made by the tranflators employed under James the FIrfl, is pofle-* rior to that printed in our Prayer-books, which was executed in 1539 [l]. This lad, as very excellent, and familiarized by cuftom, was retained in the Liturgy, though as tranflated chiefly from the Sep- tuagint, with fome variation in conformity to the from thence to the cxvith. and af^ain one from thence to the cxlvilth. from whence they continue to agree with us. [i] It is fail! in the Syriac, that fome add twelve Pfalms, which however are there rejeded as without authority. [k] Athan. in Synop. [l] Introduction, p, 35. This was Tyndal's and Cover* dale's tranflation, correfted by Tonftal and Heath. In this the fourteenth Pfalm contains eleven verfes ; whereas in the Hebrew, and in our Bible, it contains but feven (or rather eight). The three verfes are, however, genuine, though loft from the Hebrew, for they are in the Septuagint, and arc cited by St. Paul. Vid. Rom. iii,. 13—18. Hebrew, OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 2f§ Hebrew, corrupted by the Maforetic points, it does not fo exadlly correfpond with the original as does that in our Bibles [mJ, David was the fon of Jefle, of the tribe of Judah^ a defcendant of that family to which God's covenant Was made. He was born about A. M. 2920, and lived feventy years, during forty of which he was in pofleffion of the throne of Ifrael [nJ, being raifed by God from an humble to a cohfpicuous flation, that the genealogy of the Meffiah might be difplayed, and afcertained with more clearnefs and diftindion [o]« He was eminently diftinguiflied for every great and amiable quality. The particulars of his interefting life are difplayed with peculiar minutenefs in the fa- cred hiftory ; and many of his Pfalms are fo cha- racteriflic of the circumftances under which they were compofed, that there cannot be a more en« [m] Where the tranflators of the verfion publlflied in dur prayer-books have varied from the Septuagint, and followed the Hebrew Maforetic copies, the Hebrew text, if read with= but the points, would be as coiifillent with the Septuagint^ and other ancient verfions, as it is with the tranflation in our Bible. In the inftances, then, where the authors of the ver» fion in the Liturgy have varied, in compliance with the Ma= foretic authority, they have generally erred. Vid. Dr. Brettj and Johnfon, at end of Holy David. [n] He reigned over Judah feven years and fix months, aild in Jerufiilem over all Ifrafcl and Judah thirty-three yearSj being anointed long before he came into poflelfion of the ihrone. Vid. 2 Sam. xxiii. 2. and Chandler. [o] The word David implies " beloved." Vid. i Sam. slii. 14, and xvi. t8. Bp. Porteous's fermon on David's sha*- T 2 gaging 276 OF THC BOOK OF PSALMS. gaging tafk, than that of tracing their connection with the events of his hiflory ; and of difcovering the occafions on which they were feverally produced, in the feeling and defcriptive fentiments which they contain. If in the fucceflive fcenes of his life, ws behold him adive in the exercife of thofe virtues which his piety produced, we here contemplate him in a no lefs attractive point of view. In this book we find him a fmcere fervant of God, divefted of all the pride of royalty ; pouring out the emotions of his foul, and unfolding its pious fentiments in every viciffitude of condition. At one time we have the prayers of diftrefs ; at another, the praifes and ex- ultation of triumph. Hence are the Pfalms ad- mirably adapted to all circumftances of life, and ferve alike for the indulgence of joy, or the foothing of forrow ; they chafe -away defpondence and alllic- tion, and furnifh gladnefs with the drains of holy and religious rapture. OF [ 277 ] OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. TH E Proverbs, as we are informed at the be- ginning, and in other parts of the book [a], were written by Solomon, the fon of David ; a man, as the facred writings affure us, peculiarly en- dued with divine wifdom [b]. Whatever ideas of his fuperior underftanding we may be led to form by the particulars recorded of his judgment and attain- ments, we (hall find them amply juflified, on peru- fmg the works which remain in tedimony of his abilities., This enlightened monarch, being defirous of employing the wifdom which he had received to the advantage of mankind, produced feveral works for their inftrudion. Of thefe, however, three only were admitted into the canon of the facred writ by Ezra i the others being either not defigned for re- ligious inftru£lion, or fo mutilated by time and acci- [a] Vid. chap. 5. i. xxv. i. £b] Vid. I Kings iii. 12. iv. 29—31. xi. 9. a Chion. u 12. T f dent^ 27S OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. dent, as to have been judged imperfedt. The book of Proverbs, that of Ecclefiaftes, and that of the Song of Solomon, are all that remain of him, who i$ related to have fpoken " three thoufand proverbs [c] j" whofe " fongs were a thoufand and five ;" and who " fpake of trees, from the cedar that is in X-ebanon, even to the hyfibp that fpringeth out of the wall ;" who " fpake alfo of beafts, and of fowls, ^nd of creeping things, and of fi{hes." If, how- ever, many valuable writings of Solomon have perill- ed, we have reafon to be grateful for what ftill re- mains. Of his proverbs and fongs the moft excellent have been providentially preferved ; and as we poflefs bis do6lrinal and moral works, we have no right to murmur at the lofs of his phyfical and philofophical produ£tions, . This book of Proverbs contains the maxims of long experience, framed by one who v^as well cal- culated, by his rare qualities and endowments, to draw jurt leflbns from a comprehenfive furvey of hu- man life. Solomon judicioufly funis up his precepts jn brief fentences, vvhich are well contrived for po- [c] Vid. I Kings iv. 32. Jofephus (Antiq. Lib. VIII. c. ii.) . inagnifies the account of fcripture to 3000 books of Proverbs j find St. Jerom as erroneoufly conceives, that thefc 3000 Pro- verbs are contained in the prefent book ; but we muiJ: admit; that many of this number have peri/lied. Some have fuppofed, that the phyfical books of Solomon were extant in the days of Alexander, and were tranflated by means of an interpreter Jnto the works of Ariftotle and Theophraftes. Vid. Juchafin. Eufebius (as cited by Anaftafius) fays, that King Hczekiah fgpprelTed them, becaufe abufcd by the people* pular 6 OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. 279 pular inftrudion [d]. The wlfdom, indeed, of all ages, from the higheft antiquity, hath chofen to comprefs its lefTons into compendious fentences, which were pecuHarly adapted to the fimphcity of earlier times ; which are readily conceived and eafily retained ; and which circulate in fociety as ufeful principles, to be unfolded and applied as occafion may require. The infpired fon of David had the power of giving peculiar poignancy and weight to this ftyle of writing, an/d his works have been as it were the florehoufe from which pofterity hath drawn its bed maxims [e]. His Proverbs are fo juftly founded on principles of human nature, and fo adapted to the permanent interefts of man^ that they agree with the manners of every age; and may be aifumed as rules for the direclion of our conduct in every condition and rank of life, however varied in its complexion, or diyerfifiecl by circumftances [f], [d'J The Proverbs of Solomon are called In the Hebrew Meflialim, from Va'D, Maflial, doii^inatus eft. The word may- be tranllated xfpa* ^o|a;t, fententi:^ ^naxirae ratas, authoritative maxims, elevated precepts. Vido Job xxvii. i. Mains Vet. Teft. p. 838. Bacon de Augm. Scient. They are to be con- fidered as general maxims, and not as univerfally and invari- ably applicable, or as always true in a ftri6t fenfe without any exceptions. [e] Many of the facred writers who followed Solomon bor- rowed his thoughts and exprelfions ; and many heathen vj(riters are indebted to him for their brighteft lentimenrs. Vid, ^uet, prop, 4. where imitations are produced fxovQ Theog;i;s, Sopho- cles, Euripides, Anaxilaus, Plato, Horace, and !^Ieoander, [f] St. Balil fays of this book, that it is nXiOi ^»^»o■Jt»^la ^i», an univerfal inlirudlon for the government of Ufe=. T 4 Subfequcnt 28o OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. Subfequent morallfts have, in their difcourfes on ecumenical prudence, done little more than dilate on the precepts, and comment on the wifdom of Solo- mon. Grotius, extenfive as were his own powers, was unable to conceive that the Book of Proverbs could be the work of one man, and fuppofes it to have been a collection of the finefl proverbs of the age, made in the fame manner as thofe publifhed by fome of the emperors at Conftantinople, and per- feded from various collections under Hezekiah [g]. But this opinion, founded on fome rabbinical ac- counts, can deferve but little regard. The work might, perhaps, compofe part of the 3000 proverbs which Solomon is defcribed to have uttered, being probably digcfted as far as the twenty-fifth chapter by that monarch himfelf, and afterwards received into the canon with fome additions. The book may be confidered under five divifions. The firfl: part, which is a kind of preface, extends to the tenth chapter. This contains general cautions and exhortations from a teacher to his pupil, de- livered in very various and elegant language ; duly connected in its parts ; iliuftrated with beautiful de- fcriptions j decorated with all the ornaments of poeti- cal compofition, and well contrived as an engaging introduftion to awaken and interefl the attention. The fecond part extends from the beginning of the tenth chapter to the feventeenth vcrfe of the twcnty-fecond, and contains what may flri£tly and properly be called Proverbs, given in unconnected [g] Grotius Praef. in Prov. genera^ OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. 2^t general fentences [h] with much neatnefs and fim- plicity [i] J adapted to the inflrudion of youth, and probably more immediately defigned by Solomon for the improvement of his fon [k]. Thefe are truly, to ufe his own comparifon, ** apples of gold in pic- tures of filver." In the third part, which contains what is included between the fixteenth verfe of the twenty- fecond chapter and the twenty-fifth chapter, the tutor is fuppofed, for a more lively effect, to addrefs his pu- pil as prefent ; he drops the fententious flyle of pro- verbs, and communicates exhortations in a more con- tinued and connected ftrain. The proverbs which are included between the twenty- fifth and thirtieth chapters, and which confti- tute the fourth part, are fuppofed to have been feleded from a much greater number by the men of Hezekiah; that is, by the prophets whom he employed to reftorc the fervice and the writings of the church, as Elia- kim, and Joah, and Shebnah ; and probably Hofea, Micah, and even Ifaiah [l], who all flourifhed in the [h] The general fcope of the difcourfe, however, mufl be remembered, even in the explication of detached fentiments. [i]" The Proverbs generally confift of two fentences, joined in a kind of antlthefis ; the fecond being fometimes a redupli- cation, fometimes an explanation, and fometimes an oppofition in the fenfe to the firft. This ftyle of compofition produces great beauties in many other parts of fcripture, where it is cm- ployed for poetical arrangement. Vid. Lowth's Pr^letfl. xix. [k] Rehoboam ; though the phrafc *' my fon" is only a terra of general application. Vid, Hebrew, chap, xii, 3, Michael. Prnef. in Lib. [lJ Vid. K. Mofes Kimchi. reign 282 OP THE BOOK OP PROVERBS. reign of that monarch, and doubtlefs co-operated with his endeavours to re-eftablifli true religion among the Jews. Thefe proverbs, indeed, appear to have been felected by fome coUeclors after the time of Solomon, as they repeat fome which he had prcvioufly introduced hi the former pjirt of the book [m]. The fifth part contains the prudent admonitions which Agur, the fon of Jakeh, delivered to his pupils, Ithiel and Ucal i thefe are included in the thirtieth chapter. It contains alfo the precepts which the mo- ther of Lemuel delivered to her fon, as defcribed in the thirty -firft chapter. Concerning thefe perfons whofe works are an- nexed to thofe of Solomon, commentators have en- tertained various opinions. The original words which defcribc Agur as the author of the thirtieth chapter> might be differently tranflated [n] ; but ad- mitting the prefent confl:ru£lion as mod natural and juft, we may obferve, that the generality of the fa- thers, and ancient commentators have fuppofed that under the name of Agur, Solomon defcribes himfelf, though no fatisfadory reafon can be afligned for his aiTuming this name [ol. Others, upon very infuf- [m] Comp. chap. XXV. 24, with xxi. 9. xxvi. i^. with xxii, J3. xxvi. 15. with xxix. 24. xxvi. 22. with xviii. 8, &c. [n] They might be tranflated, the words of the Colledlor. Jn the Scptuagint, where this chapter is phiced immediately after the xxivtb, we read inftead of the firft verfc, Ta ^£ A/yn c «»»!§ Toi; o7irtt;»c7-i ©£w, xaci <3rat.o/xai, Thus fpeaketh the man to |hofe who believe, and I ccal'e. [o] Vid. Lowth'5 xviiith Prxled, and Calmet. ficient OP THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. 285 ficient grounds, conjedure that Agur and Lemuel were interlocutors with Solomon ; the book has no appearance of dialogue, nor is there any interchange of perfon : it is more probable, that though the boojc was defigned principally to contain the fayings of Solomon, others might be added by the men of Hc- zekiah ; and Agur might have been an infpired wri- ter l^p], whofe moral and proverbial fentences (for fuch is the import of the word MaUa, rendered Pro- phecy [ qJ]), were joined with thofe of the wife man, becaufe of the conformity of their matter. So like- wife the dignity of the book is not afFeded, if wc fuppofe the laft chapter to have been written by a different hand ; and admit the mother of Lemuel to have been a Jev/ifli woman, married to fome neigh- bouring prince ; or Abiah, the daughter of the high- prieft Zechariah, and mother of king Hezekiahi fince, in any cafe, it muft be confidercd as the pro- dudion of an infpired writer, or it would not have been received into the canon of fcripture. But it was perhaps meant that by Lemuel we fliould under- ftand Solomon [k] ; for the word which fignifies [p] The fecond and third verfes, though they tend as well as the eighth to prove that the chapter was not written by Solomon, yet by no means invalidate the author's claim to in- fpiration, who here dtfcribes himfelf as devoid of underltand- ing before he received the influx of divine wifdom. In the Septuagint the third verfe expreffcs a fenfe direflly contrary, ©Eo? h^^^ac^t ^i (\(p\a' aat yvuffiv a-y^iov iyvux%, God hath taught ine wifdom, and I have learnt the knowledge of the faints, [ Q^l vt.^UTO. Prov. XXX. I. xxxi. i. [fJ Vid. R, Nathan, in Provo iv. 3, 4* one 284 OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. one belonging to God, might have been given un- to him as defcriptive of his character, fince to So- lomon God had exprefsly declared that he would be a father [s]. Dr. Del any, who was a ftrenuous advocate for this opinion, declares that he took great pains to examine the objections that have been alledgcd againft: it, and affures us that they are fuch as read- ers of the bed underflanding would be litrle obliged to him for retailing, or refuting. One of the chief objections, indeed, rather confirms what it was in-» tended to deftroy. The mother of Lemuel thrice calls her fon. Bar, a word no where elfe ufed throughout the Old Teflament, except in the twelfth verfe of the fecond Pfalm [t] ; but this rather proves that Lemuel nmlt have been defigned to im- ply Solomon, becaufe his father is the only perfon who ufes the word [u]. Dr. Delany then conceives that the mother of Lemuel was Bath(heba [x], and that the commendation annexed was defigned for her, and he vindicates her character as deferving the [s] 2 Sam. vil. 14. [t] ~i3. Bar in the Chaldee fignlfies a Ton. David might have ufed it in that fcnfc as well as Bathflieba in this book ; for we know not how early foreign cxpreffions, (if it be one,) jnight have been adopted into the Hebrew language. [u] Vid. Delany's Life of David, Book IV. chap. xxi. and Calmet. [x] Vid. alfo Bedford, p. 607, Calmet and Locke, who arc of the fame opinion. Prov. iv. 3. Bathflicba is by fome fup- jjofed to have been endued with the fpirit of prophecy. Vide chap. ^xxi. i^ culogium, OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. 2.^^ culogium. Should fome circumflances in the de- fcription, however, be judged inapplicable to her, there is no reafon why we ihould not conceive a general character to have been intended. It appears then upon a colledive confideration, that the greated part of the book was compofed, and perhaps digefled by Solomon himfelf ; that fome additions were made, principally from the works of Solomon, by the men of Hezekiah ; and that the whole was arranged into its prefent form, and admitted into the canon by Ezra. It is often cited by the evangelical writers; [y], and the work, as it now (lands, contains an in- valuable compendium of inftructions. It is fuppofed to have been the production of Solomon when ar- rived at maturity in life : when his mind had mul- tiplied its ilores, and been enlarged by long ob- fervation and experience. It was probably written before the Book of Ecclefiafles, for it feems to be therein mentioned [z]. Solomon was born about A. M. 2971. He fuc- ceeded David about eighteen years after, and enjoyed a profperous reign of near forty years [a]. Under his government the kingdom was remarkable for its well regulated oeconomy, and its extenfivc commerce. It was fo enlarged by his conquefts and prudent ma- [y] Vid. Matt. XV. 4. Luke x'lv. 10. Rom. xii. 16, 17, 20. I ThefT. V. 15. I Pet. iv. 8, v. 5. James iv. 6, &c. paffim. [z] Ecclef. xii. 9. [a] The name of Solomon is analogous to Pacific, and Itappily defcriptive of the peaceful profperity which he en- joyed. The Rabbins confider it as appellative. nagement. 286 Ot THE BOOK OF PROVERBS* nagement, that " he reigned over'* or made tribu- tary " all the kings from the river (Euphrates) even to the land of the Philiftines and the borders of Egypt [b].'* Illuftrious men were attraQed from all parts by his fame for wifdom and magnificence [c]. The fon of Sirach faid of him, that he was " a flood filled with underftanding ; that his foul covered the whole earth ; and that he filled it with dark parables [d].*' The high reputation, indeed, which he enjoyed, occafioned many fpurious writings to pafs under the fandlion of his name, as the Pfalter^ as it is called, of Solomon, which confifts of eigh- teen Greek Pfalms, and which was probably the work of fome Helleniftical Jew [t], who might have compiled it from the writings of David, Ifaiah, and Ezekiel [f]. Another book like wife, entitled. The Cure of Difeafes, mentioned by Kimchi j The Con- traditions of Solomon, condemned by Pope Gela- [b] 2 Chron. ix. 26, [c] I Kings X. 20, [d] Ecclus xlvH. 14, 15. The ancients prideJ themfelve* much on the knowledge of parables and proverbs. Vid. Prov, i 6. Wifd. viii. 8. Ecclus. i. 25. vi. 35. xxix. i, 2, 3. [e] The HellenilHcal Jews were Jtws difperfed in forelgtx countries, who fpoke the Greek language. [f] This PfaUer, which, like mcft of the Hellenlflical works, is full of Hebraifms, was copied from an ancient Greek manufcript in the Augfburg library by Andrea Scotto, and publiflied with a Latin verlion by John Lewis de la Cferda* Vid. Calmet Pref. Gen. fur Ics Pfeaumes. Thefc Pfalms ap- pear from the index at the end of the New Teflament to have been formerly in the Alexandrian manufcript, though thejr hare b^en loft or torn from thenec. fius J Of THE BOOK OF PROVER}?S. 2^f fius ; and his Teftament, cited by M. Gaumin .; with five other books, mentioned by Alfred the Great in his Mirror of Aftrolcgy j and four named by Trithemenus, which favour of magical invention, are probably all fpurious ; as well as the letters which he is faid to have written to Hiram, and Hiram's an- fwers, though Jofephus confiders thefe laft as au- thentic [g]. The magical writings that were at- tributed to Solomon, were fo affigned in confequence of an idea which prevailed in the Eaft, that Solomoa was converfant with magic ; an idea derived, per- haps, from the fame of thofe experiments which his phyfical knowledge might have enabled him to dis- play ; but which, however obtained, certainly pre- vailed i for we learn from Jofephus [h j, that many perfons, when charged with the pradice of magicj endeavoured to juftify themfelves, by accufmg Solo- mon of ufmg charms againft difeafes, and of form* ing conjurations to drive away demons. Jofephus relates alfo, that one named Eleazer drove away feveral demons in the prefence of Vefpafian by means of a ring, in which was enclofed a root, marked, as Was faid, by Solomon ; and by pronouncing the nams of that monarch • and amidft the fuperflitious notions that long afterwards continued to delude the eaftern [g] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. VlII. cap. ii. Jofephus grounds the authenticity of thefe letters on JewiOi and Tyrian re^a cords ; but befides other fufpicious circumftances, Hiram is reprefented as fpeaking of Tyte as an ifland, whereas old Tyre, which was contemporary with his period, was lituated on the continent. £h] Yid. Jofeph, Antiq. Lib. VIIL cap. ii, iraations^ 288 OF THE BOOK OF J»ROVERBS. nations^ we find fuch imaginary influence over evil fpirits afcribed to the name of Solomon. The Septuagint and other verfions of this book differ occafionally from the Hebrew original, and contain indeed more proverbs, fome of which are to be found alfo in the Book of Ecclefiafticus. The order likewife of the poetical books is different in the Septuagint [i] and in fome manufcripts, where the metrical books run thus, Pfalms, Job, and Pro- verbs. [i] Codex Alexand. Vid. Grabe in Iprolog. cap. i. §. 2» Meiito apud Euleb, Ecclef. Hift. Lib. IV. cap. 26, &g. or [ 2S9 ] OF THE BOOK OF E C C L E S I A S T E S; OR, THE PREACHER. THIS Book was unquefllonably the producllon of Solomon, who for the great excellency of his inftrudions was emphatically ftiled " the Preach- er.'* It is faid by the Jews to have been written by him, upon his awakening to repentance [a], after he had been feduced in the decline of life to idolatry and fm ; and if this be true, it affords valuable proofs of the fincerity with which he regretted his departure from righteoufnefs. Some, however, have afcribed the work to Ifaiah [b]. The Talmudifts pretend thatHezekiah was the author of it [c] j ^and Grotius, [a] Seder 01am Rabba, c. xv. p. 41. Hieron. in Ecclef. i. 12. Vid. alfo chap. ii. 10. vii. 26. [bJ R. Mofes Kimchi. R. Gedalias in Schalfch Hakkab, fol. 66. [c] Bava Bathra, c. i. f. 15. The Talmudifts fuppofe He- zekiah to have produced, or compiled, the three books of Solomon, as likewife the book of Il'aiah, Vid. Peters's Preface 10 Diflert. on Job. 8vo edit. U upon 290 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTES. Upon fome vague conjcclures, conceives that it was compofed by order of Zerubbabel [d]. But we Ihall be convinced that it fliould be affigned to Solo- mon, li wc confider that the author fliles himfelf " the fon of David, the King in Jerufalem /' and that he defcribes his wifdom, his riches, his writings, and his works, in a manner applicable only to Solomon [e]; as alfo that the book is attributed to him both by Jevvifh and Chriflian tradition. The foreign ex- preflions, if they be really fuch, which induced Gro- tius to confider the book as a production fubfequent to the Babylonifli captivity, might have been ac- quired by Solomon in his intercourfe and connection with foreign women [f]. But the flile of the work mufl have often occafioned the introdudion of un- ufual words [g]. The later Jews are faid to have been defirous of excluding it from the canon [h], from fome contradiction and improprieties which they fancied to exill by not confidering the fcopc and de- [d] Grot, in Ecclcf. [e] Chap. i. I, 12, 1 6. ii. 4 — 10. vii. 25 — 2S. vlli. 16. xii. 9. [f] 1 Kings xi. 12. [g] Maimon. More Nevoch. Part II. c. Ixvli. Of the words produced as foreign by Grotius, all are now allowed to be ge- nuine Hebrew, except two, viii. i. *)iys. x. 8. pn'?. which were, perhaps, Arabic or Chaldaic cxpreffions in ufc in the time of Solomon. Vid. Calovius. [h] Maimon. More Nevoch, p. 2 c. xxviii. Madrafli Cohel. f. 14. Ahen-Ezra, Ecclef. vii. 4. Hieron. in Ecclcf. xii. 12. Gcmar in Pirkc Abboth, f. i. col. i. Some abfurdly ini.igin- cd, that Solomon maintained the eternity of the world, iu «h. i. 4. fign OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTES. 2()l fign of the author. But when they obferved the excellent conclufion, and its confiftency with the law, they allowed its pretenfions. There can, in- deed, be no doubt of its title to an admiffion : Solo- mon was eminently diftinguifhed by the illumination of the divine fpirit, and had even twice witnefled the divine prefence j]i]. The tendency of the book is excellent, when rightly underftood, and Solomon fpeaks in it with great clearnefs of the revealed truths bf a future life, and liniverfal judgment. The book is in the Hebrew denominated " Cohe- leth," a word which fignifies one who fpeaks in pub- lic [k] ; and which, indeed, is properly tranflated by the Greek word Ecclefiaftes [l], or, the Preacher. Solomon, as Mr. Defvoeux has remarked, feems here to fpeak in a charader fimilar to that of the fophifts among the Greeks ; not, indeed, of the fophifts when degenerated into fubtle and quibbling wranglers, but of the fophifts who, in the dignity of their primitive charader, blended philofophy and rhcitbric [m] ; and made pleafure fubfervient to inftruftion, by convey- ing wifdom with eloquence. Though Solomon is not hereby to be confidered as having harangued^ [i] I Kings ill. 5. ix. 2. xi. 9. [k] Some fay, that the word Coheletli meah§ a colle(fiori In the Ethiopick tongue it implies a circle, or company of men. [l] Exv.Xrc-iarr?* The Hebrew word has, however, a femi= nine termination in refpeiil to wifdom, perlonificd, as it were^ in Solomon. [m] Philoftrat. ap. Miiret. in Defin. II. Cicero Orat. c. xiz, ¥ 2 like 292 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTES. like the common orators of his time, yet, as there can be no doubt that he often pubHckly inflrucled his own people, and even flrangers, who were drawn by his reputation for wifdom to his court [n], it is not improbable that this difcourfe was firft delivered in publick ; and, indeed, fome paflages have been produced from the book in fupport of this opinion [o]. The main fcope and tendency of the book have been varioufly reprefented. Mr. Defvoeux after an accurate difcuilion of the different opinions, has pro- nounced it to be a philofophical difcourfe [p], writ- ten in a rherorical flile, and occafionally interfperfed with verfes [oj]. It may be confidered as a kind of enquiry into the chief good ; an enquiry conducted on found principles, and terminating in a conclufion which all, on mature reflection, will approve. The great object of Solomon appears to have been from a comprehenfive confideration of the circumftances of human life, to demonftrate the vanity of all fccular purfuits. He endeavours to illuftrate by a jufl efti- mate, the infufficiency of earthly enjoyment ; not with dcfign to excite in us a difguft at life [r], but to influence us to prepare for that itate where there [n] Mercer. Praef. in Ecclef. [o] Chap. xii. 9, 12. Gregor. INTag-. Lib. IV. Dial. c. iv. [p] Defvoeux Philofophical and Critic. EiTays on iicclcf. [ f\_] The Jews do not admit that Ecclelialtes lliould be confidered as a poetical work. [r] The Manichseans, not confidering that human purfuits are only fo far vain as they terminate in a prcfent objed, maintained the exiltcnce of an evil principle, is OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTES. 293 is no vanity [s]. With this view, the Preacher af- firms, that man's labour, as far as it has refpect only to prefent objecls, is vain and unprofitable [t] ; that however profperous and flattering circumftances may appear, yet as he could from experience alTert, neither knowledge ; nor pleafure ; nor magnificence; nor greatnefs i nor uncontrolled indulgence, can fatisfy the defires of man [u] ; that the folicitude with which fome men toil and heap up pofleflions for defcendants often unworthy, is efpecial vexation ; that it is better far to derive fuch enjoyment from the gifts of Providence, as they were defigned to furnifh, by being rendered fubfervient to good actions [x] ; Solomon proceeds to obferve, that in this life, " iniquity ufurps the place of righteoufnefs ;" that man appears in fome refpects to have *' no pre- eminence above the beaft" that perifiies ; and that [s] Aiiguft. de Chit. Dei, 1. 20. c. iii. Hieron. Prol. in Ecclefs. [t] Compare Ecclef. i. 2, with Perfuis, Sat. I. line i. [u] Gregor. Nyffen. Horn. I. in Ecclef. T. i. p. 375. Sa- len. Dial, in Ecclef. Bib. Patav. in Ecclef. torn. i. col. 147. Caftal. PieF. in 'Ecclef. Collyer's Sacred Interp. vol. i. p. 339. Prior's Solomon. [x] Chap. iii. 12. Solomon recommends a moderate enjoy- ment of the good gifts of Providence, and thinks fuch enjoy- ment more reafonable than an inordinate purfuit after riches, or than thofe labours from which no advantage fliould refult to ourfelves. Vid. Ecclef. ii. 24. vlii. 55. ix. 7 — 9. Acts siv. 17. I Tim. iv. i — 4. Drufius in Ecclef. i. i. Geier. Prol. in Ecclef. Horace Carm- Lib. II. Ode II. 1. 1—4. And Wells's Help to the Underftanding of the Holy Scrip- tures. U 3 the 294 ^^ THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES. tne confidcration of thefe circumftances may at firfl Ught lead to wrong conclufions, concerning the value of life ; but that God fhould not be haflily arraigned, for that " he that is higher than the higheft, re- gardeth.** That even here, thofe who " pervert judgment," are not fatisfied by abundance, " but that the flcep of the labouring man is fweet [y]." That though the hearts of men be encouraged in evil by the delay of God's fentence, and though the days of the finner may be prolonged on earth, yet that, finally, it fliall be well only with them who fear God [z]. Solomon then funis up his exhortations to good deeds, and to a remembrance of the Creator in the days of youth, " or ever the filver cord of life be loofcd, or the golden bowl be broken [a];" when " the dud fliall return to the earth, and the fpirit unto God who gave it." And the infpired teacher bids us " hear the conclufion of the whole rnatter," which is, " to fear God, and to keep his [y] Chap. ill. — vi. [z] Chap. viii. ii — 13. [a] Chap. xii. 5, 6. By the filver cord of which Solomon fpeaks in this figurative defcription of old age, fome undcr- ibnd the hiuriours of the body, which are, as it were, the thread of life. But the moll judicious writers confider it as an elegant expreflion for the fpinal marrow, with the nerves arifing from it, and the filaments, fibres, and tendons that proceed from them. This white cord is loofened (or flirunk up) 'when it is no longer full of fpirits. The golden bowl is fuppofed to mean the pia qiater. This membrane, which covers the brain, is of a ycllowifli colour. For farther ex- planation of this beautiful allegory, confult Commentators and Smith's yr,^oy.o^\x pao-tXixr. command- OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTES. 295 commandments, for this is the whole of man j for God fliall bring every work into judgment, with every fccret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil [b].*' In the courfe of his difcuffion of this fubjed", Solomon deviates into fome remarks incidentally fuggefled, in order to preclude objedions, and to prevent falfe conclufions. It is therefore neceflary always to keep in mind the purport and defign of the difcourfe, which is carried on, not in a chain of re- [b] De Sacy Avertis. fur I'Ecclef. De Launey, fur I'EccIef. sii. 15. Hardouin Paraph, fur I'Ecclef. Witfii, Prref. Mifcel. Sac. c. xviii. § 36, 37. The whole force of Solomon's reafon- ing refts on the dodrlne of a future judgment, as maintained in chap. xii. 13, 14. and before in chap. iii. 17. vii. i, 12. xi. 9. He had admitted that as to this life, there was but *' one event to the righteous and to the wicked," ch. ix. i — 3. The feven following verfes in the ninth chapter are fometimes fuppofed to be fpoken in the alTumed charafter of an Epi- curean. Compare chap. ix. 4 — 10. with Wifd. ii. i — 11. But Solomon might, confillently with the fcope of his own dif- courfe, maintain that the only hope of man is during life, and that in this refpcdl, the mofl wretched being, a U-ving dog, is better than the greatefl monarch, a dead lion; for the living having the profpeft of dejith, may prepare for it, but the dead liavc no more opportunity of purchafing a reward ; that the gratification of their paflions is then periflied, and that they have no more a portion on earth. Hence Solomon proceeds to exhort to a difcreet enjoyment, and to aftive exertion, for that wifdom would find no employment in the grave : that in this life there is no equal diftribution, and that the time of departure from it is uncertain, bolomon concludes the chap- ter with a lively illuftration of the final advantage, and de- liverance to be produced by humble wifdom, however over- iookcd and defpifed in the prefent life. Vid. chap.ix. 4 — 18. U 4 gulai* 296 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTES. gular dedudlions and logical confequences, but in a popular and defultory manner; and the connection of the reafoning is often kept up by almofl imper- ceptible links. It is neceflary alfo to examine what Solomon dates as his firft doubts and hafty thoughts, correcled by his cooler judgment ; and to diftinguifli what he fays for himfelf, from what he urges in an alTumed charafler ; for though the book be not, as fome have imagined [c], a dialogue between a pious perfon and one of Sadducean principles ; yet in tlie courfe of the work the Preacher ftarts and anfvvers objedions ; takes up the probable opinions, as it were, of an encircling croud ; and fometimes admits, by way of concefiion, what he afterwards proves to be falfe [d]. We mufl: be careful, there- fore, not. to extend thofe principles which Solomon grants, beyond their due bounds, nor to underftand them in a different fenfe from that in which they are admitted by him. From want of due confideration of^thefe circumftances and laws, the fentiments of Solomon have often been perverted to countenance falfc and pernicious opinions [e] ; and from want of [c] Sentimens de quclques Theolog. fur rHifl. Crit. du P. R. Simon, AmQel. 1682, Lett. XII. 272. F. Yeard's Pa- raphrafe on Ecclef. Lond. 1701. Some writers maintain, that all thefe pafTagcs which are confidered as objectionable, will admit of a good fenfe in confillency with Solomon's difcourfe. [d] Caftal. Pr3ef. in Ecclef. Not. Philol. Adv. Script. Log. in Ecclef. iii. Dubardin. Reflec't. Moral, fur I'Ecclef. Gregor. Mag. Dal. IV. c. iv. [e] Witfius Mifcel. Sac. torn. i. p. 213, 226. B. Gerherd. in Exeges. Loc. de Scrip, p. 156. and Prsf. in Com. T. iii. f. 231. Lowth's Praeled. Poet. 24. attention OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTES. 279 attention to the defign of the book, as here defcribed, fome writers have had recourfe to very extraordinary means of reconciUng particular paffages with the main fcope and pious conclufion of the work. Hence to vindicate it from any imputations of bad tendency, Olympiodorus maintained that Solomon fpeaks only of natural things in the book, though he interfpcrfes a few moral fentimentSi and St. AuiVm endeavours to explain it by having recourfe to allegory ; but fucli folutions are not worthy of much attention ; and what has been already faid will fufficiently account for all difficulties that may occur in confidering the work. We need not recoUecl, that the ftile of the book is particularly obfcure and vague, though unornamented and profaic ; that the queftion itfelf is embarraffed with difficulties ; and that the defultory mode of argument is liable to be miRaken, where various opinions are introduced ; and when the au- thor diverfifies his charaQ:er, without accurately dif- criminating his ferious from his ironical remarks, or objections from his anfwers. It mud however be wilful delufion, or perverfe fophiftry, which felefts partial extrafts for the encouragement of fm, where the difpaffionate and rational enquirer after truth will find true wifdom, and deliberate piety. OF [ 29S ] © F THE SONG OF SOLOMON. TH E Talmudlfls have attributed this Book to Hezekiah [a] ; other writers have, with as little reafon, afligned it to Ifaiah ; and others to Ez- ra. There are, however, no grounds that fliould influence us to rejed the authority of the Hebrew title [b], which afcribes it to Solomon ; and, indeed, it is now almofl univerfally allowed to have been the Epithalamium, or Marriage Song of that monarch [c], compofed on the celebration of his nuptials with a very beautiful woman, called Shulamite, the [a] Bava Bathra. R. Mofes Kimchi. [e] The Chaldee Paraphrafe hath this title, " The Sonrrj and Hymns which Solomon the Prophet, the King of Ifrael, uttered in the fpirit of Prophecy before the Lord." [c] Chap. i. 4. ii. 16. iii. 4, 7, 11. Vid. alfo, chap. viii. ^. where Michaelis, indead of" thy mother brought thee forth,'* reads, ♦' thy mother betrothed thee." Vid. Not. in Lowth's |»raelea. ^o. daughter. OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 299 daughter, as hath been fuppofed, of Pharaoh, and the favourite and diftinguifhed wife of Solomon [d], Solomon was eminently fkilful in the compofition of fongs, and he is related to have produced above a thoufand [e] ; of which number, probably, this only was attributed to the fuggeflion of the facred [d] I Kings in. i, 7. ix. 16 — 24. Cant. vi. 13. Cornel, a Lapid. Prol. c. i. Lightfoot's Chron. &c. p. 5. Harmcr's Com. p. 27 — 44, Some imagine the bride to have been a Tyi-ian woman ; others a native of Jerufalem. Vid. ch. iii, 4 — 10. viii. 5. It is objefted to the opinion of her being the daughter of Pharaoh, that the bride's mother is mentioned as at the court of Solomon ; ch. iii. 4. viii. 2, 5. and that flic fpeaks of a lifter unprovided for, ch. viii. 8. and of the poflef- iion of a vineyard as her portion, ch. viii. 12. vid. Dr. Percy's new Tranflat. of Sol. Song. Harmer, however, fuppofes a former wife of Solomon to fpeak in the firft inftances, and that the vineyard mentioned was Gezer, which Pharaoh is faid in i Kings ix. 16, 17. to have *' given for a prefent un- to his daughter, Solomon's wife." The bride calls herfelf black, though flie reprefents her darknels as the confequence .of expofure to the fun ; and Volney maintains, from a paflagc in Herodotus, and his own obfervation, that the ancient Egyptians were black. Voyage en Syrie et Egypt, vol. 1. p. 175. If a Gentile woman, (he was more appolitely a figure of the Gentile church ; and Patrick has elegantly remarked, that as the word Sechora denotes that duikinefs which precedes the morning dawn, it may figuratively reprefent the Gentile darknefs which difperfed before the rifing of the Gofpel light. The word Shulamite is, perhaps, derived from that of Solo- mon. Vid. R. Jonathan in Talkut. ad i. Raam iii. fol. 28. Gol. 3. [e] I Kings iv. 32. Ecclcf. xlvii. 17. In the Scptuagint they are faid to have been 5000, § fpirit. 300 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. fpirit, for this only has efcaped the wade of time [f], by being preferved in the confecrated volume of the fcriptures ; into which it was received as unqueftion- ably authentic ; and it has fmce been uniformly con- fidered as canonical by the chriftian church. The royal author appears in the typical fpirit of his time, to have defigned to render a ceremonial appointment defcriptive of a fpiritual concern ; and biihop Lowth has judicioufly determined, that the fong is a myftical allegory -, of that fort which in- duces a more fublime fenfe on hiftorical truths, and ■which by the defcription of human events, Ihadows out divine circumftances [g]. The facred writers were, by God's condefcenhon, authorifed to illuflrate his drift and intimate relation to the church by the figure of a marriage ; and the emblem muft have been (trikingly becoming, and exprcfTive to the con- ceptions of the Jews, fmce they annexed ideas of pecuhar myftery to this appointment, and imagined that the marriage union was a counterpart rcprefen- tation of fome original pattern in heaven. Hence [f] Except, perhaps, fome received into the Book of Pfalms, as poffibly the cxxviith. cxxviii. and cxxxii. Vid. Patrick. [g] Lowth's Prael. Poet. 31. Some have conceived it to be entirely fpiritual. Vid. Calouv. p. 12, 53. Auc^iift. de Civit. Dei, Lib. VII. cap. xx. Bernard Serm. I. in Cant. p. 748. Glafs. Philol. Sac. Lib. V. cap. xx. But it apparently had a reference to an adual marriage. The book is full of ele- gant allulions to the circumftances of the marriage ceremony among the Jews. There are fome particulars which apply only to the liteial fcnfc, as there are others which correfpond only with the figurative interpretation. was OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 301 was It celebrated among them with very peculiar ce- remonies and folemnity ; with every thing that could give dignity and importance to its rites [h]. Solo- mon, therefore, in celebrating the circumftances of his marriage, was naturally led by a chain of cor- refpondent refledions, to confider that fpiritual con- nexion which it was often employed to fymbolize ; and the idea mufl have been more forcibly fuggefted to him, as he was at this period preparing to build a temple to God, and thereby to furnilli a vifible re- prefentation of the Hebrew church. If this account be admitted, there is no reafon why we fhould not fuppofe that the Holy Spirit might have affifted Solomon to render this fpiritual allegory prophetic of that future connection which was to fubfift with more immediate intercourfe between Chrifl and the church, which he fhould perfonally confecrate as his bride. If the predominant idea which operated on the mind of Solomon, were only that affinity which at all times was fuppofed to fub- fift between God and the Hebrew church ; yet as that church was itfelf the type of a more perfed^ eftabUihment, the defcriptive reprefentation of Solo- mon had neceflarily a prophetic charader ; and the facred fpirit feems to have often fuggefted allufions and expreffions more adapted to the fecond, than to the firft eftablifliment. Whether the fong, however, were typically or directly prophetic, ,it is unqueftion- f h] Cudvvorth's Tipheret. and Malcuth and Patrick's Pre- face. Selden. Uxor. Heb. Buxtorf. &c. able ^02 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. able that this elegant compofitlon had a predidivc, as well as a figurative charader. The whole of it is a thin veil of allegory thrown over a fpi ritual alliance ; and we difcover every where through the tranfparent types of Solomon and his bride, the charaders of Chrift, and his perfonified church ; pourtrayed. with thofe graces and embellifliments which are mofl: lovely and engaging to the human eye. This fpiritual allegory, thus worked up by Solo- mon to its higheft perfe£lion, was very confident with the prophetic ftile, which was accuftomed to predid evangelical blcffings by fuch parabolical figures ; and Solomon was more immediately fur- niihed with a pattern for this allufive reprefentation by the author of the forty-fifth Pfalm, who defcribes m a compendious allegory, the fame future connec- tion between Chrift and his church [i]. It was the want of fuificient attention to this charadler in the Song of Solomon, which is, per- haps, the mod figurative part of fcripture, that firff induced the rabbinical writers to difpute its authority, in contradiction to the fentiments of the earlier Jews, vho never queflioned its title to a place in the canon [k]. It mull like wife have been a perverfe difregard to [i] The forty-fifth Pfalm was poflibly written on the ocea- JRion of Solomon's marriage with the daughter of Pharaoh. [k] Though not cxprcfsly mentioned by Philo, or Jofephus, it muft have been one of the twenty-two books, reckoned as canonical by the latter. It was in the earlicll; catalogues of the facred books received by the chrilHan church, in that of Melito, ia hw letter written to Onefunus, about A. D. 140, OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 3O3 to Its fpiritual import, which has occaficned even fome chriftian authors to confider it with a very un- becoming and irreverent freedom [l]. It has been weakly objeded, by thofe who would invalidate its pretenfions, that the name of God is not mentioned throughout the work ; but this obfervation muft have arifen from want of refledion on the defign of the author, which was to adumbrate divine inflrudlon, and not diredly to inculcate what other parts of fcripture fo forcibly defcribe. There is, in fad, no reafon to queftion its pretenfions to be confidered as an infpired book, fmce it was indifputably in the He* brew canon ; and is feemingly referred to, if not abfolutely cited by Chrift and his apoflles [mJ, who, as well as the facred writers of the Old Teflament [n], take up its ideas, and purfue its allegory [o]. But though the work be certainly an allegorical rcprefentation, it muft be confeffed, that many learn- ed men, in an unrefirained eagerncfs to explain the in Orlgen's catalogue. VIJ. Eufeb. HilL Lib. IV. cap. xxvL Lib. VL cap. xxv. and in the canon received by the council of Laodicea, can. 59. [l] As Grotius, and even the learned IMichaelis, who has certainly given too much fcope to fancy in his remarks on this book. Vid. Not. in Lovvth's Prxleft. 30. [m] Comp. Cant. iv. 7. with Ephef. v. 27. Cant. viii. ir. with Matt. xxi. 33, Cant. i. 4. with John vi. 44. Cant. v. 2. with Revel, iii. 20. Cant. vii. i. with Ifaiah lii. 7. [n] Ifaiah liv. 5. Ixi. 10. Ixii. 4, 5. Ezek. xvi. and xxiii. Hof. ii. 16, ig. and Prophets, pallim. [o] Matt. ix. 15. xxii. 2, 25. John iii. 29. 2 Cor. xi. 2. Gal.iv. 22—31, Ephef, v. 21— zj. Revel, xix. 7. xxii. 17. fong. 304 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. fong, even in its minutefl and moit obfcure particu- lars, have too far indulged their imaginations j and by endeavouring too nicely to reconcile the literal with the fpiritual fenfe, have been led beyond the boundaries which a reverence for the facred writings fhould ever prefcribe. The ideas which the infpired writers furnifli concerning the myftical relation be- tween Chrifl: and his church, though well accommo- dated to our apprehenfions, by the allufion of a mar- riage union, are too general to illuftrate every par- ticular contained in this poem ; which may be fup- pofed to have been intentionally decorated with fomc ornaments appropriate to the literal conftrudion. When the general analogy is obvious, we are not always to expert minute refemblance, and fhould not be too curious in feeking for obfcure and recondite allufions. The Jews prudently forbad their children to read it till their judgment was matured [p], left in the fervor of youth they fliould give too wide a fcope to fancy, and interpret to a bad fenfe the fpi- ritual ideas of Solomon. The book, though placed lafl: in order of his works, appears to have been written by that monarch in his youth : in the full warmth of a luxuriant imagination [ qJ' Solomon, in the glow of an infpired fancy, and unfufpicious [p] And the fame reftr'nflion prevailed in the primitive chriftian church. Vid. Origen. Praef. in Cant. Hieron. in Ezech. Thcodor. Oper. torn, i. p. 198. Wolf. Bib. Hcbr. p. 126. [ qJ\ Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter towards the be- ginning of his reign, Vid. i Kings iii. 11. 5 of OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 305 of mlfconception, or deliberate perverfion, defcribes God and his church, with their refpedive attributes and graces, under colourings, familiar and agreeable to mankind j and exhibits their ardent affedion un- der the authorifed figures of earthly love. No fimi- litude, indeed, could be chofen fo elegant and appo- fite for the illuftration of this intimate and fpiritual alliance, as the marriage union ; if confidered in the chafte fimplicity of its firft inftitution ; or under the interefting circumftances with which it was eftablifh- ed among the Jews [r]. Those who imagine that Solomon has introduced into this hymeneal fong fome ideas inconfiftent with the refinement of a fpiritual allegory, do not fuffi- ciently confider that the ftrongeft aftedions of the mind, if properly directed, are chafte and honour- able. The reciprocal defcription of the bridegroom and bride ; and the impaflioned language in which they exprefs their mutual attachment, are compatible with the (Irideft purity of conception ; and they are employed to reprefent refpeftively, fpiritual perfec- tions, and fpiritual paffions, with the greateft pro- priety. The figures and expreffions of Solomon have, indeed, loil their original dignity and decorum, becaufe they have in later times been often abufed to a fulfome and depraved fenfe. The judicious ri^ader will, however, carefully difcriminate between the genuine import of language, and its perverted ap- [k] Calmet Difiert. fur les Manages des Hebreux. X plication. 306 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. plication. The fentiments, likewife, of Solomon, were unqueftionably chaflened with that refervc and delicacy which, among the Jews, was attached to the confideration of the marriage union; and the book does not appear to contain any allufions offen- five to that character of the inflitution which render- ed it an apt reprefentation of the facred connedion. This book may be confidered as to its form, as a dramatical poem [s], of the paftoral kind. There is a fucceflion of time, and a change of place, to different parts of the palace and royal gardens. The perfonages introduced as fpeakers, are the bride- groom and bri'de, with their refpedive attendants, together, as fome fuppofe, with the fifter of the bride [t] ; and, if the ingenious theory of Harmer be admitted, the firft and degraded wife of Solo- mon [u], whom he confiders as the figure of the Jewifh church. There is certainly an interchange of dialogue, carried on in a wild and digreffive man- [s] Origen. ap. Hicion. torn. vii. fol. 63. Greg, Nazlanz. Orat. cxxxi. p. 503. [t] If the bride herfelf be confidered as the figure of the chrlftian church ; the filler may be fuppofed to reprefent any- younger church rifing under its proteftion. The bridegroom, when confulted upon what fliould be done for this fifler, gives a figurative account of the meafures which fliould be taken to preferve her purity and fafety. Some attribute the tenth verfe to the bride ; and fome to the filler, profefling to have derived ftrcngth from the countenance of the bridegroom. Vid. chap. viii. 8 — 10. fu] Chap. ii. 5. iu. i. Harm. Com, p. 44, &c. ner. OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 307 2ier, and the fpeeches are charaderiftic, and adapted to the perfons with appropriate elegance. The com- panions of the bride compofe a kind of chorus, which feems to bear fome refemb lance to that which afterwards obtained in the Grecian tragedy [x]. Solomon and his Queen fometimes fpeak in af- fumed charadlers, and reprefent themfelves in fiditious circumftances. They defcend, as it were, from the throne ; and adopt with the paftoral drefs, that fim- plicity of ftile which is favourable to the communica- tion of their fentiments [y]. The llile, however, is not more fimple than elegant. The poem, indeed, abounds throughout with beauties, and prefents every [x] The original chorus of the Greeks, which was the foun- tlation on which their drama was built, was an inftitution of a religious charafter ; and it might poffibly have been derived from an intimation of fome facred appointment among the Jews, whofe fingers in the temple fervice compofed a fort of chorus. [y] This book was certainly known to Theocritus, who was a contemporary with the Septuagint tranflators ; and wha might have been made acquainted with it by Ptolemy Phila- delphus, whofe patronage and regard for literature the poet celebrates. It is evident, that many exprelTions, images, and fentiments, in the Idyllia, are copied from the facred Poern. Comp. Cant. i. 9. with Theoc. xviii. 30. Cant. vi. 10. with Theoc. xviii. 26. Cant. iv. 11. with Theoc. xx. 26, 27. Cant. IV. 15. with Theoc. i. 7, 8. Cant. ii. 15. with Theoc. i. 48, 49. Cant. i. 7. with Theoc. ii. 69. Cant. v. 2. with Theoc. ii. 127. Cant. viii. 6, 7. with Theoc. ii. 133, 134. and Theoc. vii. i;6. Cant. ii. 8, 9. with Theoc. vili. 88,' 89. Cant. viii. 7. with Theoc. xxiii. 25, 26. Vid. Wefley in Job, Diff. IV. X 2 where 308 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMOK. where a delightful and romantic difplay of nature, painted at its mod interefting feafon with [z] all the cnthufiafni of poetry, and defcribed with every orna- ment that an inventive fancy could furnifh. The images that embellirn it, are chiefly drawn from that flate of paftoral life in which the Jews were much occupied ; and to which Solomon, mindful of his father's condition, muft have looked with peculiar fondnefs. It is juftly entitled " a fong of fongs,'* or mod excellent fong ; as fuperior to any compofition that an uninfpired writer could ever have produced ; a fong which, if properly underftood, muft tend to purify the mind, and to elevate the affections from earthly to heavenly things. The book is certainly compofed with metrical arrangement. The Jews admit its title to be confidered as a poem, though not, indeed, on account of its ftrudure or meafure, but becaufe they regard it as a parable which, ac- cording to Abarbinel, conftitutes one fpecies of the canticle or fong [a]. Therb [z] Harmer, from a confideratlon of the fcenery here de- fcribed, fuppofcs the marriage to have been celebrated in the fpring, when *' the tender grape" began to appear, towards the latter end of April. See Com. p. i 54, 1 55. [a] The Maforetic writers, who feem to have been but little acquainted with the nature of the ancient Hebrew mea- fure, admitted that the Pfalms, Proverbs, and Job, were me- trical, and marked them particularly as fuch. But other books, equally metrical, as the Canticles, and the Lamen- tations, they noted with profaic accentuation ; and the Jews conlider OP THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 309 There have been many different divifions of the book : fome conceive that it naturally breaks out into feven parts ; and the learned BolTuet has ob- ferved, that it defcribes the feven days which the nuptial ceremony [b], (as, indeed, almoft all folem- nities among the Jews) lafted, during which time feleft virgins attended the bride, as the bridegroom was accompanied by his chofen friends [c]. Bossuet's diftribution of the work is as fol- lows [D : The firft; day, chap. i. ii. 6. fecond day, chap. ii. 7. 17. third day, chap. iii. v. i. fourth day, chap. v. 2. vi. 9. fifth day, chap. vi. lo. vii. n. fixth day, chap. vii. J2, viii. 3. feventh day, chap. viii. 4. 14. BossuET fuppofes the feventh day to be the fab- bath, becaufe the bridegroom is not reprefented as confider thefe books as profaic compofitions. Vid. MantlfTa. Piff. ad Lib. Cofri, p. 413. [b] Gen. xxix. 27. Judg. xiv^. 15, 17. Tobit viii. ig, 20. [c] Cant. i. 4, ii. 7. v. i. Judg. xiv. 11. Pfal. xlv. 14. Matt. ix. 15. XXV. I. John iii. 29. The friends of the bride- groom may be confidered as the reprefentatives of angels, prophets, and apolHes ; and the friends of the bride are figu- rative, perhaps, of the followers of the church. They arc called the daughters of Jerufailem. [d] Bofluet's Prsf. et Com. in Cant, and New Trarf. of Solomon's Song : the learned author of which charufterlzes the feven days by a different divifion. X 3 going 3IO OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. going out to his ulual occupations. This divifion is at leaft probable, as it throws fome light on the book. Some have conceived [e], that thefe periods are figurative of feven analogous and correfpondent ages that may be fuppofed to extend from Chrift to the end of the world : which is a very unauthorifed conjecture, and juflly rejefl:ed by the moft judicious commentators. [e] As Cocceius. or [ 311 ] GENERAL PREFACE TO THE PROPHETS. THE fecond of thofe great divifions under which the Jews clafled the books of the Old Tefta- ment was that of the Prophets [a]. This, as has been before obferved [b], comprehended originally thirteen books ; but the Talmudical doftors j^c] re- jedling Ruth, Job, Lamentations, Daniel, Either, Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Chronicles, as hagiogra- phica', reckon only eight prophetical books ; calling thofe of Jodiua, of Judges, of Samuel, and of Kings ; the four books of the former Prophets ; and thofe of Ifaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve leflTer Prophets (comprized into one) as the four books of the larer Prophets ; by which means they deprive fome books of a rank to which they are entitled ; and by parting Ruth, Nehemiah, and Lamentations, [a] Jofeph. cont. Apion. Lib. I, [e] Introduft. p. lO. [c] Bava Bathra, c. i. X 4 from 312 GENERAL PREFACE from the books to which they were feverally united, enlarge the catalogue of their canonical books. As the rabbinical notions concerning the degrees of in- fpiration cannot be allowed to affctl the dignity of any of the facred writings [d] ; and as the preten- fions of every book are feverally confidered in a feparate chapter, it is unneceffary to examine the propriety of fuch an arrangement in this preface ; in which it is defigned to treat in a generr.l way, of the charader of the Prophets, and of the nature and evidence of that infpiration, under the influence of which they wrote [e]. The Prophets were thofe illullrious perfons who were raifed up by God among the Ifraelites, as the minifters of his difpenfations. They flourifhed in a continued fucceflion for above a thoufand years [f] ; all co-operating in the fame defigns, and confpiring in one fpirit to deliver the fame doclrines, and to prophefy concerning the fame future bleiiings. Mofes, the firft and greatefl of the Prophets, having eftablifh- ed God's firft covenant ^ thofe who followed him were employed in explaining its nature ; in opening its fpiritual meaning ; in inftrudling the Jews ; and in preparing them for the reception of that fecond difpenfation [c] which it prefigured. Their preten- [u] Glafflus Difput. I. In Pfalm ex. [e] Introdufticn, p. lo. [f] Luke i. 70. reckoning ffom Mofes to Malachi. [g] Matt. xi. 13. I Mace. iv. 46. ColVi. Maam. iii. §, 39. Maflcc. Sotah, cap, ult. Maimon. Bartiner. Gem. Sanh. cap. i. §.3. fions TO THE PROPHETS. 313 fions to be confidered as God's appointed fervants, were demonftrated by the unimpeachable integrity of their charaders ; by the intrinlic excellence and ten- dency of their inftruflion [h] ; and by the difinter- efled zeal, and undaunted fortitude [i], with which they perfevered in their great defigns. Thefe were ftill farther confirmed by the miraculous proofs which they difplayed of divine fupport [k], and by the im- mediate completion of many lefs important predidions which they uttered [l]. Such were the credentials of their exalted charafter, which the Prophets furniflied to their contemporaries ; and we, who having lived to witnefs the appearance of the fecond difpenfation, can look back to the connection which fubfiited be- tween the two covenants, have received additional evidence of the infpiration of the Prophets, in the atteftations of our Saviour and his apoflles [m] ; and in the retrofpeft of a germinant and gradually ma- turing fcheme of prophecy, connected in all its parts, and ratified in the accomplifhment of its great ob- ject, the advent of the Mcffiah. We have ftill far- ther incontrovertible proof of their divine appoint- ment, in the numerous prophecies which in thefe later days are fulfilled, and ftill under our own eyes continue to receive their completion. [h] Deut. xiii. i — 3. [i] Origen cont. Celf. Lib. VII. p. 336. edit. Cant. [k] Jofh. X. 13. iSam. xii. 18. 2 Kings i. 10. Ifa. xxxviii. 8. [l] Deut. xviii. 22. i Sam. ix. 6. i Kings xiii. 3. Ifaiali xlii. 9. Jerem. xxviii. 9. Ezek. xxxiii. 33. [m] Luke i. 70. xviii. 31. Ads vii. 43. xxiv. 14. Rom. xvi. 26. Ephef. ii. 20. aPct. i. 21. Though 314 GENERAL PREFACE Though many perfons are mentioned In fcripture as Prophets, and the Talmudifts reckon up fitty-five [n], whom they conceive to have been entitled to this diftinclion, we are concerned only with thofe whofe books have been admitted into the canon ; who are eminently fliled Prophets [o], as they were unqueftionably infpired with the knowledge of fu- ture events ; whofe writings have been preferved for the permanent advantage of the church, as defcrip- tive of the ceconomy of the divine government, as fraught with the Icilbns of revealed wifdom, and as bearing inconteftible evidence to the truth and pre- tenfions of the chriftian religion. The nacure and charader of that infpiration by which the Prophets were enabled to communicate divine inftrutlions and predidions, has been the fub- je£t of much dilquifition. With refpeO: to the mode by which the Holy Spirit might operate on the under- ftanding of its agents, when employed in the com- pofnion of facred writ, we can form no precife ideas, as we have no aquired experience to aflill our conceptions i wc can judge of it only by its cffcds, [n] Including feven prophctefles. Vid. Gem. Maff. INIegil. [o] Ufo(p-^%q, Propheta, from n(!o-^f*», to fore- tel. The facred writers applied the word «OJ, Nabia, with great latitude, as well to falfe prophets, as to thofe idolatrous priefts whom they called prophets of the grove. Vide i Kings xviii. 19, 22. It appears, likewife, to have been fometimes ufed in the fame loofe fenfe as Ufo(pr,mi is employed by St. Paul, fynonimouUy with the Latin word Vates, a mufician or poet. Vid. I Tit. i. 12. Selden, de Diis Syria Syntag. ii. c. iii, Maimon. More Ncvoch, P. III. c. xxix. for TO THE PROPHETS. 31^ for of the invifiblc agency of a divine power we can have no adequate apprehenfion. There is caufe, hovi^ever, to fuppofe that the fpirit operated chiefly on the reafoning faculties of the mind, however the imagination might be kindled by its influence. It appears rather to have enlightened the intelled than to have inflamed the fancy [p]. The Prophets them- felves, as men, neither vifionary nor enthufiaftic in their previous character, as not acting under the bias of any gloomy or fuperfl:itious notions, could not have been liable to be deceived by the delufions of a clouded or intemperate imagination [ qJ]. They muft themfelves by the (Irong effefts of the divine impulfe, have been fenfible of a fupernatural control, and they muft have been capable of deciding on its charafter by the clear and diftin6l imprefllons which they received. They muft have been convinced of their own infpiration by the difcoverics of an en-- lightened mind, as well as by that fpontaneous and unwonted facility with which they delivered their important convictions. A s to the extent of this infpiration, and whether we are to confider it as general or reftri6ted, it muft be remarked, that as it would be abfurd to fuppofe that the fpirit guided the Prophets only by occafional and defultory ftarts, and partially enlightened them by imperfecl communications, fo we cannot but admit them to have been uniformly under its influence j [p] Maimon. More Nevoch, P. 11. c. xsxvi. [ qJ] Geom. Schab. Zohar. col. 408. I ^nd 3l6 GENERAL PREFACE and In confequence, to have been invariably prefervcd from deception and error, when engap-ed in the compofition of the facred books. The fpirit did not certainly deprive them of the ufe of their faculties fo as to render them the meer initruments of conveying the voice of God ; but it fuperintended and guided them in the exercife of their own under- {landings; fomctimes inftruding them by immediate revelation, and fomctimes direcling them in the com- munication of that knowledge which fhey had de- rived from the ordinary fources of intelligence [r]. We are authorifed, it is true, in the fcripture, to conclude, that the Holy Ghoft (who, in his appro- priate chara£ler was more immediately an agent in communicating infpiration) [s], did, indeed, " fpeak by the Prophets ;'* but we are not, therefore, to confider the fpirit of infpiration as one perfon of the ever-glorious Trinity, didating to the facred writers every fentence and exprellion of fcripture ; but ra- ther as a gift of God, a divine influence which open- ed their underflandings to a difcernment of the will of God. This miraculous power may be reprefented to our conceptions, as to its eflecls, under different points of view ; it may be defcribed firfl, as analogous to a light fhining on the minds of the Prophets, and difperfmg thofe miffs, which the corruption of hu- man nature had engendered j which enabled them [r] Seeker's firfl fermon on the infpiration of Scripture, [s] Mark xii. 36. Ads i. 16. xxviii. 35. Hcb. iii. 7. ix. 8, % Pet. i. 21. to TO THE PROPHETS. 317 to read thofc natural principles that were originally engraven on the mind ; which awakened their fa- culties to a more lively perception of truth, and aflifted their rcafon to a6l as free from prejudice and reftraint. It mufl: be confidered ftill farther, as in- Urufting them by an influx of divine knowledgCj in thofe truths which could be obtained only by im- mediate information from God ; or under one col- ledive defcription, it may be reprefented as guiding and conducing the Prophets, by various means, to the knowledge of all truth, human and divine. When they wrote hiftorically, there could be no ne- ceffity for a revelation of thofe events -of which the knowledge might be obtained by their own obferva- tion, and enquiries [t]. They recorded what they themfelves had feen, or on fome occafions, what they liad received from unqueftionable documents, or credible witnelfes, the fpirit, indeed, bearing tefti- niony. The Prophets generally take care themfelves to inform us what they derived immediately from God ; and to diftinguifh what they fpeak in their own characters as recording hiftorical events, or even as reafoning from the doftrines which had been re- vealed unto them. Still however it is not inconfiff- ent to maintain, that they wrote under the influence [t] The Prophets were, however, fometimes enabled to ilefcribe paft events by immediate revelation ; and the word prophecy is applied to the difcovery of paft circumftances ob- tained by fupernatural means. Vid. i Sam. ix. 20. 2 Kings V. 25, 26. Matt. xxvi. 6. Huet. Defin. IV. Witiius de Prophet. Li'ih, I. cap. ii. of 3l8 GENERAL PREFACE of uniform infpiration ; that is, they were uniformly guided by a divine fpirit, which enabled them by various means of intelligence to difcover truth ; and to felecl and record with fmcerity what toight be confiftent with their defigns. And whenever they communicate divine inftrudion concerning the attri- butes and defigns of God, defcribing particulars which could not be the objects of human fagacity or memory, they muft have derived their knowledge by pofitive revelation from above [u]. Divine revelations were obtained by various ways ; for without dilating on the internal irradiation above-mentioned, and without following the Jewifli writers [x] in their diftinctions concerning the dif- ferent degrees of infpiration which aflifted the au- thors in the compofition of the prophetical or hagio- graphical books refpeftively [y], we may obferve, in agreement with the accounts of fcripture, that though the divine revelations were all equally infalh- ble, yet that a greater degree of illumination was [u] Stackhoufe's Preface to the Hift. of Bible, p. 26. [x] The moft learned Jews admit three degrees of Infpira- tion. I. The Gradus Mofaicus. 2. That which is peculiarly called Prophecy, and which was obtained by dreams and vifions. And 3. That which they call Ruach Hakkodefli, by which they fuppofe the Hagiographi to have been infpired. The Jewifli notions, however, though fometiraes juft, are generally very fanciful. Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch, P. II. c. xlv. [y] Abarbin. ia Efaiah, ch. iv. Maimon. de Fund. Leg. c. vii. imparted TO THE PROPHETS. ojo imparted to fome perfons than to others [zl ; and that this conferred a proportionate dignity on the Prophet fo favoured. The more important commu- nications were Hkewife fometimes furniflied with more confpicuous evidence of revelation, as the dif- penfation imparted to Mofes was introduced with a correfpondent difplay, and fuperior folemnity. The predidlions of Mofes were not more certainly ful- filled than thofe uttered by Ifaiah, yet is the former perfonage pofitively declared in fcripture to have been honoured by an higher revelation in the ex- preffion of having converfed with God " face to face [a]," than was Ifaiah, or any fubfequent Prophet, •whofe illumination was obtained from dreams or yifions. The revelations which are related in fcripture to have been communicated to the Patriarchs, fome- times without any fpecification of an intermediate agent, and fometimes by the miniftry of angels, have been frequently fuppofed to have been convey- ed in dreams and vifions, without any aftual appear- ance. But certainly fome of the relations refpeding thefe, cannot but be underftood in a real and hiftori- cal fenfe ; as that, for inftance, in which God is defcribed as having addrefled ridam in Paradife [b] ; and that in which the angels are reprefented to have appeared to, and to have converfed with Abra-^ [z] Numb. xli. 8. Deut, xxxiv. lo. 2 Kings ii. 9, Heb. I. I. [a] Exod. xxxiii, ii, [b] Gen. ili. 8. ham 'f 320 GENERAL PREFACE ham [c] i in both of which, as well as in fome othei' cafes [d], it mud be admitted that the abfolute ap- pearance of fome divine perfonage, the Deity, or his angeUcal reprefentativc, is intended in a flrid and pofitive fenfe ; as it fliould feem, hkewife, that God fometimes addreffed his fervants by a voice from heaven [e], without any vifible manifcftation of him- felf or his angel, [c] Gen. xviil. alfo Gen. xvli. i — 5. It is probable, tbat wherever God is faid to have appeared, it is to be underftood that he appeared by fome monenger, the reprcfentative of the divine Majefty, and aiithorifed to fpcak in God's name ; this may be collefted from John i. 18. and v. 37. Vid. Gen. xvi. 7, 13. xxii. I, 1 1. Judges vi. 1 1 — 23. and other places, where the Lord and the angel aie words interchangeably ufed. Vid. Auo'uft. de Trinit. c. xi. It was univerfally believed in the ancient church, that all thofe divine appearances defcribed in the Old Teftament, whether adual or in vilion, were made by the Loo-os, or fe^ond pcrfon of the Trinity. Comp. Ifaiah vi. I. with John xii. 41. Vid. Bull's Defenf. Fid. Nic. c. i. fcc^. I. The ancient Jews, likcwife, fuppofed that the in- tended Meffiah appeared as the reprefentative of Jehovah. Vid. Allix. Judg. of Jews church, ch. xiii. xiv. xv. Juft. Mart. Dialog. 261, 266, 408. edit. Thirlb. [d] Numb. xxii. 22—35. [e] Gen. xxii. 11. Exod. xx. 22. Deut. iv. 12. This mode of revelation was called by the Jews ^ip ni, Bath. Col. Filia Vocis, the daughter Voice, or daughter of a voice, be- caufe when a voice or thunder came out of heaven, another voice came out of it. It is by fhcm fuppofed to have fuc- cceded prophecy, and to have conveyed in (bullion after the death of Malachi. It certainly dillinguiflied the dawn of the Gofpel dlfpenfation. Vid. Matt. iii. 17. xvii. 5. John xii. 28, 29. Pirke R. Fliezcr, c. xliv. Jofeph. Archaol. Lib. XUl. c, XV iii. and Ligbtfoot in Matt. iii. 17. When TO THE PROPHSTSi 32I When communications were obtained ftom an abfolute converfe with the Deity, every particular contained in them, mufl have been precifely and diftindly revealed. And hence the inftrudions im- parted to Mofes were fo remarkably perfpicuous and explicit. No fucceeding Prophet under the Jewifh difpenfation could, indeed, boafl of fo intimate and unreferved a correfpondence with the Deity as that illuflrious Legiilator enjoyed j though unqueftion- ably fome were favoured with divine revelations im- parted by the miniftry of angels ; who feem, from the accounts of fcripture, abfolutely to have appeared and converfed with them [f] ; notwithftanding the Jewifli writers confider all thefe relations as defcrip- tive of vifionary reprefentations ; maintaining that God comprehended in his addrefs to Aaron and Miriam, every mode of revelation by which he de- figned to enlighten the Prophets that fhould fucceed to Mofes [gJ. T H £ inftitution of the Urim and Thummim, which was coeval with the time of Mofes [h], fur- niflied the means of obtaining divine information to his contemporaries, as well as to Jofhua, and others who fucceeded him, till the building of the temple, or poflibly till the captivity [i]. As we know not ia what [f] Jofiiuav. 1 3-— 15. Judges xiiu 3, 13 — 20. Jobxxxvln. i. [g] Numb. xii. 6. Maimon. More Nevoch. P. II. c. xli. [h] Exod. xxviii. 33. Numb, xxvii, 21. Mede's Dilcourfc XXXV. [i] It is uncertain when the confultation by the Urim and Thummim ceafed. Some think that it was appropriate to the Y theocracy ; 322 GENERAL PREFACE what manner this myfterious ornament contributed to procure divine inflrudlion : whether, as fome have fuppofed, it furnifhed intelligence by the brilliancy ^nd configuration of its infcribcd charaders ; or whe- ther, as is mod probable, it was the confecrated means appointed for the attainment of anfwers by an audible voice [k], we are ftill certain from the na- ture and verity of that information, as given upon important occafions, that like all other modes of divine revelation under the Jewifli ceconomy, it was clear and perfpicuous. As far as it was dcfigned to inllruct the people in public concerns, it conveyed pr^cife direftions j and its prediclions of future prof- perity or punilhment were delivered, not like ihofe of the Pagan oracles, in ambiguous and equivocal language, but in appropriate and exprefs declarations. It is certain, alfo, that independently of thofe com- munications which the high-prieft obtained by the Urim and Thummim, God did furniOi infl:ru6lion to others by an articulate voice, which proceeded from between the two cherubims above the mercy feat, in the Tabernacle [l] j in a manner allufive poffibly to the circumflance of God's fpeaking by angels. The other modes by which God vouchfafed to re- theocracy ; fome imagine that it flopped after the building of the temple. It continued iwlfibly till the deftruiftion of the temple, and it was expefted to revive after the captivity j Ezra ii. 36. Nehem. vii. 65. though probably it did not. [k] Judges i. 1. 2 Sam. v. 23, 2^. [l] Exod. XXV. 22. Levit. i, i. Numb. vii. 89. ix. 9. X Sam. iii, 3. and following vcrfes. veal TO THE PROPHETS. 323 vtc\\ his inflrudions to the Prophets, were thofe of dreams and vifions [m]. With refpecl to dreams, they were fometimes imparted as admonitions from God to perfons who had no title to the prophetic charad:er [n]. In thefe cafes they were doubtlefs lefs diftind in their impreffion, and rather calculated to ftrike and amaze, than to enlighten the mind. Thofe who received them either waited their expli- cation in the event, or applied for their interpretation to perfons who were endued with a portion of the divine fpirit ; and the power of explaining dreams appears to have been an eminent characleriftic of the Prophets [o]. The dreams which revealed future fcenes to the Imaginations of the Prophets were doubtlefs very forcible, and evidently prediclives They are fup- pofed by the Jews to have been introduced by the immediate efficiency of an angel, who either addreff- ed the Prophets by a voice, or pidured narrative circumftances to their minds : but however it might vary in its circumftances, this mode of communica- tion by dreams muft have always conveyed very dif- tind imprcffions. When no voice was heard, and information was to be collected from fome paraboli- [m] It is remarkable, that Homer enumerates three modes of obtaining divine communications, which correfpond with thofe appointed for the conveyance of revelations to God's felbfted people. Vid. Iliad, Lib. I. 1. 62, 63. [n] Maimon. More Nevoch, Par.. IK c. xli. Philo Juds. TO-£p ra SsoTTE/ATrla? nvxi oviifaq. Gemarifts in Batuchoth. c. ix. Gen. xl. Dan. iv. [o] Jerem. xxiii. 28. Y 2 cal 324 GENERAL PREFACE cal icenes, the dreams were probably characlerlzed by a lively and regular fucceflion of objedts, and by an accurate difplay of intelligible particulars. They muft have excited refpeft, as differing widely from the wild, and indeterminate fancies ; the vague, and incoherent images that conftitute ordinary dreams. In vifions, which the Jews confidered as a mode of inftrudion fuperior to dreams [p], the Prophet was convinced of his fubjeclion to a divine power, by the miraculous fufpenfion of his common faculties ; for though on thefe occafions the infpired perfon was awake, his fenfes were entranced [ cl], and infenfi- ble to all external objects ; or fo far enraptured, as to be alive only to impreffions from extatic reprefen- tations [r]. He was likewife often certified, as in dreams, by diftincb admonitions of feme particulars readily afcertained, and enabled to forefee fome cir- cumftances which immediately came to pafs. In all the cafes here defcribed, the Prophets could not, without doubting the cleared and moft palpable evidence, diflruft the truth of the revelations which they received ; and with refpeft to us, we have am- ple reafon from a collective confideration of their writings, to be convinced that their infpiration was accompanied with fufficient charafters to diftinguifli it from the dreams of enthufiafm, or the vifions of [?] Maim. More Nevsch, Par. II. cap. xlv. and Bayley'a Efl'ay on Infpiration. [ cij Numb, xx'iv. 16. [r] Ifaiah vi. i. Ezck. .\1. 2. Dan. viii. 17, 18. x. 8. A!5>s X. II. I fancy. TO THE PROPHETS. 325 fancy [s]. The accompliniment of their predidions, and the purity of their dottrines, are indeed irrefra- gable proofs of their divine appointment to prophefy, and to inftruft mankind. Upon all occafions on which the Prophets are related to have been favoured with an intimation of the divine will, we find that they betrayed no fymp- toms of a credulous or heated imagination. Cautious and deliberate in their examination of miraculous re- velations, they appear to have hefitated at firil as doubtful of their reality ; and often required a fign, or fome additional evidence, to ratify the commiffion which they received, and to authorife their reliance on the divine fupport in its execution. This calm and rational temper, which rendered the prophets diftruflful of their own fenfes if fmgly addrefled, and folicitous to fcrutinize the reality of every ap- pearance, however miraculous in its circumftances, demonftratcs clearly that they were not the dupes of their own fancy -, and that they expelled no reverence for their commiffion, unlefs charaderized with the fanftions and authority of divine appointment; and very ftriking marks of this difpofition were difplayed by the Prophets, as may be inflanced in the cafe of Mofes [t], in that of Samuel [u], and in that of Jonah [x]. [s] Bifliop Kurd's fourth Introd. Sermon on Prophec, Smith's Diicourfe. Jer. xxiii. 28. [t] Exod. ill. and iv. [u] I Sam. iii. [x] Jonah I, Y X Under 326 GENERAL PREFACE Under the immediate influence of the impreflions which the Prophets received from thefe communica- tions, they appear to have executed their commiffion by uttering their infl:ru6lions with a divine enthu- fiafm. Enraptured by the effects of that infpiration which had enlightened their minds, and urged by the efficacy of a controlling power [y], they de- livered their predictions in an animated and im- preffive manner, and often with feme bodily actions and geftures [z] Thefe naturally accompanied an earnefl delivery of important convictions, and as re- flrided in confiftency with the dignity and venerable deportn eat of the Prophets, they were very different from thofe frenzied and extravagant gefliculations by which impoftors have fought to recommend and enforce their fantaftic rhapfodies [a]. The word prophecy is often ufed in fcrlpture to fignify the Tinging of praifes to God ; in hymns doubtlefs of infpired excellence, and occafionally animated with predictions of futurity [b]. The fpirit of prophecy, in this fenfe of the word, appears fometimcs by God's permiffion, to have communi- [y] Ifa. xxi. 3. Jerem. xx. 9. Dan. x. 8. Amos iii. 8. [z] Numb. xxiv. 4, 16. Ezek. iii. 14. Habakkuk iii. 16. R. Albo, Lib. III. c. X. Smith's Difc. [a] Chryfoft. Homil. xxix. in i Cor. Hieron. Pra?f. in Nahum. and Proleg. in Habac. Lucan, Lib. V. Schol. in Flutum. Ariftoph. yEneid, Lib. VL Plato in Timasum. Jamb, de Myft. feft. 3. c. ix. [b] Hammond on Luke i. 67. Numb. xi. 25. The Chal- dee Paraphraft tranflates CKUJ, " praifing God." i Chron. XXV. I, cated 6 TO THE PROPHETS. 327 cated itfelf to thofe who heard others prophefy, the divine afflatus being conveyed by a kind of fympa- thy, and harmonious affedion [c]. The Prophets who were educated in thofe fchools of which the in- ftitution is attributed to Samuel [d], were principally employed in this fpiritual fervice ; and thus by being exercifed in habits of piety, and duly attuned and fandified for the reception of the divine fpirit, they feem to have been often favoured and enlightened by its fuggeflions. The more remarkable prophecies, however, which referred to diflant periods, which received their accomplifliment in after ages, and flill continue to excite our admiration, were delivered by perfons, often indeed feleded from thefe fchools, but evidently endued with a larger portion of the fpirit, and more eminently diftinguifhed by the marks of divine favour. Such were the principal, if not the only modes by which God vouchfafed to reveal himfelf to the Prophets ; always, we have feen, in a manner con- fiftent with the greatnefs of his attributes, and with the dignity of the prophetic character j and all thofe communications which in fcripture are faid to have been derived from God without any particular de- fcription [e] of the manner in which they were con- veyed, [c] I Sam. X. 5 — 10, x'lx. 20—34. Smith's Dilc. on Pro- phecy. And Lowth's Praeleft. Poet. 18. p. 225. [d] Preface to Second Book of Samuel. [e] As when we are told, " thus faith the Lord ;" or, " the word of the Lord came;" which is fometiuies applied to per= Y 4 lona 328 GENERAL PREFACE veyed, mud be underflood to have been received by one of thofe channels which have been here pointed out. The Prophets, as miglit be expected from the diftinguifhed marks of divine approbation which they received, feem to have been fmgularly quaUfied for the facred miniftry. It is not meant to include in this confideration thofe perfons of condemned or ambiguous character, who are reprefented in fcrip- ture as compelled occafionally to give utterance to the fuggeftions of the facred fpirit ; but confining ourfelves to a contemplation of thofe who are de- clared to have been the appointed fervants of God, and whofe infpired writings dill continue to inftrud mankind, it may be affirmed, that in the long and illuftrious fucceffion from Mofes to Malachi, not one appears who was not entitled to confiderable re- verence by the difplay of great and extraordinary virtues [f]. Employed in the exalted oflice of teach- fons not endued with the prophetic character. Thefe ex- preffions import only, that the inftruftlon was conveyed by the means then appointed, whether by angel, urim, prophet, or dream. Vid. Gen. xxii. i. with Calmet. Jofliua i. x, 1 Kings iii. 11. Jcr. i. 2 — 4. Hofca i. 1. &;c. Maimon, More Nevoch, Par. II c. xli. [f] 2 Pet. i. 21. The Hebrew doftors coUedl this general rule from a confideration of the charaders of the Prophets, that the fpirit of prophecy never reftcd upon any but a holy and wife man j one whofe paflions were allayed. Vid. R. Al- bo Maam. iii. c. 36. Porta Mofis in Pocock's works. Abarb. Praef. in xii. Prophet. Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. II. c. xxxvi. TO THE PROPHETS. 329 ing and reforming mankind, they appear to have been animated with a becoming and correfpondent ;zeal. No unworthy paffions, nor difmgenuous mo- tives, were permitted to interfere with their great defigns. Not, indeed, that they were always direct- ed by the guidance of the fpirit to undeviating pro- priety of hfe, fmce it is manifeft that they fometimes aded as unaffifted men fubje6l to error ; but not- withflanding thofe faiHngs which their own ingenuous confeffions have unveiled, it appears, that in general their paffions were controlled in fubjedion to thofe pcrfed laws which they taught, and that the ftrength of their conviftions rendered them infenfible to fe- cular attractions. When not immediately employed in the difcharge of their facred office, they lived fe- queltered from the world in religious communities I^g] ; or wandered " in deferts, in mountains, and in caves of the earth ;" diftinguiffied by their ap- parel, and by the general fimplicity of their ftile of life [h]. They were the eftabliffied oracles of their country, and confulted upon all occafions when it was necellary to coUeft the divine will on any civil or religious queftion ; and we hear of no fchifms or jdivifions while they flouriffied. They even con- c. XXX ^'i. Vid. alfo, Oiigen. cont. Cclf. Lib. VII. p. 336. edit. Cantab. Gem. Pelac. c. vi. The rule however is not univerfally true. Vid. Numb. xxiv. [g] There v,'ere fchools of the Prophets at Jerufalem, Bethel, Jericho, Ramah, and Gilgal. Vid. 2 Kings xxii. 14. 2 Kin^s ii. 5. i Sam. xix. 20. 2 Kings iv. 38. [h]'2 Kings i. 8. iv. 10, 3^. vi. ;. Ifa. xx. 2. Matt. iii. 4. Heb. xi. 38. Rev. xi. 3. defcended 33^ GENERAL PREPACK defcended to inform the people of common concerns in trivial cafes, in order to preclude them from all pretence or excufc for reforting to idolatrous prac- tices, and heathen divinations ; and they were always furniflied with fome prefcribed mode of confulting God, or obtained revelations by prayer [i] ; for we are not to fuppofe that they were invariably empow- ered to prophefy by any permanent or perpetual infpi- ration [k]. Thefe illuftrious perfonages were likewife as well the types, as the harbingers of that greater Pro- phet whom they foretold ; and in the general outline of their character, as well as in particular events of their lives, they prefigured to the Jews the future teacher of mankind. Like him, alfo, they laboured by every exertion, to inftrud and reclaim ; reproving and threatening the finful, however exalted in rank, or encircled by power, with fuch fearlcfs confidence and fmcerity, as often excited refpe.51. The mofl: intem- perate princes were fometimes compelled unwillingly to hear and to obey their diredlions [l], though often fo incenfed by their rebuke, as to refent it by the fiivereft perfccutions. Then it was that the Pro- phets evinced the integrity of their characters, by zealoufly encountering opprefiion, hatred, and death, in the caufe of religion. Then it was that they firmly [i] Jcrem. xxxili. 3. [k] Maimon. More Nevoch, Pars II. cap. xxxvl. & xlv< Mofes, and as fome fay, David, were fuppofcd to be excep- tions to this remark, and to have been perpetually infpircd. [l] I Kings xii. ai— 24. xiii. 2—6. xx. 42, 43. xxi. 27. 2 Chron. xxviii. 9 — 14. fupported TO THE PROPHETS. 33I fupported " trial of cruel mockings and fcourgings ; yea, moreover, of bonds and imprifonment. They were ftoned, they were fawn afunder, were tempt- ed, were flain with the fword : they wandered about, deftitute, afflidted, tormented [m] ;" evil intreated for thofe virtues of which the memorial fhould flourifli to pofterity, and martyred for righteoufnefs, which when-ever refentment fhould fubfide, it would be deemed honourable to reverence [n]. The manner in which the Prophets publiflied their predidions, was either by uttering them aloud in fome public place, or by affixing them on the gates of the temple [o], where they might be generally feen and read. Upon fome important occafions, when it was neceflary to roufe the fears of a dif- obedient people, and to recal them to repentance, the Prophets, as objects of univerfal attention, appear to have walked about publicly in fackcloth, and with every external mark of humiliation and forrow. They then adopted extraordinary modes of exprelT- ing their conviftions of impending wrath, and en- deavoured to awaken the apprehenfions of their country, by the mofl: flriking illuftration of threaten- ed punifliment. Thus Jeremiah made bonds and yokes, and put them upon his neck [p], Itrongly to intimate [m] Heb. xi. 36. & feq. James v. 10. [n] Matt, xxiii. 27 — 29. [o] Jer. vii. 2. iii. 10. Howel, Lib. VT. p. 167. [p] Jerem. xxvii. It is clear from the account in the next chapter, that Jeremiah put the yoke on his own neck. Vid. chap. 332 GENERAL PREFACE intimate the fubjeclion that God would bring on the nations whom Nebuchadnezzar fliould fubdue. Ifaiah likewife walked naked, that is, without the rough garment of the Prophet [q], and barefoot [r], as a fign of the diftrefs that awaited the Egyptians. So Jeremiah broke the potter's vefiel [s] ; and Ezekiel publickly removed his houfehold goods [t] from the city ; more forcibly to reprefent by thefe ac- tions fome corrcfpondent calamities ready to fall on nations obnoxious to God's wrath j this mode of chap, xxxviii. lO. So alfo, i Kings xxii. il. A6ts xxi. ir. But, as to fend bonds and yokes may imply only tiguratively, to prediiR: captivity, it is not neceflary to fuppofe that Jere- miah literally fent yokes and bonds to all the kings enumerated in the account, but only that he foretold their fate ; perhaps illuftrating his prophecy by fome fignilicant tokens. Vid. Mede's Com. on Apocal. Part I. p. 470. Waterland's Tracts on Jerem. xxvii. 23. [ Q.] Ifa. XX. Harmer's Obfervat. vol. iv. p. 402. John sxi. 7. Origcn cont. Celf. Lib. VII. p. 336. [r] It is faid in the text, three years, which means at in- tervals during that time. Some think that we fliould under- lland three days ; a year being fometimes placed in prophetic language for a day. Others maintain, that the Hebrew text, agreeably to the Maforetic punctuation, applies the three years, not to Ifaiah's walking, but to the calamity thereby foreihewn, and the Seventy, St. Jerom, and our old Englifh verfions, adopt this conflrudtion. Others, laftly, confider the account as the narrative of a tranfaftion in vifion, or as a parable related by Ifaiah. [s] Jerem. xix. [t] Ezek. xii. 7. compared with 2 Kings xxv. 4, 5. where the accompliflimcnt of this typical prophecy is related. Vid, alfo, E7.ck. xxxvii. 16 — 20. exprefllng TO THE PROPHETS. 333 cxpreffing Important circumflances by aftion, being cuftomary and familiar among all Eaftern nations. The conduct of the Prophets upon thefe occafions muft be confidered with refleclion on the importance of their miniftry ; and with great allowance for dif- ference of manners in their time ; and then will this mode of prophefying by adlions, appear to have been not only very flriking and imprelTive, but ftridly agreeable to the defign and decorum of the pro- phetic charafter. It has, however, been ftrenuoufly maintained, that many adions attributed to the Pro^ phets, and even fome of thofe which have been here reprefented as real, were not adlually performed ; and that many of thefe accounts fliould be confidered as parables related by the Prophets ; or as defcrip- tive of tranfadions in vifion, intended ftrongly to imprefs the imagination of the Prophets, and to in- form them fymbolically of thofe things in which they were to inflru6l the people [u]. So very pofitive have been the fentiments on both fides, of thofe who have fupported thefe oppofite opinions, that it would be prefumptuous to decide on the fubjed. The Prophets themfelves fometimes inform us only of certain commands which they received, without ex- [u] Where it is faid, that *' the hand of the Lord was upon the Prophet," or " the word of the Lord came unto him," it is generally thought, that a viHon is defcribed ; and where the inftrudion of the Prophet only was dcfigned, the tranf- aclion was pi-obably confined to the fcene of the Prophet's imagination. Vid. Gen. xv, 4, 5. Jerem. i. 11, 13. xviii, I — 4. xxiv. I — 4. Ezek. iii. 22—2-]. viii. xxxvii. plaining ^34 GENERAL PREFACE plaining whether they underftood them as figurative inftrudions to be defcribed to the people, or whether' they literally obeyed them. This appears in the account given by Ezekiel, in which he informs us, that he was directed to make a mimic portraiture of a fiege, and to continue a great length of time lying on his fide j as alfo in that, in which he declares himfelf to have been commanded to fhave and to confume his hair [x]. The nature of thefe injunc- tions feems to import only fome figurative inftru£lions given, and obeyed in vifion [y]. At other times the Prophets defcribe not merely the precept, but the tranfadtion, with particulars fo minutely and cir- cumftantially detailed, that we might be led to ad- mit a pofitive hiitorical fenfe, did not the difficulties [x] Ezekiel iv. and v. [y] It is not pofitively afTerted, that thefe injiinftiorts were not literally executed, but that, probably they never were, fince Ezekiel does not profcfs aftually to have performed them ; and the nature of the thing feems to prove, that they tl'ere a£ted only in the imagination of the Prophet. But if the hiftorical fenfe be received, It certainly may be vindicated from all objciflions. Ezekiel might have been miraculoufly enabled to bear the fatigue of lying fo long on his fide ; and the objection of Maimonides to the reality of the fecond trJinf- a£lion is frivolous, for though it was unlawful for the prieft to fliave (Vid. Levit. xxv. 5. Ezek. xliv. 20.) the Law might ccualnly be difpenfcd with, by God's command; and, as un- cuftomary, it mull have been more remarkable as a fign. The portraiture of the fiege, as reprcfcnted by the Prophet, whe- ther it were real or vifionary, was defcriptivc of the circum- ftanccs that occurred at the taking of Jeruialem. Compare Ezek. iy. i — 3. with Jofcph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. xl. and TO THE PROPHETS; ^3^ and inadequate advantage of an adual performance tend to demonftrate that the fcene mud have been fiditious. Thus, however circumftantkl be the re- lation of Jeremiah, relative to his concealment of the girdle, it is difficult to conceive that God fliotild command the Prophet to take two fuch long journies [z] merely for the purpofe of this typical illuflration [a]. Nor was it poflible, without miracles multi- plied for a purpofe which might as well have been efFecled by a prophetic vifion, that Jeremiah fliould make the various nations which he enumerates, drink of the cup of fury, which he profelTed to have received at God's hand [b], Thefe tranfactions, if performed in vifion, might be defcribed by the Prophets as figns and intimations to thofe whom they addreffed. The [z] Jerem. xlii. *' Abfit,*' fays Malmonldes, In a fplrk of hafty and indignant piety, " ut Deus Prophetas luos llultis vel Ebriis fimiles redevv. As being in part, figns to excite con- fidence, they had an immediate accomplifhment, but were afterwards fulfilled in a more illuftrious fenfc [a] ; the Prophets being infpired by the fuggeftions of the fpirit, to ufe exprefhons magnificent enough to include the fubftance in the defcription of the figure. That many of the prophecies in the Old Tedament were diredV, and fmgly and exclufively [z] 2 Sam. vii. 13, 14. comp. with Heb. i. 5. Penfees de P;ifcal, feft. iQ, 14. [a] I Kings xiii. 2, 3. Ifaiah vii. 14. and- Matt. i. 22. Comp. Dan. ix. 27. and xii. 7. with i Mace. i. 54. and Matt, xxiv. 15. Vitvinga Obfer. Sac. Lib. VI. cap. xx. &c. Glaffii Philo. Sac. Lib. ll. Witfii Milcel. Sac. torn. i. Lib. IIL cap. iii. and Lib. IL DifT. i, 2. jEcon. Feed. Lib. IV. c. vi. — x. Sixt. Seaen. in Bib. Sandl. Cunaus Rep. Heb. Jenkin's Reafon. Pcnfees de Pafcul, ch. xv. n. 13. Jackfon's Works, vol. ii. B. vii. I'cCt. 2. Z 3 applicable 342 GENERAL PREFACE applicable to, and accompliihed in our Saviour, is certain [b] ; and that fome paflages from the Old Tcftament are cited only by way of accommodation to circumllances dcfcribcd in the New, is, perhaps, equally true [c]. But that this typical kind of pro-r phecy was likewife employed is evident, as well from the interpretation of the paflages above referred to, as from the application of many other parts of fcrip- ture by the Aicred writers, and, indeed, from their exprcfs declarations [d]. It requires much attention to comprehend the full import and extept of this typical difpenfation, and the chief obfcurities which prevail in the facred writings are to be attributed to the double character of prophecy [e]. To unravel this, is, however, an interefl:ing and infl:rudive lludy ; though an admira- tion of the fpiritual meaning ihould never lead us to difregard or undervalue tlie firft and evident fignifi- cation -, for many great men have been fo dazzled by [e] Gen. xlix. lO. Pfalm xlii. xlv. Ifaiah Hi. liil. Dan. rii. 13, 14. Micah V. 2. Zechar. ix. 9. Mai. iii. i. Origen. cont. Ceir. Lib. I. p. 39. [c] Comp. Exod. xvi. 18. with 2 Cor. vlii. 15. Many paf- fages, however, fuppofed accidentally to correlpond, feem to have been defignedly prophetic. Comp. Ha. xxix. 13. with "Matt. XV. 7, 8. Ifa. vi. 9. with Matt. xiii. 14. Pfa. Ixxii. 2. with Matt. xiii. 31,. Jerem. xxxi. 15. with Matt. ii. 17. [n] Hof. xii. 10. i Cor. x. i!. Heb. ix. x. Gal. iii. 24. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. V. p. 140. Hilar, in Pfa. Ixiii. n. 2, 3. Augull. de Doa. Chrirt. Lib. IIL c. ix. Waterland's Pre- face to Scrip. Vindic. and Lancafter's Abridg. of Daubuz. [t] Pfciffer Hermencut. Sac. p. 633. Chand. Def. feft. i, Lowth's Vindic. of Old and New Tcft, their TO THE PROPHETS. 343 their difcoveries in this mode of explication, as to be hurried into wild and extravagant exccfs i as is evident from the writings of Origen [f^, and St. Jerom [g] ; as alfo from the commentaries of St. Auftin, who acknowledges [h] that he had too far indulged in the fancies of an exuberant imagination, declaring that the other parts of fcripture are the beft commentaries. The apoftles and the evangeiifts are, indeed, the befl expohtors ; but where thefe infalli- ble guides have led the way, we need not hefitate to follow their (teps by the light of clear reafon, and juil analogy. It is this double character of prophecy which oc- cafions thole unexpetled tranfitions and fudden in- terchange of circumftance fo obfervable in the pro- phetic books. Hence different predictions are fome- times blended and mixed together [i] 5 temporal and fpiritual [f] Origen was a fcholar of Clemens Alexandrlnus, who derived his tafte for allegory from the works of Philo the Jew. Vid. Phot, Cod. 105. Eufeb. Hilh Ecclef. Lib. IV. cap. xix. Hieron. Epiil. ad Mag. Smallbrooke's Anfwer to Woolflon, vol. i. p. 93. [g] He prqfefTes, in the fervor of youthful fancy, to have fjji ritualized Obadiah, before he underftood it, and prefers his hillorical explicafions as a work Matiira Seuefiutis. Vid. Procsm. in Abdiam. [h] AugulL Retraift. vol. i. cap. xviii. He contended for a fourfold fcnfe of fcripture. Vid. Glalhi Philol. IJ. p. 2^^. et feq. Vitringa Obferv. Sac. Bib. VI. c. xx. [i] As thofe which refer to the firft and fecond re(!oratiaa of the Jews, and to the firft and fecond coming of Chrift ; the Frophete taking occafion from the defcription of near, to Z 4. launch 344 GENERAL PREFACE fpirltual deliverances are foretold in one prophecy ; and great and fmaller events are combined in one point of view. Hence likewife one chain of con- rcfled defign runs through the whole fcheme of pro- phecy ; and a continuation of events fuccefhvely ful- filling, and fucceilively branching out into new pre- dictions, continued to confirm the faith, and to keep alive the expectations of the Jews. Hence was it the character of the prophetic fpirit to be rapid in its defcriptions, and regard :efs of the order of hiftory ; to pafs with quick and unexpected celerity from fub- jc6t to fubjeCt, and from period to period. '* And we muft allow," fays Lord Bacon [k], " for that latitude that is agreeable and familiar to prophecy, which is of the nature of its author, with whom a thoufand years are but as one day." The whole of the great fcheme muft have been at once prefent to the divine mind, but God defcribed its parts in detail to mankind ; in fuch meafures, and in fuch propor- tions, that the connection of every link was obvious, and its relations apparent in every point of view, till the harm^^ny and entire confiftency of the plan were difplayed to thofe who witnclTed its perfection in thq advent of Chrift. It may be farther obfcrved of prophecy as it ap- pears in the facrcd writings, that it was '* a light flVming in a dark place [l] i" that it was not gene- launch out into that of diflant clrcumflances, as did our Sa^ viour in his famous Prophecy. Vid. Matt. xxiv. Vid. Pre* face to Ifaiah. [k] Bacon de AugT.. Sclent. Lib. II, [l] 2 Peter i, 19- rally TO THE PROPHETS. 345 rally defigned to be fo clear as to excite an expefta- tion of particular events, or a defire of counterad- ing forefeen calamities [m] ; but that it was intended in the accomplifliment of its predictions to demon- ftrate the wifdom and power of God [n]. It was fufficiently exa6l in its defcriptions to authenticate its pretenfions to a divine authority, and to produce when it came to pafs, an acknowledgment of its un- erring certainty. Had it been more clear, it muft have controlled the freedom of human adions ; or have appeared to have produced its own accomplifli- ment, furnilhing finners with a plea of neceffity [o]. Had the period likewife of the MelTiah's advent been at firfl: diftinflly and precifely revealed, the Jews would have difregarded fo diftant an hope. Some- times, however, when occafion required, the pre- dictions of the Prophets were pofiiive, and exaftly dcfcriptive [p], and occafionally delivered with an [m] Had the Jews certainly known Chrill to have been the predided Mefliah, they would not have crucified the Lord of life. Vid. Ads xiii. 27. iii. 17. [n] Sir Ifaac Newton on Dan. p. 251. Hurd on Prophecy, Serni. ii, John xiii. ig. xvi. 4. Lowth's Vindication of the Divine Authority of the Old and New Teft. p. 171. The prophecies relative to the Meffiah nnift have appeared very obfcure and irreconcileable with each other before the appear- ;ince of Chrift, as they referred both to his human and divine charafter, to his earthly fufferings and future exaltation. [o] Lowth's Vindicat. p. 77. [p] Numb. xxiv. 17. Ifa. ix. 6. Zechar. ix. 9. xi. 12, 13. Dan. ii. 38 — 45. Mai. i. i. iii. i. accurate 346 GENERAL PREFACE accurate and definite defignation of names and times [ qJ. And though tlic charader and kingdom of Chrirt: were at firft held out in general and indeter- minate promifes, yet fo emphatic were the afTurances as the time approached, andfo peremptory the limita* tion of its period ; fo forcible and particular were the prophecies concerning the iMeffiah,\vhcn collected and concentered into one point of view^ that about the sera of our Saviour's birth, a very general pcrfuafion of the inftant appearance of fomc great and extraor- dinary perfonage prevailed, not only in Judsea, but alfo in other countries ; as is evident from the ac- counrs of various writers [r], facred and pro- phane [s]. It has been very erroneoufly imagined, that the Prophets and infpired writers of the Old Teftament took but little pains to inftruct: the Ifraelites in the doctrine of a future flate ; and that in their exhort- ations and threats, they confined themfelves entirely to motives of temporal reward and punilhment. An4 [ CL,] Gen. XV. 13. Numb. xiv. 33, Jcrem. xxv. 11, 12. Dan. ix. 24^ 2^. Micah v. 2. [r] New Teft. palTini. Vid. alfo, 1 Mace. iv. 46. siv. 41. and Preface to rhe lliftorical Books, p. 133, note o. [b] Cicero dc Divin. Lib, II. Tacit. Hirtor. Lib. V. Sueton. Vcfpaf. c. iv. Vir;jil's Eclos;. iv. --Eiieid VL 1. 791. ct fcq. Juftin. in Odav. c. xciv. VolTius de Sibyl. Orac. c. iv, Cnd- v.orth's Intcll. Syft. B. I. c. iv. Boyle's Led. vol. ii, 0. 516. Ncchuminas, a Jewifli R:ibbi, is faid to have affirmed, about 50 years before the birth of Chrift, that the appearance of the MelTiah could not be delayed above 50 years ; collecting his opinion, probably, froiu the prophecies of Dan,itl. TO THE PROPHETS. 347 it has been as {Irangely aflerted, that though the Jews thought with the reft of mankind, that the ibul furvived the body, yet that they fimply con- cluded that it returned to him who gave it, without any interefting fpeculations concerning its ftate of furvivorfliip [rj. But though, as it has been before obferved [u], Mofes annexed only temporal ianctions to his laws, (which by no means excluded, but were indeed underftood to be figurative of greater promifes [x],) yet the Prophets in their addrefles to the hopes and fears of their countrymen, unqueftionably held out the encouragement of eternal happinefs, and the terrors of eternal mifery. It is certain alfo, that the Jews looked anxioufly forward to that flate of immortality which they expeded to inherit, not merely from the general conviftion of a future ftate of exiftence, which as an obvious truth they in common with all other nations entertained ; but from the more pofitive and particular information that they obtained from revealed accounts ; for not to mention that the general denunciations of God's wrath muft have been underftood to involve declara- [t] Le Clerc, Warburton, Sec. Vid. Div. Legat. Book V. feft. 6. p. 476. [u] Preface to Pentateuch, p. 61. [x] Heb. xi. 8 — 16, 25, 26. Hence it is, that Maimonldes obferves, " Quod ad lefurredionem autem mortuorura, eft ea fundamentum e fundamentis, legis Mofis, quam ii quis non credat, non eil: ipli in Judaeorum Religione fors aut locus." Vid. Pocock's Porta Mofis, p. 60, and yet his countrymen confidered his teilimony as not fufficicntly Itrong, as Maimo- pides confelTes. Vid. alfo, j^evit. yyiii. 5. tions 348 GENERAL PREFACE tions of permanent retribution, it is manifefi: from numberlefs paiTages of fcripture that the Prophets di- rc6lly appealed to thofe convictions which the people cheriilied as to a future ftate j and that they refted on motives of future confideration, as on the ftrong- cft arguments to excite obedience [y]. The Pro- phets did not, it is true, fo fully infift upon thefc motives, nor fo perfectly reveal the affurance and charader of a future judgment, as did our Saviour, who brought life and immortality dillinftly to view [z], and whole Gofpel was entirely grounded on thofc [y] Job rcix. 25 — 29. and Preface to Job. Ph. 1. 5. xvi. i r . xxx. 19, 20. 1. Iviii, II. Ixxiii. 3 — 28. Ixxxvii, 6. xcvi. 13. cxvi. 15. cxxxiii. 3. Prov. x. 2, 2S. xi. 7, 8. xlv. 32. xv. 24. xxi. 16. xxiii. 18. xxiv. 12. corap. with Rom« ii. 6. and Rev, xxli. 12. Ecclef. ill. 17, 21. xi. 9. xii. 7, 14. IHi. ii. 17. V. 16. XXV. 8. xxvi. g, 19. Ivii. i, 2. Ivili. 8. Ixlv. 4. comp. with I Cor. ii. g. Jerem. xvii. 11, 13. Rzvk. xviii. xxxii. 27. Dan. vil. ic, 18. xii. 2, 3, 13. Hofca xill. 14. Zephan. iii, 8. Zech. iii. 7. Malach. iii. 16, 18. iv. i. [z] Chrifl: is fiiid, in our tranflation, to have <' brought life and immortality to light through the Gofpel," 2 Tim. i. 10. which by no means imports that the docfirinc was before unknown, but agreeably to the fenfe of the original, (pulicrccfci l^u *, Kctt oi.] The hiftorlcal relations interfperled in thefe books are ot" courle excluded tVoni this remark. So likevvifc the book of Daniel, which is chiefly narrative, has nothing poetical, nor has that of Jonah, except the prayer, which is an ode. The grave and elevated prophecies of Eijekicl, (whom Bifljop Lowth has characterized as an orator rather than a poet) Teem to reject metrical arrangement. The odes which are in the books of Ifriiah, Er.ckicl, and Habakkuk, are of a diftind and pecuiiar fpecics of poetrj'. Vid. Lowth's Prailecl. 2^, 26, 27, 28. L Q^] Moll of the prophecies in the hillorical books are un- queftionably written in fome kind of meal\u-e, as thofe of Noah, Jacob, and Balaam, and the divine hymn of Mofcs in the thirty-fecond chapter of Deuteronomy ; all of which furnifli very beautiful fpccinicns of metrical poetry. no TO THE PROPHETS. ^SS no power of afcertaining the pronunciation, or even the number of its fyllables. The quantity and rhythm of its verfe muft therefore have entirely perillied ; and there can be no mode of difcovering the rules by which they were governed [r]. That the Hebrew poetry in general, however, was controlled to fome kind of meafure, is evident ; not only from the pe- culiar feledion of unufual expreflions and phrafes, but alfo from the artificial arrangement, and regular diftribution of many fentences, which run in parallel divifions, and correfpond, as it were, in equal pe- riods ; but whether this meafure refulted from the obfervance of certain definite numerical feet, or was regulated by the ear and the harmony of lines of fimilar cadence, is uncertain [s]. The fententious modulation, however, which in confequence obtain- ed was fo ftrong, as to be transfufed, and to pre- dominate in our tranflation. It is obfervable, alfo, that the meafure is often varied ; and even fometimes [r] The meafure of the modern Jews is very different from that of the facred writings, and was probably borrowed from the Arabians. [s] Lowth's Praeleft. 3, and 19. et metrics Harianas Confut. The learned deny that correfpondence and fimilitude between the Hebrew and the Grecian meafures which St. Jerom, on the authority of Jofephus and Origen, maintained to exift. Vid.Pr^elea. 18. Bedford's Temple Mufick, ch. vi. Calmet, &c. The Hebrew language hardly admitted a tranfpofition of words fufficient for the Grecian meafures ; and it appears evi- dent, that though the language abounds in fimilar termina- tions, yet that rhime was not confidered as neceifary or orna- mental in the Hebrew verfe. A a a in 356 GENERAL PREFACE in the fame poem, but with a propriety which ap- pears from the efied to be always well adapted to the fubje£l. There is nothing inconfiftent with the na- ture of infpiration, to fuppofe that its fuggeftions might be conveyed in numbers. The Prophets in the ordinary modes of prophefy-ng, were accudomed to compofe their hymns to the found of fome mufi- cal inftrument [t] ; and there could be but little difficulty in adapting their efFufions to a meafure which required probably no great reftriftions in a language fo free and uncontrolled as the Hebrew. The Holy Spirit, like wife, while it quickened the in- vention of the Prophets, and Hred their fancy, might enable them to obferve the eftablifhed ftile of com- pofition. The Prophets undoubtedly collefted their own prophecies into their prefent form ; though the au- thor of the lives of the Prophets, under the name of Dorotheus, affirms in a very groundlefs affertion, that none but David and Daniel did j conceiving [t] The Jews conceived that mufick calmed the puffions, and prepared the mind for the reception of the prophetic influence. It is pi-obable that the Prophets on thefc occafions did not ufually perform themfelves on the mufical inftruments, but rather accompanied the ilrains of the minllrel with their voice. Vid. i Sam. x. 5. 2 Kings iii. 15. i Chron. xxv. i. Lowth's Prslc^l. Poet. 18. et feq. It has been the practice of all nations to adapt their religious worfliip to nuifick, which the fc'.bulous accounts of antiquity derived from heaven. Ai- ling. Hiih Acad. Heb. p. 23. And Smidlus de Cantu Ecclef. V. ct N. Teft. Mart. Gilb. de Cantu & Mufica S.ic. R. David Kimchi in i Sam. x. 5, that To THE PROPHETS. 3^7 that the fcribes of the temple received them as they were delivered, without order; but they were indif- putably compofed and publifiied by thofe Prophets whofe names they feverally bear fu]. As their genuine produftions, they were received into the Jewifli canon; and were read in the Jewifli fyna- gogues after the perfecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, when the reading of the law was interdided ; and continued fo to be, to the days of our Saviour [x]. They are with great propriety received into our churches as illuflrating the grand fcheme of pro- phecy, and as replete with the moft excellent in- ilruclion of every kind. The predidions which they contain, were principally accompliflied in the appearance of Chrifl. Some, however, which re- ferred to the difperfion and fubfequent flate of the Jews, as well as to the condition of other nations, ftill continue under our own eyes to be fulfilled, and will gradually receive their final and confummate ra- tification in the refloration of the Jews, in the uni- verfal eftablifhment of Chrift's kingdom [y], and in [u] Ifa. XXX. 8. Jerem. xxx. 2. Habak. iii. 2, &c. [x] Afts xiii, 15. When the reading of the Law was re- ftored after this perfecution, the prophetic books furniflied de- • tached pafTages for a fccond leflbn, fele6led with reference to the feftion read from the Law, and read by a diiFerent perfon. The prophecies were read only in the morning fervice, and never on the Monday or Thurfday, which days were appro- priated to the Law exclufively, [y] a final refloration of the Jews, and a fpiritual reign of Chriit to prevail after that refloration, are fuppofed to be fore- A a 3 told 2^S fiENERAL PREFACE, &C. in the fecond advent of our Lord to " judge the world in righteoufnefs." told in fcripture, and were believed fo to be from the earlicffc ages of the chriilian church. Vid. Deut. xxx. i — t^. Ifaiah ii. 1-4. xi. xxx. 18 — 26. xxxiii. 20 — 24. xlix. 18 — 26. li. 3 — 23. liv. II — 14. Ix. Ixv. 17—25. Hofca iii. 5. Joel ii. and iii. Amos ix. 11 — 15. Micah ii. 12. iv. 3 — 13. vii. 11 — 20. Zeph. iii. 8 — 20. Jerem. iii. 16 — 18. xvi. 15. xxiii. 3 — 8. xxx. 3 — 20. xxxi. 4 — 14, 35 — 40. xxxiii, 7-^11. Ezek. XX. 40 — 44. xxviii. 25, 26. xxxiv. 26 — 29. xxxvi. xxxvii. xxxviii. and xxxix. Dan. vii. 26, 27. Zechar. viii. 7, 8. Rev. XX. and xxi. &c. paffim. Vid. alfo Matt, xx, 21. A(Els i. 6. iii. 21. Barnab. Epill. c. xv. Juftin Martyr Dialog, cum Tryphon. Part II. c. 307. Iren. L. V. c. xxxiii — xxxvi. Tcrtul. cont. Marcion, L. III. Eyre's Obfervat. on Pro- phecy. Wotton Pref. to Clem. Epift. p. 15. The doftrine of the Millenium may have been carried to an abfurd and un- warranted excefs ; but fome of thefe prophecies, even if figu- ratively taken, are feemingly too magnificent to be reftrided to the effeds of the firft advent of Chrift, and promife at leaft an effedual and univerfal eflablifliment of his fpiritual influence, OP [ 359 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ISAIAH. ISAIAH, who was profefTedly the author of this Book, and has been univerfally fo confidered, informs us, that he prophefied during the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, who fucceilively flouriflied between A. M. 3194 and 3305. He (liles himfelf the fon of Amoz, by whom we arc not to underftand the Prophet whofe name is fpelled Amos [a], and who Vi/as nearly coeval with Ifaiah himfelf. It has been fuppofed that Ifaiah was of the royal blood ; and fonie have main- tained that his father Amoz was the fon cf King Joafli, and brother to Uzziah, or Azariah, King of Judah [b]. He certainly was of that tribe, and of [a] The Prophet's name is fpelt Din:? ; that of the father of Ifaiah, ymn. Vid. Hieron. & Procop. in Efai. i. i. Augufl. de Civit.-Dei, Lib. xviii. 27. Cyril. Praif. Expof. in Amos. [b] R. Ifa. Abarb. Praef. in Ifaiah. Seder Olam Zuta, & in Gemar. Codic. Megil. fol. 10. col. 11. Jofeph. Autiq. Lib. X. cap. ix. 4. A a 4 nobl* 360 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. noble birth ; and the Rabbins pretend that his father was a Prophet, which they collect from a general rule cftabliflied among them : that the fathers of the Prophets were themfelves Prophets when their names are mentioned in fcripture [c]. Isaiah was the firft of the four great Prophets^ and is reprefented to have entered on the prophetic office in the laft year of Uzziah's reign, about 758 years before Chrift [d]. Some have fuppofed that he did not live beyond the fifteenth or fixteenth year of Hezekiah's reign [e] i in which cafe he prophe- fied during a fpace of about forty-five years. But others are of opinion, that he furvived Hezekiah, and that he was put to death in the reign of Manaf- feth. There is, indeed, a Jewifh tradition, that he fufiered martyrdom by command of that tyrant, in the firfl year of his reign, about 698 years before Chrift, being cruelly fawn afunder with a wooden faw. On a fuppofition of the truth of this relation, we muft allow that he prophefied during a fpace of more than fixty years [fJ. Several of the fathers have, indeed, borne tefti- [c] Hieron. in EAii. xxxvll. 2. Epiphan. de Vita & Moit. Prophet. & Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. [d] He was nearly contemporary with Hofca, Joel, Amos, and Micah. [e1 Aben-Ezra Com. in Ifa. i. i. He certainly lived be- yond the fourteenth year of Hezekiah's reign. Vid. 2 Kings XX. I. [f] Jotham reigned fixtecn years, Ahaz fixtecn, and Heze- kiah twenty-nine. mony OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 361 mony to the tradition [g] ; and St. Paul is generally fuppofed to have referred to it in his epiflle to the Hebrews [h]. St. Juflin the martyr affirmed, that the Jews had erafed the difgraceful circumftance from the facred books ; and it is not improbable, that the bold fpirit of inveftive, and the high character by which Ifaiah was diftinguifhed, might have irri- tated a jealous and revengeful monarch to this ad of impious barbarity; though the opprobrium of the deed muft be much aggravated, if St. Jerom be not miftaken in relating, that ManaiTeth had received the daughter of Ifaiah in marriage [i]. It is added, alfo, that ManaiTeth endeavoured to juftify his cruel- ty, by pretending that he condemned the Prophet for faying, that " he had feen the Lord fitting upon a throne [k] ;'* contrary, as the tyrant affirmed, to what is faid in Exodus, " there is no man fhall fee me, and live [l] .j" thus hypocritically attempting to veil his malice under an appearance of piety. How- ever this may have been, the ftory was certainly em- bellifiied with many fiditious circumilances ; as, that the Prophet was fawed afunder in a cedar which had opened itfelf to receive him in his flight 5 and other [g] Tertul. Lib. de Patien. ch. xiv. Orig. in Matt. & in Epift. ad Jul. African. ^ Horn, in Ifaia. Juftin. cum Try- phon. Chryfoft. ad Cyriac. Jerom Lib. V. in Efai. Auguft. de Clvit. Lib. XVIII. cap. xxiv. [h] Heb. xi. 37. and Pcarce on this verfe. [i] Hieron. in Efai. iii. ,[k3 Chap, vi, I. [l] Exod. xxxiii. 20, particulars 362 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. particulars fabricated in credulous reverence for his memory. Epiphanius and Dorotheus, who furnifli us with this account, add, that he was buried near Jerufalem, under the oak Rogel, near the royal fe- pulchre, on the river SHoe, at the fide of Mount Sion; and that he remained in his tomb to their time ; contrary to what others report of his being carried away to Paneada, towards the fources of the Jordan ; and from thence to Conflantinople, in the thirty -fifth year of Theodofius the younger, A. D. 442. The name of Ifaiah is, as Vitringa has remarked, in fome meafure defcrlptive of his character, fince it fignifies, " the falvation of Jehovah." He has al- ways been confidered as a Prophet of the higheft eminence [m] ; and looked up to as the brighteft luminary of the Jewifli church. He fpeaks of him- felf as enlightened by vifion ; and he has been em- phatically diled the evangelical Prophet [n], fo co- pioufly and clearly does he defcribe the MelTiah, and charafterize his kingdom : favoured, as it were, with an intimate view of the Gofpel ftate, from the [m] Matt. iv. 14. Rom. x. 16. xxviii. 25. Matt. viii. 17. Luke iv. 17. A6ls xxviii. 25. alfo Vitringa's Proleg. p. 10, 2 Kings xix. 20. XX. i, 2. et fe(]^. 2 Chion xxxii. 20. St. Paul cites his work as part of the Law. i Cor. xiv. 21. [n] Hieron. Pra;f. in Elaiam, Epift. xvii. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIH. c. xxix. Theod. Prcef. in Efai. Holden's Paraphrafe of Ifaiah. St. Jerom in his epiftle to Pope Dama- fus, fays what was figuratively true, that the feraphin who touched Ifaiah's lips with fire, conveyed to him the New Tef- t.iment. Ifa. vi. 6, 7. very OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. . 363 very birth of our Saviour, " to be conceived of a virgin [o],'* to that glorious and triumphant period, when every Gentile nation fhali bring a clean offer- ing to the Lord, and " all flefli (liall come to wor- fliip" before him [p]. The author of Ecclefiaflicus, in his fine and difcriminating encomium on the Pro- phets, fays of Ifaiah, that " he was great and faith- ful in his vifion;" and that " in his time the fun vi^ent backward, and he lengthened the King's life. He faw by an excellent fpirit what fliould come to pafs at the laft [ c^]/ li is certain that Ifaiah. in \ addition to his other prophetic privileges, was in- '\ vefted with the power of performing miracles [r]. Befides thofe that are afcribed to him in fcripture, tradition relates, that he fupplied the people befieged under Hezekiah with water from Siloam, while the enemy could not procure it [s]. It is remarkable, that the wife of Ifaiah is (tiled a prophetefs [t] ; and the Rabbins maintain, that fhe poffefTed the gift of prophecy. He himfelf appears to have been raifed up as a ffriking obje6t of veneration among the Jews, and to have regulated his whole condudt in fub- [o] Chap. vii. 14, [p] Chap. Ixvi. 20, 23. [ qJ] Ecclus xlvili. 22y 25. Vid. alfo, Calmet's Pref. and Lowth's PraeleiSl. 21. [r] 2 Kings XX. II. 2 Chron. xxxii. 31. [s] Hence, as fome have fuppofed, was the origin of the Pool of Siloam. The word Siloam implies fent. Vid. John jx. 7. Every tradition relative to thefe interefting charatters is worth recording. [t] Chap. viii. 3, ferviency 364 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. ferviency to his facred appointment. His fens, like- wife, were for types [u], and figurative pledges of God's affurances ; and their names [x] and ac- tions were intended to awaken a religious attention in the perfons whom they were commillioned to ad- drefs, and to inflrucl. Ifaiah was animated with the moft lively zeal for God's honour and fervice. He was employed chiefly to preach repentance to Judah ; though he occafionally uttered prophecies againft the ten tribes, which in his time conftituted the feparate kin:;dom of Ifrael. In the prudent reigns of Uzziah and Jotham, the kingdom of Judah flouriflied ; but in the time of Ahaz, Ifaiah had ample fubjecl for reproach, as idolatry v/as eftabliflied, even in the temple, and the kingdom nearly ruined by the im- piety which the King had introduced and counte- nanced. In the reign of Hezekiah, his endeavours to reform the people were more fuccefsful ; and fome piety prevailed, till the fedu6lion of Manafleth com- pleted the triumph of idolatry and fin. There are many hiftorical relations fcattered through this book, which illuftrate the circumftances and occafions of the prophecies. The prophetical parts are fometimcs confidered under five divifions. The firfl: part, which extends from the beginning to the thirteenth chapter, contains five difcourfes imme- diately addreficd to the Jews and Ephraimites j whom [u] Ifaiah viii. 18. [x] Shear Jafliub fignifies, " a remnant fliall return." Maherflialal-hafli-baz, implies, <* run fwiftly to the fpoil," Vid, ch. vii. 3. viii. i. the CF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 365 the Prophet addrefies on various fubjeds, in various tones of exhortation and reproof. The fecond part, which extends to the tv/enty-fifth chapter, contains eight difcourfes, in which the fate of other nations, as of the Babylonians, Philillines, Moabites, Syrians, and Egyptians, is defcribed. The third part, which terminates with the thirty- fixth chapter, contains God's threats denounced againft the difobedient Jews, and enemies of the church, interfperfed v/ith confo- latory promifes to encourage thofe who might de- ferve God's favour [y]. The fourth part, which begins at the fortieth chapter, where the prophetic ftrain is refumed, defcribes in four difcourfes the manifeftation of the Meffiah, with many introdudlory and attendant circumflances. ' This divifion ends at the forty-ninth chapter. The fifth part, which con- cludes the prophecies, defcribes more particularly the appearance of our Saviour, and the charafter of his kingdom. The hiftorical part, v/hich begins with the thirty-fixth, and terminates with the thirty-ninth chapter [z], relatqs the remarkable events of thofe times in which God employed the minidry of Ifaiah, With refped to chronological arrangement, it [y] Ifaiah, as well as Naluim, Haggai, and Zechariah, were deemed confolarory Prophets. Vid. Abarb. Pr^f. in Ifai. fol. 2. col. I. Lib. I. [z] The abrupt conclufion of the thirty-eighth chapter, leads us to fuppofe that thefe hiftorical chapters i-elating to Hezekiah, were inferted from the Second Book of Kino-s, to illullrate the preceding prophecies. Comp. Ifa. xxxvi— xxxix. chapters, with 2 Kings xviii, 13, xx. 20. 6 mud 366 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. mufl be obferved, that the five firfl chapters appear to relate to the time of Uzziah [a]. The vifion de- fcribed hi tlie fixth chapter mufl have happened early in the reign of Jothani. The next fifteen chapters contain the prophecies delivered under Ahaz ; and the prophecies which follovi^ to the end of the book, were probably uttered under Hezekiah. Some writers, however, have conceived, that the chapters have been accidentally deranged ; and it is pofiible that the prophecies were not delivered by the Prophet exadtly in the order in which they now {land. Others have attributed the diflocations, if there be any, to the men of Hezekiah, who are faid to have colle6led thefe Prophecies [b]. When Ifaiah entered on the prophetic office, a darker fcene of things began to arife. As idolatry predominated, and the captivity drew near, plainer declarations of God's future mercies were neccflary to keep alive the expectations and confidence of the people. In treating of the captivities and deliver- ance of the Hebrew nation, the Prophet is often led to confider thofe more important captivities and de- liverances which thefe temporal events forefliev/ed. [a] Some think that they belong more properly to the reign of Ahaz. Vld. Taylor's Script. Divin. p. 328, bat the de- fcription of the reign of an apoftate King would, perhaps, have been flill more forcible. Vid. 2 Kings xvi. 3. et fcq. The defcriptions are not too ftrong for the time of Uzziah, whofe individual virtues could not entirely reform the king- dom, or reftore its profperity. Vid. Hieron. Com', in Efai vi. [e] Jacob. Brandinglcrus in Alan. Typ. Lib. Proph. V. T. Hence OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 367 Hence with promifes of the firft, he blends affiirances of final reftoration. From the bondage of Ifrael, he likewife adverts to the bondage under which the Gentile world was held by ignorance and fin ; and hence he exhibits in connedled reprefentation, de- hverance from particular affliclions, and the general deliverance from fin and death. The prefent con- cern is often forgotten in the contemplation of the diftant profpeft. The Prophet paffes with rapidity from the firft: to the fecond fubjedt, without intima- tion of the change, or accurate difcrimination of their refpeclive circumftances j as for inftance, in the fifty fecond chapter, where the Prophet, after fpeak- ing of the recovery from the AfTyrian oppreffion, fuddenly drops the idea of the prefent redemption, and breaks out into a rapturous defcription of the Gofpel falvation which it prefigured [c]. Among the prophecies of Ifaiah which deferve to be particularly noted for their efpecial perfplcuity and ftriking accomplifliment, are thofe in which he fore- told the captivities of Ifraei and Judah ; and defcribed the ruin and defolation of Babylon [d], Tyre, and other nations. He fpoke of Cyrus by name, and of his conquefts, above 200 years before his birth [eJ, in [c] Comp. Ifa. Hi. 7. with Rom. x. 15. Ifa. x'l. 10. with Rom. XV. 12. Vid. alfo, chap, xxxiv. xxxv. xl. xlix, Lowth on ch. lii. 13. and Abarbinel, as quoted by Vitring-a, on ch. xlix. I. [d] Chap. xiii. ig — 22. xiv. 22 — 24. xlvii. 7, 8. and Lowtli Com. & Ufler. Ann. ad A. M. 3347. cb. xxiii. [e] Chap. xliv. 28. xl\r. i — 5. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XL c. i. 4 ^68 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. in predlflions which are fuppofed to have influenced that monarch to releafe the Jews from captivity [f], being probably fliewn to him by Daniel. But it muft be repeated, that his prophecies concerning the MefTiah feem almofl: to anticipate the Gofpel hiftory, fo clearly do they forefhew the divine character of Chrift [g] ; his miracles [ii] ; his peculiar qualities and virtues [i] ; his rejedlion, [k] and fufFerings for our fms [l] ; his death [m], burial, and victory over death [n] ; and, laftly, hi^final glory [o], and the ellablifhment, increafe [p], and perfedion [ cl], of c. i. St. Jerom has remarked that Xenophon's hiftory is a good comment on the prophecies of Ifaiah. Vid. Hicron. ad Efaiam xliv. [f] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XI. c. i. Ezra i. 2. [g] Chap. vii. 14. comp. with Matt. i. 18 — 23. and Luke i. 2^1 — 35. Chap. vi. ix. 6. xxxv. 4. xl. 5, g, 10. xlii. 6 — 8. Ixi. I. comp. with Luke iv. 18. Ixii. 11. Ixiii. i — 4. [h] Chap- xxxv. 5, 6. [i] Chap. xi. 2, 3. xl. II. xliii. I— 3. [k] Chap. vi. 9 — 12. comp. with Mark xiii. 14. Chap. vii. 14. 15. liii. 3. [l] Chap. 1. 6. liii. 4 — ri. The Ethiopian eunuch appears to have been made a profclyte by St. Philip's explication of this chapter. Vid. A6ls viii. 32. The whole of it is fo mi- nutely defcriptive of Chrill's paffion, that a famous Rabbi, likewife, on reading- it, was converted from Judaifm. — Who, indeed, can rellft its evidence ? [m] Chap. liii. 9. [n] Chap. XXV. 8. liii. 10, 12. [o] Chap. xlix. 7, 22, 23. lii. 13 — 15. liii. 4, 5. [p] Chap. ii. 2 — 4. ix. 7. xlii. 4. xlvi. 13. [ (i_] Chap. ix. 2, 7, xi. 4 — 10. xvi. 5. xxix. 18—24. xxxii. I. xl. 4, 5. xlix. 9 — 13. Ii. 3—6. lii. 6—10. Iv. l — 3. lix, 16 — 21. Ix. Ixi. I — 5. Ixv. 25. his OF THE BOOK OF ISAiAH. 2^9 his kingdom ; each fpecifically pointed out, and pour- trayed with the mofl flriking and difcriminating cha- raders. It is impoflible, indeed, to refled on thefe, and on the whole chain of his illuflrious prophecies, and not to be fenfible that they furnifli the mod in- conteliible evidence in fupport of chriftianity. The ftile of Ifaiah has been univerfally admired as the moft perfed model of the fublime ; it is diftin- guiflied for all the magnificence, and for all the fweer- nefs of the Hebrew language [r]. The variety of his images, and the animated warmth of his expref- fions, charaderize him as unequalled in point of eloquence ; and' if we were defirous of producing a fpecimen of the dignity and beauties of the fcrip- ture language, we Ihould immediately think of hav- ing recourfe to Ifaiah [s]. St. Jerom fpeaks of him as [r] See particularly the triumphant ode in chap. xiv. 4— 27. which is inimitably beautiful. Vid. Lowth's Prfeleft. 28. [s] The fuperior eloquence of Ifaiah appears remarkably on a comparifon of the eleventh and thirty-fifth chapters of his work, with the fourth Eclogue of Virgil ; in which the Poet has introduced thoughts, imagery, and didion, ftiikingly fimilar, indeed, to thofe employed by Ifaiah, but infinitely inferior as to the efFcft produced. Virgil is fuppofed to have borrowed from the predictions of the Cumcean Sybil, that de- fcription of the Golden Age which he reprefents as ready to commence with the birth of fome illuflrious perfonage (as, perhaps., the expefled offspring of Odavia, or of Scribonia). The ideas, however, were fo appropriate to the Meffiah and his kingdom, that they muft have been derived from a facred fource, though it is not neceflary to confider them as the re- fult of immediate infpiration. The Sibylline verfes might B b have 570 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. as converfant with every part of fcience [r]-, and, indeed, the marks oi a cultivated and improved mind are (lamped in every page of his book ; but thefe are almoft eclipfed by the fplendor of his infpired know- ledge. In the delivery of his prophecies and in- ftruftions, he utters his enraptured flrains vvitli an elevation and majefly that unhallowed lips could never have attained [u]. From the grand exordium in the firfl: chapter, to the concluding defcription of the Gofpel, to " be brought forth" in wonders, and to ternunate in the difpenfations of eternity : from firfl to laft, there is one continued difplay of infpired wifdom, revealing its oracles and precepts for the in- flrudion of mankind. The prophecies of Ifaiah were modulated to a kind of rhythm, and they are evidently divided into certain metrical flanzas or lines [x]. heve been infpired prophecies fpread abrond in Greek veiTc by the HcHcniftical Jews. Virgil might have coUecVed ideas with regard to the expected Mcfllah, from the Jews in general, and particularly from Herod, who was about this time at Rome, and whofe Tons were afterwards received by Follio on an em- hdiTy there. Vid. Jofeph. Anti .1. Lib. XV. c. xiii. Or, lall- ly, the Poet, as other learned perfons among the Romans, might have h.id forne knowledge of the Scptuagint vcrfion of tl'.e fcriptures, finco they were inquilitivc after all kinds of literature. Vid. Lowth's Projledl. 21. Chandler's VinJ.ic. ch. ii. feft. 3. ct Poftfcript, p. 4.4. 5>; Cuuuorch'j Intel. Sy;t. c. iv. ■^ 16. [t] Hieron. Pra-f. in Efai. [u] Chap, vi, 6, 7. [x] Vitringa Prcleg. in Efai. p. 8, Lowth's Preface, and Scallgcr's Animad. in Chron. Eiifcb. • ' The OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 371 The Greek verfion of Ifaiah appears to have been ma*de long after that of the Pentateuch ; it is a very lax and inaccurate tranflation, and was probably compofed after the time of Antiochus Epiphanes [y]; Isaiah, befides this book of prophecies, wrote an account of the adions of Uzziah [z] ; this has pe- riflied with fome other writings of the Prophets, which, as probably not written by inrpiration, were never admitted into the canon of fcripture. Some apocryphal books have hkewife been attributed to him ; among others, that fo often cited by Origen and other fathers, entitled, the Afcenfion of Ifaiah [a] ; not to mention a later book, called the Vifion of Ifaiah [b], which is only a compilation from his works. Thefe are probably attributed to him on as infufficient grounds as the books of Solomon and Job. [y] Thofe of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodolion, are now loft. [z] 2 Chron xxvi. 22. Dr. Kcnnicott fancies that Ifaiah compofed the 89th Pfalm on the approach of Rezin and Pikah to Jerufalem. [a] Origen in Matt, xxiii. et Epift. ad African. Hieron. in Efaiam 64. Epiphan. Haires 40, and 67. Jb] This was publiflied at Venice. Vid. Sixt. Senens, Eib» Sacr. in Ifaiah, Hh ^ OF [ 372 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JEREMIAH. JEREMIAH was the fon of Hllkiah ; probably not of that Hilkiah [a] who was high-prieft in the reign of Jofiah, but certainly of facerdotal extrac- tion ; and a native of Anathoth, a village about three miles from Jerufalem, appointed for the priefts, in that part of Judaea which was allotted to the tribe of Benjamin [r]. He was called to the prophetic of- fice, nearly at the fame time with Zephaniah, in the thirteenth year of the reign of Jofiah the fon of Amon, A. M. 3376. Like St. John the Baptift and St. Paul, he was even in his mother's womb ordain- ed a Prophet to the Jews and other nations [c]. He was not, however, exprefsly addrefled by the word of God till about the fourteenth year of his [a] 2 Kings xxii. 4. Clemens Alcxand. Strom. Lib. I. p. 390. edit. Oxon. Slxt. Scnens. [b] Hicron. Piitf. in Prophet. Jofli. xxi. 13, 18, xvili. 28. [c] Jerem. i. 6. and Hicron. in Hicrem, age; OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH, 373 age ; when he diffidently fought to decline the ap--^ pointment on account of his youth, till influenced-' by the divine encouragement, he obeyed, and con- tinued to prophefy upwards of forty years, during feveral fucceffive reigns of the degenerate defccnd- ants of Jofiah ; to whom he fearlefsly revealed thofe marks of the divine vengeance which their fludua- ting and rebellious conduct drew on themfelves and their country [d]. After the deftrutlion of Jeru- falem by the Chaldceans, he was fullered by Nebu- chadnezzar to remain and lament the miferies and defolation of Judcea, from whence he fent confo- latory affurances to his captive countrymen. He was afterwards, as we are by himfelf informed, car- ried with his difciple Baruch, into Egypt [e], by Johanan the fon of Kareah, who contrary to his advice and prophetic admonitions, returned from Judsea. Many circumflances relative to Jeremiah, are interfperfed in his writings, and many more which deferve but httle credit, have been recorded by the Rabbins and other writers [f]. He appears to [d] Chap. xxi. 4 — II, xxiv. 8 — 10. xxxil. 3, 4. xxxiv. 2— 5. comp. with Ezek. xii. 13. and Jofeph. Antlq. Lib. XI. cap. s. Jer. xxxvi. 30, 31. [e] Chap, xliii. 3 — 7. Abarbinel erroneoufly alTerts that Jeremiah was carried into captivity with Jeconiah, or Jc- hoiachin ; contrary to the Prophet's own account. Vid, Abarb. in Ezek. [f] sMacc.ii. I — 7. Eufeb. Prsp. Evang. Lib. IX. cxxxix, Hieron. cont. Jovinian. Lib. II. Tertull. Adv. Gnoll. c. viii. B b 3 have 374 ^^ '^"^' BOOK OF JEREMIAH. have been expofed to cruel and unjufl perfecutions from the Jews, and efpecially from thofe of his own village [g], during his whole life, on account of the zeal and fervor with which he cenfured their incor- rigible fins ; and he is fomctimes provoked to break out into the mod feeling and bitter complaints of the treatment which he received [h]. The author of Ecclefiafticus [i], alluding to his fufferings, re- marks, " that they intreated him evil, who never- thclcfs was a Prophet fandificd in his mother's womb." According to the account of St. Jerom, he was floned to death at Tahpanhes [k], a royal city of Egypt, about 586 years before the birth of Chrift : either by his own countrymen, as is gene- rally maintained, or by the Egyptians, to both of which people he had rendered himfelf obnoxious by the terrifying prophecies which he had uttered. The chronicle of Alexandria relates, that the Prophet had incenfed the Egyptians by predicting that their idols fhould be overthrown by an earthquake, when the Saviour of the ear'h fhould be born and placed in a manger. His prophecies, however, that are fliU [g] Chap, xi, 21. Luke iv. 24. [h] Chap. XX. 7 — 18. [i] Ecclus xlix. 17. [k] Jcrem. xliii. 7, 9. Hcb. xl 37. Hieron. in ch. xxxlii. g, Tahpanhes is cbntraftcil to Ilanes by Ifaiah, ch. xxx. 4. Jt Is fuppofed by many to have been the city which was afterwards called Daphnae i'ehifiaca?. Other traditions relate, that he was thrown into a pit, rnd transfixed with darts. Vid. Grc- gent, Difput. cuip Herban. Jiid. extant OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. 375 extant concerning the conquefts of Egypt by Nebu- chadnezzar, " the fervant of God/' muft have been fafficient to excite the fears and hatred of thofe againfl whom they were uttered. It was added to this account which Ptolemy received, that Alexander the Great, vifiting the tomb of Jeremiah, and hear- ing what he had prcdided concerning his perfon, ordered that the Prophet's urn Ihould be removed to Alexandria, and built a magnificent monument to his memory [l]|. This was foon rendered hunous ; and as a reverence for the Prophet's character en- circled it with imaginary influence, it became cele- brated as a place of miracles [m^. Other accounts, liowever, relate that the Prophet returned unto his own country j and travellers are (lill fiiewn a place in the neighbourhood of Jcrufalem, where, as they are told, Jeremiah compofed his Prophecies j and where Conilantine erected a tomb to his memory. Jeremiah, who profeflcs himfelf the author of thefe prophecies [n1, employed Baruch as his ama- nuenfis in committing them to writing [o]. He ap- pears to have made at different times coUedlions of wliat he had delivered. The fnil feems to have [l] Abulfar. Hiil. Orient. Dynaft. III. Jean Mofque Vie. vSplrltuel, ch. Ixxvii. Raleigh's Hiil. of the World, B. II. [m] Crocodiles nnd fcrpents were fiippofeJ to be unable to live near it, and the dull of the place is novv deemed a cure for the bite of the afp. Many other limllar fi^ions were en- gendered by fuperflitious refped for the Prophet's memory. [n] Chap. i. I, 4, 6, 9. XXV. 13. ::xix. i. xxx. 2. li, 6.0. [o] Chap. iv. 32, xlv. I, B b 4 been 376 OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. been compofed in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, when the Prophet was exprefsly commanded by God to write upon a roll all the prophecies that he had uttered concerning Ifrael, Judah, and other nations [^p]; this he did by means of Baruch."^, But this roll being burnt by Jehoiakim [q], another-' was written under Jeremiah's diredion, with many additional particulars [r]. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the Prophet appears to have colleded into one book all the prophecies that he had delivered before the taking of Jerufalem [s]. To this probably he after- wards added fuch farther revelations as he had occa- fionally received during the government of Gedaliah, and during the refidence in Egypt, the account of which terminates with the fifty-firft chapter. The fifty- fecond chapter, which is compiled from the five laft chapters of the fecond book of Kings [t], was probably not written by Jeremiah, as it contains in part a repetition of what the Prophet had before re- lated in the thirty-ninth and fortieth chapters of his book, and fomc circumftances which, as it has been fuppofed, did not happen till after the death of Je- remiah : and it is evident from the intimation con- [p] Jerem. xxxvi. 2. xxv. 13. [ Q^] Chap, xxxvi, 23. The Jews inftltutcd an annual faft in commemoration of the burning of this roll, which is flill obfervej in December, on the 29th day of the month Cifleu. Vid. Prid. Par. I. Book I. [r] Chap, xxxvi. 32. [s] Chap. i. 3. [t] z Kings xxiv. iS— :;o. xxv, vcyed OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. yjj veyed in the laft verfe (" thus far are the words of Jeremiah") that his book there terminates. The lifty-fecond chapter was therefore probably added by Ezra [u], as an exordium to the Lamentations. It is, however, a very ufeful appendage, as it illuf- trates the accomplifhment of Jeremiah's prophecies relative to the captivity and the fate of Zedekiah. The prophecies, as they are now placed, are cer- tainly not arranged in the chronological order in which they were delivered [x]. Whether they were originally fo compiled by Jeremiah, or Ezra ; or whether they have been accidentally tranfpofed, can- not now be determined. It is generally maintained, that if we confult the dates of their publication, they fliould be placed thus : In the reign of Jofiah, the twelve firfl: chapters. In that of Jehoiakim, chapters xiii. — ^xx. xxi, ver. 1 1 — 14. xxii. xxiii. xxv. xxvi. xxxv. xxxvi, xlv. — xlix. I — 33. ver. In that of Zedekiah, chap. xxi. i — 10. xxiv. xxvii. — xxxiv. xxxvii. — xxxix. xlix. ver. 34— 39. 1. and li. Under the government of Gedaliah, chap. xl. — xliv. Jeremiah does not feem to have received any revelations from God in the fliort intermediate reigns [u] Sixtus Senenfis, without any juft reafon, attributes It to Baruch, Bib. Lib. I. [x] Origen Epill. ad African. Hieron. Pra;f. In Jerem, Blaney's tranflat, of Jeremiah, of 37^ OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. of Jehoahaz, the fon of Jofiah, or of Jeconiab, the fon of Jehoiakim. The prophecies which related to the Gentiles arc contained in the forty-fixth and five following chap- ters, being placed at the end, as in fome meafure iinconnecled with the others. But in fome copies of the Septuagint [y] thefe fix chapters follow imme- diately after the thirteenth verfe of the twenty-fifth chapter. Though the IfraeUtes had been carried captive before Jeremiah began to prophefy, he oc- cafionally addreifed the ten tribes, as fome remains of them were ftill left in Samaria. T'AE prophecies of Jeremiah, of which the cir- cumftantial accomplilliment is often fpecified in the Old and New Teftament, are of a very diftinguiflied and illuftrious characler. He foretold the Babylonifh captivity -, the precife time of its duration -, and the return o-f the Jews [z]. He defcribed the dcilruc- tion of Babylon ; and the downfal of many nations [a]; in predictions, of which the gradual and fuc- ccffive completion kept up the confidence of the Jews for the accomplifhment of thofe prophecies ■which he delivered relative to the Mcfliah and his [y] As in the Vatican and Alexandrian* [z] Chap. XXV. II. comp. with Dan. ix. 2. xxix. to. Prid. Con. Ann. 518. Newton's eighth and eleventh Diflert. on the Prophecies. [a] Chap. XXV. :3. Vid. nlfo, ch. ix. 26. xxv. 19 — ;^. slii. 10 — 18. xlvi. and following chapters. And Ni;wton's DilFtrt. XII. period. OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. 379 period [b]. He forefliewed the miraculous concep- tion of Chrift [c] ; the virtue of his atonement ; the fpiritual character of his covenant ; and the inward efficacy of his laws [d]. The reputation of Jeremiah had fpread among foreign nations, and his prophecies were defervedly celebrated in other countries [e]. Many heathen writers have likewife undefignedly borne teftimony to the truth and accuracy of his prophetic and hiftorical defcriptions [f], Jeremiah, contemplating thofe calamities which impended over his country, reprefented in the moft defcriptivc terms, and under the mod expreffive images, the deftruftion that the invading enemy fhould produce. He bewailed in pathetic expoftulation, the fhamelefs adulteries which had provoked the Almighty, after long forbearance, to threaten Judah with inevitable punilhment, at the time that falfe prophets deluded the nation with the promifes of " alfured peace," and when the people in impious contempt of " the Lord's word," defied its accomplifhment. Jeremiah intermingles with his prophecies fome hiftorical re- lations relative to his own conduft, and to the com- pletion of thofe predictions which he had delivered. [b] Chap, xxiii. 5, 6. xxx. 9. xxxi. 15. xxxUi. 14 — 18. xxxiii. 9, 26. Huet. Demon. Evan. Prop. VII. § 16. [c] Chap. xxxi. 22. [d] Chap. xxxi. 31 — 36. xxxili. 8. [e] Alex. Polyhift. in Eufeb. Prffip. Evan. Lib. IX. [f] Vid. Herodotus, Xenophon Cyropzed. Jofeph. cent. Apion, Lib. I. Compare particularly the accounts of the taking of Babylon, as defcribed prophetically by Jeremiah ia fhap. li. and hiflorically by Herodotus, Lib. I. The 3S0 OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. The ftyle of Jeremiah, though neither deficient in elegance nor fubUmity, has been confidered as inferior in both refpects to that of Ifaiah [g]. St. Jerom [h] objects a certain ruflicity of expreffion to him ; but this it would not be eafy to point out. His images are, perhaps, Icfs lofty, and his ex- prelTions lefs dignified than thofe of fome others of the facred writers j but the charadler of his work, which breathes a tendernefs of forrow calculated to awaken and intereft the milder aftedions, led him to rejed the majeflic and declamatory tone in which the prophetic cenfures were fometimes conveyed. The holy zeal of the Prophet is, however, often ex- cited to a very vigorous eloquence in inveighing againft the frontlefs audacity with which men gloried in their abominations [i]. The firft part of the book is chiefly poetical, and, indeed, near one half of the work is written in fome kind of meafure. The liiflorical part, towards the middle of the work, is written with much fnnplicity of ftile. The fix laffc chapters, which are entirely in verfe, contain feveral [g] Lowth's Praele6^. 21. [k] Hieron. Prsef. and Com. in Jercm. Cunxus de Repub. Hebr. Lib. III. cap. vii. [i] The Prophet is very animated in his admonitions againft idolatry, being willing to caution the people againll the temptations which they would encounter in the captivity. It is remarkable, that the eleventh verfe of the tenth chapter, which contains a pious fentiment which the Jews are directed to utter as a proftfTion of their faith, is written in Chaldee ; that they might be furniflied with the very words that they fhould anfwcr to thofc who would I'educe them. prediftions OF THE BOOK OF JfEREMIAW-. 3^! predlftions delivered in a high flrain of fublimity,. The defcriptions of Jeremiah have all the vivid colourings that might be expeded from a painter of contemporary fcenes. The hiftorical part has fome charaders of antiquity that afcertain the date of its compofition. The months are reckoned by num- bers J a mode which did not prevail after the cap- tivity, when they were diflinguiflied by Chaldaic names. There are likewife a few Chaldaic ex- preffions, which about the time of Jeremiah mufl: have begun to vitiate the Hebrew language. Jeremiah has been fometimes confidered as aa appointed Prophet of the Gentiles []k]. fie cer- tainly delivered many prophecies relative to foreign nations. His name implies the exaltation of the Lord ; and his whole Hfe was fpent in endeavouring to promote God's glory. His reputation was fo confiderable, that fome of the fathers [i,] fancifully fuppofed that as his death is nowhere mentioned in fcripture, he was living in the time of Chrld:, whom, as the Gofpel informs us, fome fuppofed to have been this Prophet [m]. They likewife applied to him and Elias what St. John myflerioufly fpeaks of two witnefles that fliould prophefy 1260 days [n] ; which fuperftitious fidions ferve, at leaft, to prove the traditional reverence that was entertained for the [k] Chap. i. 5 — 10. [l] Vidtorin. in Apoc. cap. xi. 3. Plures apud Hilar. la Matt. can. xx. [m] Matth. xvl. 14. [n] Rev. xi, 3. memory 382 OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. memory of the Prophet ; who long afterwards con- tinued to be venerated in the Romifti church as one of the greateft faints that had flourifhed under the old covenant : as having lived not only with the general ftridtnefs of a Prophet, but, as was believed, in a ftate of celibacy [o] j and as having terminated his righteous miniflry by martyrdom. [o] Chap. xvi. 2. How far the reflricflion here enjoined i,. was of a typical, or temporary and local nature, is uncertain. / The Chaldee Paraphrafe fuppofes the Prophet to have had children. Vid. Com. on Jerem. xxxvii. 12. J- OF [ 383 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. TH E Jews denominate this book Echah [a J, from the firil word oF the text ; or fometunes they call it Kinnoth [b], which implies tears, allud- ing to the mournful character of the work, of which one would conceive, fays Mr. Lowth, " that every letter was written with a tear, every word the found of a broken heart [c]." The Book was compcfcd by Jeremiah, as he informs us in the title, and as the unvaried tradition of the church declares. The flile, indeed, itfelf, indicates the fame hand which compofed the preceding book. Upon what occafioa thefc Lamentations were produced, cannot be pofi- tivcly determined. In the fecond book of Chroni- ck's [d], it is faid, that '* Jeremiah lamented for [a] nD'K, Echah How. [b] nu'p, Kinnoth, Bpr.voi, Lamentations, or tears. [c] Gregor. Nazianz. Orat. xii. [d] 2 Chron. xxxv. 25. Jofiah/* 384 ^^^ LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. Jofiah ;" and Jofephus [e], and other writers [f], fuppofe that the work which we now pofTefs was written upon the occafion of that monarch's death : maintaining that the calamities which only three months after, attended the depofition of Jehoahaz were fo confiderable as to correfpond with the de- fcription of the Prophet, though they are not mi- nutely detailed in facred hiftory. The generality of the commentators, are however of a different opinion ; and, indeed, Jeremiah here bewails the defolation of Jerufalem ; the captivity of Judah ; the miferles of famine •, and the ceffation of all religious worfliip, in terms fo forcible and pathetic, that they appear rather apphcable to fome period after the deflruclion of Je- rufalem [g], when, agreeably to his own predic- tions, every circumflance of complicated dillrcfs over- iliadowed Judssa [h]. But upon whatever occafion thefe Lamentations were compofed, they are evident- ly defcriptive of paft events, and cannot be con- fidered as prophetic elegies. Some Jewilh writers imagined, that this was the book which Jeremiah dictated to Baruch, and which [e] Jofeph. Antlq. Jiid. Lib. X. c. vi. [f] Hicron. in Lament. R. Selom. Lament, ch. Iv. 20. ;RIichaelis note in Praeleft. 23. Uflcr. Annal. A. M. 3394. & X.am. ch. V. 7. which Michaelis confiders as a complaint inoic jufl and reafonable in the time of Jofiah than in that of Zedekiah. [g] Chap. 1. I, 3, 6, 12, iS. ii. 2, 5, 6, 7, 16. ir. 6, 10, 22. V. 6, 18. [h] Chap. XX. 4. may allude to the fate of Zedekiah. 6 was THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. 385 was cut and burnt by Jehoiakim [i]. But there is no foundation for this opinion, for the book didt.ited to Baruch contained many prophetic threats [k] againfl: various nations of which there are no traces in this book. In the Greek, Arabic, and Vulgate verfions of this book, there is a fpurious argument, which is not in the Hebrew, nor in the Chaldce pa- raphrafe, any more than in the verfion of St. Jerom, who followed the Hebrew. It may be thus tranf- lated : " It came to pafs, that after Ifrael had been carried away captive, and Jerufalem became defolate, the Prophet Jeremiah fat weeping, and bewailed Je- rufalem with this lamentation, and bitterly weeping and mourning, faid as follows.'* This was probably added by the Greek tranflators, in lieu of the fifty- fecond chapter of Jeremiah's prophecies, which they rejected from this to the preceding book [l]. The Lamentations were certainly annexed originally to the prophecies of Jeremiah, and were admitted with them together into the Hebrew canon as one book. The modern Jews, however, place this work in their copies among other fmaller trads, fuch as Ruth, and Canticles, Szc. at the end of the Pentateuch : having deranged the books of fcrlpture from the order which they held in Ezra's colledion. With refpeft to the plan of this work, it is c^m- pofed afcer the manner of funeral odes, though with- out any very artificial difpofition of its fubjed. It [i] Jerem. xxxvi, 4 — ^3, [k] Chap, xxxvi. 2. ^ [lJ Hiiet. Prop. IV. cap. x'lv. C c appears 386 THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. appears to contain the genuine eftufions of real grief; in which the author, occupied by his forrow, at- tends not to exaft connexion between the different rhapfodies, but pours out whatever prefents itfelf. He dwells upon the fame ideas, and amplifies the fame thoughts, by new expreflions and figures, as is natural to a mind intent on fubjedls of ailUdion. There is, however, no wild incoherency in the con- texture of the book; the tranfitions are eafy and elegant j but it is in fad a colledion of diflin£t fen- tences upon the fame fubje£l, which are properly in- titled Lamentations. The work is divided into five parts : in the firfl, fecond, and fourth chapters, the Prophet fpeaks in his own perfon ; or by a very elegant and intereft- ing perfonification, introduces Jerufalem as fpeaking [m]. In the third chapter, a chorus of the Jews fpeaks as one perfon, like the CorypliEeus of the Greeks. In the fifth, which forms a kind of epi- logue to the work, the whole nation of the captive Jews is introduced in one body, as pouring out com- plaints and fupplications to God. Each of thefe five parts is diflributed into twenty-two periods or ftanzas, in correfpondence with the number. of the Hebrew letters. In the three firfl chapters, thefe periods are f m] In the firfl verfc, Jerufalem is dcfcribcd as fitting pen- live and folitary, as Judaea was afterwards reprefented on the coins of Vefpafian and Titns. Sitting was a natural podurc of forrow ; and the pifture of fedentary affliction was familiar to the Jews. Vid. Job ii. 13. Ffa. cxxxvii. i. Ezek.iii.15. Addifon's Diff. on Medals. triplets. THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. 387 triplets, or confifl of three lines [n]. In the four firft chapters, the initial letter of each period follows the order of the alphabet ; and in the third chapter, each verfe of the fame flanza begins with the fame letter [o]. In the fourth chapter, all the ftanzas are evidently diftiches [p], as alfo in the fifth, which is not acroftick. The intention of this acroftick, or alphabetic arrangement, was to aflifl the memory in retaining fentences not much conneded [q.1, and the fame method was adopted, and is even ftill ufed by the Syrians, Arabians, and Perfians [r]. It is re- markable alio, that though the verfes of the fifth chapter are fliort, yet thofe of the other chapters feem to be nearly half as long again as thofe which ufually occur in Hebrew poetry j and the Prophet appears to have chofen this meafure as more flowing, jmd accommodated to the eftufions of forrow, and [n] There is, however, in each of the two firil chapters, pne tetracolon, or ilanza of four verfes, in cap. i. T, in cap. li. p. [o] The third chapter has 66 verfes in our tranflation, be- caufe each of the twenty-two periods is divided into three verfes, according to the initial letters. It is remarkable, that in the fecond, third, and foijrth chapters, the initial letter a is placed before ^, contrary to the order obferved in the alphabet, and in the firfl chapter, as well as in the acroftick Pfalms. [p] The ftanza D, as now read, cannot be divided into two pr three verfes. [ (i^ The Lamentations appear to have been fung in pub* Jick fervice. Vid. Lowth's Prseleft. 22. and Preface to Ifaiah, [r] Aflemani Bibliothec. Oriental, vol. iii. p. 63, 180, 188, J38, C c 2 perhaps 388 THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. perhaps as more agreeable to the nature of funeral dirges [s]. This poem affords the mod elegant variety of affecting images that ever probably were collecled into fo fmall a compafs [t1. The fcenes of afflic- tion, the circumftances of diftrefs, are painted with fuch beautiful combination, that we contemplate every where the moft affecting picture of defolation and mifery. The Prophet reiterates his complaints in the moft pathetic ftile ; and aggravates his forrow with a boldnefs and force of defcription that corref- pond with the magnitude and religious importance of the calamities difplayed to view. In the inflrudive (train of an infpired writer, he reminds his country- men of the grievous rebellions that had provoked the Lord to " abhor his fanduary ;" confcffes that it was of God's mercies that they were not utterly confumed -, and points out the fources of evil in the iniquities of their falfe prophets and priefts. He then with indignant irony threatens Edom with de- flruclion for rejoicing over the miferies of Judaea ; opens a confolatory profpedt of deliverance and fu- ture proteftion to Zion -, and conclucies with an af- fecting addrefs to God, to " confider the reproach'* of his people, and to renew their profperity. It is worthy to be obferved, that Jeremiah in en- deavouring to promote refignation in his countrymen, [s] The Lamentations which occafionaHy occur, appear all to be compofed of this long meafure, which may be fuppofed to have been properly the elegiac meafure of the Hebrews. [t] Lowth's Prxleft. 22. rcprefents THE tAMENTATIONS OP JEREMIAH. 389 reprefents his own deportment under afflldions, in terms which have a prophetic caft, fo ftrikingly are they defcriptive of the patience and conduQ: of our Saviour under his fufferings [u]. The Prophet, in- deed, in the meek endurance of unmerited perfecu- tion was an illuftrious type of Chrift. Jeremiah is reprefented in fome titles to have been the author of the 137th Pfahn [x] ; as likewife to have compofed the 65th [y] in conjundion with Ezekiel j but probably neither of them were the pro- dudion of his pen. The author of the fecond book of Maccabees [z], fpeaks of fome recorded inflruc- tions of the Prophet, which are no longer extant. In the Vatican library are fome compcfitions in Greek, attributed to the Prophet, containing fpurious letters from Baruch and Abdemelech to the Prophet, and fuppofititious anfwers from him. [u] Chap. iii. 1-^30. [x] This is afcribed to him in fome Latin copies, as it for* merly was in fome Greek manufcripts ; but it feems to have been written by fome captive at Babylon. [y] The titles in the Greek and Latin copies which afiign this Pfalm to Jeremiah and Ezekiel, are of no authority. The Pfalm was probably written by David, upon the occafion of fome gracious rain after a drought, or perhaps by Haggai, jor fome Prophet after the return from the captivity, Vid. Calmet* [z] 2 Mace, ii. I— -7, Cc a ©s [ 39^ 1 OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET E Z E K I E L. EZEKIEL, who was the third of the great Prophets, was the fon of Buzi, a dcfcend- ant of Aaron, of the tribe of Levi, that is, of the facerdotal race. He is faid to have been a native of Sarera [a], and to have been carried away captive to Babylon with Jehoiachin, King of Judah, A. M. 3406. He fettled, or was placed, with many others of his captive countrymen, on the banks of the Chebar [b], a river of Mefopotamia ; where he was favoured with the divine revelations which are de- fcribed in this book. He appears to have been mer- cifully raifed up to animate the defpondence of his contemporaries in their fufFerings and afflidions ; [a] Pfeudo-Epiplian. in Vlt. Prophet. [e] Called by Ptolemy and Strabo, Chaboras, or Aboras ; and by Pliny, Cobarls, Lib. I. cap. xxvi. It flows into the call fide of the pAiphratcs at Circciium, or Carchemifli, almofl: 200 jHiles to the north of Babylon. and OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. 39I and to aflure them that they were deceived In fup- pofingj according to the reprefentations of falfe pro- phets, that their countrymen who remained in Judsa were in happier circumftances than themfelves ; and with this view he defcribes that melancholy fcene of calamities which was about to arife in Judzea ; and thence he proceeds to predid the univerfal apoftacy of the Jews, and the total dcflrudlion of their city and temple ; adverting alfo, occafionally, to thofe punifhments which awaited their enemies j and in- terfperfrng affiirances of the final accomplifhrnxcnt of God's purpofe, with prophetic declarations of the advent of the Meffiah, and with promifes of the final reftoration of the Jews. The name of Ezekiel [c] was happily expreflive of that infpired confidence and fortitude which he difplayed, as well in fupporting the adverfe circum- ftances of the captivity, as in cenfuring the fms and idolatrous propenfities of his countrymen. He be- gan to deliver his prophecies about eight or ten years after Daniel, in the fifth year of Jehoiachin's cap- tivity ; and as fome have fuppofed, in the thirtieth year of his age [d]. The [c] Ezekiel, ^«p7n\ Fortitudo Dei vel AppreKenfio Dei. [d] Ezek. i. i. Hieron in loc. &:c. Ufuer, Prideaus-, and others, reckon the 30 years here fpoken of, as well as the 40 days or years mentioned in chap. iv. 6. from the time of the covenant made by Jofiah in the iSth year of his reign. Vid. 2 Kings xxiii. 3. according to which computation this thirtieth year correfponds with A. M. 3410, and the Hfth year of Jehoi- achin's captivity. Other chi-onologifts, however, conceive it C C 4 tO; 392 OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. The divine inflruclions were firft revealed to him in a glorious vifion, in which he beheld a reprefenta- tion, or as he himfelf reverently expreiles it, *' the appearance of the likenefs of the glory of the Lord," attended by his cherubims fymbolically pourtrayed. " The word of the Lord came exprefsly'* unto him, and he received his commilTion by a voice, which was followed by a forcible influence of the fpirit, and by awful diredions for his conduct [e]. He appears to have executed his high trufl: with great fidelity. The author of Ecclefiafticus [f] fays of him, that '* he directed them who went right ;" which may be con- fidered as a merited encomium on the induflry with which he endeavoured to inftrud and guide his coun- trymen to righteoufnefs. He is reported by fome writers to have prefided in the government of the tribes of Gad and Dan in Affyria ; and among other miracles to have punifhed them for idolatry by a fearl\il deftruftion produced by fcrpcnts. In ad- dition to thefe popular traditions it is reported, that his countrymen were fo incenfed by his reproaches as to put him to a cruel death [g]. In the time of Epiphanius it was generally believed that his remains were depofited in the fame fepulchre with thofe of to be the thirtieth year of Ezekiel's age ; or the thirtieth year of Nebupolafler's reign ; and others the thirtieth year from the Jubilee. Vid. Uflier ad A. M. 3409. Prid. An. A. C. 594. Scaliger Can. Ifag. p. 28, Ezekiel ufually dates his prophe- cies horn the sera of his appointment to the prophetic ollioe. [e] Chap. i. ii. and iii. [f] Ecclus xlix. 9. &: Arnald. £g] Hicrou. in Ezek. xii, Sheru OF THE BOOK OF E2EKIEL. 393 Shem and Arphaxad, which was fituated between the river Euphrates and that of Chaboras, in the land of Maur ; and it was much reforted to [h], not only by the Jews, but alfo by the Medes and Perfians : who reverenced the tomb of the Prophet with a fuperftitious devotion. The authenticity of Ezekiel's book will admit of no queftion. He reprefents himfelf as the author in the beginning an(^ other parts of it, and juftly af- fumes the character and pretenfions of a Prophet [i] ; as fuch he has been univerfaliy confidered. A few writers, indeed, of very inconfiderable authority, have fancied, from the firfl word of the Hebrew text, which they confidcr as a connexive particle, that what wc pofiefs of Ezekiel is but the fragment of a larger work. But there is no fhadow of foun- dation for this conjecture, fmce it was very cuftomary to begin a difcourfe in that language with the particle vau [k], which we properly tranilate, ** Now it came to pafs." It has been aflerted, likewife, on Talmudical authority, that certain Rabbins delibera- ted concerning the rejedion of this book from the [h] Benjamin Tudek relates, that a magnificent roof was built to it by Jechoniah and 30,000 Jews, and decorated with images of Jechoniah, Ezekiel, and others ; likewife, that a fynagogue and library were ere6ted there, in which was de- pofited a manufcript of Ezekiel's prophecies that was read oa the day of expiation. The pretended tomb of Ezekiel is Hill fliewn about fifteen leagues from Bagdad. [i] Chap, i I. ii. 2, 5. Clem, ill Epif. Cor c. 17. [k] Jonah i. i. and the beginning of moft of the hillorical books of fcripture, alfo Calmet Preface fur Ezechiel, canon. 394 ^^ "^^^ BOOK OF EZEKIEL, canon, on account of fome paffages in it which they conceived to be contradiclory to the principles of the Mofaic Law [l]. If they had any fuch intention, they were foon convinced of their miftake, and gave up the defign. But the Jews, indeed, did not fuffer the book, or at lead the beginning of it, to be read by any who had not attained their thirtieth year [m] ; and reftriftions were impofed upon commentators who might be difpofed to write upon it [n]. St. Jerom hath remarked, certainly with great truth, that the vifions of Ezekiel are fometimes very myfterious, and of difiicult interpretation, and that they may be reckoned among the things in fcripture which are " hard to be underftood [o]." Ezekiel himfelf, well aware of the myfterious charader of thofe reprefentations which he beheld in vifion, and of the neceffary obfcurity which muft attend the de- fcription of them to others, humbly reprefented to [l] Comp. Ezek. xvUi, 20. with Exod. xxxiv. 7. The peo-» pie whom Ezekiel addreffcd, prefumptuoufly complained th^t they were puniflied for the fins of their forefathers, though, jn truth, they had merited their captivity by perfifting in evil. God therefore, very confiflently with his former declarations, threatens by Ezekiel to make fuch diftinftion between the righteous and the wicked, that each man fliould be fenfible of having defervcd his futferings. And he affures the people, with efpecial reference to eternal punifliment, that *' the foul that finned ftiould die;" and that "the fon fhould not bear the iniquity of the father;" that each fliould be refponfiblc only for his own conduft. [m] Calmet's DiiH:. Herbelot. Bibliot. Orient, p. 942. [k] Cunxus de Rep. Heb. 17. fo] HieroB, ProU iu Ezek. and Fi-ol. Gal. God OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIELi 595 God that the people accufed hhii of fpeaking darkly " in parables [p].'* It appears to have been God's defign to cheer the drooping fpirits of his people, but only by communicating fuch encouragement as was confident with a flate of punifhment, and cal- culated by indiftind intimations, to keep alive a watchful and fubmiffive confidence. For this reafon, perhaps, were Ezekiel's prophecies, which were re- vealed amidfl the gloom of captivity, defignedly ob- fcure in their nature ; but though myflerious in them- felves, they are related by the Prophet in a plain and hiflorical manner. He feems to have been de- firous of conveying the ftrong impreflions which he received, as accurately as they were capable of be- ing defcribed. The reprefentations which Ezekiel beheld in vifion, are capable of a very interefling and inftruclive illuf- tration from other parts of fcripture : as may be feen in the commentaries of various writers who have un- dertaken to explain their allufive chara6i:er, and the figurative directions which the Prophet received in them with relation to his own condud, were very confident with the dignity of his charader, and the defign of his miffion. Some of thefe directions were given, indeed, only by way of metaphorical inftruc- tion i for when Ezekiel is commanded to " eat the roll of prophecy," we readily underfland that he is enjoined only to receive, and thoroughly to digeft its contents [ qJ\ ; and when he profefles to have com- [p] Ezek. XX. 49. £(i.l Vid. Rev. x, 8—10, plied 396 OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL.' plied with the command, we perceive that he fpeaks only of a tranfadlion in vifion. With refped to feme Gther relations of this nature contained in Ezekiel's book [r], whether we fuppofe them to be defcrip- tive of real or imaginary events, they are very recon- cileable with divine intention in the employment of the Prophet. On a fuppofition that they were real, we may reafonably fuppofe a miraculous afliftance to have been afforded when neceffary ; and if we con- fider them as imaginary, they might be reprefented equally as emblematical forewarnings revealed to the Prophet [s]. The Book of Ezekiel is fometimes diftrlbuted by the following analyfis, under different heads. After the three firll chapters, in which the appointment of the Prophet is defcribed, the wickednefs and punifli- ment of the Jews, efpecially of thofe remaining in Judsa, are reprefented under different parables and vifions. From thence to the thirty-fecond chapter, the Prophet turns his attention to thofe nations who had unfeelingly triumphed over the Jews in their af- flidion J prediding that deftruftion of the Ammon- [r] In the general preface to the Prophets, Ezekiel is fup* pofed to have aftually removed his houfliold lluft', as thus pro- phefying by a fign ; and this fuppofition feems to be autho^ rized by the account. Vid. Ezek. xii. 7. and Waterland in Ezek. So, alfo, when deprived of his wife, he certainly re- frained from the cuftomary fliew of grief, as a fign of the un- precedented and inexpreifiblc forrow under which the Jews Ihould pine away on the deftniftion of their temple. Vid. chap. xxiv. 16. et feq. [s] Chap, iv, and v. ites. OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. 397 ites, Moabites, and Philiflines, which Nebuchadnez- zar effected J and particularly, he foretels the ruin and defolation of Tyre [t] and of Sidon ; the fall of Egypt [u], and the bafe degeneracy of its future people, in a manner fo forcible, in terms fo accu- rately and minutely defcriptive of their feveral fates and prefent condition, that nothing can be more in- terefting than to trace the accomplifhment of thefe prophecies in the accounts which are furniihed by hiflorians and travellers. From the thirty-fecond to the fortieth chapter, Ezekiel inveighs againft the hypocrify and murmur- ing fpirit of his captive countrymen; encouraging them to refignation by promifes of deliverance [xj, and by intimations of fpiritual redemption [y]. In the two laft chapters of this divifion, under the pro- mifed vidories to be obtained over Gog and Magog [z], he undoubtedly predicts the final return of the Jews [t] Ezek. xxvl. xxvll. and xxviii. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X« cap. xi. cont. Apion, Lib. L Newton's Xlth DilTert. on Prophecy. Prid. Con. An. 573. Shaw's Travels, p. 330. Maundrell, p. 48, 49. Volney, vol.ii. ch. xxix. [u] Chap. xxix. and xxx. Newton's Differt. XIL and every hiftory, and every account of Egypt. Herodotus par- ticularly relates the accomplifliment of thofe prophecies which Jeremiah and Ezekiel uttered concerning Hophra, king of Egypt. Vid. Jerem. xliv. 30. and Herod. Lib. IL Hophra is called Apries by Herodotus, who, fays the hiftorian, nva dejlined to misfortune. [x] Chap, xxxvi, 11. xxxvii. 12, 14, 21. [y] Chap, xxxiv. 4. xxiii. et feq. xxxvii. 24. et feq. [z] Rev. XX. 7, 8. Some conceive that thefe prophecies of J)zekiel related to the perfecution of Antiochus Epiphanes. Calmet 398 OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. jews from their difperfion, in the latter days ; with an obfcurity, however, that can be difperfed only by the event. The nine lafl: chapters of this book furnifli the defcription of a very remarkable vifion of a new tem- ple and city ; of a new religion and polity, under the particulars of which is (hadowed out the eflablifli- nient of a future univerfal church [a]. Jofephus fays, Calmet applies them to Cambyfes. Gog is, however, gene- rally fuppofed to reprcfent the Turks ; who derive their origin from the Tartars, a race of the Scythians, who were the de- fcendants of Magog, the fon of Japhet. Vid. Gen. x. 2. The word Gog appears to be applied to the people, and Ma. gog to the land. We learn from Pliny, that Scythopolis and Hieropolis were always called Magog, after they were takers by the Scythians. The other Prophets fpeak of fome future enemy of the Jews and church under a fimilar defcription; but in what manner this magnificent prophecy is to receive its completion time only can explain. Vid. Lowth in loc. Jerem. xxvii. and xxx. Joel iii. Micah v. Rev. xx. Mede con- ceives that the Gog and Magog mentioned in the Revelation of St. John, prefignify fome enemies different from thofe fore-» told under thefe names by Ezekiel ; and that St. John's pro- phecies apply to fome unconverted heathens to appear in op-; pofition to the church towards the concluCon of the INIil- lenium. Vid. dc Gog et Mag. ConjeiSt. INIede's Works, vol, II. B. iii. [a] This obfcure vifion of Ezekiel is generally fuppofed to contain the defcription of a temple, correfponding in its flruc- ture and dimenfions with that ui' Solomon. The Prophet by prefenting to the captives this delineation of what had been «« the defire of their eyes," reminded them of the lofs which they had fufferoJ from their unrightcoufnefs ; and furnilhed thcra with a model upon which the temple might again rife 5 ivoin OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. 3QQ fays, that Ezekiel left two books concerning the cap- tivity [b] ; and the author of the Synopfis attributed to Athanafius, fuppofes that one book has been loft 5 but as the nine laft chapters of Ezekiel conftitute in fome meafure a diftintt work, probably Jofephus might confider them as forming a fecond book. It deferves to be remarked, that we are informed by Jofephus, that the prophecy in which Ezekiel [c] foretold that " Zedekiah fliould not fee Babylon, though he fliould die there," was judged by that monarch to be inconfiftcnt with that of Jeremiah, who predicted that " Zedekiah Ihould behold the King of Babylon, and go to Babylon [d]." But both were exactly fulfilled ; for Zedekiah did fee. the King of Babylon at Riblah, and then being de- prived of his eyes, he was carried to Babylon, and died there [e]. From this account it appears, that Ezekiei's prophecies were tranfmitted to Jerufalem, as we know that Jeremiah's were fent to his country- men in captivity [f] ; an intercourfe being kept up, efpecially foj the conveyance of prophetic inftruc- from its ruins ; as it did, with lefs magnificence, indeed, in the time of Zerubbabel. Under the particulars detailed by Ezekiel, however, we often difcover the oeconomy of a fpi- ritual temple, which fliould again be filled " with the glory of the Lord coming from the Eaft." Vid. chap, xliii. i — 4, Villalpandus, Capellus, and Commentators at large. [e] Jofeph, Antiq. Lib. X. c. vi. [c] Ezek. xii. 13. [d] Jerem. xxxiv. 3. [e] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. cap. x. Vid. Lib. XL c. x. [f] Jerem, xxix. i. and Hieron. in gzek. xii. 7. tions : 400 OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. tions : for ought that might confole mifery, or awaken repentance ; and it was probably on the ground of this communication, that the Talmudifts fuppofed that the prophecies of Ezekiel were ar- ranged into their prefent form, and placed in the canon by the elders of the great fynagogue [g]. The ftile of this Prophet is charaderized by Bifhop Lowth as bold, vehement, and 'tragical [h] ; as often worked up to a kind of tremendous dignity. His book is highly parabolical, and abounds with figures and metaphorical expreiTions. Ezekiel may be compared to the Grecian iEfchylus j he difplays a rough but majeflic dignity ; an unpolifiied though noble fimplicity ; inferior, perhaps, in originality and elegance to others of the Prophets ; but unequalled in that force and grandeur for which he is particu- larly celebrated. He fometimes emphatically and in- dignantly repeats his fentiments ; fully dilates his pidtures ; and defcribes the adulterous manners of bis countrymen under the ftrongeft and mod exag- gerated reprefentations that the licence of the eaflern ilile would admit. The middle part of the book is [g] Bava Batlira, c. i. and in Gemar. Ifidor. Orlg. Lib. VI, cap. ii. [h] The Ezekiel who is quoted by Clemens Alexandrinus and Eufebius as the tragic poet of the Jews, was a different perfon from the Prophet. Some fuppofe that he was one of the feventy tranflators under PtoU-my. His work, in which he defcribes the Exodus of the Jews under the conduft of Mofes, is flill extant. Vid. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. p. 344. Eufeb. Pra?p. Evang. Lib. IX. c. 28. Fabric. Eib. Gr»c. Lib. IL c. xix. in OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL; 4OI in fome meafure poetical ; and contains even fome perfeQ; elegies [i] ; though his thoughts are in gene- ral too irregular and uncontrolled to be chained down to rule, or fettered by language. Some perfons have conceived that Pythagoras im- bibed his knowledge concerning the Mofaic Law from Ezekiel ; and that the Prophet was the fame perfon with Nazaratus [k], under whom Pythagoras is related to have fludied [l]. Pythagoras certainly did vifit Babylon, and according to many calcula- tions he was contemporary with the Prophet. [i] Chap, xxvll. and xxviii. 12 — 19. [k] Called Zabratus, by Porphyry in Vita Pythagor. and Zaratus, by Plutarch. Vid. Huet. Prop. IV. [l] Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. Some conceive, that Py- thagoras might have been born about nine years after Ezekiel's departure for the captivity ; and might have vifxted Babylon very young, and fo have converfed with Ezekiel when the Prophet was in years. Dd OF [ 402 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET DANIEL. ry^ HAT Daniel colle£led thefe prophecies into X their prefent form is evident, fince in various parts of the Book he fpeaks of himfelf in the cha- rader of its author [a] ; and has been fo confidered in all ages of the church. Some Jewifh writers, indeed, upon a millakcn notion that prophecies were never committed to writing out of the limits of Ju- daea, pretend that the book was compofed by tlie men of the great fynagogue, as alfo thofe of Eftlier, and Ezekiel [b]. It was, however, unqueflionably admitted into the Hebrew canon as the authentic production of Danie! j and it is cited as his work in the New Teftament [c]. [a] Dan. viii. i, 2, 27. ix. 2. x. 2. xil. 5, Sec. [r>] Biiva Bathra, cap. in Gemara, and Rabbins. Jofcphus allures us, that Daniel himfelf committed his piophecies to writing. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. cap. xii. [c] Matt. xxiv. 15. Mark xiii. 14. In OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 403 In the time of Jofephus, Daniel was efleemed as one of the greatefl: of the Prophets [d] ; but fince the period in which the hiftorian flourillied, the Jews, in order to invalidate the evidence that refults from the Prophet's v^^ritings in fupport of Chridianity, have, on the authority of a few d odors, agreed to clafs him among the Hagiographi [e] ; which de- cifion, however, does not, upon their own rules, affed his pretenfions to be confidered as an infpired writer. The reafon which, among others, the Jews produce to authorize this degradation is, that Daniel lived in the Babylonifli court, in a flile of magnifi- cence inconfiftent with the reftridlions obferved by the Prophets [f] ; and though the divine will was revealed to him by an angel, yet as the Prophet himfelf called this revelation a dream, the Jewifli writers, by fome unintelligible diflinclion, confide'r this as a mode of revelation inferior to any of tlvjfe fpecified in God's addrefs to Mofes [g]. WitViout [d] Jofeph. Lib. X. cap. xi. xii. [e] Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. II. cap. iv. v. Hieron. Prasf. in Dan. Theod. cap. ult. Dan. Yet Daniel is reckoned among the Prophets in fome Talmudical books. Vid. Me- gilla, c. ii. Jacchiades in Dan. i. 17. In the fecond century, Aquila and Theodotion placed him among- the Prophets in their Greek tranflations, agreeably to his rank in the Septua- gint ; and Melito found him reckoned in the fame clafs. Vid. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IV. c. xxvi. Epiphan. Hieres. 29. Nazar. note 7. De Pond. & Menf. n. 4. 162. Chand. Vin- dic. ch. i. {eft, 3. [f] Grot. Pr^f. ad Com. in Efai. Huet. Demon. Evan. Prop. IV. cap. xiv. Kimchi. Praf. in Pfalm. [g] Numb. xii. 6. Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. IF. c. xlv. D d 2 ft^yj"g 404 OF THE book: of DANIEL. flaying to refute tbefe abfurd fancies, it is only ne- celVary to obfcrve, that the exact accompHfliment of Daniel's many remarkable predictions would have fufficiently eftabliflied his right to the character of a Prophet, even if he had not been exprefsly dif- tinguiflied as fuch by the facrerd writers [h] ; and by Chrilf himfelf, who fpoke agreeably to the opinion of the Jews, his contemporaries, in telVimony to the prophetic character of Daniel [il. Daniel was a dcfcendant of the Kings of Judah. He is related to have been born at upper Bethoron [k], which was in the territory of Kphraim. He was carried away captive to Babylon in the fourth year of Jchoiakim, A. M. 3398 ; probably in the eighteenth or twentieth year of his age [l] ; and on account of his birth, wifdom, and accomplifliments [m], was felefted to Hand in the prefence of Nebu- diadnezzar ,* fo that in him and his companions was fulfilled that prophecy in which Ifaiah declared to Hezekiah that " his iifue fliould be eunuchs in the palace of the King of Babylon [n]/* By [h] Hcb. xi. 33, 34. 2 Pet. i. 21. [i] Matt. xxiv. i^. Mark xlii. 14. [k] Jofti. xvi. ^. Sixtus Scncnfis affirms, after Eplphan'ius, tluit Daniel was born in Batheber near Jerufalem. Vid. Bib. Sac. Lib. I. p. 40. Michaclis confiders this as an improbable tradition. Vid. IMichacl. Pra^f. p. 8. [l] Aben-Ezra. [m] Dan. i. 3, 4. Ezek. xiv. 14. xxv. 3. xxvlil. 3. [n] 2 Kings XX. 18. Ifa. xxxix. 6, 7. The word eunuch fiormerly was a general title for the royal attendants. The fame OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 405 By tlie fignal proofs which he gave of an excel- lent fpirit, and by the many extraordinary qualities which he pofleiTed, Daniel conciliated the favour of the Perfian monarchs ; he was elevated to high rank [o], and entrufted with great power. In the vicif- fitudes of his life, as in the virtues which he dif- played, he has been thought to have refembled Jo- feph. Like him he lived amidfl the corruption of a great court; and preferved an unfhakcn attachment to his religion, in a fituation embarralfed with diffi- culties, and furrounded by temptations. He pub- lickly profeffed God's fervice, in defiance of every danger ; and predidled his fearful judgments to the very face of intemperate and powerful tyrants [r]. It may be colleded from the penfive caft of his fame phrafe In the original is applied to Potiphar. Vid. Gen. sxxix. I. Vid. alfo, Acts viii. 27. [o] The name of Daniel implied, " the man of our defires." Others fay it fignified, the judgment of God, or according to Michaelis, God is my judge. (Vid. Mich. Praef. in Dan. and Geirus in Dan.) The name given to him in the Baby- lonifli court was Beltelliazzar, a name which, as Nebuchad- nezzar remarked in his decree, was derived from the name of his God (Bel.) Vid. Dan. iv. 8. It was ufual among the Babylonian;! fo to denominate perfons after the names of their deities, as Nebuchadnezzar from Nebo, and Evil-Merodach from Merodach. Vid. Ifa. xlvi. i. Jercm. 1. 2. It was alfo cuftomary among the eaftern nations, for the Kings to dif- tinguifli their favourites by new names when they conferred on them new dignities ; and the IMogul flill adheres to the cuftom. Gen. xli. 45. Efther ii. 7. Scaliger de Emend. Temp. Lib. V. and VI. Cellar, ad Curduni, Lib. VI. c. 6. [p] Chap. iv. 2Q— 28. V. 18 — 29. P 4 3 writings. 40& OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. writings, that he was of that melancholy difpofition which might be expeded to characterize the fervants of the true God amidft fcenes of idolatry. He ex- perienced through his whole life very fignal and miraculous proofs of divine favour ; and was looked up to by the Perfians, as well as by his own country- men, as an oracle of infpired wifdom [ Q_] ; he con- tributed much to fpread a knowledge of God among the Gentile nations. Many writers have fuppofed that Zoroafter the celebrated founder or reformer of tl e Magian religion, was a difciple of Daniel, fmce Zoroafter was evidently well acquainted with many revealed truths, and borrowed from the facred wri- tings many particulars for the improvement of his religious inftitutes [r]. Daniel appears to have attained a great age, as he prophefied during the whole period of the cap- tivity. He probably, however, did not long fur- viv'-: his laft vifion concerning the fucceffion of the Kings of Perfia, which he beheld in the third year of Cyjus [s], A. M. 3470, when the Prophet mud have reached his ninetieth year. As Daniel dates this vifion by a Perfian sera, it was apparently re- vealed to him in Perfia ; and though fome have af- ferted that he returned from the captivity with Ezra, [qJI Dan. v. 11. Ezek. xiv. 14. xxviii. 3. Daniel was very young when Ezekiel bore this teftimony to his praifc. [r] Wendelin. DiiU dc Pythagor. Tetr. [s] Chap. X. I. xii. 13. Michael, in J?rcm. DiiT. Prelim, OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 407 and took upon him the government of Syria [t], it is probable that he was too old to avail himfelf of the decree of Cyrus [u], however he might have been acceflary in obtaining it ; and that agreeably to the received opinion, he died in Perfia. Epiphanius and others affirm that he died at Babylon, and they fay that his fepulchre was there to be feen many ages after in the royal cave [x]. But it is more probable, according to the common tradition, that he was buried at Sufa, or Shuflian, where certainly he foraetimes refided []y], and perhaps as governor of Perfia ; and where he v/as favoured with fome of his laft vifions. Benjamin Tudela, indeed, informs us [z], that he was lliewn the reputed tomb of [t] Herbelot. Biblioth. Oriental, p. 283. [u] The Daniel mentioned by Nehemiah, ch. x. 6. was a diiFerent perfon from the Prophet, being probably the fame with Daniel, the fon of Ithamar, fpoken of by Ezra, ch. viii. 2. The Belefis, likevvife, mentioned by Diodorus, differed from the Prophet in his period and charader. [x] Epiphan. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Sac. Lib. I. p. 2. It ap- pears, however, from other writers, that the fepulchre of the Perfian Kings was near Perfepolis. Vid. Diodor. Sic. Re- land in Pala^l:. Lib. III. p. 635. Strabo relates, that Cyrus was buried at Perfepolis, and that his monument was there feen by Alexander. Vid. Strab Lib. XV. p. 730. His fuc- ceflbrs were perhaps buried at Sufa. [y] Chap. viii. 2, 27. Shuflian was the capital of Elam, or Perfia, properly fo called. It was taken from Aftyages, King of Media, by Nebuchadnezzar, according to the pro- phecy of Jeremiah. Vid. Jerem. xlix. 34. It afterwards re- volted to Cyrus. Vid. Xenoph. Cyropsed. Lib. V. [z] Benjam. Itiner. p. 78. et Abulfar. Hilt. Oriental. Dy- naft. 5. D d 4 Daniel, 408 OF THE BOOK Ot DANIEL. Daniel at Tufter (the ancient Sufa) on the Tigris ; ■where llkewife, as wc are aflured by Jofephus, was a magnificent edifice in the form of a tower, which was faid to have been built by Daniel [a], and which ferved as a fepulchre for the Perfian and Parthian Kings. This, in the time of the hiflorian, retained its perfeft beauty, and furnifhcd a fine fpecimen of the Prophet's fkill in architecture. The Book of Daniel contains a very interefting mixture of hiftory and propliecies j the former being introduced as far as was neceffary to defcrlbe the conduct of the Prophet, and to (liew the defign and occafion of his predictions. The fix firft chapters are chiefly hiftorical ; though, indeed, the fecond chapter contains the prophetic interpretation of Da- niel's dream concerning the kingdoms which were fuccefiively to illuftrate the power of that God, who removeth and fetteth up Kings, as feemeth good to him. The four hiftorical chapters which fucceed, relate the miraculous deliverance ot Daniel's companions from the furnace [b] ; the remarkable punlfhment of Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance [c] ; the impiety and portended [a] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. cap xli. The prefent copies of Jolephus, indeed, place this edifice in Ecbatana, but pro- bably the hirtorian originally wrote Sufa ; for St. Jerom, who profeffes to copy his account, reads Sufa, which was in the Babylonifh empire. VId. Hieron. Corjn. in Dan. viii. 2. [bJ In this miraefle was literally accompliflKd a prophetic aflTurance of Ifaiah. Vid. xliii. 2. [c] it has been ufaally fuppofed, that the punifliment in- flicted on Nebuchadnezzar was that fpecies of madnefs which is OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 409 portended fate of Belfliazzar [d] ; and the divine in- terpofition for the proteftion of Daniel in the lion's is called Lycanthropy. This diforder operates fo llrongly on. thofe aifefted by it, as to make them fancy themfelves wolves, and run howling- and tearing every thing in extravagant imi- tation of thole animals. Vid. Sennerti InlHtut. Medic. 2, Par. III. § 7. and § 2. c. iv. Aertius, Lib. VI. c. 2. Mer- cur. Var. Left. VI. 20. Paufan. in Arcad. Ovid. Metam. Lib. I. 1. 232, et feq. But it fliould feem from the account, that the divine threats were fulfilled in a more exaft and literal fenfe ; and that Nebuchadnezzar was aftually driven from fociety, till his affections were brutalized, and his appearance changed. Scaliger conceives, that this Metamorphofi? is al- luded to by Abydenus, who remarks, on the authority of the Chald^ean writers, that Nebuchadnezzar, after having uttered a prophecy relative to the deftrucStion of the Babylonifli em- pire by Cyrus, difappeared. Vid. Eufeb. Praep. Evan. Lib. IX. c. xli. Scaliger's notes upon the ancient fragments in the ap- pendix to his work, de Emendatione Temporum. [d] The death of Belfliazzar is related by Xenophon nearly in the fame manner as it is defcribed by Daniel. Vid. Hlftor. Lib. VII. and many other particulars recorded in this book are reprefented in the fame manner by heathen hiftorians, as St. Jerom has fliewn by many references. The eaftern Kings had, however, many titles afl'umed on various occalions ; they are therefore fometimcs fpoken of in this book, as in other parts of fcripture, under titles different from thofe by which they are diftinguiflied in prophane hiftory ; and probably the facred writers chofe to charafterize wicked princes by thofe obnoxious appellations which they affamed in honour of their idols ; as in the inftance of Evil-Merodach and Bellliazzar. Belfhazzar was probably the fon of Evil-Merodach, by Nito- cris, and the grandfon of Nebuchadnezzar, whole fon (or defcendant) he is called in fcripture. Vid. Biliiop Hallifax's iecond fermon on Prophecy, dsn. 4IO OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. den [e]. All tliefe accounts are written with a fpirit and animation highly interefting; we feem to be pre- fent at the fccncs defcribed ; and the whole work is enriched with the moft exalted fentiments of piety ; and with the fineft atteflations to the praife and glory of God. Daniel flouriflicd during the fucceffive reigns of feveral Babylonifli and Median Kings, to the con- queft of Babylon by Cyrus ; in the beginning of whofe reign he probably died. The events recorded in the fixth chapter were coeval with Darius the Mede ; but in the feventh and eighth chapters Daniel returns to an earlier period, to relate the vifions which he beheld in the three firft years of Belfhaz- zar's reign [f] ; and thole which follow in the four lafl: chapters were revealed to him in the reign of Darius. Thi- fix lafl chapters of this book are compofed of prophecies delivered at different times, all of which are, however, in fome degree conneded as parts of one great fcheme. They extend through many ages ; and fuvnifli the moft ftriking defcription of the fall of fucceffive kingdoms, which were to be intro- duftory to the eftablifhmcnt of the Meffiah's reign. They charadlerize in defcriptive terms the four great monarch ics of the world to be fucceeded by " that [e] D.-iTjlel's dclivemnce from the den of lions, as well as that of h'is friends from the flames, was long celebrated among the Jews, Vld. i Mace. ii. 59, 60. and 3 Mace. vi. 3, 4, 5. [f] Mr.cl^iael. Prief. in ch. vii. Hieron. Com. in ch. vii. kingdoni OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 41 I kingdom which fhould not be deftroyed [g]." They foreiliew the power and deftrucbion of Antichrift, in predidions repeated and extended by St. John [h] ; and conclude with a diftind affurance of a general refurredion to a Hfe of everlafling fhame, or ever- lafting glory [i]. The prophecies of Daniel were in many inilances fo exadly accompliflied, that thofe perfons who would have otherwife been unable to refift the evidence which they furniflied in fupport of our religion have not fcrupled to affirm, that they muft have been written fubfequently to thofe occurrences which they fo faithfully defcribe [k]. But this groundlefs and unfupported aflertion of Porphyry, who in the third century wrote againft chriftianity, ferves but to efla- bliiOi the charader of Daniel as a great and en- lightened Prophet ; and Porphyry, by confeffing and proving from the befl: hiflorians, that all which is in- [g] Dan. vli. 13, 14, 27. [h] Dan. paffim, and Bifhop Andrews Refpon. ad Bcllurm. Apol. p. 334. & Revel. The prophecies concerning the Anti- chrilt are vxiually applied to the Papal power prefigured by An- tiochus Epiphanes. Vld. chap. vili. 23 — 25. xi. 36 — 45. [i] Dan. xii. 2, 31. [k] The firft chapter has by fome been thought to have been written after the time of Daniel, becaufc it fpeaks of the Prophet in the third perfon, and fays tbat he continued to the firft year of Cyrus, (that is, to his flrfi: year over the Medes and Perlians, and to the third over Babylon) ; but thefe words might well proceed from Daniel, as he lived beyond that period. The conclufive verfe of the fixth chapter might equally have proceeded from Daniel, fpeaking of himfeif in ^he third perfon. eluded 412 OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. eluded in the eleventh chapter of Daniel relauve to the Kings of the north, and of the fouth, of Syria, and of Egypt, was truly and in every particular, acted and done in the order there related : has un- defignedly contributed to the reputation of thofe prophecies of which he attempted to dcllroy the au- thority i for it is contrary to all hiflorical tefliinony, and contrary to all probability, to fuppofe that the Jews would have admitted into the canon of their facred writ, a book which contained pretended pro- phecies of what had already happened [l]. And indeed it is impoilible that thefe prophecies fhould have been written after the reign of Antiochus Epi- phanes, fmce they were tranflated into Greek near an hundred years before the period in which he lived ; and that tranflation was in the pofleilion of the Egyptians, who entertained no kindnefs for the Jews, or their religion [m]. Thofe prophecies alfo, which [l] The names of the mufical iiiftruments mentioned in this book, have fome refembhmce to thofe of Grecian inilruments ; but as colonies of lonians, Dorians, and yEolians, were fettled in Afia, long before the time of Daniel, technical names might eafily be communicated from them to the Babylonians ; or ra- ther, as the Eaft was the fource of mulick, and the words ap- pear to be of eaftern derivation, they might be originally de- rived from the Eaft to the Greeks. Vid. Marfliam. Chron. Sdsc. 13. and Chandler's \ indie, of Def. chap. i. left. 2. [m] St. Jcrom informs us, that the Septuagint verlion of Daniel was rcjetled by the church, for that of Theodotion. Vid. Hieron. on Dan. iv. 8. The Septuagint was admitted into Origen's Hcxapla, and from his time fell into difcrcdit. Before it was in general ufe j the Latin verfipn was probably made OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 4IJ which foretold the viclories and dominion of Alex- ander [n], were fhewn to that conqueror himfelf by Jaddua, the high-prieft, as we learn from Jofephus [o], and the Jews thereupon obtained an exemption from tribute every fabbatical year, and the free ex- ercife of their laws. Many other prophecies in the book have likewife been fulfilled fmce the time of Porphyry [r]. Daniel not only predicted future events with An- gular precifion, but likewife accurately defined the time in which they fhould be fulfilled, as was re- markably exemplified in that illuflrious prophecy of the feventy weeks [ cl], in which he prefixed the period made from it, and It was cited by the earlieft writers. It was therefore probably made with the reft of the prophetical books, which we know were all traiiflated before the time of Euer- getes II. Vid. Prol. in Ecckis, Eufeb. Dem. Evan. Lib. VJII. p. 381. Clemens. Roman. Epilt. I. § 34. Juftin Martyr, Dialog, cum Trypho, edit. Oxon, p. 87, 241. Chand. Viud. ch. i. fea. 3. [n] Chap. viii. 5. xi. 3. Lloyd's Letter to Sherlock. Chand- ler's Vindic. chap. ii. fed. i . Bayle's Di6l. Art. Macedo. note o. [0] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. cap. xii. Lib. XI. cap. viii, Newton's DilT. vol. ii. DifT. xv. p. 36. [p] Porphyry was born at Tyre, A. D. 233. St. Jerom agrees with him in applying the eleventh chapter as far as the twenty^-firft verfe to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. The Prophet afterwards fpeaks of the Romans and of the Anti- chrift, as he docs of the latter in the eighth and twelfth chap- ters. Vid. BiOiop Chandler's Vindic. of Def. and S. Chand- ler's Vindication of the Antiquity and Authority of Daniel's Prophecies. [ qJ\ Chap. ix. 24 — 27. For computations concerning the exact accomplifliment of this amazing prophecy, vid. Ulfer. Annal. 414 ^^F THE BOOK OP DANIEL. period for " bringing in everlafllng righteoufnefs by the MefTiah," as well as in fome other myfterious prediftions which probably mark out the time or duration of the power of Antichrift [r], and as fome fuppofe, for the commencement of the millenium, or univerfal reign of faints, which they conceive to be foretold , for the explanation of which we muft wait the event. From the fourth verfe of the fecond chapter, to the end of the feventh chapter of this book, Daniel wrote liis hiftory originally in the Chaldaic, or Syriac lan- guage [s] ; and, indeed, the greatefl part of the book bears marks of the Chaldaic idiom ; as might well be expedled from an author who had fo long refided in Chaldaca. As all the hiftorical particulars which concerned the Babylonifh nation were probably re- corded in the annals of that government [t] ; Daniel might pofiibly have extracted fome paiTages, as, per- haps, the decree of Nebuchadnezzar [u], from thofe Annal. V. T. ad Ann. Per. Jul. 4260. Prid. Conne£^. Ann. A. C. 458. Lloyd's Chron. Tables, Num. 3, 4. Bafnage's Diff. on Seventy Weeks. Calmet Diffeit. fur les Sept. Scm, Petav. de D06I. Temp. Lib. XIL &c. [r] Chap, vii.- 25. viii. 14. xii. 7. Lowth, &c. [s] Thefc were originally the fame language. Vid. 2 Kings xviii. 26. Ezra iv. 7. The language of Babylon was the pure Chaldee ; the modern Syriac is the language which was ufed by the Chriftians of Comagena and other provinces bor- dering upon Syria, when that was the language of the coun- try. [t] Efther ii. 23. vi. I. [u] Chap. iv. 6 chronicles 5 CF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 41^ chronicles ; and no teftimony could be more honour- able, or with more propriety prefixed to his pro- phecies. As the Jews alfo in their difperfion had ieparatcly intermixed with the natives of Chaldssa, they all underftocd the language of the country ; and mufl have received fo authentic a document of Daniel's fidelity vAth particular refped. The re- maining chapters [x] which were written in Hebrew, contain prophetic vifions, which were revealed only to the Prophet, and related principally to the church and people of God. The Hile of Daniel is clear, concife, fimple, and hidorlcal, though the vifions which he defcribes were in themfelves of a figurative and emblematical cha- ra£ter. They pourtrayed future circumftances to his imagination under reprefentations flrikingly fym- bolical of thofe particulars which they forefliewed ; and they who advert to the enfigns and armorial de- vices of thofe nations of whom Daniel prophefies, will difcover a very appofite propriety in the hiero- glyphical images which the Prophet felci^ls [y]. Daniel's name, like that of many others of the [x] The firft chapter of the book, and the three firll verfes of the fecond chapter, were written in Hebrew, as they form a kind of introduction to the book. [y] Chap. viii. Thus the ram was the royal enlign of the Perfians, and was to be feen on the pilhirs of Perfepolis. Vid. Ammian. Marcel. Lib. XIX. Sir J. Chardin's Travels. The goat alfo was the emblem or arms of Macedon. Vid. Juftin. Hift. Lib. YIU. Mede's Works, B. IIL p. 654, 712. Jo- feph. Archzeol, I*ib. X. cap. x. and Newton on Dan. ch. iv. Par. r. facred 4l6 OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. facred writers, has been borrowed to countenance fpurious books, befides the apocryphal additions in our Bibles. A book intitled the Vifions of Daniel [z], was condemned as fpurious and impious by the decree of Gratian [a]. In this book Daniel is faid to have foretold how many years each Emperor fhould live, as well as the events of his reign, and the future circumftances of the Saracens. Some fuppofititious magical writings were likewife attri- buted to the Prophet [b]. But Daniel, though well verfed in the Chaldsean philofophy, as Mofes was <« learned in all the wifdom of Egypt," yet dif- claimed all magical arts, and relied on the true God. [z] OfxiTBK; Somnialia. [a] Decret. Part II. CaulT. 27. Quaft. i. c. xvi. and Athan. Synop. Lib. II. [e] Jof. Alb, Fabric!. Codic. Pfeudepig. V. Teft, p. 1130, OF [ 417 ] GENERAL PREFACE TO T H B TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS. TH E writings of the twelve Minor Prophets were in the Hebrew canon comprized in one book, which was called by St. Stephen, the Book of the Prophets [a]. By whom they were fo compiled is uncertain ; probably, however, they were colleded together in that form by Ezra, or by fome member of the Great Synagogue [b] j but certainly above 200 years before the birth of Chrift ; for the author of the Book of Ecclefiafticus, who wrote about A. M, 3770, celebrates the memorial of the Twelve Pro- phets under one general encomium: as of thofe who had comforted God's people, and confirmed their con- fidence in God's promifes of a Redeemer [c]. The order in which the books are placed, is not the fame [a] A6ls vii. 42. comp. with Amos v. 25. [b] Abarb. Praef. in llaiah. Bava Bathra, &c. [c] Ecclus xlix. ip. and Arnald on the Place. Chandler's Defen. ch. i. feft. 2. p. 44. It is called the book of the twelve Prophets, by Cyprian. Epift. 59. E e in 4l8 GENERAL PREFACE TO THE in the Septuagint as in the Hebrew [d]. According to the latter, they rtand as in our tranflation ; but in the Greek the fcries is altered as to the fix firfl, to the following arrangement : Hofea, Amos, Micah, Joel, Obadsah, Jonah. This change, however, is of no confequence, fince neither in the original, nor in the Septuagint, are they placed with exad regard to the time in which their facred authors refpectively flouriflied. The order in which they (hould ftand, if chrono- logically arranged, is by Blair, and others, fuppofed to be as follows : Jonah, Amos, Hofea, Micah, Na- hum, Joel, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Obadiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi. And this order will be found to be generally confident with the periods to which the Prophets will be refpectively affigned in the following work ; except in the initance of Joel, who probably flouriflied rather earlier than he is placed by thefe chronologers. The precife period of this Prophet, however, cannot be afcertained, and fome difputes might be maintained concerning the priority of others alfo when they were nearly contemporaries, as Amos and Hofea; and when the firft prophecies of a later Prophet were delivered at the fame time with, or previoufly to fome of thofe of a Prophet who was called earlier to the facred office. The following fcheme, however, in which alfo the greater Prophets will be introduced, may enable the reader more accurately to comprehend the actual and relative periods in which they feverally prophefied. [i>] Hieron. Pr.tf. in Lib. llcg. in 12 Proph. & in Joth The TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS. 419 The Prophets in tbeir fuppofed Order of Time, arranged accord- ing to Blair's Tables [e], with but little Variation. Before Chrift. Kiniib of Judah. Kings of ifracl. Jonah, Between S56 and 7S4. Jehu, and Jehoahaz, accord- ing to Lloyd ; but Joafli and Jeroboam the Second, according to Blair. Amjs, Between Sic and 785. Uzziah, ch. i. i. Jeroboam the Second, ch. i. J. Hofea, Between SlO and 725. Uzziah, Joth .ni, Ahaz, the third year of Hezekiah. Jeroboam the Second, chap, i, I. Ifaiah, Between 810 and 698. Uzziah, jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, chap. i. 1. and perhaps Manaffeth. Joel, Between 8io and 660, or later. Between 758 and 690. Between 7Zo and 698. Uzziah, or poflibly Ma- naffeth. Micah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Heze- kiah, ch. i. I. Pekah and Hofea. Nahum, Probably towards the dole of Hezekiah's reign. Zephaniah, Between 640 and &09. Between 628 and 586. In the reign of Jofiah, ch. Jeremiah, In the thirteenth year of Jofiah. Habakkuk, Between 612 and 59S. Probably in the reign of Jehoiakim. Daniel, Between 606 and 534. During all the Captivity. Obadiah, Between 588 and 583. Between the taking of Jeru- lalem by "Nebuchadnez- zar, and the deftrudtion of the Edomites by hirru Ezekiel, Between 595 and 536. During part of the Capti- vity. Haggai, About 520 to 518. After the return from Ba- bylon. Zechariah, From 520 to 518, or longer. Malachl, Between 436 and 397. [e] Bilhop Newcome's verfion of Minor Prophets, Preface, p. 43. 420 GENERAL PREFACE TO THE The Twelve Minor Prophets were fo called, not in refpeft to any fuppofed inferiority in their writings as to matter or ftile, but in reference to the brevity of their works. The fliortnefs, indeed, of thefe pro- phecies feems to have been one reafon for joining them together [f] ; by which means the volume of their contents was fwelled to a greatnefs in fome de- gree correfpondent to their importance [g]). Neither were they later in point of time than the greater Prophets ; fome having preceded Ifaiah ; and many of them having lived before Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel ; and by the Greeks, indeed, they are placed before them. It is a traditionary account, that of thefe Prophets, fuch as do not furnifli us with the date of their prophecies mufl be fuppofed to have flouriflied as contemporaries with, or immediately after the Prophets that precede them in the order of the books j but this is not invariably true ; and is built upon an erroneous fuppofition, that the books are chronologically arranged in the Hebrew manu- fcripts. Some of the Prophets were probably born in the territory of Ifrael, but moft in that of Judah. They appear, however, to have been fometimes commif- [f] Beth Ifrael relates, that Haggai, Zechariah, and Ma- lachi added their writings to thole of the Minor Prophets, and compofed them into one volume, left they fliould perifli. Vid. Bava Bathra, c. i. [g] Hicron. Proleg. 12. Prophet. Theodor. in Procem. Aug. dc Civit. Lib. XVill. c. xxvii. fioned TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS. 42I fioncd to preach reciprocally againft thofe tribes among whom they were not born. These twelve Prophets furniih us in fcattered parts with a lively fketch of many particulars relative to the hiftory of Judah and of Ifrael ; as well as of other kingdoms j they defcribe in prophetic anticipa- tion, but with hiftorical exaQnefs, the fate of Baby- lon, of Nineveh, of Tyre, of Sidon, and of Da- niafcus. The three laft Prophets efpecially, illuftrate many circumflances at a period v^'hen the hiftorical pages of fcripture are clofed, and when prophane authors are entirely wanting. They defcribe under the moft ftriking reprefentations, the advent and character of the Meffiah and his kingdom, and en- deavour by the moft admirable inftruclion to excite thofe religious fentiments which would facilitate the reception of the Gofpel. The Jevvifli Prophets of the moft eminent rank at firft flouriihed but as fingle lights, and followed each other in individual fuc- celhon ; for during the continuance of the theocracy, and perhaps fome time after, the Jews were in pof- feflion of the power of confulting God by means of the Urim and Thummim. But when the calamities of the captivity approached ; during the continuance of that afflidion, and amidft the melancholy fcenes which the people contemplated on their return to defolate cities, and to a wafted land ; during thefe dark pe; iods, the Prophets were, by God's mercies, raifed up in greater numbers for the confolacion of his people ; who were encouraged to look forward to that joyful deliverance by the Melliah which now E e 3 approached. 422 GENERAL PREFACE, &C. approached. The hght of infpiration was colleQed into one blaze previous to its fufpenfion ; and it ferved to keep ahve the expectations of the Jews during the awful interval which prevailed between the expiration of prophecy and its grand completion in the advent of Chrifl:. If in the writings of the later Minor Prophets, we fometimes are perplexed at feeing the light of revelation but faintly glimmer- ing through the obfcurity of their flile j we mufl: re- colleft that they lived when the language of the Jews began to vitiate and decline -, that there are no contemporary records to illuilrate their prophecies ; that the brevity of their works prevents us from col- lating the author with himfelf ; and that we who read them in Englifli, judge of them through the imper- fect medium of a tranilation [h], [h] " Hebiael blbunt Pontes, Grceci R:vo3, Latlni Paludcs," ^s Picus Mirandula obferved. or [ 423 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET H O S E A. HO S E A has been fuppofed to have been the moft ancient of the Twelve Minor Prophets j and, indeed, by Ibme vi^riters he is reprefented as having preceded all the Prophets [a], lince he flouriflied about the middle of the reign of Jeroboam the Second, the fon of Joafli, King of Ifrael, and to- wards the commencement of that of Uzziah [r], who [a] Hieron. in Ofee. Bafil in Ifai. i. Rutin. &c. In the fecond verfe of the firft chapter it is laid, " the beginning of the word of the Lord by Hofea," which fome have fuppofed to imply, that when God began to manifell himfelf, he ad- dreffed Hofea ; but it perhaps means only, that tl^e firfl reve- lation to (3.) Hofea was as follows. [e] Chap. i. I. Uzziah, or, as he is fometimes called, Azariah, and Ozias, afcended the throne of Judah in the twenty-feventh year of Jeroboam the Second, that is, accord- ing to fome chronologifts, in the twenty-feventh year of his reign, from the s^va of his conjunftion with his father j and E e 4 In 424 OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. who began to reign over Jerufalem about A.M. 2194. According to fome accounts of no great authority [c], he was of the tribe of IlTachar, and of the city of Beleenor [d] ; others reprcfent him to have been of the tribe of Judah. He was the fon of Beeri [e], and entered on the prophetic office fometime be- tween the years of 3194 and 3219. He continued to prophefy c.bove fixty years : during the fuccellive reigns of Uzziah, Jothani, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, Kings of Judah ; and probably to about the third )^ear of the reign of the laft ; or if we reckon by the Kings of Ifrael, againfh which nation he chiefly prophefied, he may be defcribcd as having tlourifhed during the reign of Jeroboam and his fucceflbrs, to the fixth year of Hofea, which correfponds with the third year of Hezekiah. Hofea was therefore near- ly contemporary w'ith Ifaiah, Amos, and Jonah, It in the fixteenth year of his monarchy, which commenced A. M. 3179. As Jeroboam reigned forty-one years, Hofea niuft have entered on his miniftry before the twenty-fifth year of Uzziah's reign, if he prophefied while Uzziah and Jero- boam were contemporaries. Vid. Comm. on 2 Kings xv. i. [c] Pfeudo Epiphan. & Doroth. de Vit. Prophet. [n] Or Bethfome, not Bclcemoth. Vid. Druf. in Ofee, ch. i. I. [e] Not Beerah, who was taken captive by Tiglath-Pilefer. "Vid. I Chron. v. 6. whofe name is, indeed, fpelt differently, and who was a Prince of the Reubenites. The word Beeri implies a well ; or as fome fay, it is derived from a word which imports teaching : whence an argument in fupport of the Rabbinical fancy, that Hofea was the fon of a Doctor, or Prophet. Hofca's name fignlfies a Saviour. OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 425 is probable that he refided chiefly in Samaria ; and that he was the firft Prophet, of thofc at lead whofe prophecies we poiTefs, that predi6led the deftrudion of that country ; which was effefled foon after the Prophet's death by Sahnanefer, King of Affyria [f]. Hose A undoubtedly compiled his own prophe- cies, and he fpeaks of himfelf in the firft perfon in this bock [g]. Calmet, indeed, on account of fome fuppofed chronological difficulties, queftions the au- thenticity of the firft verfe, which he conceives to have beeaa fubfequent addition ; but tliefe difficulties may be folved without having recourfe to fuch con- jedures. The book is cited by St. Matthew as un- queftionably the infpired produftion of a Prophet [h], as likewife by St. Paul [i], and, indeed, by Chrift himfelf [k]. The prophecies of Hofea being fcattered through the book without date or connection, cannot now be chronologically arranged with any certainty. They are, however, perhaps placed in the order in which they were at firft uttered ; and Wells, upon fome probable conjectures, fuppofes them to have been delivered in the following fuccefTion, reckoning by the Kings of Ifrael, [f] 1 Kings xvlii. 10. Hieron in Ofee, cap. i. & Ufler ad A.M. 3197. [g] Chap. ill. I, 2, 3. [h] Matt. ii. 15. from Hofea xi. i. and Chand. Def. ch. xi. feft. I. [i] Rom. ix. 25, 26. I Cor. xv. 35. [k] Matt, ix, I2j 13. xii. 7. In 426 OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. The three firft chapters, The fourth chapter. fhe fifth chapter, to chap, vi. 3. inclufively. Ill the reign of Pekah, In the reign of Jeroboam, In the Interregnum which fucceeded the death of Jeroboam, In the reign of Menahem, or in that of his fon Pekahiah. According to which account none j> are afligned to the fliort intermediate reigns of ZechariahandShallum, j r From chap. vi. 4. to chap. 1 vii. 10. inclufively. From chap. vii. 1 1. to the end. Comp. chap. vii. II. with 2 Kings xvii. 4. Wells fubdivides this portion into two parts, fuppofing the firft which terminates with the tenth chapter, to have been delivered be- fore the King of AiTy- ria took away the golden calf that was at Bethel ; and the remainder after that event. At whatever periods the prophecies were deliver- ed, the occafion and defign of them are fufficiently 2 clear. In the reign of Hofea, < OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 427 clear. The author, in one continued ftrain of in- ve6live, declaims againft the fins of Ifrael ; expofes in the ftrongeft terms the fpiritual whoredoms of thofe who worfhipped the vain idols erected at Bethel and Bethaven, calling on Judah to lliun pollutions fo offenfive to Jehovah. He denounces God's vengeance againft Ephraim, (the reprefentative of the ten tribes,) who fhould vainly call on other nations for protedion. He points out the folly of the people in their pur- fuits : telling them, that they had " fown the wind, and fliould reap the whirlwind." He threatens them in many prophecies, from among which we may fe- ledt, as remarkable proofs of that foreknowledge with which the Prophet was infpired, thofe in which he foretold the captivities, difperfion, and fufferings of Ifrael [l] ; the deliverance of Judah from Sen- nacherib, allufively figurative of falvation by Chrift [m] ; the puniihment of Judah, and the demolition of its cities [n] j the congregation of the Gentile converts [o] ; the prefent ftate of the Jews [p], and their future reftoration in the general eftablifliment of the Meifiah's kingdom [q] ; the calling of our Sa- viour out of Egypt [r] ; his refurredion on the third [l] Chap. i. 4, 5. V. 5 — 7. Ix, 3, 6 — 17. x. 5, 6, 15. xiii. 16. [m] Chap. i. 7. comp. with 2 Kings xix. 35. and Chand, Def. ch. ii. fed. i. p. 70. [n] Chap. V. 10. viii. 14. [o] Chap. i. 10, II. ii. 23. comp with Rom. ix. 24, 26. [p] Chap. iii. 4. Vid. Origen. Philocal. c. i. Hieron. in loc. [ qJ] Chap. i. II. iii. 5. xiv. 4, 8. [r] Chap, xi. I, comp. with Matt, ii, ^S' ^""^ Hieron. Grot. & in loc. day i 428 OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. day [s]i and the terrors of the laft judgment, figu- ratively to be reprefcnted in temporal deftruclion impending over Samaria [t]. Thus, amidft the de- nunciations of wrath, the people were animated by ferae dawnings of favour ; and taught to cultivate righteoufnefs and mercy in expectation of the blelT- ings of the Lord [u] j and in the alfurances of a final ranfom from the power of the grave, and of a redemption from death to be vanqaifhed and de- ftroyed j^x]. The ftileof Hofea has been confidered as particu- larly obfcure ; it is fententious and abrupt, and cha- rActerized by a compreiTive and antiquated cad. The tranfitions of perfon are fudden ; the connexive and adverfative particles frequently omitted. His figures and fimilitudes are rather lively than elegant, and are traced with more force than exaclnefs [y]. His writings are animated with a fine fpirit of indigna- tion, defcriptive of the zealous refentment whicli he felt agaiuft the princes and priefts who countenanced the iniquities of the people; and his work may be confidered as a noble exordium againft thofe general [s] Chap. vi. 2. comp. with i Cor. xv. 4. Auo^uft. dc Trinlr. cap. xxviii. Cyprian, cont. Jud. Lib. II. cup. xxiv. Bernard. Serm. i. in Relur. Orig. Homil. 5. in Exod. Tcrtul. Ad- verf. Jud. c. xiii. and Commentators. [t] Chap. X. 8. comp. with Luke xxiii. 30. and Rev. vi. 16. Hicron. in loc. and Lowth on Ilaiah ii. 19. [u] Chap. X. 12. Hieron. in loc. [x] Chap. xiii. 14. comp. with i Cor. xv. 55. and Pocock, in loc. [y] Lowth's Trailed. 21. offences OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 429 ofTcnces which the Prophets who fucceeded him more particularly detailed ; as well as a difFufe revelation of thofe judgments which were afterwards more mi- nutely defcribed. The fubjecl of Hofea's marriage has been much agitated. Many Jewi(h and Chriflian writers con- ceive it to have been enjoined, and performed in a literal and hiftorical fenfe [zj ; fomc fuppofmg that *^' a wife of whoredoms" may imply a wife who Ihould prove falfe [a] ; or only a wife from among the Ifraelites, who were remarkable for their idola- trous fornications ; as likewife by an adulterefs [b], whom the Prophet is reprefented afterwards to have bought, may be underftood, a woman who had apoftatized from God in a fpiritual fenfe. Thofc who contend for the hiflorical truth of thefe rela- tions, maintain that all impropriety in fuch proceed- ings was done away by God's command ; and that the immediate minifter of God, might, confidently with the defign of his appointment, be employed thus to illuftrate the fcandalous conduct of the If- raehtes. Other writers however contend, that thefc [z] Hieron. & Theodoret in loc. Auguft. Grotius, Cal- met's Preface. Carpzov. Introd. ad Lib. Bib. Pars III. p. 277, Abarbin. & Balil in loc. cap. viii. p. 933. Grot. & Wells in loc. [a] Wells, Diodat. &c. [e] It is uncertain, whether by the woman fpoken of in the third chapter, is meant Hofea's wife, whom he is commanded. to take back after her infidelity, as predit:led ; or a different perfon appointed for the Prophet after the death of the tirft wife. Confult Pocock, and other Commentators. accounts 430 OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. accounts are defcriptlve of tranfaclions in v'lfion, as the expreffion of " the word of the Lord,'* that came to the Prophet, might feem to inthnate [c] ; and others confider the relations as fictitious repre- fentations furniilied by way of parable [dJ. With- out prefuming to determine on either fide on a fub- je6: fo difficult, it may be obferved, that it was not inconfiftent with the character of a vifion, or of a parabolical fiflion, to fpecify minute particulars with narrative exadnefs [e]. The names, therefore, of the perfonages introduced [f] in the accounts, can furnifli no explanation of the nature of the tranf- actions •, and whether real or fictitious, they might with equal confitlency be reprefented as figurative. [c] Aben-Ezra, R. David Kimchi, INIaimon. More Ncvoch, L. 11. c. xlvl. Hicron. Piaaf. in Com. and General Preface, p. 33-5. note u. [d] Hicron. in loc. Aben-Ezra, Ifidor, &c. The Chaldee Paraphrart has been thought to have confidered it as a parable. He introduces the account thus : " The Lord faid unto Hofea, Go, and utter a prophecy," Sic. Vid. R. Tanch. Rivet, Ju- nius Tremellius, Pocock, Sec. . [e] Ezek. xxiii. Luke xvi. 20 — 31. [f] By " children of whoredoms," we are probably to un- derftand legitimate children of a woman addicted to fornica- tion ; perverfe, lewd, or idolatrous children, who fliould imi- tate the condud of their mother. O F [ 431 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET JOEL, TH E Book of Joel is placed in the Hebrew Bible immediately after that of Hofea ; but in the Septuagint verfion the books of Amos and Micah are interpofed between them. It is difficult to determine whether the Greek tranflators were au- thorized by chronology to change the order, fince there is no pofitive criterion by which the age of Joel can be afcertained. St. Jerom, however, and many of the ancients [a], were of opinion, that as no date is prefixed to the book, its author fliould be fup- pofed, agreeably to the Jewifli rule, to have flourifh- ed at the fame time with Hofea, whofe writings in the Hebrew manufcripts immediately precede. This rule is, however, not to be depended on ; neither can any proof of the priority of Joel be drawn from [a] Hieron. Prxf. in Proph. Theodor. in Prasloq. Proph. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. Auguft, de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIIL c. xxvVu the 432 OF THE BOOK OF JOEL. the notion fapported by Ufher [b] : who conceived that the famine and drought of which Joel fpeaks as impending in his time, were parts of the fame af- fliction which Amos reprefented as actually come to pafs [c] ; for Joel prophefied calamities againfl Judah ; and Amos defcribes afflictions which were feemingly fuftained, as a peculiar judgment only by the people of Ifrael. Still, however, there is no fufficient reafon for departing from the Hebrew order [d] ; nor is it neceffary to fuppofe that Joel prophe- fied after the captivity of the ten tribes, merely be- caufe he makes no mention of Ifrael. His com- miffion probably was confined to Judah, as that of Hofea, his fuppofed contemporary, was chiefly re- ftri£ted to Samaria ; and had the divine threats been already accompliflied againfl Ifrael, it is reafonable to fuppofe that the Prophet would, like his fucceifors, have inftrufted the people to take warning by the fate of a fiftcr kingdom [e]. We may therefore fafely fup- pofe him to have hvcd in the reigns of Uzziah, King of Judah, and of Jeroboam, King of Ifrael [f], who flouriflied [b] Ufler ad A. M. 3197. Lloyd's Tables. [c] Amos iv. 7, 8. [d] Abaib. Vixi. in 12 Proph. [e] Ifrael mentioned in ch. iii. 2. means not merely the ten tribes, but the whole nation of the Jews ; and the Prophet fpeaks prophetically of a future difperfion among the nations from which God's people (hould be gathered. [f] Lloyd's Tables. A French writer, (P. Pczron, furies Prophetes,) fixes the prophecy of Joel to the twentieth year of Uzziah, and the thirty-fixth of Jeroboam the Second. Vid. alfo, OF THE BOOK OF JOEL. 433 flouridied as contemporary fovereigns between A, M. 3194 and 32195 and to have delivered his prophe- cies foon after Hofea had commenced his miniftry ; though fome Jewifh and Chriftian writers have chofen to affign to him a later period [g] ; fome placing him in the reign of Jotham [h] ; others in that of Joram [i] ; and others contending that he prophefied under Manafleth [k] ; or Jofiah [l], the laft of which monarchs began to reign about 640 years be- fore: the birth of Chrift. Joel was the fon of Pethuel, or Bethuel, and ac- cording to fome reports, of the tribe of Reuben [m]. nlfo, Joel ii. 20. which contains a prediftion that feems, at leaft, in its fecondary fenfe, to relate to the dellruftion of Sen- nacherib's army, which happened in the reign of Hezekiah, A. M. 3294. [g] Poli Synopfis. [h] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxvii. [i] The advocates for this period maintain, that Joel fore- fhewed the impending famine which defolated Judaea, feven years in the reign of Joram. Vid. 2 Kings viii. i — 3. [k] Seder Olam Rabba, & Zuta, Kimchi, R. Salomb, R. Da- vid Ganz, Drulivis, and Wells's Preface to Joel. Wells man- tains that the famine and dearth of which Micah piophelied, was to take place, (and did happen) in the time of ^anafleth. Vid. Wells's Preface to Micah, and in Micah vi. 14. note a. a. [l] Calmet's Preface fur Joel. He conceives Joel to have been contemporary with Jofiah, to whofe reign he afligns the drought fpoken of by Jeremiah, ch. xii. 4. xiv. But th.', laft of thefe chapters, whether prophetic or defcriptive, was compofed probably in the reign of Jehoiakim, the fucceflbr of Jofiah. " [m] Epiphan. de Vit. Prophet. F f He 434 OP ^^^ BOOK OF JOEL. He is related to have been born at Bethoron [n] j which was probably the lower or nether Bethoron, a town in the territory of Benjamin [o], between Je- rufalem and Casfarea. Of the particulars of his life, or of the age to which he attained, we have no ac- count [p]. Dorotheus relates only, that he died in peace at the place of his nativity. The book appears to be entirely prophetic, though Joel, under the impreflion of forefeen calamities, de- fcribes their effects as prefent ; and by an animated reprefentation, anticipates the fcenes of mifery which lowered over Judcea [ qJ. Though it cannot be po- fitively determined to what period the defcription contained in the firfl: chapter may apply, it is gene- rally fuppofed that the Prophet blends two fubjecls of afflicfion in one general confideration, or beautiful al- legory ; and that, under the devaftation to be prod uced by locufts in the vegetable world, he pourtrays feme more diftant calamities to be produced by the armies of the Chaldecans in their invafion of Judaea [r]. And [h] Dorotheus writes Bcthonieron. Huct propolVs to read Betliaran, a place in the territory oi' Gad, adjacent to the tiibe of Reuben ; or Bethnemra in the diftrid of Gad ; or Bethabara ; or Beelmeon, which was beyond Jordan, in the tribe of Reuben. [o] Jofli. xviii. 13, 14. [p] Jerom, though he fuppofcs him to have, been contempo- rary with Hofea, conceives that he furvived (as well as Hofca, Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah) the captivity of the ten tribes. [ O ^'hap. i, 4 — 7, 10, 16—28. and Lowth's Pra;lecl. 15. [r] Thofe who will confult Pliny, Bochart, and the na- furalifts and travellers in general, will find much caufe to ad- - mire OF THE BOOIt OF JOEL, 435 And hence a defigned ambiguity in the expreffions. In the fecond chapter the Prophet proceeds to a more general denunciation of God's vengeance ; which is delivered with fuch force and aggravation of circum-- fiance, as to be in fome meafure defcriptive of that final judgment which every temporal difpenfation of the Deity mufl: faintly prefigure. The fevere decla- rations of Joel are intermingled with exhortations to repentance, and to the auxiliary means of promoting its effeds, falling and prayer j as alfo with promifes of deliverance, and of a profperity predidive of evangelical bleffings. In treating of thefe he takes occafion to foretel, in the clearefl terms, the general effufion of the Holy Spirit, which was to characterize the Gofpel difpenfation [s] ; concluding with a flriking defcription of the deftrudion of Jerufalem which fol- lowed foon after, and puniflied the Jews for their ob- flinate rejeclion of the facred influence -, fpeaking in terms that, as well as thofe of our Saviour which re- fembled them [t], had a double afped, and referred to a primary and a final difpenfation. In the third chapter, Joel proceeds to foretel the future affemblage of all nations into the valley of Je- hofhaphat [u], where the enemies of God will be mire Joel's defcriptive pidlures of the deftrudlion to be produced by locufts ; and underftand with what force and propriety the ravages of thofe all-devouring enemies are made figuratively to reprefent the devaftation and havock of an invading army. [s] Joel ii. 28 — 32. comp. with Afts ii. i — 21. and Afts x. 44. [t] Joel ii. 30, 31. comp. with Matt. xxiv. 29. [u] The original expreffion means the valley of the Lord's judgment, from Jehovah, and Shaphat, to judge» F f 2 ^ cut 436 OF THE BOOK. OF JOEL. cut oft' in fome final excifion [xj ; and the Prophet concludes with the affurance of fome glorious ftatc of profperity to be enjoyed by the church i reprcfent- ing its perfcdlions and bleflings under the poetical emblems of a golden age. In confideration of thefe important prophecies, wc need not wonder that the Jews fliould have looked up to Joel with particular reverence [yJ, or that he fliould be cited as a Prophet by the evangelical wri- ters [z]. The flile of Joel is equally perfpicuous and ele- gant ; obfcure only towards the conclufion, where the beauties of his expreffion are fomewhat fhadcd by allufions to circumftances yet unaccomplilhed. His defcriptions are highly animated ; the contexture of the prophecy in the firft and fecond chapters is extremely curious; and the. double deftrudion to be produced by loculls, and thofe enemies of which they were the harbingers, is painted with the moil expreflive force, and under terms that are recipro- cally metaphorical, and admirably adapted to the twofold character of the defcription [a]. The whole work is extremely poetical. Herman Von-der [x] The pi-eclfc application of bis piophecy mufl: be flieu'tt by the event. It is fuppored to relate to thofe circumflances predicted in Ezekicl, chap, xxxix. 5 — 11. Rev. xx. 8, 9. [y] Joel is related to have received the Cabala, or tra- ditionary explication of the law from Micah. [z] Chap. ii. 32. comp. with Rom. x. 13. A(fts ii. 16—21. [a] Lowth's Prael. 21. Chandler, &c. 4 Hardt, OF THE BOOK OF JOEL. 437 Hardt [b], a learned German, conceiving that Joel's prophecies were compofed in elegies, endeavoured, about the beginning of the feventeenth century, to reduce them to Iambic verfe. They undoubt- edly, like the reft of the prophecies, have a metrical arrangement. [b] Wolfii Blblioth. Heb. torn, ii, p. 169. and Lowth's Prcf. to Ifaiah. Ff 7 Of [ 438 1 OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET AMOS. AMOS appears to have been contemporary witH Hofea, but it is uncertain which was the firft honoured by divine revelations. They both began to prophefy during the time that Uzziah and Jero- boam the Second reigned over their refpcQive king- doms ; and Amos faw his firft vifion *' two years before the earthquake [a] ;" which, as we learn from Zechariah [b], happened in the days of Uz- ziah. As there is no fufficient reafon to fuppofe that this firlt verfe was added by any writer fubfequent to Amos : fince he himfelf might have annexed the eera in which he beheld his vifion, when he afterwards collefted his prophecies and committed them to writing, we muft fuppofe this earthquake to have happened while Uzziah and Jeroboam were con- temporaries, or at leaft within two years of that [a] Amos I. lo [e] Zechariah xiv. 5. period. OF THE BOOK OF AMOS. 439 period. But little attention therefore is due to the account of Jofephus: who reprefents the fliock to have been felt on the occafion of Uzziah's ufurpa- tion of the prieftly office, when the prefumpluous King attempted to offer incenfe to the Lord [c] ; which facrilegious attempt is by fome placed in the twenty-fifth year [d], and by fome ftill more towards the conclufion of Uzziah's reign [e] ; for according to the moft extended calculations, Jeroboam and Uzziah did not flourilh as contemporary fovereigns above twenty-five years. Amos, however, began to prophefy fome time between A. M. 3194 and 3219. Some have confounded him with the father of Ifaiah. The Prophet Amos [f], was a native of Tekoa, a fmall town in the territory of Judah, about four leagues fouthward from Jerufalem, and fix fouth- ward from Bethlehem [c] ; adjacent to a vail wil- dernefs, [c] 2 Chron. xxvi. 16—21. [d] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. IX. cap. x. xi. [e] The daring attempt was probably made towards the conclufion of Uzziah's reign, as upon that occafion he was llricken with a leprofy that lafted unto the day of his death ; and his fon Jotham took upon him the government, who was not born till after Jeroboam's death. Vid. UfTer. Annal. ad A. M. 3221. [f] Clemens Alex. Strom. Lib. L Epiphan. de Vit. Pro- phet. D10J?, Amos, or Hamos, fignilies ^arct^uv^ portans, }oad« cd, that is, perhaps, with the burden of prophecy, chap. vii. 10. If names were intentionally defcriptive, they muft have been providentially impofed, or affumed after the difplay of charade r. [g] Amos i. I. 2 Chron. xi. 5, 6. Epiphanius places it in the lot of Zebulon ; but Eufebius, Cyril, and St, Jerom, F f 4 who 440 OF THE BOOK OF AMOS. dernefs, where probably Amos might have exer- cifed his profeflion of an hcrdfman. Some, indeed, think that he was not born at Tekoa, but that he only refided there when commanded by Amaziah to leave Bethel [h]. But Amos does not apptar to have regarded the arrogant injunction of the Pried, but to have continued boldly to prophcfy wherever the fervice of God required his prefence. Amos was by proieillon an herdfman, and a ga- therer of fycamore fruit [i]. In the fnnplicity of former times, and in the happy climates of the Eaft", thefe occupations were by no means confidered in that degrading light in which they have been viewed fnice refinement hath introduced a tafle for the ele- gant arts of life, and eftablifhed faiTidious diftindions. He was no Prophet, as he informed Amaziah [k], neither was he a Prophet's: fon ; that is, he had no regular education in the Ichool.s of the Prophets, but was called by an exprcfs irrchflible commiffion from \vlio lived near Tekoa, place it to the fouth of Jerufiilem, in the t.errit'iry of Judah. Vid. Eiifeb de locis Ebraicis. Cyrill, Pr.ef. Enar. in Amos. Hieron. Proocm. in Amos, et dc locis Ebraicis. [h] Chap. vii. 12. [i] Ci ap. vii. 14. The fycamore fruit was a fpecies of wild fg, fomctimes called the Egyptian fig, which is faid to grow from the trunk, and not from the branches of the tree. The Scptuagint tranflators interpret the Hebrew word tZD'opu^ D7131, xvi^uv Tu QvxafAnoc, opening the fycam'ine fruit ; as it wa,S thought necell'ary to open the fkin of this fruit that it might ripen. Vid. Plinii Hid. Natur. Lib. XIII. cap. vii. Thcc- phraf. Diofcorid. ct Theod. in loc. [k] Chap. vii. 14. God, OF THE BOOK OF AMOS. 441 God [l], to prophefy unto his people Ifrael. The Holy Spirit did not difdain to fpeak by the voice of the moft humble man ; and feleded its minifters as well from the tents of the iliepherd, as from the palace of the fovereign [m] j refpeding only the qualities and not the conditions of its agents, as capable of infpiring knowledge and eloquence where they did not exifl. Amos undoubtedly compofed his prophecies in their prefent form. He fpeaks of himfelf as the author of them [n], and his prophetic charaQer is eftabliflied not only by the admifiion of his book into the canon, and by the teftimony of ether writers [o], but by the exaft accompliihment of many prophecies which he delivered. His work confifts of feveral diftinft difcourfes ; the particular period of their de- livery cannot now be afcertained []p]. They chiefly refped the kingdom of Ifrael, though he fometimes inveighs againfl Judah, and threatens the kingdoms that bordered on Paleftine [q.] : the Syrians [r] 5 [l] Amos iii. 8. vii. 15. [m] I Cor. i. 27 — 29. £n] Chap. vii. 8. viii. i, 2. [o] Toblt ii. 6. A(£ts vii. 42, 43. xm^ — 17. [p] Some have fuppofed that the firft of his prophecies is cojitained in the feventh chapter ; and that the contents of the X)ther chapters were afterwards delivered at Tekoa. [ cl] Vid. two firft chapters. Thefe prophecies were ful- filled by the yiftories of the Kings of AfTyria and Babylon. [r] Chap. i. 3 — 5. comp. with 3 Kings xvi. 9. Philiflines j 442 OF THE BOOK OF AMOS. Philiflines [s] j Tyrians [t] ; Edomites [u] ; Am- monites [x] ; and Moabites [y]. He predi6ts in clear terms the captivities and the deftrudion of If- rael, to be preceded by fearful figns on earth, and in the heavens [z] -, concluding with affurances that God would not utterly deflroy the houfe of Jacob ; but after fifting, as it were, and cleafing the houfe of Ifrael among the nations, God fliould again raife up the tabernacle, that is, the kingdom of David ; to be enlarged to more than its firft fplendor by the acceffion of Gentile fubjecls ; and to be fucceeded by the eflablifhment of that government which the Prophet defcribes under poetical images as a bleffed difpenfation of fecurity, abundance, and peace [a], [s] Chap. 1. 6, y. coinp. with 2 Kings xviii. 8. Jereni. 2clvii. I. Quint. Curt. Lib. IV. 6. Comp. alfo, chap. i. 8. with 2 Chron. xxvi. 8. and Jerem. xlvii. 5. [t] Chap.i. 9, 10. comp. with Ezek. xxvi. 7 — 14. Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. L and Q^Curt. Lib. IV. 13. [u] Chap. i. II, 12. comp. with Jerem. xxv. 9, 21. and xxvil. 3 — 6. I Mace. V. 3. and Prid. Con. Part IL ad Ann. A. C. 165. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XIIL c. ix. [x] Chap. i. 13 — 15. comp. with Jerem. xxvii. 3, 6. [y] Chap. ii. I — 3. comp. Jerem. xxvii. 3 — 6. [z] Chap. viii. 8 — ig. Ufher remarks, that about eleven years after the time at which Amos prophefied, there were two eclipfes of the fun ; one upon the fcaft of Tabernacles, and the other at the time of the Paflbver. The prophecy, therefore, in its firft afpect might allude to the ominous dark- nefs which on thefe occafions " turned their fcafts into mourn- ing." Vid. Ulfer. Annal.-ad A. M. 3213. Hieron. Theod. & Grot, in loc. [a] Amos ix. II — 15. Ads xv. 16. Tobit xiii. 10, ii» Joel iil. 1 8. Chandler's Def. chap. ii. feft. i. p. 168. and Com. »u loc. Augo.ll. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII, c. xxviii. The t)F THE BOOK OF AMOS. 44^ The zeal with which the Prophet reproved the impenitence of the people, and the fevere threats which he denounced againfl: the oppreflion, effemi- nacy, and luxurious indolence that prevailed, ex- afperated fo much the court of Jeroboam, which cul- tivated its idolatries at Bethel, that they drew upon him the refentment of the priefts and princes of the people ; and tradition relates, that he was [b] ill treated and put to death by Uzziah, the fon of Ama- ziah [c], who was irritated by his prophecies and cenfures, but who foon after experienced the divine vengeance in the calamities which Amos had pre- dicted to his family and country. Some writers who have adverted to the condition of Amos, have with a minute affe£lation of criticifm, pretended to difcover a certain rudenefs and vulgarity in his ftile ; and even St. Jerom is of opinion, that he is deficient in magnificence and fublimity : applying to him the words which St. Paul fpeaks of himfelf [d], " that he was rude in fpeech, though not in knowledge ;" and his authority, fays Bifliop Lowth, has influenced many commentators to reprefent him as entirely rude and void of elegance ; whereas it requires but little attention to be convinced that he *' is not a whit behind the very chiefefl" of the Pro- phets : equal to the greatefl in loftinefs of fentiment, [b] Cyrill. Praef. Expof. in Amos. [c] Epiphan. de Vit. Proph. c. xii. Ifidor. de Vita et Mor* le. S. S. c. xliii. Doroth. Synop. cap. ii. Chion, PafcaU p. 147. [d] HIeron. Com. in Amos, 2 Cor. xl. 6. and 444 ^^ "^^^ BOOK OF AMOS. and fcarcely inferior to any in the fplendor of his diclion, and in the elegance of his compofition. Mi\ Locke has obfcrved, that his comparifons arc chiefly drawn from Uons and other animals, becaufe he lived among, and was converfant with fuch ob- jeds. But, indeed, the fineft images and allufions which adorn the poetical parts of fcripture in general, are drawn from fcenes of nature, and from the grand objects that range in her walks -, and true genius ever delights in confidering thefe as the real fources of beauty and magnificence [e]. Amos had the oppor- tunities, and a mind inclined to contemplate the works of the Deity, and his defcriptions of the Al- mighty are particularly fublime. Indeed, his whole work is animated with a very fine mafculine elo- quence. [e] Lowth's Prael. Poet. 21. OF [ 445 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET O B A D I A H. THIS Prophet hath furnifbed us v/ith no par- ticulars of his own origin or hfe, any more than of the period in which he was favoured by the divine revelations. That he received a commiffion to prophefy is evident ; as well from the admiffion of his work into the facred canon, as from the com- pletion of thofe predidions which he delivered. Ac- cording to fome traditionary accounts [a], he was of the tribe of Ephraim j and a native of Bethacamar [b], which Epiphanius defcribes as in the neigh- bourhood of Sichem ; but which, according to Huet, was a town in the hilly part of the territory of Ju- dah; and there probably he prophefied, though [a] Pfeudo Epiplian. Doroth, Ifidor. &c. [d] Or Bethacara, or Bethacaron. Huet propofes to read Bethacad, a town of Samaria ; but Obadiah was probably of the tribe of Judah, and prophelied againll the infulting ene- mies of his country. fome 446 OF THE BOOK, OF OBADIAH. fome fuppofe that he was carried captive to Babylon 5 and others that he died in Samaria [c]. There is fcarce an Obadiah mentioned in facred hiftory who has not been confidercd by different writers as the fame pcrfon with the Prophet. The prince whom Jehofhaphat employed to teach in the cities of Judah [d] s the governor of Ahab's houfe, who refcued the hundred Prophets from the venge- ance of Jezebel f e] j the captain of Ahaziah, who found favour w^th Elijah [f] -, the overfeer appointed by Jofiah to infpecl the reparation of the temple [g1 i each has been feparatcly reprefented as the Prophet, though not one of them is charafterized in fcripture under that defcription -, and all of them, except perhaps the laft, lived long before the period at which Obadiah the Prophet mud be fuppofed to [c] St. Jerom fpcalcs of his tomb at Scbafte, formerly Sa- maria, and fays, that St. Paul vifited it, and performed mi- racles there ; but this could not contain the remains of Oba- diah, for in the time of the Emperor Julian, the Gentiles emptied the fcpulchres, burnt the bones of the Prophets, and difperfcd the aflies, after mixing them with thofc of bealts, about A. D. 362. Vid. Julian, Mifopogon, & Baillet Vies des Saints du V. Teft. 14 Juin, 19 Nov. [d] 2 Chron. xvii. 7. Santt. Proleg. II. n. 5. [e] I Kings xviii. 4. Hieron. in Abdiam, & in Epift. Paul. R. Selom. Jarchi, R. David Kimchi, and R. Aben-Ezra in Abd. I. R. David Ganz, in Chron. Sixt. Senens in Abd. & Mercer. Com. [f] 2 Kings i. 13. Clemens Alex, Strom, i, Eufeb. Chron. [g] 2 Chron. xxxiv. iz, have OF THE BOOK OF OBADIAH. 447 have flouriflicd. Equally unfounded are thofe con- jedures by which it is imagined that he was the hulband of the widow of Zarephath [h], and a difciple of Elijah [i] ; as well as that of the ancient Hebrew dodors, who conceived that he was an Idumaean, who having become a profelyte to the Jewifli religion, was infpired to prophefy againfl the country of which he had forfaken the fuper- ftitions £k]. HuET, and other writers, in confideration of the place which he holds among the Prophets in the Hebrew canon, fuppofe him to have been contem- porary with Hofea, Amos, and Joel. In conformity to which opinion, Huet alfo conceives that. the Pro- phet delivered his threats againft the Edomites [l] becaufe they took poflcffion of El ah after it had been conquered by Pekah and Rezin in the reign of Ahaz, and exercifed great cruelties againfl the Jews [m]. All thofe writers who imagine that Oba- diah [k] Lyran. in 4 Reg. c. iv. initio. The widow of Za- rephath, has alfo been reprefented as the mother of the Prophet Jonah. [i] Clemens Alex. Str«m. I. Eufeb. Chron. & Aben- Ezra. [k] R. Selom. Jarcbi, & R. David Kimchi, in Abd. i. & R. Ifr. Abarb. Praef. in Prophet. Minor. Cyrill. Prxf. in Abd. [l] The Edomites were the defcendants of Efau ; they pof- fefled Arabia-Petraea, all the country between the Red Sea and the Lake of Sodom, and forne adjacent territory. [m] Huet. Deraonf. Evan, in Abd. Cyrill. Pr^xf. in Abd, Ci-otius, and Lightfoot's Harmon, of the Old Teft. In our tranflation 44^ OF THE BOOK OF OBADIAH. diah foretold the calamities which the Edomites fuf- fcred from the invafion of the Sennacherib, main- tain that he hved in the reign of Ahaz or Heze- kiah ; but it is more probable that he flouriflied About the fame time with Ezekiel and Jeremiah ; and the befl: opinions concur in fuppofing him to have prophefied a little after the deftruclion of Je- rufalem by Nebuchadnezzar, which happened about A. iM. 3416. He predicted therefore the fame cir- cumftances which thofe Prophets had foretold againfl the Edomites [n], who had upon many occafions favoured the enemies of Judah [o] ; and who when flrangers, carried their forces into captivity, and when they cafl lots upon Jcrufalem, had rejoiced at the deftruclion, and infuited the children of Judah in their alEicVion [p]. trandation of 2 Kings xvi. 6. no mention is made of the Edo- mites, but in the Vulgate it is rendered " the Edomites came to Elah." The words Aram and Edom are written in the Hebrew nearly in the fame manner ; and Calmet thinks that it fliould be written Edom inftead of Syria, through the verfe, as the Edomites had previoufly pofTcfilon of Elah, but it does not appear that the Syrians had, foi^ whom it could not there- fore be recovered. Still, however, the Chaldxan, Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic verlions, as well as Jofephus, fuppofe that Rezin took Elah for the Syrians, and eilabliflied them there. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. IX. cap. xi. Grotius, &:c. [x] Comp. Obad. vcr. 3, 4. with Jerem. xlix. 16, Obad, Ter. 5. with Jerem. xlix. 9. Obad. ver. 8. with Jer. xlix. 7. Obad. ver. 16. with Jer. xxv. 15 — 21. and xlix. 7 — 12. Vid. Ezek. xxv. 12, 14. and ch. xxxv. [o] 2 Chron. xxviii. 17. Joel iii. ig. [^p] II — 14. Pfiihn cxxxvii. 7. Ths ]. Micah is mentioned as a Prophet in the book of Jeremiah [ q_1, and in the New Teftament [r]. [k] Hieron. Ep. xxvli, feu Epitap. Paul, c vi. [l] Sozom. Hill. Ecclef. Lib. VII. c. xxix. & Niccphor. Lib. Xn. c. xlviii. [m] About ten ftadia, which anfvvers nearly to the two miles of St. Jcrom. Some place Micah's tomb on the declivity of Mount Olivet. [n] " The word of the Lord" came to him. Vid. Dr. Wheeler. [o] Jerem. xxvi. 18 — 24. [p] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. vii. Micah iii. 12. [ cl] Jerem. xxvi, 18. comp. with Mic;th iii. 12. [r] Matt. ii. 5. and John vii. 42. Pe OF THE BOOK OF MICAH. 463 He Is imitated by fucceeding Prophets [s], as he himfelf had boriowed the expreliions of thofe who preceded, or flourhhed at the fame time with him [t"]. Our Saviour himfelf, indeed, condefcended to fpcak in the language of the Prophet [u]. Dr. Wells [x] fuppofes Micah's prophecies to have been uttered in the order in which they are here writteri. He maintains that the contents of the firft chapter were delivered in the time of Jothanl and Pekah ; and that it confifls of general inventive againft the hns and idolatry of Ifrael and Judah, to be punilhed by impending judgments. What is comprifed between the firfl verfe of the fecond chap- ter and the eighth verfe of the fourth, he afiigns to the reign of Ahaz, and his contemporaries Pekah and Hofea ; and the twelfth verfe of the third chap- ter, which is attributed by Jeremiah to the reign of Hezckiah [y]. Wells conceives to have been fpoken in the year when Hezekiah was partner in the king- dom with Ahaz, in the laft year of the reign of the latter ; and the remainder of the book the learned commentator affigns to the reign of Hezekiah. But at whatever period thefe prophecies were delivered, [s] Comp. Zephanlah i'li. ig. with Micah iv. 7. And Ezek, xxii. 27. with Micah iii. 11. [t] Comp. Micah iv. I — 3. and Ifaiah ii. 2 — 4. Micah iv. 13, with Ifa. xli. 15. Micah began to prophecy rather later than Ifaiah. [u] Comp. Micah vii. 6. with Matt. x. 35, 36. [x] Preface to Micah. £y] Jeremt xxvi. 18, 19, they 464 OF THE BOOK OF MiCAHi they contain many remarkable particulars. The Prophet predided in clear terms, the invafion of Shalmanefer [z] and Sennacherib [a], and their triumph over Ifrael and Judah ; the captivities, dif- perfion [b], and deliverance [c] of Ifrael ; the cef- fation of prophecy [d] ; the deftruction of Affyria [e], and of Babylon [f], the reprefentatives of the enemies of the Chriflian church ; the birtli of the Everlafting Ruler at Bethlehem Ephratah [g] ; the eftablifliment and exaltation of Chrift's kingdom over all nations [h] ; the influence of the Gofpel [i] ; and the deflrudlion of Jerufalem [k]. The beauty and elegance of Micah's flile have been much admired. Biihop Lowth has characterized [z] Micah i. 6—8. and z Kings xvil. 4, 6. [a] Micah i. 9 — 16. 2 Kings xviii. 13. [b] Chap. V. 7, 8. [c] Chap. ii. 12. iv. 10. v. 8. [d] Chap. iii. 6, 7. [e] Chap. V. 5, 6. Some imagine that Micah foretels in this prephecy the vidtoiies to be obtained by the leaders of the Medes and Babylonians who took Nineveh. Others fup- pofe him to fpeak of the feven Maccabees with their eight royal fucceffors, from Ariftobukis to Antigonus. It may per- haps bear a reference to fome higher triumph. Vid. Ezek, ch. xxxviil. and xxxix. [f] Chap. vii. 8, 10. Mede's Difcourfes, p. 796. [g] Micah V. 2. comp. with Matt, ii, 6. and John vii. 42. [h] Chap. iv. I, 2. [1] Chap. iv. 1 — 8. comp. with Ifa. ii. z — 4. [k] Chap. iii. 12. This prophecy was fulfilled by the dc« ftru6>ion of Jerufalem by Vefpafian, when, according to Chrill's prediiftion, not one ftone was left oa another, Vid» Jofcph. Bell. Jud. Lib. VII. ch. xvil. It OF THE BOOK OF MICAH. 465 it as comprefied, fhort, nervous, and fliarp. It is often elevatedj. and very poetical, though occafion- ally obfcure from fudden tranfitlon of fuhjed. MiCAH, after (hewing what is good for man, and that the Lord requireth of him " to do juftly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God [l]," concludes his book with a fine prophetic affurance of God's mercies, who fhould caft away the fms of his people, and perform the promifes which he had fworn unto Abraham. [l] Chap, vi. 8. Hh OF [ 466 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET N A H U M. NAHUM defcribes liimfdf as an Elkofliite : which Come have confidered as a patronymick expredion, conceiving it to imply his being a defcend- ant of Elkoflia ; but which is generally fuppofed to intimate that he was born at Elkofli, or Elkofna, a fmall village in Galilee, of which St. Jerom profeffcs to have fcen the ruins [a]. Nahum is faid to have been of the tribe of Simeon [b] ; but amidit a variety of opinions, it is difficult to determine what precife time fliould be afligned for the period of his exifl- [a] Epipb.anius and Dorotheus place it near Begnbar, or Bethabara, where St. John baptized his difciples. Vid. Ori- gen in Joh. But St. Jerom rcprelents it as at a great diftance from that town. He fays that it was called Elkegai. It is not mentioned in fcripture, or by Jofephus. [e] He was probably in Judah when he received divine re- velations. Bethabara was far from the territory of Simeon. encc. OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM. 467 cnce. Jofephus [c] aflerts, that he lived in the time of Jotham, King of Judah ; in which cafe he may be fuppofed to have prophefied againit Nineveh, when Tiglath-Pilefer, King of AiTyria, carried captive the natives of Gahlee, and other parts [d], about A. M. 3264. The Jews place him fo late as the reign of Manafieth [e]. The moft probable opinion is, that though Nahum might have lived in the reigns of both thefe Kings, yet he delivered thefe prophecies in Judsea in the reign of Hezekiah [f] ; for he ap- pears, to fpeak of the taking of No-Ammon, a city of Egypt [g], and of the infolent meflengers of Sen- nacherib [h], as of things pad ; and he likewife defcribes the people of Judah as ftill in their own [c] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. IX. cap. xi. fed. 3. Edit. Hudfon, Jofephus fays, alfo, that Nahum's predidHons concerning Nineveh came to pafs in 115 years after; in which cafe the Prophet mult have delivered them in the reign of Ahaz, the fon of Jotham, when Salmanefer invaded Samaria, and ren- dered it tributary. [d] 2 Kings XV. 29. [e] Seder Ohim, Grot. Sixt. Senens. &c* Clemens Alex- andriiius places Nahum between Daniel and Ezekiel, and fiip- pofes him to have flouriflied during the captivity. Vid. Strom. I. p. 92. [f] Hieron. Theodor. and Theophyl. Procem in Nahum. [g] Chap. iii. 8. This city is called alfo Diofpolis, and was the fame place that was called Thebes bj- Homer. It was probably firft taken by Sennacherib, In his expedition to Egypt, before he marched to Jerufalem. Vid. Calmet in loc. Prid, Con. A. 713. It was afterwards deftroyed by Ne- buchadnezzar. [h] Chap, ii, 13, comp. with 2 Kings xviii. 17. et feq. H h 2 country^ 468 OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM. Country, and dtfirous of celebrating their feflivals. He cannot therefore be fuppofed to have prophefied before the fourteenth year of Hezekiah, fince the expedition of Sennacherib againft this Prince was in the fourteenth year of Hezekiah's reign j and there- fore he probably prophefied between A. M. 3283, when Shalmanefer carried Ifrael captive into Affyria [ij ; and A. M. 3294, when Sennacherib was me- ditating the deftruclion of Jerufalem. ' At this period of perplexity and diftrefs, when the fate of Samaria was prefent to the apprehenfions of Judah ; when her own cities had been taken by Sennacherib, and Hezekiah had drained his treafury, and even deipoiled the temple in the vain hope of averting the fury of Sennacherib [k] ; then was Nahum raifed up in confolation [l] to Judah, and to proclaim deftruclion *^ to him that imagined evil again ft the Lord [m]." At this time Sennacherib ftill continued to fend arrogant meflages, and blaf- phemous letters : threatening the deftruclion of Je- rufalem ; infulting Hezekiah, and deriding the con- fidence of his people, who trufted in the Lord [n]. Already had Ifaiah been commiflioned to fend an aflurance of protedlion to Jerufalem [o] -, and Na- [i] 2 Kings xvH. 6. Nahum ii. 2. [k] 2 Kings xvili. i6. [l] Nahum fignifies a comforter. ViJ. Illeron. [m] Chap. i. II. [n] 2 Kings xviii. and xix. 2 Chrou. xxxii. flalih xxxii. Nahum i. 7. comp. with Ifa. xxxvi, 15. I o] 2 Kings xix. 20 — 34. hum OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM. 469 hum confplred with him to promifs deliverance to Hezekiah [pj from the Aflyrian yoke ; and to an- ticipate with prophetic exultation the appearance of welcome meflengers, that fliould bring good tidings, and publifli peace to Judah ; who fnould celebrate her folemn feafts fecure from invafion, as her enemy " was utterly cut off [q]." Nahum afterwards in his two laft chapters pro- ceeds to foretei the future downfal of the Affyrian empire ; renewing thofe denunciations of wrath which about ninety years before Jonah had uttered againft Nineveh, whofe repentance was but of fhort du- ration ; and prediding in the moft defcriptive man- ner, that final deftrudlion which was effeded pro- bably by Nabopalaffer and Cyaxares, A. M. 3392 [r], but certainly by the Medes and Babylonians ; whofe confederate forces affaulted the Affyrians un- [p] Chap. i. 13. [ cl] Nahum i. 15. 2 Kings xlx. 35. Ifa. xxxvil. 36, 37. Berofus and Herodotus give a difguifcd account of the mira- culous deilruftion of Sennacherib's army. Vid. Berofus ap. Jofeph. Antlq. Lib. X. c. i. ii. Herod. Lib. H. c. cxli. [r] Diodorus Siculus fpeaks of the taking of Nineveh by Arbaces and Belefis ; which mull have happened at a pre- ceding time. Herodotus, however, afferts, that it was taken by Cyaxares ; and fince the account of Diodorus minutely correfponds with the prophetic defcription of Nahum, it is probable that he confounds the two captures, as he miflakes the fituation of Nineveh, placing it on the Euphrates. Uflier places the final deftru6tion of Nineveh fourteen years earlier than Prideaux, who affigns it to A. M. 3392. Vid. Diod. Sic. Lib. n. Herod. Lib. n. D.Iarftiam's Chron. S:ec. xvili. p. 556. H h 3 exped- 470 OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM. expededly, " while they were folden togetiier as thorns, and while they were drunken as drunkards [s];" when " the gates of the river were opened, the palace diflblved [tJ," and an " overrunning flood" aflitled the conquerors in their devaftation [u] ;" who took an endlefs ftore of fpoil of gold and of filver [x], making an utter end of the place of Nineveh [y] : of that vaft and populous city, whofe walls were an hundred feet high [z], and capable of adantting three chariots abreaft upon them, and fortified with fifteen hundred towers, in walls of two hundred feet high [a]. So totally, indeed, v/as this city deflroyed, that in the fecond century after Chrift, not a veftige of it remained to afcertain the fpot on which it flood. Its fitu- ation has long been a matter of uncertainty and difpute [b]. This [s] Chap. 1. lo. [t] Chap. ii. 6. [u] Chap. i. 8. Diodor. Sic. Lib. II. p. So. Edit. Stcphan. p. 113. Alex. Polyhiil. ap. Synccl. [x] Nahum ii. 9. and Diod. Lib. II. p. 81. [y] Chap. i. 8, 9. and Newton's ninth Diflertation on Pro- phecies, vol. i. [z] Diod. Sic. Lib. II. p. 65. Edit. Stephan. Stiabo, Lib. XVI. p. 737. cd. Par. [a] Lucian, ew-.o-x. prop. fin. Lucian was a native of Saniol'at.i, a city on the Euphrates, in a country adjacent to Nint-veh. [d] Bochart. Phalec:. Lib. IV. cap. xx. col. 248. Mar- (liami Chronic. Si^;c. xviii. p. 559. The beft fiipportcd opinions concur to place the ancient Nineveh (tor Ibnic fuppofe there were OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM. 47J This llluflrious prophecy thus remarkably accom- pliilied in little more than a century after it was de- livered, affords a fignal evidence of the infpiration ot Nahum ; and a ftriking icflbn of humility to hu- man pride. It mud have furnilhed much confola- tion to the tribes who were carried away captive by the King of Affyria, as well as to thofe of Benjamin and Judah ; and all mud have rejoiced with the hope of deliverance;, to hear that their conquerors fliould in time be conquered, their city levelled to the duft, and their empire overturned. The book in which thefe interefting prophecies are contained, is juftly confidered by Bifliop Lowth as a complete and perfecl poem, of v/hich the condud: and imagery are truly admirable. The fire, fpirit, and fublimity of Nahum, are unequalled. His fcenes are painted with great va- riety and fplendor. The exordium of his work, in which he defcribes the attributes of God, is augufi ; and the preparations for the attack, as well as the deflruftion of Nineveh, are reprefented wath fmgular effeft [c]. The art with which the immediate de- ftru^lion of the AiTyrians under Sennacherib is in- termingled with the future ruin of the empire, af- fords a very elegant fpeciraen of the manner in were two, and fome three cities of that name) on the Tigris. There are ruins on the eaftern fide of the river, faid to be thofe of Nineveh. Vid. Tavernier in Harris, vol. ii. Book II. ch. iv. But probably they are the ruins of Perfian Nineveh. [c] Lowth's Prslecl. 21. H h 4 which 472 OF TI-IE BOOK OF NAHUM. which the Prophets delight to introduce prefent and diftant events under one point of view. The al- legorical pictures in this book are particularly beau- tiful [d]. Neither hiftory nor tradition furnifli us with any account of Nahum, or of the period of his death. His tomb, or pretended tomb, was formerly fhewn in a village named Bethogabra, now called Gibiin, near Emmaus. [d] Chap. ii. 7, 11, 12. OF r 473 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET HABAKKUK. SOME writers whofe relations are probably founded on traditionary accounts, defcribe Ha- bakkuk as a native of Bethzakar [a] ; and affirm that he was of the tribe of Simeon. Some fuppofe him to have fiourifiied in the reign of Manaffeth [b] ; others in that of Jofiah [c] j and fome have placed him fo late as Zedekiah [d] ; but the moft approved opinion is, that he prophefied under Jehoiakimj who afcended the throne A. M. 3395, and reigned over Judah eleven years. [a] Epiphanius calls it Bethfocher ; Dorotheus, Biticuchar. Bathzacharias is mentioned in i Mace. vi. 32. this was be- tween Jerufalem and Bethfura ; and Jofephus defcribes it as a narrow defile. Vid. Antlq. Lib. XII. c. iv. Bezeth is fpoken of in I Mace. vii. ig. [b] Seder Olam Rabba, and Zuta. Abarb. Jofcph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. iv, [c] Wells, Patrick, &c. [d] Clem. Alex. Strom. I, Epiphan. &c. As 474 ^F THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. As the Prophet makes no mention of the Aflyrians, and fpeaks of the Cnaldasan invafions as near at hand [[e], he probably lived after the deftruftion of the AiTyrian empire in the fall of Nineveh, A. M. 3392, and not long before the devaftation of Judasa by the vidories of Nebuchadnezzar. Habakkuk was then nearly contemporary with, and predicted the fame events as Jeremiah ; and he probably lived to witnefs the completion of that part of his prophecy which related to the affliclions of his country. Habakk'jk is faid, as well as Jeremiah, to have chofen to remain amidfl: the fad fcenes of a defolate and deferted land, rather than follow his conquered countrymen into captivity, and even to have refufcd to accompany thofc who afterwards retired into Egypt. There are no proofs, however, that, as fome writers [f] have aflerted, he hved till within two years of the return of the Jews, under Zerubba- bel, which happened A. M. 3468 ; but he appears to have died in his own country, and pofiibly he was buried at Cela, in the territory of Judah, where his tomb was Tnewn in the time of Eufebius [c-]. It mud be obferved, that fome Jews have on very chimerical grounds, pretended that our Prophet [e] Chap i. 5. li. 3. iii. 2, 16 — 19. [f] Hieron. Proocm. in Habac. [g] Eufcb. Topic, who calls it by its old name Ccila, which is, perhaps, the fame place with Echela and Bctzekar. So- zonien fays that Habakkuk's body was difcovercd there in the time of Thcodotion the Elder. Vid. Sozom. Hiit. Ecclef. Lib. VII. c. xxix. The Prophet's tomb was ftiewn alfo at Gabata, about twelve miles from Eleutheropolis. was OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. 47- was the fon of the Shiinammite widow, whom Elifiia reftored to life [k] ; and the v/retched biographers of the Prophets who write under the names of £pi- phanius and Dorotheus relate, that on the approach of Nebuchadnezzar to Jerufalem, the Prophet fled to Odracina, in the land of Ifmael, and there con- tinued till after the retreat of the Chaldreans. But thefe writers appear, as does alfo St. Jeron), to have confounded the Prophet w^ith the Habakkuk of the tribe of Levi mentioned by Daniel ; who is defcribed in the Greek title to Bel and the Dragon, as the au- thor of that book ; and who is therein related to have been fnatched up at Jerufalem by an angel, and conveyed to Babylon to furnifli food to Daniel in the lion's den ; as alio to have returned in the fame miraculous manner. Habakkuk is faid likewife, upon no better authority, to have delivered many prophecies not contained in the book which' we now pofTefs ; to have predicted the return of the Jews from captivity ; the appearance of a great light (the Meffiah) and God's glory in the temple ; and the deftruclion of the temple by a nation from the Weft (the Romans) ; as likewife to have compofed the Itory of Sufanna, and that of his own conveyance to Babylon. This book which was certainly compofed by Ha- bakkuk [i], opens with a pious exclamation, in [h] 2 Kings iv. 16. The name of Habakkuk had fome re- femblance with the words of Eliflia, who pronounced to the xvoman (" thou flialt embrace a fon.") [i] Chap. i. I, ii. i, 2. which 476 OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. which the Prophet expoflulates with God in the bold terms that a zeal for his glory might fuggcft, on beholding the iniquities and lawlefs violence that prevailed among the Jews. The Almighty is repre- fented as declaring that he v.'ould " work an incredi- ble work in their days," that he would " raife up the Chaldaeans," who are defcribed by name ; which nation though then poflibly in alliance, if not in friendfliip with Judah [k], fhould " march through the breadth of the land," and take poiTellion of its dwellings. As Nahum had before predicted the fall of the Afl'yrians, who had carried the ten tribes into cap- tivity : fo Habakkuk, blending probably all the in- vafions of the Chaldseans [l] under one confidera- tion, defcribes in the moft ftriking manner, their vidories, fiercenefs, and rapidity ; and then, by a fudden tranfition, contrails the fcene : and points out the punifr.ment of the pride of the victors, and of their falfe confidence in their gods [m] ; forefliewing in exprefs terms, the change and infanity of Nebu- chadnezzar [n]. The Prophet flill continues, with reverence for God's attributes, to plead the caufe of liis countrymen, as more righteous than thofe whom [k] 2 Kings xxiii. 29. and Prld. A. 610. Jofiah 31ft. [l] Chap. i. 5 — 10. The Chaldasans invaded Judasa three times in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar ; firft, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, A.M. 3397 ; fecondly, in the reign of Jechoniah, A. M. 3405 ; and thirdly, in the ninth year of Zedekiah, A. M. 3414. [m] Chap. ii. 4 — 12. [s] Chap. i. II. God OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. 477 God had " edabliflied for correcllon," and to en- quire why the Ahnighty fliould fuffer his people to be drawn up " like fifhes/' by a nation that at- tributed its fuccefs to its own prowefs. He is then commanded to write, on durable tablets, and in le- gible chara£cers, the vifion in which it is revealed to him firll, that the general expeftation on which the living faith of the jufl was built, fliould furely come, though it muft tarry the appointed time [o] ; and, fecondly, the deftrudion of that kingdom of Baby- ion which had " fpoiled many nations;" and of thofe evil Kings who gathered unto themfelves all people with infatiable ambition, who fhould find that graven images could not profit, but " the Lord" only " in his holy temple." The Prophet having heard the divine promifes and threats in fearful re- [o] Ch. ii. 3, 4. Rom. i. 17. Heb. x. 37, 38. The evan- gelical writer cites the pallage according to the Septuagint, and the original will admit of the fame conftruJlion. Vid. Pearfon's Prolegomena to the Septuagint. Some Greek copies read ej? xaipov ^ay-poe, " for a long time j" the Vulgate has it, adhnc vifus proail^ " the vifion is yet afar off." Billiop Chandler is of opinion, that the third and fourth verfes of the fecond chapter fliould be thus tranflated : " And at the end he fliall break forth, and not deceive : though he tarry, expedl him, becaufe he that cometh will come ; he will not go beyond (God's appointed time.) Behold, if any man draw back, the foul of him (God) fliall have no pleafure in him : but the juft fliall live by faith." And the learned BifliopjulH- fies this tranflation by a reference to the original and to feveral verfions. Vid. Chandler's Defence, ch. ii. fed. i. p. 162, 163, notes A. The fpiritual deliverance included alfo the temporal reftoration from the captivity. The Talmudifts ap- ply the prophecy to the advent of the Melliah. 9 verence, 47^ OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. vcrence, concludes his work with an enraptured prayer : in which he fuppHcates God to haften the deliverance of his people [p]. He commemorates in majeftic language, the mercies which their fore- fathers had experienced from God when he delivered them out of Egypt, and conducted them through the wildcrnefs : alluding to particular circumflances with a defultory and irregular dcfcription, but with all the enthufiafm of infpired piety ; entering at once into the midfl of the fubjcct : reprefenting God's dcfcent from Teman (^ qJ ; and now contemplating " the tents of Cufhan [r] in afflidion'* and terror at the approach of the Ifraelites ; he finilhes, with a declaration of entire confidence in God, which no change of circumllance fliould fliake. [r] The ancient fathers explain this hymn as allufive to the Meffiah ; and the Romlfli church has iuferted into its offices, feme parts of it as applicable to Chrill. Vid. Cyprian, cont. Jud. Lib. II. Eufeb. Pr^epar. Lib. VI. c. xv. Auguft. dc Trin. Lib. XVIIL Hieron Theodoret Cyrill. &c. Office du Vendredi Saint, Antienne de Laudes, a la JMefle. r Q^] Teman was a part of Seir, or Edom. Paran accord- m'r to Ptolemy, was a dilhift towards the extremity of the wildcrnefs ; a part of it was near Kadefli. Vid. Numb. xiii. -6. and Patrick on Deut. xxxiii. 2. [r] Cuflian may mean Chus, or INIidian, a part of Arabia Pctrjea, and of Arabia Felix. The Arabians were called Sce- nitai, or dwellers in tents. The Midianites dwelt in part of Cufh. The Prophet may allude to the circumflances de- fcribed in Exod. xv. 15. Numb. xxii. 3. or xxxi. 2 — 11. or poffiblv to lome later vi(5lcrics. Vid. Judg. iii. 10. vii. i. &:c. Bochait. Geogr. Sac. 213. It OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. 479 It fhould feem from the title [s] prefixed, and from the intimation fubjoined to the lad verfe of this prayer, as well as from the word Selah which occurs three times in the chapter, that the prayer was fet to mufic ; and perhaps performed in the fervice of the temple ; and it was poflibly delivered in a kind of meafure. The ftile of the whole book is poetical ; but more efpecially this beautiful and perfed ode ; which is decorated with every kind of imagery and poetical embelHfhment [t]. Habakkuk is imitated by fucceeding Prophets, and is cited as an infpired perfon by the evangelical writers [u]. [s] The meaning of the word Sigionoth is not known. Some fuppofe it to imply an inftrument, fome a tune. In the margin of our Bibles it is explained " according to the vari- able fongs or tunes, called in Hebrew Shigionoth." The directions annexed to the end of the prayer might have been added by Joliah, if the prayer was written in his reign. The meaning of the word Neginoth is uncertain. Vid. title to Pfalm iv. [t] Lowth's Prsleft. Poet. 21. and 28. and Green on ch, iii. 3 — 10. [u] Heb. X. 37, 38. Rom. i. 17. Gal. iii. 11. As^s xiii. 41. comp. with Hab. i. 5. St. Luke cites this paffage accord- ing to the Septuagint ; and Pocock has fhewn that the original will admit of the Apoftle's conflruftion. Vid. Pocock in Por- ta Mofis, c. iii. He derives the word Bagojim, which wc trandate, " among the heathen," from the word Baga, which {lill lignifies in the Arabic to be " proud or fcornt'ul;" and the word Tamah may be tranfiated, " wonder and perilh." OS OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET Z E P H A N I A H. THE Prophet Zephaniah informs us that he was the fon of CufbA j and that the word of the Lord came to him in the days of Jofiah King of Judah. He is fuppofed to have been of the tribe of Simeon ; and as he traces back his pedigree for four generations [a], he was doubtlefs of noble birth [b] : though not of the royal family, as fome have imagined [c] from the refemblance between the names of Hezekiah and that of Hifkia, from whom the Prophet profeifes himfelf to have been a defcend- ant •, the period which intervened between King He- zekiah and the time in which Zephaniah flouriflied, being fcarce fufficient to admit of three intermediate anccftors to the Prophet. [a] Some of the Jews fanficd that thefe ancellors were all Prophets. Vid. Hieron. Com. in Sophon. init. [e] Cyrlll. [c] R. Abcn-Ezra. Zephaniah OT THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH. 481 Zephaniah begins with denouncing God's wrath sgainft " the remnant of Baal [d], and the name of the Chemarims [e] :" againft them that worfliip- ped the hoft of heaven, and fwore by Malcham [f] j and therefore probably he addrefled thofe idohtrous priefts who were not yet extirpated by the religious zeal of Jofiah [g] ; he foretold, alfo, the deftrudioii of Nineveh, which happened A. M. 3392. And upon thefe confiderations he may be fuppofcd to have [b] fiaal was aiiciciitly a haihe applied td the true God» and atVerwaids prollituted to many Pagan deities. The Baal whole worflnp Jezabel introduced from Zldon, was, accord- ing to Mede, a deified King of the Phoenicians. The name was often given to the heavenly bodies when jnade the object of idolatrous worfliip, Vids Selden. de Diis Syris Syntag. II. c. i. Mede, B. I. t>ifc. 42. [e] The word Chemarim is tranilated idolatrous priefts» 2 Kings xxiii. 5. They were called Chemarim becaufe clothed an black garments. Vid. Kimchi in Iog. and in 2 Kings ixxiii. 5. Black was the cuftomary drefs of idolatrous prieils in many nations. Vid. Horace, Lib. I. Sat. Vllf. 1. 23, 24. ApoU. Rhod. Lib. III. 1. 861. Pkuatch de Ifid. Apuleius* 1. 10. Miles. The black oxj that reprefented Ofiris among the Egyptians, was covered with ji black filk or linen gar^ inent. Vid. Patrick in 2 Kings xxiii. 5, [f] Malcham was the fame deity with Moloch, a god of the Ammonites. Some fuppofc him the fame with Baalj as both words fignify dominion; but the name particularly means the fun. He was worlliipped by heathens with human facrilices, and the Ifraelites dedicated their children to his fervice by making them pafs through the fire. Vid. Voflius dc Orig. et Piogref. Idolat. Lib. II. cap. v. Patrick in Levit. xviii. 21. and Calmet's Difl'. fur I'Idolat* [g] Comp. Zeph. i. 4, 5 — 9. with 2 Kings xxui. $, 6, it, &c. I i prophefied 482 OF THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH. prophefied before the laft reformation made by Jc- fiah, A. M. 33B1. He may be conceived alfo to have entered on his office towards the commence- ment of the reign of that monarch, who afcended the throne A. M. 3364, fince he preceded Jere- miah, who began his prophetic miniflry in the thir- teenth year of Jofiah'^s reign. Epiphanius relates, that Zephaniah was born at Mount Sarabatha, or Baratha [h]. Zephaniah and Jeremiah refemble each other fo much in thofe parts wliere they treat of the idolatries- and wickednefs that prevailed in their time, that St. Ifidore afferts, that Zephaniah was the abbreviator of Jeremiah ^ but he apparently prophefied before Jeremiah -, and the latter feems to fpeak of thofe abufes as partially removed, which the former de- fcribes as prefent in the mod flagitious extent [ij. Zephaniah in this book appears to have con- fpired with Jofiah in his righteous defign of bring- ing back the people to the worfliip and obedience of the true God. His firfl: chapter contains a general denunciation of vengeance againft Judah, and thofe [h] Dorothcus calls the place Subarthara. Sarathafa is jnentioncd in Jofliua, as a mountainous place in the territory of Reuben. Zercdatha, or Sarthas, is fpoken of in 2 Chron. iv. 17. The place of Zephaniuh's nativity might be Saraa, near Efluhaol, in the tribe of Simeon, with the addition of Beth, or Batha, which fignifies an houfe or place of re- fidcnce. [i] Comp. Zcphan. 1^4, 5, 9, with Jerem. iir 5, 20, 32. who OT THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH. 483 who fuperflitioufly obfcrved the rites [k] of idolaters, or violently invaded the property of others ; and he declares that " the great day of trouble and diftrefs, of dcfolation and darknefs/* was at hand. In the fecond chapter, the Prophet predifts v\^oe to the Cherethites [l] ; the Moabites ; Ammonites ; and /Ethiopians [m] j and defcribes the dcfolation of Ni- neveh, in terms wonderfully defcriptive [n]. Thcfe prophecies were chiefly accompliflied by the con- quers of Nebuchadnezzar [o]. In the third chap- ter, the Prophet returns to Jerufalem, arraigns her pollutions, oppreflions, and corruption, which fliould be puniflied in God's general vengeance j and con- [k] Chap. i.g. The Chaldee Paraphrafi: applies this verfe to thofe who lived after the rules of the Philiftines. Vid. Bo- chart. Hierozoic. Lib. II. ch. xxxvi. If a fuperftitious prac- tice be alluded to, it might be derived from the blind prejudice of the Philiftines. Vid. i Sam. v. t — 5. Traces of a fimilar obfervance may be found among other nations. Vid. Juven. Sat. VI. I. 47. Tibul. Lib. I. Elcg. II. 1. 89, 90. Lucan. Lib. II. L 359- [l] The Cherethites, or Cherethims, were the Philiftines who bordered on the Mediterranean, called Cherethims. Ezek. XXV. 16. and Kpyjls;, Cretans, in the Septuagint. They are fuppofed to have been a colony removed from Crete to Pa- leftine. Vid. Lovvth and Calmet. [m] Chap. ii. 12. comp. with Jerem. xlvi. 2, 9. Ezek. xxx, 4 — 10. Jofeph. Ant. Lib. X. c. xi. [n] Chap. ii. 14, 15. Some have, without fufficient reafon, fuppofed that this prophecy is an interpolation from Jonah ; and that it is alluded to in Tobit xiv. 4, 8. Vid. Whifton's, Authentic Records, vol. ii. Append. IV. [o] Prid. Con. in 21, 31, and 32, of Nebuchadnezzar. I i 2 eludes. 4S4 ^^ '^"^ BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH. eludes, as is ofual with the Prophets, with promlfeJ of a remnant who (hould trufl in the Lord's name j of a return to his favour ; and of bleflings partly completed by the Gofpel difpenfations, but finally to be accompliflied in the general reftoration of the Jews [p]. In the fecond and third chapters, like- wife, the Prophet magnifies his expreflions in fpeak- ing of temporal events to an importance which ac- cords only with the effeds produced by the preach- ing of the Gofpel : in the deftruftion of idolatry, and in the calling of the Gentiles to God's fervice [q.]. The ftile of Zephaniah is poetical j but it is not diftinguiflied by any peculiar elegance or beauty, though generally animated and impreflive. [p] Chap. Ui. 8—20. [ Q^] Chap. ii. 11. & ch. Ui, OP [ 48s ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET H A G G A I. HA G G A I is generally reputed to have been born in the captivity, and to have returned from Babylon with Zerubbabel [a]. He is reckon- ed as the tenth in order among the Prophets, both in the Hebrew and Greek copies ; and may be con- fidered as the firft of the three Prophets who flourifh- ed among the Jews after their return to their coun- try. He appears to have been raifed up by God to exhort Zerubbabel [b], and Jolhua the high-prieft, the fon of lofedech, to refume the work of the temple ; which had been interrupted near fourteen years, in confequence of the intrigues of the Sama- ritans, and other obftru^lions excited to defeat the edi£l of Cyrus [c]. He began to prophefy in the fccond year of Parius Hyftafpes, A. M. 3484, about [a] Ezra ii. 2. Cyrill, Lib. I. Adv. Julian, Epiphan. ^ Poroth. [b] Ezra v. x. [c] ^zra iv, 24, 113 fifteen 486 OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. fifteen years after the foundation of the temple had been laid [d]. The Prophets, after the captivity, fometimes reckon by the dates of thofe fovereigns to whom their country was fubjefted. Haggai begins with reprefenting to the people who delayed by evafive procralVmations the work of the temple, that they were more follicitous to build and to adorn their own houfes, than to labour in the fervice of God ; and informs them, that the fcarcity and unfruitful feafons which they experienced, were defigned as a punifhment for their felfifh difregard to the glory of the Lord. His earnefl remonftrancc and exhortations appear to have produced their ef- fecl ; and the Prophet in order to encourage thofe who fondly remembering the magnificence of that glorious ftrudure which had been reared by Solo- mon, and who, perhaps, imprefled with the defcrip- tion furnifhed by Ezekiel [e], muft have lamented [d] Ezra V. I. The Darius of Haggai and Zechariah could not have been Darius Nothus, who did not begin to reign till above 100 years after the decree of Cyrus, and be- fore vvhofe tinne Zerubbabel and Jofliua muft have been dead, as well as all thofe who remembered the temple in its iirft glory. But as the fecond year of Darius Hyftafpes corrcf- ponds with the feventeenth year after the return from the cap- tivity, many might have at that time been living who remem- bered Solomon's temple which was deftroycd only fixty-eight years before ; and we may allow the temple to have been re- built in about twenty years. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XI. c. iv. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. L Witfuis Mifcel. Sac. Lib. L c. XX. Dr. Allix, with lefs reafon, contends for Da- rius Ochus. [e] Ezck. xl. — xlvlii. the OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. 487 tlic comparative meannefs of the prefent building : declares to them in the name of the Lord, that the glory of this latter houfe, though it might appear as nothing in their eyes, yet fhould be greater than that of the former ; " for thus faith the Lord of Hods, yet once it is a little while, and I will fliake the heavens, and the earth, and the fea, and the dry land ; and I will fliake all nations, and the defire of all nations fliall come ; and I will fill this houfe with glory, faith the Lord of Hofts [f], with a greater glory," with a glory more apparent and manifefl than was that clouded and fymbolical reprefentation of the divine Majefty v/hich overfl^adowed the mercy- feat in the old temple; and which prefigured only that incarnate prefence of the Mefliah in whom ihould " dwell all the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily £g] ;" that from this temple, though not decorated with filver and with gold, yet there ihould appear the Prince " of Peace [h]." Haggai, after again recapitulating [f] Chap. ii. 6, 7* comp. with Heb. xii. 26. [g] CololT. n. 9. [h] Chap. ii. 6 — 9, comp. with Ephef. ii. 14. and Heb- xij« 26, 27. So-me writers would rellrid this magnificent prophecy ID an affurance of the riches and fplendor of the fecond tem- ple, maintaining that mpn, as the nominative cafe to a plural verb, ought to be tranlhiied defirahk things. But th'nigs could not with any propriety of I'peech be faid " to come ;" and the Hebrew language admits of a plural fubftantive for the ex- preffion of dignity (as even in the fame word in Dan. ix. 23.) It is not clear, indeed, that the word is plural, for the vau, which confcitutes the plural termination of 1«31, might per- haps belong to the next word, and ligiiify he ; and the Chaldee I i 4 and 488 OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI, recapitulating the ofTences that had excited God*^ nnger, and which could not be atoned for till the people fhould have repented of their neglect of God's fcrvice ; and after confoling them with a proniife of future blellings, concludes his fplendid prophecies, which he was enabled to deliver by four diftincl re- velarions [i], with predicting the important revolu- tions that fliould precede the great and final advent of our Lord [kJ, typically defcribed under the name of Zerubbabcl -, when the kingdoms of the world fhould become the kingdoms of the Lord, and his Chrift [l] : a confummation forefliadowed, perhaps, in the temporal commotions which happened before the firfl: advent of our Saviour [m]. These fignal predictions which obtained to Hag- gai the character of a Prophet [n], were fuppofed and Viilgrte render the word in the fingular number. Cer* tain it is, that neither Zerubbabcl's, nor Herod's temple, dic^ ever qual that of Solomon in magnificence ; and the folemnity with which this prophecy is introduced, as well as the gran- deur of its defcription, are hyperbolical in the extreme, unlefs applieH to tie glorious prefence of the Mefllah. Vid. parallel Tixt in Malac. iji. i. Chandler's Defen. fe't. i. ch. ii.' Newcume, &c. [i] rhcy are precifcly marked out. Vid. ch. i. i. ii. i, 10. 20. [k] Chap. ii. 22, 23. [l] Dun, ii. 44. and Rev, xi. 15. [m] As the Babylonian commotions under Darius ; the IMa- cedonian wars, and thofe between the fucceflbrs of Alexander, or the difturbances in the Roman empire, which fucceeded the death of Ca;far. Vid. Orofuis, Lib. VII. c. xvili, &c. [nJ Ezra V. I. vi. 14. Heb, xii, 26. by OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. 489 fey the Jews to refer to the time of the Mefliah [o]» 3omc modern objedions have, indeed, been made? to the exad accompUfhment of that prophecy which lias been applied to Chrift : on a pretence that the temple in "\vhich our Saviour appeared, was not in reality a fecond, but a third temple, rebuilt by He- |rod ; but it is certain, that whatever alterations and additions were made by Herod to ZerubbabePs tem- ple, yet it did not conftitute an entirely new building [p] J and as Herod's itrudure was a gradual work pf forty-fi3c yearsj, no nominal diflindtion was ever inade between the two [q.] j both being confidered \n popular language, as the fecond temple ; and had the Prophet adopted fuch diftin£tion, it myft have led the Jews tp expe£l a demolition of the temple, jnftead of ferying tp confole them. It is likewife un- deniable, that the Jews did in confequence of thi$ prophecy, exped the Mefliah to appear in this tem- ple [r], till after its deftrudion by Vefpafian ; they ^hen applied it to a third, which they exped at fom^ future period. The ftile of Haggai is reprefented by the learned Lowth as entirely profaic [s] ; but Bifhop Newcome [o] Aben-Ezraap Degling. Obfer. Sac. Par. III. Obferv. 20. [p] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XV. c. xv. [ O Joi'eph, de Bel. jud. Lib, VIIL c. xviii. Prld. Con, An. A. C. 534. [r] Talm. Sanh. c. x. fci5l. 30. Maimon. in Sanh. Midr. on Deut. xxxiii. 12. Ber. Ketan on Gen. i. Par. II. Ber. Rab on Gen. xxvii. 27. Talm. Hier. tr. Beracoth in Lightf. R. Sal. Jarchi. Book Caphtor, quoted by Grotius de Verit, J.. V. [s] VrxUSt, Poet. 21. has 490 OF THE BOOK OF HACGAI. has given a tranflation of it on an idea that a great part of it admits of a metrical divifion [t]. Haggai, according to fome traditionary accounts, muft have been converfant with metrical compofitions. In fome manufcripts of the Septuagint, Vulgate, and other vcrfions of the Pfalter, titles are prefixed to the cxxxviiith, cxlvith, cxlviith, and cxlviiith Pfalms [u], by which they are afcribed to Haggai and Zechariah. But as thefe titles are not in the Hebrew copies, and as the dates and occafion of thcfe feveral Pfalms are in fome meafure uncertain, we can place but little confidence on thefe infcriptions. It is, however, very probable, that thefe Prophets were concerned in the compofition of fome of thefe hymns, which were produced after the return from the captivity. Haggai was probably of the facerdotal race ; and Epiphanius relates, that he was buried among the Priefts at Jerufalem. He and Zechariah are faid to have been the firll who fung the Hallelujah in the temple. The Rabbins report, that they were both of the great fynagogue [x], which they fuppofe to have had its origin in the time of Darius Hyflafpes. [t] Nevvcome's attempt towards an improved verfion of tKe Twelve Minor Prophets. [u] Prol. in Bib. Max. [x] For this rcafon Ifaac Abarbinel excludes them, as well as Malachi, from the rank of Prophets, though their books were admitted into the canon, and they were coniidered as Prophets by the Jews, and the fynagogue was allowed to con- tain fome pcrfons intitled to the rank of Prophets. Vid, Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. I, c. lix. Vid. Audlor. Beth Ifracl, ad Bava Bathra, c. i, 5 OF [ 491 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET ZECHARIAH. ZECH ARIAH was the fon of Barachlah, and the grandfon of Iddo [a] : the laft of whom is fuppofed to have been a different perfon from the Iddo mentioned by Nehemiah as one of the priefts that returned from. Babylon under the condudl of Zerubbabcl [b] j but it is very poffible that Zecha- riah might have been of the facerdotal race j and [a] Chap. i. I. Ezra v. i. vi. 14. where fon is put for de- fcendant, as is ufual in fcrlpture. Vid. Dan* v. 2. Matt. i. i, [b] Nehem. xii. 4. St. Jerom fays, that it was not doubt- ed that Iddo was the fame perfon with the man of God who was fent to Jeroboam. Vid. i Kings xiii. r, 2. 2 Chron, xii. 15. but this was probably an error. It is certain, at leaft, that Zcchariah could not be the grandfon of a man who lived above 400 years before he began to prophefy. It is doubtful whether Iddo, the anceftor of Zechariah, is defcribed. in this book as a Prophet, for that title is ambiguoufly placed in chap. i. i. The Septuagint and Vulgate apply the title to Zechariah. Zaxaptay Toy ra Bapp(;t«, vioy A^^u, tov U^^rjl-^v, whea ^gZ OF THE EGOK OF ZECHARIAK. when rcleafed by the decree of Cyrus from the cap- tivity, in which he probably was born, have been accompanied by his grandfather in the general reflo-^ ration. No certain information can be cohered con- cerning the time cr place in which Zechariah was born. Some writers reUte that he was of the tribe of Levi, and confecrated to the pricftly office [c] j and we are told that his body was found with a fa- cerdotal white robe at Caphar, or Capher [d], at the extremity of the territory of Eleutheropolis ; while by others we are informed that he was buried at jBetharia, in the land of Noeman, about forty fur- longs f^om Eleutheropolis [e] ; not to mention that according to other accounts his remains were depofit- cd near thofe of Haggai at Jerufalem [fj, and that his pretended tomb is ftill fhewn at tl)e foot of Mount Olivet. But little reliance can be placed on thefe an4 fimilar reprefentations, fgme, or indeed all of which^ [c] Cyrill. Prasf. in Com. in Zechar. Epiph. Doroth. &c. Fd] Sozomen, who relate* an idle tale concerning the mi- raculous dlfcovery of Zechariah's body, in a perteft flate, at Caphar, adds to the account, that an infant was found under the Prophet's feet, burled with |:he ornaments of royalty ; an4 that about the fame time an apocryphal book was ajfo found, in which it was written, that the favourite fon of Joafli dic4 fuddenly on the feventh day after that monarch had flair^ Zechariah, and that Joafli confidering it as a judgment, ordere4 that his fon's body fliould be buried with that of the Prophet, ^ozomen. Lib. IX. c. ult. Niceph, Lib. XiV. c. viii, [e] Dorotheus. [f] Epiphanius. OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 493 have confounded the Prophet with other perfons mentioned in the fcriptures. Sozomen imagined that the Prophet was the fame perfon with Zechariah the fon of Jeberechiah, the witnefs mentioned by Ifaiah [g], and who appears to have Hved in the time of Ahaz, about A. M. 3262. Others by a great ana- chronifm, make him coeval with Joafli [h], or Uz- ziah [i]. The author of the prefcnt work [k] was unquef- tionably a contemporary with Haggai j and began to prophefy two months after him, in the eighth month of the fecond year of Darius Hyftafpes, A. M. 3484 ; being commiflioned as well as Haggai, to exhort the Jews to proceed in the building of the temple, after the interruption which the work had fuffered. We are informed by Ezra, that the Jews " profpered through the prophefying [l]," and obeyed the in- ftruftions of Zechariah, who continued to prophefy above two years ; the laft revelation of which the date is fpecified in this book, having been delivered in the fourth day of the ninth month of the fourth year of Darius Hyftafpes [m] j Zechariah therefore probably lived to witnefs the completion of the tem- ple, which was finifhed in about fix years j and hav- [g] Ifaiah viii. i, [h] 2 Chron. xxlv. 21, Epiphan. &c. [i] 2 Chron. xxvi. 5. [k] Chap. i. I. Ezra v. i. vi. 14. Haggai i. i* [l] Ezra vi. 14, [Ul Chap. vil. I. The month Chifleu correfponds with part of our November and Decembeto IXig 494 *^^ '^^^ BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. ing contributed either as a prieft, or a member of the great fynagogue, as well as a Prophet, to pro- mote the welfare and interefts of his country, died in peace, being probably a different perfon from the Zachariah mentioned by Chrifl: [n], Zechariah, who certainly colleded his own pro- phecies into their prcfent form [o], is mentioned as a Prophet by Ezra [p]i and is cited as an infpired writer by the facred penmen of the New Teflament [ qJ, The minute accomplifiiment of his own il- [n] Our Saviour, vkl. Matt, xxiii. 35. imputes to the Jeu'3 "the blood of Zacharias the fon of Barachlas : accufing thcin of having- flain him between the temple and the altar. By this martyr, however, was probably meant Zecharias, the fon of Jehoiada, who is related in 2 Chron. xxiv. 21. to have been flain by command of Joafh in the court of the Lord'3 houfe, (which might be between the temple and the altar,) for it is not conceivable that both Zachariah and Zechariah were llain in the fame manner. It is probable, therefore, that the copyiOs of St. Matthew inferted Barachiah, (perhaps firft in the margin) thinking that it mull have been the Prophet whofe writings were extant. And this is confirmed, if wc confider that Barachiah is not mentioned in the parallel palTage of St. Luke. Vid. ch. xi. 5. And St. Jerom affures us, that in a manufcript copy of the Gofpel of St. Matthew, ufed by the Nazarenes, which he obtained permiflion from the inhabi- tants of Bersea in Syria, to copy, it was written, the fon of Jehoiada. Vid. Hieron. in Matt, xxiii. & de Script. Ecclef. Jofephus relates, that Zachariah, the fon of Baruch, was flain in the temple, but he certainly means the contemporary of Joafh. Vid. de Bell. Jud. L. IV. [o] Chap. i. 9. ii. 2, [p] Ezra V. I. vi. 14. [ qJ\ Matt. xxi. 4, 5. XXVI. 31. xxvil. 9. Mark xlv. 27. John xiv. 15. xix. 37. Ephef. iv, 25. Rev, i. 7. and the marginal references in our Bible, iuflrious OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 495 luftrious prophecies bears a fignal teftimony to the truth of that infallible fpirit by which he was infpired. He was fo diflinguilhed for the peculiar excellency of his predictions, as to be ftiled the fun among the lefler Prophets. It is, however, the fun fometiines clouded by obfcurity. The senigmatical call of his vifions, which are of difficult interpretation, muft, indeed, be fuppofed neceffarily to produce fomc fliades. The general defign of the work, however, is fufficicntly obvious ; and it is occafionally illu- minated with the brightefl and moft ftriking pafTagcs. The Prophet, in conformity with his firft inten- tion, begins with general exhortations to his country- men : exciting them to repent from the evil ways of their fathers, to whom the Prophets had vainly ad- dreffed their cry ; defcribes, as an interefting repre- fentation which he had beheld in vifion, angels of the Lord miniftering to his will, and interceding for mercy on Jcrufalem, and the defolatc cities of Ju- dasa, which had experienced God's indignation feventy years [r] : while other nations connefted with Judah were in peace. He announces God's difpleafure againft the heathens who *^ had helped [r] Chap. i. 12. Zechariah reckons thefe feventy years from the befieging of Jerufalem in the ninth year of the reign of Zedekiah, and the tenth month, for which a folemn fafl was kept by the Jews. Comp. 2 Kings xxv. i. with Zech. ▼iii. 19. this ends in the fecond year of Darius. If we reckon from the deflru6tion of Jerufalem in the eleventh year of Ze« dekiah, the feventy years will be completed in the fourth year of Darius, Vid. Zech, vii. i, 5/ Prid. An. A. C. 518. forward 496 OP ThE BOOK OF ZECHARIaW, forward the affliction'* of the Jews, by endeavours la impede the building of the temple j and declares^ that the houfe of the Lord fhould be built in Jeru- falem, and Zion be comforted [s]. The Prophet then proceeds figuratively to reprefent the increafc and profperity of the Jews [t] ; promifmg that God ihould be unto them *' a wall of firej" that he ihould dwell in the midfl of them, and the nations to be converted to his fervice [u]; that the high- prieft fhould be reftored with his farmer fplendor in the perfon of Jo(hua, who is declared to be the type [x] of that fpiritual fervant of the Lord who fhould be called " the branch [y] :*' become the chief cor- ncr-flone of his church, and remove the iniquity of the land, and the ffuccefs of whofe government 12 forefhewn under the promifed completion of Zerubba- [s] Chap.l. 16, 17. [t] Chap. ii. 4. Gomp. with Jofeph. B. Jud. V. 4. 2. Vi- tringa, &c. £uj Chap.il. 10 — 13. [x] Chap. Ui. 8. The word Mophet fignifies a wonder, or a type, Vid. Ifa. xx. 3. Ezek. xii. 7. xxiv. 24. Chand. Def. ch. iii. feft. i, 4. [y] Chap. iii. 8, 9. A title of the Meffiah, as defcending from the flock of David. Vid. Ifa. iv. 2. Jerem. xxiii. ^. The Chaldee Paraphrall applies thefc texts to Chrift, who is eminently called God's fervant. Vid. Ifa. xli. i. xlix. 3. Iii. 13. liii. II. Ezek. xxxiv. 23. The Seventy tranflatc the word Tfemach here and elfewhere, Ava!oX», the Eall, or fun- riling, thence applied to Chriil. Luke i. 78. and tranflated *' the day-fpring." Hence, perhaps, the jcwifli pruphecy mentioned by Tacitus, (ut valcfccrct Oriens.) Vid. Tacit, Hilt. Lib. V. c. xiii. Grot, ia loc. & ad Agg. ii, 8. bel'i OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 49/ bel's defigns [z]. The Prophet then interweaves in his difcourfe fome inftrudive admonitions : unfold- ing the ample roll of God's judgment againft theft and perjury, and fuch other prevailing wickednefs [a], as had provoked God's former vengeance. He then emblematically pourtrays the four fucceffive empires that had been, or fhould be employed as minifters of vs^rath [b] ; and is empowered to foretel the eflablifhment of the Jewifli government j and to crown the reprefcntative of Chrift, who fhould be both King and Pried, with the emblems of civil and religious authority united [c]. T o the captives from Babylon, or other profefTors of the Hebrew religion [d], who pharifaically ob- ferved folemn falls without true contrition, the Pro- phet recommends judgment, mercy, and compaffion [e] ; and then addreffing himfelf to the Jews, he promifes a return of righteoufnefs and favour to Je- rufalem : affuring them, that the mournful falls with [z] Chap. iv. 9, 10, [a] Chap. V. and Deut. xxvii. xxvlii. [e] Chap. vi. The chariots and ,horfes probably reprefent the Babylonian, Perlian, Macedonian, and Roman empires. The two brazen mountains may fignify God's immoveable decrees. Vid. Pfa. xxxvi. 6, [c] Chap. vi. 10 — 15. [d] Some have fuppofed that they who fent to pray before the Lord, vid. ch. vii. 2. were Perfian officers of Darius, Theodoret imagines, that they were Cutheans, or Samaritans. Others, that they were diftant inhabitants of Judasa ; but pro- bably they were Jewifli captives from Babylon. Vid. Calmet and other Commentators. [e] Chap. vii. 9, 10. K k which 49^ ^"^ THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. which they lamented its dedruclion, fhould be con- verted into cheerful feafts ; and that the church of the Lord (liould be enlarged by the acceflion of many nations converted by means of the Jews [f]. Thk twelfth verfe of the eleventh chapter of this book, which exhibits a prophetic defcription of feme clrcumftances afterwards fulfilled in our Saviour, ap- pears to be cited by St. Matthew as fpoken by Jere- my [g] ; and as this and the two preceding chap- ters, which are connected by a kind of continuation, have been thought to contain fome particulars more fuitable to the period of Jeremiah, than to that of Zechariah, or to the defign of his appointment [h] : [f] Chap, v'lii, [g] Matt, xxvli. 9, 10. [11] yiede is of opinion, that the defcription of Tjtc, in chap. ix. 3. was not applicable to her condition after the de- ilriic'rion effcded by Nebuchadnezzar ; but new Tyre might be rifing into profperity in the time of Zechariah. The pro- phecies in the ninth chapter againft Dainafcus and the Phi- liftincs, and efpecially againll Alkelon, have been judged more defcriptive of the defolation produced by Nebuchad- nezzar, than of the circumilances which refulted from the victories of Alexander. It may be obfcrved, likewife, that AlFyria is threatened in chap. x. 11. though that empire was deftroyed before the time of Zechariah. Aflyria, how- ever, may be put for Syria, or the enemies of God in general. Some, alfo, apply the pafTage in chap. xl. i — 6. at leall: in the firll inftance, to the deflrui^ion of Jeriifalem produced by the Babylonians ; though, perhaps, it may refer only to thofe calamitous circumitances which occurred fubfcquently to the time of Zechariah, as under Antiochus or Vclpiifutn. Vid, I Mace. i. Jofeph. deBcl. Jud. fome OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 499 fome learned writers have conceived [i], that they were written by the former Prophet ; that they diiFer in ftile from the eight firft chapters [k], and have been accidentally tranfpofed, or joined to thofe of Zechariah, from fimilarity of fubjed. Other wri- ters are, however, of opinion, that St. Matthew in the place referred to, might allude to fome traditional prophecy of Jeremiah ; or that the name of Jeremy was improperly added or fubflituted by a miftake of the copyifl of the Gofpel for that of Zechariah [l] ; and thefe writers maintain, that the chapters con- cerned in this enquiry admit of a conftrudion per- fedly confiftent with the time of Zechariah ; that Zechariah in them defcribes the conqueit of Damaf- cus. Tyre, and Sidon, and of the cities of the Phi- liftines, as effected by Alexander [m] ; the victories of the Maccabees over the troops of Antiochus, who was of Grecian defcentj with future fucceffes to be obtained by converfion to the true God, and deliver- ances fimilar to thofe from Egypt and Aflyria [n] ; [i] Hammond in Matt, xxvii. Mede, Book IV. Epift. 3t» & 60. Kidder. Demonft. Part II. c. iii. Randolph's Texts cited in N. T. n. 28. [k] Lowth's Praslefb. Poet. 21. [l] Matt, xxvii. 9. One MS. the Svriac and Perfic ver- lions, & God. Verc. & Veron. in Blanchini Evan. quad, read ^io. re iD-poipjjlK, without any name, as do fome of the fathers. St. Jerom profefles to have feen a book attributed to Jeremiah, in which the prophetic paflage was contained. [m] Chap. ix. I — 16. [n] Chap. ix. 13. X. 10 — 11. Kk a that 500 OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH, that Zechariah tlien angry at the little effect pro- duced by his endeavours, denounces the future de- ft ruclion of Jerufalem, its temple [o], and lofty houfes ; and reprefents himfelf as breaking in vifion the fyinbolical badges of his paftoral office, and as affuming " the inflruments of a foolifh fliepherd," to forclhdw the cruelties which fliould be exercifed by wicked rulers [p] ; interfperfed with, and adum- brated by which temporal promifes and threats, are prophecies of Chrift ; who is fpoken of in the mod flriking manner, as with refpect to his lowly entrance to Jerufalem " upon an afs, and upon a colt the fole of an afs [ oj] " and his being valued at thirty pieces of filver, which is typically forelhewn in a vi- fionary reprefcntation [r], [o] Chap. xi. I — 3. Lebanon is fiippofcd to mean tlir temple with its cedar buildings. The Jewiflt writers relate, that before the dcllrniftion of the temple, the doors, though barred with iron, opened of their own accord. Vid. Jofeph. de Bel. Jiid, Lib. VIL c. xii. when R. Johanan, a difciple of R. Hillcl, directing his fpcech to the temple, faid, " I know thy delhu('>ion is at hand, according to the prophecy of Zechariah" (open thy doors, O Lebanon). And Tacitus gives the fame account of the opening of the doors. Vid. Hill. Lib. V. [p] Chap. xl. 15 — 17. Bafnage's Hill, of the Jews, Book VIL Prid. Con. Par. L B. iii. Anno vi. Ptolemy Philometor, [a] Chap. ix. 9. comp. with Matt. xxi. 2 — g. where the Evangelill, perhaps, refers likewife to Ifaiah Ixii. 11. Vid. alfo, John xii. 14, 15. who cites the fenfc rather than the words of the Prophet. [r] Chap. xi. 1:;, 13. conip. with ]Matt. xxvi. 15. xxvii. What- OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 50I Whatever may be determined as to thefe three chapters, there is no fufficient reafon to fiippofe, with fome commentators, that the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth chapters alfo, which conftitute a diflind: prophecy, were written before the time of Zechariah i fmce they contain nothing incompatible with the period of that Prophet [sj. But at what- ever time they were written, they were unqueftion- ably the production of an infpired writer, fince they are cited as fuch in the New Teftament [t].. They contain prophecies which refer entirely to the cir- cumflances of the chriftian difpenfation. * They be- gin with the aflurance of fome final vitfories to be obtained over the enemies of Jerufalem [u]; they defcribe the reftoration of the Jews, their converfion and bitter compunction for having pierced the Mcf- [s] It has been fuppofed that the Prophet in chap. xii. 1 1. alludes to the mourning made for Jofiah, who was ilaln at Megiddo. Vid. 2 Kings xxiii. 29. 2 Chron. xxxv. 22 — 25. But Zechariah might fpeak of this mourning as proverbially forrowful, though it happened before his time. Some alfo have imagined, that the predidion in chap. xlii. 2 — 6. was vittcred before the captivity, though the abufes of which the final extirpation is there foretold, were not fo totally fup- prefled as to be unknown after the return from Babylon. The Prophets likewife, in general, in their defcriptions of the final reformation to be produced in the church, foretel the utter deftruftion of idolatry. Vid. Ifa. ii. 18. xxx. 22. xxxi. 7. Hofea ii. 17. Micah v. 13, [t] John xlx. 37. Matt. xxi. 4, 5. xxvi. 31. [u] Chap. xii. i — 9. comp, with Ezek. xxxvii, xxxix. and Rev. XX. 9. K k 3 fiah ; _502 OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. fiah [x] ; their admiffion by baptifm to the privileges of the Gofpel covenant [yJ ; and their deliverance from the delufions of falfe prophets. The Prophet then reverts to forefheur the difperfion of Chrifl's difciples [z], and the prelervation of a fmall re- mainder of his converts, whofe faith fhould be tried in affliQion. In the lafl: chapter he reprefents the deflruction of Jerufalem by the Romans [a] ; the fubfequenc difcomfiture of its enemies [b] ; and the final and triumphant eftablifhment of Chrift's righ- teous kingdom, who fhould be King over the whole earth [c]. The Prophet defcribes thefe particulars with a clearnefs which indicated the near approach of the events of which he fpeaks. The flile of Zechariah is fo remarkably fimilar to that ol Jeremiah, that the Jews were accuflomed to obferve that the fpirit of Jeremiah had pafled into him. He is generally prolaic till towards the con- clufion of his work, when he becomes more elevated and poetical. The whole work is beautifully con- r.oded by eafy tranfiticns, and prefent and future fcenes are blended with the mod delicate contexture, Epiphanius attributes fome prediclions to Zechariahj [x] Chap. xii. lo, [y] Chap. xiii. i. [z] Chap. xiii. 7. comp, with Matt. xxvi. 31. and Mark xlv. 27. [a] Chap. xiv. I, 2. that by Vefpafian. Vid, Eufcb. Des, monft. I il). VI. [b] Chap. xiv. J. [cj Chap, xiv, 8, and following verfcs. which OF THE BOOK OP ZECHARIAH. 5O3 which were delivered according to his account by the Prophet at Babylon, and on the journey in his return from thence ; but thefe are not extant in fcripture, and are of very queftionable authority. The Zechariah to whom an apocryphal book is at- tributed by fome writers, is fuppofed to have been a different perfon from the Prophet, and according to Fabricius, he was the father of John the Baptilf [d], [d] Athan. Synop. Fabric. Pfcydep. Script, vol. i. Kk 4 OP [ 504 ] OF THE BOOK OF THE PROPHET M A L A C H I. MA L A C H I was the lad of thofe Prophets who flourifhed before the Gofpel difpenfation. Some writers ftrangely imagined that Malachi was merely a general name, fignifying the angel of the Lord i a mcflenger, or Prophet, becaufe the title of Malach-Jehovah, or meflenger of the Lord, was often applied to the Prophets [a]. The Septuagint verfion has rendered OnVd, Malachi, his angel ; and feveral of the fathers have quoted Malachi under the title of the angel of the Lord ; and hence fome have conceited that he was an angel incarnate, and not a man [b]. Others have fuppofed that under the ap- [a] Ifa. xllv. 26. Haggai i. 13. Malmon. More Nevoch, Par. II. c. xli. " Propheta non raro vocatur Angelas." [b] Origen. torn. ii. in Joan Hicron. in As:g. Prcef. in Ma- lach. & Epift. ad Evagrium. Tertull. cont. Judre. The fame idea prevailed concerning Haggai j the Baptift, &c. 3 pellatlvc OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI. 505 pellativc name of Malachi, was intended Ezra [c] ; and have maintained that Malachi is not mentioned among the Prophets in the book of Ecclefiafticus. But it is very certain, that Malachi v/as a different perfon from Ezra. His work had a diftindl place in the Hebrews canon ; and in fad he is as much no- ticed by the author of Ecclefiafticus, as any of the other Minor Prophets : all of whom are celebrated under one colleftive memorial [d]. The names of the Prophets are very often expreffive of their office ; and that of Malachi was probably aiTumed as de- fcriptive of his charader [e], as he was eminently diftinguiflied for the virtues of his mind, and for the graces of his exterior form ; it being unqueflion- ably the appropriate name of an human Prophet. Malachi is reprefented by fome traditionary ac- counts, to have been of the tribe of Zabulon, and a native of Sapha [f] ; to have died young, and to have been buried with his anceftors at Sapha : after having affifted as a member of the great fynagogue in the re-eftablifliment of order and profperity in his country. Ulher conceives him to have flourifhed about A. M. 3588, which is about twenty years [c] Abrah. Zacut in Juchafin, David Ganz, Chakl. Parap. in Malach. Buxtorf. Tiberiad. c. ill. Hieron. Pra.*f. in Ma- lach. Ifidor. &c. [d] Ecclus xlix. 10. [e] Some inventive writers abfurdly fay, that an angel vifibly appeared to confirm immediately what the Prophet uttered. Vid. Epiph. Doroth. & Chron. Alex. [f] Or Sopha, or Supha, or Socha, Vid, Epiplian. Do- roth. &c. later 506 OP THE BOOK OF MALACHI. later than the period afligned to hlin by Blair [c]. But as it appears from the confent of all Jevvifli and Chriftian antiquity, that the light of prophecy ex- pired in Malachi [h], we may fuppofe that the ter- mination of his miniftry coincided with the accom- plifhment of the firft feven weeks of Daniel's pro- phecy, which was the period allotted for " fealing the vifion and prophecy [i]." This, according to Prideaux's account, muft be afligned to A. M. 3595, but according to the calculations of Blfliop Lloyd, to A. M. 3607, twelve years later [k] ; whichever reckoning we may prefer, Malachi mud be admitted to have completed the canon of the Old Teftament, about four hundred years before the birth of Chrift ; when the great defigns of Providence were com- pleted in the termination of the prophetic minifl:ry ; [g] St. Jerom makes Malachi contemporary with Darius Hyitafpes. Vid. Hieron. Frxf. in 12 Proph. & Procem. in Mai. Eufeb. Chron. Lib. II. Theodor. Proocm. in 12 Proph. But if we admit Blair's account, which gives Malachi the liighell: antiquity, he mull rather have been contemporary with Artaxerxes Longimanus, or Darius Nothus. Vid. Au- guft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIIL c. xxvi. Clem. Alex. Strom. L Cyrill. Pra;f. in M.ilac. [h] Abraham Zacutus in Juchafin. David Ganz in Zemach David. Seder Olam Zuta. Maimon. MafTec. Sotah c. ult. Edid. Bartiner. Gem. Sanhed. c. i. § 13. Cofri Maam, 3. § 39. R, Tanchum. 1 Mace. iv. 46. ix. 27. Clemens Alex. Strom. Lib. 1. Juftin Martyr entertained a falfe notion that the fpirit of prophecy did not ctafe till the Chriltian a;ra. Smith on Prophecy, ch. xii. [i] Dan. ix. 24. [k] Preface to Nchemiah, p. 220, note t, and OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI. 507 and when a fcheme of prophecy was unfolded which in its entire contexture was to be accommodated to, and to charaderize the Mefliah, Malachi certainly prophefied fome time after Haggai and Zechariah, for in his time the temple was rebuilt and the worfhip re-eflablillied [l] ; his miniftry coincided with or fucceeded that of Nehe- miah. He cenfures the fame offences that had ex- cited the indignation of that governor, and which he had not been able entirely to reform : for Malachi, fpeaking of God's fuperior kindnefs to the Ifraelites above the Edomltes, begins with declaiming againfl: the priefls for their prophane and mercenary con- duft, and the people for their multiplied divorces and intermarriages with idolatrous nations [m] ; he threatens them with punifhment and rejeftion j de- claring tha-t God would " make his name great among the Gentiles [n],*' for that he was wearied with the impiety of Ifrael ; and thence the Prophet takes occafion awfully to proclaim that the Lord [l] Chap. i. 7, 10, 12. ill. 10. [m] Mai. ii. II. comp. with Nch. xlii. 23 — 27. and Mai. 1. 10. iii. 8. with Neh. xiii. 10, 11. [n] Chap. i. II. The latter part of this verfe relative to the Mincha, or bread-offering to be generally offered up, was confidered in the primitive church as an exprefs prophecy of the chriftian facrifice in the Eucharift, of which the circum- ftances are defcribed under the typical rites of the Jewifli wor- Ihip. Hence the words of the palTage were inferted into an hymn in the liturgy of the church of Alexandria, which is called the liturgy of St. Mark. Vid. John iv. 21, 22. Mede's Difcourfes on the ChrjlUan Sacrifice, vol. i. B. II. p. 4'5i. 4 whom 508 OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI. whom they fought fliould faddenly come to his tem- ple preceded by that meflenger who, like an har- binger, fhould prepare his way ; that the Lord, when he fliould appear, fhould purify the fons of Levi from their unrighteoufnefs, and refine them as metal from the drofs [o] ; that then " the oflering of Ju- dah," the fpiritual facrifice of the heart, fhould " be pleafant to the Lord," as was that of the Patriarchs, or their uncorrupted anceflors [r] ; and that the Lord would quickly exterminate the corruptions and adulteries that prevailed. He proceeds with an eameft exhortation to repentance : promifmg high rewards and remembrance to the righteous in that lafl day, when the Lord fliould feled unto himfelf a pecuhar treafure, and finally difcern between the righteous and the wicked [ qJ. Malachi concludes with another alTurance of approaching falvation to thofe who feared God's name, from that " fun of righteoufnefs which fliould arife with healing in his wings ;" and render them triumphant : enjoining till that day, an obfervance of the Law of Mofes : till the advent of Elijah [r], the Prophet, who before [o] Chap. in. 1—3. Ifaiah i. 25. [p] Chap. iii. 4. *' As in the days of old." [oj Chap. iii. 16—18. [r] Chap. iv. 5. John came in the fpirit and power of Elias. Vid. Luke i. 17. and refembled him in office and cha- rafler. Vid. Mark ix. 12. Ecchis xlviii. 10. The Seventy, following the received Jcwifh tradition, add " the Tiflibite." In this fenfe John denies himfelf to be Elias. John i. 21. He was not Elias himfelf, but another Elias, the antitype of the firft. the OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI. 509 the coming of that " great and dreadful day of the Lord, Ihould turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children [s] to their fathers :" who fliould produce an entire amendment in the minds of the people. Thus Malachi fealed up the volume of prophecy in the defcription of that perfonage at whofe appearance the evangelifls begin the Gofpel hiftory [t] ; and he who terminated the illuftrious fucceffion of the Prophets, and predicted the coming of the Baptift, was in an efpecial degree entitled to a fhare of our Saviour's teftimony : who declared, in terms which defined the period and ex- tent of prophecy, that '* all the Prophets prophefied until John [u].'* Malachi is likewife elfewhere fre- quently cited as a Prophet by the writers of the New Teftament [x]. The flile of Malachi has been reprefented as of the middle kind ; it is not remarkable for beauty, as he Hved in the decline of the Hebrew poetry, which decayed much after the Jewifli captivity, [s] It is propofed to tranflate b]}, al ; not ' to,' but ' with.' Vid. Exod. XXXV. 22. & Kimchi. And then the paflage means not that Elijah fliould reconcile religious differences between intimate relations, but that he fliould produce a general refor- mation. Vid. Arnald. in Ecclus xlviii. 10. [t] Mark i. i, 2. [u] Matt.xi. 13. Lukexvi. 16. Janfcn. In Ecclus xlviii. 2. [x] Matt. xi. 10. xvii. 10 — 12. Mark i. 5. ix. 11, 12. Luke i. 17. vii. 27. Rom. ix. 13. PRE- 5IO PREFACE TO THE PREFACE TO THE APOCRYPHAL BOOKS, TH E books which are admitted into our Bibles under the defcription of Apocryphal Books, are fo denominated from a Greek word, which is cxpreflive of the uncertainty and concealed nature of their original [a]. They have no title to be con- fidered as infpired writings ; and though in refpeft of their antiquity and valuable contents they are an- [a] Apocrypha, from aro>;p^7rIi■, to hide. The word feema to have been firft applied only to books of doubtful authority ; or as it is ufcd by Origcn, to imply works out of the canon. It was afterwards employed to charadlerlze fpurious and per- nicious books. It has been thought, that books of doubtful charafter were firll termed Apocryphal by the Jews, becaufe they were removed avro t>)? x^ttI*!? from the ark of the cove- nant, where the canonical books were placed. Eufeb. Lib. de Pond. & Menfur. p. 534 ; or becaufe fluit up from the generality of readers, and concealed, as fomc aflcrt, in a cheft of the temple. In the primitive church, fome of thefe books, cfpecially thofe of Wifdom and Ecclefiallicus, were imparted to Catechumens, and all of them were allowed to be read under certain rellridiona. Vid. Canon. Apoft. Athan. Synopf. nexed APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. ^U Tiexed to the canonical books, it is in a feparate divifion : and by no means upon an idea that they are of equal authority, in point of dodrine, with them ; or that they are to be received as oracles of faith i to fandify opinions, or to determine religious controverfies. It is univerfally allowed, that thefe books were not in the canon of the Jews, to whom alone " were committed the oracles of God [b] i" and, indeed, that they were compofed after the clofing of the fa- cred catalogue ; though fome writers without a Ihadow of authority have pretended that fome of them, as Tobit, Judith, Ecclefiafticus, Baruch, and perhaps others, were received by the Jews into a fccond canon [c], faid to be made by a council aiTembled at Jerufalem in the time of Eleazar the high-priefl, upon the occafion of fending the feventy-two inter- preters to Ptolemy King of Egypt [d] j and that the reft were canonized by a third council, allembled in the time of Sammai and Hillel ; but of thefe coun- cils, the Jews, tenacious as they are of traditions, have no account or memorial ; and the books in queftlon were compofed after the celTation of the prophetic fpirit, by perfons who difplay«d no cha- racters of infpiratlon j and fome of whom feem to [e] Rom. iii. 2. Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. I. Hieron. Prol; Gal. Introduftion, p. 8. [c] Hence they are fometimes called Deutero-canonical by the Romanifts. [d] Genebr. Chron. L,lb. II. p. 190. col. 2. and p. 2S4. col. r. Maldonate de Sacram, Poenit, q. de Furgat. p. 145. Serar. in Mace. Praloq. ili. have ^12 PREFACE TO THE have difclalmed its pretenfions [e] ; and therefore they were ranged by the Jews among the writings which they termed Hagiographa, in an inferior fenfe of that word [fI. ToBTT and Judith were, indeed, fuppofed by the Rabbinical conceits, to have been derived from that lower kind of infpiration wliich was called Bath Col filia vocis [g]. But this was an abfurd fancy, and none of the books are cited either as prophetic or doctrinal by our Saviour or his apoftles [n] j and though fome writers have pretended to difcover a coincidence between certain palTages contained in them, and others in the New Teflament, it will be found that the evangelical writers on thefe occafions only accidentally concur in fentiment or expref- fion with the authors of the apocryphal books ; or that the refemblance refults from an imitation of [e] I Mace. ix. 27. 2 Mace. ii. 30, 31. xv. 38. [f] The later Jews efteemed fome of the prophetica) books to be Hagiographa in an higher fenfe of the word ; fuppofing them to be derived from the fccond degree in their fcale of prophecy. Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch. P. II. c. xlv. Huet. in Judith. The word was, perhaps, firft intended to defcribe the uninfpircd produftions of holy men ; and afterwards im- properly applied to fanciful diflinftions of the facred books., Vid. Introd. p. 10. [g] Preface to the Prophets, p. 320, note e. [h] Index TelVimon. a Chrifl. & Apoft. citat. ex. Vet. T. in fin. Bibl.viilg. edit. Sixt. V. &c Clemen. VIII. Venet. 1616. Catharin. opufc. de Script. Canon. Stapleton de Autor. S. Script. I.ib. II. c. iv. § 14. & Preface to the fccond book of Efdras, which was written or interpolated after the publica- tion of the New Tcftamcnt. paflages APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 513 pafTages In the facred writings of the Old Tellament, which the evangelical and the apocryphal writers might equally have had in view. But indeed, if any occafional allufion, or borrowed expreffions could be proved, they would by no means eftablifli the au- thority of the apocryphal books j which might be referred to, as were other books by the Icicred wri- ters, without any defign to confer on them a cha- racter of divine authority [i]. It is certain, that long after the time of our Sa- viour, the Hebrew canon confided but of twenty- two books [k] ; and that at this day the Jews adhere to the fame Hft, though by feparating books for- merly united they increafe the number ; and it is not probable, or confiftent with any authentic accounts, to fuppofe, that at any time before or after Chrifl, the canon which the Jews fo religioully refpeded fnould have been altered by them. It is not pro- bable that they fhould have admitted any addition after the death of Simon the Jud, who was the lad of the great fynagogue ; or that, if fuch addition had been allowed, they fliould have expunged thefe writings which contain nothing fo favourable to chrif- tianity as the prophetic books which they have fuf- [i] 2 Tim. Hi. 8. Heb. xii. 21. Jude, ver, 14. Origen, Prol. in Cant. [k] Jofeph. cont. Apion. Eufeb. HiiL Ecclef. Lib. III. c. ix. R. Afarias in Meor Enaim, p. 29, 141, 169, 175. R. Gedaliah Ben-Jechajah in Shalflielefla Haccab. p. 68, 99, 104. R. Abrah. Zachus in Juchafin, p. 136. R. David Gantz in Tfemach Da- vid, Part II. p. 10. R. Menafie Ben Ifrael de Creatione, Prob. X. p. 45. LI fered 514. ? R E F A C: E TO THE fered to continue inviolate. Had the books been erafed before the time of Chrift, the facrilege muft have excited his cenfures ; and fince the eftabhfh- ment of the Gofpel any endeavour to deface the canon muft have been deteded and expofed. These apocryphal books conflituted no part of the Septuagint verfion of the fcriptures, as fet forth by the tranflators under Ptolemy. It is fuppofed that many of them at lead were received by the Jewifli fynagogue eflabliflied at Jerufalem, which poiTibly might have derived its. origin from the period of that tranflation [l]. From the Helleniftic Jews they were probably accepted by the Chriftian church ; but by whomfoever, and at whatever time they were communicated, it is certain that they were not re- ceived as canonical, or enrolled among the produc- tions of the infpired writers ; fince they are not in any of the earlier catalogues [m] ; and are excluded from the facred Ufl: by the fathers of the Greek and Latin church, who flouriflied during the four firfl centuries [n] 5 though they are often cited by them as [l] Giabii Septuagint. Proleg. ad Lib. Hift. c. i. Prop. 24. [m] Conftit. Apoft. Lib. IL c. Ivii. Canon Apoft. Can. ult. The prefent copies of the canons of the apoftles, which in- clude the three books of Maccabees, are evidently corrupted, the canons having formerly corrcfponded with the canon of the Council of Laodicea. Vid. Zonar. in Concil. Laodic. Can. 59. Eufcb. Hift, Ecclef. Lib. IV. c. xxv. Lib. V. c. xxiv. Lib. VI. c. xix. Cofin's Scholiaft. Hift. ch. iv. {c&. 45. [n] Dionyf. Hicrarch. Ecclef, c. iii. Melito, ap. Eufeb. Lib. IV. c. xxv. Ori-. ap. Eufcb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. VI. c. xxr. APOCRYPHAL BOOKS, 515 as valuable and inflruclive works, and fometimes even as divine, and as fcripture in a loofe and popu- lar fcnfe [o]. In the language of the primitive church they vi^ere ftiled ecclefiaftical [p], as contra- diftinguiflied from thofe infallible works which were c. XXV. Demonf. Evang. L. VIII. Bafil in Or'ig. Phllocal. c. iii. Ruffin. Verf. Eufeb. Lib. VI. Tertull. cont. Marcion. Carm. Lib. IV. c. vii. who reckoning Ruth and Lamentations Separately, makes the number twenty-four. Eufeb. Demon. Evang. Lib. Vlll. Athan. Epift. 39. Athan. Synopf. Hilar. Prol. Explan. in Pfalm. Cyrill. Catech. IV. Epiphan. Has- res. 8. cont. Epicur. & Hsres. 76. cont. Anomseos, & de Pond. &i Menfur. Bafil. Philoc. c. iii. Gregor. Nazian. de ver. & genuin. Lib. S. Script. Amphiloc. Epilt. ad Seleuc. Chryfoft, Homil. IV. in Genef. & Homil. 8, in Epift. ad Hebras. Hieron. in Prolog.. Galeat. in Lib. Solom. and Praef. in Efdram, &: in Paralip. Cofin's Schol. Hift. Canon VI. feft. 73. Ruffin. Symbol. Apoft. feft. 35, 36. [o] Origen cites Tobit and the IMaccabees as fcripture. Lib. VIII. in Epift. ad Rom. de Princip. Lib. II. c. i. Ho- mil. 3. in Cant, as he does likewife the Shepherd of Hernias, and the Book of Henoch, without believing them to be cano- nical m the frrift fenfe of the word. Origen, indeed, be- lieved that the Shepherd of Hennas was infpired. Vid. Enar- rat. in Epift. ad Rom. p. 41 1. but this was his peculiar opinion. Vid. Philocal. c. i. The fathers in general who cite it as fcripture, ufe the term only in a popular fenfc. As Irenaeus adv. Hieres. Lib. IV. & ap. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. L. IV. c. 8, & Athanafius de Incarnat. verb. Tom. i. p. 55. who exprefsly fays that it is not ftriftly canonical. Epift. Pafch. Tom. ii. p. 39, 40. So Eufebius quotes Jofephus and Ariiiasas, as well as the Maccabees. Vid. Pra;p. Evang. Lib. X. c. viii. De- monft. Evang. Lib. IX. and X. Thus, alfo, Epiphanius calls the apoftolical conftitutions divine. Vid. Ha:rcs. 8. and 10. Can. Lib. V. c. v. [p] Ruffin. in Symbolum. L 1 3 canonized 5 1 6 PREFACE r O THE canonized as unqueflionably infpired, and alfo from thofe erroneous and pernicious writings which were fligmatized and profcribed as apocryphal. The ecclefiaftical books, under which divifion were contained other productions befides thofe now termed apocryphal, as the Shepherd of Hermas [q.], the dodlrine of the apoftles [r], and the firft epiftle of Clement [s], though confidered as human works, and as fubordinate to the facred books, were never- thelefs approved and read by the church as capable of furnifhing much inflrudlion. The fathers quote them as pious and venerable books and as defervedly held in great eftiination: they fpeak of them in high and hyperbolical terms, as facred, as bearing fome refemblance to the infpired writings, but not as certainly infpired, or as of fufficient authority in points of doftrine ; for thofe pafTages which they are reprefented to cite from them as fuch, are cited in fpurious or doubtful books, or from fimilar places in facred writ. Abundant teflimonies have been pro- duced to prove that they were not received as canon- ical during the four firfl: centuries ; and they have never been generally admitted into the canon of the Greek church ; nor were they judged canonical in the fame degree as the Law and the Prophets, even in the Weflern church, till the Council of Trent pronounced them lb to be. In the hrft general [ O Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. III. c. Wu [r] This book was probably the fame which Is now called- the apollolical canons. Vid. Athan. Epift, xxxix. [s] Eulcb. Hiii. Eccl. Lib. 111. c. xiv. Lib. IV. c. xxii. council APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 517 council held at Nice, A. D. 325, none of thefe books appear to have been admitted as canonical [t] in any fenfe of that word -, and they certainly were not received by the Council of Loadicea, which was held about forty years afterwards, of which [u] the canons were accepted into the code of the uni- verfal church [x], and which acknowledged pre- cifely the fame books that we receive. In the fifth century St. AuHin [yJ and the Coun- [t] Cofin's Scholaft. ch. vi. fo£t. ^4. [u] The Greek copies of this council reckon Banich, the Lamentations, and the Epiftle, as compoiins^ one canonical book with Jeremiah ; and Athanafius and Cyril have been luppofed to have received Baruch as canonical. But Baruch is mentioned in the catalogues referred to, not probably as the apocryphal book, but for a more full defcription of Jeremiah's work, in which Baruch is often mentioned, and in the writing of which he was employed ; and the cpillle may mean that con- tained in the twenty-ninth chapter of Jeremiah's book. Vid. Cofin's Schol. Hift. ch. vi. feft. 61. and Preface to Baruch. [x] Concil. Calced. Can. i. and Can. 163. Concil. Con- ftant. 6. in Trullo, Can. 2. This laft council conlirii)ed alfo the council of Carthage, which admitted the apocrypha ; but it niuft therefore have confirmed that canon only as it ad- mitted them in a fecondary fenfe, othervvife it could not have confirmed that of Laodicea, which rejeclcd them as not equal. Vid, Juflin. Novel. 131. Jullellus Prrsf. in Cod. Ecclef. Uni. yerfaj. [y] Auguft. cont. Epift. Gaud. Donat. cap. xxiii, Epift. 61, ^d Dulcit. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVJII. c. xxxvi. Propter quo- rundam martyrum pafliones vehementes atque mirabiles, qui antequam Chriftus venilfet in carnem ufque ad mortem pry lege Dei certaverunt. L 1 3 cil 5l8 PREFACE TO THE cil of Carthage [z] appear to have admitted (rather in deference to poj^ular opinion, and in compliance with that reverence which had arifen from ufe [a]), moft of the apocryphal books [b] as canonical ; meaning, however, canonical in a fecondary fenfe ; as uieful to be read ; and ftill with diflinclion from thofe facrcd and infpired books which Vvcre eftabUflied on the fanclion of the Jewifli canon, and on the tef- timony of our Saviour and his apoftles. After this time, other fathers [c] and councils [d] feem oc- [z] The forty-feventh canon in which thofe books are con- fecrated, is erroneoufly attributed to the third council of Car- thage, which, as the titles fay, affembled in 397 ; for it mult have belonged to a later council held during the time of Boniface, to whom it is referred ; and it correfponds nearly with a canon framed by an African council, held under the confulate of Honorius Xll. and Theodofnis VIII. in 419, ex- cept that it receives Baruch and Maccabees, which the latter omits. Vid. Cod. Canon. Ecclei". African. Can. 24. & Binii, & Juflelli, not. in Concil. Carth..;:^. 3. Can. 47, 48. [a] Augull. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVJII. c. xxxvi. & c. xliii. Epift. 9 and 10. ad Hieron. " Quia a patribus," (fays the canon) *' ifta acccpimus Icgcnda." Vid. Cofin's Scholaft. Hill. ch. vii not. 82, [b] Neither Auflin, nor the canon attributed to this coun- cil, enumerate the fourth (that is, the fecond) book of Ef- dras, Baruch, nor the Prayer of ManafTcth ; and the canon omits the books of Maccabees. Vid. Jullellus in Notis a Can, xxiv. [c] See alfo the fufpeded epiflle of Innocent I. ad Exuper. and the decree attributed to Gclafius, ad omnes Epifc. in Can. Vet. Ecclef. Rom. Edit. Par. 1609. Ifidor. Orlg. Lib. VI. c. i. & Prooem. Sap. & Ecclus. [d] Sum. Caranzc in Decret. 7. Concil. Florent. 6^ Cofin's Scholaft. Hift. ch. xvi. n. 159. The council of Florence was not APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 519 cafionally to have confidered thefe books as canon- ical, and inferior only to the facred writings ; but always with diftindlion, and with exprefs declarations of their inferiority when that queftion was ftriclly agitated [e] j till at length the Council of Trent, notwithftanding the teflimony of all Jewilh antiquity, and contrary to the fenfe of the primitive church, thought fit to pronounce them all, (except the prayer of Manafleth, and the third and fourth books of Efdras Ff],) together with the unwritten traditions relative to faith and manners, as ftriclly and in every refped canonical, and of the fame authority as thofe jndubitate books which had been copied from the Jewifli into the Chriftian canon ; and received the atteftation of Chrill and his apoftles : of which the infpiration was manifefted by the charader of their compofers, and proved by the accomplifhment of thofe prophecies which they contain [g]. This canon was confirmed by fevere anathemas [h] againfl all who fhould reject it. And from this not properly oecumenical ; the canon which reprefents the apocryphal books as infpired is probably a forgery, as it is cnly in the epitomes. [e] Cofin's canon of fcripture : where this is proved by numberlefs references to the authors who flouriflied from the fiiit ages of the church, to the middle of the fixteenth century. Vid. alfo, Raynold's Cenfura Apocryphorum. [f] Bib. Sac. Sixt. V. & Clement. YIII. JulTn edita Juxt. Secret. Concil. Trid, [g] " Omnes Libros, &c. pari pietatis afFe^tu ac reverentia fufcipit & veneratur." Concil. Trident. Seff. 4. [h] " Siquis autem libros ipfos integros cum omnibus fuis partibus, &c. pro facris & canonicis non fufceperit, Anathema ^ L I 4 lu." 520 PREFACE TO THR time the Roman Catholics have endeavoured to main- tain the canonical authority of thefe books, though their mofl ftrenuous advocates are obliged to allow that they v.cre not received into the canon of Ezra. They are compelled to yield a fuperiority as to ex- ternal fanclions, to thofe uncontroverted books which are exclufively canonized in the earliefl: and mofl authentic catalogues of the chridian church [i] ; and labour to defend the decifion of the Council of Trent, as to the apocryphal writings, by appealing to the authority of preceding councils, of which the canons were never generally received, and which admitted the contefled books as canonical only in a fubordinate and fecondary fenfe. It is therefore upon the mofl juft and tenable grounds that our church has framed her fixth article, where in agreement with all Protefiant churches flie adh-eres in her ca- talogue to thofe writings of which there never was any doubt ; and agreeably to the doctrine of the four patriarchal churches [k], as recorded by Cyril, Athanafius, Anaftafius, and Gregory Nazianzen, re- jects thofe books which are fliled apocryphal in our Bibles, though flie read them, as St. Jerom ob- fcrves, did the Weflcrn church [l], " for example fit." Vid. Concll. Tnd. Soff. 4. k In Bulla P. Pli. IV. fup. forma Juram. ProfcfT fid. [i.] S5xt. Scncns. B'lb. Lib. F. fc^. i. Bellarm. de Verb. Dei, c. X. St3.. itaque, c. xiv. feft. i. [k] Thofe of Jerufalem, Alexandria, Antioch, and Con. iftantinoplc. [l] nicron. Prol. in Lib. Solom. ad Chrom. ^ Hcliod. of APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 52 1 of life, and indrucllon of manners ;" and It muft be confefTed in general, that notwithflanding fome paf- iages of exceptionable tendency, and fome relations of improbable circumftances, they are books en- titled to great refpedt : as written by perfons who being intimately converfant with the facred writings, had, as it were, imbibed their fpirit, and caught their pious enthufiafm. Whoever reads them with attention, muft occafionally be flruck by the fplendid fentiments, and fublime defcriptions which they con- tain. They fometimes likewife prefent us with paf- fages borrowed from the facred writings, and with the fintft imitations of infpired eloquence ; they in- clude perhaps fome fcattered fragments of divine wif- dom, and fome traditional precepts derived from men enlightened by a prophetic fpirit. They fonie- times illuilrate the accomplirnmcnt of prophecy ; and throw light on the fcriptures by explaining the man- ners, fentiments, and hiflory of the Jews. They bear then an indirect and impartial teilimony to the truth of our religion ; they are venerable for their antiquity ; recommended by long eftablidied appro- bation, and in fome meafure confecrated to our re- gard by the commendations of the church, and by being annexed to the infpired v/ritings. Where they are defedive, they may have been perhaps injured or corrupted by fubfequent additions, as not bein*' watched over with fuch religious care as the facred books. It may be added alio, that many of thofe paflages Vvblch appear to have a bad tendency, are capable of a good conflruclion, and that, perhaps, fome 522 PREFACE TO, Scc, fome blemifiies may be attributed to our tranflators, who in rendering the apocryphal books, have con- fefiedly betrayed much carelelTnefs [m]. They who. are difpofed to profit by their pcrufal will find it not dimcult by the light of the infpircd books, to dif- criminate and feledl what is excellent and confident with truth, and to rejedl fuch objeclionable particu- lars as prove them to be the production of unallifted, and fometimes miftaken men. [m] The learned Da Port, then Greek ProfefTor at Cam- briclge, was among the feven able perfons employed under King James j but though his work has much merit, it is very often faulty and imperfeft. The tranflators feem to have at-> tributed too little confcquence to the apocryphal books. e f - I 5^^3 ] T II S FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. THE Flrfl Book of Efdras, or Ezra [a], is generally fuppofed to have been the work of feme Helleniftic Jew. It is uncertain at what time it was compofed ; the particulars contained in it are re- lated by Jofephus : it was therefore probably written before the time of that hiuorian. The book, though in its ftile it has much of the Hebrew idiom, was probably never extant in that language [b] j at leaft it certainly was not admitted into the Hebrew canon. It was annexed, however, to fome copies of the Septuagint [c], and placed in fome manufcripts be- [a] The word is written j^nii? in the Hebrew, and E^pa; In the Greek. [b] Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. c. ii. [c] It was not in any of the Greek manufcripts nfed by the editors of the Complutenfian Bible j but it was found in fome Greek copies when Aldus was printing his Septuagint at Venice. It was publiflied from a manufcript in the library of St. Vidor, at Paris, by Robert Stephens, as alfo in the Lon- don Polygot. There is a Syriac yerfion of this book. fore 524 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. fore the book of Ezra [d], that of Nehemiah being inferted between the two. Standing in that order, it was called the Firft Book of Ezra, and the au- thentic work of Ezra, together with that of Nehew miah, which feems to have been joined with it, was called the Second Book of Ezra [e]. This arrange- ment was probably adopted in confideration of the chronological order of the events defcribed in the books refpcCLively [f]. In fome Greek editions it is, however, placed with more propriety as to its cha- racter, between the Song of the Three Children, and the Wifdorn of Solomon [g]. As this book was inferted in fome copies of the Scptuagint, it was read in the Greek church ; and the Council of Carthage, which canonized the vulgar tranflation made from the Septuagint [h], appears to have admitted this book, together with other fpu- rious additions, as canonical [i], in that extended acceptation of the word which implied only, worthy to be read. St. Auftin, likewifc, confidered it as [d] Luc. Brug-. in 3 Efdras. [e] Bellarm. de Verb. Dei, Lib. L c. xx. feft. ad de. [f] It (lands in the fame order in the Alexandrian code, and in the Syriac verfion. [g] As in the Frankfort edition of 1597, and in that of Bafil of 1518. The Latin manufcripts vary, Jn fome it is placed after Nehemiah, and called the Second Book of Ezra. Vid. Calmet DliTert. fur le Troificme Livre d'Efdras. [h] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XIIL c. xxiv. [l] See the forty-feventh canon improperly afligned to the third Council of Carthage, but "belonging to one held in a later pc»iod. Vid, Preface to Apocrypha, p. 518, note z. canonical OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. ^2Z canonical in the fame feme : that is, as an ecclefiaf- tical book, attributed to Ezra; and which might even be thought to contain a prophetic paflage, if by truth [k] defcribed as conquering all things, ftould be underflood Chvht. The book is alfo cited by others of the fathers as a work entitled, the Firft Book of Efdras : as afcribed to him, and as a re- fpeftable work [l] ; but never as of equal authority with the canonical books [m]. St. Jerom without fcruple pronounced this and the following books to be vifionary and fpurious [n] ; and it v/as rejecled even by the Council of Trent, though it was fufFered to continue in the printed editions as the fccond or third book of Ezra, till the publication of the Bible by Sixtus the Fifth, when it was placed apart from the canonical books [o] •, and notwithflanding Genebrard [p] flill maintained its authenticity, the Romanifts in general confider it as apocryphal. It [k] Chap. i. 38. Zc Aiiguft. de Civlr. Dei, Lib. XVIIL c. xxxvi. [l] Cyprian. Ep. 74. ad Pompeian. Clemens Alex. Strom. Lib. II. Juftin Martyr Dial, cum Tryphon, p. 297. Bafil Epift. ad Chilon. Athan. Orat. III. cont. Arun. Auguft. de Doa. ChrllL Lib. II. c. vlil. [m] Job. Driedo In Cut. Script. Lib. I, c. Iv. ad DIflic. 4. [n] HIeron. EpIft. ad Domnlon. & Rogatian. Nee Apo^ cryphorum tertil & quart! (Efdrs) Somnils dele6t:etur, fays Jcrcm. [o] In feme old copies of the Latin Bibles, this and the fuc- ceeding book, as alfo the Prayer of IManafTeth, were marked with a fion legitur : as an Intimation that they were not to be puMickly read In the church. [?] Genebrard in Chron. ad An. 3730, p. 95, 96. certauily 520 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. certainly could not have been written by Ezra, whofe authentic work it contradids in many par- ticulars ; and it has no pretenfions to be revered as the produclion of an infpired perfon, although great part of it be extrafted from the facred writings. The name of Ezra was at all times particularly reverenced by the Jews, who were accuftomed in honour of his memory to remark, that he was worthy that the Law fliould have been given by his hands unto Ifrael, if Mofcs had not been before him. In confequence of this reputation, numberlefs fpurious works were pubhlhed at different times under his name ; and however they might at firll:, whether produced before or after Chrift, have borne the pal- pable marks of forgery, were yet received by the credulous and unlearned. If the boldnefs of the im- poflure provoked oppofition, this was foon wearied and forgotten ; and the books gradually rofe into reputation under the fanclion of a great name [ (i_]. The Firfl; Book of Efdras includes a period of about ninety years. The fliort hidorical fketch qf [ qJ\ Befidcs the books afciibed to Ezra in our Sibles, and other writings before mentioned, vid. Preface to Ezra, p. 211, Pious Mirandula profeffcs to have read the Cabala of Efdras, written in fevcnty books, and informs us, that they contained majiy myfteries relating- to Chriftianity. Sixtus the Fourth is faid to have projcfted a tranflation of them, but only three were fmiflied at his death ; the Learned difpute concerning the charafter, and even the exiflcnce of thefe books. Vid. Mi- rand. Apol. p. 82. 2 Efd. xiv. 46. Fabricii Codex Pfcudepig. Petr. Crinit dc Honeft. Difcip. Lib. XXV. c. iii. Sixc. Se- nens. Bib. Lib. II. Epiphan. de Pond. & IMcnf. § 10. the OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. ^27 the time which intervened between the celebration of the Paflbver by Jofiah, and the captivity of the Jews, as furniflied in the fird chapter of this book, is taken chieHy from the thirty-fifth and thirty- fixth chapters of the Second Book of Chronicles. The ftrange but lively ftory of the three competitors for the favour of Darius, which appears to have been introduced to recommend and embellilh the charac- ter of Zerubbabel [r], might have been founded on fome popular traditions, as it is related by Jofephus ; but it is certainly fabulous in mod: of its particulars, and could not concern Zerubbabel, who at the period affigned was at Jerufalem [s]. The reft of the work, which is chiefly compiled from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, is disfigured by many improbable and contradiftory additions, and by many circumftances which appear to have been defignedly introduced in order to difguife and vary the relation [t]. It contains, perhaps, nothing ex- ceptionable with refped to dodrine or precept ; but its accounts are fo incorporated with falfehood, that the compilers of our Liturgy have not appointed any feledions from it to be read in the fervice of the on [r] Chap. iii. iv. v. [s] Ezra ii. 2. Jofephus erroneoufly fays, and perhaps the authority of this book, that Zerubbabel returned from Jerufalem to Darius. Vid. de Antiq. Lib. XI. c. iv. [t] Comp. chap. ii. 15. with Ezra ii. z. Chap. iv. 48. with Ezra V. 13. Chap. iv. 43, 46. with Ezra vi. i. Chap. iv. 44, 57. with chap. vi. 18, 19. and Ezra i. 7 — 11. Chap. v. 40. with Nehcm. viii. 9. Chap. v. 47, 48. with Ezra i, i — 3, &c. 2 church. 525 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. church. Many particulars, indeed, interfperfed thrc* the book, and too numerous here to be produced [u], are utterly inconfiftent with probability, chro- nology, and the relations of fcripture. From fic- titious circumftances, however, fome inftrudlion may- be drawn, though we cannot but regret that the author of the fine encomium on truth [x], fliould have fo departed from its principles as to write under the affumed character of infpiration. [u] Calmet Sc Arnald. [x] Chap. iv. 38 — 40, The learned Thorndike by truth here fpoken of, underllands the truth \\hich God by his law had declared to his people, and fuppofes Zerubbabel to have Intended to encourage the King to protect it by countenancing the building of the temple, Vid. Thorndike's Epilogue, ch. ?xxiv, p. 212. OF [ 529 ] OF THE SECOND BOOK of ESDRAS. SOME writers have conceived that this work was compofed by the fame perfon that aflumed the character of Ezra in the preceding book ; but though it be equally uncertain by whom and at what period each book was produced, there is reafon to think that they were not both derived from one per- fon, fince they differ in ftile, and have no connection or agreement with each other. Each author, how- ever, has borrowed the fame title ; and each has in- ferted a genealogy in the character of Ezra : with fome difference, indeed, in the accounts, and both with variation from the lineage furniihed by the in- fpired writer in his authentic book [a]. [a] The accounts in i Efdras viii. 1,2. and in 2 Efdras i. I — 3. differ from each other, and both difagree with the ge- nealogy inferted in Ezra vii. i . They were, however, all defign- ed for the fame perfon, as is evident from the general agreement of the fix firil names ; and probably the variations arifc only from accidental corruptions, or from different modes of cal- culation ; indeed, the author of the Second Book of Efdras enumerates three names more in this genealogy than do the authors of the preceding books. Mm The 530 OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. The Second Book of Efdras is not now to be found in any Hebrew or Greek manufcripts. It is fuppofed to have been originally written in the Greek language ; but is extant only in a few Latin copies [b], and in an Arabic verfion [c]. It is generally maintained that the work could not have been the genuine produclion of Ezra, as it feems to bear fome intrinfic marks of having been compofed after his time, and, indeed, after the period at which the pro- phetic fpirit is reputed to have ceafed [d] j notwith- flanding alfo the fine fpirit of piety that pervades the work, and the author's confident affumption of the prophetic charader, his pretenfions to infpiration [b] Calmet ftates that it was firfl printed in the Latin edition of Nuremberg, publiflied in 1521. Diflert. fur le Quatriemc Livre d'Efdras, not. l. [c] In the Arabic verfion it is called the Firfl Book of Ef- dras. This verfion differs much from the Latin copies, and has many interpolations ; one particularly concerning the in- termediate ftate of the foul. [d] Chap. ii. 39, 40. The author in the laft of thefe verfes fpeaks of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi ; though the two former did not probably flourifli as Prophets till after the re- turn from the captivity, and Malachi not till above 100 years after the decree of Cyrus. Ezra, indeed, if he had been the author of the book, might, as fpcaking prophetically, have mentioned even in the captivity thefe Prophets by name ; but befides other reafons that tend to prove that the work was written after his time, it may be remarked, that the Prophets arc here envimerated, not according to the order of the He- brew canon, but according to that of the Septuagint. Vid. alfo, chap. xv. 46. where Afia is mentioned, a name probably «ot known in the time of Ezra, have OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 531 have not been admitted. It is not, indeed, probable that an infpired writer would have claimed a name to which he was not entitled ; or have interfperfed in his work thofe extravagant conceits and apparent in- confiftencies which occafionally disfigure and degrade this production. The book, it is true, contains much fublime inftruftion : many animated exhorta- ' tions to righteoufnefs, and many fentiments not un- worthy of the facred fource from whence they are related to have flowed. It reprefents Ezra as com- man4ed to remonilrate with the people for their dif- obedience ; and on their contempt of God's words, as addrefiing himfelf .to the heathen, whom he en- joins to prepare for that " everlafting light" which fhould fliine upon them. It defcribes the Prophet as pleading with fubmiflive piety to remove the afflic- tions of his captive countrymen ; as anxioufly en- quiring why the chofen people of the Almighty fhould fuffer feverer punifhments for their fins than the hea- then for whom they were feemingly rejefted [e] 5 as lamenting the efFeds of entailed corruption [f] ; as bewailing the evil propenfities and condition of men, of whom a few only appear to be marked out and difl:ingui(hed as obje£ls of divine favour [g]. He is faid to have been honoured with vifions and [e] Chap. iii. 28. iv. 23 — 31. [f] Chap. ill. 20- — 22. iv. 30 — 32. ril. 48. The author fpeaks, indeed, of the extent of Adam's tranfgrelTion with a clearnefs that argues an acquaintance with the evangelical account of its efFedls. [g] Chap. iv. 12. vii, 4 — 54. ix. 15, 16, M m 2 divine 532 OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. divine communications in anfwer to thofe enquiries. The boafted revelations are defcribed in a lofty and prophetic ftile : in a manner fnnilar to that adopted by Daniel, Ezekiel, and St. John. They difcoun- tenance with becoming dignity the prefumptuous curiofity and complaints of man [h] ; contain very elevated defcriptions of God's attributes [i] ; and reft the equity of his proceedings on the projected decifions of a future judgment. They impart confo- b.tory affurances of returning favour, and reprefent in an interefting vifion, Jerufalem re-eftabliflied on its foundations [k]. The angel likewife, in thefe pre- tended vifions, reveals many ftiiking prophecies rela- tive to the Mefliah [l] ; the deflruclion of the Roman empire [m] ; and the fate of Egypt j of Babylon [n], and [h] Chap. iv. 5 — II. comp. with John iii. 12. [i] Chap. vii. 62 — 70. viii. 20 — 23, 39. xvi. 54 — 63. [k] Chap. ix. X. 27. &c. [l] Chap. ii. 34 — 48. Si Infra, p. 540, & notes. [m] Chap. xi. xii. The prophecies relative to the eagle might have been written by an uninfpired writer acquainted with Daniel's book, either before or after Chrift. The pro- phecy concerning the lion, which denounced dellrudion to the eagle, is faid by the Arabic tranflator, to be " a prophecy of the Lord the Mefliah.'' Vid. chap. xi. 37. [n] Chap. XV. xvi. In fome ancient copies thefe two laft chapters feem to conflitute a diftin^t book, called the Fifth Book of Efdras, and divided into feven chapters. Lee thinks that they have all the characters of antiquity, and rcfemble the prophetic llile. They fpeak of the deftruftion of nations, and of fome general troubles from which the faithful only fiiould be delivered. The twenty-ninth and following verfes of the fifteenth chapter, have been thought to relate to the viftories OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 533 and of other nationsj befides others of very obfcure and uncertain interpretation [o]. So far there appears nothing incompatible with the chara6ler of Ezra ; and we fhould be inclined to confider the work as his productionj or at lead as a compilation of foine fragments written by him, were it not for the deficiency of external fandions ; and for the intermixture of particulars feemingly incon- fiftent with the chara6ler and period of that Prophet. The author's pretenfions, indeed, to infpiration, as well as to the name of Ezra, are deflroyed by many falfe and abfurd particulars [p], which are fo incor- porated with the work, that they cannot always be confidered as fubfcquent interpolations. The book was never admitted into the Hebrew canon; and there is no fufficient authority to prove that it was viftories of the Saracens ; and Lee by dragons underllands ihole who lived in dens and caverns of the earth. Vid. Lee, p. 45 and 156, with note annexed to Fifth Book of Efdras. None of the pretended prophecies, however, in this book, are fo clear and original (except thofe relating to the Meffiah, which were probably written after the time of Chrift) that they might not have been framed by an uninfpired writer can- vcrfant with the prophetic books. [o] Chap. V. I — 13. vi. 7—28. [p] Chap. iv. 4:5 — 52. V. 5. vii. 11. xiii. 40- — 47. Bafnage Hift. of the Jews, B. VL ch. ii. Chap. xiv. 10 — 12. St. Cyprian and others, who believed that the end of the world was near at hand in their time, are fuppofed to have derived the notion from this and other pafiages in this book. Vid. Cyprian ad Demetrian. George Hakewill on Providence, London, 1627, fol. Freinfliem Orat, VH. and IX. See other idle tales in chap. xiv. 21 — 48. M m 3 ever f34 <^F THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. ever extant In the Hebrew language [ qJ. Its pre- tended prophecies are not produced in evidence by Chriftian writers, ftriking as fuch teftimony mufl; have been, if genuine ; and the book was never pub ickly or generally acknowledged either in the Greek or Latin church [r] ; nor was it ever inferted in the facred catalogue, by either councils or fa- thers ; but is exprelsly reprefented as apocryphal by St. Jerom, who defcribes it as rejccled by the church [s]. The many wild and prepoflerous fancies with Vv ich the work abounds, feem to prove that it was the production of a Rabbinical Jew [tJ. The learn- ed Mr. Lee is inclined to think that it was written or compiled by an Egyptian Jew before the time of Chrift ; and it has been obferved in fupport of this opinion, that it is cited or referred to as a Jewifli [ qJ Lee fuppofes that Picus Mirandula, -lud Leo Jud^us, had feen, and relates, that Petrus Galatinus had heard of an Hebrew copy ; as alfo, that Scaliger had boafted of having the book or books of Eldras in the Syriac ; but the prcfumptions of its having ever exilled in the Hebrew are but {lender. Lee's Diff. p. 152. [r] Bib. Sac. Sixt. V. and Clement. VIII. [s] Hieron. Epift. ad Domnion & Rogat. & Pr:ef. in Lib. Efd. In anfwer to Vigilantius, who had produced fomc paf- fagcb from this book, he fays, " Tu Vigiluns dormis, & dor- miens fcribis : & proponis mihi Librum Apocryphum qui fub nomine Eldrae, a te, Ssi limilibiis tui Itgitur." Vid. alfo, Athan. Synop. de Lib. Efd. Wolfius Bib. Heb. torn. i. n. 1768, p. 941, & torn. ii. p. 194, 196, 209. [t] Chap. iii. 6, .9. V. 5, <,2— 55. vi. 42, 44, 49—52, 55. Kaynold's Praeled. 27. book OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 535 book by very ancient writers [u] ; and that it may be fuppoied to treat of that traditional and myfte- rious knowledge which was faid to have been de- rived as an oral explication of the Law from Mofcs ; and which was taught in the Alexandrian fchool of the Jews. Mr. Lee obferves, that in many particulars it refembles other apocryphal books, undoubtedly written before the time of our Saviour [x] ; and that there is fome ground for fuppofmg that the book of Enoch [y], and that of the fliepherd of Hermas [zj, might have proceeded from the fame author a& the prcfent w^ork. On [u] TertuU. Lib. de Habit. Mul. c. iii. & cont. Marcion. Carm. Lib. IV. c. vii. Clemens Alex. Strom. Lib. IV. Sc Lib. L & Eufeb. Lib. VL c. xii. Ambrofe de bono Mortis, c. X. n. 45, & Lib. IL in Lucam. St. Ambrofe cites ch. vii. 32. as fcripture, and he profefles to cite on this occafion frorn Ezra ; in order to fliew that the heathens had drawn their belt maxims from our books. [x] As the two lalt chapters of Tobit, and likewife the books of Baruch and Wifdom. The book bears, likewife, fome refemblance to paffages in the ancient Targums, as thofe of Jonathan and Onkelos, See Kidder's Demonftration of the Meffiah, and Allix's Defence of the Unity and Difunftion of the Divine Nature. [y] This book is cited by St. Jude, ver. 14. if not by St. Peter ; and an interpretation is borrowed from it by the Tar- gumill: Jonathan. It is fuppofed to have been known in the age of Alexander Polyhiftor, above an hundred years before the birth of Chrift, or even earlier. [z] The viiions of Hermas much rcfemblc thofe of Ef^'ras in many flriking particulars. They are thought to ha^e been written about feventy-five years after the vulgar aera. The M m 4 book 536 OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. On a fuppofition that this work was written before the period of Chrifl, we muft admit that thofe par- ticulars which appear to be prophetic of circuin- flances rekitive to the Meffiah and his kingdom were colledted from an acquaintance with the infpired books of the Old Teftament j or that the work has been interpolated by fome writer who lived under the Gofpel difpenfation [a]. But it exhibits, in every part, fuch a manifell refemblance to the doc- trines, fentiments, and exprelTions, of the evangelical Yriters ; and correfponds fo much with paffagcs of the New Teftament as to particulars interwoven in the contexture of the book ; that we mufl; fuppofe it to have been written after the publication of the Gofpel, unlefs we admit that the evangelical writers book of Hermas was highly efteemed in the Greek, and hardly known in the Weftern church, though now extant only la Latin. Vid. Lee's Difc. p. 138. [a] Mr. Lee feems to infinuate that the book might have been corrupted by the Cerinthians, pr even by Cerinthus hiin- felf, who in his religious fyHem, combined with the dodlrincs of Chrifi: the opinions of the Jews, and the errors of the Gnoftics. Some, indeed, have imagined, that this book is the very apocalypfc of that heretic referred to by the ancients, as it feeras to contain fome notions favourable to the Cerin- thian hcrefy ; and Cerinthus is related to have written a kind of apocalypfe upon the model of St. John's Revelation. Vid. Lee's Diir. p. 87. Dr. Allis fuppofed that the fecond book of Efdras was the produdion of a Jew who had adopted the opinions of Montanus : a rigid and enthufiaftic fetftary of the fecpnd century, who predicted calamities and deftrutftion to the Roman empire. Vid. Allix de Ufu & Prcellant. Num. Mofheim's Jicclef. Hift. Cent. 2. Part IL § z^. 6 have OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 537 have borrowed more from this apocryphal book, than from almoft any canonical book of the Old Teftament, fmce in none except in the Pfalms can we difcover fuch frequent coincidence of thought and expreffion [b] ; and the author, indeed, treats fo clearly of particulars brought to light by the Gofpel difpenfation ; pourtrays fo expreffively and [e] Comp. chap. i. 30. with Matt, xxiii. 37. Chap. i. 32. with Matt, xxiii. 34. and Luke xi. 49, 50. where the evangelift refers probably to Ibme prophecy now loft. Chap. i. 33. with Luke xiii. 35, &c. Chap. i. 37. with John xx. 29. Chap. ii. 8, 9. with Mark vi. 11, &c. Chap. ii. n. with Luke xvi. 9. Chap. ii. 12. with Matt. xi. 28. Chap. ii. 13. with Matt, vii, 7. and Matt, xxiv, 22, and chap. xxv. 34. and Mark xiii. 37. Chap. ii. 16. with John v. 28, 29. Chap. ii. 26. with John xvii. 12. Chap. iv. 21. with John iii. 31, 32. Chap. iv. 28. with Matt. xiii. 30. Chap. iv. 30. with Matt. xiii. 30, 39, Chap. iv. 31, 32. with Mark iv. 28, 29. Chap. v. i. with Luke xviii. 8. Chap. v. 2. with INIart. xxiv, 12. Chap. v. 2, 3. with John xv. i. Chap. vi. 23. with Matt. xxiv. 31. Chap. vi. 24. with, Luke xii. 53. Chap. vi. 25. with Matt, xxiv. 13. Chap. vi. 26. with Matt. xiv. 28. Chap. vii. 7. with Matt, vii 14. Chap. vii. 55. with Matt. xiii. 43. Chap, viii. 3. with IMatt. xx. 16. and vii. 14. Chap. viii. 22. with John xvii. 17. Chap. ix.. 3. Matt. xxiv. 6, 7. xiii, 32. with John vii. 19. Chap, ix. 37. with Matt. v. 18, Chap. xv. 4, with John iii. 36. and v'lii. 24. Chap. xvi. 18. with Matt, xxiv. 8. Chap. xvi. 53, 54, 76. with Luke xvi. 15. Chap, iii. II. with I Pet. iii. 2. Chap. vii. 64. with 2 Pet. iii. 15, Chap. viii. 39. with i P« t. i. 17. Chap. viii. 59. with 2 Pet. iii. 9. Chap. ix. 15. with i Pet. iv. 18. and Matt. vii. 13. Chap. ii. 41. witli 2 ThelT. ii. 13. C'jmp. alfo, chap. v. 4. ivith Rev. viii. 10, 12. See, alfo, the book of Revelation paffim, and many other collated references in Lee, p. 124 — 127. cha- ^2^ OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. charaderiftically our Saviour, who is imaged out as " the Son of God, exalted on Mount Sion [c], crowning and giving palms to them who having confeflcd the name of God, had put oiF the mortal clothing j" defcribing uivewife the charader and comprchenfive defign of Chrifl's kingdom [d], and the death of our Saviour [e] -, and ipcaking dilVnictly of a refuiredion and future judgment [f'', that he inufl have been enlightened by divine infpiration, if he had lived previoufly to the promulgation of the Gofpel doctrines. That the bock was written after the appearance of Chrift, will appear farther probable if we confider the particulars of that paffape in which the author declares, in the name of the Almighty, that " Jefus [g], his Son, fliouid be revealed with thofe that be with [c] Chap. ii. 34 — 36. comp. wiih John x. 11 — 14. and Matt. xi. 29. Efd. ii. 42 — 48. comp. with Matt. x. 32. xvi. 16. Luke i. 3 5- 1 I'cr. v. 4 and i Cor. xv. 53. Efd. vii. 28. comp. with Luke i. 31. Efd. xiii. 1—38. comp. with Matt. xxiv. 30. and xxv. 31. Vid. alfo, Efd. xiv. 9. and xv. 6. [d] Chap. ii. 34 — 41. Chap. ii. 18, 19. where, by the twelve trees and twelve fountains were defigncd, probably, the twelve apollles. [e] Chap. vii. 29. [f] Chap. ii. 16, 23, 31. iv. 42. vi. 20—28. vii. 31 — 35. comp. with John v. 25, 29. and Matt. xvi. 27. and xxv. 31. Vid. alfo, chap. vii. 42 — 45, 55. viii. 61. ix. 10 — 13. xiv. 55. [g] Chap. vii. 28, 29. The name of Jefus is wanting in the Arabic Paraphrafe ; but it muft have been in the ancient manufcripts, as particularly in the Latin copies in the time of OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 539 ^ith him ; and that they that remain fhould rejoice within four hundred years ; that after thefe years lliould his Son Chrifl die, and all men that have life ;" for it is not probable that an uninfpired writer, however converfant with the prophetic books, fhould have been able to etch out a prophecy fo clear and defcriptive. There appears then to be fome reafon, on a col- leftive confideration of thefe circumftances, to fup- pofe that the book, or at leaft that the greateft part of it, was produced after the promulgation of the Gofpel. The work is, however, of too mixed and myflerious character to authorize any pofitive deter- mination. It is a colledion of pretended prophecies ; cabaliflical fancies ; and allufions to evangelical par- ticulars. Amidft fpurious fabrications, and palTages tranfcribed from the Gofpel, it may contain frag- ments of works written before the time of Chrift [h] j and fome writers have confidered it as a com- of St. Anibrofe, which was about 700 years prior to the fup- pofed date of the Laudean manufcript. This name, though fynonimous with the word Redeemer, is no where applied to the Meffiah in the Old Teftament. Vid. Matt. i. 21. The word chrifl: is fynonimous with that of the Meffiah, or the Anointed ; which words are often ufed by the Prophets in predidioiis refpe6ting our Saviour. Vid, i Sam. ii. 35. Pfahii ii. 2. Dan. ix. 25. The Seventy in thefe places tranllatc Majlnach^ by Xpio-I®'. [h] Mr. Lee conceives the two firfi: chapters to be an cx- trinfic work. He confiders them as a fragment of fome book held facred among the Egyptian Jews, though not admitted into the canon. They are not in the Arabic verlion, nor in fome of the mofl ancitjnt Latin, copies. Lee's Diff. p. 54. I pilatiou 540 OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. pi'ation of pieces, of which fome, at Icufl:, may have been the genuine produdion of Ezra. Among the various opinions that have been en- tertained concerning this book, fome have imagined that it might have been compofed foon after the de- flruction of Jerufalem, by a Chriftian writer ; who, as was cuftomary among the ancients, might have affumed a borrowed title, not with intention to im- pofe on the world : but to exhibit under the name of Ezra, as that of a great doctor of the Law, a fpe- cimen of what might be faid on the principles of the Jewifli fynagogue, concerning the more inward and fpiritual religion that had been concealed from com- mon obfervation under the veil of Mofes ; and that the author might defign to develop the more fecret wifdom of God in his government of the world, and of his church ; with the more notable events re- lative to the introduction and eftablifliment of the kingdom of the Mefliah, in order to facilitate the reception of the Gofpel and its myfteries. It is probable, that the author's intention was to promote the fuccefs of Chriilianity ; and Calmet has conjectured, that he lived during the time of fome perfecution of the Chriftians, whom he appears de- firous of exciting to faith and fortitude [i]. But however pious the defign of the author, it will not apologize for the guilt of endeavouring to impofe a fpurious for an infpired work on the world ; and for the prefum.ption of fpeaking in the name and with the [i] Chap. ii. 44—47. authority OF THE SECOND BOOK OF E5DRAS. J41 authority of God. The work, however, may be ad- mired as a produftion of the mofl curious and in- tereiting charafter ; as valuable for many pious and inftruclive fentiments, and for precepts modelled on the perfedion of chriftian morality [k]. It may be admired, likewife, for the beauties of its compofition: for its lively and elegant illuftrations, and for that majellic eloquence which breaks forth through the difadvantages of a barbarous Latin tranllation. The Romifli church, though it admit not its canonical authority, has adopted fome paffages from it into its offices [l] ; and it is properly fufl'ered to continue in our Bibles as a profitable book if difcreetly and cau- tioufly ufed, but not as having any authority in point of doclrine. It may be obferved, however, in vin- dication of the book, even in that refi3e(51:, at leaft in one inllance, that the Roman Catholics vtdio have endeavoured to countenance the notions of purgatory by the authority of this writer, have perverted his words J for the pafiage in which he fpeaks, agreeably to the reprefentation of St. John [m], of the fouls of the righteous, as fet apart in expectation of God's final judgment, makes no mention of purification, or of their being placed in a ftate of expiatory punifh- ment. Clemens Alexandrinus has quoted [n] in his [k] Chap. n. 20 — 23. iv. 7. [l] 2 Efdras ii. 36, 37. Mida in Fer. pod Pentacoftem, Miff. Rom. p. 316. [m] Chap. iv. 35 — 41. comp. with Rev. vi. 9 — 11. [n] Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib, I. p. 330. explication 542 OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. explication of Daniers prophecy, a paflage as from the book of Efdras, which is no longer to be found in this or the preceding book ; if it ever exifted in this, it mud have tended ftill farther to prove that it was written after the appearance of Chrift. The words of Clemens may be thus rendered : " For it is written in Efdras, and thus the Mefliah, the Prince, the King of the Jews, was in Jerufalem, after the accomplifhment of the feven weeks ; and in the fixty-two weeks all Judaea was in peace, and was without wars j and the Lord our^s Chrift, the moft: Holy, being come, and having fulfilled the vifion and prophecy, (Prophet) was anointed in the flefh, by the Spirit of his Father.'* Of [ 543 ] OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT, THIS Book was probably written by, or at leafl: compiled from the memoirs of Tobit and Tobias [a] : whom Raphael, the angel, had commanded to record the events of their lives [bJ. The work appears to have been begun by Tobit ; who in the Greek, Hebrew, and Syriac editions, fpeaks in the firfl perfon to the fourth chapter ; and by whom other parts in the book, as the prayer in the thirteenth chapter, are faid to have been written ; what he left unfiniflied was probably completed by his fon ; the two laft verfes of the book being after- wards added by fome compiler [c], who digelled the materials into their prefent form. [a] The Greek cali,- the father T!oQr,T (Tobet) or Tw^it (Tobir) and the fon Ti,?taj (Tobias) in the Chaldee both are called n'mtD (Tobija). [b] Chap. xii. 20. [c] It is called /3toAo? rm Koyay^ " The Book of the Words" or of the ads of Tobit. ch. i. i. It 544 <^^ "^"^ BOOK OF TOBIT. It Is uncertain, whether this work w^ere originally written in the Hebrew or in the Chaidaic language [d], with both of which Tobit and his family muft have been well acquainted. The Hebrew copies publiflied by Munfter and Fagius, appear to be tranf- lations comparatively modern [e] ; and as the book was extant in the Chaidaic language in the time of St. Jerom, it is poflible that it was originally written in that language, though no Chaidaic copy be now extant. The moft ancient copy that is known to exifl, is a Greek verfion which was probably made by fome Helleniftical Jew [f], and before the time of Theodotion, as it is quoted by Polycarp [g] j [n] Origen profeffes to have heard that the Jews had Tobit and Judith in their language among the apocryphal books. Vid. Epift. ad African, but he probably meant in the Chaidaic language, which is fometimes called the Hebrew. The names of the angels, and of the months, are of Chaldssan derivation ; but thefe might have been equally ufed by a Jew, as the Chaldxan expreflions and reckonings were generally adopted during and after the captivity by the Jews. ViJ. Berefchit. Rabb. & Talmud Hicr. Huet. Dem. Evan. Prop. 4. [e] The Hebrew obtained by Fagius from Conflantinoplc, and publiflied by him, feems to have been tranflated from the Greek ; that of Munfter, which he profefles to have found in Germany, was probably rendered chiefly from the Vulgate. They both, however, vary from the copies from which they are fuppoftd to have been refpetftively tranflated. Huet was in pofl'effion of an Hebrew manufcript, which differed from both ; and efpecially from that of Fagius. Vid. Fabric. Bib. Grcec. Huet. Prop. 4. & Calmet. Prcf. fur Tobic. [f] Hicron. Prsf. in Tobiam, & Whillon's Sac. HilK vol. i. [g] Polycarp. Epift. ad Philip. This Greek tranilation was compofed, however, long after the period affigned to the hillory. OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. 545 from this our Engllfh tranllation, and probably the Syriac verfion was made : as alfo the Latin verfion, which was in ufe before the time of St Jerom. All the verfions of this book vary h much from each other, that they muft have fuffered many cor- ruptions. St. Jerom's Latin verfion efpecially, which he profelfes to have tranflated from the Chaldee, dif- fers fo much from the Greek, that it has been fup- pofed to have been drawn from a more extended hiftory of Tobit [h]. But if we confider, that St. Jerom was at that time by his own account ignorant of the Chaldee, and that he executed the work by the affiftance of a Jew in one day [i], we may at- tribute many of the adventitious particulars' to in- accuracy, and to the redundancies that muft have refulted from verbal circumlocution. The Greek is probably mod entitled to refpecl, and on that ac- count it was preferred by the tranflators of our Bible [k] i and, indeed, there are fome miftakes in the hiftory, for the fixth verfe of the eighth chapter is tranfcrlbed ahnoil: merhatbti from the Septviagint verfion of Gen. ii. 18. [h] Fabian Juftiniani fuppofed that there muil have been two originals j and Serarius contends for three. But the va» rieties arife from corruptions in the copies. Vid. Juflin Praef. in Tob. He mentions an Arabic verlion which correfponds much with the Vulgate, and which was probably made from it. [ij " Unius Diei laborem arripui, Si quicquid ille mihi Hebraicis verbis expreifit, hoc ego accito notario ferraonibus Latinis expofui," fays St. Jerom, vid. Pra:f. in Tobiam. We are not therefore to look for accuracy in a tranflation fo made. [k] Coverdale's tranflation appears to have been made from that of St. Jerom, altered as in the Vulgate. N n Latin, 546 OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. Latin, which if not rejected, would entirely dedroy all the authority which the book may claim, and make it utterly inconfiftent with the times to which it is affigned. This, however, is canonized by the church of Rome. The book, if it ever exifted in the Hebrew lan- guage, was certainly never in the Hebrew canon, and has no pretenfions to be confidcred as the pro- duction of an infpired writer. It was probably com- pofed after the clofmg of the canon j but perhaps before the time of our Saviour, though as far as may be argued from the filence of Philo and Jofe- phus, it does not feem to have been known to thofc Liftorians, and it is not cited in the New Teftament. It is not to be found in the mod ancient catalogues of the canonical books, as furniflied by Melito y Origen ; and the Council of Laodicea ; and it mufl be added, that Athanafius [l], Cyril of Jerufaleni [Pvi], Gregory Nazianzen [n], Epiphanius [o], Hi- lary [p], and St. Jerom [c^], exclude it from the facred code. Though Tobit has no canonical authority, it is a book refpedable for its antiquity and contents. In tlie Alexandrian manufcript, and in the bell editions of the Septuagiut, it is placed among the hagiogra- [i,] Arhan. Epill. tcllal. & in Synop. [m] C} rill. Catech. 4. [x] Greg. Nazianz, Cann. dc Veris Scrip. [o] Epiphan. de Pond. & Mcnf. [i>] Hil. in Prolog-. Phiim. [ cj Hieron. Prol. Gal. Pia-l". in Tob. in Prov. &;c. paflim. phical DF THE BOOK OF TOBlT. 547 piiical books ; and it is cited from the Greek with great refped by Polycarp [rJ, Clemens Alexandrinus [s], Chryfoftom, and other writers [t] of confider- able authority ; and fome Councils, indeed, as thofe of Carthage [u], Florence, and Trent [x], efleemed it canonical ; upon an erroneous notion of its being dilated by infpiration, and upon a fuppofition that it was claffed by the Jews among the Hagiographa as a work of fecondary rank [y]. HouBiGANT imagines, that the only reafon why it was not admitted into the canon was, becaufe being a private hiftory, there were probably but few copies ; and that thefe being kept at Ecbatana in Media, [r] Polycarp. Epift. ad Phillpp, [s] Clemen. Alex. Strom. I. [t] Clem. Conftit. Apoil. Lib. I. c. I. Lib. IIL c. xv. Lib, VIL c. ii. Irenaeus Infinuat. Lib. L c. xxx. Cyprian. palTim. Augiift. de Doft. Chrift. Lib. IlL c. xviii. Ambrof. Lib. dc Tobia. Hilar, in Pfalm cxxix. n. 7. Bafil. Homil. de Avarlt. [u] Concil, Carthag. IIL An. 397. c. xlvii. alfo C«ncil. Ilippon. A. 393, Can. 38. Vid. alfo, P. Innocent I. Epill. 3. ad Exuper. & Cofin's Schol. Hill. § 83. [x] Concil. Trid. Seff. 4. [y] Hieron. Prol. Gal. Prxf. in Proverb. & in Tobit. In the prefeut copies of this laft preface, St, jerom is reprefented to have faid that the Jews reckoned Tobit among the Hagio- grapha ; but the word Hagiographa is probably, as many of the Romanifts allow, a corruption, and fiibftituted for Apo- crypha. Thofe, however, who contend for the authenticity of the expreifion, mull at leall admit, that Hagiographa is ufed only in an inferior fenfc ; for St. Jerom in the fame place affirms, that the Jews excluded it from the catalogue of the divine writing?, and cenfured him for tranflating a book not ill their canon. Vid. Cofin*s Schol. Hiil. § 73. p- 83. N n 2 where 548 OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. where Tobias retired, the work though then written, might not have been known to Ezia; but, indeed, if it had been then written, and known to the com- piler of the canon, it could have had no title to be claffed among the canonical books as of the fame authority with them. The author does not pretend to prophefy himfclf ; but colle6ls only what had been delivered by the Prophets ^z] : defcribing the fate of Nineveh [a] ; the difperlion of his countrymen 5 the dell ruciiou of Jerufalem, and of the temple, in the fame manner that Jonah and other Prophets had foretold them. There are no circumftances mentioned in this book which are inconfiftent with the period in which Tobit is related to have lived [b] ; nor is there any internal objedlion to the fuppofition of its being com- piled foon after the events therein dcfcribed, or at leafl before the time of Chrift. In the Vulgate, in- deed, the temple of Jerufalem is fpoken of as already- burnt [c] ; and it has been fuppofcd that part of [z] CIisp. xiv. 4, 5. [a] Grocius thinks that Jonas is infcrted in chap. xiv. 4, 8. by miftake for Nahum. But Jonah's prophecy, in ch. iii. 4. of his book, may be fiippofed to include the dellru<£lion of Nineveh by the Medcs and Babylonians. Its accompliflimcnt was protrafted but not fruftrated. [e] It fhould be remarked, that Nebuchodonofor, mentioned in chap. xiv. 15. was Nabopolaflar. Vid. Jofcph. Antiq. Lib. XVIII. c. xi. comp. with Lib. I. cont. Apion. & Juchafin. fol. 136. Afllierus was Allyages, or his fon, the Cyaxares ot Herodotus. Nineveh was taken A. M. 339::. Vid. Prid. An. 612. Preface to Nahum, p. 474. [c] Chap. XIV. 7. and xlii. if. Vulgate. Toblt's OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. 549 Tobit's prophetic affurancc was drawn from the writings of Jeremiah ; but as in the Greek verfion from which our tranllation is made, that deftrudion is fpoken of prophetically [d] as yet to happen ; and as all the predictions which are here inferted might have been drawn from Prophets who preceded his time, there is no reafon to difpute the antiquity af- cribed to Tobit, or to his book [e]. From the fame facred fource of the earlier Prophets, might have been derived thofe prediftions which Tobit records relative to the calling of the Gentiles [f] ; and the reftoration of Jerufalem to a magnificence prefigura- tive of its future fpiritual glory in the eflabUfiiment of the Chriflian church [g]. With refped to the hiftory contained in this book, there is no reafon to queftion its truth, at [d] Chap. xiv. 4. drawn perhaps fi-om Micah ill. 12. [e] Aman, mentioned in chap. xiv. 10. was not Hainan the proud enemy of Mordec'ai and the Jews, mentioned in the book of Efther, nor Judith's hufband, but fome predeccflbr or contemporary of Tobit, with whofe hiftory we are unac- quainted. [f] Chap, siii. 11. which perhaps alludes to the offering- of the wife men, defcribed in St. Matt. ii. 11. The prediLl;ion may be drawn from David's prophecy in Pfalm Ixxii. 10. of which the very words are introduced in the Hebrew copy publiflied by Fagius. See, alfo, chap. xiv. 6, 7. which might be ground- ed on the prophecies in I^.Iicah v. 12, 14. Ifa. ii. 18. xxxi. 7. Zechar. xiii. 2, &c. [g] Chap. xiii. 16 — 18. xiv. 5 — 8. which figurative paffages refemble fome metaphorical defcriptions of St. John. Vid. Rev. xxi. 10 — 27. xxii. 3 — 6. but which were probably bor^ rawed from Ifaiah llv. 11 — 17. N n 3 kaft 550 OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. leaft as to the main particulars; and the Jews do not appear to have entertained any doubts on the fubje(?t [h]. It is written with much fimphcity, and with an air of verity. The characters are defcribed with great fincerity and effect ; and the minute detail of genealogy, of time, place, and perfonal circumftances [i], while they heighten the intereft, tend to de- monftrate the truth and reality of the relation. To- bit, then, is to be confidered as a real character i he was born probably during the reign of Ahaz ; he was of the tribe of Nephthali, in the city of Thifbe [k], in Upper Galilee j he was carried captive to Nineveh [h] Juchafin, Hierom. ad Chron. &: Heliod. Grot. Prsf. ad Tob. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Lib. Vli(. [i] Chap. V. i6. The mention of Tobias's dog has been frequ'^ntly reprefented as a ludicrous and unnecciuiry particu- lar. But there is often as much want of taite as of candour in crlticifm of this nature. The introduction of fuch incidental particulars is not unufual in the moft admired works of an- tiquity. Vid OdyiL Lib. 1.'. 1. u. iEneid. Lib. VIIL 1. 463. It deierves to be remarked, that in the eleventh chapter of the Vulgate, the dog is faid to have firll appeared as the harbinger of the fon's return ; and the Syriac verhcn repre- fents Anna to have lirft perceived the dog ; and indeed, the Greek has been thought to intimate nearly as much, for it fays, not that flie favv Tobias himfelf, but 'Sfffocni/or.a-n auloy sfXfilJLiiov, " perceived that he was coming," as poffibly by the dog. In this there is nothing low or ridiculous, but an in- cident fam/iliar and elegant. Comp. with OdyfT. Lib. XVII. 1. 301, 302. [k] Thilbe was at the right-hand (that is, to the fouth ; for the Jews in the defcription of places, fuppofe the fpeaker to face the eaft) of Kadefli. Nepthali (Kv^t^j, or xf^»ff, or OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. 55I Nineveh after the extinftion of the kingdom of Ifrael, by EnemaiTar, or SahnanelTer, about A, M. 3283 [l]. The hiftory of this captive, and of his family, is here related in a very interefting manner ; it is en- livened with much variety of incident, and decorated by the difplay of many virtues. Some of the inci- dents, as the miniflry of the angel j the influence and defeat of the evil fpirit ; as well as the blindnefs and recovery of Tobit, have appeared fo improbable to many writers, that they have chofen to confider the whole book merely as an inftrudive fidion [m], defigned to illuftrate the relative and focial chari- ties of life, and to exhibit a pattern of virtue ex- ercifed in trials, and recompenfed in this world ; but there are no phyfical objedions to the caufes affigned either for the deprivation [n] or reftora- tion Ka.hu? TD? N£(p6«^i) the fame place, perhaps, with Cades, the capital of Nepthali, and poilibly the Cadytes of Herodotus. It was one of the three cities of refuge on the weft lide of the Jordan. The Vulgate reprefents Tobit to have been born at Nepthali. Vid. Calniet and Arnald on the place. [l] The tribe of Nepthali in general vhad been carried into captivity about twenty years before by Tiglath-Pilefer. Vid. 2 Kings XV. 29. The year of Tobit's death is uncertain ; all the copies differ. The Vulgate fuppofes him to have lived 102 years ; the Greek 158. Both accounts are erroneous. [m] Paul Fagius. It has been compared to the Cyropccdia of Xenophon, and the Telemachus of Fenelon. [n] Chap. ii. 10. Tobit appears to have flept in a court- yard, becaufe polluted by the dead body which he had buried, ;iiid his eyes might have been open habitually, or from ac- N n 4. cident. 552 OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. tion [o] of fight to Tob'it, or if they are not na- turally capable of producing fuch effects, they might ftill be miraculoufly rendered inftruments in the hands of Providence. With refpect to the agency of the angels, there is nothing inconfiftent with reafon, received opinions [p], or fcripture, in fuppofing a limited fuperintend- ence of fuperior beings. We knovs^, indeed, that under the pecuhar circumftances of the Jewilh oeco- nomy, the miniftry of angels was manifeftly em- ployed in fubferviency to God's defigns ; and that particular perfonages were occafionally favoured with cident. The excrement of fparrows (fwallows) is hot and acrimonious. Vid. Plinii Lib. XL c. xxxvii. Gefner Hiil. Animal. Lib. IIL and may caufe blindnefs. [o] It is uncertain of what fpecies was the fifli mentioned in this book. The gall of the fifli called Callionimus is effica- cious in removing fpecks and obftruftions of the fight. Vid. Galen de Simplic. Medicam. Facult. Lib. X. c. xli. jElian Lib. Xlir. c. iv. Plin. L. XXVIIL c. xi. Aldrovand. Or- nithol. L. XVII. Vales de Sac. Philolbph. But this tilli ap- pears to be too fmall to correfpond with the defcription of that of Tobit. Bochart contends for the Sllurus, the flieat- fifh, or flurgeon, called alio, the Glanis. This the naturalifts defcribe as large and voracious. Vid. Ray and Johnfton. And its liver was famous for removing fufFufions and dimnefs. Vid. Houbigant. But it is objected that this fifh, as having no fcales, could not be eaten confidently with the reftriiftions of the Levitical Law. Vid. Lev. xi. lo, ii. The livers of ^nany other fiflies may hjjve the fame fanative qualities. [p] Hefiod Oper. 5c Dies, Lib. I. Plato de Legibus, Lib. X. Apuheus de Deo Sacratis. Buxtorf. Synag. Jud. c. x. Orphei Hymn ad Muf. Plutarch in Brut. Acfts xii. 15. Barnab, Epift. c. xviii. their OF THE BOOK OF TOEIT. Cf^ their familiar intercourfe. It is likewife unqueflion- able, that before the power and malevolence of evil fpirits were checked and reftridted by the control of our Saviour, their open influence was experienced [ 0^] ; and though in the accounts of this book, in- vifible beings be reprefented as endued with corporeal affedlions, and defcribed under traditionary names of Chaldsean extraction ; and though the whole hiflory of their proceedings as here furnifhed, be in fome ineafure accommodated to vulgar conceptions [r] ; yet it would be a violation of all jufi: rules of criticifm, to confider the agency of thefe beings as a mere al- legorical machinery. Indeed, the events recorded are fo dependent on their fuppofed interference ; and the miraculous circumftances are fo incorporated with the hiftory, that the truth of the whole account refts on the fame foundation, and the particular parts cannot be feparately removed. [ (i_] Luke xiii. i6. i Pet. v. 8, Rev. xx. 1—3. [r] Chap. vi. 17. vlii. 2, 3. The fuppofed effeft of fumi- gation on demons was agreeable to vulgar notions. Vid. Jofeph. de Bell. Jud. Lib. VIII. c. ii. The perfume was ren- dered efficacious by faith, prayei", and continence ; vid. Matt. 3Jvii. 21. ^nd the burning of the entrails ©f the fifli was en- joined rather as a fign and intimation, than as a phylical caufe of the defeat of the evil fpirit, as in John ix. 6. We rea- fon, however, upon preconceived conjedural notions, when we affert, that devils cannot be affefted by the operation of fmells. The flight of the evil fpirit, and his being bound by Raphael, implies only that he was circumfcribed and re- ftridted in his power by an expulfion to the fuppofed fphere of demons, Vid. Luke viii. 29. Matt. xii. 43. Hieroi>. ia Hierem. c. xxviii. Still, r^/|. OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. Still, however, thofe who confider the whole book as a moral hivention defigncd for the particular confolation of the Jews in captivity; or for their general inftruclion and encouragement in afflidion ; may derive the fame profit from that fine fpirit of piety and benevolence which breathes through every part of the book [s] j and which occafionally breaks out into thofe beautiful fentiments that have been imitated by fucceeding writers, and copied out into the Liturgy of our church [t] ; and which fome- times approach even the refmed precepts of Chrif- tianity [u]. In the old Roman MiiTal, and in the MifTal of Sarum, there is a proper mafs of Raphael the arch- angel; and in the prefatory rubrick it is directed, that the office be celebrated for pilgrims or travellers, as alfo for fick perfons and demoniacs [x] : upon notions of the archangel's character, built on the re- lations of this bock. Afterwards follow two fhort prayers, one addreffed to God, and one to Raphael himfelf. [s] Chap. ill. vili. xlii. [t] Tobit iv. 7, 8, 9. and the Communion Service. [u] Chap. iv. 7. comp. with Luke xi. 41. Chap. iv. 15, •with Matt. vii. 12, and Luke \'i. 31. Chap. iv. 16. with Luke xiv. 13. [x] Arnald's DifT. on the Demon Afmoda?us, • F [ 555 ] OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH, TH E author, and the period of this hiflory, are both uncertain f a]. Some commentators imagine that it was written by Joacim or Eliakim, vjhom they conceive to have been high-prieft in the reign of Manaffeth [b]^ and that it was tranflated into Chaldee tor the ufe of thofe Jews in the cap- tivity at Babylon, who had forgotten their own language. Others attribute the work to Jofhua, the fon of Jofedech [c";, the companion of Zerubbabel. But by whomfoever, o- u. whatever language it "Was produced, the original is not now extant. The Hebrew copy, which fome have profefTed to have feen at Conflantinople [d], was probably a work of [a] Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VT. c, 2. Serar. Proleg. in Jud. St. Jerom feems to conlider it as the produdion of Judith. Vid. in Agg. i. 6. [b] Chap. iv. 6. [c] Preiido-Philo. Lib. de Temp. R. Afarias, Sixt, Senens. Jul. Roger, de I";t->. Can. c. x\. [d] Lib, Munfier. Pr^f. in Tob. Hebrceum. modern ^^6 OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. modern compofition ; and our Englifh tranfiation, as well as the Syriac, is made from a Greek vcrfion which exifted probably long before the time of Theo-- dotion, as it feems to have been known to Clemens Romanus [e]. The moft probable opinion is, that the book was originally written in Chaldee [f] by fome Jew of Babylon ; and it might polTibly have been defigned to enliven the confidence of the Jews during the captivity, and to invigorate their hopes of a deliverance. Upon a fuppofition of the truth of the hiftory, the circumftanccs defcribed mud have occurred pre- vioufly to the deftrudion of Jerufalem, fince the Perfians are reprefented as flill fubjeft to the Aflyrian empire [g] ; and Nineveh, which is here mentioned as the capital of Nebuchodonofor's empire [h], was overthrown before that deftrudion ; and upon the impending invafion of Holophernes, the Jews are faid in this book to have been troubled " for the city and temple of their God." Ufher, therefore, Lloyd, and Prideaux, have agreed on confidering the hiftory as coeval with the time of Manafleth [i] : placing [e] Clemens Rom. Epift. ad Corinth, c. Iv. Vid. alfo, Po- lycarp. & Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. [f] Hieron. Praef. in Lib. Jud. [g] Chap. i. 7 — lo. [h] Chap. i. I. [i] Some place it in the reign of Amon, or in that of Jofiah, and others contend for the time of Jehoiakim. Some writers who place it in the reign of Zedekiah, conceive that Nebu- chodonofcr was the fame pcrfon with Nebuchadnezzar ; upon which OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. ^ ^J placing it in about the forty-fourth year of his reign, A. M. 3348. And Prideaux, with other writers, after a judicious invefligation of the feveral opinions that have been entertained upon the fubjed [k], maintains that the Arphaxad of this book was Deioces [lJ ; and Nebuchodonofor, Saofduchinus, who af- vvhich fiippofition, Jerufalem mufl: have been taken in the fame year that Bethulia was befieged, if we follow the ac- counts of the Greek copies of this book, which place the ex- pedition of Holophernes in the eighteenth year of Nebucho- donofor's reign ; for the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar coincides with the ninth year of Zedekiah. [k] The ancient tradition among the Jews was, that the circumftances of the liiftory happened under the reign ofCam- byfes. Vid. Eufeb. Chron. Hill. Scholaft. Dyonif. Carthus. Suidas Verbo Holophernes. Auguft. de Civit. Dei,. Lib, XVni. c. xvi. But the capital of Cambyfes was Babylon, and he reigned but feven years and three months. Vid. Herod. Lib. III. cap. Ixvi. Others place the hiftory in the time of Xerxes. Vid. Suidas Verbo Judith. Riber. in Na- hum. il. Ellius and others place it in the time of Darius Hyftafpes ; and Sulplcius Severus affigns to it a Hill later period, placing it under the reign of Artaxerxes Ochus, King of Perfia. Vid. Hill. Sac. Lib. IL Belkrm. de Verb. Dei, Lib. I. c. xii. • [l] Deioces founded Ecbatana ; and the beginning of the twelfth year of Saofduchinus, coincides with the laft year of Deioces. Thefe and other concurrent circumllances feem to prove, that Deioces and Arphaxad mult have been the fame perfon ; though fome writers relate that Deioces lived long, and died old, in profperity. Calmet fuppofes Arphaxad to be the Phraortes of Herodotus, the circumiiances of whole life and death, as he conceives, correfpond better with the ac- counts of this book, and who may be fuppofed to have finifliecl the fortifications of Ecbatana, ?s defcribed Jn chap, i. 2—4. Vid. Herod. Lib. I. cended e-rS OF THC BOOK OF JUDtTli. cended the throne of Babylon, A. M. 3336; aiid tlie learned author places the expedition of Holo- phernes in A. M. 3349 : making the twelfth year of Saofduchinus to coincide with the forty-fifth of ManaiTeth [m]. But though the hiflory cannot with confiflency be afiigned to any other time than that of Manalfeth [n], there are ftill fo many objedions to this period, that many writers have chofen to confider the whole work as a religious romance. It muft be confefled, indeed, to be extraordinary, that neither Philo nor Jofephus (hould make any mention of this fignal de-^ liverance j for the latter efpccially, though he pro- [m] Prid. Con. vol. i. Part I. p. 36. Calmct's Preface, Bellarra. de Verb. Dei, Lib. I. c. xii. [\] iManaffeth himielf is not mentioned in this book, (nor, indeed, any King,) whence fome have fuppofed that the liege of Bcthulia happened during his captivity at Babylon; or that he was withheld from an a£live part from cautious or prudential confidcrations ; or laflly, that he was then engaged in fequcllcred repentance. But as Btthulia was on the fron- tiers, the defence of it might have been entruflcd to the high- prieft. The precife fitiiation of Bethulia is not known ; fome place it in the territory of Zabulon, in which there appears to have been a town of that name, but Judith, Manaflech, and Onias were of the tribe of Simeon. There might have been a frontier town in the hilly country of Simeon, towards Syria, named Bethulia, though we have no other mention of it in liiflory. We cannot, however, fuppofe it to have been the fame place with Bethel, or Bethucl, mentioned in Joflrua xix* 4. and I Chron. iv. 30. without allowing that the author has been guilty of fome geographical miOakes. Vid. chap. ili. 9, 10. and iv. 6. Calmet in chap. vi. 7. and ArnalJ in chap, vi. ;o. fcffed OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. ^^9 fefied to confine himfelf to fuch accounts as were contained in the HebreWj (that is, the authentic ca- nonical) books [o], yet by no means adheres fo ftridly to his plan that he might not have been ex- pedled to have mentioned fo remarkable an inter- pofition of God in favour of his country j but as this omiffion can only furniih a prefumptive argument againfl the truth of the hiflory ; and as the apparent inconfiftencies may be accounted for without de- ftroying the credibility of the chief particulars ; it is more reafonable to confider it as the hiftory of real events [p] : fmce many of its circumftances corre- fpond with the accounts of Herodotus [ qJ\ ; and the Jews as well as the earlier Chriftians, believed it to be a relation of hiftorical truths. Many, alfo, of the difficulties which occur in confidering the hiftory j and many of the obje(flions to the period which is affigned to it, are to be at- tributed to corruptions that have taken place in the Greek verfion [r] j and which are among the in- confiftencies [o] Prooem. Antiq. & Lib. X. c, xi. [p] Mountfau^on Verite de I'Hiftoire de Judith. Howd's lliil. of Bible, ch. clxxlv. Koubigant Prasf. & Notes. Herod. Lib. L c. ii. [ qJ\ Nebuchodonofor is ftiled Saofduchinus by Herodotus and Ptolemy. Nebuchodonofor was, indeed, properly the name of the Babylonian Kings ; but the Jews feem to have called all the princes who reigned beyond the Euphrates by that name, as in Tobit, Nabopolaffar is fo called, Vid. Tobit xiv. 15. [r] The third verfe of the fourth chapter reprefents the Jews as newly returned from the captivity j but this is not in 9 St. Jerom's 560 OF XHE BOOK OF JUDITH. confiflencies that St. Jerom profefles to have lopped ofl~ as fpurious when he made his tranflation which is now extant in the Vulgate [s]. Some origi;iate in the obfcurity that neceflarily hangs over a period fo diflant, and fo little iliuftrated by the remains of ancient hiltory [t] j and feme mull be charged pro- bably on the ignorance of the author, who compiled the book from fuch materials as he could procure ; and who, to give importance to his hiltory, and to St. Jerom's verfion. So likewife, the words in the eighteenth verfe of the ritth chapter, which fpeaks of the temple as beinj caft to the ground, are refcinded as a corruption by St. Je- i-om ; though the original Greek words, syssr.Ori 'n? £j«(p®-, might mean only that the temple was prophaned and trampled on ; as it was at feveral times, and, perhaps, by the Affyrians, when Manalleth was taken prifoner. The captivities and dif- perfion fpokcn of both in the Greek and Latin, may be un- derflood of the Aflyrian captivities under Rlanaffcth. Vid. 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11 — 13. [s] Chap. i. 13. which differs five years from the date given iu chap. i. i. In St. Jerom's verlion there is no apparent in- coniiflcncy. Jn chap. ii. i. the eighteenth year is placed in confequcncc of the fame calculation, inftead of the thirteenth, as it llands in St. Jerom's verfion. It is, however, poffible, that there is no millake, and that five years might have in- tervened between the preparations for war, and the attack on Arphaxad. [t] Joacim, or Eliakim, is reprcfented in this book as high- priell, though no high-priell of that name is mentioned before the captivity by Jofephus, or in the fcriptures, unlefs we at- tribute that character to the Eliakim fpoken of by Ifaiah, ch. xxii. 20 — 25. But the catalogue of Jofephus is corrupted, and the fcriptures no where profcfs to furnifli an exact fuc- cefiion of the Prielts. Vid. I'lid. Con. vol. i. Part I. p. 39. magnify OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. 561 magnify the charafters which he defcribes, has em- belliflied his hiftory, fometimes at the expeiice of chronology and truth [u]. If thefe caufes of inconfiftency be admitted, there will be no neceflity to queflion the truth of the prin- cipal circumftances in this hiftory ; and to have re- courfe to fuch imaginations as Grotius [xj and others have entertained : who have amufed themfclves by confidering it as an inftrudive ficlion, or ingenious allegory : in fpeculations that may ferve to prove the fertility of their invention, but which conduce but [u] It is faid In chap. xvi. 23. that none miide Ifrael afraid jn the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death. Now as we cannot fuppofe her to have been more than forty years old when flie captivated Holophernes ; (probably not fo old, efpecially as flie is called fair damfel (KaAij to-«iiJ(o-;£5), chap. xii. 13.) and as flie lived to the age of 105, there muft have been a fixty years peace at leall after the deliverance ; which was a longer fpace of time than intervened between the forty-fiftli year of Manaflerh, and the taking of Jeriifalem by Nebuchad- nezzar, (not to mention the dangers under Jofiah, and the defeat and death of that monarch) ; or, indeed, than any period of uninterrupted peace in the courfe of the Jewifli hiftory. We muft therefore fuppofe the author to have fpoken hyperbolically of the efFefts of Judith's heroifm. [x] Grot. Praff. ad Annot. in Lib- Jud. Grotius fancies that it is a parabolical, or enigmatic fiction, written in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, to encourage the Jews under the perfecution carried on by him. He imagines that Judith, is Judaea ; Bethulia the houfe of God ; and that by Nebucho- donofor and Holophernes, are meant the devil and his agent, and has other whimfical conceits to explain this fuppofed alle- gory. Vid. iimilar notions in Luther, Reiniccius, and Ca- pellus. Limborchi, Theolog. Lib. L cap. iii. p. 9. O O little 562 OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. little to llluflratc truth ; or to increafc our revercncf for works refpectable, at leaft, for their antiquity and fandions ; and valuable for the inllruclion which they afford. It may be obferved alfo, as an intrinfic mark of the truth of this hiftory, that the author appears to fpeak of Achior's family as living at the time when the book was written [y] j and that in the laft verfe of the Vulgate, it is faid, that the day of Judith's triumph had ever fince been celebrated as a facred feftival [z]. It appears from the accounts of Origen [a], and St. Jerom [b], that the Jews reckoned this book among their apocryphal writings. It is no where cited by our Saviour or his apoftles [c] ; it is not in the catalogues furnifhed by Melito, Origen, and [y] Chap. XIV. 10. [z] Chap, xvi, 31. Vulgate. This verfe h not In the Greek, Syriac, or ancient Latin verlions, nor Is the feftival mentioned in any authentic Hebrew calendars. Some writers, however, fuppofe that it was anciently obferved. Vid. Sel- den de Syned. Lib. III. c. siii. Scaliger de Emend. Temp« Lib. VIL p. 633, & Calmet in loc. [a] Epift. ad African. [e] Hieron. Pra;f. in Jud. Some manufcripts of St. Jeroia read improperly Haglographa. Vid. Preface to Tobir^p. 251, note Y. [c] There is a refemblance between Elifabeth's falutation of Mary, in Luke i. 42. and the encomium bellowed on Judith by Ozlas, in chap. xiil. 18. of this book ; as likcwife between the exhortation of St. Paul, and a paflage in chap. viii. 24, 25. of the Vulgate copy of Judith. The coincidence of ex- preffion is probably accidental in both parallels. St. Paul in the laft alludes to the circumftanccs mentioned in Numb. xxi. 6. and xiv. 37. 5 Athanafius^ OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. 563 Athanafius, nor was it received by Hilary, Gregory Nazianzen, Cyril of Jerufalem, or the Council of Laodicea j but being cited with refped by many ancient writers [d] ; and confidered as canonical in a fecondary fenfe by St. Auftin [e], and the African church [f], it was received indifcriminately, and as of the fame authority with the infpired books by the Council of Trent [c], which canonized St. Jerom's tranflation ; and fince that time it has been generally [d] Clem, Epift. ad Corinth, c. Ir. Clem. Conflit. Apoft» Origen. Homil. xix. in Jerem. ad Lib. III. in Johan. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. IV. Tertull. de Monog. c. xvii. Ambrof. de Offic. Lib. III. & de Vid. Augull. de Dodl. Chriit. Lib. IL c. viii. [e] St. Auftin exprefsly remarks, that this book was faid not to have been admitted into the Hebrew canon. Vid. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxvi. [f] Concil. Carthag. 3. Canon 47. See alfo, the fufpefted cpillle of Pope Innocent I. where the books of Tobit, Judith, and Maccabees, are reckoned as fcripture. [g] Some controverfialifts have alTerted, that St. Jerom al« lowed that the book of Judith was canonized by the Council of Nice. Vid. Bellar. dp V. Dei, Lib. I. c. x. Baron. An- nal. torn. iii. Ann, 325. fe£t. 157, But in the adls of this council, the book is not mentioned ; and in the place referred to, (vid, Hieron. Prref. I'l Judith) St. Jerom only fays, that the Council of Nice was reported (legitur) to have reckoned this book in the number of the /acred ivrltings ; and he re- marks in the fame place, that the Hebrews (that is, the Hel- lenifts, or the converted Jews) coniidered it as hagiographi- cal ; andelfewhere (vid. Praef. in Lib. Salom.) that the church, though it read Judith, did not receive it as canonical. Vid. alfo, in Prol. Gal. Epift. ad Fur. & Bellarm. de Vcrbo Dei, 1a\i, i. c. X. Erafm. in Cenfur. Praef, Hieron. Q o 2 reve^ 564 OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. reverenced as an infpired work by the writers of thf Romilli church ; who are, however, much perplexed and diftrefled for want of arguments to fupport its pretenfions. The book prefents an interefthig fcene of ambition fruftrated, and of intemperance puniflied. The hif- tory is written with great grandeur and animation, and the Aflyrian and Hebrew manners are well de- fcribed. The prayer, and the hymn of Judith, arc compofed with much piety [h]. The book contains nothing exceptionable in point of dodrinc, for where Judith celebrates God's juftice in punifhing the crime of the Shechemites [i], ihe by no means attempts to juflify Simeon for his vindiftivc and indifcriminatc cruelty. If the addrefs with which (lie accomplifiied her defigns fhould be thought to partake of too much of an infidious character ; it may be permitted, at lead, to admire the heroic patriotifm and piety which pronjpted her to undertake the exploit j the urgency and importance of the occafion, will Hke- wife excufe the indifcreet expofure of her perfon to intemperate paffions ; and in the general defcription of her charafter, flie may be allowed to have pre- fented an exemplary difplay of the virtues which be- come the widowed (late [k]. [h] Concil. Tiid. Sefl". 4. [r] Chap. ix. 2. [k] Ambiofe de Vid. Fulgent. Epift. ». OF 1 [ S65 1 OF T H E REST OF THE CHAPTERS of the BOOK OF ESTHER. TH E chapters entitled, the Reft of the Chapters of the Book of Efther, are not extant in the Hebrew, nor in the Chaldaic language, but only in the Greek and Latin copies. Origen was of opinion^ that they had formerly exifted in the Hebrew [a], though omitted in the copies that remained in his time ; and Huet, upon a very improbable fuppofition, conceives them to have been the produdion of the great fynagogue, and to have been tranflated from fome more copious manufcripts by the Septuagint tranflators [b] ; but thefe tranflators certainly con- lined themfelves to the canonical books. It [a] Vld. Origen in Johan. torn. ii. & Epift. ad African. [b] Origen, indeed, quoting forac paffagc from the four- teenth chapter of the book of Efther, fays, '* in the book of Efther, according to the Seventy," the fpuriaus parts being annexed to fome copies of the Septuagint, though, indeed, long after that verfion was made, as Origen mull have known, O o 3 how ever ^66 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. It is at leaft very doubtful whether thefe chapters did ever exill in the Hebrew language ; and it is un- queflionable that they never were in the Hebrew canon. If, like wife, we are to rely on the accounts of this book, there is reafon to beheve that even the authentic book of Efther was not tranflated by the authors of the Septuagint into Greek ; for in the firfl; verfe of the fecond chapter of this apocryphal part, it is faid, that the epiflle of Phurim, by which was probably meant the book of Efther, was inter- preted into Greek by Lyfimachus [c] ; who waa poffibly an Helleniftical Jew refiding at Jerufalem ; and the apocryphal parts contained in this book were, perhaps, added to the Greek tranllation by Dofitheus ahd PLolomeus, or by fome other Hellen- ifts of Alexandria. They appear to have been fub- fequcnt additions interpolated in various parts of the Greek copies by fome perfon defirous of giving eni- beUifhmeut to the hiftoryj and who inferted into the however he might think it unncceflary there to dillinguifh the canonical from the fpurious parts. Vid. Epilt. ad African. Origen clfewhere rejects thcfe additions as apocryphal. Vid« Sixt. Senens. Bib. Sanft. Lib, I. fed. 3. & Lib. V, An. 250. [c] According to this account, it was tranilatedin the fourth year of the reign of Ptolemy ; who, if he were Ptolemy Phi- lometor, lived long after the Septuagint tranflation was made. Some conceive that Ptolemy Philadelphus was meant; in the fcvcnth year of whofe reign that verfion is fiippofcd to have been executed ; and Huet imagines that the Seventy adopted this work of Lyfimachus into their tranflation of the fcri^- turcs, on an idea that it was executed before the reign of Ptolemy Philadelphus. body OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. ^6j body of the work fuch traditionary or fanciful cir- cumftances as his enquiry or invention could furnifii. From the Greek thefe additions were tranflated into the old Italic verfion [d]. They were not, how- ever, confidered as canonical by the ancient church [e], though they might fometimes pafs uncenftired as annexed to the canonical book. St. Jerom, who confined himfelf to what was in the Hebrew, did not admit them into his tranflation [f] ; but repre- fents them as rhetorical appendages and embellifh- nients annexed to the Italic verfion. Since that jtime, the mofl judicious writers [g] have not fcrupled to [d] This differed both from tKe Hebrew and Greek copies. [e] Melito ap. Eufeb. Hill. Ecclef. Lib. IV. c. xxvi. Athan, Epift. 39. Gregor. Nazianz. Carm. de Script. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Lib. I. feft. 3. Even the canonical book of Efther, in- deed, is not exprefsly enumerated in thefe catalogues ; either becaufe of thefe fpurious additions, or as the generality of writers fuppofe, becaufe the authentic book was reckoned as one book with thofe of Ezra and Nehemlah ; the three being attributed to the lame author. The fathers profefs to receive, the whole of the Hebrew canon exclulively ; and In the fy- lioplis attributed to Athanalius, the apocryphal part of Either, which is defcribed as beginning with the dream of Mordecai, is rejeiSled ; and the authentic part is there Hud to be reckoned fLS one book with another ; which other mull have been that of Ezra. Vid. alfo, HIeron. Praef. in Ezram. & Nehem. The book is reckoned In the catalogues of Orlgen, Hilary, Cy- ril, and Epiphanius ; and in that of the council of Laodicea. [f] HIeron. Prsf. in Heller. In the Greek church they are Hill fuffered to conllitute a part of the book of Either. [g] Grotlus Pr«f. ad Addlt. Efther. Dyonif. Carthuf. Ca- jetan. Raynold Heidegger, Lib. IL c. x. Kenthii Proleg. ad O o 4 Lib. r68 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. to confider them as extrinfic and fpurious appen- dages ; though ihey are canonized, together with the authentic chapters, by the Council of Trent ; and paflages from them are inferted into the offices of the Romifli church. It is manifeft on confidering the canonical book, that it is a complete and perfect work ; and thefe apocryphal parts, which are introduced into the Greek copies, will appear to be fuperfluous and cumbrous additions, to thofe who take the pains to examine them. They are in a different flile from that of the authentic chapters, and confifl: partly of a repetition of particulars contained in them. The firll chapter, which in the Greek copies is annexed to the tenth of the canonical chapters, confifls of an interpretation of a pretended dream of Mordecai, which contains fome fanciful conceits, and was fdr- jiiflied probably by the fame perfon that fabricated the dream which follows in the next chapter. The intimation contained in the firfl: verfe of the fecond or eleventh chapter, was poffibly written by fome Jew ot Alexandria ; it was not in the ancient Italic verfion. The dream which is related in this eleventh chapter, and which in the Greek is placed before the canonical part, is evidently the reverie of fome inventive writer ; and afterwards prefixed to the work. It docs not form a proper introdudion to the book ; and in the fifth verfe of the fecond ca- Lib. Apoc. V. T. p. 27. Sixtus Seuenfis calls them, laceias Appendices & pannofa Additamenta. Vid. Bib, Sainft. nonical OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. ^6g nonical chapter, Mordecai is introduced as a perfon not before-mentioned ; and his genealogy, and other particulars, are defcribed there, and in the fucceed- ing verfe, with a minutenefs which muft have beea quite redundant, if the fecond verfe of the eleventh chapter had been authentic. The account of the devices, and of the difcovery of the two eunuchs who confpired agVinft the life of Artaxerxes, is a repetition, with fome alterations, of what is related in the fecond chapter of the authentic part [h] ; and could not properly be prefixed (as it is in the Greek) to the canonical book which opens the hiftory as if nothing had been prevloully communicated. The fixth or fifteenth chapter con, tains a defcription of Efther's appearance and recep- tion by the King, which is borrowed from the fifth chapter of the genuine hiftory [i], and embellifhed with fome extraneous particulars. So Ukewife thq prayers of Mordecai and Efther, contained in the thirteenth and fourteenth chapters [k] ; as well as the letter in the thirteenth [l] chapter j and that in [h] Either 11. 21 — 23. [i] The fifteenth chapter Is in the Greek and Vulgate in- ferted immediately after Efther's prayer (as given in the fourteenth chapter) inllead of the two firft verfes of the fifth chapter. [k] Thefe prayers are placed in the Greek immediately after the feventeenth verfe of the fourth chapter. [l] This in the Greek is added after the thirteenth verfe of the third chapter. It might be grounded on fome authentic accounts, as the fubftance of it is related by Jofephus; the tjo- OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER, the fixteenth [m], which concludes the apocryphal book, are ail obvioufly fictitious inventions dcfigned by fome rhetorical writer [n], to decorate and com- plete the hiflory. They are probably accounts fa- bricated in defigned conformity to particulars alluded to by the Infpired writer in his book ; and are inter- woven with fome ingenuity into the body of the work. The forgery is, however, occafionally be- trayed by the introduftion of circumftances incom- patible with the genuine parts [o] ; and rather in- confiftent with the period ailigned to the hiflory [p]. Some Greek and Latin copies contain dill more ex- [m] This cdift in the Greek copies follows the twelfth verfc of the eighth chapter. It appears from the iVile to have been originally Wikten in Greek, and both the letters are rncn- tioned in the authentic book in a manner that Ihews they were not infcrted in the hiflory. Vid. Efth. iii. 14. viii. 13. [n] Hieron. ad Paul. & Eufloch. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Lib. VIII. [o] Comp. chap. vi. 3. with xil. 5. Chap. v. 2. with chap, sv. 4. Chap. iii. 12. with chap. xiii. 6. Chap. ix. i. with chap. vi. 8. [p] The King is made in ch. xvi. 10. to ftilc Aman a iMace- donian ; and afterwards to talk of his defire " to tranflate the kino-dom of the Perfians to the Macedonians;" particulars that lead us to fufpeft an anachronifm, as they were more adapted to the fentimcnts and circumftances of a later period, when the Perfians and Macedonians were at war. In the ninth chapter of the canonical book, Haman is in the Greek called a Macedonian, but the Hebrew word »JJ«n, fliould have been rendered as by St. Jerom, and in our tranflation, the Agagite, that is, of the race of Agag, King of the Amalekites. Jofc- phu? dcfcribes Haman as an Amalckite, Vid. Antiq. Lib. XT. c. vi. Eilhcr ix. 24. iii, 10, trancou» OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 571 traneous particulars ; and the Chaldee Paraphrafe is loaded with accumulated additions. The copies, in- deed, vary fo much from each other, that Bellar- mine [q.] fancied that there mufl: have been two original hiftories : the largefl of which he conceived to comprize the Greek additions. Our church ju- dicioufly adheres to the chapters which are contained in the Hebrew: which are indifputably authentic, and furnifh an entire and valuable hiftory. The ad- ventitious parts are, however, fuffered to continue in our bibles as profitable in a fubordinate degree. They defer ve not to be incorporated with the genuine hiftory, though they illuftrate the charafters, and dilate on the virtues difplayed for our inftruftion by the facred writer. [ qJ] Bellarmo dc Vcfb. Dei^ Lib, I. c. vU, €Kf [ sr- ] , O F THE BOOK OF THE WISDOxM op SOLOMON, THE works of Solomon in general, were em- phatically ftiled the Books of Wifdom, and were fo cited by the fathers [a] \ and in the Eccle- fiaftical language, the Book of Wifdom compre- hends not only all the authentic Books of Solomon, but alfo Ecclefiafticus j and this which is called the Book of Wifdom, or according to the Greek, the W^ifdoni of Solomon. The author of this book affumes the title, and fpcaks in the charafter of that monarch [b] j but though it may, perhaps, contain fome fentiments felefted from his works, and others afcribc-i to him by tradition [c], it cannot be re- ceived as an infpired book 5 and it was certainly [a] Melito ap. Eufeb. Ecclef. Lib. IV. c. xxv, Clem. Epift. ad Cor. Epift. 57. Origen. Horn. xvii. Cyprian. Teft. Lib. in. c. xvi. Ambrofe de Parad. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. VI. [b] Vid. c, vii. 7 — 21. compucd with i Kings, c. iii. 13. c. xiv. 29 — 34. Vid. c. viii. 14, 15, 19, 21. c. ix. 7, 8, &c. [c] Barto Cocceius Biblioth, Rabb. torn. i. p. 249. compofed OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON, 573 eompofed long after the time of Solomon. It never was in the Hebrew canon [d], and probably never in the Hebrew language [e]. It is not reck- oned in the facred catalogues of the earlier church j and the generality of ancient writers confefs, that it is not to be confidered as the work of Solomon. It contains citations of fcripture from the Septuagint, even where that verfion differs from the Hebrew text [f] ; and borrows from books written long- after the time of Solomon [g]. The copy which has the higheft pretenfions to be confidered as the original, is in Greek profe. Some learned men have fancied, that they have difcovered in this book, as well as in that of Ecclefiafticus, the Hebrew meafure, which obtains in the authentic works of Solomon [h]. The fentences have, in- deed, often a poetical turn j and in the Alexandrian manufcript, they are written ftitch-wife, like the book [d] Melito Eplft. ad Onefim. Eufeb. Hlft. Ecclef. Lib. IV. c. XXV. Atlian. Synop. Epiphan. de Pond. & Menfur. Hieron. Prol. in Lib. Solom. Job. Damafcen. de Fid. Oithod. Lib. IV. c. xviii. [e] Auguft. dc Civit. Dei. Lib. XVIL c. xviii. Hieron, Prol. Gal. [f] Ch. V. 10, II. from Prov. xxx. 19. Ch. xi. 12. from Ifaiah iii. 10. [fil Compare Wifd. iii. 14. with Ifaiah IvI. 4, 5. Wifd. ix. 13. with Ifaiah xl. 13. Wifd. xiii. 11. with Ifaiah xliv. 13. Wifd. V. 18, with Ifaiah lix. 17. Wifd. ii. 6, 7. with Ifaiah Ivi. 12. [h] Vid. Grabe's Proleg. torn. ult. c. i. 3, Calmet's Didf. in Wifd. Epiphan. de Ponder. &c MeRfur. of 574 ^^ '^^^ WISDOM OF SOLOMON. of Job, of Pfalms, and thofe of Solomon, to which this was fubjoined in fome old Latin tranflations, and by Dr. Grabe in his edition. Hence fome have conceived that it was tranflated from the Hebrew into Greek ; and fome with lefs reafon fuppofe it to have been tranflated from the Chaldee, in which language R. Mofes Ben Nachman profeflfes to have feen it [i] j though probably what he faw was a tranflation from the Greek into that language. But in whatever language it was written, it has always been defervedly efteemed as a treafure of wif- dom. It was compofed in imitation of the flile of Solomon, though, perhaps, not defigned to pafs for his work, but to communicate fuch inftruclions as might be confident with his affumed character. Many ancient writers have cited it as a work at- tributed to Solomon [k], and as not unworthy, from its refemblance to his writings, to be confidered as the performance of that enlightened monarch ; and fome appear to have confidered it as his genuine produclion. Laclantius, with other writers, repre- fents the defcription of the jufl man perfecuted, which is contained in the fecond chapter, to be a prophecy dehvered by Solomon concerning our Sa- viour's fufferings [l]. It is certain, however, that [i] R. Mofes Ben Nachman, Piol. Com. in Pentat. [k] Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. VI. p. 669. Eufeb. Hift.lEc- alef. Lib. VI. c. vii. Tcrtul. cont. Marcion, Lib. III. Ori- gen cont. Celf, Lib. III. & Homil. 8. in Exod. Hieron. in Pfa. Ixxiii. [l] La6tant. dc Vcr. Sap. Lib. IV. § x6. Wlfd. li. li— 21. the OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 575 tlie book was not written by Solomon^ as St. Auftin, who likewife confiders this paflage as prophetic, al- lows [m]. The antiquity and high importance of the book, appear to have excited great reverence in the ancient church [n] ; and fome of the fathers feem to have thought that the book of Wifdom, and that of Ecclefiafticus, contained pafiages, at leaft, that were infpired. St. Aullin affirms that the chrif- tian writers who immediately fucceeded the apoftles, adduced its teftimony as divine [o] j but it does not appear that they, or St. Auflin himfelf, confidered the book as really the work of an infpired penman, fmce he allowed that neither this book, nor that of Ecclefiafticus, were produced againf: gainfayers with the fame authority as the undoubted writings of So- lomon. And he elfewhero admits, that after the [m] Augull. de Clvit. Del, Lib. XVII. c. x:v'. -[n] St. Auftin fays, " Non debuit repudian iententia Llbri fapientu-e, qui meruit in Ecclefia Chrifti de gradu ledloi-um tarn longa annolitate recitari." From this it Ihould feem, that the apocryphal books were read in a lower place by the leftours, or inferior officers of the church. Whereas the in- fpired books were read by the priefts and bifliops from a more confpicuous place. De Gradu Epifcoporuni. Vid. Auguft, de Prsdeft. c. xiv. § 27, Edit. Antwerp. [o] St. Auftin may be underftood to mean, that they who cited Wifd. iv. 11. cited it as a faithful faying, and as ground- ed on divine authority. Vid. de Pr^defl. Sanft. c. xiv. § 28. & Cyprian. L. de Mortal. & L. ^f ftim. 3. ad Quirin. St. AuftiOi fays likewife of this book in an hyperbolical encomium, that it defsrves ** ab omnibus Chriflianis, cum veneratione divins audoritatis audiri." Vid. alfo, de Docl Chrift. Lib. II. c. viii. death 576 OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. death of Malachi, the Jews had no Prophet till the appearance of Zacharias, the father of John the Bap- tift [p]. And the fathers, indeed, in general, how- ever they might be dazzled by particular paflages, or confider them as fragments of infpired writings, reprefcnt the book of Wifdom as inferior to the ca- nonical books ; they efteem it as a work of admirable tendency, and as of a fcriptural charafter, but not as abfolutely derived from the fuggeflions of the Holy Spirit [ qJ. Some partial councils [^r] admitted it as canonical in a fe.condary interpretation of that word ; but it was always confidered as inferior to the books con- tained in the Hebrew catalogue, till by the peremp- tory decifion of the Council of Trent, it was re- ceived as a work of equal authority with them. Still, [p] Auguft. de CIvit. Dei. Lib. XVIIL c. xxiv. [ Q>,] It is exprefsly reprefented as inferior to the facred books by many writers. Vid. Hierarch. de Divin. Nomin. c. 4. Eufeb. Hill. Ecclef. Lib. VL c. xii. Athan. Epift. 39, & Synop. Epiphan. de Pond. &: Menfur. Philaft. de Haeres. Prodiant. Balil Praef. Com. in Prov. Auguft. de Civit. Dei. Lib. XVIL c. XX. Hugo de S. Vi6l. de Script, et Scriptor. Sac. c. vi. Thorn. Aquinas, in Dionyf. de Divin. Hom. c. iv. Lea. IX. Du Pin, Diff. Prcl. [r] As the third Council of Carthage, that of Sardis, and that of Conftantinople in Trullo ; the eleventh of Toledo, and that of Florence, Provincial fynods, or corrupt councils unduly influenced, of which the canons relative to the fcrip- turcs were fometimes afterwards forged or altered, and which were not received by oecumenical councils. Vid. Colin's Schol. Hift. Du Pin, Hift. Ecclef. & Bib. Pat. torn. i. p. i. & Arnald's note to Calmet's preface. however, 6 OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. (^JJ however, the mod zealous defenders [s] of the Romifli church acknowledge, that it never was in the Hebrew canon as compofed by Ezra [t ^ ^ at the clofing of which we have every reafon to believe that the fpirit of infpiration ceafed. The book v/as probab'y written by an Hellenidical Jew ; but whether before or after Chrifl, has been difputed. Grotius is of opinion, that it was originally written in Hebrew by a Jew who lived at fome time intermediate between Ezra and Simon the Jufl: ; and that it was tranflated by a Chriftian with fome free- dom and additions of evangelical doftrine. But the flile, as St. Jerom has obferved, indicates rather the artificial contexture of Grecian eloquence, than the terfenefs and compreffive fimplicity of the Hebrew language. The book is alfo replete with aliufions to Greek mythology, and with imitations of Grecian writers : with whofe works, and efpecially with thofe of Plato, the author appears to have been intimately acquainted. St. Jerom informs us, that many ancient writers affirmed that the book of Wifdom was written by [s] As Ifidore, Nicepliorus, Rabanus Maurus, Hugo, Ly- ran, Cajetan. Vid. Niceph. Lib. IV. c. xxxiii. Limborch. Theolog. Chrift, Lib. L c. iii. Melch. Canus Loc. Theolog. Lib. V. cap. ult. Baron Ann. torn. viii. ad Ann. 692, Cal- met's Preface. [t] Ifidore in one place relates, that fome perfons reported that it was expunged from the Jewifli canon becaufe it con- tained a clear prophecy of Chrift ; an idle fable which Ifidore muft have difcredited. Vid. Offic. Lib. I. c. sii. P p Philo 578 OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. Philo judaeus ; by whom the generality of commen- tators [u] fuppofe to have been meant the Philo fenior, who is mentioned by Jofephus, as having furniflied fome relations concerning the Jews which were tolerably faithful [x] ; and who is generally fuppofed to have flouriflied before or about the time of the Maccabees. And there are many reafons which fliould lead us to fuppofe that the book [y] was written before the birth of Chrift. But as fome palVages in the book feem to indicate an acquaint- ance with the particulars of the Gofpel difpenlation, and to be imitative of parts of the New Teftament : many perfons have maintained that the author muft have lived after the publication of the evangelical writings ; and fome have fuppofed, from a conformity between the principles and fentiments contained in this book and thofe difperfed through the works of [u] Hieron. Prasf. in Proverb. Salom. Huet. Prop. 4. BolRict Prcef. in Lib. Sap. Driedo de Ecclcf. Dogm. c. iv. [x] Jofeph. cont. Aplon. Lib. L Jolephus remarks, that Philo, and fome other hiflorians of whom he fpeaks, were en- titled to indulgence, as they had it not in their power to be- come accurately acquainted with the Hebrew writings ; from which we may coUei'l, that he was ignorant of the Hebrew language, and probably he was an HcUenilHc Jew, which is conliftent with the account of St. Jerom. Some poetical frag- ments of Philo relative to the Patriarchs are cited by Alexan- der Polyhillor. Vid. Eufeb. Pro^p. Evang. Lib. IX. c. xx. & xxiv. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. L This Philo was a dif- ferent perfon from Philo Biblius, who flouriflicd under Adrian and 'J"raj:in. [y] Crigcn cont. Cell". Lib. L Eufeb. DemonU. Evan. Lib. 1. c. vi. Sclden de Pentateuch. Philo OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 57^ Philo [z] of Alexandria, which we now poiTefs, that he was the author of it [a]. Dr. Ruinolds imagines that it was compofed about A. D. 42, upon the occafion of an order from the Emperor Caligula, that his ftatue fliould be fet up and adored in the temple [b] of Jerufalem, when Philo was fent to Rome by the Jews to plead againfl this prophanation, but without efFed:. This fuppofition the learned writer defends, as confident with the argument and drift of the book of Wifdom ; and upon this idea he accounts for thofe precepts in the firft and hxth chapters, which defcribe the duty of princes j as w^ell as for the denunciations againfl: tyrants and idolatry ; and conceives that they were defigned to convey admonition and reproof to Caligula. But notwithfl:anding the many prefumptive argu- ments that have been urged in fupport of this opinion, there is great reafon to believe that the work was not written by Philo of Alexandria [c], but, indeed, long [z] Firlt publiflied at Paris by Turnebus in 1552, after- wards at London, by Dr. Mangey, in 1742, 2 vols. Vid. collated palTliges in Calmet's Diflertation fur rAuteur da Livre dc la SagelVe. [a] Bafil Epift. ad Amphlloch. Job. Beleth. de Dlv. OfKc. c. Ix. [b] Sueton. in Vita Caligulae 22. Jofeph. Antlq. Lib. XVIIf. c. viii. Rain. Cenfur. Apoc. Pr^-elec^l. 22. [c] This Philo was very converfant with the facred writings, and indulged himfelf too much in the fanciful explications of them. His works, which blend the principles of Plato with the doftrines of fcripture, are fuppofed to have been the fourcc at which Origen and the myliical writers imbibed an r p z extravagant 5oO OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. long previoufly to the birth of Chrift. Some paflages in it appear to be cited by writers who were, nearly contemporary with Philo [d]^; and it is more pro- bable, that a work profeffing to be the production of Solomon, fliould have been publiflied under the Jevvifh difpcnlation ; as, indeed, by the generality of writers it was fuppofed to be. The correfpondence which has been conceived to exift between this book and the works of Philo, might be occafioned by the imitations of the latter ; and the fuppofed refemblances between pafiages in this book and others in the New Teftamcnt, will be found on examination to be either imitations of funilar paf- fages in the facrcd books of the Old Teftamcnt [e] ; or extravagant fpirlt of figurative interpretation. Philo is repre- fented by fome to have lived in friendfliip with St. Peter at Rome in the reign of Claudius, to have been converted to Chriftianity, and to have afterwards apoftatifed. Vid. Jofcph. Lib. Vlll. c. X. Eufeb. Hitl. Lib. II. c. ii. xvii. xviii. Phot. Cod. 105. Hieron. de Script. Ecclef. c. xi. Eufeb. Prsp. Lib. VII. c. xii. The book of Wifdom differs widely from the llile of Philo, and contains fome principles very op- pofite to thofe laid down in his works. Vid. Cuhnct, Preface fur le Livre de la SiigefTe. [d] Barnab. Epiil. from Wifd. ii. 12. Clem. Rom. Epirt. ad Corinth, c. lii. from Wifd. ii. 24. c. xxvii. from Wifd. xi. 2Z. Sc xii. 12. [e] Thus Wifd. ii. 18. and Matt, xxvii. 43. mi^^ht both be derived from Pfa. xxii. 8, g. So Wild. iii. 7. & Matt. xiii. 43. might be from Dan. xii. 3. Wifd. ii. 7, 8. & i Cor. xv. 32. from Ifa. xxii. 13. &c hi. 12. Wifd. v. 18, 19. & Ephef. vi. 14. from Ifa. lix. 7. Wild. vi. 7. & Ads x. 34, Sec. from 2 Chrou. xix. 7. or from Job xxxiv. 19. Wifd. ix. 9. &: John OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 581 or ftich cafual coincidences [f] of fcntiments or ex- preffions as may be found between all works treating on the fame fubject. It need not, however, be fuppofed, that the beau- tiful palTage contained in the fecond chapter, though written before the coming of Chrirt, can confer any charader of infpiration on the book; for if we con- fider the defcriptiori of the juft man perfecuted and condemned to a fliam.eful death by his confpiring enemies, as bearing a prophetic afpe6l to the fuifer- ings and condemnation of our Saviour by the Jews j it might dill have been framed by a writer conver- fant with the prophetic books [g], without any in- fpired knowledge. But it is, perhaps, only applicable by cafual accommodation and undefigned refemblance to our Saviour, who might be emmently ftiled " the i. I — 3, 10. from Prov. viil. 22. Wifd. ix. 13. and Rom. xi. 34. or I Cor. ii. 16. from Ifa. xl. 13. Vvifd. xv. 7. and Rom, ix. 21. from Ifa. xlv. g. and Jerem. xviii. 6. Wifd. xvi. 26, and Matt. iv. 4. from Dent. viii. 3. Wifd. iii. 8. and i Cor. vi. 2, 3. from Dan. vii. 18 — 22. [f] Comp. Wifd. vi. 3. with Rom. xiii. i. Wifd. vii. 26. with Heb. i 3. Wifd. xii. 24. with Rom. i. 23. Wifd. xiii. i. with Rom. i. 19, 20. There is, however, no rcafon why the evangelical writers fliould not be fuppofed to have occalionally adopted the exprelfions, or even the fentiments of a pious though uninfpired writer. [g] Comp. chap. ii. 12. efpccially as cited by Barnabas, with Ifaiah iii. 10. Chap. ii. 18. with Pfa. xxii. 8. or xxi. 9. in the Septuagint. See alfo Matt, xxvli. 43. where David's prophetic expreffions are ufed. The righteous are often called the fons of God in a general fenfe. Vid. Exod. iv, 22. Prov. j. 8, 10. and Wifd. xviii. 13. and v. 5. P p 3 juft 582 OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. jufl man," and who was in an appiopriate fenfc, the Son of God. The pldure feems, indeed, to be copied and applied to others by fubfequent writers [h]. The pafTages in which the author feems to iinper- fonate the word of God [i], and to attribute to it diflincl powers and cfiecb, cannot be confidered as intentionally prophetic of the attributes and opera- tions of the fecond perfon in the Trinity ; but were unqueftionably dtfigned as generally defcriptive of God's omnipotent proceedings ; or were accidentally figurative of Chrift's character, by being borrowed as to their expreiTions from parts of the facrcd writ- ings [k]. So likewife, thofe beautiful encomiums on wifdoni, with which the book abounds, though written with a piety highly enraptured and fublime, are not to be confidered as infpired and concerted illuilrations of that perfect wifdom which dealt in an efpecial degree in Chrilt ; but were deligned only to celebrate that created wifdom, which being derived as an emanation from God, reflects his unfpottcd perfections ; and irradiates the minds of thofe to whom it is imparted. The author, however, in imi- tatioUj perhaps, of Solomon's attractive imagery [l], perfonifics [h] Plato de Repub. Lib. IT. Cicero de Rejuib. Lib. III. Lattant. Inilitut. Lib. VI. §. 17. ex Senecai Lib. Moral, Philofoph. [i] Chap. ix. I. xvi. 12, 13, 26. xviii. 15. [k] Deut. viii. 3. xxxii. 39. i Sam. ii. 6. Pfa. cvii. 20. [l] Prov. viii. The magnificent defcription which Solo- mon here gives of the divine wifdom, was often applied by fhe ancient chriftians to that eternal wifdom which was re- vealed OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 583 perfonifies this divine wifdom ; and therefore the defcription necelTarily bears a refemblance to the charader of Chrift, in whom the fuinefs of wifdom perfonally refided. But though the work be not derived from that infalHble fpirit of which the Ilamp and character are to be difcovered only in the facrcd books, it was evidently the produdiori of a pious and enlightened writer ; of one, who by application to revealed wif- dom, had acquired fome portion of its excellence, and learnt to imitate its language. And except in fome few pafTages where we are tempted to fufpecl a taint of falfe philofophy [m] ; or fiditious additions to the accounts of facred hiftory [n] ; there is no- thing in the book inconfiftent with the accounts, or un- favourable to the defigns of revelation ; it oilers much fublime admonition to the Princes and Leaders of man- kind ; it paints in very eloquent defcription, the folly and confequences of idolatry ; overthrows many per- nicious errors, and delivers jufl information concern- ing a future life and judgment. The fix firft chapters, which form, as it were, a preface to the book, are a kind of paraphrafe of the nine firft chapters of the book of Proverbs ; in the feventh and eighth chapters, the author propofcs himfeif as an example, under vealed to mankind in Chrifl, or rather to our Saviour's perfon, who was hjmfelf the eternal word and wifdom of the Father. But it was, perhaps, oniy generally applicable to God's re- vealed wifdom. [m] Chap. viii. 20. Arnald. &; Calmet. [n] Chap. xvi. 17 — 19. xvii. 3—6. P p 4 the 504 OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON". the name^of Solomon j the ninth chapter is a para- phrafe of the prayer which Solomon made to the Lord at the beginning of his reign [o] ; and from the tenth chapter to the end is a continuation of the fame prayer dilated ; vhich though extended to a confiderable length by the hitermixture of nice dif- quifitions and extraneous difcourfe, is ftill apparently jmperfed. The flile of this book is various ; it is often tragical, and fometimes turgid, and not feldom elegant and fublime ; it abounds in epithets and poetical imagery. The author often imitates the fententious periods of Solomon, but with lefs fuc- cefs, fays Bifhop Lowth, than the author of the fucceeding book [p], [0] I Kings ill. 6—9. [p] Prceleft. Poet, 24. [ 585 ] OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS, TH 1 S Book, like the preceding, has fometimes been confidered as the produftion of Solo- mon, from its refemblance to the infpired works of that writer [a]. In the Latin church it was elieemed the lad of the five books attributed to him. It is cited as the work of that enliglitened King by feveral of the fathers -, was joined with his books in moft of the copies ; and hke them is written ftitchwife in the Alexandrian manufcript, being fuppofed to have been compofed originally in metre fs]. Still, however, it muft have been written long after the time of So- lomon, who with the fucceeding Prophets that flou- riihed before and after the captivity, is here men- tioned [c] J fince the high-prieft Simon, who lived a little before the Maccabees, is fpoken of; fince the [a] Origen. Homil. in Lib. Numer. Horn. L in Ezekiel. Chryfof. in Pfa. cxxxiv. Cyprian Lib. IIL Epifl. IX. Tef- tim. Lib. in. § 96, 113. & Hilar, in Pfa, cxliv. [e] Epiphan. de Pond. & Menfur. [c] Chap, xlvii. 13. &;c. words r86 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTICUS. words of Malachi are cited [d] ; and fmce the author defcribes himfelt' in circumftances that could not have occurred to Solomon [e]. The book can only be fuppofed to contain fome fcattered lentiments of Solomon, induitrioufly coUeded [f] with other ma- terials for the work, by an Hebrew writer filled Jefus ; who profelTes himfelf the author [gJ, and who is reprefented to have fo been by his grandfon [hJ ; but who, indeed, imitates the didactic flile of Solo- mon, and like him afTumes the charader of a preacher. Jesus was, as we learn from the fame authority, a man who had travelled much in the purfuit of knowledge ; who was very converfant with the fcrip- tures, and defirous of producing, in imitation of the facred writers, fome ufeful work for the inftruction of mankind ; and who having collected together many valuable fentences from the Prophets and other writers, their fucceflbrs, compiled them into one work with fome original additions of his own pro- dudion. What this Jefus produced in the Syriac, [r] Chap, xlviii. lo. from Malach. iv. 6. [e] Chap, xxxiv. ii, 12. li. 6. [f] Druf. Obfcivat. Lib. I. cap. xviii. Athanafius calls Jefus Oirx^'^ ra 7.oMiy.m1®^, Salomonis Aflecla. Vid. Athan. Synop. Bai-tolocc. Bib. Rabb. torn. i. p. 249. [g] Chap. 1. 27. [h] See the fecond prologue. This prologue is in all the copies of the Vulgate, and in the Roman edition of the G reek. It is probably the authentic work of the grandfon, though it is not in the Syriac or Arabic verfions. Vid. Eufcb. in Chron. Hleron. in Dan. ix. Epiphan. Haeres. 8. In the Roman edition of the Greek it is entitled fimply " the Prologue." or OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTICUS. ^Sy or vulgar Hebrew of his time, his grandfon tranf- latcd into Greek for the benefit of his countrymen in Egypt, who by long difufe had forgotten the He- brew tongue. To this grandfon we are indebted for the pofleffion of a valuable work, of which the ori- ginal is now loft, though St. Jerom profeffes to have feen it [i]. The copies of which Munfter, and Paulus Fagius fpeak, were probably Ben Sira's alpha- bet, or modern tranflations from the Greek. It has been a fubjed of fome difpute, whether the grandfather or grandfon be the perfon who ihould be defcribed as the fon of Sirach. The book is en- titled the Wifdom of Jefus, the fon of Sirach; and this title mult apply to the author, as the book can- not be fappofcd to have been denominated by the name of the tranllator. The author, likewife, de- fcribes himfelf as the fon of Sirach in the fifty-firfl chapter, which appears to be the work of the fame author [k]. The tranllator, who is ufually called Jefus, is likewife ftiled the fon of Sirach by Epi- phanius [l] ; and by the author of the anonymous [i] Hieron. Prief. in Lib. Salom. St. Jerom informs us, that the Hebrew copy which he faw was entitled Parables (or Proverbs) on account probably of the proverbial and fenten- tious form in which its precepts were conveyed. [k] Grotius, without any realbn, attributes it, together with the three lall verfes of the foregoing chapter, to the grandfon. [l] Epiphan. de Pond. & Menfur. Ifidor. de Ecclef. Offic. in Lib. 1. c. xii. Eufeb. de Praep. Lib. VIH. c. ii. Hieron. 311 Dan. ix. Auguft. de Doft. Chrill. Lib. IL Grotius, Prufius, &:c, prologue. 588 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTI CUS. prologue, which is fuppofed to have been written by Athanafius, as it is extracted from the Synopfis at- tributed to him, and prefixed to this book [m], in fome Greek, and in all the Latin editions, as well as in our tranflation ; and it is not improbable, that the younger Jefus might likewife have been a fon of Sirach, as names were often fo entailed in families. Genebrard [n] fays, that Jefus, the author of this book, was a prieft of the race of Jofliua, the fon of Jofedech [o] ; and Ifidore reprefents him as his grandfon, though he muft have lived much too long after Jofhua to have been fo nearly related to him fp]. Huet and Calmet, in agreement with fome Rabbinical writers, fuppofe that the author was the fame perfon w^ith Ben Sira, a Jewifli writer, of [m] This prologue is prefixed to the Greek in the Antwerp Polyglot, and to fome other Greek editions ; but it is not in th? Roman edition, nor in the moft ancient copies, nor in the Arabic or Syriac verfions. Its accounts can therefore be re- ceived only as of the fame authority as that of the Synopfis, which was probably written by Athanafius, Bifliop of Alex- andria, who lived between A. D. 458 and 490, above a century after the great Athanafius. [n] Chronol. p. 16. [o] Haggai i. i. [p] Some Greek manufcripts make the author a grandfon of Eleazar. Vid. ap. Druf. ad ch. 1. 3. Others make him a contemporary with Eleazar ; and fome writers pretend that he was one of the feventy interpreters fent by Eleazar to Ptolemy Philadelphus : a perfon of the name of Jefus being mentioned in the lift given by Ariftxas. Huet fancies that Jefus, the grandfon, was the fame perfon with Jofcphus, the fon of Uziel, and grandfon of Ben Sira. whom OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTICUS. 589 whom an alphabet of Proverbs is extant, both in Chaldee and Hebrew [ qJ, which corrcfponds in fo many particulars with the book of Ecclefiafticus, that Huet, and other writers, have confidered it as a cor- rupted copy of the Hebrew work of Jefus. If, how- ever, as others contend, Ben Sira is to be confidered as a different perfon, and according to traditionarjr accounts, the nephew of Jeremiah [r], it mud be admitted that the author of Ecclefiafticus has bor- rowed many things from his work : fince fuch a con- formity as exifts between them could fcarcely be accidental [s]. The author of this book is by Calmet and others fuppofed to have flouriilied fo late as under the Pon- tificate of Onias the Third ; and to have fled into Egypt on account of the afflidions brought on his country by Antiochus Eplphanes, about 171 years before Chrift, to whofe perfecution they conceive that fome parts of the book refer [t]. As, how- ever, the palTages produced in fupport of this Opinion bear no direft relation to particular calamities, but contain only general fuppllcations for profperity, and for the triumphant reftoration of their tribes, Vv-hich [ qJ\ Both were publiflied -with a Latin tranflation by Fagius at Ifna in 1542. Ben Sira's book is laid to have been received by the Jews, among the Hagiographa of fecondary rank. Vid. David in Baba Cama, C. Hachobel. [r] Buxtorf. & Bartolocc. Bib. Rabbin. [s] Cornel, a Lapid Com. in Ecclus. [t] Chap, xxsvi. Vid. alfo, ch, xxxiv. 12. xxxv. and li. %vhich, however, contain no particulars exclufively applicable to the time of Antiochus. 9 the roo OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTICUS. the Jews expe6led to experience in the advent of the Mefiiah ; as the eulogium contained in the fiftieth chapter was probably defigned for Simon the Juft, the firft high-prieft of the name of Simon, whom the author appears to have remembered, and who died A. M. 37 ii [u] j and as the younger Jefus went into Egypt in the reign of Euergetes the Se- cond, furnamed Phyfcon, who was admitted to a fhare in the throne A. M. 3835 [x], it is more pro- bable, that agreeably to the calculations of other chronologifts, the book was written about A. M. 3772 ; when the author was, perhaps, about feventy years of age ; and that it was tranflated about fixty or fixty-three years after [y] ; nearly at the time that it is fuppofed by Calmet to have been written. The tranllator profeiTes to have found the book [u] Two Simons, both fens of Onias, and both high-pricfls, are mentioned by Jofephus. The firft furnamed Julius, who as the lall of the great fynagogue, is fuppofed to have revifcd and completed the canon, is celebrated in this book. Vid. Jofeph. Ant. Lib. XII. c. 2. Eufeb. in Chronic. Genebr. Cornel, a Lapide. Drufius, Prid. ad An. 292. The fecond Simon is mentioned in Antiq. Lib. Xlf. c. iv. He oppofed Ptolemy Philopater's entrance into the fanftuary. Vid. Third Book of Maccabees. [x] He reigned twenty-four years in conjunftion with Phi- lometor, and twenty-eight years alone after the death of his brother. Vid. Uflier's Annals, Ann. A. C. 145. Vaillant in Ptolcm. VII. ad An. Lagid. 192. Prid. Con. A. C. 169. [y] Uflicr fuppofcs it to have been tranflated 38 years earlier. after OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTICUS. 59! after he had continued fome time in Egypt fz], where it tnight have been depofited by his grand- father [a] ; it was called Ecclefiafticus [b] by the Latins, which title, though nearly fynonimous with the Preacher, was defigned to dillinguifli it from the book of Ecclefiaftes. In Greek it is called the Wif- dom of Jefus the Son of Sirach [c]. It is much to be admired for the excellency of its precepts, and none of the apocryphal books furniih fuck admirable inflruftion as this. But it has no title to be con- fidered as an infpired work : though it contains many paifages derived from the facred writings, and efpe- cially from thofe of Solomon [o] ; and fome which have a flight refemblance to parts of the New Tef- lament [e], by accidental coincidence of thought [2] It is uncertain from what aera the eight and thirtieth year mentioned in the prologue is reckoned. It might be that of the tranllator's age. If we fuppofe it to have been the thirty-eighth year of Ptolemy's reign, above 100 years muft have intervened between the time of writing and that of tranflating the book. [a] It is probable that Jefus by atpouom, or t(poy.rs, in whofe reigns the grandfather might have refided in Egypt ; but the author fpeaks only of falfc ac- culation to the King, which by no means implies that the King countenanced the perfecution ; and, indeed, if he had, the author would hardly have efcaped from, or at leaft have* complained of the cruelty. The grandfather might likewifc kave been accufcd before a King of fome other country. \ [p] Not. ad Script. P^Tclcf. Lib. IV. c. xxii. [ (ij The anonynio. »y rolo^ue fays, '* aliuoft perfetfied." OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTICUS.v 59^ the Proverbs of Solomon j and diflribiited under certain heads which feem to have been formerly clalTed under different titles : many of which are (till extant in fome of the Greek copies. Some learned men have pretended to difcover in the book the more fecret and abftrufe wifdom afcribed to Solo- mon, and taught in the Ichools of the Jewifli doftors [r]. But it is chiefly valuable for the familiar leffons which it affords for the direftion of manners, in every circumflance and condition, and for the gene- ral precepts which it communicates towards the daily regulation of life. Its maxims are explained by much variety of illuftration, and occalionally ex- emplified in the defcription of charafter. The an- cient writers entitled it nxvocpfl^, confuiering it as a complete compendium of moral virtues ; and, per- haps, no uninfpired production ever difplayed a morality more comprehenfive, or more captivating and confiftent with the revealed laws of God. The book furnifhes, alfo, an inftru6live detail of the fen- timents and opinions that prevailed in the time of the author; it ihews the impatience that then pre- vailed for the appearance of the expedled Meffiah [s] J and the firm confidence in the hope of a future life [r] Lee's Di IT. on the Second Book of Efdras, p. (;8. [s] Chap, xxxvi. i — 17, the firil part of which is cited by St. Auftin as a kind of prophetic prayer for the arrival of Chrift. Vid. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVH. c. xx See, alfo, chap. \. 22, 23. Thefe pious fupplications for fomc future bleffings indiftinftly defcribed, proceeded from a con- Q^<^ 2 fidcijce ^96 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESI ASTICUS. life and judgment, which had been built up on the aflurances of the Law and the Prophets. It ferves, likewife, to prove, that as the Gofpel difpenfation approached, the Jews were prepared for its reception, by being more enHghtened to underftand the fpiritual import and the figurative character of the Law. fidence in the promifes of the Prophets ; and the Jews who, in the expedation of their Mefliah, had at firft regard only to one advent, looked to the full accompliihment of the pro- phecies in his arrival, and therefore allude in their prayers to the fixpefted converfion of the Gentiles ; the final congrega- tion of the tribes ; and their triumphant victories, which re-" main vet to be fulfilled* [ 597 ] OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH, with the EPISTLE OF JEREMIAH. THE author of this Book profefTes himfelf to be Baruch ; a perfon of very illuftrious birth, and diftinguiihed by his attachment to Jeremiah, and who was employed by that Prophet as a fcribe or fecretary, to write his prophecies [a] ; and on fome occafions to read them to thofe again ft whom they were directed. St. Jerom, Grotius, and others, are, however, of opinion, that the book was not written by Baruch, nor in the Hebrew language ; but by fome Helleniftical Jew, who aflumed the charader of Baruch ; and that the letter which forms a part of the book, was fabricated by his own invention [b]. But there is, perhaps, no fufficient reafon to difpute the authenticity of the five firft chapters ; and the fixth chapter, which is probably fpurious, did not originally belong to this book. The Greek verfion [a] Chap. i. I. Jerem. paffim. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. xi. and Preface to Jeremiah. [b] Hieron. Prom, in Com. & Grot. Com. in Baruch, Q^q 3 of 59^ OF THE BOOK OF EARUCH. of thefe five chapters abounds with Hebraifms ; and they were probably written in Hebrew, though not row extant in that language, nor ever admitted into the Hebrew canon [c\: becaufe Baruch, however he might have afpired to the prophetic character, and have fought great things for himfelf [dJ, was not endowed with the gift of infpiration : though he was on one occafion made the fubjecl of a divine revelation, and honoured by a confolatory aflurance from God. The author in confiflency with the character of Baruch, whether rightly or falfely aflumed, defcribes himfelf as the fon of Nerias, and as the grandfon of Maafias, who were men of eminence in their coun- try. He affirms, that he wrote the book at Babylon, in the fifth year, and in the feventh day of the month [e], after the Chaldseans had taken and burnt Jeru- falem ; by which rnufl be underllood the fifth year of Jehoiachin*s captivity, which correfponds with the fifth year of the reign of Zedekiah, and A. M. 3409 : when Baruch accompanied his brother Seraias to Babylon [f], who was deputed from Zedekiah to [c] Hieron. Prasf. in Hierem. [d] Jerem. xlv. 5. which fome conceive to allude to a fruit- lefs defire of Baruch that he might be favoured with the pro- phetic fpirit. Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch. Par. II. cap. x^xii. [e] The name of the month is not fpecihed ; it probably means the month Cilleu, or November, the fame month in which Jerulalem was taken five years before. [f] Some would place Baruch's journey to Babylon in the tleventh year of Zedekiah, when Baruch was carried into \ Egypt; OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. 599 foliclt the refloration of the facred vefiels of the temple, which had been carried away among the fpoil [g]. It has been objefted as inconiiftent with this account, that Jerufalem is in this book repre- fented as burnt, and in circumflances of diftrefs, greater than lliould feem to have occurred at the time that Jehoiakim was taken prifoner and llain. But allowing for thofe aggravations which are cuf- tomary in the defcription of great affliftions, there is no particular in the detail of circuiultances that might not have happened during the fiege of Jerufalem iii the reign of Jehoiakim : when the Jews might have feen part of their city burnt, and have fuffered from the moft cruel extremities of famine [h]. It is probable, that Baruch was more immediately commillioned by Jeremiah to utter at Babylon thofc Egypt ; when Jerufalem and the temple were deftroyed ; when no high-priell remahicd, and no feaits were celebrated, con- trary to the circumflances of the period of this book. The fifth year cannot be referred to Nebuchadnezzar, who had obtained his empire feven years before Jehoiachin was carried into captivity. [g] The veflels which Seraias obtained, appear to have been filver veflels, which Zedekiah had made to fupply the place of the golden vefl'els which had been carried away by Nebuchadnezzar, the rapacity of the conquerors having foon afterwards feized on thefe alfo, vid. 2 ~h-on. xxxvi. 7 — 10. Jeremiah had declared that the goldei v iels fliould not be foon brought again, chap, xxvii. 16. ^ ■ the moll valuable were not reftored till the expiration o ^ captivity. Vid. Dan. v. 2. Ezra i. 7. Grotius confilft; -. hb latter part of chap. i. 8. as an interpolation. [h] Chap, i, 2. ii. 2 — 5. C^q 4 prophecies «^" 6oO OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. prophecies which were entrufted to Seraias [r] ; and that he actually did read to Jehoiachin, and others whom they concerned, thofe prophecies contained in the fiftieth and fifty-firft: chapters of Jeremiah, which promifed deliverance to the Jews from their capti- vity, and future deftruflion to Babylon ; though when Baruch fpeaks of havnig read the words of this book to the people by the river Sud [k], he probably alludes only to the epilUe that forms the chief fubject of this book, which was fent to Jehoia- chin and his aflbciate captives in Babylon, to Joachim, the fon of Chilcias Tl], and the people at Jerulalem ; for Baruch being probably employed to compofe the letter, may well be conceived to have read it to the King and the Nobles for their approbation. The captives, who appear to have been tutored [i] Jer. li. 59—64. [k] Chap. 1. 4. This river is not mentioned by geogra- phers. As the Hebrew word Sodi, which might have been the original, means Pride, fome writers have confidered it as a figurative cxpreffion for the Euphrates, on which river the Jewifh captives were phjced. Vid. Jercm. li. 63. Bochart thinks, that the word fhould be Sori, or Suri, (which in the Hebrew is vyritten in nearly the fame manner) becaufe there was on the banks of the Euphrates, a city called Sura, or Sora, (as alfo Muhafia) from which that part of the Euphrates might have taken its name. Vid. Bochart. Phalcg. Lib. I. c. ix. Cellarii Geogr. Lib. 111. c. xvi. p. 460. [l] This perfon w^^ probably the fam? with Eliakim, or Hilkiah, who was higk-pri^ft under Manafleth and Johah, and perhaps under their fiiccelTors. Vid. Ifaiah xxii. 20. 2 Kings xxii. 4—8. xxiii. 4, 24. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 9. and Calmct. Djflert. fur les Grands Frctres. by OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. 6oi by affli£lion to a fenfe of their own unworthinefs, and to have felt a pious fatisfadion at the fuccefs of the deputation of Seraias, fent back with the facred veflels a coUefliion of money to purchafe burnt-offer- ipgs and incenfe for the altar of the Lord ; and ac- companied it with a letter to their countrymen, in which they expreffed their fentiments of humility and repentance, and their confident hopes of that rcftoration which the Prophets had encouraged them to expefl:, and which prefigured the future glories of Jerufalem [m]. The letter;, which after the fliort hiftorical preface, begins at the tenth verfe of the firft chapter, contains a confeffion which the captives recommended to their brethren, to be ufed upon folemn days. It exhorts them to pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar, who had complied with their requeft, and poilibly been indulgent to the captives j to acknowledge that God's judgments were righteous, and that by their own difobedience they had provoked the accompliflim.ent of thofe curfcs which God had threatened [n], and they then experienced ; and laftly, to fupplicate his mercies with forrow and contrition. This prayer was probably ufed, alfo, by the captives themfelves, and the fentiments which it contains were fmiilar to thofe which Daniel and Nehemiah continued to in- culcate during and after the captivity [o]. In the [m] Irenaeus Adv. Haeres. Lib. V. c. sxxv. [n] Deut. xxviii. 15 — 53. and the Prophets pafllm. [q] Comp. chap. i. 15, 17. with Dan. ix. 5, 7, 9. Chap, }L 7—11. with Dan. ix. 13 — i^. Chap. ii. 15. with Dan, ix. 19. 602 OF THE BOOK. OF BARUCII. third chapter is contained a pafTage f i'], \vhich Gro- tius haftily pronounces to be an addition by fome Chriflian ; and which others confider as an infpired prophecy of the incarnation and human intercourfc of the Melliah j but which is, perhaps, only an ac- knowledgment of the divine wifdom, which had manifelled itfelf to the Patriarchs, and converfed by revelation with mankind [oj. It has, however, fo far a prophetic cafl, as it is imitative of paffages [r] which, under praifes of wifdom, figuratively ce- lebrate that eternal wifdom which dwelt among us In the perfon of the Son of God. So likewife Baruch fpeaks with an almoft prophetic conhdence of thofe bleflings which Jeremiah, and other Prophets might have taught him to expect from " the everlafting Saviour'* who fliould foon appear [si ; of that joy which fliould come from the Eafl: [t] ; and of die triumphant glory with which Jerufalcm fliould be exalted, and her fons aflembled from ail kingdoms in righteoufnefo and peace. Thefe, however, were profpefts of future exultation with which all in the 19, Chap. ii. ig- with Dan.ix. 8. Chap. ii. 7, 9. with Nehem. ix. 32, 34. Chap. ii. 11, 12. with Zech. ix. 10. [p] Comp. chap. iii. 35—37- with John i. 14. [ d,] Exod. xxiv. 9 — 18. [r] Comp. chap. iii. 27. with Prov. viii. 31. The paffage is perhaps in this rcfpedt, cited as prophetic by St. Aullin, who fays, that it was generally attributed to Jeremiah. Vid. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxxiii. [s] Chap. iv. 22 — 30. [t] Comp. chap. iv. 36, 37. with Jerem. xxiii. 5. and Zech. vl. 12. where the word " Branch" is in the Septuajint ren- dered A»a^o^^J, the Eafl. Vid. alfo, Ezek. xliii. 4. and iMal. iv. 2, captivity OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. 603 captivity mufl: have confoled their afflidion -, they were general charaders of the kingdom of the Mef- fiah which every one converfant with the facred writings was capable of defcribing, and by no means confer the ftamp of infpiration on the book, which was not received as canonical by the Jews or the primitive church of Chrift [u], though it be cited with refped by many of the earlier writers [x]. Some, indeed, have imagined, that St. Athanafius [y], and St. Cyril, received it as canonical. In the catalogues, it is true, of the facred books furnlflied by thefe fathers, as alfo in the Greek copies of the canons of the Council of Laodicea, Baruch and the epiflle are enumerated with Jeremiah and the Lamen- tations j but it is probable, and generally fuppofed, that by this exegetical detail, were meant only thofe parts of Jeremiah which we receive as infpired -, that the epiftle in the twenty-ninth chapter of his pro- phecies is fpecified as a diftindt part of the workj and that Baruch is mentioned becaufe he was con- fidered as a colledtor of Jeremiah's writings, and by fome thought to have added the fifty- fecond chapter to his prophecies. It is certain, that Baruch and the epiftlc are not mentioned in the catalogue of St. Auftin, nor in that of the Council of Carthage [z], [u] Hieron. Praef. in HIerem. & Prooem. in Com. Hiercm. [x] Clem. Alex. Paed. Lib. II. c. ili. Eufeb. Demon. Lib. VI. c. xix. Ambrofe de Fide, Lib. L c. ii. Hilar, Prxf. Com. in Pfalm. Cyril, in Jul. [y] Athan. Epift. 39. [z] Concil. Carthag. Can. 47. &c Cod. Can. Ecclef. African. Can, 24. in neither of which is Buruch mentioned. It is, however. 604 OF THE COOK 01'' BARUCH, It is exprefsly excluded, with the reft of tlie apocry- phal books from the catalogue received from their anccftors, by the Greek church [a] ; and the mem- bers of the Council of Trent were more perplexed, and deliberated longer about the admiffion of Baruch, than of any of the apocryphal books [b], becaufe they allowed (as it was not in the Latin copies of the catalogue) that it was not received by the Coun- cil of Laodicea ; by that of Carthage ; or by the Roman Pontiffs [c] ; and the Tridentine fathers were withheld from rejecting it, only by the con- fideration that parts of it were read in the fervice of the church. Many ancient writers have cited Baruch undcF the name of Jeremiah [d] ; not that they believed that what we now poflefs under the name of Baruch, was actually compofed by Jeremiah, but that they confidered Baruch as a difciple of the Prophet ; and imagined, perhaps, that the epiftle in the laft chap- ter of his book was really written by Jeremiah, to. however", probable, that the council or councils to which thefe canons belonged, received Baruch as canonical in a {e-i condary fcnfe ; for though it is not mentioned in the lifl-, it inii'-ht be included under the name of Jeremiah, and received as the other apocryphal books. [a] Metroph. Critopul. Epitom. ConfelT. Orient. f);] Hi.lory of the Council of Trent, L. II. [c] It is not fpecified in the fufpeded epiftle of Pope In- nocent the Fii;ft. Vid. Epift. 3. ad Exuper. [d] Irenaeus Ilseres. Lib. V. c. xxxv. Clemen. Alex. Paedag. Lib. I. c. X. Chryfoll:. cont. Juda?. Ambrofc in Pfalm cxvili. Odon. 18. Bafil Adver. Eunora. Lib. IV. Eplphan. Hjeres. 3. Cyprian. Adv. judcC. c. i. § 6. whofe OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. 6o^ "whofe canonical works it was formerly joined. In the Romifii church, the book is read at the feafi: of Pentccofl, under the name of Jeremiah [e] ; but many of the Romanifts do not fcruple to deny its authority [f]. Besides the Greek copy of this book, there are two Syriac verfions, one of which correfponds withj and the other differs much from the Greek [g]. The letter which conftitutes the fixth chapter of this book is in fome editions of the Greek, and in the Arabic which is tranflated from the Greek, fub- joined to the Lamentations. It is omitted by Theo- doret in his commentary, and is not to be found in feveral Greek manufcripts, and in none of the He- brew copies of Jeremiah's writings. It is probably a fpurious work, and is rejected as fuch by St. Jerom fe] ; though cited by Cyprian [i] and others, as an epiftle of Jeremiah : and fuppofed by fome to be alluded to by the author of the Second Book of Maccabees [k], who, however, only fpeaks of Je- remiah's general exhortations againfl: idolatry. The letter certainly never was in the Jewifli canon. It was probably fabricated by fome writer who had iludied the chara(5ler and writings of Jeremiah ; and [e] Office du Samedi de la Pentecote, Prophetic VI. [f] Driedo Script. & Dogm. ad Ecclef. Lib. I. cap. ult. Lyran. Dionyf. Carth'us. [g] The Latin tranflation alfo differs ranch from the Greek, [h] Hieron. Prooem. Com. in Hierem. who calls it -^ivoiT^i- [i] Cyprian, de Orat. Domin. , [k] 2 Mace. ii. i, 2. I it 6o6 OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. it contains judicious and fpirlted ftri6lures againfl idolatry, of which the vanity is forcibly expofed. There is, befides thefe works in the Syriac language, an cpiftle attributed to Baruch, which is called his firlt epiftle ; and feigned to have been written to the nine tribes and a half, faid to be carried beyond the Euphrates. It appears to be a fpurious produdion of a writer acquainted with the Gofpel dodlrines j and is interfperfed with many fiditious inventions. It was probably fabricated [l] by fome of thofe Monks who during the firft ages of the Chriflian church, flocked in numbers to inhabit the deferts of Syria. Baruch, after the execution of his commlflion, appears to have returned to Jerufalem ; where, in conjunction with Jeremiah, he encountered much pcrfecution [m], and witnelTed the total deftruftion of Jerufalem j after which he was drawn by Johanan, Avith Jeremiah, and the remnant of Judah, into Egypt [n] ; from which country he probably never returned ; though fome pretend that he went a fe- cond time to Babylon, and died there about A. M. 3428 [o]. In the martyrologies, his death is placed on the 28th of September, apparently without any authority. [i.] Huet. Prop. 4. [m] Jerem. xliii. 3. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. xi. Hieron. in Efaiam. [n] Jcrem. xliil. 5 — 7. [o] Talm. Mcgill. cup. i. R, Abrah. Zacut. hi Lib. Juchas. Of [ 6o7 ] OF THE SONG OF THE THREE CHILDREN. IN fome copies of the Greek verfion of Theodo* tion, and in the vulgar Latin edition of the Bible, this Book is inferted between the twenty-third and twenty-fourth verfes of the third chapter of Daniel ; as at the beginning of the Book is prefixed, the Hiftory of Sufannah, and at the end is added, that of the Deftrudlion of Bel and the Dragon ; but none of thefe additions are to be found in any Hebrew copy, nor do they appear ever to have exifted in the Hebrew or Chaldaic language [a]. The pretended Hebraifms which have been alledged to prove their authenticity, are fuch as an Helleniftical Jew might be expefted to have ufed ; or were, perhaps, de- fignedly adopted to facilitate the reception of fpurious works. Thefe apocryphal parts appear to have been firft inferted into the Septuagint verfion [b]; and [a] Origen Epift. ad African, p. 14, Edit. Par. Not. a. (e] The Song of the Three Children is not in the Vatigaa «opy of the Septuagint, they 6o8 OF THE SONG OF THE they were certainly in Theodotion's edition, though there diftinguifhed by an Obelus, to intimate that they were not in the Hebrew. It is probable, that the fame author invented, or compofed from tradi- tional accounts, all thefe apocryphal additions, which he interwoved with the genuine work of Daniel. Annexed to, or incorporated with the infpired book, they gradually rofe into reputation ; and being fafe from cenfure under the fanciion of the Prophet's name ; and the approbation of the church, which fuffered them to be read for inflruclion of ^manners : they were, perhaps, fometimes confidered in a loofe and popular reprefentation, as a part of the genuine work of Daniel. It is, however, univerfally admitted, that they never were in the Hebrew canon [c], and they wcvt rejedled as fpurious by Eufebius and Apollinarius* St. Jerom, who confiders them as apocryphal, pro- fefles to have retained them with a mark prefixed, left he fliould appear to the unfkilful, to have re- fcinded a great part of Daniel's book : fince, though they were not in the Hebrew, they were generally difperfed and known [d] ; and St. Jerom, under the [c] Hieron. Pricf. in Dan. Calmct's Preface in Dan.. Da Pin. Diir. Prelim. Lib. I. c. i. [d] Praef. in Daniel, & Proocm. in Com. Dan. when vSt. Jeroin in his apology againft Ruffinus profelTes to have delivered only the fentimcnts of the Jews, and not his own, with rcfpcel: to thefe additional parts of Daniel he docs not retract his fen- timents, but evades the difculi^on of their authority : and ^s the Scholiaft obfervcs, Vafre rcfpondet. ViJ. Apol. Adv. RufF. & Scholia in Prxf. ad Dan. charaQcr Three children. 609 charadler of a Jew, endeavours to expofc the abfur- dity of fome particulars which they contain. There can, indeed, be no doubt that they were written long after the time of Daniel, by fome writer de- firous of imitating and of embellilhing the facred hiftory, though as they were not exprefsly fevered from the canonical part by any pofitive decree, they were received by the prepofterous decifion of the Council of Trent, as genuine, and in every refped: canonical [e]. It is uncertain at what time they were compofed. They are in the Arabic and Syriac verfion of the fcriptures, and are mentioned very early by Chriftian writers. The prefent book, which contains only a fong in praife of God, faid to have been uttered by the three companions of Daniel when thrown by Nebuchad- nezzar into a burning furnace, is to be admired for its inftruQion and tendency. Thefe righteous per- fons, whofe reputation was founded on the authentic accounts of Daniel [f], appear by their pious forti- tude to have contributed with the Prophet to the final fuppreffion of idolatry. The veneration enter- tained for their charafter, of which the memory was highly celebrated among the Jews [gJ, probably in- [e] Concil. Trid. Seff. 4. [f] Dan. iii. 2^. [g] There was an ancient tradition, that the Three Children were defcendants of Hezekiah. Vid. Nazianz. Orat. 47. And fome accounts report, that at lall they fiifFered martyrdom, as alfo, that their bodies, which had been interred at Babylon, were afterwards removed to Rome. Some Jews at Rome boafted of a defccnt from them.. R r duced 6lO OF THE SONG OF, &C. duccd fome Helleniftic Jew to fabricate this orna- mental addition to their hiflory. It mufl have been inferted at a very early period, as it is cited by many ancient writers [h]. The work is compofed with great fpirit, and the fentiments attributed to the holy chil- dren, are confiltent with the piety for which they were diftinguifhed. The hymn refembles the 148th Pfalm of David as to its invocation on all the works of creation to praife and exalt the Lord. It was fung in the fervice of the primitive church ; and in the Liturgy of Edward the Sixth, it was enjoined by the Kubrick, that during Lent, the Song of the Three Children fliould be fung inftead of the Te Deum. [h] Cypriant dc Lapfis, & de Orat, Domini OF [ 6ii J OF T H B HISTORY OF S U S A N N A FL THIS hiftory, which in fome Greek copies is entitled, the Judgment of Daniel, is faid in the fliort intimation prefixed to the Book by our tranflators, to have been fet apart from the beginning of Daniel, where it ftands in the Roman and other editions of the Greek. The Complutenfian, how- ever, and fome Latin editions, place it as the thir- teenth chapter of that book, though certainly with, lefs regard to chronology ; for the hiftory, if founded on truth, mull be fuppofed to have taken place when Daniel was very young, and probably according to fome accounts [a], not above twelve years of age. The Book has no fufficient pretenfions to be con- fidered as canonical. Some writers, indeed, and even Origen, in a fufpefted epiflle attributed to him [b], have conceived that it might originally have [a] Ignat. Epift. ad Magnef. Theodor. in Ezek. cap. i. Sulpit. Sever. Sac. Hift. Lib. II. p. 265. Edit. Lug. Bat. 1647. [e] Origca Epill. ad Jul. Afncagi, II r 2 been 6l2 or. THE HISTORY OF SUSANNAH. been written in the Hebrew or Chaldee, and drawn from the canon by the Jews ; and that the original copies were induftrioufly fuppreffed by them, be- caufe they contained a relation of particulars difcredit- ablc to the Jevvifli nation. But there is certainly no foundation for this improbable fancy ; for not to mention the impra6licability of fuch a meafurc [c], it is evident, that if the Jews could have been tempt- ed by any follicitude for their national character to mutilate the facred writings, they would rather have expunged thofe pafTages in the infpired books which refledl on them the difgrace, not of individual pro- fligacy, but of general mifcondud ; or thofe which record the crimes and occafional offences of favourite charaders. But we know with what jealous vene- ration the canon was preferved inviolate ; and per- ceive in the whole hiftory of a perverfe and dif- obedient people, with what fmcerity they compofcd, and with what fidelity they preferved the records and annals of their country. The prefent book appears to have been written in Greek, by fome Jew who invented the hiftory, or collected its particulars from traditionary relations, in praife of Daniel. And, indeed, the author is fup- pofed to betray himfelf to be a Greek, by fome quibbling allufions which do not feem to apply in any other language than the Greek [d], and which are not [c] See Introducftion, p. 12, Sec. [d] When the firll cldy affirms that he beheld Sufannah under a tree called Qz^yov^ Daniel playing- on the word, declares that OF THE HISTORY OF SUSANNAH. 61-^ not likely to be the conceit of a tranilator. There are two Syriac verfions, which differ in their con- tents. The hiflory might, perhaps, have fome founda- tion in truth, though it is not mentioned by Jofe- phus : who, indeed, has not noticed any of the par- ticulars contained in thefe apocryphal additions to the book of Daniel. The Jews in general rejeded it as an improbable fable : and remarked, that it was an obvious abfurdity to fuppofe that their country- men in the captivity were in poffeffion of the power of inflifting punifliment on their Judges and Pro- phets [e]. The Jews had, however, fome traditional accounts of the flory, and many fancied that it was alluded to by Jeremiah, in the twenty-ninth chapter of his book [f] of prophecies : where they fuppofed the two elders to be defcribed under the names of Zedekiah and Ahab : though thefe perfons are there faid to have been put to death by the King of Ba- bylon. Origen, who defends the truth of the ac- count [_G~\, maintains that the Jev/s were fuffered to continue in the exercife of their own judicial laws during the captivity ; and, indeed, they appear to have experienced in many refpet^ts, confiderable in- that the angel fhould C?i"^*'> cut him in two ; and when the fecond reprefents the tree to have been -mfttov, Daniel dc- nounees his fentence by an exprcilion from which ■ropKoi' was derived, -zD-pio-ai. [e] Hieron. in Hierem. ch. xxix. 23. [f] Chap. xxix. 22, 23. [g] Epill. ad African. Traft. 31. in Matt. Athan. Synopf. Sixt. Senens. Lib, V. R r 3 dulgence 6l4 OF THE HISTORY OF SUSANNAH. dulgence from their conquerors. Origen adds like- wife, as a confirmation of the veracity of the account, that he had heard from a Jew, as a popular notion, that the elders attempted to fcducc Sufannah by affurances that the Meffiah fhould fpring from them : to which prophane dealing Daniel is fuppofed to al- lude in the fifty-feventh verfe. The book feems to have been received by the Chriftian church as containing a relation not incon- fiftent with the facred hiftory, but not as the pro- dudlion of Daniel ; though as forming an appendage to his work, and containing an account of circum- ftances in which he was concerned, it was fome- times cited under his name [h] : and being read by the church, was confidered with reverence. Afri- canus, however, in his epiftle to Origen, reprefents it as confeffedly fpurious ; and Origen himfelf allows that it had no canonical authority [i]. Eufebius and Apollinarius, in anfwer to Porphyry, confider it as a part of the prophecy of Habakkuk, the fon of Jefus, of the tribe of Levi j for which, however, they do not appear to have any authority, except that of the Greek title prefixed to Bel and the Dra- gon : v/hich probably belonged exclufively to that book [k]. It is received, together with the other fpurious additions, as canonical by the Romiih [h] Iren.tus Haeres. Lib. IV. c. xlir. Tertiill. de Coron. Milit. c. iv. Cyprian. EpilL 43. Ambrofe in c. xiii. Dan. [i] Origen Epill. ad Jul. African. & Grabe de Vitiis. Sept. Interpret. [k] Huet. Prop. 4. i,n D*n. church ; OF THE HISTORY OF SUSANNAH. 615 church ; but is fuffered to continue in our Bibles only as a work from which moral improvement may be drawn. It illuftrates the confidence of truth, and the fecurity of innocence. It exhibits by an inftrudive contrail, chaftity in its moft at- tradive colours, and licentioufnefs in its moft hide- ous form. Rr 4 01 6'i6 "of the history op OF THE HISTORY OF BEL anp the DRAGON. THIS Book, which in Theodotion's verfion of Daniel, and in the Vulgate is annexed as a fourteenth chapter to the book of Daniel, is properly rejected by our church : having never been in the Hebrew canon, or received as authentic by the earlier Chrifiians. In the Septuagint verfion of the fcrip- tures, into which thefe fpurious parts of Daniel ap- pear to have been firfl foiited, there was prefixed to this book a title, in wliich it wns called, the Pro- phecy of Habakkuk, the Ton of Jefus, of the tribe of Levi [a] i whence fome attributed the book to the Prophet whofe infpired work is now extant in the canon ; but he lived much earlier than the period which mufl: be afligned to this hiftory, if its truth be admitted. There is reafon, however, to fufpeft that this title was a fubfequcnt addition by fome perfon [a] Hicron, Proccm, Cojnrn. in Dan. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Lib. I, w'ho BEL AND THE DRAGON. 617 who attributed the book to Habakkuk, on account of the agency which is affigned to him in the hiilory j and Theodotion was induced, probably, in confe- quence of fuch fufpicion, to change the title in his edition, though he fubftituted with as little reafon, that of Daniel. If, however, the author's name really were Habakkuk, he was in all probability fome Helleniftical Jew, or, at lead, a different per- fon from the facred writer. It is mod reafonable to fuppofe, that the book was never extant in the Hebrew language, though it might, as Lightfoot [b] has conceived, be a parabolical ftory, founded on a paflage in Jeremiah [c], who threatens punifiiment to Bel, the great na- tional idol of Babylon [d], in terms that might have fuggefled the circumftances of his de(lru6tion as defcribed in this book. It is certain, that in all thefe apocryphal additions, the fame Daniel was meant as the Prophet whofe writings we poffefs in the canon : though annexed to the fufpeded title before-mentioned, which, accord- {b] Lightfoot Stud, p. 13. [c] Jerem. li. 44. Seld. Syntag. H. de Belo & Dragon. [d] Bel was originally Belus, the fucceffor of Nimrod, faid to be the firit deified man ; his fon Ninus having erefted a ftatue, and prefcribed vvorftiip to him : which was the begin- ning of idolatry. From Bel was derived the Hebrew idol Baal. Vid. Hleron. in Ezech. xxiii. & in Ofee x'u The magnificent temple of Bel, with other particulars relative to his worfliip, is fpoken of by Herodotus and other hiflorians, Vid. Herod. Lib. I. Diodor. L. 111. c, x. ing 6l8 OF THE HISTORY OF ing to St. Jerom, was in the Septuagint copies [eJ, there is an exordium, or, as it were, a firfl verfc, which defcribes Daniel improperly as a prieft, the fon of Obadiah, a gueft of the King of Babylon : and inconfiflently with the facred accounts of the Prophet, by which Daniel appears to have been of the tribe of Judah. Still, however, as that title and exordium were probably fubfequent additions, we may conceive the author of this book to fpeak of the Prophet Daniel -, but not as fome have imagined, that he gives us only an enlarged account of the events related in the fixth chapter of the authentic book of Daniel : for the circumflances are totally different, except in the particular of his being thrown into the lions den ; and the hiilory recorded in the facred account is ailigned to the reign of Darius ; whereas in the fnd verfe of this book, which un- doubtedly is properly placed [f], the events appear to be afljgned to the reign of Cyrus [oj. Many [e] St. Jerom calls the book, on account of thi? infcript tion, •4/£tJe7ri7p«9oi', " falfely intitled." It is rejcifled as apo- cryphal under the title of the Book of Habakkuk, by the author of the Synopfis attributed to Athanaiius. [f] As it (lands in the Arabic, Syriac, and Alcxandriai; copies. [g] It muft be obferved, that the author in this verfe fpeaks of Cyrus as of the immediate fucccflbr of Ailyages : agreeably to the account of Herodotus and his followers. But it is certain from prophane and facred hiftory, that there was an intermediate King of Media who reigned two years, called Cyaxares, by Xenophon ; and Darius, by Jofcphus and Da- niel. BEL AND THE DRAGON. 6 ^9 ManV perfons objed to the improbability of the circumftances related in this book : as particularly to the deftrudion of the Dragon [h], and to the conveyance of Habakkuk from Jerufalem to Baby- lon, merely to furnifh a dinner to Daniel. The book, indeed, though it be cited as hiftorical by the mod refpectable writers in the earliefl: ages of the church [i], is confidered as fabulous by St. Jerom ; and it muft be allowed to contain fome extraordinary and incredible relations. It is, however, canonized niel. Vid. Xenophon. Cyropced. Lib. T. c. xix. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c xii. Dan. v. 31. Meffieurs Du Port Royal, on an idea that the particulars recorded in this book, are fuch as were not likely to have occurred under Allyages, Darius, or Cyrus, affign the hiftory to the beginning of the reign of Evil-Merodach, the fon of Nebuchadnezzar, placino- it about A. M. 3442. [h] By the dragon is to be undcrftood a ferpent, of which, to the triumph of our great deceiver, the worflup prevailed among many nations in early times. Vid. yElian. de Animal. Lib. XL c. xvii. & Lib. XVII. c. v. Origen cont. Celf. Lib. VL Valer. Max. i. 8. Ovid. Metam. Lib. XV. Wifd. jci. 15. Fragm. Philo, torn. ii. p. 646. Stillingfl. Orig. Sac. B. IIL c. iii. MelTrs. du Port Royal fuppofe, that the Drao-on was burfl, not by any fpecific power of the compofition, but by the fuffbcation which it occafioned in a narrow throat. Vid. Seld. Syntag. IL de Bel Sc Drag. c. xvii. Ben Gorion gives a very diiferent account of the deftrudion. Vid. Lib. L c. x. ap. Seld. Syntag. II. c. xvii. [i] Irenaeus H^eres. Lib. IV. c. xi. Tertull. de Jejun. adv. Pfychicos, c. viii. De Idolat. c. xviii. Cyprian, de Exhort. Martyrii. de Orat. Domin, & de Oper. & Elemofyn. Ambrofe de Jacob. & Vit. beat. c. viii. Sc in Epift. ad Rom. i. 23. X by 620 OF THE HISTORY, &C. by the Council of Trent. Daniel, probably by de- tecting the mercenary contrivances of the idolatrous prieits at Babylon, and by opening the eyes of the people \j the follies of that fuperflition into which they had been feduced, might have furniflied fome foundation for the hiftory ; and the writer of the book appears to have introduced fome additional circumftances to enliven the narration ; and to il- luftrate the providence of God in protecting and providing for thofe who adhere to his fervice. OF [ 621 ] OF THE PRAYER OF MANASSETH. THIS fhort prayer is infcribed to Manafleth, and is faid to have been compofed by him during the captivity at Babylon : where, agreeably to God's threats by his Prophets [a], he was carried in fetters, by Efarhaddon, King of AiTyria and Ba- bylon [b], in the twenty-fecond year of his reign, A. M. 3227 [c] ; and whe're, according to fome tra- ditionary accounts, being feverely treated by the conqueror [d], and having vainly intreated protedion from the falfe deities whom he worfhipped, he re- membered the advice which he had received from his father in the words of Mofes, " V/hen thou art in tribulation, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, he [a] 2 Kings xxl. 12 — 16. [b] Prid. Connea. A. 680. ManafT. XIX. [c] 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11. [d] Some writers fabuloully relate, that he was fliut up in an heated brazen calf, that on the Prayer of Manafleth the image burft, and he was carried by an angel to Jerufalem. Eutich. Alexand, Annal. will 622 OF THE PRAVER OF MANASSETH. will not forfake thee, neither deftroy thee [e]." It appears from the facred hiftory, that he was awakened by his afflidions to a due fenfe of his crimes, and induced to turn with humility and re- pentance to the God of his fathers ; and that he prayed unto the Lord, who was intreated of him, and heard his fupplication, and brought him again after a fliort captivity to his kingdom, into Jerufalem j where, as he continued ftedfaft in his adherence to God, and zealoully laboured to extirpate idolatry, he enjoyed a long reign of profperity and peace ; being permitted to continue on the throne fifty-five years [f] ; which was a longer period than was al* lowed to any preceding or fubfequent King ; and an indulgence which ferves to illuftrate the efficacy of that contrition of which the facred writers ftrongly in- culcate the neceffity, and minutely detail the effe£ls. The Prayer in our Bibles, though it contain no- thing inconfiftetit with the circum fiances and period of Manaifeth, is not fuppofed to be the auibentic produclion of that Monarch. The prayer which he is related in the book of Chronicles to have uttered, is there faid to have been written in the book of the Kings of Ifrael, and in the fayings of the Seers [g] ; in [e] Deut. iv. 30, 31. Tradlt. Hcbr. In Paralip. Sj Tiirgiim in 2 Chron. xxxili. 11. [f] z Chron. xxxili. i, 13, 13. & Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. iv. [g] 2 Chron. xxxiil. 19. Or of Hofai, as it is rendered ia the margin of our Bibles. The word Hozai figniiics Seers, us OF THE PRAYER OF MANASSETH. 623 in fome larger and uninfpired records which have perifiied. The prefent work is not in any of the Hebrew copies. It is uncertain in what language it was originally compofed -, but it cannot be traced higher than in the Vulgate, into which, probably, or into fome Greek copies, it was inferted by fome writer defirous of fupplying the lofs of the authentic prayer. It was not received as genuine by any of the Fathers or Councils, and was rejeded even by the Council of Trent. It is, however, written in a flile of much piety and humility : and the Greek church has inferted it into its euchology, or colledion of prayers. The author of it fpeaks of repentance as requifite to fin- ners, in a manner fimilar to the declaration made by our Saviour : that he came not to call the juft, but fmners to repentance [h]. as the Seventy render it. Some underftand it to be the name of a Prophet, and fome have thought that Ifaiah is meant. The Syriac reads Hanan, the Acabic Saphan. Vid. Grot, [h] Matt. ix. 13. OF [ 624 3 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF the MACCABEES. TH E Firfl: Book of the Maccabees contains a colIe6lion of hiftorical particulars relating to the Jews from the beginning of the reign of Antio- chus Epiphanes, A. M. 3829, to the death of Simon the high-prieft, A. M. 3869. It is fuppofed to have been originally written in the Hebrew, or rather in the Chaldaic language of the Jerufalem dialed, as ufed by the Jews after the return from captivity. The author is by fome thought to have been John Hyrcanus, the fon of Simon ; who was a prince and high-prieft of the Jews near thirty years, and who began his government at the period at which this hiftory concludes. Jofcphus [a], indeed, informs us, that the high-priefts were intrufted with the care of writing the annals of their country ; and at the period of the Maccabees, great attention fcems to have been paid to preferve them [b]. The author [a] Cont. Apion, Lib. I. [b] I Mace. xvi. 14. ^ Mace. ii. 14. of FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 625 of the prefent book, who was probably fome perfon publickly appginled to digeft the hiflory : appears to have had recourfe to the national records, and fome- times refers to them [c]. He reckons from a Greek sera, but according to the Hebrew mode of compu- tation [d]. St. Jerom profeflfes to have feen the book in the Hebrew, under the title of " Sharbit Sar Bene EI [e]," that is, " the fceptre of the Prince of the children of God ;'* a title which obvioully al- ludes to Judas, the valiant defender of God's per- fecuted people. This original is, however, now loft. The Greek verfion, from which our Englifh tranf- lation was made, is denominated Maccabees, from the perfons whofe adions are defcribed in the book. It was probably executed before the time of Theo- dotion, for it appears to have been ufed by authors, his contemporaries [f]. In the Paris and London Polyglots, there are two Syriac verfions of both the books of the Maccabees, which were made from the Greek, though they differ from it in fome refpefts. The two books of the Maccabees were certainly compofed after the fucceffion of Prophets had ceafeJ. [c] Chap. xvi. 24. [d] The author calculates from the month Nifan, (INTarch or April) the Greeks reckon from October. [e] •?« 'mo t2unir^, C'^^fy.d C^fSave eA. Vid. Origen Com. in Pfalm. vol. i. p. 47. ap. Euleb. Lib. VI. c. xxv. . Hieron. Prol. Gal. Some read ^« U3 nur tcmu?, " the fcepter of the rebels againft the Lord." Vid. Druf. Frsef. in Lib. Vet. Teft. [f] As by Origen and Tertullian, S s among 626 FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES, among the Jews [c] ; and were never reckoned by thcin in the catalogue of the facred writings. They are not cited by our Saviour, or his apoftlesj and were confidered as apocryphal by the primitive church, fince they are not mentioned in the hft of the canonical books furniOied by Melito, the Council of Laodicea, Hilary, and Cyril of Jerulalem [h] ; thay are exprefsly reprefented as books of a fecondary rank by many very ancient writers [i] ; and were received as fuch by St. Auftin, and the Council of Carthage [k] ; notwithftanding which, they were pronounced to be in every refpecl canonical, by the Council of Trent. This firfl book is cited as a refpeclable hiftory by the fathers [l]. It was probably written by a con- temporary author, who had, in part, witnelTed the fcenes which he fo minutely and graphically de- fcribes ; and who wrote under a lively imprefTion of the revolutions which his country had recently ex- [g] I Mace. iv. 46 ix. 27. xlv,4i. Jofcph. cont. Ap'ion. Lib. I. Parker's Introduft. ad Bib. Voffius, Kidder. &c. [h] Preface to the Apocryphal Books, p. 514, notes m and N. [1] Origcn in Pfa. i. & ap. Eufeb. Hill. Lib. VJ. c. xxv. Athan. Synop. Hieron. Pra^f. in Prov. Salomon. Grcgor. Mag. Moral. Expof. in Job. Lib. XIX. c. xvii. Junil. African, de Part. Div. Leg. Lib L c. iii. [k] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIIL c. xxxvi. Concil. Carthag. v, Can. 47. In the printed copies of the pretended decree of Pope Gelaluis, only one book of the Maccabees is mentioned. [l] Tertull. Adv. Jud. c. iv. Cyprian, de Exhort. Martyr, § ^ Teft. Lib. III. §4. § 15. § 53. perienced. FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 627 perienced. It is compofed, at leaft, with great ac- curacy and fpirit, and perhaps approaches nearer to the ftile of facred hiftory than any work now extant. St. John has been thought to fubftantiate the truth of a relation herein furniilied [m] ; and Jofephus appears to have copied mofl of its accounts into his Jewifh antiquities ; and though the author has been reprefented in a few inftances as betraying fome io-- Eorance in treating of foreign affairs [n], yet in other refpe6ls, many heathen writers corroborate his reports. The book contains the hiflory of Mattathias, and of his family, and of the wars which- they at the head of their countrymen maintained againft the Kings of Syria, in the defence of their religion and lives. From the death of Alexander, who had con- quered Perfia, and the countries dependent on that empire [o], Judasa followed the fate of Syria ; and for a fpace of near one hundred and fifty years was [m] St. John reprefents Jefus to have been prefent at the feail: oi the dedication : by which has been xinderllood the feaft of the dedication of the altar, of which the inftitution is • recorded in this book. Some have thought, that as this feait commenced on the twenty-fifth of December, it might have been pre-ordained with a reference to our Saviour's birth. The Jews celebrated this feaft, which they called the feaft of the lights, for eight days, with illuminations and great joy. Vid. John x, 22. i Mace. iv. 56—59. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XII. c. xi. [n] Chap. i. 5, 6. vlil. 6, 7. Rainolds Cenfur. Apoc. Prce- Itd. 98, 104. jTo] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib, XI. c. viii, S s 2 expofed 628 FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. cxpofed to all the ambitious contefts which prevailed between the Kings of Syria and Egypt. After vari- ous revolutions, and alternate fubjcQion to each of thefe kingdoms -, and after having occafionally fuf- fered all the oppreflion and exadions that tyranny could enforce by means of the high-priefts, and thofe princes who were appointed by the interefl:, and fubject to the control of the conquerors, Judaea was at the time that this hiftory begins, a tributary province of Syria, under Antiochus Epiphanes ; and cruelly harrafled and pillaged by him. The fevere perfecution which he exercifed, and his avowed de- figns, v/hich tended to exterminate the rehgion, and, indeed, the whole nation of the Jews [p] : inflamed the zeal of Mattathias to refentment and revolt ; and upon his death excited Judas, in compliance with the dying injunclions of his father, to attempt the deliverance of his country. The fuccefTive vic- tories, and prudent conduct of Judas and his bre- thren, which efl"ected the accomplifliment of their defigns, conftitute the chief fubject of the prefent book. The relation affords a lively pifture of a nation infpired by the patriotic heroifm of its leaders, and ftruggling with enthufiafm for civil and religious liberty. It reprefents Judas and his brethren, anxious to " reflore the decayed eftate of the people," and to purify the polluted fanftuary of their God : as en- deavouring by meafures concerted in piety, and con- cluded with fteady fortitude, to conciliate tlie divine [i] Chap. i. 44—64. iii. 34—36. countenance. FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 629 countenance. It defcribes, likewife, the gradual re- covery of Judaea from defolation and miferles to im- portance and profperity £ cl], and at the fame time the worfhip of the true God re-eflablifhed on the ruins of idolatry. The author, like the facred hif- torians, felecls individual charaders for confideration, and defcribes the mifcondud as well as the virtues of his heroes. lie treats of the affairs of other nations only fo far as conneded with the circumftances of the Jewifli hiflory ; and exhibits the changes and yiciffitudes of other governments, as they tended to affect the interefts of his country. The particulars recorded in t^ie book, often afford a key to prophecy [r], and efpecially explain the myfterious vifions contained in the eighth and eleventh chapters of Dai^iel, relating to the horn, by which emblem w^as prefignified Antiochus [s]. [ cl] Chap. i. 25 — 28. iii. 42 — 51. comp. with chap. x. xil. 49 — 23. xiv. 8 — 23. XV. I — 9, 24, 32. [r] Comp. I Mace. x. 88, 89, with Zech. ix. 14 — 18. and Jackfon's works, torn. ii. p. 844. Vid. alfo, 1 Mace. vii. 17. where the feeond and third verfes of Pfalm Ixxix. are cited, either by way of accommodation to the circumflanceG before defcribed ; or as intentionally prophetic (perhaps in a fecon- dary fenfe,) of the {laughter elFefled by Alcimus. The He- brew word Chafidim, indeed, which is tranflated faints in the feeond verfe of the Pfalm, has been conlidered as defcriptive of the Affideans, who were eminently pious. The Pfalm might, perhaps, have been hiftorical of the calamities occa- fioned by Nebuchadnezzar, and yet like many others, have l?orn a prophetic afpeft to future circumftances. [s] Jofeph. Anticj. Lib. X. c. xi. Hicron. in Dan. c. viii. S s 3 who 630 FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES, who fet up the abomination of defolation on the altar [t]. Mattathias the father of Judas, was of the fa- cerdotal race, of the courfe of Joarib [u] ; and as is generally fuppofed, a defcendant of Phinehas, the fon of Eleazar, to whom God had given the cove- nant of an everlafting priefthood [x]. He himfelf does not appear to have enjoyed that exalted office [y] ; though it was conferred on his fons ; and re- Itrifled as an exclufive privilege to his defcendants till the typical office was virtually evacuated by the inftitution of a fpiritual priefthood in the time of Herod j who, except in the cafe of Ariftobulus, the grandfon of Hyrcanus, did not refped the pretenfions of the Afmonean family, but conceded the prieft- hood to any of tlie facerdotal lineage [z], [t] Chap, i, 54, 5^. By the abomination of defolation, >vhich as D^iniel had prediftcd was fet up on the altar, we may underftand the idol that was placed there by order of Antiochus. It is fuppofed to have been the ftatue of Jupiter Olympius. Vid. 2 Mace. vi. 2. Idols in fcripture are com- monly called abominations. Vid. i Kings xi. 5, 7. And the idol might be fald to make defolate, as it expelled the ivorfliip of the true God, and occafioned the deftrudion of his fervants. Comp. Dan. xi. 31. with i Mace. i. 54. and 2. Mace. vi. I, 2. [u] Chap. ii. i. or Jahoiarib. This was the firft of the twenty-four courfes which fcrved in the temple. Vid. i Chron* xxiv. 7. [x] Numb. XXV. 11— 13. i Mace, ii, 54. Juileii's Critic, ?Iift. voL i. Part III. c. i. p. 372. [y] Calmet. Dift. Word Mattathias. [z] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XX. c. viii, TuDASi FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 63I Judas, whofe exploits are celebrated in this hif- tory, has been thought to have derived his title of Maccabasus from the initial letters of the four words with which his flandard is fuppofed to have been decorated [a], and which were taken from the eleventh verfe of the fifteenth chapter of Exodus, " Mi Camo-ka Baelim Jehovah j" Who is like unto thee among the gods, O Jehovah ? From this Judas his defccndants were called Aiaccabees, They were called, iikewife, Afnionssans, either becaufe, as Jofe- phus informs us, Mattathias was a defcendant of Af- monseus [b] j or by an honourable and eminent diflinftion, as the Hebrew word fignifies princes [c]. Many writers maintain, that they were de- fcended maternally from the race of Judah [dJ. [a] Others who think that Judas was named Maccabasus before he ere£lcd his ftandard ; or who coUeft from monuments jthat a lion was imprinted on the ftandard of the Maccabees, derive the word Maccabeus from o n::::)^ *' per me eft phiga." Vid. Godwyn de Repub. Jud. Lib. I. c. i. Some derive it from Macchabeth, or Macchubeth, " hidden," becaufe Mat- tathias and his companions concealed themfelves in the wilder- nefs. Vid. chap. ii. 28 — 31. Others, laftly, derive it from Makke-Baiah, which fignifies " Conqueror in the Lord." Vid. Prid. An. 167. & Caimet. on i iNlacc, ii. 4. Ben Gorion, h' in. c. 9. [b] Jofcph. Antiq. Lib. XH. c. vili. [c] Charchamanim. Vid. Pflu Ixvlli. 32. It is rendered nfeo-?£K, in the Septuagint of Ffalm Ixvii. p. 31. Vid. Kim= chi. Druf. Praef. in INlaccab. Eufeb. Demonft. Evang. Lib. VIII. [d] Hieron. in Ofee, cap. iii. in Sophon. c i. Augufl". cont. Fauft. Lib. I. c. Ixxii. &c. Preface to Hiil. Books, j>» 133, note o, S s A Ariftobulus, 632 FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. Ariftobulus, the fon of Hyrcanus, was the firll who afl'umed the title of King after the captivity. He bequeathed the crown to his fon, after whofe death it was a fubjeft of conteft to his children ; and on the capture of Hyrcanus the Elder, by the Parthians, conferred by the Romans on Herod [e], [e] Sulpit. Sever. S. HIH. L. 11, O F [ 633 ] OF THE SECOND BOOK of the MACCABEES, THIS Book contains a compilation of hiftorical records extracted from dilferent works ; but cfpecially an abridgment of an hiftory of the perfe- cutions of Epiphanes, and Eupator [a] againfl the Jews, which had been written in Greek in five books, by an Helleniflical Jew of Cyrene, named Jafon : a defcendant probably of thofe Jews who had been placed there by Ptolemy Soter [b], and which is no longer extant. The name of the com- piler is not known. He was doubtlefs a different perfon from the author of the preceding book. He dates from an aera fix months later than that chofen by him, and not only writes with lefs accuracy, and [a] Chap. ii. 19—29. Clemens Alexandrlnus calls it the epitome of the Maccabaic hiftory. Vid. Strom. L. V. p. 595. [e] Prid. Con. Par. L B. Vlll. An. 320. The Cyreneans were of Greek extraftion. Callimachus, the Poet of Cyrene, wrote in Greek. Jofeph. Autiq. L. XIV. c xili. L. XVI, C. X. in 634 SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. in a more florid flile, but likewife relates fome par- ticulars in a manner inconfiflent with the accounts of the firft book [c] ; from which, neverthelefs, he has in other inftances borrowed both fentiments and fads. [Some writers have attributed this fecond book to Philo of Alexandria [d]; and others to Jofephus, on grounds equally conjeclural and falla- cious. Neither Eufebius nor St. Jerom fpeak of it as among the works of Philo ; and the difcourfe of tiie Maccabees, or the Empire of Reafon, whick Eufebius and St. Jerom fuppofe to have been written by Jofephus [e], is a very different work, though it mentions many particulars contained in this book. Serarius [f] maintained that the Second Book of Maccabees was the production of Judas, the Ef- [c] Comp. I Mace. vi. 13 — 16. with 2 Mace, i. 16. and Ix. 28. I Mace. ix. 3, 18. with 2 Mace. i. 10. i Mace. iv. 36, with 2 Mace. x. 2, 3. & Uflier. [d] Honor. Auguftod. de Scriptor. Eccl. in Philone. [e] Eufeb. Hill. Ecclef. Lib. HI. c. x. Hicron. adv. Pelag. Lib. 1. c. iii. & Lib. de Script. Ecclefs. in Jofeph. Thi^ took, whether properly or improperly attributed to JofephuS| is entitled, ek Ma.y.v.a,Qa.Hii ^oyS^, >j •rzr£p ciUoa^xicf^' Xoyicruti. The word Maccabees being applied to all who diilinguiflied theni- felves in the cavife of religion and freedom ; and fometimes, as in this inltance, to thofe who flouriflied before the time of Judas. Vid. Scaligcr in Chron. Eufeb. n. 1853, p. 143. The work of Jofephus is a rhetorical declamation -on the power of reafon, afting on religious principles ; in which the author ilr luftrates his fubjed by a defcription of the condudl and fpeeches of Eleazar, and the other martyrs whofe fortitude; ^3 celebrated in this fecond book of Maccabees. [f] Serar. Frol. H. in Mace. 5: Rupert, de Via. Verb. fcnian, SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 635 •fenian, who is defcribed by Jofephus [g] as a man of great authority for his wifuom ; who, likewife, ac- cording to the hiftorian's account was endowed with the infallible fpirit of prophecy [h], and predi£led the death of Antigonus, the fecond fon of John Hyr- canus the Prieft ; and whom Serarius imagines to be mentioned in the fourteenth verfe of the fecond chap- ter of this book. But that paffage is generally al- lowed to relate to Judas Maccabseus ; and affords no light with refpecl to the author of this book. It is with more probability, though with equal uncertainty affigned to Simon, or Judas Maccabseus ; while fome have fanfied that the whole book is only a letter written by the fynagogue of Jerufaleni to the Jews in Egypt : not diftinguifhing the hiftorical from the epiftolary parts [i]. By whomfoever it was com* pofed, it fhould feem to have been originally writtea in Greek -, and the compiler, as well as the author, whofe work he abridged, follows the Syrian mode of computation, reckoning by the years of the Seleu-i cidcC [k]. The two epiflles which are contained in the firft and fecond chapters, and which arc there faid to have been written by the Jews at Jerufalem to their [g] Jofcph. Antiq. Lib. XIII, c. xix. [h] Jofeph. ce Bell. Jud. Lib. I. c. iii. [i] Genebr. Chronol. Cotelcr. Not. ad Can.'Apoft. p. 338. [k] Prideaux conceives, that the compiler muft have been jin Egyptian Jew, lince he feems to have acknowledged the JefTer temple in Egypt, for he diftinguiflies the temple at Je- -^•ufaiem as " the great temple," ' Vid. chap. ii. rg. xiv. 13. brethren 636 SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCA3EES- brethren at Alexandria, exhorting them to obferve the feail of the Tabernacles, and that of the Purifi- cation, are by Prideaux confidered as fpurious ; the fecond, indeed, is faid to have been written by Judas, who was not hving at the time of the date [l] ; and it contains many extravagant and fabulous particu- lars. It begins at the tenth verfe of the firft chapter, and terminates with the eighteenth of the fecond ; from thence to the end of the chapter is a fliort pre- face of the compiler to the abridgment of Jafon's hiftory ; which commences with the third chapter, and concludes with the thirty-feventh verfe of the fifteenth chapter, the two lafl _verfes forming a kind of conclulion to the work. The book contains an hiftory of about fifteen years, from the enterprize of Heliodorus in the tem- ple, A. M. 3828, to the vidory of Judas Maccab^eus againft Nicanor, A. M. 3843. The chapters are not, hov.^ever, arranged exactly in chronological order. The book begins at a period fomewhat earlier than that of the firft book of Maccabees. As the author appears at firll to have intended only an epitome of the hiflory of Judas Maccab^eus and his brethren, "With fome contemporary events [m], the account of the punifliment of Heliodorus, which occurred under Seleucus, the predeceiTor of Epiphanes, as well as the circumftances related in the two laft chapters which happened under Demetrius Sotor, the fuc^ [l] Com. 1 Mace. ix. 3, 18, with 2 jMacc. i. 10. [^!l Chap. ii. 19 — 23. ceffoic. SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. d-^J ceffor of Eupator, have been fometimes reprefented as fubfequent additions by fome later writer. But fmce thefe events as conneded with the time of Judas, were not irrelative to the author's defign : there is no reafon, except from a pretended difference of flile, to difpute their authenticity as a part of Ja- fon's hiftory : or, at lead, as a genuine addition af- fixed to the epitome by the compiler. The author had no title, any more than the writer of the pre- ceding book, to be confidered as an infpired hif- torian : he fpeaks, indeed, of his own performance in the diffident flile of one confcious of the fallibility qf his own judgment, and diftruflful of his owa powers [n]. His work was never confidered as ftridly canonical till received into the facred lill by the Council of Trent, though examples are produced from it by many ancient writers [o]. It muft be allowed to be a valuable and inflru6live hiftory ; and affords an interefting defcription of a perfecuted and afilided people : furnifliing in the relation of the condud of Eleazar, and of the woman and her chil- dren who fuffered for their attachment to their re- ligion, an example of conftancy, that might have animated the martyrs of the chriftian chuich. The [n] Chap. XV. 3S. which is written In the ftile of an un- infpired writer, and refembles the conclufion of the oration of .^fchines againfl Ctefipho. Vid. Preface to i IMacc. p. 626, 627. [o] Ambrofe de Jacob, & Vita Beat. c. x. xi. xii. & Lib. de Offic. c. xl. xli. Augufl. de cur, gerend, pro Mortuis, .L. I. § 3. 6 author 638 SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES* author induflrioufly difplays the conjfidence in a re- furredlon and future life [p] which prevailed at the period of his hiftory, and which was the encourage- ment that enabled thofe who were fo feverely tried, to fuftain their tortures. He likewife, perhaps, more particularly enforced the dodrine of a refurreclion with a defign to counteract the propagation of the Sadducean principles, which were then rifing into notice. It has been thought to detract from the credibi- lity of the particulars recorded in this book, that neither the author of the preceding work, nor Jofe- phus in thofe his acknowledged writings, where he treats of the perfecution carried 011 by Antiochus [qJ, fhould mention the fufFerings of the martyrs whofe memorial is here celebrated. But the filence of thefe hiftorians can furnifh no fufficient argument to deny that there was, at leaft, fome ground-work for the accounts of this book, with whatever exagge- rations we may fuppofe it to have been decorated. The defcription, likewife, of the prodigies and me- teorological conflicts which portended calamities to Judaea, ought not to invalidate our confidence in the veracity of the writer of this book : fince it is un- queftionable from the tellimony of refpectable hif- torians [r] ; and, indeed, from the evidence of holy writ [sj : that fuch ominous appearances have fome- [p] Chap. vli. 9, II, 14, 23, 29, 36. Si xiv. 46. [ qJ De Bell. Jud. L. I. Jofcph. Antlq. L. XII. c. v. [r] Jofeph. de Bell. Jud. Lib. VII. c. .xii. [s] Luke xxi. 25. times SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 639 times been wltneffed. And when, as in this inftance, the phsenomena are reprefented by an hidorian, per- haps nearly contemporary, to have continued forty days [t] : it is unreafonable to fufpeft delufion, or Avilful mifreprefentation. So, hkewife, however im- probable thofe accounts may appear, in which God is defcribed to have vindicated the infulted fanclity of his temple [u] ; and to have difcountenanced the adverfaries of his people by apparitions and angelical vifions [x] ; it is certain, that many philofophical and judicious writers have maintained the reality of limilar appearances [y] ; and that the popular fuper- flitions and belief in fuch apparitions may, without credulity, be fuppofed to have originated in the mi- raculous interpofitions which were fometimes dif- played in favour of the Jewifli people [z]. But though the book may, perhaps, be vindicated in general, with refpect to hiftorical truth, it con- tains fome parts of exceptionable chara£ler ; and fome paiTages in it have been objeded to as of dan- gerous example [a]. The Romanifts, indeed, who in deference to the decifion of the Tridentine fathers, admit the canonical authority of the book, have £t] Chap. V. I — 3. [u] Chap. iii. 24 — 29. [x] Chap. X. 29, 30. xi. 8. [y] Cicero Tufcul. Qua^ft. L. I. & de Natur. Dcor. L. II, [z] Jofliua V. 13. [a] Chap. i. 18—36. & Rainold's Cenfur. Apocryph. torn. \i. Praeleft. 133, 134. Vld. alfo, chap. xiv. 41—46. where the furious attempt of Razis to fall on his own fword is fpokea «f with feeming approbation, produced B4O SECOND book: of the MACCABEES. produced the lad verfes of the twelfth chapter to countenance their notions concerning purgatory and prayers for the dead [b]» The work, as the produclion of a fallible and unenlightened man, may contain a mixture of error ^ and certainly fhould be read with that difcretion which, while it feeks inflruclion, guards againft the intrufion of falfe and pernicious opinions. If St. Paul, in his eulogium on fome illuflrious examples of faith, fhould be thought to have eflabliflied the truth, or approved the examples of this hiflory, he by no means bears teftimony to the infpiration of its author [c] i or eftabliflies its general authority in point of doctrine. The apoftles configned for the direclion of the chriftian church, the produclions of only thofe [b] Bellarm. de Purgat. Lib. II. c. iii. Some think, that Judas is commended for having prayed, not for the dead, but that the guilt of the dead might not be imputed to the living ; but though the Greek, be lefs favourable to the do6trine of the Romifli church than the Vulgate, it muft be confeffed that the paflage will not admit of that conftruction. Judas, probably, did not dream of purgatory : but he is certainly reprefentcd to have prayed for the dead ; and in the Greek, as well as in the Latin, the reconciliation is laid to have been made for the purpofe of delivering the dead from fin. [c] It is faid in the nineteenth verfe of the fixth chapter, that Elcazar, avOxiftlui; tin to ivfA'uxio* 'srfoa-r.yev. And St. Paul, fpeaking of martyrs who had fuffered in hopes of a refurrec* tion, fays, «^^o^ ^e eluiy.TTanaQr.aciVj from which expreflion fome conceive that the apoflle alludes to the deith of Eleazar, fup- pofing rviA.^tx.yov to fignify fome fpccific engine of torture. If the apoftle did refer to the account of this book, which is a point much controverted, it will only prove that the relation is true, *' holy SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 64I '^ holy men who were moved by the Holy Ghoft.'* St. Auftin juftly remarked, in anfwer to the Circum- cellion Donatifts f d], who had urged the defperate attempt of Razis [e], in defence of fuicide : that they mufl have been hard prefled for examples, to have recourfe to the book of Maccabees ; for that this book was of fubordinate authority, as not efla- bliflied on the teftimony of the Jewifli church, or on that of Chrift; and as received by the ^Chriflian church only to be difcreetly read ; and that Razis, however diftinguifhed for valour, was not to be pro- pofed as an example to juflify felf-murder [f]. The fathers in general, indeed, cite the book as an ufe- ful hiftory [g] ; but not as of authority in point of dodrine. There are two other books entitled the Third and Fourth Books of Maccabees, which were never received by any church. That which is improperly Itiled the third j and which in point of time iliould be confidered as the firft : defcribes the perfecution of Ptolemy Philopator againft the Jews in Egypt, about A, M. 3789 : and the miraculous delivery of thofe who were expofed in the Hypodrome of Alex- [d] Thefe were a party of confederated ruffians of the fourth century, who pradtifed and defended aHiiffi nations, and who recommended fuicide when it could refcue tHem from public punifliment. Vid. JMoflieim. Ecclef. HiA. Cent. IVo Part IF. [e] Chap. xiv. 41. [f] Auguft. Epift. 61. ad Dulcit. Cofin's Scholaft. Hift. § 81. [g] Cyprian. Exhort. Martyr. §. 11, Teftiiu. L. III. ■^ 4« T t andria 642 SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES* andria to the fury of elephants. This is a work en- titled to much refpect; it is in the moil ancient manufcript copies of the Septuagint [h], and is cited by the fathers [i], but never having been found in the Vulgate, which verfion was univerfally ufed in the Weftern church, and from which our tranflations were made, it never was admitted into our Bibles. Grotius fuppofes it to have been written foon after the book of Ecclefiafticus. The hiflory is not noticed by Jofephus ; though in the ancient verfion of his fecond book againft Apion by Rufinus, there are fome particulars that feem to allude to it. The book, which is ufually called the Fourth Book of the Maccabees, and which contains an hif- tory of the pontificate of John Hyrcanus, was firlt pubUihed in the Paris Polyglot as an Arabic hiifory of the Maccabees. It is fuppofed to have been a tranilation of the work feen by Sixtus Senenfis [k] in a Greek manufcript at Lyons, and which was afterwards burnt [l] ; though according to Calmet's account [m], it fhould feem to have been a different work from that mentioned by early writers as a [h] It is in the Alexandrian manufcript nt St. James's, and in the Vatican manufcript at Rome. [i] Eufeb. Chron. An. 1800. Theod. in Dan. xi. 7. Canon. Apolh 85. Athan. Synop. Niceph. vid. Arab. Ver. Paris Polyglot. [k] Sixt. Senen. Biblot. L. I. &c Bib. Maxim, a Fran, de la Haye. [l] Selden. de SuccelT. in Pontif. [m] Calmet. Preface fur Ic Quat. Livre des Maccab. fourth SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 643 fourth book of the Maccabees [n]. It feems to have been originally written in Hebrew ; and the Arabic, or the Greek tranllator, from whofe work the Arabic was made, lived after the deftrudion of the fecond temple by the Romans, as appears from fome particulars. The book differs in many refpeds from the relations of Jofephus. Calmet thinks, that the difcourfe on the power of reafon, before men- tioned as the work of Jofephus, was the original fourth book of Maccabees, which in many Greek manufcripts is placed with the other three [o]. It may be added, that in two ancient Hebrew manufcripts in the Bodleian library, as alfo in one at Leipfic, there follows after Efther, as a book of the Bible, without any title or introdudion, an hiftory of the Maccabees written in Chaldee, which diflers widely from our apocryphal books. It appears to have been originally written in Chaldee, and to have been tranflated into Hebrew. It is probably a very ancient produdion, and contains many remarkable particulars [p]. [n] Athan. Synop. Syncell. Philaftr. Vid. Coteler. Not. in Can. Apoft, p. 117, 138. [o] Not. Cambelis in Jofeph. Lib. de Imper. Ration. Cotel. Not. in Can. Apoft. p. 339. [p] The Hebrew copy has been publiflied in a very corrupt flate by Bartoloccius. Vid. Kennicott, N° 18, Pentat. Pfal. Megill. 80, p. 5!j, 56. on Hebrew and Samaritan nianuicriptj ?• 534- FINIS, /-v BS1171.G78 A key to the Old Testament and the Princeton Theological Seminaf7-Speer Library 1 1012 00043 6990