•* *-. ■
l»
to^lMUu«
%t:
REMARKS
UP9N
SEVERAL PASSAGES
OF
SCRIPTURE:
RECTIFYING
Some Errors in the Printed Hebrew Text;
POINTING OUT
Several Miftakes in the Versions;
AND SHEWING
The Benefit and Expediency of a more corre6l and
intelligible Translation of the Bible.
BY
MATTHEW PILKINGTON, LL.B.
Prebendary of Lichfield.
CAMBRIDGE,
Printed by J. B E N t h a m Printer to the University;
for Meri"THURLB0URN & WooDYER, Slid Mefs'^T.& J. Merrill,
in Cambridge', Mers""' Whi st o n & White in Fleet-Itreet, and
Mr. DoD in Ave- Mary-Lane, London: fold alfo by Mr. Stabler at
Tork ; Mr. AscoucH at Nottingham; Mr. Martin at Leicejieri
Mr. Fo X, at Derh^ ; Mr. Fletcher, and Mr, Prince, at Oxford.
M.DCC.LIX.
REMARKS
UPON
Several Passages of Scripture.
SECTION I.
THE only plaufible Arguments made ufe
of, by any of thofe who have appeared
in the Caufe of Infidelity, have beea
grounded upon fuch PafTages of Scripture as they
thought liable to Objedions, and incapable of be-
ing defended : The Difcovery of the Inconfiften-
cies and Improbabilities which appear'd in thofe
Writings, that were generally afcrib'd to infpir'd
Authors, gave them* an Air of Triumph, and fill-
ed them with a very high Opinion of their fupe-
rior Sagacity and Judgment. Nor have any Ob-
fervations they could make upon the leaft Inac-
curacies of Style or Exprefiion, in thofe Writ-
ings, been omitted to be urg'd, in Diminution of
their Authority. If Inconfiftencies and Improba-
bilities, indeed, can be alledg'd againft them, and
ho proper Evidence fliall appear in Difproof of
fuch a Charge, their high Claim to Divine Au-
thority muft be given upj for whatever is writ-
A ten
2 ' REMARKS. Sea.I.
ten by the Infpiration of God, mufl: be confift-
ent, muft be probable, muft be true. Therefore,
unlefs it can be made appear that the Paffages
which are really liable to fuch Objections, have
fufFer'd Alterations, and are not come down to us
in the Manner they were deliver'd originally to
Mankind, we fhould but with ill Succefs proceed
in afferting, and attempting to prove, That all
Scripture is given by the Infpiration of God —
To fuppofe that the Scriptures have fuffer'd any
Alterations, is indeed to allow, that we have not
the Scriptures, given by the Infpiration of God,
deliver'd down to us pure and uncorrupted. The
Queftion then is, Whether the Introdudtion of
any Alrerations can probably be made appear?
And, Whether, by fuch a Difcovery, we can
poiTibly regain the genuine Text, and Senfe of
juch Paffages, as they were originally deliver'd
by the infpir'd Writers ? And I muft be bold to
fay. That I am fully perfuaded, and hope fatis-
fadorily to prove, that God hath not left his
Word without a fufficient Witnefs to teftify the
Authenticity thereof; particularly in thofe Paf-
fages which have given the greateft Grounds for
Objedionp, upon Account of the Inconfiftency or
Improbability that may appear in the prefent
Text.
As to the Inaccuracies of Style and Expreilion,
which are urged as Arguments to difprove the Di-
vine Infpiration of Scripture: they have frequent-
ly turned upon thofe who undertook to handle
them, to their Shame ; when Perfons of fuperior
Learning and Judgment had fhewn that what they
had look'd upon as Inaccuracies, were nothing lefy
than
Sea.I. REMARKS; 3
than the Strength and Beauty of Language : Of
which many, moft convincing Proofs are given in
B/ackwalPs Sacred Clallics. And it v^ill appear,
in the Courfe of thefe Remarks, that, for want
of Underllanding, or duly attending to, the true
Meaning of feveral Words and Phrafes, in the
Original Language of Scripture, many of thofe
Expreffions that may feem low, and unfuitable to
the Subject, are ufed with the greateft Exadtnefs
and Propriety. — But, tho' the Style, and Man-
ner of Writing ufed by the Sacred Penmen,
could not be defended, in thefe Particulars, fo
well as they may be; yet, from thence could
arife no real Objedion againft the Divine Infpira-
tion of any Part of thefe Books; for if God, in
general, dictated to his Prophets, what he would
have communicated to the World ; if he fo far
fuperintended them by his holy Spirit, as to keep
them free from Error, in what they delivered;
their Writings muft be acknowledged to be the
Word of God, fo far as to afcertain their Truth ;
tho' he (hould have left them at Liberty to ex-
prefs themfelves in fuch Words and Phrafes, as
they were naturally, by him, enabled to do ;
without always fuggefting to them in thefe Parti-
culars. Whoever (hall have any Doubts remain-
ing, whether an Infpiration would be fufficient,
without fuch a Suggeftion, may be fully fatisfied,
by confulting Arch-Bifhop Potter on this Subjed:
in the 3d Volume of his Works, or Dr. DoJ-
dridge'^ Differtation, at the End of the 3d Vo-
lume of his Family Expofitor. And it is fcarcely
to be imagined, nor can it be faid, with any
$hcw of Reafon, that God fliould appoint fuch
A 2 Per-
4 REMARKS. Sedt.II.
Perfons to declare his Will to Mankind, who
were not capable of expreffing what was delivered
unto them, in a proper Manner. So far we have
a fufficient AfTu ranee that the Scriptures were di-.,.^
vulg'd to Mankind with all the genuine Marks of
Divine Infpiration : not liable to any Kind of
Error or Inconfirtency, for want of a full Com-
miliion, given by God to his Prophets; nor to
Obfcurity or Incorre(5lnefs, for want of Ability
.in thofe Prophecs to execute it. Bur,
SECTION II.
|BSCUR1TY may now hav€ arifen, upon
iuniQ Parts of thele Scriptures, by the Re-
moval of that Light which thofe to whom they
were firil; deliver'd, had, to affift them in the un-
derftanding thereof; and Incorrednefs may have
been introduced into them, by caufes that may
properly be called Natural : for.
When the Scriptures of the Old Teftament
were deliver'd to the Jews in their Native Lan-
guage, they could be under no Difficulty in un-
derftanding the, true Import of the Words and
Phrafes made ufe of by the Prophets: The Cuf-
toms and Ceremonies to which they fo frequently
allude, were what were well known to, and pra-
d:is'd by all the People: And that Nation had, ib
little Communication with others, (except the
Egyptians, whofe Cuftoms are fometimes. mea-
tioned and alluded to by Mofes) that there ^, is
fcarcely any thing mentioned throughout the^
Scriptures, that was, in any Refped:, foreign to
thofe Perlons for whofe Ufe it was primarily in-
tended. But, when thefe Scriptures are, read by
us.
Sean. REMARKS. $
us, at this Diftance of Time j when we are habi-
tuated to a Language, fo different in its Idioms
►♦wlft that of the Eaftern People ; when feveral of
the Cuftoms and Ceremonies referr'd to are un-
known' to US; and, when feveral of the appropri-
ated Senfes of the Words they made ufe of can-
not be fully difcover'dj no Wonder that thefe
Writings appear to us, in fome Meafure, clouded
with Obfcurity : Several Reflexions upon the Par-
ticulars whereof will be made in the Sequel of
thefe Remarks.
The Incorredlnefs that may now be obferv'd in
feveral PafTages of Scripture, may be accounted
for in fuch a Manner as not at all to derogate
from its Authority : Since the Alterations that
may have been made in the Sacred Text, appear
to proceed from the fame Caufes that have intro-
duc'd them into all other antient Writings. A Re«-
velation from God, to his Prophets, muft be giv-
en, either by his dill:in6tly declaring his Mind to
them in an audible Manner, or, by his infpiring
them with the Knowledge of his Will : But, in
either Cafe, this Revelation mud be convey'd to
thofe Perfons for whofe Ufe it was intended, ei-
ther by the verbal Declaration of the Prophet to
fuch Perfons, or by his Writing, or cauiing to be
written, in a Language they well underftood, the
whole Import of fuch Revelation. — If it was to
be deliver'd down to Perfons that were to live in
#Gfter Times, it could only be convey'd to them
by fuch an Autographon, or by exadl Copies
thereof — And, if it was to be declar'd to People
of different Nations and Languages, it could no
otherwife be cortimunicated to them than by ji
A 3 Tran-
6 REMARKS. Sea.II.
Tranflation of the Original into a Language that
was in common Ufe amongft them. — If the
People of the Nation, in whofe Language the R«-.
velation was deliver'd, were many j if it was to
be read in many different Places at the fame
Time, many Copies muft be taken: And if a
Tranfcriber fliould have made but one Mif-
take thro' the whole, that Copy could not be
faid to be correct fo as to lay any juil Claim to
the Title of Integrity. And it may be probably
thought of all the MS. Copies of the Hebrew
Scriptures, as is faid of all the Printed Editions
of the Englijh Bible, That none ever appeared
without fome literal Errors. But then, as the
Errors of the Prefs, in modern Books, are look'd
upon as Matters of no great Confequence, being
fo eafily difcover'd, and reformed by a careful and
judicious Reader, fo the like Errors in a MS.
Copy of the Hebrew Scriptures, would be look'd
upon as Matters of as little Confequence to Jew-
ifh Readers, whilft it continued to be a living
Language. But, to thofe who are only enabled
to read and underftand it by grammatical Rules,
the Cafe is greatly different ; the leafl Alteration
in a Word may fonictimes occafion a Difficulty,
not eafily to be furmounted, or caufe an Obfcurity
we may not know how to remove. And,
- If greater Errors than literal ones fhould have
been committed by any Jewifh Tranfcribers 5 if,
in any Copies, thro' Hafte or Carelefsnefs, any
Words or Sentences fhould have been omitted ;
or, if they fhould have added any Words, which
they thought might be proper for the lUuflration
of the Text 5 or, if fome Marginal Notes, which
had
Sed.II. REMARKS. 7
had been wrote upon fome Copies, were In others,
introduc'd into the Body of the Work ; and, if
any of thefe Copies (liould have been made ufe of
in compiling that which was given to the Prefs,
and is deliver'd to us as the genuine authentic
Standard of the Original Hebrew Scriptures j the
Confequence muft be, That that Copy claims a
Title to which it hath no juft Pretence : And
The feveral Marks of Incorrednefs that have
been obferv'd, and are eafily difcoverable, in the
printed Hebrew Text of the Old Teflament, en-
tirely overthrow all the Arguments made ufe of
by Buxtorf^ and others who plead for the Inte-
grity of this Text; and lay, unhappily, toojuft
a Foundation for my
FIRST GENERAL REMARK.
« rTpH AT the prefent Maforete Copy of the
Jj^ Old Teflament is, in many places, dif-
ferent from the original Hebrew Text-, that fome
Letters, and fome Words, fome Sentences, and
fome Paragraphs have been chang'd, fome added
and fome omitted." But,
SECTION III.
THO' we cannot but greatly lament that
fuch a Conceffion muft be made, with Re-
fpeft to a Copy, that for many Ages, was look'd
upon as a faithful Tranfcript of the Writings of
Mofes and the Prophets, yet, we may, with fome
Pleafure, obferve, that, from the Time that thefe
Errors were begun to be taken Notice of, the ill
EfFeds that might have arifen therefrom, have
been.
8 REMARKS. Sea.III.
been, in a great Meafure, obviated, by a Difco-
very of their Caufes j and a proper Ufe of thofe
Helps that are ftill remaining to affift us in reftor-
ing the genuine Text, in thofc Places where it
may have fuffer'd any Alteration : fo that nothing
but a Wantonnefs of Mind, and Wickednefs of
Heart, can deduce and retain any Principles
of Infidelity from Reafons grounded upon fuch
Obfervations as thefe.
The Caufes above affign'd for the Alterations
that may, from Time to Time, have been intro-
duc'd into the Hebrew Copies, will appear to eve-
ry Perfon of Candor and Judgment, to be natu-
ral, and in fome Meafure, neceflary : the very
great Number of Copies that muft have been
taken for the Ufe of the Jewish Synagogues only,
tho' we fliould not fuppofe them to have been in
many private Hands, muft make them liable to a
variety of Errors : and all later Copies muft be
more incorredl than the former, {hould we fup-
pofe a Tranfcriber to endeavour ftridly to attend
to the Copy before him, and fo, retaining all the
Errors that had been introduc'd into that ; invo-
luntarily add fome others of his own. It is now
3200 Years from the Death of Mofes -, and 2200
from the fuppos'd Time of fettling the Canon of
Scripture by Ezra : And it does not yet appear
probable, that the World is now in PolTeffion of
any Copy above 1000 years Old. See Kennicotfs
Diftertation. page 307. &c. And the Copy, the
neareft in Conformity to that which is given us,
in Print, as the authentic Standard of the Hebrew
Scriptures, appears not to have been wrote fooner
than A. D. 1400. Idem p. 300.
The
Sed. III. R E xM A R K S. 9
The Weaknefs of the Plea for the Integrity of
the prefent Text, from its being fo fafely guarded
by the Maforetic Hedge, will evidently appear to
any one who fliall read Bp. Walton s eighth Prole-
gomenon, before the Englijl) Polyglott ; and as
we are yet happily in Pcileffion of fome Hebrew
MSS. that are free from all Maforetic Obfervati-
ons ; and others, into which but few of them
have been admitted ; we may juftly hope, from
thence, to gain more Affiflance towards afcer-
taining the genuine Text, than from the Labours
of thofe who have beftow'd fo much Pains to give
a Sandion to every literal Miftake of the Tran-
fcribers, which they found in their Copies; witnefs
the mighty Myfteries the Maforetic Rabbis • have
difcover'd in thofe Letters which are irregularly
written larger or fmaller than they ought to be.
On which fee the eighth Prolegomenon above
mention'd, and Kennicotf^ Differtation Page 356,
407, and 495. from whence it appears that tho*
thefe are uniformly irregular in all the printed Co-
pier, yet there are feveral MSS. ftill remaining in
which thefe Letters are of equal Size with the
others as they are likewife in the Samaritan Pen-
tateuch.
What farther Affiftance may be obtaln'd from
the Hebrew MSS. towards correding the Errors in
the prefent Text, we muft wait in Hopes of fee-
ing, from the Labours of fome of thofe who
may have the Opportunity of collating them.
The various Readings of the Books of the New
Teftament, colleded from Time to Time, are
juftly efleemed no fm.all Treafure : and we {liould
furely think our felves equally oblig'd to thole
- who
10 REMARKS. Sea.III.
who {hould give us the Various Readings of the
Books of the "old.
The antient Verfions and Paraphrafes which
compofe the Body of the Polyglott Bible, were
doubtlefs, made from Hebrew Copies of much
greater Antiquity than any that now remain :
which rauil: therefore neceffarily be more corredl
than thofe which were made the Standard at the
Time of Printing; as, from Time to Time,
more, and greater Errors might be introduc'd
into the later Copies — If we were to confider
thefe Verlions, as faithful Tranflations of the He-
brew Copies they were made from, we could not
avoid being convinc'd that thofe Copies were dif-
ferent from that which is in Print : Since it will
evidently appear, in the Courfe of thefe Remarks ;
that fuch Tranllations muft be made from Words
different, both in Form and Senfe, from what we
now find in the Hebrew Scriptures. — The Ad-
ditions found in feveral Parts of thefe Tranflations
to what is now in Hebrew ; and in other Places,
the Omiflions of PafTages which are in the prefent
Copies, are inconteftible Proofs, that either. We
are not to confider any of the Verfions as a faith-
ful Tranflation of the Original Hebrew Scriptures,
or, that the prefent Hebrew Copies are widely
different from the Original. — But, it muft be
confeffed, that the Arguments in Favour of the
Authenticity of the prefent Hebrew Text, are
much ftronger than any that can be brought
in Support of the Fidelity of any of the Verfi-
ons ; or, at leaft, of any of the Copies which
we now have of them : For, The Tranflations
were, furely, equally with the Original, liable to
the
Sea.III. REMARKS. n
the Errors of Tranfcribers. — It will readily be
allow'd, That no two different Languages what-
ever have Words fo fimilar in their appropriated
Senfe and Meaning, as fully to convey the Senti-
ments of any Writer into a verbal Tranflation,
And fcarcely any one will fuppofe a Tranilator fo
perfectly to underftand the full Import of every
Word in a foreign Language, as to be capable of
expreffing the Ideas annex'd to each by a Para-
phrafe. — Thefe Confiderations, when they are
duly weigh'd by Perfons of Judgment and Candor,
will fhew how cautious we ought to be of pre-
fuming to alter the prefent Hebrew Text upon the
Authority of any particular Verfion. But when, as
it fometimes happens, all the Antient Verfions ap-
pear to have been made from a Word much fi-
milar in its Form, or Sound, to that which we
find in the prefent Hebrew^ but of a very diffe-
rent Signification : and when the Senfe required
by the Context gives a Sanation to the Verfions ;
it may not be Prefumption to fuppofe the Word
to have been differently written in the later Co-
pies, from what it was in thofe antient ones thefe
Veriions were made from. The Similarity of
fome of the Hebrew Letters is fo great, as eafily
to occafion fome Miftakes in Tranfcribing : and
if, as it is generally thought. Copies were fome-
times taken from Oral Tradition, that is, a Tran-
fcriber might fay of the Perfon who read unto
him, as Baruch did of 'Jeremiah^ '' He pro-
nounced all thefe Words unto me with his Mouth,
and I wrote them with Ink in the Book :" as
fome Words that are fimilar in their Sound, ii.-e
form'd from the Connection of different Letters ;
2 tho*
12 REMARKS. Secfl.IV.
tho' a Tranfcriber might endeavour to be corred,
he might yet write a wrong Word.
SECTION IV.
UPON thefe general Remarks, the following
particular ones on feveral PafTages of Scrip-
ture are chiefly founded, which have been colledlcd
from Time to Time, but muft not be publifli'd
without a proper Apology. It is herein allow'd
that there are Changes, Additions, and Omiffions
to be difcover'd in the prefent Hebrew Text of
the Holy Scriptures : But this is no more than
what appears to have been fully prov'd in Capel-
Jus's Critica Sacra, and the Writers v*'ho efpous'd
his Caufe, againft Buxtorf \ it is what hath been
remark'd by feveral Commentators upon particular
PafTages : and fliewn, I think, to the Satisfadlion
of all candid Judges in Mr. Kennicott'% late DiiTer-
tation. And Ydxhox Houbigant^ as I am informed,
in his Hebrew Bible juft publifh'd, (which I have
not had the Opportunity of feeing,) hath pro-
pos'd more Alterations in the prefent Text, than
all the Authors who have taken this Subje6t into
Confideration. And whence can arife any jufl
Objedions againil propofing the Emendation of
any faulty PafTages j if, at the fame Time, we
can difcover the Caufes of the Corruptions that
may have crept into the Text, and point out the
Methods of reforming them ? For then, at the
fame Time that we fliew the Want of Corred:-
nefs in the prefent Copies, we make it appear that
the Scriptures were originally correct and con-
fident.
The
SeaiV. REMARKS. 13
The Compiler of thefe Remarks is dcfirous not
to be exceeded by any one, in a due Veneration
for thefe Sacred Writings : and the Defign of thefe
Sheets is here avow'd to be, an Endeavour to re-
move thofe Prejudices which have arifen in the
• Minds of many unhappy Men, againft their be-
ing the Oracles of Truth; by proving that the
Objedtions made to the Veracity, or Corre6tnefs,
of any Part thereof, are Objections not arifing
from the Writings of thofe who were the Pen-
men of the Sacred Books, but, from the Altera-
tions that have been made in thofe Books, lince
they delivered them, as the Word of God, with
all the genuine Marks of Divine Authority. An
Attempt of this Nature, therefore muft be fo far
from invalidating the Authority of Scripture, that
it muft be the greatefi: Sand:ion to it, and will be
the moft probable Means of reftoring a general
Veneration for the Writings of Mofes and the Pro-
phets; as it will render the Foundation of Infi-
delity, grounded upon fuch Objed:ions, unfirm,
and unable to fupport the Superftru6ture.
The Difcoveries and Arguments of the above-
mention'd Writers upon this Subjedl, and of fe-
veral others who have occafionally made Obferva-
vtions upon moft of the Paffages herein referr'd to,
may, in fome Meafure, juftly be thought to fu-
perfede the Neceffity and Ufe of thefe Remarks :
fince, to thofe who are thoroughly converfant
with the Critics and Commentators, but few
^things may occur that they are not already ap-
priz'd of. But, as they are here collected, and
laid together in fuch a Method and Compafs, that
thofe who may not have the Opportunity of con-
fuking
14 REMARKS. S^a.V.
fulting many Books, may with Little Trouble
take a View of the Opinions of many learned
Men, upon a great Variety of PalTages j And as
the Remarks here mention'd upon any particular
Paflage, may be fo readily referr'd to, by the In-
dex of the Texts of Scripture hereunto annexed ^
a Work of this Kind may not be altogether un-
acceptable. And, with this Apology, I proceed
to the particular Remarks, digefted under the fe-
veral Heads mention'd in the Contents.
SECTION V.
WHEN, and by whom, the Points were
added to the Hebrew Text, is a Matter
of no fmall Debate amongft the Learned, The
fmgular Opinion that they were coeval with the
Language, is, I think, generally exploded. Had
they been fo, it is fcarcely probable that any Co-
pies would have been taken without them : yet,
the moft antient Copies ftill remaining, have them
not : and we are inform'd that the Tranfcripts
made for the Ufe of the Jewifh Synagogues, are
without them. The moft plaufible ArgumiCnts
in Defence of their Antiquity, were publifh'd
fome Years ago by Mr. Whitejield of Leverpool,
He carries them up fo high as, at leaft, to the
Time of Ezra ; but his Reafons for fo doing, ap-
pear not to be fufficiently convincing. On the
contrary, feveral Keris having been found necef-
fary to reform the Cetib in the Books of Ezra
and Nehemiahy make it plainly demonftrable, that
they were not inferted by Ezra, when, as it is
fuppos'd, he fettled the Canon of Scripture, and
wrote the Hebrew Copy in the Manner it is con-
veyed
Sea.V. REMARKS. 15
vey'd to us : For, tho' it may be readily allow'd,
that he might find Miftakes in the other Books,
and point them out by the Keris, yet it cannot
well be imagined that he (liould put them to the
Books of his own compoiing.
Mr. Whitefield argues, that the Keris muft be
added after the Points were in ufe, becaufe, upon
the Words that are incorrect in the Cetib, the
Points are fuch as are neceflary to be apply 'd to
the Keris J and therefore fuppofes that the Re-
form was made from the Points: He urges this
with great Ingenuity, but without convincing
Proofs : for the Points and the Keris ftill appear
to me to be of the fame Antiquity, whatever that
be. And, fince it appears from Mr. KennicoU's
Catalogue of the Hebrew MSS. that none of
thofe, yet known to the publick, that appear to
have been written above 700 Years ago, have ei-
ther Points or Keris ; we may, with the greatefl
Probability, conclude that there can nothing be
produc'd to convince us that either the Points or
the Keris were added to the Hebrew Text before
A. D. 1000.
By whom, or where, the Points were formed,
it would be ufelefs particularly to enquire, unlefs
there are more probable Accounts of thofe Mat-
ters than I have been able to meet with. We muft
therefore be content with obferving that, when we
fpeak of the Hebrew Text with the Points, we
are well underftood by calling it the Maforete
Readings tho' we are not able to afcertain who
the Maforites or Traditionifts were, that fettled
the prefent Standard of the Hebrew Scriptures —
It muft be allow'd that they have not beftow'd
the
i6 REMARKS. Sed.V.
the great Pains they have taken, ufelefsly : They
fettled, or found fettled, the grammatical Rules
of the Language, and, according to thofe Rules,
they pointed the feveral Words, fo as not only to
diftinguilli the Parts of Speech, but alfo to afccr-
tain the feveral Conjugations, Moods, Tenfes,
Numbers and Perfons, in which they thought
each was to be taken : So far, therefore, the
Points are a Directory, not only for reading, but
alfo for afcertaining the Import of the Words, in
the Senfe they underftood them. And when the
Maforites found a Word irregular in its Form or
Conftrudion, they could not retain it, and point it
according to grammatical Rules j and, therefore,
affixing a Word in the Margin, which might
compleat the Senfe and the Connexion, they put
the Points belonging to that Word, under the faul-
ty one which they found in the Copies before
them^ and which they would not alter, lefl, per-
haps, they might fall under the curfe of the Law,
Deut./^. 2. This accounts for the Conformity be-
tween the Keris and the Points; and makes it the
more probable that they were together added to
the Text. After they were affix 'd to it, the Co-
pies taken might be the lefs liable to Errors 3 but
they could not fecure an Indefedlibility to any: as
will fufficiently appear from the Lift of various
readings, given at the End of Fan-Der Hooghfs
Bible.
The Keris, which are at leaft 793, and at moft
1 171, according to the different Editions, (fee \
Walton' s> Proleg. VIII.) are, in general, very pro-
perly and judicioufly inferted, and, probably, the
Words of the Original Text : and would, furely,
have
Sca.V. REMARKS.: 17
have been put into the Places of the faulty ones,
had it not been for the Reafon above mention'd.
Some of the various Readings upon the Scriptures
of the Nev7 Teflament, are juftly thought to be
better entitled to a Place in the Text, than thofe
Words which obtain'd Robert Stevens's Sandion.
Many Remarks upon which Subjedt may be feen
by refering to the Index of the 3d Vol. of Dr,
JDoddridge's Family Expofitor, under the Article
of Various Readings; And in his Notes on Gal. 4.
17. Heb, 10. 2, 23: and many other Places. And,
as the Various Readings have been found to be of
fuch great Affiftance in the lUuftration of thefe
Books i and as the Keris give us a great Alfift-
ance, which we fhould otherwife have wanted in
the Hebrew Scriptures; we cannot but judge that,
a Colledlion of the feveral Various Readings ojF
the MSS. that are ilill fubfifting, may be the chief
Help now wanting, and to be hoped for, towards
a Corredion of the Errors in the printed Hebrew
Text.
It is probable that, before the Points were added
to the Text, none of thofe Vowels were omitted
which have frequently been fince, by the Licence
of Maforetic Rules. And when the Sound of
the Vowel was fupply'd by the Point, a Writer,
for Expedition Sake, might be induc'd, to omit
the Letter. Th.MS Gen, i. 14. Pr\^^ is written in-
flead of, nm{^a In the fame f. nn^S for, mn^S
and, in the next, nmNttS for, nTs^^:^^ and in
f,i6. nmj^DH for r^^^mr\ The Letters, that are
wanting here, are fupply'd by the Points, and
therefore the Pronunciation muft be the fame in
an Hebrew Reader: That the Letters omitted
B were
i8 REMARKS. Sedt.VI.
were in the former Tranfcripts, feems evidently
to appear from their being found in the Samari'
ta?i Text; a Treafure happily difcover'd to jB«-
rope about 130 Years ago; juftly held in high
efteem ; and largely fpoken of by Bp. Walton^
Proleg. XI. Du Fin Proleg. Ch. V. and Mr. Ken-
nicott, in many places. In this there are neither
Points nor Keris ; it is written in the antient He^
brew Charad:ers, and, we may well fuppofe, a-
greeably to the antient Manner of writing, with-
out omitting the Vowels — The Omiffion of the
Jod above thirty Times in the 40*^ Ch. of Ezek.
is very remarkable; and proves that it was defign-
edly made, in that Copy which was follow'd by
the Maforitcs. And yet, we may obferve, that
there was no general Rule invariably follow'd by
the Tranfcribers, with Refpedl to fuch Omiffions;
fince, within the Compafs of two Verfes, we find
the fame Name written tJ^N* and 2^Jro. 1.42. The
yod was evidently put to the Name in Chronicles
inftead of the Vau ; it was written, And Achan,
But this Miftake was made fo early that the
"Latin and Syriac Verfions read And yacan-, tho*
the Gr£ek and Arabic have it properly, And
Achan,
8. We find the fame Name written nn^ and
TsT\^ thro* the Cafual omiflion of the Vau^ Exod,
4. 18. as appears from the Samaritan Text, in
which there is no fuch omiflion. Yet it may be
obfcrv'd that the Greek hath twice lo^op in this
verfe.
9. Vlh^ i.Cy&ro, 3. 8. is n^Wn 14.7. but as
the Greeks Syriac and Arabic Verfions have no 1
we may conclude it hath been added fince thofc
Verfions were made, by the Carclefnefs of fome
Tranfcriber.
10. CD'nV ii.Sam.S. 10. is D'ni*7n i.Chro. iB.
10. but the Syriac and Arabic Verfions have Jo-
ram in Chrojiicles.
11. "]11t!^ II. Sam. 10.16. is "^Dlt^ i.Chro.ig.
16. but, as the Syriac and Arabic Verfions have
Shobach, we readily fee where the miftake lies.
12. ^D^?7i3 II. Kin. 15. 29. is ^DKi'^D i.Chro.
5.6. but as it is Pilefer in the Greeks Syriac and
Arabic Verfions of Chronicles^ we mufl be con-
vinc'd
'
Sea.VII. REMARKS. 27
vinc'd that the i hath been improperly inferted
13. t^Tr I. Chro. 23. 10. is nrt /.I I. but the
Greek and Latin Verfions have Ziza in both
Places.
14. ^jlt*'^:! II. Kin. 20. 12. is *]1K^D Ifa. 39. i»
but the Greek, Syriac and j^ahic Verlions have
Merodach in Kings,
15. nDtJ' i.6^^/«. 16.9. is nVDti^ ii.aS<2/«. 13. 3.
And e^vat:^ 1, Chro. 2.1-7,. Accordingly, in our
Verfion we find this fame Name written Sham--
mahy Shimea and Shimma.
16. Svi*n» Judg. 6. 32. is nt20*1» 1 1. «S'^/«* 1 1.
21. The Gr^fi and Latin Verfions have "Jeruh-
baal in Samuel. But, upon this Remark, it hath
been judicioully obferv'd, and kindly communi-
cated to mc, that this change of the Name might
be both voluntary and proper, as TWI and 75?:i are
words of the fame Signification, Jer, 11. 13.
Hof.g. 10. And that, in the fame Manner
ntify^^ 1 1. Sam. 2.2,. is SntJ'^^ i.C^ro.8. 33.
and 9.39.
17. 7f«V i.Sam.S.2. is ♦ittn i.Cbro. 6.2S. Her€
the Letters are not at all Similar ; but the evident
Caufe of the Difference is, as Le Clerc hath ob-
ferv'd, the Omiflion of the Name of Joel in Chro^
mclesy and taking *J)ti^1 which was to exprcfs The
Second for a proper Name. The Syriac and Ara-
bic Verfions have from a perfedt Copy, rightly
rendered the Words " The firil born Joel, and
the Second Abiah. "
18. It would be tedious to the Reader to c-
numerate any confiderable Number of the Mif-
takes that have been made in tranfcribing the
the proper Names. The Inilances already given
fhew
28 REMARKS. Sea.VII.
fhew that the Tranfcribers were greatly wanting
in Care and Attention; and fccm plainly to prove
that, they wrote in great Hafle, tnd did not revife
their Copies. And yet, at the fame Time that
we cannot but fee, and acknowledge thefe mif-
takes, we are fo happy as to find that very many
of them are, even now, capable of being reform'd,
and the Original Text undoubtedly reftor'd, from
the clear Evidence of the Samaritan Text, and
the antient Verfions. — It will not be wonder'd
at, that in every Inflance, .we may not have the
fame full and fatisfadtory Proofs of what was
the original Text, where, thro' the Errors of the
Tranfcribers, we find Variations. Yet we fhall
feldom fail of fufHcient evidence that the original
Text was entirely correal and confiftent. An Ac-
count of the Sons of Simeon is given in two
different Ways. Gen. 4.6. lo. and iC/jro.4.24,
Gen. b)iit!; ,nn5»' ,]'y n^^? >fD^ Si^vy
Cbro. S1^^si^,,.r^nr an* — ,vy .Skijdj
The Verfions of the Text in Chronicles muil con-
vince us that there were miftakes made in antient
Copies : but, as the Samaritan Text literally agrees
with the prefent Hebrew of Ge?ie/isy we can
fcarcely doubt but that we have there a true Ac-
count of the Number and the Names of the Sons
of Simeon.
19. In one Chapter we have an Account of the
^ Pofterity of Levi by his Son Gerjhom, twice given ;
with what remarkable Variations the Reader will
obferve.
I. Cbro.
Sca.VII. REMARKS.
i.C/jro.6.ig. " i.Chro.b,^^.
zg
4-nn>
6. HNV
9. nnK»
nS
2. lD8J/-)i
3-nn»
5- nor
8. nnr
9- ♦:Jn^e
There can be little Doubt but that the Gene-
alogy was originally uniform in both places: and,
it appears more than probable, that, in the firft
Catalogue, the Name of the Son of Gerjhom was
omitted, and »:iS put inftead thereof from 'S'l'i his
Sofii Since the Name of Gerjhom's Son, in the
Syriac and Arabic Verfions of ;^.20. is faid to be
Nahath inftead of yahath, as we find it in the
Second Catalogue. And here it may be obferv'd,
that if the Arabic Verfion was made from the
Greeks according to the more general Opinion, it ]/
was from a Verfion or a Copy, different ta what -
we have at prefentj Since it is evident that the
Author of the prefent Greek Verfion read onS as
the third Name of the firfl Catalogue, as it is in
the prefent Hebrew. This Remark may be ap-
ply'd to feveral of the beforemention'd Obferva-
tions; and to fuch an innumerable Quantity of
other Paffages, that I cannot readily fubfcribe to
the Opinion of the Arabic being a Verfion of the
Septuagint.
20. The true Names of Places are not pre-
fer v'd with more Care than the Names of Perfons;
and
'\-fe'\- — I
30 REMARKS. SeaVIL
and the Inaccuracy of Tranfcribers, might be very
largely exemplified by Ihewing how differently
they are mention'd from what they were in the
Original; but I (hall content my felf, and I hope
fufficiently fatisfy the Reader, with producing
only one Inftance, from two Catalogues of fome
of the Cities that were given to the Levites.
5-tSn
6. -|m
8. no*
t2. rnn:7
lXhro.6. ^J,
I
I.
2.
3-
HiT
4-
rDHK^K
5-
tS^n
6.
-rm
7-
Itrjr
S.
9-
ti^Dt^-na
IC
). --------
I]
• n:i
i;
5. nD^sr
*
}• mn:j?
As the Author of the Book of Chronicles^ as
well as Jojhua, tells us that the Cities which he
had enumerated, as given to the Levites were
ihirtee?!^ we cannot doubt but the Catalogue was
originally complete: and we may well conclude
that the two Catalogues were confiftent: Yet now,
in the latter two of the Names are omitted ; and
only five of them written uniformly with thofe
in Jojhua. Tho' indeed the Differences are little
material in N"'. 4, 5, 6, of the Catalogue, and the
Obfervation of them may, in fome meafure, juf-
tify
Sea. VII. REMARKS. 31
tify the Remark of Mr. Kennicott^ upon the
Name of David being written fometimes with,
and fometimes without the ' and confirm that
the Vowels were more frequently omitted in
the more antient Books of Scripture, than in
the later — The Tranfpofition of the two Namei
in N°*. 12, 13. fhews no want of Corredtnefs in
either Catalogue ; And the omiflion of Juttah and
Gibeon, muft be imputed to the negligence of
Tranfcribers, fincc both the Authors inform us
that they had mcntion'd thirteen Cities.
Thefe, and fuch like, Variations, in the proper
Names, evidently arifing from the Caufes here
affign'd, and in general, ftill capable of being dif-
cover'd, and the Text of being reftor'd to its ori-
ginal Correctnefs, are undeniable Proofs — ift.
That the prefent Text is very far from being a
perfe(5t Tranfcript of the Original Scriptures —
2dly. That fome of thefe Miftakes were made in
the Text before any of the Verfions were taken
that are now remaining ; as, for Inftance, there is
no Account of the thirteen Cities, faid to be
mentioned in this Catalogue in Chronicles^ in any
of the Verfions, but, two wanting in them all, as
well as in the prefent Hebrew — ^dly. That dif-
ferent Hebrew Copies had different Miftakes in
them ; Since it is apparent from feveral of the
foregoing Obfervations, and many other Paffages,
that fome of the Tranllators had perfect Copies
before them with Refpedl to fome of thofe Texts,
where others were led into Errors from the fame
fort of Corruptions in the Hebrew as we find at
prefent. And /i^tbly. That the Prefervation of the
Samaritan Text, and the Antient Verfions, col-
Icdcd
32 REMARKS. Sea. VIII.
le(5ted in the Polyglotts^ is of inefllmable Benefit ;
as, thereby, the Corruptions in the prefent Text
may not only fo frequently be difcover'd, but, at
the fame Time, the genuine Original Text, pre-
ferv'd in more antient Copies, is fo plainly pointed
out unto us.
SECTION vm.
IF Miftakes were fo frequently made by Tran-
fcribers in Inftances where the Orthography
might have been generally prcferv'd with a com-
mon Share of Care and Attention ; we can have but
little Room to think that there is an indefectible
Corredtncfs in the other Parts : and indeed, were
we to expe6l it, we fhould find our felves great-
ly difappointed. But then, as we muft diicover
Miilakes and Corruptions, in the Text, fo, from
the antient Verfions, we frequently find fufficient
Affiftance to enable us to alter and reform them,
fo as to fhew the Text almofi: in its native pu-
rity : and more will, I hope, e'er long, rife up,
from the Collation of fuch antient MSS. as are
known to have unhappily long lain ufelefs — Not
that every Miftake of a Tranfcriber can properly
be call'd, or ought to be confider'd as, a Corrup-
tion : If fo, perhaps no Book, of any Confequence,
either written or printed, ever appear'd without
Corruptions: But, are the Errors of the Prefs
call'd Corruptions? Or fhould the Confequence
of a wandring Eye, or the Slip of the Pen be fo
fevcrely cenfur'd? They are Faults indeed, but
fuch, in general, as would be intuitively difcover-
able to an attentive Reader, if thoroughly ac-
quainted with the Language J and fuch as would,
pro-
Sea. VIII; REMARKS. 53
probably, have generally been correded in the
feveral Copies, had it not been for a kind of Su-
perftition that feems to have prevail'd upon all
Jewijh Readers, not to alter the Copy, tho' they
found it faulty. — In fome Cafes, indeed, it may
be difficult to determine whether there might not
be fome difference in the manner of writing be-
tween the more antient and the later Jews : for
Inftance,
I. Whether, as "ly^ is above twenty Times put
to exprefs a young Woman in the Pentateuch,
it is not according to antient ufage ? And whether,
tho' the Word is certainly moft properly niVi in
the other Books, it ought to be altered in the Pen-
tateuch f may admit of a Difpute, which can be
of no manner of ufe. For, with the Points, nei-
ther the Sound nor Senfe of this Word can be
miftaken when 'tis met with in this Form ; nor,
without them, was it ever mifunderftood, as far as
I have obferv'd, by thofe who made the Antient
Verfions. We fhould be fomewhat furpriz'd to
fee the Account of Hamors Son ciroumcifing
himfelf exprefs'd in this manner, " And the Girl
deferred not to do the thing, Gen. 2^- ig. Sec. And
yet I am well inform'd, that in old Englijljy the
word, Girl, is exadlly expreffive of the Hebrew
"IW, and means a Young perfon of either Sex.
But, if this was the Cafe with the antient Jewijh
Writers, and they wrote IVJ fo indifcriminately ;
yet, in after Times, when they ceas'd to do fo,
a Tranfcriber would very properly write the
Word niVJ when he found it of the Feminine
Gender, as the Writers of the Samaritan Text
have done, in ihefe twenty Inftances. And no
C Enghjh
34 REMARKS. Sed.VIII.
Ehglifj Writer would now be juftified in ufing
Girl for a Youfig Perfon of the Male Sex, tho'
it might have that Signification according to
antient ufe, and 'jrocihov hath that Signification,
Mark ^.^o,/\.i. ' • '/-
2. It might be according to antient Cuftom,
that n^tS^lp was written inftead of n'Si^J^na Deuf,
11.12. and — 3. ]'tD inftead of ]^r^? Prov. 17. 4.
and — 4. r^n inftead of ti^n 2 Sam. 12. J ^ /^.
and — 5. "?t^n inft:ead of n7Nn G^». 19.8. and
26.3. But, if it was fo, the Writers of the Sa-
man fan Copy of the Pentateuch^ furely did right,
in giving the Letters according to the pfroper Or-
thography of the Language in their Times.
6. The frequent Infertion of the Feminine
K^n ShCy inftead of the Mafculine ^?'l^ &, and e
contra, hath been obferv'd to be peculiar to the
Pentateuch by all Hebrew Readers j The Context,
Indeed, always ftiews tlie true Senfe of the Word,
fjid the Points direct ^th& proper reading of it:
But, if the Points were not an original part of the
Language, they are not neceftary : and it muft be
an odd kind of Superftition that {hould prevent a
TranfcriberTrom inferting the proper Letters that
make the due Diftinclion, tho* all the antient
Copies ftiould have agreed in giving them in
that irregular Manner we find them; which
"Mr* Kennicott informs us they do not, p. 356.
And the Samaritan Text gives us the Letters as
che)^ ought to be.
' Literal errors of this Sort are of little Confe-
tjuence, where they do not obfcure the Senfe of
the Paffage, nor induce a- Tranflator to give an
improper Verfion of them. And what need only
'^ be
5ea.K. R£ MARKS. 35
be Gonflder'd, with Refped: to thefe, is, Whether
it would not be allowable, and more proper to
infert the Letters, that the Orthography of the
Hebrew Language evidently requires, than fuper-
ilitioufly to retain thofe which are found in the
•prefent Copies, whether they were introduc'd into
■them thro' the Miftakes of Tranfcribers, or any
antient Cuflom of writing the fame Words in
different Manners ? But,
SECTION IX.
WHERE Letters have been fo chang'd,
added, or omitted, as to miflead the
•Tranflators from giving the true Senfe of the
Original, or to introduce Inconfiftencies, Abfur^
dities and Contradidions into the Sacred Text;
thefe require a more diligent Attention: and fure-
ly demand a Reform, whenever we can difcover,
either from Antient Copies or Antient Verfions,
how the Words were originally written by the
Infpir'd Penmen : And fuch Difcoveries will make
it appear, that the Scriptures were not originally
liable to fuch Objedlions, as arife only from the
Errors of fome Tranfcribers, retain'd in the Ma^
forite Text.
I. That 7TDn is found Pf.i6.lo. inftead of
*l^'Dn hath been particularly remark'd, and the
Impropriety thereof fhewn by Mr. Kemiicott; and
therefore I ihould not have mention'd it, had not
his Obfervations upon it p. 218 and 496. and 554
been objed:ed toj and Mr. Comings^ in his An-
fwer, had not alledg'd that the Word might pro-
perly be fo written according to antient Cuflom,
But, admitting this, which, indeed, he confirms
c 2 by
36 REMARKS. Sed.IX.
by fome proper Inftances ; Do not the Remarkis
in the foregoing Sedion, (hew the propriety, if
not the neceffity, of now writing the Word
"TTDn in the Singular Number, according to the
prefent Orthography of the Language: fince,
tho' the Word is mark'd, as faulty by the Mafth'
rites 'j tho' it is render'd Singularly in all the An-
tient Verfions, and all the Modern ones that I
have feen; tho' it is particularly apply'd to
Cbrifi both by Si. Peter and St. Paul, A^s 2.^1.
13. 35. yet whilft it continues in its prefent Form,
it may occafion Men to be ft riving about Letters
to no profit.
2. The Io^^ and the i8*\ Verfes of Pf, 59.
appear to have probably been a Repetition of the
fame Words " Unto thee, O my ftrength, will I
** fing, for thou art the God of my Refuge.'*
Some of the Antient Verfions give Countenance
to this fuppofition. And, if it was fo, in the for-
mer ^. W is now given, inftead of *tV and n'lDtS'J^
inftead of rr\J2tH
3. The Prefent Text, 2 Kin. 10. i. tells us
that Jehi fent Letters to the Rulers of Jezreel:
but from the Context, we muft be greatly inclin'd
to think that the Letters were fent to the Rulers of
Samaria; and, that it was originally fo written
will appear probable, from finding Samaria men-
tion'd in the Greek Verfion. Le Clerc's conjedure,
that the Rulers of Jezreel, who had the Care of
Ahab\ Children, might have been fled with themi
to Samaria, is render'd the more improbable by
the Account we have of the Speed with which
*yehu pofted to Jezreel. And tho* it might have
been originally, The Rulers of IJraely yet no Ver-
fion
Sea. IX. REMARKS. 37
fion gives Countenance to fuch a fuppofition. In
the Vulgate we have ad optimates Civitatis. Sup*
pofing this to be the true Verfion of the Original,
inftead of 7Ky"ir it muft formerly have been S^f
TVn " To the Rulers of the City, to the Elders
and to them that brought up Ahab'% Children. "
Changes and Tranfpofitions of Letters more un-
accountable than this, have been taken notice of
in Sedtion VII. And the Tranfpofitions of the
like fort remark'd by Mr. Kennicott are many.
4. It is juftly and generally obferv'd that after
the mention of proper Names, which have been
already confider'd, there is no particular wherein
fo many Miftakes have been made by Tranfcri-
bers as in Numbers: And fome of them are of a
very remarkable kind. Judicioufly, no doubt,
one of the Commentators upon Ahaziah's being
faid to be forty two Years old when he began to
reign 2Chro. 22, 2, tho' his Father, whom he
fucceeded, is recorded to have liv'd only forty years
chap. 2. 20. fays, M^ndum hie Ji ullibi admitterem :
and a fault there muft certainly be, in one of
the Texts J how occafion'd and how to be rcr
form'd, is obferv'd by Mr. Kennicott p. 97, 528.
:which makes a further Remark unneceffary;
?as alfo
5. Upon Numb. 2 5- A-, 5' vvhen ^ii is evident-r
\y put inftead of D'£)S^^. See p. 549. and
' 6. Upon 2Sam. 2^.17,. when /even is given
inftead of three, fee p. 472. and i Chro.21. 12.
7. In yudg. 14. 15. The Context leads us to
think that the feventh is put inftead of the fourth.
When Samfon'% Companions could not unfold the
peaning of his Riddle in three Days, they apply'd
- c 3 j\^ v.. to
38 REMARKS. Scdl.IX.
to his Wife on the fourth &c. And this not only
appears probable, but that it was originally fo
written we can have very little doubt, when we
now fo find it in the Greek^ Syriac^ and Arabic
Verfions.
8. We read iSam. i^.y, that after forty
years Abfalom faid unto the King ^c. Now, the
Context requires us to date the Beginning of
thefe forty years either from Abfalom\ return to
^erufalem, or, from his being admitted into the
ing's Prefence : But it could not be forty years
from either of thofe dates, when he fpake unto the
King upon this Occafion, fince David reigned only
forty years, and it was in the latter part of his reign
that Abfalom offended. ^— The Syriac and Arabic
Verfions plainly ftiew us whence the difficulty
arifes, which hath embarafs'd the Thoughts of
fo many elaborate Commentators. ^^^ In the Co^
pies which thofe Tranflators had before them
D^^ti^ 5?2'^^? Four years was written inftead ot the
Plural, which requires to be render'd Forty,
9. Tho' the Antient Verfions will frequently
point out the Errors that are crept into the He-
brew Text, where an Alteration is evidently ne-
ceflary, to complete the Senfe of the Paflage;
Yet, without fuch necefiity, we can fcarcely, I
think, be at Liberty to recede from the prefent Text
upon thdr Authority only. E. G. The Antient
Verfions agree in giving the Name of Solomon
I Kin, 2. 28. where Abfalom is mentioned in the
prefent Hebrew. By turning to the Pafi!age, the
Reader will moft readily fee what Judgment he
fhall think proper to form upon this Reprefenta^
tion; — But I muft obferve that the Alex, Copy
of the 70. hath Abfalom in this Place.
JO.
Sea. IX. REMARK S. 39
10. The Agreement of feveral Verfions with
the prefent Hebrew will fcarcely always be fuf-
iicient fully to jyftify the Integrity thereof. E. G.
Tho* the Latm^ Greek and Syriac Verfions concur
with the prefent Text in faying that David had
prepared for the Houfe of the Lord 100,000
Talents of Gold, and 1,000,000 Talents of SiU
ver: i Ci6ro. 22. 14. yet, when we confider what
an immenfe Sum this is, amounting, (if we
reckon the Talent to contain 3000 Shekels,
according to Bifhop Cumberland' % Tables,) to
461,171,875/. Sterling 5 we can fcarcely avoid
judging this Account to be incredible. — - It is ob-
fervable that when yofephiis is giving an account
of what David had prepared for the Conftiudion
of the Temple, he faith it was 10,000 I'alents of
Gold, and 100,000 Talents of Silver, Ant, Lib.
7. Cap. II, only a tenth Part of the abovefaid
Sum. — The Arabic Verfion of this PaiTage very
•remarkably renders it, 1000 Talents of Gold, and
1000 Talents of Silver; and plainly erroneoufly,
fince we are-inform'd Ch. 29^4. that to what
David had prepared particularly for this purpofe;
he added, and gave out of his privy Purfe 3000
Talents of Gold and 7000 Talents of Silvec;
which is confirmed by the Latin and Greiek Ver-
fions and carries no improbability along with it.
-^ But what muft we fay to the Syriac and
Arabic Verfions, which tell us that this addi-
tional Sum was 1,000,000 Talents of Gold, and
2,000,000 Talents of Silver? — Perhaps, upon
the whole, the Reader may be inclin'd to think
that, fometimes, the Numbers given by yojephus
are more correct and authentic, than thofe we at
'I c 4 prefent
40 REMARKS. Sea.X.
prefent find in the Text, or in any of the antient
Yerfions.
SECTION X.
WORDS have not only been thus alter'd
by Tranfcribers, fo as to introduce Im-
probabilities and Inconfiftencies, but they have
alfo been omitted, fo as to leave a manifefl Defi-
ciency in the Text.
1. The Keris are an evident proof of this,
in fome Places. E.G. 2 i^/;?. 19. 31. " The
** Zeal of the Lord ° will do this." The
Keri fupplies the Vacancy with DIK!!^ " The
<« Zeal of the Lord of Hojis will do this."
And again ii. 37. " Adrammelech and Sharezer "
" fmote him." The Keri fupplys this
Vacancy with VJl " Adramt?i€lech and Sharezer
" his Sons fmote him." Thefe words were doubt-
lefs in the Original, as they are rendefd in all the
antient Verfions.
2. Gen. 4. 8. is one of thofe 25 or 28 verfes in
which the Maforites allow the Senfe to be imper-
fed: or elliptic. (See Walton's Proleg. VIIL 2.)
iHere the omiffion is at leail: properly fupply'd in
.the Samaritan Text, " And Cain faid unto Abel
** his Brother, Let us go out into the Field,'* But
Mr. Kennicott having taken this FafTage into Con-
fidcration, p. 347. &c. makes it unnecefTary for
me farther to enlarge upon it here.
3. The Word TriKI which is now wanting
. I Chro. 9. 41. was omitted by fome early Tranfcri-
ber, as appears by its not being taken Notice of
by the Greek Tranflators j but it is in the Latin^
^yriac, and Arabic Verfions , and was in the Ori-
ginal
Sea.X. REMARKS; 41^-
ginal Hebrew j for the Genealogy is carry*d on
from th\^ Ahaz f, ^2. And he is mention'd as
one of the Sons of Mkab, Ch. 8. 3 5. ^:u^^i
4. Five Sons of Shem are mentioned, Gen.iol
22. and four of Aram. But i C^ro, i . 1 7. all the
Nine are fald to be the Sons of ^hem : It may be
alledged indeed, that, Grandfons are frequently
called Sons, in Scripture ; yet this appears not to
be the intention of the Writer of Chronicles here ;
but the difference to have been occafioned by the
Omiffion of D■^^^ 'ilV Since, in the Alex. Copy
of the JO. the four laft are exprefsly faid to be the
Sons ofAram, as in Genejis.
,., 5. After the Canaanites Gen. 1^,21. the Sama-
' ritan Text and the Greek Verfion add the Hittites.
And Exod.'^.'^jiy. they mention the Girgajhites
among the other Nations : And the Perizzites are
added to them, Exod,i7,.^. — 23.23,28. and di-
vers other Places, vi^here there is no mention of
them in the prefent Hebrew Text.- — Now, whe-
ther thefe words were in the Original, or whether
they have been added by the Tranfcribers of the
Samaritan Text, it is not eafy to determine. Seve-
ral PalTages in that Text, which are not in the
Hebrew y are more generally thought, to be Inter-
polations, as E^riJ^.y. 18.-- 8, 4,23.-9. 5,19.-10.6.
C^c» &c. Yet there are, who plead for the Integrity
of that Text in preference to the Hebrew, See,
on this Subjecft, Kennicott's DifTertation, p. 337 and
384. And, as there is a Collation of the Hebrew
and Samaritan Texts, in the laft Volume of the
Englifh Polyglott, the Reader may the more rea-
dily pafs his owA Judgment upoa, thef^ different
■Opinions. ^ - . '; • • i
-•O ' ^ . If
'4* remarks; Sea.XF;
If thefe Inftances are not fufficient to fhew that
Words have been omitted by the Carelefsnefs of
fome TranfcriberSj whofe Copies have been fol*
lowed by the Maforites ; there are fo many more
Omijjiom pointed out in the above-mentioned Dif-
fertation, that it is needlefs to produce more on
that Head.
S E C T I O N XI.
AS words have been omitted by Tranfcribers,
fo have they, in feveral Places, been added.
The former might happen through Hafte or
Carelefsnefs, but other Caufes muft be affigned
for the Latter. A Tranfcriber might think a
Word proper to be added ; or, he might find a
Word in the Margin of the Copy before him,
which he, therefore, introduced into the Text;
But, what I think the moft probable way of ac-
counting for fuch a number of additional Words
as are now found in the Text; is, by concluding,
as I have already obferved we have great Reafon
to do, that the Tranfcribers did not revife their
Copies, nor erafe the Words that might have ca»
fually been improperly written.
1. The Word ^^ might, as Words frequent-
ly are, be wrote twice over, 2 Bam. 6. 2. That it
was not originally fo, fufficLently appears from the
Antient Verfions, none of which give any Inti-
mation of its being repeated.
2. Beth-el is not mentioned in the Greek Ver-
iion yojh.'^.iy. nor can we reafonably think it
was in the original Hebrew : For, had the Men of
J^t"/^-^/ purfued, as well as the Men of ^/, it would
moft probably have been faid, that they left the
4 Cities J
Sea. XII. REMARKS. 43,
CitieSy and not the City open : and we might well
exped: that both the Cities would have been taken
on the fame Day, which is contrary to the ac-
count here given : and they appear to be reprefent-
ed as taken at two different times, Jofi. 1 2. 9, 1 6.
It is needlefs to make more Remarks upon the
Additions of particular Words, fince we {hall fo
largely fhew afterwards, that whole Sentences,
Paragraphs and Parages, are now found in the Ma^
forite Text, which were not in the Original : but
it was thought proper gradually to trace the Er-
rors of Tranfcribers, and the Faults of the Copy,
from the lefs to the greater ; and endeavour, by
degrees, to remove the Prejudices of any of thole
who might have been poflelTed with an Opinion
of the abfolutc Integrity of the prefent Text.— —
The Reader who is deiirous to fee more Inftances
of this kind may obferve the Interpolations that are
remarked by Mr, Kennicott : I now proceed to
fliew,
SECTION XII.
THAT Sentences and Paragraphs have been
changed, added and omitted, fo as to ren-
der the prefent Text much more different from
the Original than we have yet reprefented it to be.
The great Importance of thefe Articles will
juftly require Proofs of the moft convincing Kind
to confirm Affertions, that may give an alarm to
thofe who have looked upon every Word which
they read in the Bible as an Oracle of Truth ; and
may feem to countenance the Opinion of thofe
who have been fo unhappy as to look upon the
'Scriptures in a different Light. But I hope a fuf-
ficient
44 REMARKS. Sed. XII.
ficient Apology is already provided, § IV. for any
Remarks that {hall be made upon thefe Heads.
And if the Inconfiftencies which have prejudiced
the Minds of Unbelievers, (hall appear to be oc-
cafioned by the Changes, Additions, or Omifiions
which are here pointed out, or, in any other fuch
like Paffages, and, if we can, with great Probabi-
lity, fhew what was the Original Text, and that
it was regularly confident, the Prejudices of thofe
who are inclined to be candid, will, by this means
be removed.
I. The remarkable DifFerence betwixt the Pro-
phetic ExprefTion of the Ffalmift^ Pfal. 40. 6. as
we find it in the prefent Copies, and the Quota-
tion of it by the Apoftlc, Heb.io.^, was impofli-
ble to be overlooked by any one who compared
the Quotation with the Text referred to : And
we cannot well wonder at the Embaraffment
which all the Commentators find themfelves un-
der, who go about to vindicate and explain the
Hebrew Text : " Sacrifice and Meat Ofl^ering thou
** didft not delight in, »7 nn^ D'JtJ^ mhie Ears
*' haji thou opened.'' And, after all the pains they
have taken, none of them hath been able to dif-
cover the leaft propriety in the Antithefis of the
latter part of the Sentence to the former : And
this Difficulty was fo great, that they feem to
have overlooked fome others, that muft have at-
tended the Vindication of the Text, in this View :
for 17?. There is no conjundive or disjundive
Particle between the former and latter part of the
Sentence, to (liew that any Antithefis was intend-
ed, which is rarely, if ever omitted in the He^
brew^ in fuch Cafes, and which is regularly inferted
in
Sea. XII. REMARKS. 45
in all the Verfions. And 2dly. It would be diffi-
cult to prove that the Verb HID any where fig-
nifies to open^ in the Senfe they would underftand
it here : it fignifies indeed to open a Pit, by dig-
ing, but how it can be properly applyed to the
Ears I know not.
When the Apoftle quotes this PafTage of the
Pfalmift, he tells us, that Chrift faid by his Pro-
phet, *' Sacrifice and Meat Offering thou didfl
" not delight in, cufAx ^e Kcclvi^Kru) y,oiy but a Body
** haft thou prepared me^ or provided for me."
Thefe are the exprefs Words of the Greek Verlion
in the Pfalm : and can we doubt then, whether
the Words of the Prophet are here properly quot-
ed, or were there properly tranflated ? Efpeci-
ally, when internal Evidence mufl convince us
that Words of this Import were written by the
Sacred Penman : For, read the Sentence thus, the
Antithefis is clear and exprefs ; the Words are
.plainly intelligible 3 and they fully illuftrate both
what went before and what comes after : " Many,
•* O Lord, are thy wonderful Works, and thy
" Thoughts which are to us-ward ; Sacrifice and
" Meat Offering thou didfl not delight in ; but a
" Body haft thou prepared me : Then faid I, Lo !
r.*;* I come, ^cr i. e. Thy Thoughts, O Lord,
have been intent upon the Redemption of Man-
kind ; and though thou didft appoint Sacrifices
and Offerings for thy People, yet as the Blood of
Bulls and of Goats could not take away Sin, thou
waft not fatisfied therewith ; but thou haft pre-
pared me a Body, by the Sacrifice whereof a full,
perfect and fufficient Attonement may be made
for the Sins of the whole Worlds therefore I come
to do thy will, O God.
The
46 REMARKS. Sea. Xlt
The Arabic and Ethiopic Verfions agree with
the Greek, in rendering the words of the Pfalmift
in the fame manner : and it was, at leaft, a need-
lefs attempt in Bos and Grotius to endeavour to
reform the Greek, in fuch a Manner as to make it
correfpondent to the prefent Hebrew, by putting
taTia. or aycao-fjua, inftead of o-wjtca : It would be
much to our Satisfaction indeed, if we could dif-
cover from what Hebrew Words thefe Tranflators
have given us this Verfion : Mr. Pierce'^ Con-
jedure is, that inflcad ©f Q^^tJ^ it was originally
*)1J1 TK. Here are no greater Changes of Letters
than we have feen in many other inftances : and
the Verb ni^ undoubtedly fignifies To provide,
or prepare, and might properly be render 'd by
Kccjufji^u. See 2 Kin. 6. 23.
It is a peculiar Happinefs that amongft all the
PafTages which relate either to the Methods or
means of Salvation, or which are prophetic of
what the Mefllah was to do, or to fufFer for the At-
tainment of that great End, this is almoft the only
one that hath fuffer'd any material Alteration:
and in what manner this was deliver'd by the
Prophet, the Apoflle hath inform'd us. — I have
before fhevvn §. IX. i. that, by the fame Autho-
xity, we are enabled to reform that Faffage where
the Holy Spirit fpake of the Refurred:ion of
Chrift, faying, *' Thou v/ilt not leave my Soul in
*' Hell, nor fuffer fby Holy One to fee Corruption.
** So that, as I have obferv'd §. I. we may juftly
" fay, that God hath not left his word without
** a fufficient Witnefs of the Authenticity thereof,
" in thofe Places that demand our more particu-
■** lar Attention. "
2,
Sca.XiL k EM ARKS. 47
2. Several Alterations which other PaiTages
have undergone, are but of little Importance, in
Comparifon to thefe : and if we cannot difcover
how they were originally written ; this only con-
firms the Proof of the Inaccuracy of TranfcriberSi
or Tranflators. .. j . ^ . i
We are told i Xw.8.65. that ** Solomon held a
" Feafty^i;^^ Days, and feven Days, even fourteen
" Days, and on the eighth Day he fent away the
" People. " An Account no ways confiftent with
that Propriety which is obfervable thro' the wJiole
Scriptures. Yet all the antient Verfions render
this Paflage in the fame manner: except that, in
the Vatican Copy of the 70. we have an Account
very confiftent with it felf, and what we muft be
inclin'd to think is agreeable ^to the Original.
** Solomon held a Feaft feven Days; and on the
eighth Day he fent away the People. " And this
I apprehend to be entirely confiftent with what is
faid 2 Cz&r^.y. 9, 10. That after Solomon h^id de-
dicated the Temple, he held the Feaft of Taber*
nacles, which began on the fifteenth Day of the
feventh Month, viz. 'Tizri or Ethanim, iKin. 8,
2. and which is now mark'd as the firft Day of
that Feaft in the Jewifti Calendars. See Religious
Ceremonies &c. Vol. i. p. 224. And here we
are particularly inform'd that on the 23d. Day
of the feventh Month (which is alfo mark'd
in thofe Calendars as the odlave of the Feaft
of Tabernacles) he fent away the People into
their Tents, glad and chearful upon this happy
Gccafion.
3, The Accounts of the Numbers faid to be
ilain or taken in Battle are varioufly given in dif-
ferent. Books and by different Tranflators,
In
48 REMARKS. Sea. XIL
In 2 Sum. 8. 3. And i Chro. 18.3. we have an
Account of David's Vidlory over Hadadezer or
Hadareze7\ for fo differently is the Name now
fpelt by the change of the ^ and '^. And the
Numbers he took arc thus given us in Samuel^ in
ihe Text and Verflons. ^
^ 1 1700 Horfe-men, and 20000 Footmen. Heb,
, Vtdg. Chald, :»
,,r.' 1000 Chariots. 7000 Horfe-men. 20000 Foot-
men Greek,
.^\, ^700 Chariots and 20000 Footmen. Syr. and
Arab*
In the Book of Chronicles^ where this defeat is
niention'd,theH(f^r^'Z£;and theVerfions agree in fay-
ing, that David took 1000 Chariots 7000 Horfe-
men, and 20000 Footmen: except that, in the
Syriac there is no mention of the Footmen — From
this View it will evidently appear, that the Ac-
counts in both the Books were originally confif-
tent with each other : and that the Greek Tranf-
lators had a Copy of Samuel before them perfe(5t,
in this Particular. — Mr. Kennicott hath compar'd
the Texts, p. 461. and endeavour'd to point out
the Caufes of the Miftakes that are now apparent:
and whenever I fpeak of a Subjed: which he hath
handled, I need only refer to him : for I am fa-
tisfied that no perfon, whofe Curiofity fhall induce
him to read thefe Remarks, will have omitted
giving himfelf the Pleafure of perufing that inge-
nious and learned DifTertation, which fo much
coincides with the firft part of the Defign of thefe
Papers, in pointing out the Incorredtnefs of the
prefent Hebrew Text,
4. In 2 5^;;/. 10. 18. and i C/6ro. 19, 18. we
have an Account of the Defeat of the Syria?i$
and
Sea. XII. REMARKS. 49
and the Numbers that were flain, in the fame
inconfiftent manner as the former, and the varia-
tions in Samuel are found thus,
700 Chariots and 40000 Horfemen. Heb, Gr,
Lat. Cbal,
700 Chariots and 4000 Horfemen. Syr. zndiArab*
In Chronicles it is thus reprefented.
7000 Chariots and 40000 Footmen. Heb. Gr*
Lat. Arab.
7000 Chariots and 4000 Footmen. Syriac*
Here I (hould be inclinable to think that the
Syriac and Arabic Verfions, in Samuel^ give us
the beft Account of what was the Original in
thefe PalTages, as they mention a great Number
of Footmen befides Chariots and Horfemen, and
may be nearly in Proportion to what was men*-
tion'd in the preceding Remark.
5. In 2 Sam. 24. 9. where we have an Ac-
count of the Numbers of the Men of Ifrael and
Judah^ that Joab gave up to David, we are told
that the Men of Ifrael were 800,000, and the
Men of yudah 500,000. In this all the Verfions
agree with the Hebrew* But when this is men-
tion'd I Cbro. 21.^. the Men of Ifrael are faid
to be 1,100,000. and the Men of Judah 470,000.
Except, that in the Arabic Verfion, the fame
Number is given here, as in Samuel. — The
Reader may apply to the Commentators, who
have expatiated largely upon this Subjed:.
6. The Price that David gave to Araunah, or
Oman for his Threfhing-Floor whereon to build
an Altar, is faid to be 50 Shekels of Silver, 2 Sam,
24.24. Here again, all the Verfions agree with
the prefent Hebrew. But when this is mention'd
iChro. 21.25. the Price is faid to be 600 She-
D kels
j6 REMARKS. Sea. XUt
kcls of Gold, Helf. Gr. Lat. The Arabic is 200
Shekels of Gold : but the Syriac is 50 Shekels
as in the other Paflage: And I (hould imagine
that where there is a general Concurrence of
Evidence in one Place, a fingle Witnefs in the
other^ might be thought fufficient, to convince
us that there was originally no difagreement in
the Accounts of the Sacred Hiftorians.
I need not produce more Inftances to (hew
that Piaflages have been alter d in the Hebrew
Text : Nor can ftronger Arguments well be ex-
pe6led, to prove that we have proper Means in
our Hands of reftoring the genuine Text, in
feveral of thofe Places that have fufFer*d Altera*
tions, from the CarelefTnefs of Tranfcribers^ or
been otherwrfe corrupted.
SECTION xin.
OMISSIONS, in the Hebrew Text, if
they can plainly and fully be difcover'd, arc
ftill a more flagrant Proof of the very great Care-
Icflhefs of Tranfcribers: And, if in all the Copies
which we have yet remaining, there, are evident
Marks of Omiflions, whereby the Senfe of Paf-
fages is left fo defedive, that no fuppofltion of an
Elliplis will properly fupply it; we have no other
means of difcovering what Words,, or what fort
of Words, have been omitted by the Tranfcribers,.
than from the antient Verlions: But, if in thofe
Verfions we find the Senfe complete, where it is
now deficient in the Hebrew, we may juftly
from thence conclude, that the prefent Defedl hath
been occafion'd by the Hafte or Careleflhefs of later
Tranfcribers, who have omitted fome Words
that were in the Original and antient Copies.
I.
feed. Xilt. REMARKS. ^i
1. In the Order given Jojh.i^.y- We find
this diredlion, "Divide this Land for an Inheri-
*' tance unto the nine Tribes, add the Half Tribe
" o( Manajfeh; with whom the Reiibenites and the
" Gadites have received their Inheritance, which
Mofes gave them beyond Jordan. " — Here is a
Manifeft Inconfiftency : — The Reiibenites and the
Gadites had indeed receiv'd their inheritance be-
yond Jorddn^ with one Half of the Tribe of
Manajj'eh -y fee Numb. 32.33. Deut. 3.12. Jojlo. 2 2 .
I. But it was not with that Half Tribe of M^-
naffeh^ who received their Inheritance with the
Nine Tribes on the other fide of Jordan. — In
the Greek Verfion we read it thus; " Divide this
" Land for an Inheritance unto the nine Tribes,
*' and the half Tribe o^ Aianajfeh -, from Jordan
*' unto the great Sea Weftward (halt thou give it;
" the great Sea fhall be the Boundary, To the
" Two Tribes, and to the Half Tribe of Manaf-
^^ fehy Mofes hath given beyond Jordan &c. *'—
Now there can be little Doubt but that the 70
had a perfect Copy before them, and have
properly tranflated the original Text of this Paf-
iage. Again,
2. In the Greek Verfion we read i Sam. 10.2 1*
that when the Perfon, whom the Lord had ap-
pointed to be King over Ifrael^ was fought for
by Lot, the Tribe oi Be?ijamin was taken; out
of that Tribe, the Family of Matri ; and when
that Family was called Man by Man, Saul
the Son of Kijh was diftinguifhed by Lot. —
This is fo agreeable to the Hebrew Idiom of
Speech, and fo exadly conformable to the
Method of calling Lots, upon fuch an Oc-
D 2 cafion,
$2 REMARKS. Sea.XIir.
cafion, (See yq/b.y. i6.) thattho' the prefent He-
brew oiiuts the mentioning of the Family of iW^-
/r/ being called Man by Manj yet there is very
little Reafon to fufped: that the Tranflators added
thefe words, without finding them in the Copy
they had before them.
3. The Greek and Latin Verfions have a Claufe
at the End of the 13th P/2z//;z: "Yea, I will
*^ praife the Name of the Lord moft Higheft. **
no Remains v/hereof are in the prefent Hebrew,
and yet we can give no Account why the
Tranflators fhould be induc'd to inferc this Sen-
tence, unlefs they had found it in their Hebrew
Copies.
4. There is another, of which the Hebrew
makes no mention, at the End of the 14th Chap-
ter of Numbers. *' And they returned into the
*' Camp. '* This Claufe is not very material, nor
neeellary to be fuppos'd to have been in the origi-
nal Hebrew. But, as it is now found in the Sa-
maritan Text, and in the Greek Verfion; wc
may with great Probability conclude, that k was
in the Original.
5. I am far from thinking that an additiona^l
Claufe, in any of the Verfions, will always juftify
the fuppofition of a Defect in the Hebrew, The
Tranflators have undoubtedly very often taken
the Liberty to make Additions, with a View
to explain, or illuflrate the Text: And whether
The Lord had faid to Jojhua^ that after Jacob
and his Children went down into the Land of
Eg\'pfy " they became a great, numerous and
mighty Nation?" JoJJd.za..^;.. or,
6. Whether it was faid, that when Samfon
had taken the Doors of the Gate of Gaza to
the
Sedl.Xm. REMARKS. 53
the Top of the Hill, " he laid them there? '* Judg,
16.13. or,
7. Whether the Plague of Mice was men-
tion'd? I Sam. 6. i. or, '
8. Whether it was told to Samuel, not only;
that Saul was gone to Gilgal, but alio, that he
was about to offer burnt Offerings? i Sam. i 5. 1 2.
Let the Reader, upon examining the Paffcges,
and comparing them with the antient Verfions,
pafs his own Judgment. But,
9. Sometimes the Evidences that arlfe in Proof
of Omiffions, in the Hebrew Text, are of fuch a
Nature, that they almoft neceffarily preclude any
Queftion, whether they ought to be admitted as
entirely Decifive.
Six of the Pfalms are compos''d in an alphabe-
tical Order, 25. 34. iii. 119. 145. divided into
twenty two Portions, according to the Number
of the Hebrew Letters. To find a Deficiency,
then, in the Series of one of thefe Pfalms, muli,
furely, convince us, that fome Part of it hath
been omitted by the Tranfcribers. And this is
really the Cafe in the laft of thefe Pfalms j where
that Sentence which began with the Letter ^ is
now wanting. This Omiffion was too obvious,
not to be remark'd by feveral Commentators;
efpecially, as the Latin, the Syriae, and the Ara^
hie Verfions, have here a Tranilation which w^as
undoubtedly made from Copies of the Hebrew
that were not herein defedive; and from whence
we may, with great Probabilty, conclude that
the Words of the Paffage omitted were thefe
tSvo S^n pn^r1 innT S^n mn» ps*3 "The
^* Lord is faithful in all his Words, and righteous
P 3 i* in
54 REMARKS. SeA. XIII,
" in all his Works;" which was the 14th Verfc
or Portion of this Pfalm.
I may here take Occalion to obferve, that in the
25th Pfalm, the i8th verfe, which according tq
the feries of the Letters, ought to have begun
with p begins with nt^"1: whence we may conclude
that a Word beginning with p has been dropped.
Now what is to be done in order to recover this
Word ? We have no Verfiom old enough to fupply
us with it, nor have we any MSS. that we know
of, fo old as thefe Verfions. What then is to be
done in this Cafe? why, the only method we can
have recourfe to, is to look over all the words in
the Hebrew Concordance under the Letter p. And
here the Word lip will prefent itfelf, which bids
faireft to be the very word which has been drop-
ped. This therefore let us fubftitute for it in
Italicks, till fome MSS. be found which may put
it out of all doubt.
Tho' the Sentences contain'd in thefe Alpha-
betical Periods are of various Length, in different
Pfalms and Chapters, yet it hath been fcarcely
ever doubted but that they were all written ac-
cording to the eftabli(h'd Rules oi Hebrew Poetry:
But, what thofe Rules were, none have yet
been able to difcover and declare in fuch a Man-
ner, as to give entire Satisfaiflion, or obtain an
univerfal affent to their Opinions. And this
Pifcovery having been attempted to be made by
men of fo great Ability, Learning, and Judgment
in Poetry, with no better fuccefs, muft give us
Reafon to doubt, whether we {hall ever be fo
happy as to have that Point clear'd up, which
would fo much contribute to the Illuftration and
Improvement of the Hebrew Text. — But, to
return
jSea-Xill. REMARKS, ' 55
return to the Subjed: in Hand, and give another
Inftance of a large and almoft unqueftionable
Omiflion in the Hebrew Text.
10. In Rom. 2-^2, St. Paid cites a Paflage
from the Scriptures of the old Teftament in thele
Words J "Their Throat is an open Sepulchre;
.** with their Tongues they have deceived; the
** Poifon of Afps is under their Lips; their
■** Mouth is full of Gurfing and Bitternefs; their
** Feet arc fwift to fhed Blood : Deflrudion and
** Unhappinefs are in their Ways, and the Way
** of Peace they have not known; there is no
" Fear of God before their Eyes. " — Now, in
the printed Hebrew Copies, there is no fuch Paf-
fage to be met with. What muft we fay then?
Did St. Paul quote, from the Scriptures of the
Old Teilament, what was not in thofe Scrip-
tures? Does he fay, *■* As it was written; " where-
^as it was not written ? God forbid ! Did St. Paid
compofe this Paflage from unconnedW Places,
jand different Books of Scripture; and therefore
fay, "As it is written? This is what thofe, who
plead for the Integrity of the Hebrew Text, have
been oblig'd to fuppofe, and affert: But this
Manner of quoting is fo different from that of
our Saviour and his Apoftles, in all the other
Parts of the New Teftament, that I cannot think
there are Grounds fufficient for fubfcribing to
that Opinion. A Sufpicion of a Defed:, in the
Hebrew Bible, muft have arifen in the Minds of
many, upon this Occafion: and more than a Suf-
picion would readily be admitted by fome of
thofe who obferv'd, that in the Vatican Copy of
the Greek Verfion, and in the Vulgar Latifi^
this Paffage was found in its full extent in the
??4 5^h
56 REMARKS. Sea. XIII.
5th and following Verfes of the 14th Pfalmi
and they would be ftill the more confirm'd in
this Opinion, upon taking Notice that the Apoftle
does not begin his Quotation at the 5th Verfe, but
at the 2d ; and carries it on in the fame Manner
as we now find it in thofe Verfions : from whence
it is evident, that either thofe Verfions were made
from Hebrew Copies, in which this Paffage was
in the fame ftate as we find it quoted; or, that
the latter Part of it was added, either by the
Tranflators, or by fome Tranfcribers of the Ver^
lions, in accommodation to the Quotation of the
Apoftle. Any Proof of the latter fuppofition, will
fcarcely be attempted : in the Alexandrian Copy,
indeed, this Paffage is wanting : from whence we
may well conclude, that it was omitted in the
Hebrew Copy from whence that Verfion was
made: for I am very inclinable to think, that
the Vatican and Alexandrian are Copies of two
different Verfions of the Hebrew Text; and who-
ever obferves, that there is fcarcely a Chapter in
the whole Bible, wherein there are not different
readings in thefe two Copies, and fome of them
of fuch a Nature, as cannot well otherwife be ac-
counted for; will be ready to fubfcribe to this
opinion ; and be convinc'd, that in antient Times,
the Hebrew Copies greatly differ'd from each
Other; and confequently, that fome of them much
varied from the Autographon of the facred
Penmen.
It is obfervable, that the Quotations in the
Nev/ Teftament appear to have been taken from
the Greek Verfion, rather than from the original
Hebrew \ as the very Words of that Verfion are
frequently made ufe of by the Apoftles; particu^
lary
Sea. XIV. REMARKS. S7
larly in this Paflage, which is exadlly the fame,
except that the prepolition vito is not before roe.
X^iXfj in the Vatican, but probably omitted thro*
the Careleflhefs of the Tranfcriber. This muft
give the greateft Sandion poflible to the Autho-
rity of this Verfion ; and upon that Account I
cannot fcruple to conclude, that from hence we
have as clear a Proof as can well be given, of a
manifeft and remarkable Omiffion in the prefent
Hebrew Text, which appears to have been perfed:,
in this particular, at the Time when the Verfion
was made. And this, added to the foregoing Ob-
fervations, may be fufficient to juftify the general
Remark, — That there are feveral material Omif^
fiom in the prefent Major ete Text.
SECTION XIV.
TH E Interpohtiom that (hall appear to have
been introduc'd into, or added to the ori-
ginal Sacred Text, muft be afcrib'd to different
Caufes from thofe which we have affi^n'd for the
other Miftakes or Corruptions which we find in
it. — Interpolations could not be occalioned by
hafte or carelefsnefs, or for want of a Revifal of
the Copies ; nor, indeed, could a Copy that was
intended to be exa(5l, well admit of them. Errors
of other forts, fuch as are above-mention'd, they
were all liable to, tho' they might intend to be
exadt: But, in taking a Copy, a Tranfcriber might
aim at Improvement, or add fuch Notes, as he
might think proper for the Illudration of the
Text: and, in that cafe, it might be cuftomary in
former Times to put fuch Notes into the Text,
gnd not into the Margin, as we now do. Or,
%vbat might be put into the Margin of one Copy,
might
5S REMARKS. Sea.XlV,
might be inferted in the Text of that which was
taken from it. And we may well judge, that a
Jewifli Reader or a Tranfcriber might be inclin'd
to add fiich marginal Notes j fince there were fe-
veral Books amongft them which treated upon
the fame Subjeds as the Hiftorical Books of the
Old Teftament, and which were held in very high
Efteem, tho' they were not admitted into the
Canon : The Books of Nathan, Iddo, Ahijah, She-
maiah and 'Jehu; the Book of the Wars of the
Lord, and the Sayings of the Seers and others are
fpoken of. Numb. 21. 14. Jojh. 10.13. ^ ^^f^^ i o^
25. 2 Sam. I. 18. I King. 4.. 32. i Chro. 27. 24.
29.29. zChro.g. 29. — 12.15. — 20.34.^ — 33''9'
And it is neither improbable to fuppofe, nor im-
proper to admit, that the Sacred Hiftorians might
fometimes refer to Books that were before writ-
ten; and where. they had not done it, a Tranfcri-
ber, who was acquainted with a fimilar Paflage in
another Author of efleem, might judge it proper
to mention it.
1. Of the firft Sort I take Numb. 21. 14. to be,
as it is probable that an authentic Account was
kept of the Wars of the Lord, as here mention'd
in the Hebrew, and all the Verfions. But,
2. Whether the Book of Jajher, fpoken of
jfojh.jo. 13, was not introduc'd by a Tranfcriber,
may admit a Doubt ; fince there is no Intimation
of any Reference to it in the Greek Verfion, nor in
the Chaldee Paraphrafe. Th^t there was a Book
called Sepher hajafiar will not be doubted, as it is
taken Notice of in all the Verfions of 2 Sam.u 1 8.
But whether thofe Words, in both thefe Places,
really mean, the Book of Jajber, or, the Book of
the
Sed. XIV, REMARKS. 59
the upright one^ or, the authentic Cop)\ I (hall fub-
mit to the Reader's judgment : Tis only here
mention'd, to obferve, that there may be feme pro-
bability of an Interpolation in the Hebrew Text^
and that it is neither very material nor unaccount-
able.
V -
3. Upon any other Suppofition, we could not
well account for the mention of the Return into
the Camp at Gilgal, Jofi.io, 15. Jojhua had (ci
out of Gilgal to relieve Gibeon, and when he had
rnet with fuch remarkable Succefs there, he pro-
ceeded to over-run the neighbouring Country j
and after taking feveral Cities, we are told j^. 43.
That Jofiua returned, and all Ifrael with him, to
the Camp at Gilgal-, the Words in the Hebrew
Text are the very fame f.i^; and f. 43. But
there is not the leaft probability that it was fo
mention'd originally, verfe 15. on the contrary,
we are told f, 21, " That after the total defeat
of the ftve Kings, all the People returned to the
Camp to Jojhua at Makkedah in Peace. — From
hence there are Grounds fufficient to induce us to
conclude that thefe Words, " And Jofiua return-
ed &c. #.15. are interpolated. And, how this In*.
terpolation was occafion'd, we may offer a proba- '
ble Conjecture. The Sentiment, and the two laft
Words of the Sentence in both >?. 14. and y-. 42.
are exadlly the fame ^f^nt:^*^ Dn*?: : after which
Words in the 42d f. a Tranfcriber might write
the Words of f. 43. in the 15th : And then, ob-
ferving his Error, return, and proceed to #.16. &c:
But, (according to what we have obferv'd to have
been a general Pradice with the Jewiili Writers,)
negleding to erafe, what he had thus improperly
writ-
6o REMARKS. Sea. XIV.
written, the Fault mull: be carry'd into the Copies
from thence taken, and fo continues to this Day.
— But thefe words are taken no Notice of in the
Greek Verfion : from whence it is probable, that
this miftake was not made, when that Verfion
was taken, or, not in that Copy it was taken
from.
4. For the fame Reafon we may conclude, that
the 33d f. of the 13th Ch. of yoJJma was not in
tlie Original, as it is not render'd by the 70. But
that, fingly, is too weak an Argument whereby to
charge an Interpolation upon the Hebrew Text:
for, tho' what is here faid be unneceflary, as hav-
ing been mention'^ /.14. and feveral other Places;
yet, as Repetitions are not uncommon, one might
be made here, and omitted by the 70 Interpreters
as fuperfluous.
5. No wonder the Commentators are fo prolix
and various in their Notes on i Sam. 13. i.
** Saul reigned one year, and when he had reign- \
*' ed two years over Jfrael &c." for it is, doubt- \
lefs, an inextricable Difficulty, taking the Hebrew
in its prefent State j for the literal Verfion of it is,
** Saul was a year old when he began to reign,
'* and he reigned two years over J/rael:" com-
pare 2 Kif2. 16.2. — 18.2. — 2 1. 1, 19. — 22.1. &c,
— I am inform'd, that there is a Fragment of a
Greek Verfion of this Place, which faith, that Saul
was 30 Years old^ but in the common Editions
of the 70, this verfe is entirely omitted : If it was
not in the Hebrew Copy before thofe Tranflators,
it was necelTary to omit it : and if it was there in
it's prefent State, it was proper; becaufe no ra-
tional Verfion could be given of it ; And as th^re
is
Sea. XIV. REMARKS. 61
is no want of a proper Connexion of the Parts of
the Hiftory, when this is left out, there is the
greateft Probability that thefe unaccountable Words,
have fome how unaccountably been admitted into
the Text.
6. In the 2 2d Ch. of i Kin» four verfes are 0-
mitted in the Vatican Copy j from ^•45- to f. 5o.X<^Jt,
and, it may be thought, that they were not in the ^^^
original Hebrew : becaufe, omitting them, the
Style is exactly conformable to the other Paflages
in this Book, where the laft Anions, and Death of
a King are fpoken of. See i Kin. 16, 27.-24. 40.
2 Kin. 10. 34. — 14. 28. — 15. 21. — 16.19. &c
Befides, what is here faid, is not altogether coniif*-
tent with the Account of Jehojhaphat'% Defigns,
mentioned 2 Chro. 20. 35. &c.
7. In the loth Ch. of Jeremiah^ the 6th, 7tb,
8th, and loth verfes are omitted in the GreekYtv^
fions : As are alfo the loth and i ith verfes of the
30th Chapter : As is one Half of the 33d Chap-
ter, from the 13th verfe : And from the 44th to
the 50th verfe of the 51ft Chapter; And from
the 27th to the 31ft of the 52d. And, I fhould
have memion'd, in their Place, the four firft verfes
of the 1 7th Chapter. I prefume not to fay, or to
give it as my Opinion, that thefe PalTages are In-
terpolations in the Hebrew Copies : but, when
fpeaking upon this Subjed:, thought it proper to
lay them before the Reader, to give him an op-
portunity of examining what Grounds there may
be for fuch an Opinion. But,
8. As we have taken notice of feveral Paflages
that carry evident Marks of Interpolation, I fliall
confider at large a part oi David' i Hiftory, which,
from
62 RfiMAltKS. Sea. XIV;
from this Caufe, appears to me to be very incor-
red: and inconfiitent. It is that contained in the
17th and 1 8th Chap, of the firfl Book of Sam,
Where an account is given of Davtd'B coming toi
the Campjwhen Goliah^ the Champion of the Phi-
lijiines, was giving a Defiance to all the Servants of
Saul', — Of David's undertaking to fight with
him ; and of Saul's Converfation and Behaviour
upon that Occafion. This Account is contained
in 88 Verfes, according to the prefent Divifion of
the Hebrew j 39 of which appear to have been
Interpolated, and others to have been fo much
altered, as to introduce fuch Inconfiftencies as muft
furprife every careful and judicious Reader.
Had every Verfion of the Hebreiv Text agreed
to give us a Tranflation of this Paflage, as we
UGW find it ; the attempts of clearing it from its
Embaraflments vi^ould have been attended with
very great Difficulties ; but, as in feveral other
Cafes before mentioned, fo here, the providence
of God feems to have fo far fecured the Credit
of thofe, who were appointed to be the Penmen of
the Oracles of Truth, that the Defence of their
original Records may be undertaken upon good
Grounds, and fupported by fufficient Evidence.
For, we arc now, happily, in PolTeffion of an An-
tient Verfion of thefe two Chapters, which ap-
pears to have been made from an Hebrew Copy
which had none of thofe 39 Verfes, which are
here fuppofed to have been Interpolated ; nor was
iimilar to what we have at prefent, in thole Pla-
ces which are here fuppofed to have been altered.
This Verfion is found in the V^atkan Copy of the
70 J which, whoever reads and confiders, will find
the
Sea. XIV, REMARKS. 63
the Accounts, there given, regular, confiftent and
probable. It will be proper, therefore, to examine
the feveral Parts where fuch Alterations are fup-i
pofed to have been made, in the Hebrew Text j
in order to produce fuch other external or internal
Evidence as ihall be neceffary to fupport the
charge of Interpolation 5 which ought not to be
laid merely upon the Authority of any fingle
Verfion.
(i.) The firfl Paflage, which is not tranflated
in the Vatican Copy of the Greek Verfion, is, from
the nth to the 3 2d Verfe of the 17th Chap-
ter, wherein we have an Account, ifi. Of David's
being fent to the Camp to vifit his Brethren : 2dly\
Of his Converfation with the Men of Ifrael^ re-
lating to Goliah\ Challenge, and their informing
him of the Premium Saul had offered to any one
that (hould accept it and come off vi6lortous : ^dly^
Of Eliab'^ remarkable Behaviour to his Brother
David, upon his making this Enquiry : and ^tbfy.
Of Saul's being made acquainted with what Da-
vid had faid upon this Occafion.
It is obvious to remark upon thisPaflage,iy?. that
after David had been of fo much Service to the
King, in caufing the evil Spirit to depart from
him : after its being recorded how greatly Saul
loved him, and that he had made him his Armour-
bearer : after the King had fent to Je/fe, to fignify
his Intention of keeping his Son with him : all
which are particularly mentioned, in the latter
Part of the preceding Chapter : The account of
his keeping his Father's Sheep, afterwards, and
being fent to his Brethren upon this Occafion,
muft appear to be fomewhat improbable.
2dly.
4
64 REMARKS. Sea. XIV.
2^/v. That what is here faid of the Premium
that Saul had offered, to him who fhould conquer
the Fhiliftine^ is not well confiftent with the Ac-
counts afterwards given ; of which we ftiall have
occafion to take particular Notice, '^dly. That
Eliab's Behaviour, as here reprefented, is not only
remarkable, but unaccountable and abfurd. And
/S^thly, That the Enquiries of a young Man, who
is not faid to have declared any Intentions of ac-
cepting the Challenge of the Fhilijline^ would
fcarcely have been related to the King. — But now,
if this Paflage be fuppofed to have been Interpo-
lated, we mufl fee how the Connection Hands,
upon its being omitted.
:^. 1 1. " When Saul^ and all Ifrael, heard thefe
" Words of the PhiUJiine, they were difmayed,
** and greatly afraid.
>^. 32. "Then David (dhdi unto Saul^ Let no
" Man's Heart fail becaufe of him ; thy Servant
** will go and fight with this PhiUJiine''
No Connexion can be more proper : and, in
this View, David is reprefented as being, at that
time, an Attendant upon the King : and, when
we had been told, juft before, 16.21. That Saul
had made him his Armour-bearer, we might juft-
]y expecfl to find him with him, when the Battle
was fet in Array. 17.2. — In this Connection,
David is alfo reprefented, as fully anfwering the
Chara
86 REMARKS, SeaXVlI,
Jn Jfa.2j.i. it is called a Crooked Serpent-, and
P/^/. 104. 25. he is faid to take his paftime in the
Sea. His name is Metaphorically mentioned Pfal,
74.13. And, if we cannot difcover how the Levi--
athan is referred to j much lefs can we compre-
hend what is meant ^^0^3.8. by raijing up their
Mourning.
4. The word D^J^jH > which is fometimes tran-
flated fVhales, and fometimes Dragons, can mean
neither. Dragon, is a word which conveys no
particular Idea ; becaufe there is no Creature pro-
perly fo called. Nor will what is faid of the D^^^i-j
admit of our fuppofing them to mean Whales,
The vv'ord '|>^n feems to be one of a general Sig-
nification, and properly applied to any Land, or
Water, or Amphibious Animal, of a large and
enormous Size. Gen. 1.21. it may comprehend
the Whale ^ amongft other Monflers of the Sea; but
appears not to be appropriated to it. Exod.j,io.
it refers to the Serpent into which Mojes% StafF
was turned, when he caft it down before Pharaoh,
And the exprefllon of y^^, 7.12. appears to be,
" Am I a Monjter^ that thou fetleft a watch over
•* m^?" And in P/al. 44.. 20. Jfa. 34.13. — 35-7.,
yer.g.ii. the word is, in general, applied to thofe
noxious and difagreeable Animals, that generally
hide themfelves in the Dark and inacceffible Co-
verts ; which in our Veriion, therefore, are called
the places of Drugons.
5. We are told, that in order to preferve the
Prophet Jonah when he was flung overboard by
the Mariners, the Lord had prepared a great Fiji:)
to fvvallow him up, 1.17. What kind of Fi(h it
was, is not fpecifled : but the Greek Tranflators
tooki
Sea. X VIL REMARKS. S7
took upon them to give us the word k'/jto^j by
which ^♦jfi was commonly rendered, perhaps not
as intending to fpecify that it was a IVhale : And
though St. Matthew ^ 1 2. 40. makes ule of the fame
word, we may conclude that he made ufe of it
alfo, in a general Senfe j and, that we are not *to
understand it as an appropriated Term, to point
out the particular Species of the Fifh ; fince the
Naturalifls have informed us, t hat the Make ofi^^ V*-^^
the Whale will not permit it to fwallow an Hi r^^^^ *"
nianJBi2d)[ ; as the Shark, and fome other of the urtju ^
water Animals, are known to be capable of^^,
6. What the Gopher Wood was, with which
Noah's Ark was built. Gen. 6. 14. — Or, the Shit- •
tim Wood, of which the Boards of the Tabernacle
were made, Exod. 26. 1 5. — Or, the Almug Trees,
of which Solomon made Mufical Inftruments,
1 K"/;2g-^io. II. ^- Or, the "Juniper 'Tree, under
which Elijah flept, iKings ig. ^. — Or, the Wild
Gourds, which the Sons of the Prophets gathered,
2 Kij2gs ^. T^g, we fhould in vain enquire. The
Curious may confult Hillerus and Celjius upon
thefe, and the like Subje6ts; but, probably, with-
out obtaining full Satisfadion : And I cannot but
be of Opinion, that had we the Book remain-
ing, which Solomon wrote of Trees, from the
Cedar which is in Lebanon unto the Hyjfop that
fpringeth out of the Wall, i Kin. 4.. 23- we {hould,
from thence, bs no more capable of afcertaining
the feveral Species of the Plants and Vegetables of
the Land of Canaan, than the Phylicians and Bo-
tanifts are, thofe of other Countries, from the
Works of Theopbrajius, Diofcorides, or Pliny,
F4 7.
88 REMARKS. Sed.XVlI.
7, The Tranflators have affixt Names to the
twelve precious Stones, which were ordered to be
fet in Aaro?is Breaft-plate; Exod. 2S.IJ. And
likewife to thofe twelve, which are mentioned in
the defcription of the new yerufalem ; Rev. 2 1 . i g.
but with how much uncertainty, will appear to
any one who Ihall confult the Commentators upon
thefe PalTages. — The Natural Hiftory of all
Countries muft necefT^rily be, in fome meafure,
obfcure and unfatisfadory to a foreign Reader;
becaufe a true Idea of many of the things referred
to can only be gotten by Infpedion. The Refe-
rences, therefore, to the natural Hiftory of Judea,
or to what was in ufe amongft that People, muft
be as difficult to be underftood in the Writings
of the Scriptures, as in thofe of other Authors :
and they are not more fo, but in proportion to
their Date.
8. We fliould be apt to fmile at the undertak-
ing of any one, who fhould attempt to defcribe
the feveral Mufical Inftruments mentioned in
Scripture : And I fliall only take occafton to ob-
ferve upon this Article, that though the Kind and
Nature of many of the Inftruments made ufe of
in thofe early Days, muft neceftarily be unknown;
yet it might have been proper for the Tranfla-
tors, either to have given the Hebrew Names of
them ; or, if they would have endeavoured to ex-
prefs them by fuch words as convey to us, im-
mediately, the Ideas of fome Muftcal Inftruments,
they ought always to have given the fame Tran-
flation to the fame Word. We have eight of thefe
mentioned in the 1^0^^ Pfalm. 1. *i3it:^ rendered
^ Tirumpet^ and perhaps not improperly : yet, furer
Sea. XVn. REMARKS. 89
ly, they fhould have confined the Trumpet to one
of the Mufical Inftruments mentioned ; and the
*n^i^n feems to have the beft claim to it, as the
defcription and ufe of that Inftrument, mentioned
Numb. 10. 2, give us to underfland, that it was
made of Silver, and gave a found throughout the
Camps and Cities. '^t^'\^ indeed is tranflated a
Cornet^ 2 Chron. 15.14. and in feveral other places :
but then fo is j^^yjQ alfo, 2 Sam. 6. 5. So that there
is no diftindtion pointed out between thefe two In-
ftruments. — 2. ^;^j called a Pfaltery : which is
alfo called a Viol^ Ifa,^. 1 2. and a Lute in our Older
Tranflation, PfaL ^J.c).— '},. "mj^D which is ge-
nerally through the Scriptures rendered anHarp. — -
4. t]r) called a T^tjnbrel-^ and i Sam. 10. ^. a Ta-
bret. — 5. SinD here rendered a Dance, may from
the Context better be fuppofed to mean fome
kind of Muiical Inftrument: If derivations are to
be coniidered in thefe appropriated terms, this
word may be concluded to fpring from the fame
Root as l^^^n, which, i Sam. 10. ^.\s tranflated a
Pipe, as well as in other places. — 6. p^j is here
called a Stringed Inftrument ; but, in what parti-
culars it differed from the Pfaltery, or Viol, or
Lute, or Harp, or Timbrel, or Tabret, we are as
much at a lofs to know from the Hebrew Names,
as a Chinefe would to know what fort of Inftru-
ments were called by thefe Names in England,
was a Treatife, wherein they were mentioned, to
be tranflated into that Language. — 7. ^^j? is here
called an Organ, as it is Gen. ^.21, and perhaps,
had it been called by any other name, That might
have conveyed to us as perfed: an Idea of the in-
genuity of Jubal^ who wa« the hfth in defcent
from
90 REMARKS. Sea. XVII.
from Adam, — 8. ^\j^y is called a Cymbal ; and
fo alfo is nSV/'J I Chron. 25.1. which latter, we are
told, I Chron.i^. 19. was made of Brafs : but that
will fcarcely determine the Materials, any more
than the Shape of the former. On the whole j it
would be equally eafy, and of equal Importance,
to determine what fort of Inftruments were ufed
amongft the yeivs^ as it would to know what par-
ticulars were referred to in the Proclamation of
Nebuchadnezxar¥J\ngom?ihy\ou^ Dan. 2. 5.which
in our Verfion, are called the Cornet^ Flutes Harp^
Sackbut^ Pjaltery, and Dulcimer. Thefe names
give us to underftand what was meant in general j
and, if the Tranilators are but confident, in giving
the fame Verfion to the fame Hebrew word -, it is
as much as can well be exped:ed or defired.
Whether Neginoth^ which is mentioned in the
Title of Pfai.4.. is the nameoffome mufical In-
ftrument, or the Name of a Place, or either of
them, I ihall not pretend to determine ; if it was
the former, the Hebrew name of it was properly
retained in the Verfion : and the fame may be
obferved of Nehilcth, Pfal. 5. Gittith, 8. Muth-
labben. 9. Shejninith^ 12. Aijeleth-Jhahar^ 22.
Shojhannim^ 4.^, Alamoth^ 46. Mahalath^ 53. yo-
nath-elem rechokimy^t* Tafchith, ^y, Shujhaji-eduthy
60. yeduthu?2^62. — Whether, indeed, the pre-
fent Hebrew Titles of thefe, and feveral other
Pfalms^ are not of Rabbinical Extradlion, may be
juftly doubted; not only on account of their being
fo very unintelligible ; but alfo, becaufe no notice
is taken of them in the Syriac or Arabic Verfions.
SEC.
^ea.XVIIL REMARKS. 91
SECTION XVIII.
AS it appears that the Mufical Inftruments
made ufe of by the 'Jei'Oi can be no better
afcertained, than feveral of the natural Producti-
ons of Judea j fo when we find the Cuftoms and
Ceremonies, the Ornaments and Manners they
made ufe of, alluded to, or, indeed, particularly
mentioned -, for Want of underftanding what Idea
was intended to be conveyed by the feveral ap-
propriated Terms made ufe of, we can obtain no
more adequate Notions, by our Enquiry into thefe
Matters, than into the other. We may come to
the Knowledge of their Cuftoms and Manners, in
general, and fee many AUufions to them referred
to, in T'he fiort Hiftory of the IfraeliteSy wrote by
the Abbe Fleury, and lately tranflated into our
Language by Mr. Farneworth : but no Work of
that Kind can be fuppofed to point out, and de-
fcribe Particulars : And though the v^<^/^^' tells us,
under the Article of their Wearing-apparel, that
the Fafhions never changed ; yet Vv'e muft be fen-
fible, that though the Form and Fafliion of their
Cloaths, in general, might continue much the
fame j yet they might indulge their Vanity with
a great Variety of unnecefTary Ornaments: and
upon their fo doing, theHaughtinefs of the Daugh-
ters of Zion is fo feverely cenfured, and their Drefs
fo largely, I cannot fay fo particularly, given an
account of: for though there is mention made,
7/j. 3. 1 8. of their Tinkling Ornaments fiaids , Routid
T'ires^ Chains^ Bracelets^ Mufflers, Bonnets, Leg-
Ornaments, Head Bands, I'ablets, Ear-rings, Rings^
and Nofe Jewels^ changeable Suits of Apparel^
Mantles^
92 REMARKS. Sed. XVIII;
Mantles J Wimples^ Glajfes, Hoods^ Vails^ and fine
Linen ; yet neither our Verfion, nor any other,
nor the Original itfelf, v/ith all the AiTiftance that
Critics and Commentators can give it, will be
able to convey to us any juft Idea of a full-drelTed
jfewijh fine Lady.
The manner of ornamenting the Court of Aha-
fuerus vv^as, no doubt, very intelligibly defcribed,
to thofe who lived at the Time when the Book
of Ejiher was written ; but, from any Particulars,
that we can have any juft Ideas of, from the De-
fcription there given, we are not able to form a
Notion, fo fuitable to the Magnificence of the
Eajiern Monarch, as was intended to be conveyed:
and if a Writer defcribes, in a Manner plain, and
intelligible to the People of his own Time and
Country ; no Obfcurity that may arife upon fome
particular Paffages, from the Length of Time, or
Change of Cuftoms, can give any Countenance to
the Charge of Inaccuracy upon the original Wri^
ter. Leaving, therefore, the Miftakes and Mifi-e-
prefentations that the Tranflators may have been
guilty of in thefe, and fuch like Inftances, under
the Charadter of Venial Errors, becaufe they were,
in fome Meafure, unavoidable ; let us now pro^
ceed to point out fome Miftakes that may be fair-
ly imputed to other Caufes, and have been occafir-
oned by the not duly attending to the peculi-
ar Idioms, Phrafeologies, and Appropriations of
Words, in the Hebrew Language ; beginning with
fuch as are lefs material, and may rather be look-
ed upon as Improprieties of Style in the Verfion,
than Errors arifing from miftaking the Senfe of
the Original.
SEC-
Seel. XIX; REMARKS, ' 93
SECTION XIX.
THE Hebrew Language abounds in Exple-
fives, which might properly be omitted in a
Verfion, without v/eakening the Force of the Ex-
preflion ; and which, indeed, cannot always be re-
tained, without introducing a Kind of Improprie-
ty into the Idiom of the Language they are tran-
slated into.
I. We read, Gen. 1.2. That Darknefs was upon
the Face of the Deep: and f, 20. Of Fowl that
might fly upon the Face of the Expanfe of Hea-
ven : and 4. 14. Thou drivefl me out, this Day,
from the Face of this Ground : the Word I'^Q in
thefe, and innumerable other Inftances, is evident-
ly an Expletive-, and, in fome other places, lefs
agreeable to the Idiom of our Language, than
they are here; as G^«. 19.21. See, I have ac-
cepted thy Face : and 46. 28. To dired; his Face :
and Exod.ig,j. Mofes laid before their Faces all
thefe words: and i Kin, it^.6. Intreat now the
Face of the Lord thy God. Our Tranllators, in-
deed, have frequently omitted giving this Word
a literal Verfion, and have only mentioned the
Thing or Perfon fpoken of, without adding, the
Face of\x, in Conformity to the Hebrew Expref-
fion. And though long Ufe hath familiarifed this,
and feveral other Hebrew Idioms of Speech, to the
Englijh Readers ; yet, where the Expreffions are
ef fuch a Nature, that they would be carefully a-
voided by a correcfl Writer, and a Mafter of the
Englijh Style, I think they might, more properly,
be varied fo, as to be made more fuitable to the
Propriety of the EngUfi Idiom.
94 REMARKS. Sea.XI}^.
2. For the fame Reafon t^Qj fhould not always
be tranflated Soul, though the Word Soul, by the
Ufe of it in the Tranllation of the Bible, hath ac-
quired nearly the fame Latitude with t^ejj in the
Hebrew j which is fomctimes ufed expletively,
fometimes means Life, fometimes the whole Man,
and fometimes is applied to the irrational Part of
the Creation. A few Inftances of which will be
fufficient to fhew the Impropriety of the Tranlla-
tion, where the Word Soul is mentioned in feve-
ral Pafiages, in which no correal Writer would
now make Ufe of it. GV«. 12.13. My Soul {hall
livebecaufe of thee. 19. 20. Let me cfcape thither,
and my Soul fliali live. Exod. 12.16. Save that
which every Scul vdMik. eat. Lev* ^.2. If a Soul
touch any unclean Thing. 22.11. If the Priefl
buy a Soul with his Money. Num.i 1.6. But now*
our Soul h dried away. 31.28. One Soul of five
Hundred, both of the Men, and of the Beeves,
and of the AlTes, and of the Sheep. Pfal. ^j, 4.
My Soul is among Lyons. 106.15. He fent Lean-
nefs into their Soul. — The Writers of the New
^eftament alfo, finding ^vxn to be the general Tran-
llation of t^{33 have ufed that Word both for Life,
and Perfon ; and therefore it is fometimes impro-
perly rendered, a Soul : and when i]^u%?7 is, in fome
places, ufed to fignify Life j the Writers are befl
juflified in their Expreliions, by imputing it to
their Knowledge of the general Import of the
Hebrew Word. Mat. 2.20. They are dead which
fought the young Child's Life. 6.25. Take no
thought for your Life. Luke 12.23. ^^^ ^^fi ^^
more than Meat. Johnio.i^. I lay down my
Life for the Sheep^ Rom.i'^,1. Let every Soul be
fubiedt
Se6t. XIX. REMARKS. 95
fubjed: to the higher Powers. -^^^3.23. Every
Soul that will not hear that Prophet, i Pet. 2- 20.
Eight Souls were faved out of the Water.
3. And, as Soul is ufed expletively, fo is Body
alfo, in feveral Paflages of the New Te/iamenf j as
Rom. 6.16. That the Body of Sin may be deftroy-
ed. 7. 4' Ye are dead to the Law by the Body of
Chrift. 7.^-4. Who (hall deliver me from the
Body of this Death ; or, from this Body of Death ?
Col. 2.1 1, In putting off the Body of the Sins of
the Flefh. And it may be faid, that Body is here a
Figurative Expreffion j yet the Metaphor is fo ob-
fcure, as not readily to convey any clear Idea to us.
We read of "the Body of Heaven in his Clear-
** nefs," £aW. 24.10. but this is owing to a wrong
Tranflation of the Word aVJ?; for cr^^n iD':>'J7D
means, *' as the Heaven it felf," as nm CDVn D^'3?
means, " that felf fame Day."
4. The Word y was ufed, according to the
Idiom of the //^^r^i^; Language, in a Manner that
appears fomewhat incorrect in a weftern Verfion,
Exod. 9.35. As the Lord had fpoken by the Hand
of Mofes. Numb. 16.^0, Said unto him by the
Hand of Mofes. fojh. 2 1.2, Commanded by the
Hand of Mofes. i X"/;?.i4.i8. Spake by the Hand
of Ahijah. PfaLSg.^S. Shallhe deliver his Soul
from the Hand ofiht Grave ? i Sam. 25.39. The
Lord hath pleaded the Caufe of my Reproach
from the Hand of Nabal, ^c. The Tranilators
were fo much aware of the Impropriety of re-
taining this Expletive^ in fome Pafiages, that fome-
times they have changed it into another Word,
and fometimes omitted it ; as Pfal. 22. 20 Inftead
of the Hand of the Dog, they have faid, the
Power
96 REMARKS. Sea.XiX.
Power of the Dog. Dan. 6. 27. The Power of the
Lyons. Lev. 5. 7. " If his Ha?id cannot reach to
** the Sufficiency of a Lamb," they have more
properly tranflated j " If he be not able to bring
" a Lamb." Lev.2^,1^. Heb. " If thy Brother's
f' Ha?2d fa-ihth." Verfion, " If thy Brother be fallen
" into Decay." See Exod. 14.31. Lev. 2^. 26,46.
L>eut.i6.ij. Prov. J. 20. Zech. 4..12. and innu-
merable other Places, where the Margin will fhew
how the Tranflators have varied the Hebraifm in-
troduced by the Word y.
5. The Name of a Perfon, or Thing, is an He^
Iraifin whereby the Thing or Perfon are frequent-
ly expreffed ; as Pfal.j^. i. For, that thy Name
is near, thy wondrous Works declare. 5. 1 1. Let
them that love thy Name be joyful in thee. This
Phrafe is very common in the Writings both of
the Old and New Tejiament ; fo that the Mentiorx
of many Inftances would be needlefs. ^t.John
faith, that Jefus Chrift gave the Power to become
the Sons of God to them that believe ony6/i Name*,
1. 12. See yo/;;; 12.23. — 3-i^« — 20.31. ABs
1. 1 5. i?d"u. 3.4. But it would not now be thought
to be expreffed according to the Propriety of the
Idiom of our Language, to fay, I believe on the
Name of God the Father Almighty ^ or, I believe
on the Name of Jefus Chrift his only Son our
Lord : and yet, the Verfion of this Hebraijm hath
rendered this Expreffion well intelligible.
6. Amongft the Expletives^ in the Hebrew Lan-
guage, may be reckoned i, and \n^v Aim oft every
Sentence begins with a i which is generally trans-
lated And, though there be no kind of Conjundtion
with, or Reference to the foregoing PafTage. In
fuciv
Sea. XX. REMARKS: 07
fuch Cafes, the Infertion of And might, not im-
properly, be omitted -, as particularly in the fifth
Chapter of Genefts, where almofl every Verfe be-
gins with this Particle, though one half of them
at leaft:, are evidently Expletives : And where the 1
is ufed in a Manner fomewhat conjundive ; yet
the fometimes rendering itj Now^ or But, or For^
or There^ would be more agreeable to the Englijh
Idiom, than always to tranflate it And.
The Word 'pi'i is commonly rendered, And it
came to pafs : but it is very often ufed without any
apparent Defign t)f particularly exciting the Rea-
der's Attention -, fo that I think Dr. Doddridge's
Obfervation upon the Word ersj/sro (by which ^n'1
is generally rendered in the 70 ; and which is fre-
quently made Ufe of in the fame Manner, by the
Writers of the New 'T'eftament,) a very juft one,
when he fays, in the Note on Luke2,a,b. " The
" Word gyei/ero, it came to pafs, is a mere Ex-
^^ pletive ; and I did not imagine that the Rules
" of the moll faithful, and exa(5t Tranflation,
" would oblige me always to retain it." The Rea-
der, or at leaft a Tranflator, will have the Oppor-
tunity of obferving many more Words, and Ex-
preflions, in the Hebrew, which may be confider-
ed as Expletives ; and how far they may more
properly be omitted, or retained in a Verfion, he
will pafs his own Judgment.
SECTION XX.
TH E 'Pronoun Relatives, made Ufe of in the
Scripture-Language, frequently refer to a
remote Antecedent : by which it may fometimes
happen that Obfcurities, Difficulties, and MilVakes
G may
98 REMARKS. Sedl.XX.
may arife in reading or explaining the Paflage.
And if the indeterminate Apphcation of thefe
Pro?20wis mufl: be called an Inaccuracy, it is no
more than what all Writers, in the highefl
Efteem, have been fometimes guilty of : fo that
to endeavour to depretiate, or pretend not to un-
derhand the Scriptures, upon this account, may
fliew a Weaknefs of Judgment, or a Depravity of
Heart : Thus,
T. Upon Gen. 1^.20. " And He gave Him
*' Tythes of all : " It hath been pretended to be
doubted, whether Abraham paid Tythes to Mel^
chizedek, or Melchizedek to Abraham. Had no o-
ther Account of this Tranfadion been given j and,
had we not, in this Account, feme Intimation who
it was that gave Tythes 5 the Relatives are men-
tioned in fo indeterminate a Manner, that there
might have been room for a Doubt to whom they
ought to be refpedively applied : though it mu(l
be confefTed, in that cafe, it might more probably
be thought, that Melchizedek gave Tythes to Abra-
ham. But, when in this very Account, we are in-
formed that Melchizedek met Abraham under the
Characfler of one whofe Dignity, both with Rc-
fpedt to his temporal and fpiritual Power, was far
fuperior to that of Abraham: When he is repre-
fented as a King^ and Abraham as a Sojourner
only in the Land of Canaan : When he aded in
the Capacity of Prieji of the moft high God^
when he hXt^tdi Abr aha fn -, could there be really
a Doubt in the Mind of any one, (who had ever
heard of the nature of Tythes, and who had read
that yacob vowed to give the Tenth of his Sub-
ftance to the hord^\ whether Abraham gave
Tythes
Sea. XX. REMARKS. '99
Tythes to the Prieji of the moft High God, or,
whether the King and the Prieji gave Tythes of
all to Abrahajn F And when we are fo exprefsly
told by an Apoflle, Heb.j. 6. that " Melchizedek
" received Tythes ofy^^r^/:^^^, and bleffed him that
" had the Promifes ; " the Objedion of the Infi-
del, grounded upon a Relative's referring to a re-
mote Antecedent, {hews what he is.
2. We are informed, £^o<^. 3 1.18.-32.16,-34.
I. Z)^z/;^.4.i3.-9.io. and 10.4. That God wrote
the ten Commandments, delivered at Mount
Sinai, upon two Tables of Stone : Therefore,
though the Relative ^^ He wrote'' Exod. ^ A-, 2S.
according to precife grammatical Conllrudi-
on, applies the writing of the ten Command-
ments to Mofes : yet, is this Ground fufficient, for
a free Enquirer, to make it a Doubt, by whom
the Tables were written ?
3. Mat. ^,12. " For fo perfecuted they the Pro-
" phets which were before you." ^ho F Not the
Men who reviled the Apoflles ; but, ^hey, is a
general Relative, and not improperly applied to
the Men of former Times.
4. Luke ^.ly. " And the Power of the Lord
" was prefent to heal them." Not the Pharifees
and Dolors of the Law, who are juft before men-
tioned as prefent with him : but, in general, thofe
who had Need of Healing, and Faith to be
healed.
5. Deut. 2^.22- " And Mofes gave JoJJjua the
Son of Nun a Charge, and faid, Be ftrong and
of good courage ; for thou flialt bring the Chil-
dren of I/rael into the Land which / fware un-
to them J and / will be with thee." Now, we
G 2 mufl
cc
(C
Gen.^S.i^. " ^jf/ rtretched out his right Hand,
** and laid upon Ephraitns Head : " But do not
all the antient and modern Verfions, as it was ne^
cefTary, fupply the Relative^ and fay, laid // upoa
'Ephrawi% Head ? It would be, in fome Meafure,
needlefs, and endlefs to multiply Inftances of this
Sort. A careful Reader of the Rnglifi Bible, that
is inclined to take Notice of them, will find them
marked out to him by the Relatives being fupply-
ed in the Italic Charader. But, it may be proper
to obferve, that where the Relative is omitted, a
Tranflator may poffibly infert one irpproperly :
Thus : Deut.6.'7^, we read, " Obferve to do //; '*
though, as the Relative was to refer to the Sta^
tutes, and Commandments, mentioned in the pre-
ceding Verfe, it was requifite from the Context to
fay, Obferve to do them. And thefe few Remarks,
upon this Subjedt, may be fufficient to fhew that
a Reader, and efpecially a Tranflator, fhould be
careful to attend to, and apply, or fupply, the R^t
latives in a proper Manper.
SECTION XXI,
THE feveral ^enfes and Conjugatiojis of the
Hebrew Verbs are fo indifcriminately ufed,
that no general grammatical Rules can teach us
how to render all the Formatives in a precife and
proper Manner : and any great attachment to fuch
Rules may lead a Tranflator to mifunderfland the
Import of the Word, and the Force of the Ex-
preffion.
I. One Rule of the Grammarians is, '* That
* * the Hebrew Verbs have no proper prefent T'enJ'e -,
Q 3 " but
i02 REMARKS. Sed.XXI.
*' but, that the Participle, with the Addition of a
*' Perfonal Pronoun, is uled as a Subftitute for it."
This is fo far from being a general Rule,
founded upon the jull Obfervation of any Peculi-
arity in the Hebrew Language, that, in contra-
didtion thereto, we may, with great Propriety,
rather lay it down as a Rule, '* That what the
Grammarians call the Praterit^ is fo very com-
monly ufed to exprefs the Frejsnt Tenfe, that this
may as properly be called the Prefent and Pr(^te-
rit, as the fame ^enfe by the Greek Grammarians
is called Prafeiis, & Pr^steritum imperfeBum.
And, of this our Tranflators feem to have been
fully fenfible, who have, therefore, very frequent-
ly given it a prefent Signification. Let any Man
but read the three firfl Pfalms, in the Original,
and compare it with our later Verlion ; and he
will be immediately convinced, how properly the
Tranflators have rendered what is called the Prce-
teritj by the Prefent Tenfe. And by attending
to this general Obfervation, a critical Reader,
whenever he meets with this T'enfe^ will confider
himfelf as at Liberty to render it either by the
Prefent or Praterit^ as the Import of the Con-^
text Hiall appear, nioft properly, to require.
2. Another Rule of the Grammarians is, " That,
*' when the converlive Van is put before the F«-
*' tare Tenfe, it is not then to be confidered as re-
•' fering to what is to co??ie j but is to be under-
'' flood in a Prefent^ or Pmterit Senfe." The
firft part of the Rule is fo far jufl and general,
that, Vv'hen what is called the Future Tenfe, with
the VaiL before it, begins a Sentence, it hath very
•rarely a Future Signification : But, that it is gene-
rally
Sed.XXI. REMARKS. 103
rally converted Into aPr^/t';z/, orPrt^/m/ Sen fe, will
not hold true 3 for the Inftances are innumerable,
where, in that cafe, the Context will direcfl, and
require us to give the Verb a PcrfcSf^ or Frceter-
fliiperfeSi Signification. To point out a few of
thefe will be fufficient to convince the Reader, that
this Rule of the Grammarians hath led the Tran-
flators into many Errors. — Our Verfion of Gen,
2..1. is, " On the Seventh Day God ended his
'' Work, which he had made." A Reader of com-
mon Attention cannot but be furprifed at this Ex-
preffion ; when he fees it declared, in the Verfe
immediately preceding, that mSix Days, the Hea-
ven and the Earth were finiflied, and all the Hod
of them. And the Greek Tranflators feem to have
been fully av/are of the Impropriety of fuch an
Expreffion ; and, for that Reafon, to have put the
Sixth Day into their Verfion, inftead of the Se-
*ue?ith. But had they conddered, as Drufius, and
many fince him have done, that the Word ^y\
might be properly ufed in a FrceterpliiperJeSi
Senfe, there would have been no occafion for fuch
an Alteration. He renders the Word, compleverat^
" On the Seventh Day God had ended his Work."
And it is very obfervable, that the Future Tenie,
with the Vau before it, ought generally to be con-
fidered in that view, throughout this »Sf^oW Chap-
ter of Gene/is. In the Firji we have an Account
of the Order of the Creation, in Six Days j and
that, on the Thirds God had commanded the
Earth to produce the feveral Sorts of Vegetables.
The Second is a kind of Recapitulation, in a more
particular Manner, of what was, in general, men-
tioned in the FirJi : We are not, therefore, to con-
G 4 fider
I04 REMARKS. Sea. XXI.
fider the Future Tcnfe of the Verbs, which we
rneet with in this Second Chapter, to be ufed in
the Prefent or Prceterity but in the Prceterpluper-
fc5l Tenfe : Not, f.j. The Lord God formed
Man of the Duft of the Ground, and breathed in-
to his Noftrils the Breath of Life; and Man be-
came a living Soul : But, The Lord God bad
formed — had breathed — and the Man ivas be-
come a living Soul. So, f. 8. The Lord God had
planted a Garden — and there he had put the Man.
And, /. 9. Out of the Ground the Lord God had
made to grow every Tree. « — So that the planting
of the Garden is included in the general Account
of the Creation, given in the Firfl Chapter ; and is
not to be fuppofed to be here mentioned as an
Account of what was done afterwards. And, it is
not only in This Chapter, or in Recapitulations,
that the Future Tenle is to be confidered as a
PraterpluperfeSlj but alfo G^«.i8. 22. Now the
Men had turned and were gone. — 3 i.iQ- Laban
'was gone. — 39-1. Potiphar had bought. — 47. 1 4.
Jofeph had gathered: and in fo many other Pla-
ces, that the Context muft determine in what
Sbnfe this Future Tenfe, as it is called, is to be
taken.
3. As the Hebrew Grammarians found, or made
no Rule to diftinguiih the Optative^ Potential^
and SuhjunBive Moods, the Senfe whereof is very
frequently neceffary to be expreffed, in order to
convey the Sentiments of the facred Writers ; they
have, by this Neglect, occafioned the Tranflators
to give an improper Verlion of many PafTages ;
by attending to the Import whereof, a careful
jReader v^'ill eafily difcover, that the Charadlerifr-
ticks
Sea. XXI. REMARKS. 105
ticks of thefe feveral Moods are comprehended in,
and expreffed by tlie Future Tenfe : To render
which, fo conftantly, by /Zjj//, or w///, plainly ap-
pears to difguife the Sentiment of the Writer, and
diminifh the Propriety of the Expreffion. — This
will, I think, be fufficiently exemplified by a few
Inftances out of the Book of Pfalms.
Pfal.t.io. The Future Tetife is rendered Opta-^
tively in our later Verfion. Let all mine Enemies
be aihamed, and fore vexed, let them return and
be aihamed fuddenly.
9.7. The Lord hath prepared his Throne foe
Judgment, that he may judge the World in Righ-
teoufnefs.
There is, frequently, fo much Confidence im-
plied in the Words Jhall and will, as is fcarcely
confiftent with the Sentiments of the Pfalmiji^
and the Circumftances in which he reprefents
himfelf to be j fo that the neceflity of conlidering
the Verb in another fenfe is obvious : thus, 17.6.
appears to be more properly expreffed, I have call-
ed upon thee, for thou canjl hear me.
25.14. Mine Eyes are ever looking unto the
Lord, that he t?iay (or, becaufe he can) pluck my
Feet out of the Net.
33.17. An Horfe is a vain Thing for Safety,
neither can he deliver any by his great Strength.
41.10. It is rendered, Raife me up that I may
requite them j though it was Jljall in the older
Verfions.
45.1 1. Forget thine own People, and thy Fa-
ther's Houfe, that the King -may have Pleafure in
" thy Beauty.
SS^
io6 REMARKS. Sed.XXI.
55.17,19. That the Lord may fave me: and
that he may hear my Voice.
57.3,4. He can fend from Heaven, and favc
me : God can fend forth his Mercy and Truth.
65. 5, 8. Thou canfi fliew us wonderful Things
in thy Righteoufnefs. Let them that dwell in the
uttermod Part of the Earth be afraid at thy
Tokens.
79.10. It is rendered, Wherefore y7;Wi;/^ the Hea-
then fay, Where is their God ?
81.14. It is rendered, I fiould (oon have fubdu-
ed their Enemies.
90, 14. It is rendered, That we juay rejoice, and
be glad all our Days.
102.18. Let this be written for thofe that
come after, that the People which fhall be born
may praile the Lord.
109.7. It is cbfervable hov»^ frequently this
^e?!^ is rendered by, Let^ in this Pfalm : and )t,
27. that they may know.
122.6. Let them profper that love thee.
132. 7. Why Ihould it be here. We will go. •^—
And /. 9. Let thy Priefts be clothed ?
139.7. Whither Cci?2 I go from thy Spirit, or,
whither can 1 flee from thy Prefence ? If I Jhotdd
climb up into Heaven, thou art there : \i\JJmdd
go down into Hell, thou art there alfo, C^c.
Here the Verbs are in the Future Tenfe, though
it is not intimated in the Tranflation.
From this View it appears that the Import of
the SuhjimBive ^ Optative and Potential Moods is
expreffed by the Future Tenfe^ though they are
not mentioned in the Hebrew Grammars. And,
4. It may be proper to obferve, that the Writers
of the New T^cjlament^ being well acquainted with
the
Sea. XXI. REMARKS. 107
the Idiom of the Hebrew Language, have fome-
times ufed the Greek Future I'enje in the fame
Manner: iW^/'.i2.3i. might be tranflated, ** All
" Manner of Sin and Blafphemy may be forgiven
" unto Men; but the Blafphemy againft the Holy
" Ghoft cannot be forgiven unto Men. And, who-
" foever fpeaketh a Word againft the Son of Man,
" it may be forgiven him ; bat whofoever fpeaketh
" againft the Holy Ghoft, it cannot be forgiven
"him." See alfo ikfcr/^ 3.28. and Luke 12.10,
And again, M^^. 18.21. ** How oft 7nay my Bro-
'* ther ftn againft me, and I ?7iiifi forgive him ? "
And though this Senfe of the Paffages may be well
intelligible in our prefent Verfion, yet whether
fuch Alterations would not add to the Correcftnefs
of the Language, I fhall appeal to the Reader.
5. The Prejmt^ or Prceterit Tenfe is frequent-
ly ufed to exprefs the Senfe of the Future : and
particularly, when God is fpeaking to his People,
by Himfelf, or his Prophets, he mentions what
he had determined to do, as done^ or then doifiq; :
Thus, Gen,6,\y. And I, even I, ^o bring a Flood
*' of Waters upon the Earth." — Ifa.iA, " The
" Lord of Hofts d!(9//5 take away from 'Jerujalemy
*' and from Judah^ the Stay and the Staff.
f. 8. Jerufalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen. —
17. 1. Damafcus is taken away from being a City.
This Manner of Expreflion is fo common, that I
need not multiply Inftances ; but may here pro-
perly obferve, that this Idiom of Speech is a-
dopted by the Writers of the New Tejflament,
Mat. 3.10. Every Tree which bringeth not forth
good Fruit, is hewn down, and caft into the Fire.
•^-^18.20. Where two or three are gathered toge-
ther.
jo8 REMARKS. Scd. Xxi;
ther, in my Name, there am I, in the midft of
them. — Markg.^i. The Son of Man is deliver-
ed into the Hands of Men. Now, in thefe, and
all other fiich like, inftances, I cannot think it
would be too gieat a Liberty for a Tranflator to
take, to vary the Phrafeology, and infert the
Verbs in thofe Te/ifes^ v^^hich the Propriety of our
Language requires.
6. The auxiliary Verbs, to have, and, to be, are
frequently omitted to be mentioned, in their feve-
ral Conjugations and Tenfes, The Idiom of the
'Englifh Language admits of no fuch Omiffions :
therefore it is neceffary for a Tranflator not only
to fupply them, but regularly to infert them in
their proper Conjugations, and "Tenfes, as the Con-
text fliall appear to require. And if there be any
Miflakes in our Verfion, of this Sort, the atten-
tive Reader may readily difcover, and reforrn them,
as what is fupplied is printed in the Italic
Character.
7. To fhew that the Conjugations Kal, and
Pihel, and Hiphil are fometimes ufed in a Pajjive
Senfe ; — That Niphal, and Hophal are fometimes
ufed in an ABive one ; — That Hiphil, and Ho-
phal are not always Caujative-, — That the other
Conjugations are fometimes ufed in a Caufative
Senfe •, — And, that Hithpahel is not always i?^r/-
procal ', would be only producing inftances upon
Points that have been frequently illuftrated by
every Commentator j and muft be known, an4
allowed, by every one who is but little converfant
in the Hebrew Language : fo that great care is re-
quired in a Tranflator, to give the Senfe of the
Word fo as is moil agreeable to the Context.
8,
Sea.XXiL REMARKS. lo^
8. No Conjugation analogous to the Hebrew
Hiphil, is ufed either in the Greek ^ or Latin., or
any of the Modern Languages : nor can the Force
of it be exprelTed otherwife than by adding a Can-
fative Word. But, as the Writers of the New
Teftament were well acquainted with the Ufe of
this Conjugation -, and knew that the Senfe of it
was frequently to be underftood as implied, where
the Chara6leriftics of it were wanting ; they have,
in the fame Manner, introduced the Uib of it
into the Language of that Book. Thus, Mat. 5*
29. If thy right Eye offend thee, means. If thy
/ right Eye caufe thee to offend. And, f.'i^o. If thy
right Hand caufe thee to offend. And 1S.6. Whofo
fhall offend one of thefe little ones, means, whofo-
ever (hall caufe one of thefe little ones to offend.
See>^7,8,9. Mark q. ^2. Luke iy.2. And Mat.
6. 13. Lead us not into Temptation, means. Suffer
us not to be led into Temptation : For, let no
Man fay, when he is tempted, I am tempted of
God : for God cannot be tempted with Evil, nei-
ther tempteth he any one." Jam.i.i'^,
SECTION XXII.
SEVERAL general Expreflions, in all Langua-
ges, frequently admit of, and require a Limi-
tation : without attending to which, the true Senfe
and Meaning of many Paflages will not be rightly
underftood : And, as the Eafern Nations indulg-
ed themfelves the moft freely in the Ufe of ftrong
and figurative Exprefiions, the Hebrew Writings
may be obferved to admit of, and require, more
Limitations than perhaps any other.
I.
no REMARKS. Sea.XXII.
1. The Hyperbole appears, in the facred Writ-
ings, in its fulled: Strength and Beauty; and adds
great Dignity to the Expreffion. It is not, there-
fore, intended to be intimated, that this, and fuch
hke Figures, which conftitute the true Sublime,
fliould admit of any Alteration in a Verfion : but,>
that the Reader fhould rather admire them as
Beauties, than look upon them as Improprieties of
Lans;ua2;e.
2 Sam. 1.22. They were fwifter than Eagles;
they were ftronger than Lyons. — 2.18. Afahel
was as fwift as a wild Roe. — i Chro. 12.%. Their
Faces were like the Faces of Lyons ; and they
were as fwift as the Roe upon the Mountains. —
Jer.^.i^. The Deftroyer of the Gentiles fhall
come up as Clouds ; and his Chariots fliall be as
a Whirlwind ; his Horfes fhall be fwifter than
Eagles. — Amoi 2.9. The Height of the Amorite
was like the Height of Cedars, and he was ftrong
as the Oaks. — Numb.i^-ZZ' We fiw there the
Giants, and we were, in our own Sight, as Grafs-
hoppers, and fo were we in their Sight. — Dent,
1.28. The Cities are great, and walled up to Hea-
ven. — Hab. I. 8. The Horfes of the Chaldea^is are
fwifter than Leopards, and more fierce than Even-
ing Wolves. — Ifaiah^o.\J , All Nations before
him are as Nothing ; and they are counted to him
lefs than Nothing, and Vanity. — John 21.2^.
There are many other Things which J ejus did,
the which, if they fliould be written every one, I
fuppofe that even the World itfelf could not con-
tain the Books, that fliould be written.
2. T\-\Q Synecdoche y or mentioning the Whole for
a confiderable Party is a Figure fo commonly ufed
by
Sea. XXII. REMARKS. in
by all Writers, that the great and little Dablers in
Objedlions to the Scriptures would have been a-
fliained to have produced any inflances of that
Sort as marks of inaccuracy, had they had Modefty.
Upon the Word ^^ Noldhis juftly obferves,
1. Vocula omnis intelligenda juxta fubjedam
Materiam.
2. Interdum, ^tx ofjtnes intelligantur /^/j/r/;;?/.
3. Interdum, non tarn totum^ quam perfeBum
notat.
4. Interdum, ne hoc quidem, it^Jincentm tan-
tum.
Foole tells us, it is objeded to the Credit of the
Hiftorian, who faith, Exod.g,6. '' Aii the Cattle
" of Egypt died j " that fame are mentioned as
flill remaining alive, }^. 19. 20. And Objedions are
Teady at Hand, for thofe who pleafe to make
them, againft Exod.S.iy. All the Duft of the
Land became Lice, throughout all the Land of
Egypt, — Dent. 2.2^. I will put the Dread of
thee, and the Fear of thee, upon the Nations that
are under the whole Heavens. — 1 Chro.i/[..ij,
And the Fame of David went out into all Lands;,
and the Lord brought the Fear of him upon all
Nations. — ABs2.^. And there were dwelling
at 'Jeriifalem Jews, devout Men, out o'i every Na-
tion under Heaven. — 15.21. Mojes of old Time
hath, in every City, them that preach him. —
Such unpardonable Inaccuracies as thefe, furely,
call aloud for the fevers Animadverfions of a Col-
lins, a Morgan, a Chubb, and a Bolinbroke,
3. Neither can the general Negatives be faid
not to be liable to fome formidable Objedions :
and we mufl be obliged to allow that, not^ fre-
quently
^4-
iji REMARKS. Sea. XXlf;
quently means, jwi only^ or fcarcely, or, nof chiefly^
or rather thmi. Thus, Gen.^^.^. It was not you
enly that fent me hither, — 48.10. The Eyes of
Jfrael were dim for Age, fo that he could fcarcely
fee. — Exod.ib. B. Your Murmurings are ?iot only
againft us, but againft the Lord alfo. — Pjhl.^i,
16. Thou defireil not Sacrifice rZ^/^/^ ; thou de^
lighted not in Burnt-Offerings only. —^Prov.S.^o,
Receive my Inftru6tions rather than Silver.- — Hof.
6.6. I vi^ill have Mercy rather than Sacrifice. —
Mat. 10.20, It is not ye only that fpeak. — 'John
5.34. I receive not Teftimony from Man only, — *
iCcr. 1.17. Chrijl fent me not chiefly to Baptize.
— 2 Cor. y. 12, I did it not only for his Sake that
had done the Wrong, nor for his Sake o^ily that
fufFered Wrong; but chief y that our Gare for
you might appear. -^- Eph.h. 12. We wreftle not
only againft Flefh and Blood, but alfo againft Prin-
cipalities and Powers, againft the Rulers of the
Darkncfs of this World, againft fpiritual Wick-
ednefs in hish Places.
4. The general Notations of Time are often
given without any exadt Precifion j and from the
Words then, or, in thofe Days, we are not inform-
ed at what Time John the Baptifl came preaching
in the Wildernefs of Judea, Mat.-^.i. Nor in
what Part of Johns Miniftry, J^fus came to be
baptized, from Mark 1.9.
The Words tDt^*b\^ TiDH muft be literally ren-
dered, Teferday and the third Day ; but their ge-
neral Meaning is, heforetime j and fo, indeed,
they are commonly tranilated in our Verfion ; as
Gen.'i,!. 2. Jacob beheld the Countenance of La-
ban^ that it was not towards him ai before, — Exod,
Sea. XXIIL REMARKS. 113
5.7. Ye rhall no more give the People Straw to
make Brick as heretofore. -^ Exod. 21.29. If the
Ox were wont to pufli with his Horn in time
paji. ' — Deut.^.^2. And hated him not in timet,
paji. ' — See, 19.4. — Jojh. 3.4. Ye have not
pafTed this Way heretofore. See 4.18. Ruth. 2.11.
I Sam.^.y. — 10. 1 1. — ^19.7. — 2 Kin.i^.S- &c-
In like manner '^^D> which properly fignifies
to morrow J is ufed to exprefs the time to come in-
definitely * G^«.3o.33. So (hall my Righteoufnefs
anfwer for me in time to come. See 'Exod.\''^.i^,
JoJJ:).^.6^2i. So aup/oz/ is ufed Mat. 6.1^^. Take
no thought for the Morrow^ for the Morrow (hall
take thought for the Things of itfelf. And pro-
bably the sTTccv^iov John i. 29,35. does not ftridly
mean the next Day: Nor the third Day ^fohn 2.1*
refer to 2s\y particular time. We muft furely con-
iider that Pa(rage, huke 13.32. in this general view,
" Go ye, and tell that Fox, Behold, I caft out De-
" vils ; and I do Cures to day, and to morrow j
" and the third Day I fhall be perfed:ed. Never-
" thelefs, I muft walk to day, and to morrow, and
" the Day following." Let thofe, who find any
Author's Writing in fo corredl a Manner^ as not
to require fuch Limitations as thefe to be put up-
on feveral general Words, cenfure the Scriptures,
upon this account, as being inaccurate.
SECTION XXIIL
TH E Remarks in the preceding SecStion vi^ere
not nece(rarily inferted, in purfuance of the
general Defign of thefe Papers j as they neither
point out any Errors in the Hebrew Text, nor
£hew any occafion for altering our Tranflation of
H it:
ii4 REMARKSa Sea.XXIII;
it : And what I (hall here make, will appear to be
of that fort which are of no great importance. The
uncouth and obfolete words and expreffions, that
are met with in our EngUflj Verfion of the Bible,
are generally intelligible, and convey the Ideas
the Writers had in view: But as our Language is
very much improved in Politenefs and Corredt-
nefs, fince that Verfion was made, it may properly
be wifhed that the Scriptures might receive every
Advantage, which the improvement of our Lan-
guage can give them : efpeciallyj as the Delicacy
of fome People's Ears is pretended to be difgufted
with every uncouth found. No Doubt but that the
Improvement of the Language, was one of the
Confiderations, that induced King 'James to order
a new Verfion to be made, about forty years after
that publiflied, and made Ufe of in the time of
Queen Elizabeth ; the Tranflators whereof ap-
peared fo well to have underftood the Scriptures,
that little more than the Language of it was al-
tered, by the Tranflators, in King James's time.
It is now above 140 Years fince that Verfion was
made : and, will it not be thought, will it not be
found upon examination, that our Language hath
been more altered, and received greater improve-
ments, in the lad 140 Years than in the 40 Years
preceding ? And would not, confequently, a grea-
ter Benefit arife now, from a new Verfion, upon
that account, than could then be expected ?
I. The Reader will be the better convinced of
this by bringing into View fome of thofe Words
and Expreflions, which would certainly be altered
by Perfons of fuch Learning and Judgment, as
would, undoubtedly, be appointed to undertake a
new
Sed.XXIIL REMARKS. 115
new Tranflatlon, fhould his Majefly be pleafed to
give Orders for that purpofe.
Advifement. Afore. Albeit. Allant. Ambufli-
ment. Anon. Ate. Beftead. Bet^tered. Bewray,
Blains. Chaws. Chode. Cracknels. Days-man. Dif-
comfiture. Doleful Creatures. Fet. Folk. Fray.
Habergeon. Hapjy. Holpen. Hofen. Hough and
Houghed their Horfes and Chariots. His Strength
ihall be Hunger -bit te)i. Ijfues of Life and Death.
Kerchiefs. Lad. Lade and Laden. Leafing. Leele.
Ia^, Lifted andLifteth. Magnifical. Marifhes. Mete
and Meted. Mufflers. Munition. Nurture. Outer
Darknefs. Peeled. Poll and Polled. Purtenancc.
Searchings of Heart. Seethe and Seething. Servi-
tor. Silver Shrines. Silverlings. Sith. Sod and
Sodden. Stature. Strew and Strewed. Swolen. Ta-
blets. Terrifes. Trow. Twain. Unpatient. Unwit-
tingly. Waftnefs. Wench. Wert. Wift. We do you
to Wit. Wot and Wotteth.
It would be tedious to refer to the feveral Paf-
fages where thefe Words are ufed, to fliew in what
Manner they arc introduced and connedled : It
will in general occur from the Mention of them,
to thofe who are fo converfant in the Scriptures as
they ought to be; and may be difcoveredby others,
with very litde trouble.
2. Thofe Expreflions, which, though delivered
in Words of common Ufe, may be called uncouth ^
from their being, in fome meafure, unintelligible,
require fuch Alterations as the Original will molt
properly admit to be made.
That expreffion. Glory over me ^ Exod. 8.9. hath
been already confidered, §XV. i. — There is no
good foundation for that. Verfion of Exod. iy.i6,
H 2 , Be-
ii6 REMARKS. Se^-XXIir.
Becaufe the Lord hath fworn ; Perhaps the more
proper Verfion may be ; " Becaufe their Hand is
" again ft the Throne of the Lord, the Lord will
" have War with Amalek^ from Generation to
*' Generation." But, as it feems neceflary, that
there fliould be aRefere-nce to the Name of ♦oi nin*
it may juftly be fufpedled, that C)D is here put in-
ftead of DJ. In which cafe, the Verfion would be,
" Becaufe their Hand is againft the Banner of the
"Lord/' JoJJo. II. I T^, "As for the Cities that
" flood flill in their Strength, Ifrael burned none
"of them, fave //<^2;or only." Standing in their
Strength conveys no particular Idea ; nor will
dSh Sv ^^^^ ^^"^ ^^^^^ ^" Interpretation. D^n
may be a proper Name of the Diftrid', wherein \
thefe Cities ftood : or, the Latin and Syriac Ver-
iions may have properly rendered it, *' As for the
" Cities which flood upon the Hills." Judg.zi,
22. " For ye did not give unto them, at this time,
" th^t ye flioiild be guilty : " I think might, more
properly, be rendered : *' Becaufe ye did not give \
" unto them at this time, ye are to blame." — •
iKin.i/\.A^. "But what? Even now." Might
we not fay, " But when ? Even now." — 2 Kin.
16.15. "And the brazen Altar fhall be for me
" to enquire by^ It fhould be,. " for me to ivor^
*^ fiip at ; " for io the Verb Ipl evidently figni-
fies^ Pfal.2y.^. — Jfa.\o.2j. " The Yoak (hall
" be deftroyed, becaufe of the Anointing." I need
not add to the Commentaries upon this Pafiage :
It may be fufficient to obferve, that anointed fuits
the Original, here, as well as anoifjtitig -, and, the
Anointed, may properly mean the Children of
Jjraely who were the chofen people of the Lord : for
1
Sea.XXIir. REMARKS. 117
I fee no reafon for applying it to Chrijl, in this
Context. — Ifa.2y.^, "In meafure, when it
" fhooteth forth, thou wilt debate with it ; He
*' il:ayeth his rough Wind, in the Day of the Eafl-
" Wind." Here are Words, intelligible, and in
common Ufe; but when they are thus connedl-
ed the Sentence is no more intelligible, than it
was in the former Verlion. ** In meafure, in the
" Branches thereof thou wilt contend with it,
" when he bloweth with his rough Wind, in the
" Day of the Eaft Wind." The Word n^Df^D
is only ufed in this Place, and how the other
Word-3 may be conftrued, I fhall refer to the Com-
mentators, and the Reader's own Judgment, —r-
£21^^.13.18. "Wo to the Women which few
" Pillows to all Arm-holes, and make Kerchiefs
" upon the Head of every Stature, to hunt Souls."
This is a Tranflation of the antient Verfions :
But if it be a proper Tranflation of the Original,
the Commentators have, hitherto, been (o defici-
ent as not to give a good Explanation of thefe un-
common Phrafes : fo that they convey no jufl
Ideas to the Englijh Rezdtr. — Nahnm 2.7. " Her
** Maids fliall lead her as with the Voice of Doves,
** tabring upon their Breafts." The Sentiment is
evidently, as the Latin^ Greeks and Chaldee Verfi-
ons give it, That the Maids of her that was led
away Captive fhould mourn as Doves, and beat
Hpon their Breafts 3 as Perfons in the utmoft Di-
ftrefs : and T'abring^ was, certainly, very injudi-
cioufly put for Smiting , which was the Word in
cur former Verfion. — Thefe inftances are here
mentioned, farther to fhew the Benefit and Ex-
pediency of a more correct and i?itelligibk Tranfla-
H 3 tion
1 1 S REMARKS. Sedt. XXI Vv
tion of the Bible, than we have at prefent ; and,
that a Tranflator (hould not too ftridly adhere to
any of the former Verlions.
SECTION XXIV.
f^OMMON Words, of a general and well
^^ known Signification, have frequently, in all
Languages, been applied as appropriated Terms,
in a Senfe very different from their general Im^
port. Whenever, therefore, fuch Appropriations
are not exadly known, or not duly attended to, a
Tranflator may miftake the Senfe of his Author,
and not convey that Idea to the Reader which the
Writer had in View.
Every 'Englijh7nan knows the general Import of
the word ^tone : And, he knows that when that
Word is applied to Weight, it hath an appropriate
ed Meaning : And Perfons of different Places, and
different Occupations, know that this Term is va-.
rioufly applied ; and that, though a Stone Weight
is, in general, 14 Pounds : yet, that a Stone of Beef
is, in London^ 8 pounds, and, in Herefordjhire,
12 Pounds; that a Sto?2e of Wax is 8 Pounds, and
a Stone of Glafs 5. There are Words, in every
Language, correfpondent to the word Stone^ in its
more general Senfe; but thofe Words cannot proper-
ly be u fed to render it in \x.s Appropriated one. Was
a Foreigner, who was tranilating a Piece of En~
gliJI-\ to meet with this Term, unlefs he was ac-.
quainted with the particular Appropriation of it,
he could not himfelf underftand his Author. And,
fhould he render it into Latin, by the Word La^
pis, he would no more convey any dil^ind: Idea
to his Reader, than a Reader of Latin would
havCj,
Sea.XXIV, REMARKS. 119
have, who (hould find it faid, that fuch an one
traveled decern, or, centum Lapides, and not know
that Lapis, in fuch a Connection, was Appropri-
ated to lignify a Roman Mile : And he could yet
have no exadt notion of the Diftance, unlefs he
knew that a Rotnan Mile confifted of 1000 Pacesj;
andalfo, the precifeMeafureof a Roman Pace.
The Application is obvious ; That, (lioald any
of the Appropriations of the Hebrew, and Greek
Words, in the facred Writings, not be rightly un-
derftood, or not be duly attended to by a Tranflar
tor, the true Senfe and Meaning of the Writer
would not be conveyed by his Veriion.
We are told Gen,iS. 6. That Abraham ordered
Sarah to make ready three C^?D of fine Meal ;
which is not improperly tranllated three Mea^
fures J but, by this we are not informed how much 2.
ND or n^D contained : only that, from hence,
we may well conclude that it was no very large
Quantity : and alfo we may the better underfland
this Term when we meet with it in other Places,
as, I ^^^w. 25.18. 2 Ki figs y. 1,1 6. But the Words,
by which Weights and Meafiires are defcribed in
Scripture, have in general no other Signification,
and therefore do not here properly fall under our
Confideration.
That feveral Words are ufed both in common
and appropriated Senfes, in all Languages, is vvhat
is well known to every Reader. And that feveral
Words that are fo ufed, in the original Language
of the Scripture, have not been rightly rendered,
or not rightly underftood ; That fometimes, the
common Senfe of them hath been given, or taken,
where the Appropriated was intended \ and , the
H4 4p-
J2P REMARKS. Sea. XXIV.
appropriated inftead of the Common^ will be fufHr
ciently (hewn in the following Inftances.
I. nin' ^UD *^he Glory of the Lord, in the
jnore common Significatiop of the Words, conveys
to us an Idea of the fublime Majefty of the tnoft
high God, as P/^/. 104. 31. *' The Glory of the
*' Lord fliall endure for ever." Hab.2. 14. " The
" Earth fhall be filled with the Knowledge
*' of the Glory of the Lord, ^c. (^c'' But, when
we read, Exod.id.y. " In the Morning ye (hall
*^ fee the Glory of the Lord:" and /. 10. that
** When they looked toward the Wildernefs, the
" Glory of the Lord appeared in a Cloud." And
•24.160 that " The Glory of the Lord abode upon
*' Mount Sltiai : "And j^.17. that " The Sight of
*' the Glory of the Lord was like devouring Fire."
And y\4o. that " The Glory of the Lord filled
*' the Tabernacle, fo that Mofes was not able to
" enter." And Ezek. 10. 4,. that " The Glory of
** Lord went up from the Cherub, and flood over
" the Thre{l:jold of the Houfe." We cannot but
be convinced, that The Glory of the Lord, in its
appropriated Senfe, fignified, and v^^as underflood
to mean, A bright luminous Appearance, in the
Likenefs of a Flame of Fire. And now, though a
literal Tranflation of the Words, into Englijh, is
as proper as the Words themfelves were in the O-
riginal ; yet, without attending to the particular
appropriated Senfe of them, we fliould not fo
plainly fee the Propriety of the Expreffion, Luke
2. 9. " The Glory of ihe Lord fhone round about
*' them." Nor that in Rev.2i.2T^. " The City
♦^ had no Need of the Sun, neither of the Moon
?^ to fhine in it; for the Glory of the Lord did
•* lighten
Sea.XXIV. REMARKS. i2r
" lighten it." From whence we learn, that there
is a Light independent of the Sun and Moon, that
may enlighten a terreftrial Globe : And this fliews
us, how tritiing the Objedlions are, which have
been made againft Mofes's Account of the Order
of the Creation, from his having mentioned, that
" On the firft Day God faid. Let there be Light ;
^* and there was Light : " and afterwards telling
us, that the Sun and Moon were not created till
the fourth Day. What ! Light without the Sun 1
fay the modern Philofophical Free-thinkers ; we
\vill not believe it. The antient Oppofers of Re-
velation, who were not willing to make any Ob-
jections to it, but what had fome Shew of Rea-
fon, never went about to contradidt the Truth of
what Si. Paul fo frequently, and fo publickly de-
clared ; and for the Truth of which he appealed
to feveral Eye-witnefles of the Fadl j That, at
Mid-day, he faw a Light from Heaven, above the
Brightncjs of the Sun ^(hining round about him, and
them which journeyed with him. — But, what is
matter of Fad, attefted by ever fo many Wit-
neffes, to the enlightned Free-thinker ? The truth
of the Words, both of God and Man, mufi; be de-
termined by his unerring Reafon !
2. The primary Signification of D\tDV and D<^»
the Dual and the Plural of the Word qi) , was
Days : but it muil: be apparent, from feveral Paf-
fages, that thefe Words were alfo appropriated to
Signify a particular Number of Days, or a limited
Time : And I am almoft fully perfwaded, that
this Word fometimes fignified two Days, fome-
pmes a If^eek, and fometimes a Tear. The Dif-
ference of the Prpnungiauon might determine in
which
122 REMARKS. Sea.XXIV;
which Senfe it was, at any Time, ufed, though
we may not now be able to afcertain in what
Manner. i
That this Word was ufed to fignify two Days
is evident from Numb. 1 1.19, Where Mofes is or-
dered to fay unto the People, ** Ye fhall not eat
*' Flefli one Day, nor two Days, nor five Days,
** nor ten Days, nor twenty Days, but even a
«* whole Month." Exod.16.2g. " The Lord giv-
*' eth you on the fixth Day the Bread of two
** Days." And here we may obferve, that the
Dual, or Plural of fome Numerals are ufed in the
fame Manner. It is well known to every Hebrem
Reader, that as ^\^y fignifies TV;z, fo DnSi^57 figr
nifies twice Ten, or twenty : And that, as );^^
lignifies one Thoufand ^ fo D^£37K, unlefs it be par-
ticularly limited by fome other Numeral, fignifies .
two Thoufand ; as Numb.T^^. ^. — yo/h.2-^' —
2. Kings 18.23, C^c,
That the Plural of DV fignifies a Week, is not fa
apparent, as that it fignifies two Days, and a Year.
As a Week feems to have been an original Divi-
iion of Time, from the Inf^itution of the Sabbath,
mentioned Gd'/z. 2.3. we might well exped:, that
there fhould be a proper Term to exprefs it by :
and we find it diftinguifhed by the Word V^U, Gen,
29. 27. — Lev. 12.5. — Daji. 9. 24. Yet I cannot
but be of Opinion, that D^D* is made Ufe of to ex-
prefs it Gen. 2^.^^. *' Let the Damfel abide witl>
" us a Week 6r ten Days, after that fhe fhall go."
And G^;?. 40. 4. ^^ Pharaoh'' ?> Butler and Baker ^
*' were a Week under Confinement." That it does '"^
not here mean Two Days is evident ; for 'Jofeph
had taken Notice of their Countenances before he
faid-
Sea. XXIV; REMARKS; 123
faid unto them, " Wherefore look ye fo fadly
" To-day?" And when he explained to them the
Purport of their Dreams, he told them that it
would be yet Three Days before they fhould be
taken out of Prifon. — And, probably, it may
have the fame Signification Numb. g. 22. " Whe-
" ther it was a Week, or a Month, or a Tear, that
** the Cloud continued upon the Tabernacle, the
" Children of Ifrael Journied not." See Neh,
1.4.
That the Word fignifies a Tear, is not only
confirmed by the laft quoted PafiTage, where D^!D*
is made Ufe of to exprefs two different Spaces of
Time, (as it might properly do, if it was diftin-
guiflied by a different Pronuntiation : ) But it is
alfo undeniably evident from i Sam.2.ig. "His
** Mother made Samuel a little Coat, and brought
** it to him from Year to Year, when flie came
" up with her Hufband to offer the yearly Sa-
** crifice." But this is a Point, not at all in Doubt,
and therefore need not here be enlarged upon.
The Reader may refer to ExoJ. i^.io. — Lev. 2^.
29. — Judg. 1 7. 10, &c.
What particular Time may be alluded to by
the Term W^y \^pO Gen. 4. 3 . when Cain and yl-
bel came to make their Offerings to the Lord,
may ffill remain a Matter of Enquiry : though,
from the foregoing Obfervations, I am inclined to
think, that it was at fome more folemn annual
Seafon, that God had appointed unto them.
3. The general and original Import of the
Word rp.t^K was a Wood or a Grove 5 as we learn
from the Order which God gave, Z)^z^/.i6. 21.
'■ Thou flialt not plant thee a {Wood or a) Grove
" of
(<
cc
124 REMARKS. Sed.XXIV.
of any Sort of Trees near unto the Altar of the
Lord thy God." But, it muft evidently appear
that this Word had another appropriated Senfe :
Becaufe we read 1 Kings i^.. 2^- "They built
" them high Places, and Images, and Groves, on
*' every high Hill and under every green Tree.'*
And 2 Kirgs 17.10. ** They fet them up Images
«' and Groves in every high Hill, and under every
** green Tree." From hence it appears, That the
Reafon of the above mentioned Prohibition v^^as,
becaufe the Canaanites had ufed to ere i^om whence, in the Latin Verfions,
we
"Sta.XXlV: REMARKS. 127
we have, Fundere, efFiindere, acervare, compor-
tare, jacere, circumjacere, extruere, congerere, mit-
tere in circuitu Aggerem j circumdare Munitiones;
ponere 6c tendere Inlidias; cingcre 6c circumdare
Vallum J effundere Virtutem; 6c collocare Ex-
ercitum. The Hebrew Verb, indeed, mod pro-
perly fignifies, to pour out j and therefore may be
applied either to the pouring, out of VelTels, Earth
or Rubbilh, to raife a Mount j or it may, furely,
be applied to the pouring of Stones out of an En-
gine, without at all ftraining a Metaphor. How-
ever, I fliall produce the ten Paflages where this
Word is ufed, that the Reader may pafs his own
Judgment whether it fignifies a Mounts or an
Engine,
2 Sam. 20,1 ^. They befieged Sbeba in ^bel -,
and they played (or poured out) an Engine a-
'^ gainft the City ; ( Verfion, cafl up a Bank ; ) and it
flood in the Trench, and all the People that were
with yoabj battered the Wall to throw it down.
2 Kmgs 19.32. Sennacherib (hall not come into
this City, nor (hoot an Arrow there, nor come
^before it with Shield, nor play an Engine (Ver-
fion, caji a Bank) againfh it.
Ifa. 37. 33. A Repetition of the foregoing Verfe..
yer. 6. 6. Hew ye down Trees, and play an
Engine (Verfion, caft a Mount) againft yerufalem,
^£^.32. 24. Behold, the Engines (Verfion,
Mounts) are come into the City to take it, and the
City is given into the Hands of the Chaldeans.
yer.22'4- The Houfes of this City, and the
Houfes of the King^ of yudah^ are thrown down
by the Engines, (Verfion, Mounts^ and by the
Sword.
- Ezek,
128 remarks; Sea.xxm
Ezek.^.2. Lay Siege againft it, and build a
Fort againft it, and play an Engine (Verfion, caji
a Mou7it) againft it, Gfr.
Ezek.iy. 17. Neither fliall Pharaoh make
for him in the War, by playing Engines^ (Verfion,'
cajiing up MoimtSy) and building Forts.
Ezek, 21.22. To lift up the Voice with ShouN
ing ; to appoint battering Rams againft the Gates ;
to play an Engine, (Verllon, cafl a Mount ^ and to
build a Fort.
Dan, 1 1. 15. The King of the North {hall come,
and play an Engine, (Verfion, caji up a Mount,)
and take the moft fenced Cities.
The antient Verfions of thefe Paftages may rea-
dily be compared in the Folyglott j from whence
it will appear, that our Tranflators were led to
render this Word a Mounts or a Bank^ by the
more general Concurrence of thofe Verfions, in
affixing that Senfe to it. But, if the Reader (hall
think it could not properly be faid, that " The
" Mounts are come into the City >" or that " The
" Houfes are thrown down by the Mounts ; " and
finds that fuch Engines of War, as we have men-
tioned, are applicable to all the above cited Pafta-
ges i he may be led to confider, that the Verfions
are but little to be depended upon ; and that it is
neceftary to confult and compare the Words of the
Original, and attend to the Context, in order
rightly to underftand the Language of Scripture.
6. The Senfe of 2Sam.i.i'i. feems to have
been entirely miftaken, for Want of confidering
the particular appropriation of the Word riK^pJ
" Alfo he bade them teach the Children of Ju^
** dah the life oj the Bow, : Behold, it is written in
"the
&a. XXIV. REMARKS. 12^
" the Book oi'Jafierr It is evident from the Con-
text, that what David commanded to be taught
to the Children of yWtf/6, was written TyTTI "l£)D Sj7:
which Words either mean, the Book of fome par-
ticular Perfon, or, the authentic ftandard Copy of
what was commanded to be taught them. — But,
this could not be the Ufe of the Bow ; the Ufe
whereof is fo often before mentioned to be known
and praclifedj G^7Z. 27.3. — 48. 22. — ^oj}:,i\,\2^
Nor, indeed, is it faid, in the Original, that he
commanded to teach them the Ufe of the Bow^
but only ritS^p , that is, the Bow ; which was a
Term that David appropriated to fignify the T/3r^-
nodia, or mourning Song, which he had compofed
upon the Death of *S^2//and Jonathan ; and which
he called by that Name, from one particular Pafl
fage in it, j^. 22. " Without the Blood of the Sol-
" diers, without the Fat of the Mighty, the Boin}
** of Jonathan returned not back." A Copy of
the whole was written in the Book of Jafier (as
we call it,) and this he commanded to be taught
to the Children of Judab.
And here we may obferve, that the whole Song
oi Mofes, which is recorded Exod.iS* i- is referr'd
to, >^. 21. by the firft Words thereof: For, after
Mofes and the Children, or Sons of I/raei had
fung this Song unto the Lord, Miria7?2, and the
Women anfwered them j " Sing ye to the Lord,
" for he hath triumphed glorioufly ; the Horfe
** and his Rider hath he thrown into the Sea ; "
that is. They repeated the whole Song, which be-
gins with thefe Words, in the iame Manner as the
Men had done before them.
1 7.
130 k EM ARKS. Sea. XXIV.
7. I apprehend the appropriated Meaning of the
Word t:;np to have been miftaken, when it is
rendered Sodomite j i Kings 14. 24.. — 15.12. — 2
Kings 2 ^.y. If T]t:^lp means a Whore ^ Deut.2'7^,
17. which feems to be fufficiently confirmed from
0^^.38.21,22. t^np muft, moft probably, in the \
fame Verfe, mean a Whoremajler^ or Fornicator : >
unlefs the Terms may more precifely be applied
to thofe Perfons, of both Sexes, who proftituted
themfelves for Hire. And thefe Terms may have
been applied to them, as Perfons who had confe^
crated themfelves to the lewd Service of fome im-
pure Deity j which was a common Pradice a-
mong the Idolatrous Nations. — The antient Ver-
lions give no Countenance to our calling this a
Sodomite. Nor do I fee any Grounds for charg-
ing the Ifraelites with being fo frequently, and fo
notorioully guilty of Sodomitical Pra€lices.
. 8. The Word HvSDj in its primary Senfe, fig-
nified the /^/W;7^^^i J as appears from Exod.2g.11,,
Xf'u.3.4,10, C^c. But it is frequently tranflated
the Reins ; when, in its appropriated Senfe, it
muft evidently appear to mean a Man*s Inward
noughts, or Confcience, as Pfal, 7. 9. The Righ-
teous God trieth the Hearts and Reins. — 16.7.
My Reins reprove me in the Night-feafon. —
1*6. 2. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me, try
my Reins and my Heart. •*— 73.21. Thus my
Heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my
Reins. — J er. 11.20. O Lord of Hofts, that trieft
the Reins and the Heart. — 12. 2. Thou art near
in their Mouth, but far from their Rei?2S. — 17.10.
1 the Lord fearch the Heart, I try the Rei?2s. — 20.
12, OLord, that feeft the Reins and the Heart.
A
Sea.XXIV. REMARKS. 131
A judicious Reader will not-miftake the Meaning
in thefe, and fuch like Paflages ; but whether it
would not have a better Effe(5l upon the more
Ignorant, to render this Word Thoughts^ or Con-
fcience, I (hall leave to the Reader's Judgment.
9. In the fame Manner y^\> which, in general^
means the inward Parts, or Inteftines, is very fre-
quently ufed to fignify the Mind, or Confcience,
as Pfal. 5. 9. Their inward Part is very Wicked-
nefs. ——49.10. Their inward T^hought is, that
their Houfes fhall continue for ever. Here the
Tranflators have added T^hoiight^ and given the
true Senfe of the Word. — 62.4. They blefs
with their Mouth, but they curfe inwardly. —
.T^^*3^*33* -^ ^^^ P^^ "^y Law in their inward
Parts, and write it in their Hearts.
There are other Words by which the Thoughts,'
Mind, and Confcience, are referr'd to in Scripture,
and which might, perhaps, with great Propriety,
have been fo rendered ; but the Tranflators have
chofen to give a more literal Verfion. P/^/. 51.6.
Behold, thou defireft Truth mnoi in the inward
Parts ; and DHDl in the hidden Part thou flialt
make me to know Wifdom. And T cannot but
think it remarkable, as I have formerly obferved
in the Preface to T^he Index to the Bible, That
though the Duty of keeping a Confcience void of
Offence is much infifted on, the Means direded
to, and Motives urged, in feveral Texts of Scrip-
ture, yet the Word Confcience is feldom to be
found J and not even once in our Verlion of the
Books of the Old Teftament.
The fame Expreffions that were made Ufe of
in the Old, were adopted by the Writers of the
1 2 New
ti2 REMARKS. Sed.XXlV,
New Teflament, Luke 11.39. Your mward Par*
is full of Ravening and Wickednefs. — Rev,2.22''
I sm he, which fcarcheth the Reins and Hearts.
10. That nnnK, in an appropriated Senfe,
means The Future State ; — That W^tTS is the
Word, by which the departed Souls are fpoken of;
• — That S*\^^ is the Refidence of the Miferable ;
and Ui^i^ of the Blefed, I have endeavoured to
flievv at large, in a Sermon^ lately publifhed,
preached at the Epifcopal Vifitation at Derby; in
order to prove, that the Rewards and Punifhments,
that would await Men in an after Life, were the
great Sandlions of the Law of Mcfes : and it
would be tedious, here to repeat the Arguments,
"which evince fuch Appropriations. The principal
Texts referr'd to upon the i/? Word, are Numb.
23.10. Deut,S.i6. Pro'u.23.17. — Upon the 2^,
Pfal. 88.10. Prov.z.iS. Jfa. 14.9. — Upon the 3^,
JDeut. 22. 22. Pfal.g.ij. 7/j. 5.14. And upon the
/\.thy Pfai. 129'^- Amos 9.2. ^c. &c.
11. That there are feveral Words in the New
'Tejlament ufed in peculiar and appropriated Stn(ts,
IS well known to the learned : but, whilft they
are ftill rendered according to their more common
Acceptation, they do not convey the Senfe intend-
ed, to the more ignorant Reader. For Example ;
TlXeovBpiKi in general, means Covetoufnefs, or an
inordinate affedion for Riches j as when our Sa-
viour faith, Luke 12.1 ^. ** Take heed and be-
** ware of Covetoifnefs ; for a Man's Life confift-
•* eth not in the Abundance of the Things which
" he pofTefTeth.'* But, when we read, Eph. 5.3.
*' Fornication and all Uncleannefs or Covetoujiiefs,
** let it not once be named amongil you ; "' it
muft
tta.XXlV. REMARKS. 133
muft give us to underftand, that the Word here
means, an inordinate Love of, or Defire of enjoy-
ing fome particular Perfon : amounting to that
Ltifi fpoken of MaL 5.28. *' Whofoever looketh
'' on a Woman, to ////? after her, hath committed
*' Adultery with her already in his Heart." And,
underftanding the Word in this Senfe, we come
to the Knowledge of the true Meaning of that
Paflage, Col.;^.^. " Mortify your Members which
** are upon the Earth, Fornication, Uncleannefs,
" inordinate AfFedtion, evil Concupifcence, and
^* CoveioufnefSj which is Idolatry."
> 12. The general Signification of 'Nuf/,(P'fj is a
Bride : See jfobn 3.29. Rev. 18.23, &c. But this
Word was alfo Appropriated to fignify a Daugh-
ter-in-Law : and the Meaning of it, from the
Context of il^^Mo.35. and Luke 12.53. is made
clear to every Reader. The Greek Language had
vvogy and ^vweq to exprefs this Relation by : but
vviJL
herfelf in the River. Deut.21.6. The Elders
of the City fhall iisajh their Hands over the Hei-
fer. I need not multiply Inftances ; the Words are
frequently met with ; and fcarce any one can read
the Original of Z/f'u.14.8, 9, without obferving
the Diftinclion. But upon looking back upon
thefe PalTages, and fome others, where "^n^l is
ufed, the Word appears particularly to fignify the
wajhing of the Body, or fome Part of it : and
i^-u. 9.14. it is ufed, when fpeaking of the wajh-
ing of the Inwards and Legs of the Burnt-Offer-
ing, And if this be the appropriated Senfe of it,
yet hath the Hebrew Language another Word,
whereby to exprefs the waJJAng of any other im-;
penetrable Subflance, which is ipt^-. Lev.S.zS.
The Brafen Pot fhall be fcoured and nnfed in
Water. 15-12. Every Veffel of Wood fhall
be rtf?fed in Water. — i Kings 22.38. And they
waJJjed the Chariot in the Pool of Samaria -, and
they ivafied his Armour. They are all three ufed
Lev, 1 5. 1 1 . to which I refer*
. As
Sea. XXV; REMARKS, 139
As our Language wants Words Co accurately
and diftindly to exprefs the different Kinds of
wa/bi72gf this Obfervation can be of no farther
--^trfe than to (hew, that there is a greater Frecifion
in the Hebrew Language, than is commonly ima-
gined ; and, that the Words are ufed with very
great Propriety. But I muft not omit to mention,
that by a beautiful and rtrong Metaphor, David
ufes DID Pf'S^-'^^l- ^^^^fi "^s thoroughly from
mine Iniquity, and cleanfe me from my Sin: Wajh
pie, and I fliall be whiter than Snow."
3. HV fignifies ^oferve, in any Capacity ; and
T\'tT\^ ^1V ^0 till, or cultivate the Ground-^ and
the Noun *yy^ in general, a Servant, But n*^52^
which is alfo frequently rendered to ferve, (igni-
/ fies peculiarly, To be i?2 perfonal Attendance upon
any one, and not in laborious Bufinefs. 0^/2.39.4,
yofeph found Favour in Potipbar\ Sight ; and
hQ ferved \\ivn. — 40.4. The Captain of the Guard
charged Jofeph with the chief Butler and Baker,
and htferved them. — Exod. 24.13. 'Jojhiia was
Mofes's Mijjijier, — i Kings i. 4. Abijhag minijler"
^d unto the King. In the two laft Places, the
Word is rightly rendered ; and where we have
Words, that will properly exprefs the full Senfe
of the Original, they certainly ought to be made
Ufeof, and the Verb ri'^Jj; fhould never be tranflat-
(sd, To ferve ', but, To minijier unto, or attend up-
on : and the Noun, not a Servant, but a Minijier^
or. Attendant . See 2 Sam. 13.18, 2 Kings 4. 43 .
■:■ — 6.15, &C. &f,
4. There is no obfervable Diftindion betwixt
' the Englijh Words, To kill, to Jlay, to Jtnite, or
fo put to Death : and therefore they are promif-
^uoufly ufed to exprefs the Meaning of fix He-
brew
140 REMARKS. Sea. XXV;
brew Words, which I apprehend have, each of
them, diftind: Significations ^ and which are ge-
nerally applied to defcribe the particular Circum-
Hances referr'd to in the Manner, or End of kill-
ing : which, if there be any juft Grounds for fuch
an Opinion, is a Precifwn not to be equaled in
any other Language that I am acquainted with.
I fliall therefore fubmit to the Reader's Judgment,
the Examination of the Grounds of my Opinion,
that thefe different Hebrew Words have different,
and peculiar Appropriations ^ which are generally
obferved through the whole Scriptures.
T\T\ ^0 kill, appears to be a general Word, and
to be expreffive of all thofe, which either the an-
tient or modern Verfions make Ufe of to render
the feveral Hebrew Words by : It will properly
exprefs the killing of a Man, or any other Crea-
ture, in any Manner, or upon any Occafion ; as
Gen.4..S. Cain rofe up ag^'md jibel his Brother,
and Jlew him. -— 12.12. The Egyptians will fay,
this is his Wife, and they will kill me. — Exod,
4.23. Behold, I w'lW Jlay thy Son. — 23.7. The
innocent and righteous Jlay thou not. — Lev.20,
1 5. Ye (haWJlay the Beaft. — Num. 31.7. They
warred againft the Midianites, and Jlew all the
Males. — It would be tedious to recite more.
From hence we fee, that this general Word refers
to wilful Murder, to judicial Dejlru^lion, to put^
ing to Death by Form of Law, to the killing of a
Beajl J and to flaying in War : and in thefe feve-
ral Senfes it is very frequently ufed. The other
Words feem to be more confined in their Signi-
fications.
TO
Sea.XXV. REMARKS. 141
mo To kill a Man. Gen.1S.2S' That be far
from thee, to Jlay the Righteous with the Wick-
ed.. — 27. iB. Jofeph's Brethren confpired againffc
him, to Jlay him. — 42. 37. Slay my two Sons,
if I bring him not to thee. — Exod. 1 6.3. To kill
this whole Aflembly with Hunger. — Niimh.iS'
21. Or, in Enmity, Jmote him that he die 3 he
ihall furely be put to Death, From hence we fee,
this Word fignifies to die^ as well as to be put to
Death : But I have not obferved, that it is made
Ufe of when fpeaking of putting to Death any
Creature but Man.
jl^^To kill in War. Gen.12.1i. I fear him,
left he come 2ind fmite me, and the Mother with
the Children. — J^fi-y-S- The Men of Ai Jmote
them, about thirty fix Men. — 11. 10 JoJJjua.
Jmote the King of Hazor with the Edge of the
Sword. — I Sam.ij./Hf.. I will fmite thee, and
take thine Head from thee. It is true, that n33
frequently fignifies to Jmite without killing ; but
when in thefe, and innumerable other PafiTages it
implies Slaughter, it, I think, always fignifies kilU
ing in War, as it is properly rendered JoJIjao. 20.
'JoJl:)ua made an end of Jlayifig them with a very
great Slaughter.
n:iD To kill for Food. Gen.^i.i6. Slay, and
make ready ; for thefe Men fhall dine with me. —
Exod. 22.1. If a Man fteal an Ox, or a Sheep, and
kill it, or fell it. — Dcut. 28.3 i. Thine Ox fliall
htjlain before thine Eyes, and thou flialt not eat
thereof. — Frov. 9. 2. She hath killed her Beafts,
flie hath mingled her Wine, fhe hath furnished
her Table. — i Sam. 2 5. 1 1. Shall I take my Flefh,
■which I have killed for my Shearers ? The
Noun, upon this account, fignifies a Cook, And I
havs
142 RE MA UK Si Sedl.XXV,
have met with but two Exceptions to the Word's
being always ufed with the ftridteft Propriety j
and they are in the Poetical Books* PJ'aL^jAdi
and Lam. 2.21.
tDHl^ T(? cut the Throat: ofj To kill any thing
in fuch a Manner as was appointed, in order to
make them fit for Food, or Sacrifices ; which was,
by draining out all the Blood. The common Sig-
nification of the Word is, To fqueefe, drain, or
pour out, as in Ge7i./{.o.ii. I took the Grapes,
and pre/fed (or fqueezed) them into Pharaoh's
Cup. And, from thence, appropriated to iignify
that Manner of killings by which all the Blood
was drained from the Body. Gen. 22.10, Abra-
hani ftretched forth his Hand, and took the Knife
to Jlay his Son. — Exod.12.6. The whole Afiem-
bly of the Congregation Ihall kill the Lamb for the
Paflbver in the Evening. — 29.11. Thou fhalt
kill the Bull before the Lord at the Door of the
Tabernacle. — f.it. Thou fhalt ^^^y the Ram. — ^>
Num.11. 22. Shall the Flocks and the Herds be
Jlain for them to fuffice them? — 1 5^?;;/. 14.3 4.-
Bring hither every Man his Beeve, and every Man
his Sheep, andyZ^^ them here and eat, and fin not
againft the Lord in eating with the Blood.
Stop is a Chaldee Word, and ufed only in three
Places: Job 13.15. Though h^ Jlay me, yet will
I put my Truft in him. — 24.14. The Murderer
rifing with the Light, killeth the Poor and Needy,
— Pfal.i^g.K). Surely, thou vj'AtJlay the Wick-
ed, From whence it appears, that the Significa-
tion of this Word is the (l\me, as that of r)']"2 above
mentioned,
I
Sea:.XXV. REMARKS. 143
I believe, all Languages have Words whereby
nvilful Murder is diftinguifhed from any other
Kind of killing 5 and therefore v^^henever n^tf") is
met w^ith, it fhould certainly be rendered by fuch
appropriated Words. I cannot but think it a very
great Fault in our Verfion, to render Exod.io.i^^
Thou fhalt not kill ; inftead of, thou flialt do no
Murder. — Num.^^.Z'j. The Revenger of Blood
fhall kill ihcjlayer ; inftead of, the Murderer. —
Deut. 22, 26, As w^hen a Man rifeth againft his
Neighbour, 2iW^ Jlayetb him, (inftead o^ murdereth
him 5 ) even fo is this Matter. — See Num.^S-^y
25,26, 28. where we find Slayer inftead o^ Mur-
derer -J which is properly inferred }^. 16, 17, 18, 19,
21,30, and 31. The fame Fault is committed in
many other places; as Deut.^.2, ^(5/6. 21.13,
yudg. 20.4. I Kings 21.19. &c. &c. '
From this view it muft appear, that the Englijh
Verfion, by no means preferves the Diftindtions
obfervable in the Hebrew: neither, indeed, does
any other Verfion : and therefore the Propriety of
the Scripture Language can only be discovered,,
and judged of, by thofe who read the Original.
5. The Greekj Aof/,x. and Au^ov ; the Latin^ Donunt
and Munus -, and the Engltfi^ Gift and Prefent, are
fcarcely diftinguiOiable : and they are indifcrimi-
nately, and often very improperly, given as the
Tranflation of ni1/^» nnitD, and nnti'; which are
Words that have different, peculiar, and appropri-
ated Significations.
n:nD fignifies, a Gift, in general. Gen. 2 ^.6,
Abraham gave Gifts to the Sons of his Concu-
b ne?. — Lev. 23. 38. Befides your Gifts, and be-
fides your Vows, — Nufnb.i^.t, The Levites are
given
144 Jl EM ARKS. Sed.XXV.
given as a Gift for the Lord. — 2 Chro. 21.3. Je-
hofiaphat gave his Sons great Gifts, — Ezek. 20.
31. When ye offer your Gifts^ ye pollute your-
felves. — Prov.ig.6. Every Man is a Friend to
him that giveth Gifts.
nni'J lignifies a Gift, Prefent^ or Offering,
made by an Inferior, in order to obtain Favour.
Gen^^.^. Cain brought an Offering unto the Lord.
— 4.4. The Lord had Refpe(5t to Al?el, and to
his Offering. — 32.13. A Frefnt for Efau his
Brother. — i\2o. I will appeafe him with the
Prefentj that goeth before me. — See 33.10. —^
43.11. Take down the Man a Prefc?tt. — See y-.
15,25,26. — y^^g'3'^5' They fent a Prefent
unto Eglon.-^—^^t ^'.17,18. -— - i Sam.10.2j. The
Children of ^^//^/ brought Saul no Prefents. — ^
iChro. 16. 2g. Bring an Offerings and come before
the Lord. — 18. 6. The Syrians brought Gifts to
David. — zChro. 32.23. Many brought G{//i un-
to the Lord. From this Extradt it appears, that
the Word nni!3 properly lignifies an Oblation^ or
Offerijjg^ when it relates to God ; and a Tribute,
or a Prefent to obtain Fai-our^ when it relates to
Man : and, had it been conftantly fo rendered in
our Verfion, the Senfe of it v;ould have been pro-
perly conveyed to the Englifi Reader.
"inti^ fignifies a Bribe. And it does not fufH-
ciently convey the Idea intended, to render it a
Gift, 2i Prefent, or 2. Reiunrd. Exod. 2^.^. Thou
Ihalt take no Gift ; for a Gift blindeth the Wife,
and perverteth the Words of the Righteous. —
Deut.io.ij. The Lord your God regardsth not
Perfons, nor taketh Reward. — 27. 25. Curfed be
he, that taketh Reward io fiav an innocent Peribn.
Sed.XXV. REMARKS. 145
iKin.i^.ig. Behold, I have fent thee a Frefent
of Silver and Gold j come, break thy League with
Baajha, — 2 Km.iO.S. Ahaz fent a Freferit to
the King oi Ajfyria, — Pfal.i^,^. He that taketh
not Reward 2ig2im^ the Innocent. — Prov.b,'^^.
A jealous Man will not reft content, though thou
giveft many Gifts. — 17. 23. A wicked Man taketh
a Gift out of the Bofom, to pervert the Ways of
Judgment. — ^.1.23. Thy Princes follow after
Rewards — ' 5.23. They juftify the Wicked for
Reward. — Now, does not this Word as evidently
,mean a Bribe, in all thefe Places, as it does where
it is fo tranflated ? IaS.^/;;. 8.3. Pfal.26.1i. Ifa.
33.5. And I know of no Paflage, where it can
be properly underftood in any other Senfe.
6. The Greek, Utuxoq and U.Bvvig ; the Latin,
Pauper and Mendiciis \ and the Englifi, Poor and
Needy ; are fcarcely fo diftinguifhable, as to con-
vey feparate Ideas: and therefore, I think, not
capable of being adequate Tranflations of the He-
brew Words ♦^j?, ^T. t:^^ and pox ; which ap-
pear to me to have their peculiar Appropriations :
and,
'JJ7 to fignify a Perfon under any cppreffive or
cfiiBive Circiimftances whatfoever. Lev. 19. 10.
Thou (halt leave the Gleanings for the Poor and
Stranger. — Deut.2^.1^. Thou fhalt not opprefs
^ an hired Servant that is poor and needy : Here
needy is expreffed by p»:iJ^, and, as we fliall fee
afterwards, with the utmoft Propriety. — Pfal. 9.
1 2. God forgetteth not the Cry of the humble :
In our former Verfion it was, I think more pro-
perly, The complaint of the Poor. — q. 18. The
Expedtation of the Poor (hall not perifh for ever.
K —12.
146 REMARKS. Sea XXV.
. — 12.5. For the Oppreffion of the Poor, forth®
Sighing of the needy ]VnK , will I arife. — 22. 24.
He hath not defpifed the Afflidion of the affH^i-
ed. — 25.16. I am defolate and affiiBed. — 34.6.
The Poor crieth, and the Lord heareth him j yea,
and delivereth him out of all his Troubles. — 35.
10. Delivereth the poor and needy p^n{«?, from
him that fpoileth him. — 37.14. To caft down
the Poor and needy pnj^, — 69.33. The Lord
heareth the Poor, and defpifeth not his Prifoners.
— 70. 5. I am poor and needy p»2{^. — 72.4. He
{hall judge (or vindicate) the Poor ; and fave the
needy p'lJ^. — }^. 12. He fhall deliver the needy
|TI1K, (he poor alfo, andhimthathath no Helper. —
88.15. ^ ^"^ affii Bed Sind ready to dye. — 140.12.
The Lord will maintain the Caufe of the ajfUBed,
and the right of the Poor pOiV. — Ifa.10.2. To
turn afide the needy ^^ from Judgment, and to
take away the Right from the Poor. From this
Extrad: we may obferve, that Poor and Needy are
very often mentioned together, but as Perfons in
different Circumflances ; though both of them in
* unhappy ones j that *ij7 is fometimes rendered
affiiBedy and might properly be fo in all Places ;
and by that Means, be diftinguiflied from the
other Words, that are alfo rendered Poor and
ISleedy.
Si One^notinafiuent Clrcumftajices, Exod. 22,
3. Thou (halt not countenance 2^ poor Man in his
Caufe. — Z»£"u. 14.21. If he be poor, and cannot
get fo much, he {hall take one Lamb. — Pfal^
72.13. He (hall fpare the Poor and needy p♦:l^?.
— 82.4. Deliver the Poor and needy )V2i^- — 113.
7. He raifeth up the Poor out of the Duft ; and
lifteth
Sed.XXV. REMARKS. 147
lifteth the needy p»2J^ out of the Dunghil. —
Prov. 22. 22. Rob not the Poor, becaufe he is.
poor. — i/2z.i4.30. The Poor (liall feed, and the
needy po^? fhall lie down in Safety. — Amos 4. i.
Hear this, ye that opprefs the poor, and crufli
the needy p»:2K. — 8.6. To buy thtpoor for Sil-
ver, and the needy p»:i}^ for a pair of Shoes. —
Here we fee, that ]v:2^^ is diftinguifhed from ^*t,
as well as from lyy , which may include any kind
of Affliction ; whereas 71 implies a Share of
Want, in all thefe Paffagesj whether a greater,
or a lefs Share, than
tS>l, may be a Queftion from Prov. 28.3.
The poor Man that opprefTeth the Poor S% is like
a fweeping Rain, which leaveth no Food : We
may be inclinable to think the OpprefTor the
greater Man of the two j but, from the Riots we
now fee, upon account of the dearnefs of Corn,
we find that the pooreft Men may opprefs their
Superiors 3 and this remarkably juftifies the Ccm-
parifon, which the wife Man here makes. But,
which Word the richer Man is mentioned by,
let the Reader judge, from a comparifon of the
Texts. 2Sam.i2. Seethe Parable of the poor
Man's Lamb. — P/^/. 82.3. Defend the Poor ^t
and Fatherlefs ; do Juftice to the afflicted and
needy. — Prov.i^. 20. The Poor is hated, (orde-
fpifed,) even of his own Neighbour. — i7.5«
Whofo mocketh the Poor, reproacheth his Ma-
ker. — 18. 23. The Poor ufeth Intreaties. — 19.7.
All the Brethren of the Poor do hate (or defpife)
him. — 28.27. ^^ ^^^^ givethto the Poor, (hall
not lack. From this View I am inclinable to
K 2 think,
148 REMARKS. Sea. XXV,
think, that li^'n fignifies a Perfon in Want, in the
very next Degree to
]Vl^i Otie in ahjeB Poierfy, who is chiefly, or
altogether fupported by the Charity, or Bounty,
of other Perfons. We have above taken Notice
in what Manner it is ufed with ^^'^ and 71 : and
I {hall need to refer to but few other Paflages,
fufficiently to fhew the peculiar Signification of
this Word. Exod. 23.11. Thou flialt let the Land
reft, that the Poor of thy People may eat. —
EJiher g. 22- Sending Gifts to the Poor. — iSam.
2.8. He raifeth up the Poor S^ out of the Duft,
and lifteth up the Beggar from the Dunghill. —
PfaL^g.2, contrafts, high and low. Rich and
Poor. — 107. 41. He poureth Contempt on Princes,
and fetteth up the Poor on high. — 112. 9.
He hath diftributed, and given to the Poor, —
132. 15. I will fatisfy her Poor with Bread.
The Appeal lies now fairly before the Reader.
And, if it {hall appear, that thefe Words have
fuch Appropriatiotis and Diftindlions ; and that
they are generally ufed with great Propriety, it
points out a Precifion in the Hebrew Language,
unknown to any other : and confequently, the
Scriptures can only be read, to the beft Advantage,
in the Original,
So far as any Language is really defedlive, the
Tranflators cannot be to blame. But we have four
Words, that would in fome Meafure correfpond
to thefe Hebrew ones, were they properly made
Ufe of; affiled, poor, indigent^ and necejjitous,
might perhaps fuit them as well as any other :
But, whether the moll; proper Word was chofen
or not 3 if the hm^ Englifi Word was but al-
ways
Sea. XXV. REMARKS. 149
ways put for the fame Hebrew one, a diftind Idea
would, at leaf!:, be preferved.
7. In the beginning of the Pfaltns we read,
Happy is the Man that doth not walk in the
Counfel of the ungodly U^'^^lTs , nor ftand in the
Way of Sinners D*KDn, nor fit in the Seat of the
fcornful, D^i'S . The Gradation of thefe Words
is very obfervable j and from hence we are given
to underftand, that a Man might be VJ^l , an uji-
godly^ or unrighteous Man, who was not KDn a
wilful and habitual Si?2ner , and, that he might be
KDrr , without being y^ A [corner of God and
'Religion, — pny or righteous^ means what every
Man was required to be, and every deviation from
Righteoufnefs conftituted a Man >*LJ^*1; and there-
fore, at the Conclufion of the firjl Pfalm we read.
The Lord approveth the Way of the righteous :
but the Way of the ungodly fliall perifli.
Ungodlinefs, or Unrighteoufnefs might be com-
mitted in many different Ways and Manners :
and they are expre/Ted by feveral different He^
brew Words, diitinguifhing the Nature of the
Crimes refer'd to -, though not eafy to be afcer-»
tained : And the Reader may, probably, be in-
duced to think with me, that no Work would be
more ufeful, for illuffrating and afcertaining the
Import of the Hebrew Words, than one upon the
Plan of the Abbe Girard, in a Book entitled, Sy-
nonymes Francois : In one Article of which, he
undertakes to point out the Diflindions between
Faute, Defaute, Defedluofite, Vice, Imperfec-
tion, Crime, Peche, Delit, and Forfait. And it
might, perhaps, be attempted with as good, or
better Succefs, to fhew the Difference betwixt
K 3 V^'
I50 REMARKS. Sed.XXV.
\ri^. Dt^'^^ mn. ddh, Su% f^^* ^'"^J?' V^5, n*
and J7*ui^l. And, if fuch an Enquiry was attended
with any Share of Succefs, it would be worthy of
the Trouble, and do Honour to the Judgment
that fliould be beflowed upon it.
It might greatly illuftrate many Paflages, both
in the Law, and in the Prophets, could the true
appropriated Meaning of the Words pn, T^T^
mi;». nnDD*/!3, toDt^rj, D'Tips, nny, and n'mn,
be clearly undcrftood : They are very promifcu-
oufly rendered by the Words, Statutes, Com-
mandmentSjOrdinances, AppointmentSjJudgments,
Teftimonies, or Laws ; without any regular di-
jftindion of any Kind : Yet, from the Remarks
upon fome of the before-mentioned Words, part-
ly fynonymous, we cannot think that there is any
Reafon to imagine, that any of the Hebrew Words
are ufed in fuch vague and indeterminate Senfes,
as thefe are reprefented to be, in our Tranflation,
and in all the Verfions. Yet, I doubt not, but
that, upon a judicious Examination, fome of them
would be found to relate, more particularly, to
the Civil, and others, to the Ecclefiaftical Laws 3
fome of them, to require a more ftridt Obfervance
than others ; and, perhaps, all of them, to be ufed
with great Propriety.
The Words nit ^ Sacrifice ; pip an Oblation
or Offering ; rhv ^ Burnt-Offering; T\^^ a Sa^
crifice by Fire ; T\'r\yi2 a Bread, or, Meat-Offering y
T\^\£)T\ a Sin-Offering ; CDlJ^^^ a Trefpafs-Offering ;
HDl^n a Wave-Offering 'j and T\t2Y\n an Heave-
Off'eri?ig, are particularly diftinguiflied one from
the other, in the beginning oi Leviticus, And the
De-
Sea. XXVI. REMARKS. 151
Derivations of the Words confirm the Defign of
their Appropriations: And yet, when thefe Words
are met with in other Places, thefe obvious Di-
ftindions are not always obferved in the Verfions.
Would the propofed extent of thefe Remarks
admit of it, I might greatly enlarge upon this Ar-
ticle : But, the Defign of thefe Sheets is only to
prove, in general, that there are feveral Inaccura- '
cies and Improprieties in the Verfions, to point
out the Caufes of them, and, to fliew in what
Manner they are capable of being removed. And
enough, furely, hath been faid upon this Head,
to (hew that the fame Hebrew Word fhould con-
tinue to be rendered in the fame Manner, in any
Verfion ; unlefs fome evident appropriated Senfe
had been affixt to it, which fometimes makes a
Variation necefifary,
SECTION XXVI.
THE Names of Places are frequently given
from the Circumflances of their Situation ;
or fome other Particulars, to which the Name
might bear fome Allufian. As Bethel obtained
that Name, becaufe there was an Houfe of God
eredled in that Place. The Names of Perfoj2s^
likewife, were given upon Account of fome Cir-
cumflances attending their Births, or fome other
occafional Peculiarity ; as appears from the Rea-
fons given of the Names of the twelve Patriarchs,
Gen.2(). and 30. But, though Names were origi-
nally given from common Appellatives, yet, they
ought never to be tranflated as Appellatives. We
have the Names oiEaJioJz, Wejlon, Norton and
K 4 SuttOfl,
152 REMARKS. Sea.XXVI.
Sutton, given, from their Situation with Refpedt
to fome other Places ; fignifying the Eaft-Town,
or the Weft-Town, ^c. But when fuch Names
are affixt, they can be no longer confidered as Ap-
pellatives : yet
I. We read Gen.i'T^.i. That Ahram went up
out of Egypt into the South, Now, from the Con- ^
text, we are plainly informed, that Ahram went
up from "Egypt into the Land of Canaan, which
lay to the North-Eaft : And the Geographer
knows, that had he gone into the South, he muft:
have bent his Courfe towards /Ethiopia, This In-f
coniiftency is occafioned, by not conlidering that
n^i Negeb, was the proper Name of the Place, \
to which Abram went, when he returned out of
Egypt ; the Place where Abram had fojourned, be^
fore he went down into Egypt, upon account qf
the Famine. And, we have this Account of his
firft Arrival there, when he came from Haran,
given, Chap. 1 2. 6. C^c. Abram paffed through the
Land of Canaan unto Mekom Sichem, unto Ailon
Moreh : And he removed from thence unto a
Mountain ; and built an Altar unto the Lord ;
and from thence he went on to Negeh.
Negeb, undoubtedly, as an Appellative, figni-
fies The South ; and therefore, it is fo rendered
in all the antient Verfions, except the Greek-,
where it is frequently tranflated The Defert, or.
The Wildernefs ; but, on what Account I cannot
difcover, unlefs it was from obferving the Im-
propriety of faying, that Abram went up out of
^gypt, into the South,
We are told, G^';?. 13.3. That Abram removed
again from Negeb to Bethel^ or, to the Mountain
where
SeaXXVI. REMARKS. ^153
where he had formerly built an Altar unto the
Lord. And we are informed 20.1. that, after
the Deftrudion of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abrahai7i
returned again to Negeb : and 24.62. that Ifaac
dwelt there, when Rebecca came unto him. And,
that this was a plentiful Part of the Country, ap-
pears by Mofes's fending the Spies thither, " Go
*^ up this way to Negeb." Nu?nb,i2,>ij, And
they went up to Negeb : and, in the Valley of
EJhcol, they found that clufter of Grapes, which
they bare, between two, upon a Pole, and brought
it to Mofes, Now, any one who is acquainted
v^'ith the Route, which Mofes, and the Children
of Ifrael, took through the Wiidernefs, will fee
the fame Impropriety in Mofes's faying to the
Spies, " Get you up this way Southward^'' as in
its being faid, that ** Abram went up out of
Egypt into the South.
2. Amongft the Encampments that Abram
made in the Land of Canaan, it is debated whe-
ther that mentioned Gen.i'i^.i^. yNZS>^in the Plain
of Mamre, or by the Oak of Mamre ? Give the
proper Name, and call it Allon-Mamre, and the
Enquiry is altogether needlefs. In this place A-
bram dwelt, when he heard of hot\ being taken
Captive, 14.13. And, in this Place, the Lord ap-
peared unto him, 1 8. i . And, furely, this Place
may be as properly called Allon Mamre, as the
Place, where Deborah was buried, was called Allon
Bacciith, Gen. 2 5- ^'
3. The four Kings who plundered Sodom, and
took away Lot, are faid to be, the King of Shinar,
the King of Ella/ar, the King of Elatn, and the
King of Nations, Gen.ii\.i. Now, I doubt not,
but
154 REMARKS. Sea, XXVI.
but that Goim was as much the proper Name of
^idal's Territories, as Shitjar, Ellafar^ and Elam
were of the Territories of the other Kings here
mentioned ; The neighbouring Princes acknow-
ledged him to be King of Goim ; but he is oblig-
ed to the Tranflators for honouring him with the
Title of King of Nations.
4. Our Verlion of Deut.i.j. is " Turn you,
** and take your journey, and go unto the Mount
*' of the Amorites^ and unto all the Places nigh
♦* thereunto, in the Plaifi, and in the Hills, and
" in the Vctkj and in the Souths" But I cannot
think the Scripture-Language is, any where, fo
diffufe and indeterminate, as it appears in this
View, The Order was given, no doubt, in fuch
a Manner, as that it would be perfectly intelli-
gible to the Children of Ifrael-, and, the Places
they were to take their Journey to, particularly
mentioned, by their proper Names : Therefore,
though it would be no Geographical Defcription
to us J yet, if the proper Names were retained,
it would have more the Appearance of conveying
fome diftindt Ideas. And the Paflage might be
rendered, " Go unto Ar of the A?mrites, and to
" all the Places nigh thereunto, in Arebab^ in Ar^
" in Shapelah, and in Negeb"
That Ar was the proper Name of a Place, as
well as an Appellative, to fignify a Mount ^ or a
Mountain^ is evident from Numb. 2 1.2'i, And
Deut,2.g,iS. where mention is made of ^ of
the Moabites ; which, perhaps, may there be fo
particularly diftingiiiOied, becaufe there were other
Places of the fame Name, in different Parts of the
Territories of the Land of QUnaan. And a Revifer
of
Sea XXVI. REMARKS. 155
of the Verfion may frequently find Occafion to
change the Appellative into a proper Name, as
I fliould be inclined to do, Jojh.i 1,21. Jojhua cut
off the Anakims from Ar^ and from Hebi-on^ from
Debir^ and from Anab,
That Arebah, in its common Signification,
means a Plain , is allowed : But might it not aifo
be a Name given to certain Diftrids ? The men-
tion of Tbe Plairiy conveys a very diftin(fl Idea to
the Inhabitants o^JViltJJjire: and we cannot doubt,
but that the mention of Arebah did the fame to
the Ifraelites who inhabited beyond 'Jordan^ from
reading the Pafiage in Deut.'^.it. " Unto the
** Reubcfiites^ and unto the Gndites^ I have given
" from Gilead, even unto the River Armir^ half
" Nahal, and Gebul, even unto the River
^' Jabbokj which is the Border of the Children
^^ oi Amnion ', Arebah alfo, and Jordan, and
^' the Coafr, from Chinnereth, even unto the Sea
*' of Arebah, under Ashdoth Pisgah Eaft-
^' ward."
Nahal, and Gebul are Names, which the Eng-
lijh Reader is not acquainted with ; becaufe the
Tranflators have rendered them as Appellatives 5
but, the Hebrew Names will give him as juft an
Idea of their Extent and Situation, as calling them
the Valley and the Border.
Shapelah fignifies a Vale ; but it might alfo be
a proper Name : And the Kings that Jojhua, and
the Children of Ifrael are faid to have fmitten on
the Weft of Jordan, Jojlj.12.'^. appear to have
reigned in Ar, and in Shapelah, and in Arebah,
and in Afidoth, and in Midbar, and in Negeb :
^nd the Context leads us to judge, that thefe fix
were
156 REMARKS. Sea. XXVI.
were the proper Names of the feveral Diftridls of
the Hittites^ the Amorites^ the Canaanites, the
PerizziteSj the Hivites, and the Jebufites. The
Tranflators may have rendered thefe Words by
proper Appellatives, in calling them the Moiin^
tatns^ and the Vallies, and the Plains, and the
Springs^ and the Wildernefs, and the South-Coun-
try : But it is fcarcely to be imagined, that thefe
Appellatives convey to the Reader, a much more
clear Idea of the Nature, Extent, and Situation of
thefe Countries, than the proper Names would
do. — As, from the Mention of The Vale cf BeU
'voir, or l^hcVale of Evefiam, a Foreigner, who
underftood the common Import of the Word Fak^
could form no Judgment of the Extent of the
Place ; nor would he imagine, that Towns and
Hills, with extenfive Profpedts, were included in
the Term of Vale.- — To call a Dominion, there-
fore, by the appellative Words, Mountain, Valley^
Plain, &c. may confine the Idea, more than the
Hebrew Word, given as a proper Name, would
do ; and fcarcely be more particularly defcriptive.
In vain are thefe Names, or any account of thefe
Diftrids, fought for in Sanfon\ Geographia Sacra,
or Bonferius'^ Onomafticon. The whole Sympfi^
Criticorum, for Want of confidering thefe as pro-
per Names, have loft a fine Opportunity of dif-
playing their Art, upon a very intricate Subjedl ;
and not lefs important than fome, upon which
they have beftowed great Labour.
5. It may fometimes be difficult to determine,
whether a Word is to be confidered as an Appel-
lative, or a proper Name : as when we are told,
I ChroAi^.y. That the Ark being taken out of the
Houfe
Sea. XXVI. REMARKS. 157
Houfe oi Ahinadab^ Vzzazvid, rHN* drove the Cart*
Ahio may be a proper Name, but we meet not
with it in any of the Genealogies or Catalogues
that are given, upon any other Occafion, As an
Appellative, it fignifies his Brother, or his Bre-
thren. What appears to have determined our
Tranflators here, was, the Maforetic Points;
but, either the Points did not fo determine it,
when the antient Verlions were made, or, they
were not regarded by thofe who made them ;
they all render the Word as an appellative Plural,
his Brethren, except the Latins, who underftood
it in the fingular Number.
The Word *nS as an Appellative, fignifies, a
Jaw-Bone ; but, it was alfo the proper Name of
the Place, where the Philijiines met Samfon, and
where he flew a Thoufand of them with ih^Jaw
Bone of an Afs. The Name alfo of Ramath-Lehi
was given to the Place, where he caft away the
yaW'Bone. To confider the Word then, as Ap-
pellative, in the next Verfe ; and to fay that,
" When Samfon was thirfi:y, God clave an hollow
/'" Place that was in the Jaw, and there came
" Water thereout ; " muft be through Want of
common Attention 3 becaufe, they immediately
fubjoin, '' Wherefore he called the Name thereof
" En hakkore, {q. d. The Well of him that called)
*^ which is in Lehi, unto this Day." — Such Mi-
flakes as thefe, give wrong Ideas to the ignorant ;
and furnifli the Scoffers with matter of Ridicule. —
The Error, indeed, is correded in the Margin,
which hath Lehi, infbead of the Jaw j fee
y^^. 15.14, ^c. But, few Bibles, in Comparifon,
have marginal Notes : the Text, and not the
Margin,
i5S REMARKS. Sed.XXVt
Margin, is ordered to be read in publick ; and the
Infidels feldom look farther than into the Tran-
ilation, to feek for Objedions.
6. Mr. Peters, in his Diflertation on the Book
of Jol?, p.340. hath obferved, that inflead of ren-
dering PJ'alm 141. 7. Our Bones are fcattered at
the Grave's Month ; or, lie fcattered before the Pit j
it fhould be, Our Bones are fcattered by the order \
of Saul The Letters SliVti^ are the fame both in
the Appellative, and the proper Name : And as it
hath been made already apparent, that too ftridt
an adherence to the Points may obfcure the Senfe
of a Paflage ; fo, {hould a new Verfion be ordered
to be undertaken, the Tranflators would confider
themfelves as more at Liberty to examine the
Propriety of them, than the former Compofers of
the modern Verfions have done.
That beautiful Illuftration *i6. it is
rendered a Space, or a Diftance. * (5.) ASpi-
rit ; in the Senfe we fpeak of the Spirit of God.
G€7i» 4 1 . 3 8. A Man in whom the Spirit of God is.
£:)co^. 28.3. Whom I have filled with the Spirit
of Wifdom. (6.) T!he Spirit, or Mindoi2i Man 5
Gen.^^. 27. The Spirit of Jacob their Father re*-
vived. — 26.35. Which were a Grief of Mijid
unto Ifaac, and to Rebecca, (7.) Courage, or
Valour ; jQjh.g.2, Neither did there remain any
more Courage in any Man. (8.) Anger or Re-
fentment i Ji^dg.S.^. Then their ^«g-^r was a-
bated towards him. — - (9,) A Spirit; in the
Senfe we underfland it, when we fpeak of an Ap-
parition. Job 4.15. A Spirit pafled before my
Face, and the Hair of my Flefli flood up.
The Word by which Spirit is expreffed is egui-'
vocalj in mofl Languages: But we have Words,
whereby the feveral diftincfl Ideas it conveys, in
the Scripture- Writings, may be given to the Read-
er, in fuch a Manner, as to avoid all Obfcurity:
yet, as the Tranflators might be liable to miftake
the true Import of the Word, in fome PafTages ;
fo, I apprehend, they have done this in the very
firfl Palfage where it is ufed ; and fo, as to make
an Enquiry into the true Senfe of the Word a
Matter of Importance. Ge?hi.z. ** The Spirit of
" God moved upon the Face of the Waters."——
I
Bca. XXVII. REMARKS. 1 6 1
I cannot but think it derogatory to the Spzn'f of
God, to introduce it as moving upon the Waters
to no apparent Purpofe ; and to be aTranrgreffion
of that proper Rule of the Poet,
Nee Deus interfit, nifi dignus vindice nodus,
A Rule, which is never tranfgrefTed in all the
Mofaic Writings ; and, in my Opinion, Mofes had
no fuch Thing as the Spirit of God here in View.
In this Verfe, he appears to be only giving aa
Account of the original and confufed State of the
Earth ; and to do it in a Manner moft flrongly
defcriptive, " The Earth was chaotic and unin-
" formed j and Darknefs was upon the Face of
*' the Abyfs j and a moji violent JVindhXtvj upon
" the Surface of the Waters." From this Account,
no doubt but Ovid compofed thofe admired Lines,
' rudis indigedaquemoles.
Nullus adhuc mundo prasbebat lumina Titan.
Quaque erat & tellus, illic & pontus & aer.
Sic erat inflabilis tellus, innabilis unda.
In the next Verfe, God is introduced, faying.
Let there be Light j and there was Light -, and
afterwards, giving a Command to the Waters, to •
depart to their appointed Places -, and that, ia
Language more fublime than Ovid was capable of
equaling, though he had this Original before him,
as no one will doubt who reads him : But I fhall
only here obferve, that the Lines above quoted
are fuch a Paraphrafe of this Verfe, as may induce
us to think, that Mofes meant only to exprefs a
moft violent PFind by the Words D^nSi< m"l, if
thofe Words will bear that Conflrudion -, and,
L That
i62 REMARKS. Sed.XXVII.
That D^nSi^ was frequently added to Words,
in order to exprefs them in the moft fuperlative
Degree, is well known to every one converfant in
the original Scriptures. The higheft Compliment
that the Children of Heth could pay, was exprefled
by this Word, in that very polite Converfation
■which is upon Record in the 23d Chapter of G^-
m/iSy " Hear us, my Lord, thou art a mighty
" Prince amongft us." — The mighty Thunderings
mentioned Exod. 9.28. are in Hebrew called, 'The
Voices of God. — The Panic, the Philijlities are
faid to have been feized wdth, i SamA^.i ^. is
called, The Trembling of God. — The Favour,which
David was inclined to {hew to the Houfe of Saul,
is literally rendered 2Sam.g.2' The Kindnefs of
God. — And, after confidering thefe Expreilions,
will it not readily be allowed, that D»n^N* HH
The Wind of God , may properly fignify, a moji vio-
lent Windf
We may obferve here, that both 7K and nW
are added to Words, to exprefs an high Superla-
tive, as well as D'hSj^. Gen.i^<^.io. A beautiful
Oarden, is called the Garden of the Lord. — iSam,
■26.12. A very deep Sleep, is called The Sleep of the
Lord. — 2 Chron. 14.14. and 17.10. A very great
Fear, is called The Fear of the Lord. — And Pfal,
80.10. The tallejl Cedars, are called The Cedars
of God.
2. The Verb NtDH is fo equivocal, as to mean,
in direft Oppofition, both To /;/, 2.v\^ To purge,
or purify from Sin. In the former Senfe it is moft
commonly ufed ; as in Pfal.^i.a^. *' Againft thee
** only have \ finned:'' But we muft underftand
it in the diredt contrary Senfe in the 7th Verfe of
the
/
Sea.XXVlI. REMARKS. 163
the fame Pfalm ; " Thou canft purge me with
HyiTop, that I may be clean." So again, Lev. 14.
52. '* He (h^W purify the Houfe with the Blood
** of the Bird." And Nu7nb.%.ii, The Levites
were purified, and they wafhed their Clothes.
The Noun derived from this Verb fignifies alfo
both >S/«, and a Propitiation for Sin ; and like-
wife the EffeBs of Sin. It hath not efcaped the
Notice of the Commentators, that r\'i^}^r\ , which
is improperly rendered Sin^ Gen.^.'j, means, an
Offering for Sin: where God faith unto C^/;/,
*' Why art thou wroth ? and why is thy Counte-
" nance fallen ? If thou hadft done well, would
* there not have been an Elevation (of thy Coun-
** tenance, or an Acceptance of thy Sacrifice ?)
*' And, if thou haft not done well, a Sin-Offering
*' lieth at the Door ; it is at thy Difpofal, and
" thou haft Power over it." Hence, the Nature
of Caini Crime ; the Juftice of his Puniftiment ;
and the Mercy of God, evidently appear. Cain
had not facrificed in a proper Manner, as Abel had
done ; God informs him, that he might yet make
an Attonement, by 2^ Sin-Offerings which was rea-
dy at hand: Inftead of doing which, he rofe up
againft his Brother, and flew him j and fo render-
ed his Crimes unpardonable. — Deut.g.21. 1 took
your Sin, (/. e. the Effeft of your Sin, the Calf
which ye had made to worfhip,) and burnt it. .
Hof.4..^. '' The Priefts eat up the Sin of my
*' People ; " /. e. The Sin-Offerings, which, by
the Law, were appointed to be conlumed by Fire.
— Pfal. ^0.6. The Word is rightly rendered, in
all the antient and modern Verfions : " Burnt-
I. 2 ** Offering
164 REMARKS. Sed. XXVII.
" Offering and Sacrifice for Sin haft thou not re-
" quired;" /. e. not only thofe. See § xxii. 2.
As the Hebrew Word riKDH was ufed thus
equivocally^ fo the Apoftle St. Paul ufes the Greek
Word ai^ocoTix in the fame Manner. 2 Cor. 5. 21.
•' For he hath made him to be Sin for us, who
** knew no Sin ; that we might be made the
" Righteoufnefs of God in him j " /. e. " God hath
made Chrift to be an Offering and a Propitiation
of Sin for us, though he knew no Sin ; that we
might be made the Objeds of Juftification, ac-
cording to the Method which God appointed, by
our Faith in Chrift." See §xxiv.r3. — Rom. 6.10,
*' For in that he died, he died unto Sin once : "
which is thus paraphrafed by Dr. Doddridge ;
*' For, whereas he died, he died once for afl, as a
* Sacrifice for Sin^ to attone the injured Juftice of
" God, and repair the Honours of his violated
*' Law," — Rom. 8.3. " For what the Law could
** not do, in that it was weak through the Flefh,
God, fending his own Son, in the Likenefs of
linful Flefh, and /or Sin^ condemned Sin in the
*' Flefb." The Ellipfis to be fupplied is, That,
what the Law could not do, God, fending his Son
to be a Sacrifice for Sin, hath done for us. —
There is an Ellipfis of the fame Kind, Heb.io.6,
which is fupplied in our Verfion 5 *' In Burnt-
*' Offerings and Sacrifices for Sin, thou haft had
" no Pleafure."
3, The Word ]ij7 which is fomewhat fynony-
mous to ^^^D^TJ and is commonly tranflated hii-
qiiity\ fometimes fignifies, ^he Effe&s^ er Punijh-
mentofhiiquity. Exod.2^.4.2- The fandihedVeft-
xnems iliall be upon ^aron and his Sons, when
they
Se(5l. XXVII. REMARKS. 165
they come near to the Altar, to minifter in the
holy Place, that they bear not their Iniquity, and
die. — Numb. 1^.2^, The Levites fhall do the
Service of the Tabernacle of the Congregation,
and they fhall bear their Iniquity. — i Sam. 25. 24.
Upon me, OLord, be this Iniquity. — 28.10. And
Saul fware by the Lord (to the Witch of Endor,)
faying, As the Lord liveth, there Ihall no Puni/J:^
ment happen to thee for this Thing. — Lam.^.j.
Our Fathers have linned, and are not; and we
have borne their Iniquities. — £2^^/^.18.19. Doth
not the Son bear the Iniquity of the Father ?
See Lra.5.1,17, Gfr.
4. The common Signification of *]*11 is I'd
hlefs\ but it is fometimes ufed in the oppolite
Senfe, and means, To curfe, or to blafpheme. 'Job^
1.5. It may be my Sons have finned, and curfed
God in their Hearts. — /. 11. He W'^curfe thee
to thy Face. — 2.9. Curfe God, and die. — iKin.
21.10. Thou didfl: blafpheme God, and the King.
■ ^'.13. Naboth did blafpheme God, and the
King. How unaccountably is this Charge laid a-
gainit Naboth in the 70 Verfion, and the Vulgar
Latin, euXofrjcrs Seov Kcct BcctriXscc, Benedixit Deum
& Regem ? For though the Hebrew Word admits
of oppofite Significations j neither the Greek or
Latin Words are fo converfive : And no Kn^lifi
Reader will think, there could be any great Pro-
priety in the Children oi Belial witnefling againft
Naboth, and faying, Naboth ^lefjed God, and the
King.
5. The Word ptTj fignified, either To kifs, or,
to be fubjedl to. It is generally rendered by el?" This Paflage is before taken
Notice of. § XXVII. 2.
2. Our later Verlion of this Word in P/a/.62.
4. is, " They only Gonfult to caft him dow^n from
" his Excellency." In the former it was, " Their
•* Device is only to put him down, whom God
" will exalf." The original Word is evidently a
Noun ; yet, Dignity, as we read it in the Bifiops
Bible, much better exprefles the Sentiment, than
Excellency: And no Improvement of Style, or
Didion, that can be introduced into a Tranflation,
ought to be negledled in a Verfion of the Bible.
3. The fame Letters ^^S either form the Im-
perative, from "^Ss and fignify, Go tbou : or, they
are the Pronoun •) thee, or tbou, with the Praefix
^. This Word we find thus tranflated, Gen.ij.
43, " Arife, flee thou to Laban!' But, the Word
y may here be a Verb j " Arife, flee, go unto La^
"^^ " ^^?z;" The Words are pS S>? "|S VTs'Z Dip 5
an Expreffion much fimilar to that, i Sam.g.T^,
tJ^pl ^ Dip ; where all the Verfions have ren-
dered the Words " Arife, go^, feek." And Detif,
lo.ii. "^S Dp from the Samaritan Text, and
the T^argum, is rendered Surge, & Fade.
It is not, indeed, very material, in which Senfc
the Word is taken in thefe, and fuch like Paf-
fages; But if it be here confidered as a Pronoun,
it muft be allowed to be pleonaftick ; and there
is no Occafion to feek for a Figure of Speech,
where the Words may be literally underilood.
But, the Points added to this Word, in thefe
Paflages, require it to be confidered as a Pronoun :
Jt is true, they do Q) 5 and Hiew us, that thofe
who
174 REMARKS. Sed.XXX.
who added the Points, confidered it in that View.
The Authority of antient VerJions weighs much
ipore with me, than the Authority of the Points ;
And I may appeal to any one, well converfant in
the He/frew Idiom, whether reading "p in an un-
pointed Bible, in the PafTages before mentioned,
he fliould not, without Helitation confider it as a
Verb ?
SECTION XXX.
THOUGH the £«^//yZ) Tranflation of the 5/-
Ifle muft be allowed, in general, to be more
literal and exad than any other ; yet, as the He-
drew would not always admit of a literal Verfion,
the Tranllators found themfelves fometimes under
a Necelhty of adding Words, to introduce a pro-
per Connexion between, or an Illuftration of fome
PafTages. And, in fuch Cafes, they might not al-
ways hit upon the Addition that was mod proper
and neceffary to be made : Or, they might fome-
times think an Addition necefl^ry, where it was
not really fo.
Our Verfion ofG^;/.i5.i. is, "Fear not y^3rJ, which fignifies Strength^ or Power. In the
former of thefe Verfes, they have been followed
by our Tranllators, " Their Blood fl-iall be
*' fprinkled on my Garments." W^l fignifies the
^iiice of the Grapes, troden out in the Wine-
Prefs; Which may, indeed, metaphorically be
called the Blood of the Grape^ as it is Gen. ^g. 11.
JDeuf. 32. 14. And, in the latter Verfe, our Tranf-
lators have rendered Hi^ Strength ; *' I will bring
" down their Strength to the Earth."
In the Alexa?idrian Copy of the 70 we have
CL11A.0C Zech. 9.15. where the Hebrew is IDH ; which
in the Vatican is rendered by aJJi^f. It is probable,
that there mio:ht be a Variation in the different
Hebrew Copies thefe Verfions were made from ;
or, that one of the Tranflators might miilake the
Word. — The Tranflation of in* z Sam. 21. 2^
in the Vatican Copy is eXAs^jtta, in the Alexandrian
Kif^xy or Xs/jwa ; for which Dr. Grabe pats «<^a,
in the Margin of his Edition ; upon what Autho-
rity, or, for what Reafon, I find not ; as Xsi^a,
or BXXetf^iz is a proper Rendering of the Word "nn* ;
which, in this Connexion, evidently fignifies 'Tbe
Re?nnant of the Amorites,
3. The Hebrew Word 7J.?;; hath a particular
Reference to the Privilege, which the neareft Re-
lation amongft the "Jews had, to redeem his Kinf--
man, or whatever his Kinfman had fold, orpawned^.
M 2 'tD
i8o REMARKS. Sed.XXXI.
to another Perfon. See Lev. 2^. 25 — 48. As no
fuch Cuflom prevailed in any other Nation, there
was no Way of expreiling the Force, and full
Meaning, of this Word, but by a Periphrafis :
We may fay, that fuch an one hath the Equity of
Redemption of a Thing or Perfon ; and this con-
veys the Import of the Word Sk:i : Whereas it
is commonly rendered by the general Word Re-
deem. So that thofe who are not converfant in the
Original, can, but in few Places, fee the Force of
the Expreflion where this Word is ufed. If this
be not attended to, the Energy of a very beautiful
Sentence is lofb, Pf.jy.i^. " Thou, with thine
" Arm, haft redeemed thy People, even the Sons
*' oi Jacob and Jofeph-;' i.e. " Thou, O Lord,
** haft claimed thy Right to the Equity of the Re-
*' demption of thy People, whom thou hadft fold
*' into the Hands of their Enemies ; thou gaveft
" Egypt for their Ranfom, Ethiopia and Seba for
" them." Obfcrve the Import of this Word,
£w^. 6.6. P/.' 74. 2.-^/^.3 5. 9. — 43.1. — 44.22. iJo/^
13. 14. &C.&C. — When the Hebrew Writers in-
tended to fpeak of Redeeming, in the general Senfe
of the Word, they exprefled themfelves by n"T3 .
See Exod. 13. 15. — 34. 20. Lev. 19. 20. &c. &c.
Ary^y notwithftanding this Precijion, fo obfervable
in the Hebrew^ ^^^ is tranflated into Greek by the"
ieveral Words ctyx^^^^^i octtoKuJ^ou, BKXai/.^oivci)y
s^oii^suy g£a/pw, Xvj^ocoy ^iocivuj and ^vofjuoci. Trom^
mius^ Concordantia Graeca may be confulted upon
thefe Words, by thofe who would refer to the
Texts, where the true Senfe of this Word is
obfcured by fuch Verfions. And, by confulting
liis Index Hebrceus^ it may be feen, that there is
fcarcely
4
Sed.XXXIL REMARKS. iSi
fcarcely any Hebrew Word, of the moil: general
and obvious Signification, but what is fometimes
rendered by Greek ones, as foreign to the true
Meaning of it, as can well be imagined. Thus,
for Inftance, ^1J7 a Servant, is tranflated ap^wi/,
a Prince 'y Nimb. 12, i'^. And ^^^j a King,
ChXtij Cou?2fel; Ecclef.2.12. Kn6.^pi PerfeBion,
or Uprightnefs, kxtcio. Evil, or Perverfnefs ; Job^
4.6. And mufl not fuch Obfervatlons as tnefe,
fully convince us, how incapable any of the Ver-
fions, we have at prefent, are, of conveying to us
the Sentiments delivered in the Language of Scrip-
ture ; and fhew the NecelTity of endeavouring, as
much as we are able, to attain a right Under-
standing of the original Language.
SECTION XXXIL
TH E inferting of Stops in an improper
Manner, mud make a Sentence, or a
Difcourfe, Icfs clearly intelligible to the Reader 1
and may caufe a Tranflator to give a wrong Turn
to an Expreflion.
The Hebrew Writings are, perhaps, lefs liable
to Errors of this Sort, than any others of great
Antiquity : For, though Stops, of any Kind, feem
to have been but litde ufed in antient Times 5 yet,
as the Sentences are generally fliort and clear, and
moft commonly divided by a Vau, or fome other
Particle ; thofe Particles, in a great Meafure,
fupply the Want of Stops, and generally direct us
to read the Periods in a proper Manner. But
thefe have not always been duly attended to by
the Tranflators.
I. The prefent Obfcurlty of that PalTige,
Numb. 16. 37,38. feems to arife from this Caufe :
M 3 " Take
-2^2 REMARKS. Sed. XXXIT.
** Take up the Cenfers out of the Burning, and
** fcatter thou the Fire yonder ; for they are
" hallowed. The Cenfers of thefe Sinners againft
" their own Souls." It muft require fome Inge-
nuity to fill up the EUipfis^ fo as rightly to under-
/land what is meant by, " The Cenfers of thefe
"dinners againft their own Souls :" But if we
read the Sentences, as we appear to be direded by
the Particles ; and render the Words literally ;
there is no ElUpJis, and no Obfcurity : " Take
" up the Cenfers out of the Burning, and fcatter
** thou the Fire yonder : For the Cenfers of thefe\
" Sinners are fan6lined by their Intentions; there- \
'' fore make them into broad Plates for a Covering
** for the Altar." In this Verfion, the Sentences
are not only divided in a different Manner ; but,
** Againji their oivn Souk,'' is altered into, " By
** thir Intentions : " which appears to be the
Meaning of DHli^D!!!, not only from the Con-
clufion of the 38th Verfe, where it is faid, " For
" they offered them before the Lord, therefore
*^ they are fandiified;" but alfo, becaufe the Word
tt?|3i , frequently figniues The Mind, Will, Dejire^
and Intention. See Gen. 23.8. 2 Kin.g. 15. &c.
2. The Paffage Jol? 4. 8, &c. is thus read in
our Verfion ;
8. They that plow Iniquity, and fow Wicked-
nefs, reap the fame.
9. By the Blaft of God they perifli, and by
the Breath of his Noftrils they are confumed.
10. The Roaring of ^^^^ the Lyon, and the
Voice of Snti^ the fierce Lyon, and the Teeth of
CDH^^ the young Lyons are broken.
1 1 . W'^ The old Lyon perifheth for Lack of Prey,
and ^C07 thejiout Lyons W helps z^^ fcattered abroad.
The
SeaXXXir. REMARKS. 183
The 9th and loth f. will admit of a different
Divifion, whereby the Language will appear to
be more corred: ; for, it cannot properly be faid,
that the Roaring of the Lyon, and the Voice of
the fierce Lyon are broken. And it may be read
thus, " They that plow Iniquity, and fow Mif-
" chief, reap it. By the Blail: of God they
*' periOi, even by the Breath of his Noftrils. The
*' Roaring of the Lyon, and the Voice of the
" fierce Lyon are flopped j the Teeth of the
*' young Lyons are broken. The old Lyon pe-
" rifheth for Want of Prey, and the ftout Lyons
" Whelps are difperfed."
The whole Palfage is here quoted, becaufe it
feems to confirm the Obfervation I have made
§ XVII. That feveral Beads are fpoken of, in
Scripture, by Words, whofe appropriated Mean-
ing we cannot now difcover. I can find no fuf-
ficient Reafons to induce us to fuppofe, that five
Sorts of Lyons are refer'd to by the five Vv^ords
above mentioned : n**iK no Doubt means a hyon ;
and ^^3;d appears to fignify a young Lyon : But, I
am of Opinion, that ^nt^^i and ^^^, and KoS,
were wild Beafts of different Species. But, fup-
pofing the Dirtin(!lions here pointed out to be
proper ones, yet there is evidently a Fault in our
Verfion, in not preferving the fame Diftindions
through the whole Scripture. nHH is called a
young Lyon, Num. 23.24. Snji? a Lyon, without
Diftindion, iy! 91. 13, As is alfo TD^ Prov,
28.1. And ^ C^n N^pS ^mn Ti^ la
our Verfion it is rendered, " Then began Men to
" call upon the Name of the Lord." This is in-
deed a literal Tranilation of the Words ; but the
Expreffion cannot be literally underftood, by thofe
who confider, that this is fpoken of what hap-
pened in the Days of Enos the Son of Seth ; who
was not born before A. M. 235. Are we to fup-
pofe, that neither Adam, nor his Defcendants,
called upon the Name of the Lord before that
Time ?
i88 REMARKS. Sed. XXXIII.
Time ? And, do we not read of the Offerings,
which Cain and Abel brought unto the Lord ?
The Revifers of this Verfion, feemingly aware
of this Impropriety, have put into the Margin,
** Then began Men to call themfelves by the
** Name of the Lord :" And this, I apprehend,
comes much nearer to the true Senfe of the Ex-
preflion: For, we read Deuf. 28. 10. W O
^hv Nlpi mn^ i *' And all the People of the Earth
** (hall fee, that thou art called by the Name of
** the Lord." Here, the Meaning is, that the Jews
were the People of God, adopted and acknow-
ledged by him, and under his Protedion, And,
though here are not exadly the fame Words, in
the fame Context with the former, yet they are
evidently fynonymous : For, in Ifa. 43.7. v^^e
find \^ti'n }^*)pi ^D J Where, by " Every one
** that is called by my Name," God is plainly
fpeaking of thole, who were his adopted
Children. — In i/^. 63,19. thofe who were not
adopted, are mentioned in thefe Words, N^pi K*?
tPhV 1^^' 3 " ^^y Name was not called upon
'* them." — When God is fpeaking of the Houfe,
which was called by his Name j or, upon which
his Name was called, y^r. 7. 10, 1 1,14, 30, and
when Solomon is praying for the People, and
fpeaking of the Temple, it is mentioned in the
fame Terms j i Kings ^ 8. 43. and 2 Chro. 6. 33.
In the fame Manner is to be underflood that
PalTage in Ifa. 4, i . " Seven Women fhall take
** Hold on one Man, faying, Let us be called by
" thy Name, or let thy Name be called upon
*« us." i.e, " Acknowledge us for thy Wives, or
** thy Concubines ^ that we become not common
Pro«
Setl. XXXIIL REMARKS. 1 89
" Proftitutes, nor be under the NecefHty of re-
" maining in that State of Virginity, which is
** locked upon as a Reproach and a Curfe to the
" Women of our Nation." See jP/^ 78.63. and
'Jer. 7. 34. — The fame Phrafe occurs Ifa. 65.1.
Jer, 14.9. — 1 5. 1 6. and feveral other Places : From
comparing of which, it will be evident, that it
hath always one, and the fame. Meaning ; and,
that the PafTage Gen./\.. 26. gives us to underftand,
that " When Seth had a Son born unto him, his -
" Porter ity was diflinguiflied from that of Cain^
** by being adopted of God, confidered as his
** Church, acknowledged by him as his peculiar
" People, and blefled with a larger Share of his
** Favours."
2. The Phrafe, To lift up the Hand, which is
made Ufe of by all the Scripture- Writers, as fig-
nifying, To Swear, may probably allude to a
Ceremony ufed, in taking an Oath, by Abraham
and his Pofterity : But, to People, among whom
this Ceremony is not ufed, the Words do not fo
readily convey their true Meaning ; and therefore,
it would be more proper to render them by the
ufual Word for taking an Oath, than to tranflate
this Hebrew Phrafe literally. Abram certainly
meant, that he had y^£;or;z unto the Lord, that he
would not take any Thing of the Spoil of Sodom
to himfelf J Gen. 14.22. And it is always under-
flood fo, by Perfons of Learning and Difcern-
ment : But, as the Scriptures are equally intended
for the Information and Inflrudion of the ignorant
and unlearned, every, the leaft, Difficulty of un-
derftanding them aright, ought to be removed, as
far as poflibly we can. Our Tranflators have ren-
dered
1 90 REMARKS. Se6l. XXXIII.
dered the Phrafe by the Word Sworn \ Exod. 6.8^
and in feveral other Places : But, in Deut. 32.4o*\
and fome others, they have given it a hteral
Tranflation : which appears to be ftill the more
improper j becaufe, when thefe Words will well
admit of a more literal Interpretation, The Lifting
up of the Hand is fometimes ufed, to exprefs the
natural Ad; of fo doing ; as Lev.().22. — Some-
times to exert an Act of Power j as Micah, 5. 9.
and fometimes to addrefs God in Prayer 5 as
Pf.2^.2,
3. To fill the Hand^ fignlfying, To confecrate
into the Priejis Office^ as it is rightly rendered,
jE^coJ. 28.41. — 29.9. (^c. may alfo, mod: probably,
allude to fome of the Ceremonies appointed to be
ufed in fuch a Confecration. See Lev. 8. 24, 27.
But, to render the Phrafe literally, as we find it in
feveral of the more antient Veriions in all Lan-
guages 5 SceExod. 32.29. I Chro. 29. 5. &c. muft
convey a wrong Idea, if it conveys any, to the
more ignorant Reader. — But, the mod extraordi-
nary Negleit in the Tranflators not attending to
the Import of this Phrafe, we meet with in Ezek,
43.26. where the Original, if it be duly con-
fidered, exprefsly fays, " Seven Days they fliall
" purify the Altar, and make it thoroughly clean,
" aiid they fiall corjecrate it." The Greek Verfion
IS, Tcoti 'STXTjcracn x^'P'^^ awcovy or, rotg yjiooLq cx.vj'i^g,
according to the different Copies of the 70. In
the Vulgar Latin, Et implcbunt manum ejus.
The Verfion of the Syriac is, Confecrentque ma-
nus fuas. Of the Arabic, Et lavabunt manus
fuas. In the Italian, E confacraranno le loro mani.
Jn the French J Et confacreront leurs mains. In Our
pre-
Sea. XXXIII.' REMARKS. 191
prefent Tranflation, A?2d they JJ: all confe crate them-
Jelves, And, in no one Verfion, that I have met
with, are the Words properly rendered, except in
the Bifiops Bible ; wihere, to the great Honour
of the Tranflator, who is thought to have been
Thomas Bentham, Bifliop of hichfield and Coventry^
we read, " Thus {hall they feven Days purify
" the Altar, and cleanfe it, and confecrate it."
And, as this is evidently the true Import of the
Hebrew Phrafe, we learn from hence, that as it
was, at firft, ufed to fignify the Confccration into
the PrieHs Office ; fo it was, afterwards, made Ufev
of, to exprefs other Kinds of Confecration.
4. To give the Hand^ fignifies, To promife :
And when we are told, 2 Kin, 10. 15. That
'Jehu asked Jehonadab to give him his Hand, we
are not to fuppofe, that it Vv^as, that he might affift
him in getting up into the Chariot ; but, that
Jehonadab would give him an Alfarance, that he
would affift him in the Profecution of his De-
figns. — When we read, Ezra^ 10.19. " That the
" Sons of the Pfiefts gave their Hands, that they
•* would put away their Wives." We cannot but
underftand it, of a Promife that they made to
Ezra : The Allufion is evident ; the Ufage con-
tinued, perhaps in moft Countries ; and therefore,
the Phrafe is well intelligible to moft People ; and
confequently, there is no Impropriety in retaining
it in a Tranflation.
5. To pour Water upon the Hands of a Perfotiy
fignifies, in AUufion to a Jeroifi Cuftom, To ferve,
or. To minifter unto : Bat, I doubt whether the
general Idea intended, be conveyed to the ig-
norant, when this Phrafe is thus literally tranf-
lated^
ig2 K E M A H K S. Sed. XXXIlL
lated, 2 Kin. 2' n. And, if not ; would it not
have been better to have rendered it, " Here is
" Eh'//^ the Son of Shapbaty who atte?ided ufon^ \
" or, minidered unto Elijah V
6. I put jny Life in my Htifids, is a Phrafe, the
Meaning whereof muft be determined by the
Context of the feveral PafTages where it is ufed»
And, from thence, we may plainly difcover, that
it fignifies, I expofed myfelf to very great Danger :
But, had this, like the foregoing one, been only
once ufed, the Commentators might have varied
more than they do in the Explanation of that
Paffage, P/^ 119. 109. "My Soul is continually
** in my Hand, yet do I not forget thy Law.'*
But, when we read yWg*. 12.3. That Jephthah
put his Life in his Hands, and paffed over, againfl
the Children oi Ammon : And i Sam. 19.5. That
David put his Life in his Hand, and flew the
Philijiine : And, 28. 2 1 . That the Witch of Endor
faid unto Saul, Behold, I have put my Life in my
Hand, and have hearkned unto thy Words :
And, Jol?, 13. 14. Wherefore do I take my Flefh
in my Teeth, and put my Life in my Hand?
There can be but little Difficulty in putting a
proper Conftrudtion upon the feveral PafTages.
But, when thefe are read feparately, and not duly
confidered, the Meaning of the Phrafe will not
be fo obvious, as if it had been converted into Lan-
guage better fuited to the Englijh Idiom^ and render-
ed, " I expofed my Life to very great Danger."
It is true, there is a Dignity and Solemnity of
Expreflion in the Phrajes of all Languages,
which muft be loft by fuch a Converfion of them
as is here propofed ; And the literal Tranflation of
thofe
Sea. XXXIII. REMARKS. 193
thofe in the Hebrew , may give the Reader to un-
derftand, that the Scriptures are Writings of no
modern Date. But, the chief Defign of thofe
Writings was, Edification, and Inftrudion ;
which is, in fome Meafure, obftrudled by any
Obfcurity that may appear therein. And, as, in
fome of the Remarks above, we have obferved,
that the Tranflators have fometimes converted
the Phrafes into the Englijh Idiom, and in the
Margin only, given the literal Verfion of the
Hebrew ; fo, had this been done more frequently,
the Readers of Tafte and Judgment would have
had the Opportunity of intuitively obferving the
Dignity and Majefly of the Hebrew Expreflions ;
which few of the common Readers can difcover,
and be pleafed with.
7. To Jirengthen the Hands ^ is a Phrafe, oftener
appropriated to fignify, To encourage, than To
affiji : Yet, as an EngUJh Phrafe, it fliould rather
feem to have the latter Meaning. In Order, there-
fore, to convey the cleared Idea of the true Senfe
of the Phrafe, would it not be better to drop the
literal Verfion? Thus, Judg.j.ii, When God
ordered Gideon to go down unto the Hoft of the
Midianites j he faid unto him, " Thou (halt hear
** what they fay ; and afterwards thou fhalt be
** encouraged, or emboldened, to go down."—
2 Sam.2.y, " Now therefore be ye encouraged,
" and be ye valiant." The two Parts of this Ex-
hortation, which are nearly fynonymous, are ex"-
prefTed by two Hebrew Phrafes ; and the literal
Verfion of the Original is " Now therefore, let
" your Hands be ftrengthened, and be ye as Sons
" of Valour." The Tranilators have here given
a literal Verfion of the former Phrafe^ but not of
N the
194- REMARKS. Sea. XXXIII.
thelatter, which is only noted in the Margin. — Sec
}Sam. 2T,.i6. Neb.z. iS.Jer. 2T^.i^,Ezek. 13.22.
To weaken the Hands, A Phrafe of the like
Form with the foregoing, fignifies to difcoiirage.
Ezra,/^.^. *' Then the People of the Land dif-
" couraged the People of Judah." — Jer. 38.4.
" Let this Man be put to Death, becaufe he dif-
*^ courageth the Men of War." They were the
Words of the Prophet only, that are here faid to
weaken the Hands of the Men of War. Not but
that to Jirengthen the Hands, fometimes implies
AJ/iJlance dXong with Encouragement; {ecjudg^g.
24. Ezra, 6. 22' And, to weaken the Hands, may
imply alfo aBtial Oppojition ; Neh.G.g,
8. y nW Toftretch, or put forth the Hand,
frequendy expreffes the fame natural Adt, which
Jeroboam performed, when he put forth his Hand
from the Altar, faying, " Lay hold on the Pro-
** phet." J Kin, 12,' A- But, as a Phrafe, it alfo
fignifies to kill, or to flay : For, thus is Gen. 22,
12. to be underftood; " Lay not thine Hand upon
*' the Lad." And 37.22. ** Lay no Hand upon
"him." And Neh.12.2u "I will lay Hands
" on you." — EJiher, 2.21. " Sought to lay Hand
•' on the King Ahafucrus.'' See 3.6. and 9.2. So
the Pfalmift, fpeaking of the wicked Man, faith,
55.20. " He laid his Hand upon fuch as be at
** Peace with him, and he brake his Covenant."
And from hence, after conlidering the various
Senfes, which Commentators have put upon thofe
Words, Exod, 2^.11. " And upon the Nobles of
** the Children of Ifrael he laid not his Hand; **
they appear to fignify, that h^flew them not. And,
here it is obfervable, that as, to Jiretch forth tht
Hand, is a more literal Interpretation of the
Words,;
Sea.XXXIIL REMARKS. 195
Words, than, to lay the Hand ; fo, had they been
fo rendered in the PaflTages above mentioned, their
true Import would have been lefs liable to have
been miftaken.
9. To explain, and to fhew the Grounds of the
Phrafe of wateriftg with the Foot, hath employed
many learned Pens, in order to fling a true Light
upon that FafTage, Dcut.ii.io, " The Land is not
" as the Land of Egypt y where thou fowedft thy
" Seed, and watered/l it with thy Foot^ as a Gar-
" den of Herbs." The Scarcity of Rain in Egypt
is well known ; and we are informed of the nu-
merous Canals that were cut from the River, to
bring Water into the Grounds not only adjacent,
but alfo at a great Diftance : But, as this could
not be done without much Labour ; and, as the
Foot appears to be Ibmetimes metaphorically ufed,
to fignify Labour ; the Import of the Phrafe may
/ be, which thou wateredfl with great Labour. And
this Conjedure is countenanced by the Words fol-
lowing ; " The Land, whither ye go to poflefs it,
" is a Land of Hills and Valleys, which drinketh
" Water of the Rain of Heaven."
That the Foot is metaphorically put for Labour,
we may fee in ^^.58.13. where, '' If thou turn
" away thy Foot from the Sabbath," appears mofl
properly to fignify, " If thou refrain from all
^^ fervile Work upon the Sabbath Day." — 0^/7.30.
30, " The Lord hath bleffed thee fince my com-
" ing," Heb. "on Account of my Feet ; q.d. On
/ Account of my Labour, wherewith I have ferved
" thee." — -5^.32. 20. " Bleffed are ye, that fend
y ** forth the Feet of the Ox and of the Afs^ /. e,
" employ their Labours,
N 2 10. Tq
196 REMARKS. Sea.XXXIIL
10. To lift up the Head, cannot be taken in a
literal Senfe, Gen. 40.13, and 20. Becaufe Jofeph \
applied the fame Phmfe both to the Butler and ^
Baker J though he told them they would be treat-
ed in a Manner very different from each other.
When we fee. Reckon, in the Margin, it, in fome
Meafure, leads us to a right underltanding of the
Words i the Senfe of which, evidently is, " That
" Pharaoh would, in three Days time, bring them \
" both to aT RIAL, '' On fuch an Occafion it might \
be faid, with the like Propriety, in an Englijh
Phrafe, that he would caiife them to hold up their
Hands : And there is another Phrafe of the fame
Import in Hebrew, which is made Ufe of i Ki?i»
21.9. Set Naboth on high among the People.
11. To give the Neck, is a Phrafe that appears
to have different Significations. The literal Tran-
flation of Exod.22- 27. is, " I will give unto thee
" the Necks of all thine Enemies." Our Verfion is,
*' I will make all thine Enemies turn their Backs
*' unto thee." To turn the Back, but very imper-
fedly expreffes the Meaning of the Phrafe j which
feems to include the complete ViSiory, and Superi-
ority; which God would give his People over
their Enemies : So that the Senfe of Pfal.iS.^o. '
cannot be miflaken ; " Thou hafl alfo given me
** the Necks of mine Enemies, that I might de-.
*' Jlroy them that hate me." But, 2 Chron.2g.6,
where the fame Words are again improperly ren-
dered, turning the Back, we may fee, that giving
the Neck lignifies to be obfiinate, or, to continue in
Rebellion, or Difobedience : In the fame Senfe
with to harden the Neck; which we meet with
2 Kin. 1 7. 1 4. 2 Chron. 30. 8. Prov. 29.1. Jer, 1 9.
15. To turn the Neck, is a Phrafe of tne fame
Sea:.XXXIIL REMARKS. 197
Import; yer. 2.27. " They have turned the Neck
** unto me, and not the Face : " which is again
repeated, 32.33. But then, T(? turn the Neck^
fometimes fignihes, to Flee^ or run away ; ^syofi.
7. 8. " O Lord, what fhall I fay, when Ifrael turn"
" eth the Neck before her Enemies?" If in thefe
PafTages, the Words were literally tranllated, the
Meaning of the Phrafe would be better under-
ftood, than it can be by the needlefs Alterations in
our Verfion.
12. The f?mtwg upon the Thigh, may have fre-
quendy been obferved as an Expreflion of great
Surprize, or Concern. If therefore, this be one of
thofe, that may not improperly be called natural
Cuftoms, in like Manner as, nodding the Headj is
an ExprelTion of Confent and Approbation; and
griping the Fi/is, of Anger and Refentment ; &c.
The Phrafe^ To fmite upon the Thigh, appears to
be properly ufedto fignify, " To be truly contrite.'*
In this View the Climax, ^^^,31.19. will appear
proper ; ** After that I was converted, I repented ;
" and after that I was infl:ru(5led, I fjfiote upon my
" Thigh'\ And the Phrafe again implies the utmoil:
Concern and Contrition, £2;^/:. 2 1.12. in fo ob-
vious a Manner, that perhaps very few would
think it proper to vary the Hebrew Phrafe^ in
Order to render it more intelligible.
13. To wax fat, or. To be covered with Fat^
nefs, fignify not only, that Luxuriance of Health
and Profperity, which is too commonly attended
with profane Haughtinefs ; but alfo, the Indul-
gence of the Appetites of the Flelh, with a Dif-
regard to the Duties or Dodrines of Religion ; as
will appear by producing a few of the Pailages
where thefe P/6r<7/^J are ufed. Deut. 2,^.1^. " Je-
N 3 ^^ Jlmrun
198 REMARKS. Sea. XXXIII.
*-^ Jhnriin waxed fat and kicked : thou art grown
*' thick, thou art covered with Fatnefs : then he
** forfook God which made him, ^c'' J^^>
15. 27. " Trouble and Anguifh fhall make the
" wicked Man afraid ; becaufc he covereth his
" Face with Fatnefs ; Gf^." — PfaLij.io. " They
" are inclofed in their own Fat, and their Mouth
" fpeaketh proud Things." — Jer, 5. 28. " They
** are waxen fat, they fhine j yea, they overpafs
" the Deeds of the Wicked; ^c." — See Deut.
31.20. Pfaly^'J' Ifa.6.10. What is faid re-
lating to this,, PfaLii(),jo. is very improperly
rendered in our former Verfion, " Their Heart
*^ is as fat as Brawn'' jy?, Becaufe Swine's Flefh
not being eaten among the Jews^ they could have
no Knowledge of Brawn ; nor is there a Word in
their Language to exprefs it. And 2dly, Becaufe,
the Word ti^DD being only ufed in this Place, and
::i^ri fignifying Milk, as well as Fat, I think the
PafTage rightly rendered in the Greek, Latin, and
Syriac Verfions ; " Their Heart is curdled like
" Milk" i. e. grown four and difagreeable : Or, if
the Word means coagulated, it may exprefs their
Infenfibility, or Stupefadion.
14. To fay that a Man had a fur e Houfe built y
to whom God was pleafed to give a great Name,
and a numerous, lafting, and illuftrious Pofterity,
is a very proper and figniticant Phrafe, 1 Sam, 2.
35. — 25.28. iiv/;2. 11.38. And it will convey
its true Meaning to attentive Readers; but will
not always fo Vv^ell admit a literal Tranilation in-
to our Language ; wherein to fay, built up, or
pro/per ed their Famil^i^s^ would be more intelligi-
ble : For, when it ic faid, Exod.i. 21* that, " be-
ff caufe the Midwives feared God, God built them
'J Hotfes;'
Se(fl. XXXIII. REMARKS. 199-
*' Hmijes^' the Commentators have either found
Room, or taken the Liberty, to put different Con-
itruclions upon the Words j and an ignorant Per-
fon may not rightly apprehend the Meaning of
them. — The Tranflators have varied the Phrafe^
Gen. lb. 2. and faid, " Go in unto my Maid, that
*' I may obtain Children by her ;" where the He-
brew is literally " That I may ^^ builded by her**
And the fame Alteration is made, 0^72.30.3. And
they might, very properly, have been made in the
fame, or fuch like Manner, 2 *S^;;?.7. 11,27. where
the building of David's Houfe is fpoken of by
the Prophet Nathan ; &c. — The Phrafe, indeed,
cannot eafily be mifinterpreted, where a Man was
ordered to take his Brother's Wife, if he had died
Childlefs, that he might buiid up his Brothers
Houfe. ScQ Deut.2^. g. Rutb^^.ii. iChron.iy.
10,25. Yet I think the Words much more pro-
perly rendered, when it is faid, " raife up feed
" unto his Brother'^ See, Mat, 22. 24. Mark^ 12.
19. Luke^ 20.28.
15. From the Quality of Salf^ in preferving
what is feafoned therewith, a Covenant, that was
to be durable, appears to have been called, a G?-
'vena?it of Salt ; and, in thofe Terms fuch a Co-
venant is mentioned, M/;;/^ 1 8. 1 9. i C/?ro. 13.5',
Where it evidently refers to what, in other Places,
is called a perpetual, or an everlafting Covenant.
No fuch Phrafe being ufed amongfl us, had the
Meaning of the Words been more obvious than it
generally is, the literal rendering of it would
fcarcely have been thought altogether fuitable to
the Englifo Idiom.
AmongO: many other rem rkab'c Curiofities,
which have been pretended to have been difcover-
N 4 ed
20O REMARKS. Sed. XXXIII.
ed in the Holy Land, the Pillar of Salt, into
which Lot'^ Wife is faid to have been turned, Gen,
19.26. hath not efcaped the Notice, or Ingenuity,
of feme Travellers. Yet I am perluaded, that a
Pillar of Salt^ there, means no more than an hard,
durable. Pillar of Stone, that was to remain as a
Monument to after Times.
16. To give a Nail, or a Fin, as the Phrafe is
tranflated, Ezra, 9. 8. lignifies, To give a Settle-
ment, or a Jure Abode : And, in that Senfe muffc
If a. Z2.21. be underftood, Iwillfajien him a Nail
in a jure Place. But fuch uncommon Phrafes had
furely better be rendered in a more intelligible
Manner.
17. How much that PZt^z/^, ufed by Zipporab to
Mofes, E.\W.4. 25,26. Surely a bloody Hujband art
thou unto me, hath been mifunderftood, by feveral
Expofitors and Commentators, is {hewn at large
by the learned Mr. Mede, Difcourfe 14. And his
Opinion hath been adopted by the Authors of the
Univer/dl HiJlory,Vo\.2- p.2^5. who render the
Words, " Thou art now to ine a joyful circumcijed
'' Sony Though no literal Verfion of the Words
could convey any fuch Idea to an Englijh Reader.
1 8. Hitn that is fiut up, and left in Ifrael, is a
Phrafe repeated, i Kin. 4. i o. — 21.21. and
2Kin.g.S. From the Context in thefe PafTages,
I fhould imagine it to mean. Both great and f nail:
as ^v^y appears to fignify, a Man of Power and
Authority : Neh.6,10. And ^fj; To dijregard, 2
Chron.io.?). Though the Phraje feems to be more
extenfive, and to include not only, great and fmall ;
but alfo young and old ; good and evil j in Deuf,
32.36. and 2 Kin. 14.26.
19. It
Sea. XXXIII. REMARKS. 201
19, It is faid 2 5^;;?. 8.13. that David gat him .
a Name^ when he returned from fmiting the Sy-
rians, Ul^ ti^V» j which I apprehend to mean, that
'' he erected a I'ropJoy, as a Monument of the Vido-
ry. Thus, in the Propofal of building the Tower
of Babel, Gen. 11. 4.. the Men faid one to another,
" Let us make us a Name." q. d. Let us eredl a
lading Monument for ourfelves. — I/d-SS-'^Z' ^^
fliall be to the Lord for a Name, fignifies, for a
Memorial. And, Na}?ie is to be taken in the fame
Senfe, 7/2?.66.5. And as the Greek Words a-viiJLoe.
and this flrongly con-
firms the Opinion, that That Word was underilood
to fignify a Trophy, Sigiial, or Memorial.
20. That, To be gathered imto his People ,
means, To be admitted into the Region, where the
Souls of the Righteous fojour?t : And that the op-
pofite Phrafe, To be cut off from his People, figni-
fies The being excluded that happy Place, I have en-
deavoured to fhew at large, in the Sermon above
refer'd to §xxiv. when I was confidering the
Paflages in Mofcs and the Prophets, which are ex-
preffive of 'Eternal Life.
The Confideration of the Phrafes above menti-
oned, though but few amongfl thofe that are ob-
fervable in the Hebrew Writings, will give the
Reader an Opportunity of judging, whether it
would not render a Verfion more intelligible to
the more ignorant Part of Mankind, to give them
fuch a Turn, as might readily convey the Idea in-
tended by them, rather than, by a literal Tranfla-
tion, leave the Senfe of them obfcure, to all but
thofe who are well acquainted with the Hebrew
Idioms of Speech,
SEC-
202 REMARKS. Sed. XXXIV.
SECTION XXXIV.
AS the Writers of the New Tejiament had been
fo long ufed to the Hebrew Idioms of Speech,
and to the appropriated, as well as to the common
Senfes of the Words of that Language, we can,
by no Means, wonder to find, that when they
ufed a Greek Word, as correfpondent to an He^
brew one of the like Signification, they ufed it, as
the Hebrew Word was ufed, in either a common
or appropriated Senfe, as they found Occafion :
And as this was really the Cafe, feveral of the Ex-
preffions made Ufe of in the New Tejlament^ can-
not otherwife be well explained, than by compar-
ing them with the correfponding Paflages of the
Old: And this muft occafion a Difficulty of rightly
underftanding feveral Pafi^ages, to thofe who are
unacquainted with the particular Appropriations of
Hebrew Words, and the Idioms of that Language.
I. That J?1» fignifies to regard, and to ap-
prove, as well as to know, cannot have efcaped
the Notice of any Hebrew Reader : And it muft
be obvious, that when it is rendered, to know,
P fall. 6. and feveral other Places, it is to be un-
derflood in that Senfe : But I have not obferved,
that any Greek Authors, except the Writers of the
New ieftament, ufe the Word yimtrxu in that
Senfe : From thence, however, our Tranflators
have properly rendered Rom.y.i^- " For that
** which I do, I allow not; " where the Vulgate
hath jton intelligo : yet^ in a Frefich Verfion it is^^
n* approtive; and in the Italian, lo non appruovo.-^
In this Senfe muft Mat.j.^i, be underftood,
*' then will I profefs unto them, I never knew
" you/' And i Gr.8.3. " If any Man love God,
" the
Sea. XXXIV. REMARKS. 203
" the fame is known of him." In the fame Man-
ner, and for the fame Reafon ^i^co feems to be
ufed in the like Senfe 2l'hef.i.^, " In flaming
" Fire taking Vengeance on them that know not
*• God, and that obey not the Gofpel of our Lord
« Jefus Chrijir
2. Tht Hebrew T\1V, which fignifies /(? ? wpa, when his Hour was
come, fignifies when the Time was coining on, or
not far diftant, that he fhould depart out of this
World. So Luke^i^,zo, rixQi (^gm^^^ was going
Sea. XXXIV. REMARKS. 207
to, in the fame Manner as {^^ fometimes fignifies
coming to, and fometimes going to.
8. T^o looje the Pains of Death, is fcarcely a
/ proper Expreflion, A5ls, 2. 24. but it is the literal
Tranflation of the Greek. And u^iv feems to be
ufed by the Apoftle in the fame Senfe with the
Hebrew Sin : But then, as it is obferved by Beza
and Doddridge, that Word fignifies both Pains
and Bands : And it is above 30 Times tranflated
by (TKoiviov and (TKoivia-fjix in the 70.
9. As we have oblerved in § XXI. 3. That the
Future Tenfe was frequently fubftituted to exprefs
the Senfe of the Subjunctive, Optative, and Po-
tential Moods ; fo we may take Notice, that this
is alfo done by the Writers of the New Tefta-
ment ; and it will be allowed, that the Evangelift's
Meaning, Mark, 8. 36. is, " What can it profit a
" Man, if he Jhoidd gain the whole Word, and
" lofe his own Soul?" And I think, Dr. Doddridge
hath given fufficient Reafons for rendering, ASfs,
3.19, 20. " That Seafons of Refrefhment may
/ ** come from the Prefence of the Lord j and that
*' he may fend unto you "Jefus Chrifty
10. We have obferved in § XXVII. i. That
the Words ^:'^S^? and nin^ are made Ufe of to
exprefs the higheil: Degree of the Superlative.
And it is, probably, upon that Account, and in
that View, that the Apoftle, 2 Cor. 10. 4. men-
tions ©■arXa o\jvol\o(. tu Bbu j Not, that the Weapons
of our Warfare are mighty through God^ as in our
Verfion ; nor tnighty to God, as in the Margin ;
but, that they are exceeding powerful. Again; it
is faid oi Mofes, A6is, 7,20. that he was ug-mg rca
Biu, which our Tranllators have rendered exceed-
ing fair^ which is furcly much more proper than
the
2o8 REMARKS. Sed. XXXIV.
the grains Deo of the Vulgate : Yet in the Italian
Verfion, I cannot but think it moft happily ex-
preded fu divinanmite hello ; efpecially as this ap-
pears to be a Comment upon Exod. 2.2. where it
is faid, That he was a goodly Child 5 and, as Jo-
fephus tells us, that *' MoJ'es was fo remarkably
" beautiful, that he engaged the particular At-
" tention of all who faw him." Ant. Lib. 2.
Cap. 5.
Thefe Inflances are fufficient to point out, to
the learned Reader, the proper Ufe that may be
made of confulting the 70 Verfion, and taking
into Confideration the Import of the Hebrew
Words, which they rendered by fuch as the
Writers of the New Teftament afterwards made
Ufe of in the fame Senfe and Latitude. And now,
I {hall humbly fubmit thefe Remarks to the
Judgment of the Public : confcious to myfelf of
the Want of feveral Abilities and Opportunities,
that would be requifite for executing fuch a Plan
in the mofl proper and mafterly Manner : But,
hoping that there will appear, at lead, a true Zeal
for the Honour of God's Holy Word ; and a well-
meant Defign, and Endeavour, of opening Men's
Eyes, that they may the better underftand the
Scriptures.
INDEX.
INDEX of the Texts of Scripture refer'd to,
illuftrated, and explained in the SeBions and
Paragraphs.
Genejis,
ch. f.
■§. 1[.
ch. f.
§• IF-
ch. f.
§• f-
12.
25. 4.
'^7-^3'
29. 3.
I. I.
25. I.
13-
19. 2.
29.27.
14. 6.
2.
19. 1.
13. I.
26. I.
30- 3-
33-14-
27. I.
10.
27. I.
30.30-
33- 9-
14.
15- 5-
18.
26. 2.
27.
30. 2.
20.
19. I.
14. I.
26. 3,
30.33-
22. 4.
21.
17. 4.
13-
26. 2.
31. 2.
22. 4.
25.
25. I.
20.
20. I.
19.
21. 3.
2. 2.
21. 2.
22.
3Z' 2.
32.11.
25. 4-
6.
25. I.
15. I.
30. I.
13-
25. 5-
3. 8.
27. I.
21.
10. 5.
16.
27. I.
4- 3-
24. 2.
16. 2.
33-I4-
33-IO.
25- 5-
25. I.
18. I.
26. 2.
34-I9-
8. I.
7-
27. 2.
4.
25. 2.
35- 8.
26. 2.
29. I.
18. 6.
24. 0.
36.11.
7- 5-
8.
10. 2.
22.
21. 2,
27.
7- 7-
14.
19. I.
25.
25. 4.
37.18.
25. 4.
25. T.
19. 8.
8. 5.
22.
33. 8.
15..
27. 6.
17-
8. II.
39. I-
21. 2.
16.
25. I.
20.
19. 2.
4-
25- 3-
18.
7. I.
21.
19. 2.
20.
6. 5.
21.
17. 8.
26.
33-I5-
40. 4.
24. 2.
24.
27. 6.
20. I.
26. I.
25- 3-
26.
33- I-
22.10.
25. 4.
13-
33- 10.
6.14.
17. 6.
12.
Z^' 8.
41.38.
27. I.
17-
21. 5.
13-
6. I.
40.
27. 5.
27. I.
23. 6.
27. I.
43-
16. I.
7.22.
27. I.
8.
32. I.
42.37-
25. 4.
8. I.
27. I.
24.32.
25. 2.
43- 5-
20. 7.
10.22.
10. 4.
55-
24. 2.
11.
25. 5-
23-
7- 3'
62.
26. I.
43.16.
25. 4.
28.
7. 2.
25. 6.
25- 5-
28.
8. II.
11. 4.
33-I9-
15-
7. 4.
45. 8.
22. 3.
12. 6
.26. I.
26. 3.
8. 5.
27.
27. I.
5-
26. I.
35-
27. 1.
46.10.
7-J3-
16.
INDEX.
16.
7.18.
19. 7.
19.
1.
15.12.
25. 2.
28.
19. I.
10.
25.
2.
19' 5-
25. 6.
29.
28. 4.
13-
25.
4
10.
25. 6.
47. 14.
21. 2.
21.29.
22.
4'
19.13.
27. I.
21.
6. 3.
22. I.
25.
4.
20.15.
25. 4.
48.10.
22. 3.
3-
25.
6.
22.11.
19. 2.
. 14-
20. 7.
23- 7-
25.
4
23.38.
25- 5-
49.11.
25. 2.
8.
25-
5
25.25.
31- 3-
50.15.
28. I.
II.
25-
8
26.
19. 4.
Exodus.
27.
33-
II
35'
19. 4.
1. 21.
33-H-
28.
10.
5
34- 6-
2. 2.
34.10.
24.10.
19.
3
48.
31- 3-
5.
25. 2.
II.
33-
8
Numbers.
3. 8.
10. 5.
13-
25.
3
8.21.
27. 2.
4.18.
7. 8.
16.
24.
I
9.22.
24. 2;
25.
3Z-^7'
25. 9.
18.
I
10. 2.
17. 8.
5-14-
22. 4.
26.15.
17-
6
II. 6.
18. 2.
6. 6.
31- 3-
28. 3.
27.
I
19.
24. 2.
8.
32. 2.
17-
17-
7
22.
25. 4.
7.10.
17. 4.
41.
33-
3-
I3-I7-
26. I.
18.
10. 5.
43-
27.
3
33-
22. I.
8. 4.
10. 5.
29. I.
25-
4-
I4-34-
16. 7.
9-
15. I.
9-
33-
3
45-
13- 4.
17.
22. 2.
II.
25.
4
16.22.
31. I.
9. 6.
22. 2.
32.29.
33-
3
37-
32. I.
9.28.
, 27. I.
34'i3-
24.
3
40.
19. .4.
35-
19. 4.
20.
31-
I
18. 6.
25- 5-
10.13.
27. I.
40.34.
24.
15.
31- 3-
16.
10, 5.
Leviticiis.
19.
33-I5-
12. 6.
25. 4.
1 5» I-
27-
3
23.
27- 3-
16.
19. 2.
: 2.
19.
2
21.14.
14. I.
13- 5.
10. 5.
i r 7-
19.
4
28.
26. 4.
14. 4.
22. 4.
1 6.28.
25.
2.
22.18.
31- 3-
15-
31- 3-
j 8.27.
33-
3
, 23.10.
24.10.
15.21.
24. 6.
9.22.
33-
2.
22.
17. 2.
.i6- 3-
25- 4-.
II. 0.
17-
I
24.
32. 2.
7-
24. I.
; 13- 4-
30.
3«
■' 24. 8.
17. 2.
8.
22. 3.
14. 8.
25.
2
31- 7-
25. 4.
29.
24. 2.
21.
25.
6
28.
19. 2.
1 7. 1 6.
23. 2.
52.
27.
2
35- 4-
9- 5-
• * -
,
5^-
I N D E X.
5-
24. 2
18.
22. 4.
27.
25. 4
5. I.
31. I.
Deuteronomy.
7- 5.
25. 4.
I. 7.
26. 4.
8.
33-11-
28.
22. I.
8.17.
II. 2.
2. 9..
26. 4.
9- 2.
27. I.
25-
22. 2.
10.13.
14. 2.
3.16.
26. 4
15-
H- 3-
4.42.
22. 4.
20.
25. 4.
6. 3.
20. 7.
10.43.
H- 3-
8.16.
24.10.
II. II.
25. 4.
9.21.
27. 2
13-
23. 2.
10. 1 1.
29- 3
12. 8.
26. 4.
17-
25- 5
^3- 7-
13. I.
II. 10.
33- 9
9.
26. 6.
12.
8. 2
19.
26. 6.
16.17.
19. 4
33-
14. 4.
21.
24- 3
21. 2.
19. 4.
19. 4.
22. 4
II.
7.20.
22.22.
25. 4
. 24. 4.
13- 5-
22.26.
25. 4
23.17.
24, 7
Judges.
24.14.
25. 6
2.13.
24. 4.
25. 9.
33.I4.
14.
34- 3-
27.25.
25- 5<
3' 7-
24. 4.
28.10.
33- I-
8.
34. 3.
31-
25. 4.
15-
25- 5-
31.20.
33-13'
22.
i6. 2.
23.
20. 5
6.17.
27. 6.
28.
19. 2
25.
24. 3.
32. 4.
33- 2
32.
7.16.
15-
33-13
7. II.
33- 7-
22.
24.10
8. 3-
27. I.
36.
33-18
9.24.
33- 7-
33- 2.
26. 6
10. 6.
24. 4.
17-
17. 2
12. 3.
33- 6.
Jojhua.
14.15.
9. 7.
3- 4.
22. 4
15.14.
26. 5.
24. 2
16.13.
13. 6.
4. 6.
22. 4
21.22.
23. 2.
2
Ruth,
I. 6.
24.12.
2. II.
22. 4.
4.11. 33.14.
I. Samuel.
2. 8.
25. 6.
19.
24. 2.
35.
33-H-
4. 7-
22. 4.
19.
24.12.
6. I.
13- 7-
7- 3-
24. 4.
8. 2.
7.17.
9- 3-
29. 3.
10. 5.
17. 8.
II.
22. 4.
21.
13. 2.
27.
25. 5..
12.10.
24. 4.
13. I.
14. 5.
14.15.
2 1,
27. I.
6. 2.
34-
25. 4.
16. 9.
7-15-
17. 0.
46.
18. 0.
13. 6.
25. 4.
13. 6.
19. 5.
33- ^•
7-
22. 4.
23.16.
33- 7-
25.11.
25. 4.
18.
24. 0.
24.
27- 3-
28.
33-14.
39-
19. 4.
20.12.
27. I.
28.10.
27- 3-
21. 33- 7-
II. Samuel.
1. 15-
24. 6.
18.
INDEX.
i8.
14. 2.
12. 2.
28. 5.
14.
33-"-
24. 6.
13. 6.
19. I.
>7-
34- 3-
^3-
22. I.
1410.
33-i8.
28.
28. 4.
2. 7.
33' 7-
14.
23. 2.
18. 4.
24. 3.
8.
7 16.
15-
24. 3.
18.23.
24. 2.
18.
32. I.
18.
19. 4.
19.29.
16. 3.
4.10.
27. 8.
23-
24- 3-
31-
10. I.
6. 2.
II. I.
24.
24. 7.
32.
24. 5.
5-
17. 8,
15.12.
24. 7.
37-
10. I.
7.11.
33-H-
19.
25. 5-
20.12.
7.14.
8. 3.
12. 3.
19- 3-
28. 2.
21. 3.
24. 3.
4-
II. 2.
5-
17. 6.
22. 6.
34. 6.
10.
7.10.
18.
27. 5.
23. 4.
24. 3.
13-
33-19-
19.21.
27. 7.
6.
24. 3.
9- 3-
27. I.
21. 9.
33-IO-
7-
24. 7.
10.18.
12. 2.
21.10.
27. 4.
13-
24. 4.
11.21.
7.16.
21.
33-i8.
I. Chronicles.
12. I.
8. 4.
25.
34- 3-
1.17.
7- 3-
25. 6.
22.38.
25. 2.
10. 4.
, 4.
8. 4.
46.
14. 6.
22.
7. 2.
13- 3-
7.15.
11. a:^
ngs.
30-
7. 4.
13.18.
25- 3-
2.15.
20. 6.
36.
7- 5'
15- 7-
9. 8.
3. II.
33- 5.
41.
7. 6.
18.18.
33'-^9'
4-39-
jy. 6.
42.
7' 10.
20.15.
24. 5.
43-
25- 3"
2.13.
7-I5-
21. 2.
31. 2.
6.23.
12. I.
3. 8.
7- 9-
22.18.
25. 6.
7. I.
24. 0.
4. 24.
7.18,
24. 9.
12. 5.
8.26.
9. I.
5- 6.
7.12.
13-
9. 6.
9. 8.
33'^^'
6.19.
7.19.
24.
12. 6.
15-
32. I.
28.
7.17.
I. Kings.
10. I.
9- 3-
43-
7.19.
I. 4,
25. 3.
^5-
33' 4«
6.57.
7.20.
2.28.
9. 9.
13' 5-
22. 4.
^■33-
7.16.
4-33-
17. 6,
J
14.26.
33.i«.
35-
10. 3.
8.43.
31. I.
15.29.
7.12.
9-39-
7.16.
65.
12. 2.
16. 8.
25. 5-
41.
10. 3.
JO.II.
17. 6.
15-
23. 2.
12. 8.
22. I.
22.
16. 4.
18.
25- 2.
14. 7-
7. 9.
Ji-33-
24. 4.
17. 9.
16. 5.
17-
22. 2.
3S.
33'i4-
1
10.
24. 3.
15.19.
17- ^•
16.
i6.2g. 25. 5.
17.10. 33.14.
.25. 33.14.
18. 3. 12. 3.
4. II. 2.
10. 7.10.
19.16. 7.11.
18. 12. 4.
21. 5. 12. 5.
13. II. 2.
25. II. 2.
22.14. 9.10.
23.10. 7.13.
25. I. 17. 8.
29. 4. 9.10.
5- 33- 3-
II. Chronicles.
^'33' 33' I-
- 9.21. 16. 4.
10. 8. 33-i8.
13- 5- 33-I5-
14.14. 27. I.
15.14. 27. 8.
T7.10. 27. I.
19. 3. 24. 4.
20.35. 14. 6.
21. 3. 25. 5.
20. 9. 4.
22. 2. 9. 4.
24. I. 5- o.
26. .8. 25. 5.
29. 6. 33.11.
30. 8. 33.11.
33- 3- 24. 4.
34. 4. 24. 3.
2.46. 4. o.
.3. 3. 4. o.
4- 4- 33- 7-
6.22. 23' 7'
N D E
9. 8. 33.16
10.19. S3. 4
Nehemiah.
X.
3-
4.
33-
33-
27.
33-
25.
1. 9.
2.18.
3.20.
6. 9.
10.
7-43-
13-21. 33
EJiher.
I. 6. 18
2.21.
3. 6.
4.14.
9. 2.
22.
Job.
1. 5.
II.
12.
15-
2. 9.
2.
8.
6.
9-
15.
6. 4.
7. 2.
12.
13. 14.
15-
^5-'^3'
27.
24.14.
26.13.
30.22.
33-IO-
39- 9-
4
33
4
33
33-18
4. o
8
o
8
8
I
8
6
27,
27
33
26,
27
34
17
31
32
27
31
27
17
33
25
31. I
33-13
25. 4
31-
31-
16.
^7-
8
6
4
2
3
3
2
I
I
7
4
6
4
40.15.
17. 2.
41. I.
17- 3-
Pfa
/wj.
I. I.
25. 7.
6.
34. I.
2.12.
27- 5.
5- 9-
24. 9.
1 1.
19. 5.
6.10.
21. 3.
7. 9.
24. 8.
9. 7.
21. 3.
12.
25. 6.
17-
24.10.
12. 5.
25. 6.
13. 6.
13- 3-
14- 3-
13.10.
15. 6.
25- 5-
16. 7.
24. 8.
10.
9. I.
17. 6.
21. 3.
10.
33-13-
18. 2.
33- 2.
40
■ 33-11-
22.20.
19. 4.
21.
17. 2.
24.
25. 6.
25.14
21. 3.
18
. 13. 9.
26. 2
24. 8.
10
. 25. 5.
27. 4.
23. 2.
29. 6
17. 2.
10.
20. 4.
32. 2
. 31. I.
33-^7
21. 3.
34- 6
. 25. 6.
37-14
. 25. 6.
16
25. 4.
40. 6
, 27. 2.
41.10
. 21. 3.
44
INDEX,
44-19
. 17. 4
45.11
• 21. 3
14
. 25- 5
49. 2
25- 6
., 10
24- 9
51. 2.
25- 2
6
24. 9
7«
27. 2
16.
22. 3
55-I7-
21. 3
20
• 33. 8
51' 3-
21. 3
4-
19. 2
9
17. 8
59.10
. 9. 2
18.
9. 2
62. 4,
24. 9
29. 2
9'
32. 3
64. 9.
28. 3
65- 5<
21. 3
69.32.
. 25. 6
70. 5.
25. 6
72.13.
25. 6
73- 7-
^z-n
21.
24. 8.
74. 2.
31- 3<
75- I-
19- 5
77-15-
31- 3
78.63
33- I
79.10
• 21. 3
80.10
. 27. I
81.15.
21. 3
82. 3.
25. 6
4
25. 6
88.10
24.10
89.48
' 19- 4
90.14.
21. 3
3"^'^
32. 2
92.10.
17. 2
102.18.
104.25.
31-
106. 15.
107.41.
109. 7.
20.
112. 10.
113. 7.
119.70.
109.
122. 6.
132. 7.
21.
17-
24.
9-
25.
21.
27.
35-
25.
33-13
ZZ' 6
21.
21.
139-
3
3
15. 25. 6
6. 21. 3
8. 24.10
141. 7. 26. 6
145.14. 13. 9
150. o. 17. 8
Proverbs.
2.18. 24.10
6-35
7.20
8.10
9. 2
14.20
17.40
17.22
23
25
18.14
23
19. 6
7
22. 7
22
23.17
28. I
3
6
25.
19.
22.
25.
25.
8.
31-
25.
25.
31-
25-
25-
25.
25.
25.
24.10
32. 2
25. 6
25. 6
27.
29. I.
30-30-
Ecdef,
2. 12.
Ifaiah.
3- I-
8.
16.
4. I.
5.12.
14.
23.
6.10.
7.11.
10. 2.
27.
14. 9.
30.
17. I.
22.23.
27. I.
25. 6.
33-11
32. 2.
31- 3-
30.
31-
32.
34-
35-
8.
6.
3-
2.
20.
7-
13-
7-
9-
37-33-
39- I-
40.10.
17-
41. I.
43- I-
7-
44.22.
5-
5-
I.
8.
21.
25.
18. o.
3^-
17-
24.10.
25- 5-
33-I3-
27. 6.
25. 6.
23. 2.
24.10.
25. 6.
21. 5.
21. 5.
23-
32-
31-
31-
33-
17-
17-
17-
31-
24.
7-
34-
27.
22.
6.
31-
33-
31-
2.
2.
I.
I.
9-
2.
4-
4-
3-
5-
14.
6.
7-
7-
4.
. I.
. I.
• 3-
49.
The Two General Remarks
are,
I. nr^HAT the prefent Maforete Copy
-A of the Old Teftament is, in
many Places, different from the original
Hebrew Text : and, That the Variations
are frequently capable of being difcover'd,
in fuch a Manner, as to give us an Op-
portunity of reftoring it to its primitive
Purity. ,
II. That many of the Improprieties,
Obfcurities, and Inconfiftencies, which
occur to an attentive Reader of any of
the Verfions^ are occaftoned by the Tran-
flators mifunderftanding the true Import
of the Hebrew Words and Phrafes.
THE
THE
Contents of the feveral Se&ions,
I.'T^HE original Text was entirely correct ^
-■- and confiftent in all its Parts : But
II. Was, like other Books, liable to the
Mijiakes and Errors of Tranfcribers.
III. The proper Means to be made Ufe of in
reforming fuch Errors.
IV. An Apology for thefe Remai'ks.
V. Obfervations upon the Points and Keris.
VI. The Jimilar Form of feveral Hebrew Let-
ters, made them very liable to be miftaken for
each other.
VII. Orthography not preferv'd in the Names
of Perfons and Places.
VIII. Letters changed^ addedy and omitted, in
feveral other Words.
IX. Words fo changed as to introduce Incon-
fiftencies. Improbabilities, and Contradi6lions.
X. Several Words omitted^ which were in the
original Copies.
XL Several Words added, which were not
there.
XII. Several Inftances of Changes and Altera-
tions in Sentences and Paragraphs.
XIII. Sentences and Paragraphs omitted,
XIV. Sentences and Paragraphs added.
On
CONTENTS.
On the Second General Remark.
XV. Many PafTages neceflarily obfcure^ in
fuch antient Writings as thofe of Mojei and the
Prophets.
XVI. The true Senfe of Words that ard
but once^ or very rarely ufed, difficuh to be
afcertained.
XVII. Several of the Beajis^ BirJs, FiJheSyy^^^&L^
ftreesy Plants, precious Stories, and mujical I?iJlru-> \(X^«i^»^
merits^ mention'd in Scripture, are unknown to VK^^^
us, or cannot be precifely diflinguifhed.
XVIII. Alliifions to antient Cuftoms and Man-
ners frequently caufe Obfcurity.
XIX. The Hebrew Language abounds in Ex-
pletives, which might be omitted in a Verfion.
XX. The Relatives not always apply 'd to the
Antecedent immediately foregoing, in the
Language of Scripture.
XXI. The feveral Tenfes and Conjugations of
the Hebrew Verbs have not very precife Signi-
fications, but are ufed indifcriminately.
XXII. General Words and ExprelTions, as in
other Languages, frequently admit of, and re-
quire Limitations.
XXIII. The Words that are become obfolefey
or were not moft properly chofen, fhould be
alter'd in a New Tranflation.
XXIV. The general and appropriated Senfes:
of the Hebrew Words are not duly diitinguifh'd
by our Tranflators.
xxy.
CONTENTS.
XXV. The Hebrew Words are ufed with
much greater Propriety and Precijion^ than hath
been commonly imagined.
XXVI. The proper Names of Places are fre-
quently confider'd as Appellatives.
XXVII. Some Errors pointed out, which
arife from miflaking the true Senfe of equivocal
Words.
XXVIII. The For??tafive5 of fome quiefcent
Verbs may be deduc'd from different Radixes
than the Tranllators fuppos'd them to be.
XXIX. Words of the fame Form are different
Parts of Speech, and the Senfe the Author
ufed them in may be miftaken.
XXX. Words of Connexion^ or for Illiiftratiojt,
fometimes improperly inferted by the Tran-
llators.
XXXI. The general and common Signification
of Hebrew Words, not fufficiently regarded and
preferved in the Verfions.
XXXII. Stops improperly placed in the He-
brew and Greek Scriptures, and the Verfions.
XXXIII. The proper Import of the Hebrew
Phrafes not duly exprefs'd by the Translators.
XXXIV. The true Meaning of many Words
and PafTages in the New Teftament, is only
to be difcover'd by our confulting the Greek
Verfion of the Old Teftament, and the Hebrew
Scriptures.
RE-
49' 4' 27- 7
5^-^3- 33' 9
^3- 3t 31- 2
6j. 6. 31. 2
J9- 33- I
6s. I. 33-
Jeremiah.
2.27. 33.11.
4.13. 22. I.
5'^^' 33-^3-
6. 6. 24. 5.
7.10. 33. I.
30- 33- I-
9.1 1. 17. 4.
10. 6. 14. 7.
II. 13. 7.16.
20. 24. 8.
12. 2. 24. 8.
14. 9. 33. I.
15.16. 31. I.
17. I. 14. 7.
10. 24. 8.
^9-^5' 33'^^'
20.12. 24. 8.
22.13. 27. 7.
23-H- 33- 7-
30.10. 14. 7.
31.19. 33.12.
32.24. 24. 5.
33- 33-II-
33' 4- 24. 5.
13. 14. 7.
38. 4- 33- 7-
51.16. 33. I.
45' H' 7.
52.23. 27. I.
28. 14. 7.
Lamentations.
2.21, 15. 4.
N D E
4.18. 13. 9.
5. 7. 27. 3.
Ezekiel.
4. 2. 24. 5.
10. 4. 24. I.
13.18. 23. 2.
22. 23'^ y.
ly.ij, 24. 5.
18.19. 27. 3.
19. 2, 32. 2.
21.12. 33.12.
22. 24. 5.
39.17. 27. 2.
40.21. 5. O.
43-26. 33. 3.
Daniel.
3. 5. 17. 8.
6.27. 19. 4.
9.25. 32. 4.
11.15. 24. 5.
Hofea.
4. 8. 27. 2.
6. 6. 22. 3.
I3-H- 3i- 3-
Amos.
2. 9. 22. I.
4. I. 25. 6.
8. 6. 25. 6,
9. 2. 24.10.
Jonah.
1. 17. 17. 5.
Micab.
5' 9- 33- 2.
Nahum.
2. 7. 23. 2.
Habakkuk.
I. 8. 22. I.
I. 9. 16. 6.
•2.14. 24. I. .
3' 9- 15- 3-
X.
Zephaniab,
3.20. 33.19.
Zechariah.
4^I2. 19. 4,
9.15. 31. 2.
Matthew.
2.22. 19. 2.
3. I. 22. 4.
10. 21. 5.
5.12. 19. 9.
18. 4. o.
28. 24.11.
29. 21. 8.
6.13. 21. 8.
25. 19. 2.
34. 22. 4.
7.23. 34. I.
10.20. 22. 3.
35. 24.12.
11.25. 34* 2.
12.31. 21. 4.
40. 17. 5.
17. 4. 34. 2.^
5- 34- 4-
18. 6. 21. 8.
20. 21, 5.
21. 21. 4,
22. I. 34. 2.
14. 33.14.
26.63. 34- 2.
27-43- 34. 5-
28. 5. 34. 2,
I. 9. 22. 4..
3.28. 21. 4,
^•3^- 34- 9-
9. 5. 34. 2.
31. 21. 5.
42. 21. 8r
10.24. 34. 5.
INDEX.
11.14.
34. 2.
24.
34. 8.
10. 4. 34.10,
12.19.
33-H-
27
II. I.
7- 34. 5-
35'
34. 2.
3. 16.
32. 6.
Galatians.
16. 2.
19.10.
19.
34- 9-
1. 10. 34. 5.
Luke,
23-
34- 4-
2.21* 24-I3.
2. 9.
24. I.
^
19. 2.
3. I. 32. 6.
46.
19. 6.
5'S^'
34- 5-
5. 5. 24.13.
8. 8.
20. 4.
34- 4-
7.20.
I3-35-
34.10.
12. I.
Epheftans.
11.22.
39-
34- 5-
24. 9.
15.21.
21.40.
22. 2.
32. 7-
5. 3. 24.11.
6.12. 22. 3.
12.10.
21. 4.
26.13.
24. I.
Philipp.
23-
19. 2.
Romans.
I. 6. 34. 5.
I3-32-
22. 4.
1. 17.
24 13.
3. 9. 24.13.
14. 5.
34. 2.
3- 5-
24.13,
Colojf.
15.20.
34- 7-
13-
13.10.
2. II. 19. 3.
23-
27. 7.
21.
24.13.
3. 5. 24.11.
17. 2.
19.48.
21. 8.
21. 2.
4. II.
5-17-
24.13.
24.13.
II. r^^/.
I. 8. 34. I'
Hebrews.
2.16. 34. 6.
20.28.
33-H-
6. 6.
10.
'9- 3-
27. 2.
1. 12.
19. 5.
7.14.
19- 3-
29.
22. 4.
34- 3-
9. I. 30. 4.
2. I.
23-
22. 4.
19. 5.
15-
24.
34- !•
19- 3-
10. 5. 1 1. I.
6. 27. 2.
12.5. 32. 6.
3.18.
19. 5.
8. 3.
27. 2.
5.17.
34. 2.
10. 3.
24.13.
James.
34-
22. 3.
13. I.
19. 2.
1. 13. 21. 8.
7.22.
32- 5-
I. Cor.
I. Pf/^r.
10.15.
19. 2.
13. I.
19. 1 1.
34. 2.
32. 5-
1. 17.
8. 3.
22. 3.
34. I-
3.20. 19. 2.
Revelations.
20.31.
19. 5.
II. Cor
•
1.1'i. 24. 9.
41.25.
22. I.
5.21.
27. 2.
3. 4. 19. 5.
Ms,
7.12.
22. 3.
21.19. 17. I.
«> 5.
22» 2.
9.10,
32. 6.
23^ 24. L.
M I N J^ s*
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