Srom t^ Sii^xatt of (pxofcBBox TJJiffiam ^cnx^ &xcn IjSequeaf^eb 615 ^itn to f 0e £i6targ of Qprinceton C^eofogicdf ^emtnarj -ID^ I 141 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES OF THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PRINTED FOR THE USE OF THE STUDENTS OF THE THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE REFORMED (DUTCH) CHURCH IN AMERICA AT NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J. Rev. J. G. LANSING, D. D. Gardner A. Sage Professor of Old Testament Languages and Exegesis. NEW BRUNSWICK, N. J. J. HEIOINGSFELD, PRINTER, 42 ALBANY STREET, 1895. COPYRIGHT BY J. (4. LANSING 1895 Introductory Statement UPON OLD TESTAMENT PHILOLOGY, I.— The Original Languages of the Old Testament. The Old Testament was originally written in the He- brew language, with the exception of a few portions, which were written in Chaldee. The Chaldee portions are Dan. 2:4—7:28; Ezra 4:8— G: 18; 7:12—26; Jer. 10:11. The Hebrew language is a member of the large family of languages called Shemitic. II.— -The Shemitic Languages* The Shemitic languages belong to Palestine, S^^'ia, Phoenicia, Mesopotamia, Babylonia, Arabia and Ethi- opia. These languages may be divided into three groups, viz., North Shemitic, Central Shemitic and South Shemitic. XoRTH Shemitic. 1. Eastern, a. Bab^^lonian. b. Assyrian. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. ^East Aramaic 2. AVesteru. Aramaic. West Aramaic a. Syriac. (Dialect of Edessa). h. Mandean. c. Nabatliean. {a. Samaritan. h. Jewish Aramaic (Daniel, Ezra, Targnms, Tal- mud). c. Palmyrene. d. Egyptian Ara-. maic. Central Shemitic. a. Old Phoenician, h. Late Phoeni- 1. Phoenician, cian or Punic. 2. Hebrew. 3. Moabitish and other Canaanitisli dialects. South Shemitic. 1. Northern. Arabic. Sabsean or Himyaritic. \ ^' Trfvi^iJ 2. Southern. t Geez, or Ethiopic I b. Hakili (Ehkilli). a. Old Geez. h. Tigre. c. Tigrina. d. Amharic. e. Harari. The Shemitic languages were developed from one original mother-tongue, which has become lost, except as it is preserved in these Shemitic forms of speech. The Shemitic languages in all probability emigrated from a common centre in the desert on the South of Babylonia, the Arabic group separating first, next the Aramaic, then the Hebrew, while the Babylonian gained ultimately the mastery of the original Akkadian of INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 5 Babylonia, and the Assyrian founded the great empire on the Tigris. The principal linguistic features common to the 8hem- itic languages are as follows : 1. Roots consist of tliree consonants, generally accom- panied by a vowel. 2. Inflections are obtained mainly by internal modifi- cations. o. The fundamental signification is contained in the consonantal root. 4. Modifications of this signification are obtained mainly b}^ changing the vowels of the root, doubling root letters, and shortening or lengthening the root. 5. Moods and cases so far as they exist are expressed by the three primary pure short vowels. 6. Instead of tenses there are two states, Perfect and Imperfect, relating not to time, but to the completeness or incompleteness of the act expressed by the verb. 7. Particles are few, and therefore the clauses of a sentence are simple. 8. There is a wondrous wealth of so-called synonyms. 9. An intense realism is another marked feature. 10. There is a striking correspondence between and indeed a subservience of the language to the thought : — the idea, thought, emotion being the principal thing, and bursting forth freely and boldly without any exter- nal restraint in speech. III. -The Alphabet and Alphabetical Writing. The discovery of the Alphabet and of Alphabetical Writ- ing belongs to the ancient Egyptians. The art of writ- ing was practiced before the times of the patriarchs and 6 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. probably by the patriarchs themselves. For while Moses is the first one spoken of in the Bible as a writer, the art is not represented as anything new ; as, besides, we read of the seal-ring of Judah, implying a knowledge of the art. That Moses and the Israelites at the time of the Exodus understood the art of Alphabetical AVriting is unquestionable. The special calling of the Shoterim of Moses' day was to write. In Deuteronomy is an in- junction to write an abstract of the law, implying an ability to write. In the book of Joshua we learn that a copy of the law of Moses was written on stones prepared for the purpose. In Judges we are told of a young man who is able to write down a long list of names com- prising the eldership and the jDrinces of Succoth. After the time of David the practice of writing in all its forms was common with every class of the people. From the time of Isaiah it would appear that besides the customar^^ written character there was another rep- resenting a more running hand, and possibly letters of a smaller size. (Isa. 8:1.) Others find in Isaiah's "a man's pen," an indication that already the larger Ara- maic character had been introduced, and that he was directed to use the old, rather than the new style. This, however, is questionable; although the Aranmic was doubtless understood by some persons in Israel at this date. This Aramaic character, which is the one now solelj" in use in our Hebrew Bible, supplanted the origi- nal Hebrew alphabet after the Babylonian Exile. The latter however still exists, in its general features, in the Samaritan alphabet, the inscriptions of the Moabite Stone, belonging to the ninth century B. C, and on ex- tant coins of the Maccabsean period. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 7 IV.— The Hebrew Language. The name Hebrew is derived by some from Eher the ancestor of Abraliam (Gen. 10:24, 25; 11:14; 14:13), and hy others from the Hebrew word eher — beyond., and ibree — the one from beyond^ referring to Abraham's mi- gration, and translated " the Hebrew " in Gen. 14:13. The Hebrew language was already considerably de- veloped when Abraham entered Canaan. This lan- guage, akin to his own, Abraham in all probability learned from the Canaanites; that is, he adopted the language of the Canaanites. The expression "Hebrew Language " is not found in the Old Testament. It is there called the "language of Canaan," a strong inci- dental proof of the origin of the language itself. Most scholars are agreed that some dialect of the Hebrew was spoken in Canaan at the time of Abraham's migration thither. This theory is confirmed by the circumstance that the Phoenician language, still preserved in numer- ous inscriptions, is strikingi}- analogous to the Hebrew, in vocabulary, and in many characteristic formations of nouns and verbs. The language spoken by Abraham previous to his migration was also, like the Hebrew, Shemitic ; but it was probably that which is now being brought to light in connection with the Babylonian and Assyrian monuments of the East. This ancient Assyrian and Babylonian are nearer to the Hebrew and Phoenician than they are to the other Shemitic languages. The original dialect of Canaan was undoubtedly largely de- veloped and adapted to its higher use in connection with the immigration of Abraham and the peculiar history of the Israelitish people. By Jacob and his descendants the Hebrew language was carried into Egypt, preserved 8 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. there during their sojourn, and then brought back again to its original home in Canaan. In relation to the rest of the Shemitic languages, the Hebrew is remarkable for its antiquity, purity and sim- plicity. In richness both of diction and grammatical forms it occupies a place midway between the poverty of the Aramaic and the wealth of the Arabic. For the most part it has admitted foreign words only in the case of foreign objects. Especially has it developed a rich store of ideas in the sphere of religion. Alongside of its prose composition, and the language of common life, it early developed a peculiar poetical style constructed for the most part on the simple principle of the parallelism of members. Like all the Shemitic languages, the Hebrew language has suffered no amazing changes, but has re- mained substantially unmodified, either by accretion from other languages, or by any great growth or devel- opment within itself, during its entire literary period. And finally the Hebrew language is above all, in its essential spirit and genius, a religious language, the holy tongue of God's holy people. But while, like the rest of the Shemitic languages, the Hebrew language has undergone no amazing change, still three stages or periods of linguistic and literary de- velopment are noticeable in it; viz., the Mosaic, the Davidic and Solomonic, and the Exilian and Post- Exilian. T,— Hebrew Language and Literature in the Mosaic Period. The language of the age of Moses bears the stamp of greater antiquity as compared with subsequent periods. It contains archaic and poetic words and forms seldom INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 9 found elsewhere. The number of words, forms of words and phrases are greater. There is a poetical col- oring to the prose, and a primitive originality to the poetry. Some words are afterwards found to have slightly changed or developed their signification or form. A slight difference is also found between the Book of Genesis and the remaining Books of the Pentateuch, not so much in grammatical respects, but in that Genesis contains a considerable number of words and phrases which in the time of Moses had already gone out of use, and had been replaced bj' others. In respect to literature, Moses, the founder of the He- brew State, was also the creator of the Hebrew Litera- ture. To him is attributed not only the reduction to writing of the whole legislation that takes its name from him, but also the composition in writing of the entire Pentateuch. How much of the historical accounts from primitive times came down to Moses orally, and how much had been written down earlier than the time of Moses, we cannot determine. Moses gave Israel command- ments, statutes, and judgments which he wrote in "the Book of the Covenant." He also collected and arranged the traditions of j^rimitive and earlier times. He en- tered in the Book of the Law all the weighty events of his own time, both for historical and didactic purposes. And, in addition, the Books of Moses contain prophetic utterances, poetical productions and songs, either com- posed and written by Moses, as, e. (/., his parting song and blessing (Deut. Chs. 32, 33), or transcribed and incorporated by him, as e. ^., Balaam's prophecies (Xu. Chs. 22-24), and single fragments of songs out of "The Book of the Wars of the Lord" (Xu. 21:14, IT, 27-30). 10 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. VI.— Hebrew Language and Literature in the DaTidic and Solomonic Period. The second or interinediate period of the Hebrew language and literature reaches from Samuel to Heze- kiah (B. C. 1100-700). It is the Golden Age of the Hebrew language and literature, attaining its zenith under David and Solomon, whose rich mental endow- ments in the department of literature contributed greatl}' to the cultivation and development of the language. Alread}^ in the Book of Joshua, the last Book of the Hexateuch, linguistic development begins to be observ- able, in the disappearance of archaisms, in new concep- tions and expressions, and in peculiar formations of words. This linguistic development becomes of greater importance under Samuel, in the Books of Judges, Ruth and Samuel, where we find new conceptions and words, formed in the course of the progressive development of the domestic, civil, political, and religious life of the nation ; besides, a large number of words in the Books of Samuel, that do not previously occur in prose, but belong mainly to poetical and prophetical language. The language attained to its highest degree of culti- vated use in connection with the poetry that flourished under David and Solomon, and in which is seen a decided enlargement and enrichment of the vocabulary, the grammatical forms and the intellectual force of the language. It develops new roots and words, new forms and formations of words, and new words in derivative significations. And not only poetry, but prophecy also contributed largely to the cultivation of the language by means of its enlarged vocabulary, its oratorical style, and its powerful imagery in the announcement of divine INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 11 truth. This high degree of cultivation attained In' the language during this period, and as displayed in its poetic and prophetic literature, is owing, in part, to the increase of its roots and its formations of words, accord- ing to its own laws for making these ; and, in part, to the adoption of words and forms from the kindred Arabic and Aramaic dialects. This latter class of words, of course, belonged to the common Shemitic language, but the words had been retained only by one or other of the branches into which the race became diAided, and especially by the Arabic branch, until they again became appropriated by the Hebrews. The Hebrew literature of this period embraces the historical and poetic writings falling between the time of Moses, and that of David, the Davidic Psalms, and the older projjhetic and poetic writings, including the lives and writings of David, Solomon, Isaiah, Amos, Hosea, Joel, Jonah, Micah and. Nahum. From the death of Moses till the time of Samuel the literature is chiefly historical, with occasional bursts of exalted poetry as, e. g., the songs of Deborah and Hannah. Under Samuel and his "schools of the prophets" a theocratic literature becomes revived and greatly promoted. Under David and Solomon, who were endowed with such rich and profound mental attainments, lyric and didactic poetry flourishes. As affairs became dis- ordered towards the end of Solomon's reign, and a growing decadence in religious life became more observable, prophetic literature rose continually into increasing importance. Prophecies became more ex- tended and more imi^ressive in subject matter. This prophetic literature revolves about the two great themes of prophecy; on the one hand prevailing sin, and the 12 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. divine purifications and punishments therefor; and on the other hand the gracious and glorious designs of the theocracy, when, after purification by these judgments, dsijs of blessedness and glory should dawn by the mission of Messiah to redeem Israel, and to bring the saving knowledge of the Lord to all nations. This prophetic literature beginning with the ninth century, attains its climax in Isaiah, during the Assj-rian period. This prophetic literature designed not only for the times in which it was produced, but chiefly for the future, contained also much of historical matter written in a theocratic spirit. Prophetic writings appeared in refer- ence to the reigns of most of the kings, in which his- torical narratives of the weightiest events were united with the prophetic utterances which they called forth, as e. g., "The words of Samuel, Gad, Nathan, Shem- aiah, Iddo, Jehu," etc. Individual prophets also com- posed separate historical works, from a prophetic point of view, upon individual reigns, as e. g., Isaiah's his- tory of Uzziah (2 Chron. 26 : 22) and the prophet Iddo's Midrasli (commentary R. V.) upon the reign of Abijah (2 Chron. 13:22). Besides there were court annalists who recorded the principal undertakings and events of different reigns for the state archives, and from which records were subsequently^ elaborated the general " Chronicles of the Kingdoms." VII.— Hebrew Language and Literature in the Exilian and Post-Exilian Period. The third period of the Hebrew language and litera- ture extends from the time of the Babj^lonian Exile to the times of the Maccabees, and is marked by the INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 13 approximation of the Hebrew to the kindred Aramaic and Chaldee. With the Assyrian invasions the Aramaic dialect began to spread, and to act as a restraint upon the continued independent development of tlie Hebrew language. Hebrew words and grammatical formations became supplanted by newer ones for the most part Aramaic; the understanding of the old language became obscured; its force and ox)erations became weakened, while grammatical niceties, and the distinction of prose and poetical diction became lost. During the exile the Aramaic or Chaldee gained such an ascendencj^ over the Hebrew, that on their return only the more educated of the people still understood the mother-tongue, while the nation that had grown up in exile sjioke Aramaic or Chaldee, and Hebrew ceased to be the living language of the people. In the literature of this period may be seen to a greater or less extent the approximation of the Hebrew to the kindred Aramaic and Chaldee, thus in Ezra, Nehemiah, Chronicles, Esther, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and the later Psalms. The literature of this period was first of all prophetic, the prophets rebuking the people for ingrati- tude; pledging them the certain fulfillment of the divine promises; and foretelling the purifying judgments that awaited the old theocracy, the close of the mission of the prophets of Israel, and the announcement of Messiah's forerunner with His own appearing for tlie judgment of the ungodl}^ For a short time poetry gave utterance to the praises of God in a number of temple- songs and then became extinct. Finally, the i)i'<)ph('lie spirit soon entirely disapi^eared from history. With 14 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Malaclii the spirit of the ancient i)roi)hets passed awny from Israel, and abont 400 B. 0. Hebrew canonical literature came to an end. VIII.— Moabitish, Old aud Late Phoeuiciaii. To the Central Shemitic group belong also the Moab- itish, the Old Phoenician, and the Late Phoenician or Punic languages. The alphabet was of EgyiDtian origin. It was com- municated by the Egyptians to the Phoenicians. From the Plupnicians it was received by the nations round about them. What were the forms of the Phoenician letters used on the eastern side of the Jordan in the time of Ahab, we learn from the celebrated Moabite Stone. The forms employed in Israel and Judah on the western side could not have differed much ; so that in these forms or char- acters we see in general the mode of Avriting employed by the earlier prophets of the Old Testament. The Moabite Stone was discovered in 1869 among the ruins of Dhiban, the ancient Dibon. The Stone is of black basalt, and contains an inscription of thirtj-four lines in the letters of the Phoenician alphabet. The inscrip- tion is a record of Mesha, king of Moab, of whom we read in 2 Ki. Ch. 3, that after Ahab's death he "re- belled against the king of Israel," and was vainly besieged in his capital, Kirharaseth, by the combined armies of Israel, Judah and Edom. Mesha describes the successful issue of his revolt, and the revenge he took upon the Israelites for their former oiij^ression of his country. In many respects the inscription reads much like a chapter from one of the historical Books of the Old Testament. Xot only are the phrases the same, but INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 15 the words and grainmatical forms are, witli one or two exceptions, all found in Scrii^tural Hebrew. From wliieli we learn that the language of Moab differed less from that of the Israelites than does one English dialect from another. The storj^ told by the Stone, and the account of the war against Moab given in the Bible, supplement one another. But as the writing of two persons will differ, so the writing of the Moabites on the east side of the Jordan and the writing of the Jews on the west side must have differed to some extent. Besides there must have been some difference between the cursive writing of a papy- rus roll and the carefully carved letters of a monument like Mesha's. This seems to be implied by Isa. 8:1. But until the discovery of the Siloam inscription we were not possessed of any Hebrew inscription of authen- tic pre-exilic date. The inscription is as old as the time of Isaiah, and maj^ be older. It was discovered in 1880. The Pool of Siloam is supplied with water through a tunnel excavated in the rock. This tunnel communi- cated with the so-called Spring of -the Virgin, the only natural spring of water in or near Jerusalem. It rises below the walls of the city, on the western bank of the Kidron valley; and the tunnel through which its waters are conveyed is consequently cut through the ridge that forms the southern part of the Temple Hill. The Pool of Siloam lies on the opposite side of the ridge, at the mouth of the valley called that of the Cheesemakers (Tyropoeon) in the time of Josephus. The inscription occupies the under part of an artificial tablet in tlie wall of rock, about 19 feet from where the conduit opens out upon the Pool of Siloam, and on the right hand side of one who enters it, i. e. , the southern side. The inscrip- 16 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. tion consists of eight lines and relates to the excavation of the tunnel. It was executed either in the reign of Hezekiah, 2 Ki. 20:20; 2 Chron. 32:30, or Ahaz, Isa. 8:0, or possiblj" Solomon. With the exception of one word the language of the inscription is the purest Biblical Hebrew, and the writing and characters those used by the earlj^ prophets. The Old Phoenician and the Late Phoenician or Punic languages differ but little from the Hebrew, but, on the whole, represent a later stage of grammatical structure than the language of the Old Testament. The Phoeni- cian literarj' remains are for the most part confined to coins, toj)Ographical names preserved by classical writers, proper names of persons, and monumental inscriptions. The longest, oldest and most important monumental inscription is on the sarcophagus of Eshmunazar, king of Sidon, and the date of which falls between 1000 and 700 B. C. IX.— The Aramaic or North Shemitic. Taking the Hebrew language as occupy ing geographi- cally the Middle Territory, the Arabic prevailed to the South, and the Aramaic to the Xorth or North-east. The two dialects constituting the Aramaic language with which we are most familiar are the Syriac and the Chaldee. The Chaldee is again classified into the Bibli- cal Chaldee, those portions in Ezra, Daniel, etc. cited, and the non-Biblical Chaldee, i. e., the languages of the Targums or Chaldee paraphrases. The Aramaic language, taking the place of the Phoe- nician, became the language of intercourse and com- merce between the people of the North. The language became adopted by the Jews when they were carried INTRODUCTION OUTLINKS. 17 away into tlieir ca[)livity in the Nortli. It continued to be the language of the Jews during the Persian, Greek and Roman periods, and was tlie eoniinon s})ee('li of Palestine in the time of Christ. Harsh in its consonants, poor in its vowels, weak in its system of conjugations, marked by a general poverty of forms and vocalization, and notiid'requently weakened and corrupted by pleonasm and tlu? introduction of for- eign words, — the Ai'amaic is tlie least opulent and least cultivated of all the Shemitic languages. Still, oii the other hand, it is a language admirably adapted by its simplicity, perspicuity, precision, and detiniteness, with all its awkwardness, for the associations of every day life. The Chaldee or eastern Aramaic, known to us from its Jewish monuments (Daniel, Ezra, the Targums, etc.), differs frequently from the Syriac in the province both of the grammar and of the lexicon. The S3Tiac or western Aramaic, possessed a considerable literature from the middle of the second centurj- and onwards to the thirteenth, being especialh' rich in works on theology and ecclesiastical histor3^ Its most flourishing center was Edessa. The Assyrian or Assyro-Babylonian language, belong- ing also to the North Shemitic grouj:) dates back to a re- mote antiquity, and strongly resembles the Ilebi-ew. It continued in use until, like the Hebrew and Phoeni- cian, it was supplanted by the Aramaic, and became lost. Its rediscovery or decipherment was made possi- ble by the help of trilingual inscriptions, just as the de- cipherment of the Egyptian hierogl}'])hics was made by the help of the trilingual Rosetta stone discovered in 1799. The system of Assyrian writing was originally like the Egyptian, hieroglyphic and jMctoi-ial. The [2] 18 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Assyrian characters are composed of wedges ; hence the name cuneiform (from cuneiis = wedge) . These wedges are both single and donble, and as to position are hoii- zontal, i^erpendicnlar and sloping. The characters con- tain from one to twenty wedges each, and represent either syllables or words. These are ideograms, i. e., signs of objects or ideas, and phonograms, /. e., signs for sounds. The Assj-rian literature is considerable and is inscribed on bricks, prisms, slabs, statues, obelisks, walls of temples and palaces, etc. The oldest known writing belongs to the time of Sargon T. about B. C. 3800. To the Aramaic or North Shemitic group belong also the Samaritan and the Palmyrene. The Samaritans were a mixed people, arising from the fusion of the Israelites who remained in the land after the breaking u\) of the kingdom of Israel and the depor- tation of its inhabitants by the Assyrians, with the for- eign Aramaean colonists who were planted there by the conquerors. Not only the people, but also the language is mixed. That is, the Samaritan occuijies an interme- diate position in respect to Hebrew and Aramaic, and is marked especially by changes in the gutterals, and b}^ the large number of non-Shemitic words it contains. The Samaritan literature is confined to the Samaritan Pentateuch, the Samaritan Targum, and certain Chron- icles, Liturgies, and Hj^mns. The Palmj^rene is known to us in the Palmyrene inscriptions of the ruins of Palmyra or Tadmor. Tlie inscriptions are chiefly bilingual, in an Aramaic much like the common dialect, the date of the earliest being A, D. 49. The Mandeans dwelt in the vicinitj^ of the Tigris and Euphrates, while the Nabatheans extended from the North Ax'abian or Syrian desert south to Petra and the INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 19 Gulf of .Vkaba. Tlu' launuaiic is closely alli<'(l to llic Syriac. The Egyptian Aramaic apitroxiinalcs Ihc (lialdcc. X.— The Arabic or Sonth Shemitic. Of all the Sheinitie toiij»ues the Ai'aluc is ilic most opulent, tlie most loi>ieal, the most widely dilTused, and the most important in the study of the other Shemitie languages. It is so on account of its antiquity, its purity, its attinity, its living character, its immense lit- erature, its fertilit}^ in all directions, and its logical structure and development. Arabic writings antedat- ing the ^luhammadan and Christian eras exhibit a lan- guage already perfect in form and application. The Arabic retains more that is common to all the Shemitic languages than does any other Shemitic language. Not onl}^ separate nouns, but the radical materials of lan- guage, such as numerals, prepositions, pronouns, etc. ; and not onl}^ separate verbs, but grammatical inflections, show the great antiquity of the Arabic in which they have been preserved, while becoming lost in other Shemitic branches. The Hebrew of the Pentateuch, and the Assyrian as it appears to us even in the oldest inscriptions, show greater signs of linguistic impairment and disintegration than does the post-classical Arabic. In the rejection of the short vowels at the end of a word; in the disappearance of many varieties of infec- tion; in the loss of an earlier wealth of forms and sig- nitications, by assimilation, substitutions and omissions, the Hebrew and other Shemitic tongues have suffered loss, while the Arabic has remained pure and rich in all these respects. The remarkable afhnity between the Arabic and Hebrew is well known. No two Shemitic tongues are so closely related. More than two-thirds of 20 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. tlie Hebrew roots are to be found in the Arabic under corresponding letters. The proportion is much greater if we allow for the changes of the weak and cognate letters. In fact over ninet}' per cent, of Hebrew and Arabic words have a common origin. The Arabic con- tains by far the larger proportion of the roots that are common to all the Shemitic languages. In the copious- ness of its vocabular}^, in the fertility of its literature of all kinds the Arabic surpasses almost all tongues. Es- pecially in its grammatical and lexical laws for linguistic construction and development is the Arabic of greatest richness and importance. No Shemitic tongue is so important, and in some cases absolutely essential to the student of the Old Testament Scrij)tures, not only in respect to grammar and lexicon, but also in respect to exegesis and interpretation. To the Arabic or South Shemitic grouj) belongs also the Himyaritic, or Himyaritic Arabic of the south which dates back many centuries B. C, and still exists archa- ically in the monumental inscrij)tions of Yemen and Hadramaut. To the Arabic belongs also the Ethiopic (called Geez) in Abyssinia, a branch of the Himj'aritic, simpler in its structure than the Arabic, and in general use in Abyssinia as a written language until the end of the sixteenth century, when it was supplanted by the Tigre and Amharic dialects. Literature. — KeiVs Introduction to the Old Testament. Bleek's Introduction to the Old Testcunent. Harmmi's Introduc- tion to the Holy Scriptures. Schaff's Theological Propcedeutic. Weidner's Exegetical Theology. BisselVs Biblical Antiquities. Briggs' Biblical Study. Clarke's Semitic Alphabets. Sayce's Fresh Light from the Ancient Moimnients. Drysdale's Early Bible Songs. Bible Cyclopccdias, etc. Introduction Outlines OF OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS, GENESIS. I. Name.— In Hebrew the name of the Book is taken from the first word of the first verse, viz., Braysheeth = In a beginning. The name Genesis comes from the LXX (Septuagint) Version, and is derived from the Greek rendering of Gen. 2 : 4, the particular word being Geneseos == Genesis = Generations. II. Position.— The first of the sacred canonical Books, called the Bible ; the first of the five Books of Moses, called the Pentateuch ; and the first of the six Books comi:>osed of the Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua, called the Hexateuch. Standing at the head of the Canon, of the Hexateuch, and of the Pentateuch, Gene- sis is introductoiy to all these, not only according to position but also according to its general theme or sub- ject matter. III. Theme.— As its name implies the Book of Genesis is the Book of Beginnings. It treats of the beginnings of the human race, and the beginnings of the Hebrew Theocrac}^ In the main it treats of the beginnings of the Hebrew Theocracy. In doing so it traces the ances- try of Israel back to the lirst appearance of man upon 22 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. the earth, while it also defines the position and relation of the nationality of Israel to the other nations of the earth. IV. Authorship.— Two principal views obtain in re- gard to the authorshij) of Genesis and the Pentateuch. 1st. The more recent vicAv of the Higher Criticism which assigns a composite authorship to the Hexateuch. Accordino: to this view the Hexateuch is to be ascribed to different writers, sources, documents, in the main as follows : (a) P = Priest's Code : — represents the supposed original source of the Hexateuch : begins with Gen. 1:1; comprises as its most essential part those law^s of Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers that relate to the priest- hood and the Mosaic institutions generallj^: embraces about one half of the matter of this part of the Bible. (h) J = Jehovist: — begins at Gen. 2:4^ "in the day that Jehovah," etc. : regarded as being partial to the title of Jehovah for God, as the preceding document, P, is to Elohim : its matter for the most part historical, though with a tendency to prophecy. (c) J' = First Jehovist : — does not, by itself, stand for a separate document, but simply for an earlier source of J: begins with Gen. 4: 16'' " and dwelt in the land of Xod," etc. ((;) E = Elohist : — appears as an independent docu- ment, first in Gen. Chap. 20, though afterwards occupy- ing mucli space, and largely supplanting P : the matter is for the most part historical, like J, though, like P, using the title Elohim for God, whence its name. (e) JE = Jehovist — Elohist : — matter embracing an alleged combination of the two documents J and E in such a manner that they are no longer separable : appears INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 23 first in Gen. 15 : 1-3 : forms the basis of Dt. = Deuter- onom}^ (/) D and Dt = Deuteronomist — Deuteronomy : — occupies the body of tlie Book by that name : based upon J E : notices of P, including 11, introduced towards the end of the Book by one of the final redactors : composed before J E and P were united into a single work. (g) H = Code of Holiness: — an older body of priestl}^ legislation incorporated in P : lies at the basis of Lev. Chaps. 17-26: included in Dt. where notices of P are introduced. (7i) D*^ = Deuteronomic Editor : — enters into the Book of Joshua: basis of Joshua J E, afterwards P com- bined with it : before J E was combined with P, the mat- ter passed through the hands of a writer imbued with the spirit of Deuteronomy, and emphasizing the Mosaic ordinances, who also expanded the matter at hand, mak- ing Deuteronomic additions of his own. (/) R == Redactor : — first appears in a single word, Elohim, in Gen. 2:4'': used for every sort of editorial addition and change, earlj^ or late, made by an indefinite number of editors or redactors and found in any of the alleged sources, including the transferrence of matter from one source to another. It is further to be observed in regard to this document- hypothesis. (a) That the three principal original sources or docu- ments of the Hexateuch are considered to be J. E. P. (h) That these three principal sources circulated at first as an independent work, and so became more or less altered before tliey were combined together in their present form. (c) That as respects the age of the several sources, the 24 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. general tliough not unanimous opinion is that their chronological order is J. E. P., but that none of them took fixed form till long after tlie Mosaic period. The usual date assigned to J and E is about 800-750 B. C, while P is regarded as being Post-exilian. (d) That after the final redaction there is still an in- dication of glosses, l. e. , of matter that found its way into the text, and first appearing in Gen. 2: 19 with the words " living creature." {e) That the matter of Gen. Chap. 14 remains un- classified with any of the other docnments, but is gen- erally assigned to the editor who worked it over on the basis of the E document. The principal arguments adduced in support of this document-hypothesis as to the origin of the Hexateuch are chiefly four, viz. , (a) Differences in the use of the divine names. (6) Differences in respect to language, vocabulary and style. (c) Differences in point of view relating to theological and other matter. (cZ) Differences in the accounts given of one and the same event or series of events. 2nd. The older and more generally accepted view is that the authorship of the Pentateuch is, in the main, to be ascribed to Moses. The principal lines of argument pursued in supporting this view are the following:— (a) The argument from scripture : — that is, the testi- mony offered by the Pentateuch itself, and by the other portions of the Scriptures to the Mosaic authorship of the Pentateuch, — a testimony ver}^ diversified as to na- ture and large in amount. (h) The argument from language: — as, e. (/., tlie INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 25 archaic character of the language in respect to words, forms, expressions ; the style in which the Pentateuchal laws are framed, and the terms in which they are couched, attesting their Mosaic origin. {c) The argument from literary form :— that is, there is in the Pentateuch a demonstrable unity of structure, and such an interdependence of parts as requires a sin- gle rather than a fragmentary origin to account for it. ((/) The argument from histor}^: — such, e. g.y as that relating to chronological order and data ; the nature and cotemporaneousness or proximity of events; events in the age immediately succeeding the age of Moses and presupposing the Mosaic legislation and history, etc. (e) The argument from doctrinal development: — that is, the doctrinal teaching of the Pentateuch is elemen- tary, fundamental, and is expanded in the Scriptures following ; hence it follows that the Pentateuch antedates the rest of the Old Testament, and lies at the basis of the divine doctrine more full}^ unfolded in the Books that follow. (/) The argument from Egyptology: — that is, the large and accurate knowledge disj^layed in the Penta- teuch upon Egyptian subjects and affairs requires such a person as Moses is represented to be for its author. V. Divisions.— According to its subject matter the Book of Genesis, may be regarded as having two general divisions as follows : — 1. Chs. 1-11. The beginnings of the human race. 2. Chs. 12-50. The beginnings of the Hebrew The- ocracy. The Book of Genesis may be further subdivided upon the basis of the principal characters that appear in this history of beginnings, as follows : — 26 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 1. Chs. 1-3. Adam, the first ancestor of the human race. 2. Chs. 4-9. Noah, the second ancestor of the human race. 3. Chs. 10 : — 25 : 18. Abraham, the first ancestor of the Hebrew Theocracy. 4. Chs. 25:19-35:29. Isaac, the second ancestor of the Hebrew Theocracy. 5. Chs. 36-50. Jacob, the third ancestor of the Hebrew Theocracy. VI. Contents.— Ch. 1. Creation of heaven and earth ; creation of vegetable, animal and human life; man, male and female, and his dominion. Ch. 2. Review of the act of creation; location of man in Eden; man and woman. Ch. 3. Man's temptation, fall, curse and expulsion, but including a promise of redemption. Ch. 4. Descendants of primitive man; Cain and Abel and Abel's murder b}' Cain; the line of righteous Abel perpetuated in Seth, third son of Adam and Eve. Ch. 5. Descendants of Seth, traced in genealogical succession, to Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. Ch. 6. The multiplication and corruption of human- ity. The divine judgment and the preijaration for its execution. Noah, the one righteous man instructed to build the ark. Chs. 7-8. The Deluge; its coming, duration and ces- sation. Deliverance of the inmates of the ark, and Noah's sacrifice. Ch. 9. God's blessing of, and covenant with Noah. Noah's, sons; the curse of Canaan, the son of Ham, and the blessing of Shem and Japheth. Noah's age. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 27 Chs. 10:1—11:0. Sons of Xoali and llio nations sprnng frojn tlioin. The dispersion of mankind oxer tlie earth. Ch. 11:10-32. Line of Shem to Terah, the father of Abraham. (Tenerations of Terali and liis death in Haran. Ch. 12. God's call of and covenant with Abraham. The famine in Canaan, and the migration of Abraham, with Sarah his wife to Egypt. Abraham summoned be- fore Pharaoh. Ch. 13. Abraham's return to Canaan. Separation of Abraham and Lot, son of his brother Ilaran. God's renewal of the covenant with Abraham. Ch. 14. Abraham's war witli the heathen kings for the deliverance of Lot. Melchizedek greets and blesses Abraham. Abraham and the king of Sodom. Ch. 15. God, the defender of Abraliam, the cham- pion of the faith. Abraham's desire for an lieir, followed by God's promise that his seed shall be as the stars of heaven ; a divine proof given and the divine promise repeated. Ch. 16. God's promise renewed to Abraham. Change of the name Abram to Abraham. The covenant of faith and the sign of the covenant, circumcision. Name of Sarai changed to Sarah. Ishmael blessed, but Isaac the seed of promise. Chs. 18,19. Abraham at Mamre. Theopluuiy. The promise of a son to Abraliam and Sarah's doubt. Judg- ment pronounced upon Sodom and Gomorrali. Abia- liam's intercession. Fall of tlie cities of llie i)lain. Lot's deliverance. Lot and his daughters. Moab and Ammon. Chs. 20, 21. iVl)rahaiH and .Vl)iinelech, king of Gerar. 28 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Sarah's exposure and preservation. Abraham intercedes for Abinielech. Birth of Isaac. Expulsion of Ishmael. Treaty of peace at Beersheba, with Abinielech. Ch. 22:1-19. The trial of Abraham's faith. The sealing both of Abraham's faith and the divine promise. Chs. 22:20—23:20. Descendants of Nahor, Abra- ham's brother. Death and burial of Sarah. Chs. 24: — 25:10. Abraham's instructions as to the marriage of Isaac. Isaac's marriage to Rebekah. Abra- ham's second marriage. Keturah and her sons. Death and burial of Abraham. Ch. 25 : 11-34. Isaac and Ishmael. Jacob and Esau. Ch. 26. Isaac in Gerar. The Abrahamic iDromise renewed to him. Exposure of Rebekah. Isaac yields to the Philistines; migrates to Beer-Sheba. Treaty of peace with Abinielech. Esau's marriage. Chs. 27: — 28:9. Isaac favors his firstborn, Esau. Rebekah and Jacob deprive him of the theocratic bless- ing. Esau's blessing. His hosj)itality to Jacob. Prepa-- ration for Jacob's flight and his journe}^ with a view to effecting a theocratic marriage. Ch. 28 : 10-22. Jacob's journey to Mesopotamia. The vision of the heavenly ladder. Chs. 29 :— 30 : 24. Jacob and Laban's younger daughter Rachel. Contracts between Laban and Jacob. Jacob's involuntary marriage with Leah. The double marriage. Leah's sons. Rachel's dissatisfaction. The concubines. Children of Jacob until the birth of Joseph, Rachel's firstborn. Chs. 30:25 — 31:55. New treaty between Jacob and Laban. Jacob commanded of God to return home. Jacob's flight. Laban's persecution. An alliance con- cluded. Departure. Chs. 32: — 33:10. Jacob's journey home. Met b}^ INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 20 (tO(Vs host of aiii>els. His fear of Ksaii. His wrostliiiii- witli (tO(1. His iiaiiie changed to Tsraol. His reconcilia- tion with Esau. Chs. 33 : 17—35 : -31. Jacob in C^anaan, first in Succoth, then in Shecheni. Dinaii. Simeon and Levi. Fanati- cism. Jacob leaves for Bethel. Jcnirney from Bethel to beyond Bethlehem. Benjamin's birth. Death of Rachel. Ch. 35: "32-29. Reuben's sin. Jacob' sons. Here- turns to Isaac at Hebron. Death and burial of Isaac. Ch. 36. The i>enerations of Esau. Ch. 37. Jacob and Joseph. Joseph's dream. Joseph sold into Egypt. Ch. 38. Judah's temporary separation from his brothers. Judah's sons. Tamar. Chs. 39 : — 41 : 52. Joseph in the house of Potiphar. In prison. Interprets the dreams of his fellow pi-isoners. Interf)rets the dreams of Pharaoh. Is promoted to the premiership of Egypt. Marries Asenath, daughter of the priest of On. Manasseh and Ephraim born. Chs. 41 : 53 — 45 : 28. The seven years of famine. First journey of Jacob's sons to Egypt. Second journey with Benjamin. Joseph makes himself known. The return to Jacob, and his joy. Chs. 46, 47. Israel goes to Egypt with his sons, and settles in Goshen. Jacob before Pharaoh. Joseph's political economj^ Jacob arranges for his burial. Chs. 48, 49. Jacob's illness. He blesses the sons of Joseph. His blessing on his own sons. Judali and his brethren. Jacob's last charge, and his death. Ch. 50. Days of mourning. Jacob's funeral. Jos- eph's generous treatment of his bi-others. Joseph's last charge and death. VII. Doctrine.— The doctrines made prominent in the Book of Genesis are 30 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. (a) The creation of man by God. (h) The introduction of sin and its consequences into the world by the fall of man. (c) The divine ground-plans and promises for the redemption of man. VIII. Messianic— The Messianic prophecies in the Book of Genesis are as follows : 1. Gen. 3:13-15. The Protevangelium. The Seed of the woman. 2. Gen. 5:28-32. Lamech-Noah. Line of Seth. The Comforter. 3. Gen. 9:18-27. Salvation through the race of Shem. 4. Gen. 12:1-3. The call and blessing of Abraham out of Shem. 5. Gen. 2G:l-5. The covenant with Isaac of Abra- ham's sons. 6. Gen. 28:10-17. The covenant with Jacob of Isaac's sons. 7. Gen. 49:8-12. The Blessing of Judah out of Jac- ob's twelve sons. See Messianic under Exodus. Literature. — 2. Introductions. KeiVs Introduction to the Old Testament ; Harman's Introduction to the Holy ScyHptures ; Driver's Introduction to the Literature of the Old Testament ; and the commentaries. 2. Commentaries. Lange's Commentary; Delitzsch Commentar ueber die Genesis ; Keil, in Keil and Del- itzsch series; Speaker's Commentary. 3. Criticism. Green's Moses and the Prophets, and the Higher Criticism of the Penta- teuch. BisselVs The Pentateuch its Origin and Structure, and Genesis in Colors; Davidson's Introduction to the Old Testament ; Driver's Introduction; Brigg's Higher Criticism of the Hexa- teuch ; -Sayce's Higher Criticism and the Monuments ; Zenos' Ele- ments of Higher Criticism; Anti-Higher Criticism, by Drs. Os. good, Gi^een, Chambers, and others. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 31 gp:nealogical tables to genesis. I. The Antediluvian Patriarchs. Table to Gen. Ch. 5, Comp. 9: 39. According- to the Hebrew Text. Names of Age at birth Remainder Whole dur- Year of Year of the of of ation of birth death Ten Patriarchs Firstborn. Life. 800 lafe. A.M. A. M. Adam, 130 930 1 930 Seth, 105 807 912 130 1042 Enosh, 90 815 905 235 1140 Kenan, 70 840 910 325 1235 Mahalalel, 65 830 895 395 1290 Jared, 162 800 962 460 1422 Enoch, 65 300 365 622 987 Methuselah, 187 782 969 687 1656 Lamech, 182 595 777 874 1651 Noah, 500 450 950 1056 2006 To the Flood = 100 years. From Adam to the Flood = 1656 years. 1656 A. M. = Shem's 98th year. II. The Postdiluvian Patriarchs. Table to Gen. Ch. 11. Comp. Chs. 21, 25, 29, 31, 35, 47. According to the Hebrew Text. Names of Age at birth Remainder Wliole dur- Year of Year of the of of ation of birth death Patriarchs. Firstborn. Life. Life. A.M. A. M. Shem, 100 500 600 1558 2158 Arpachshad 35 403 438 1658 2097 Shelah, 30 403 433 1693 2126 Eber, 34 430 464 1723 2187 Peleg, 30 209 239 1757 1996 Ren, 32 207 239 1787 2026 Serug, 30 200 230 1819 2045 Nahor, 29 119 148 1849 1997 Terah, 70 135 205 1878 2083 Abram, 100 75 175 1948 2123 Isaac, 60 120 180 2048 2228 Jacob, 65 82 147 2108 2255 31 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. EXODUS. I. Ufarae.— We-elleh shemoth = And these the names. According to the Jews this name is given to the Book from its opening words. From the Ynlgate we have the name Exodus, so called from the chief event related in it, /. e., the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. II. Position.— The connection between the Book of Exodus and that of Genesis is close. Exodus continues the historical account with which Genesis closes. In Genesis God enters into covenant with Abraham, prom- ising him that his posterity shall inherit the land of Canaan, and that in his seed all the families of the earth should be blessed. In the same Book, however, this promise is followed by the statement to Abraham that before his descendants shall possess that land, they shall be strangers in another, in which thej^ shall serve and be afflicted, that this nation whom they served God would judge, after which they should come forth with great substance in the fourth generation. To this corresponds the first chapter of Exodus, and thus the connection. III. Theme.— The Book treats of the histor}^ of the Israelites as a nation from the death of Joseph to the erection of the Tabernacle by Moses in the second year of the Exodus. It opens with a reference to Jacob's descent into Egypt, after which follows the historical account of the oppression of the Israelites, their deliver- ance from the Egyptians through the divinely com- missioned Moses, the wanderings in the desert, the giving of the law from Sinai, the instructions for build- INTRO nUCTION OUTLINES. 33 ing the altars of saci-iiico and tlic tabernacle, and various precepts. IV. Authorship.— See AnfJiorshii) under Genesis. V. Divisions.— The IJook divides itself into three principal parts which may be respectively titled — Bond- age, Redemption, Establishment; — as follows: 1. C1is. 1-11. IJondage. Events preliminary to the deliveranc(^ of the Israelites from Egypt. 'I. Chs. 1 'I : — 11) : 'I. liedemption. The last ])lague, tlie departure of the Israelites from P^gypt, and their jour- uej' to Sinai. 3. Chs. 19 : 3 — 40 : 3S. Establishment. Israel at Sinai. The establisliment of the Theocracy. VI. Contents.- 1. Chs. 1, 2. Increase of Jacob's posterity in Egyi)t. Measures instituted by a new king- to check this increase, liirth, education and flight of Moses. 2. Chs. 3, 4. The divine vaW of Moses to be the de- liverer of Israel, and his return to Egypt in obedience to this call. 3. Chs. 5:1-21. The first attempt on the part of Moses and Aaron to prevail upon Pharoah to let the Israelites go results oidy in increasing the Israelites' bur- dens. 4. Chs. 5 : 22 — 7 : 7. Additional preparation of Moses and Aaron for their mission, together with a table of their genealogies. 5. Chs. 7:8 — 11:10. Narrative of the successive signs and i:)lagues b}' which the deliverance of Israel from Egypt was eifected. 6. Chs. 12, 13. The last plague ; the departure from Egypt. The institution of the Passover, and the feast of Unleavened Bread. The death of the firstboi'ii, The [3J 34 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. journey from Ramses to Suceoth. Tlie law respecting the dedication of the firstborn. The march from Siic- coth to Etham. 7. Chs. 14, lo. The passage of the Red Sea. Moses' song of triumph. The journey to Marah and Elim. 8. Chs. 10-18. The journey from Elim to Sinai. The quails and manna ; the miraculous suppl}^ of water at Rephidim. The conflict with Amalek. The arrival of Jethro and the council given by him to Moses respecting the civil government of the people. 9. Chs. 10 :— 24: 11. The establishment of the Theoc- racy at Sinai on the basis of the Ten Commandments, and of a code of laws regulating the social life and relig- ious observances of the i:)eople called the Book of the Cov- enant; followed by the promise of an angel to guide the people, and the people's ratification of the Covenant. 30. Chs. 24:12— 31:18. Instructions to Moses on Sinai respecting the tabernacle, the ark, the mercj^ seat, the altar of burnt offering, the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests, the altar of incense, the laver, the holy oil, the selection of Bezaleel and Oholiab to ex- ecute the skilled work that w as necessarj^ and the deliv- erance to Moses of the two Tables of the Law. 11. Chs. 32-34. The incident of the golden calf; the intercession of Moses on behalf of the people, and the renewal of the covenant. 12. Chs. 35, 40. The construction of the Tabernacle and its appurtenances in accordance with the direc- tions given, and its erection on the first day of the second year of the Exodus. VII. Doctrine.— The doctrines more prominently brought out in the Book of Exodus are 1. Redemption through the shedding of blood. INTKODUCTTON OUTf.lNES. 35 •3. The lluMX'ralic oriiani/at ion of llic riMlrcined. 0. Divine law i'e(iuirini>' iiiaiTs obedienee. 4. Divine ordinances reiiulatinii' man's woiship. VIII. Messianic— The liook of Kxodns contains no direct Messianic Pi'o])liecy. Tiiere is un(iiiestional)ly, however, a strong Messianic (dement of a typoloiiical character. Tlie tyi)es of Scripture may be (dassilied as 1. Personal; that is, Scriptur(^ chai'acters whose lives illustrate some truth or principle of redemj)tion; and in so far point forward to the personal Redeemer, who is the antitvpe. Such, c. g., are Adam, Melchizedek, Abraham in the liook of (Genesis, and Moses, Aaron, the Priest in the I>ook of Exodus. 2. Historical ; that is, where great historical events are made to foreshadow the greater things that are to come; as, e. (/., the deliverance from Egypt, the wilder- ness journe}^ the conquest of Canaan, etc. o. Institutional; such, e. g., as the passover, the priesthood, the altar, the sacrifices, etc. The types of Genesis are for the most part personal and historical; while those of Exodus are found under all three heads of the classification. Thus we liave per- sonal types, as, e. f/., Moses and Aaron ; historical types, as, e. (/., tiie deliverance from Egypt, and tlu' wilderness journey; institutional types; as, e. ///7;/(;'y/^n'n^s ; Lfinge : Keil (ind Dc/itzsch : Speaker s Commeutarn. On Iii/nxlnrfioii tiinJ Criticism iice Lit- erature under Genesis. 36 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. TABLE OF SACRED SEASONS, FEASTS, SACRIFICES. See Ex. Chs. 12, 13, 23, 34. Lev. Chs. 2, 4, 5, 6, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 23. Num. Chs. 9, 15. 19, 28, 29. Deut. Ch. 16. I. Sacred Seasons and Feasts. 1. The Sabbath. Gen. 2:2, 3. Ex. 20:8-11. (a) The Sabbatical Month, /. e., 7th month. (b) The Sabbatical Year, i. e., 7th year. (c) The Year of Jubilee, i. e., the 50th year, following 7X7. 2. The Passover. Ex. Ch. 12. 3. The Feast of Unleavened Bread. Ex. Chs. 12, 13. Lev. 23. Num. 28. Deut. 16. 4. The Feast of Weeks, or Pentecost. Lev. Chs. 15, 23. Num. Ch. 28. 5. The Feast of Tabernacles. Lev. Ch. 23. Num. Ch. 29. 6. The New Moon, or Trumpets. Num. 10: 10. 7. The Day of Atonement. Ex. Ch. 30. Lev. Chs. 16, 23. Num. Ch. 29. 8. The Feast of Purim. One of the later feasts. Esth. 3 : 7, 13 ; 9:24, 27. 9. The Feast of Dedication. A late feast. Dates from the re- consecration of the altar and temple at Jerusalem after their de- filement by Antiochus Epiphanes. II. Sacrifices. Offerings, etc. A. Classified: Animal and vegetable, or bloody and unbloody offerings. 1. The Vegetable Offerings : included {a) The regular meal and drink offering. See below. {b) The first sheaf at the Passover. (c) The shew bread, and the pentecostal loaves. B. Animal Sacrifices. The ceremony of offering required (a) The presentation of the victim, (b) The laying on of hands by the offerer. (c) The slaying of the victim. {d) The sprinkling of the blood of the victim. (e) The burning of some part of the animal on the altar. These Animal sacrifices included 1. The Burnt Offering. Lev. Chs! 8, 9, 14, etc. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 37 2. The Peace or Thank Offerini^-. Two kinds, required and voluntary. 3. The Sin Offering. Lev. Chs. 4, 5. Ideas ;— atonement, sat- isfaction, restitution. 4. The Trespass or (luilt Offering. Idea;— atonement, expia- tion. Offered for (a) Unwitting sin as to " holy things." Lev. 5: 15, 16. {b) Unintentional transgression of a divine command. Lev 5:17-19. (c) Unjust treatment of a neighbor. Lev. 6:2-7. (d) Criminal intercourse indicated in Lev. 19: 20-22. (e) In the ceremony for purifying a leper. Lev. Cli. 14. (/) In case of defilement of a Nazarite. Num. 6: 6-12. (g) In case of men who had married foreign wives. Ezra 10:19. C. "Holy " and " Most Holy " Offerings. 1. Most Holy; e. g., burnt, sin and trespass offering, and the lambs at pentecost for a public peace offering, 2. Holy; e. g., the remaining public peace offerings. D. The Meal Offerings. Two kinds, viz., 1. Those constituting offerings of themselves, viz., (a) The offering mentioned in Lev. 2: 1-3. Voluntary. (b) The oblation mentioned in Lev. 2 : 4. Voluntary. (c) Similar offering mentioned in Lev. 2:5, 6. Voluntary. (d) The meal offering mentioned in Lev. 2: 7. Voluntary. (e) The meal offering of first fruits. Lev. 2 : 14-16. Voluntary. (/) The meal offering of jealousy. Num. Ch. 5. Voluntary. (g) The sin offering of poverty. Lev. 5:11-13. Required. (h) The consecration, and daily offering of the high priest. Lev. 6 : 19-23. Required. ( The meal ofering in purification of a leper. Lev. 14 : 10, 20. Required. 2. Those brought with and as accompaniments of other offer- ings, I. e., with (a) The daily morning and evening sacrifices. (6) The additional daily festival sacrifices including the Sab- bath. (c) The burnt offering on presenting the first fruits at passover and pentecost. (d) The burnt and sin offerings for the unwitting sin of the congregation. 38 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. (e) The Nazarite's offering upon comi)leting his vow. E. The Daily Sacrifices. They were {a) A burnt offering of a lamb with its meal offering. {b) The meal offering of the high priest. (c) The offering of incense at the altar of incense. (d) The drink offering for the preceding meal offering. (e) On the Sabbath two lambs, burnt offerings, with meal and drink offerings. F. Ceremonial Purifications. Three kinds of ceremonial im- purities required animal sacrifices, viz., (a) Contact with the dead of men or animals. Num 19: 1-22. (b) Leprosy in men, houses or clothing. Lev. Chs. 13, 14. (c) Morbid fiuxes of the human body. Lev. Ch. 15. G. Vows. Not required but regulated by ScrijDture. Two kinds, viz., (a) Positive vows : — the dedication of something to Jehovah. Gen. 28:20-22. (b) Negative Vows: — abstaining from something to honor Jehovah, e. g., Nazarite vow. H. Circumcision. LEVITICUS. I. Name.— PFa-F/A'yvj// = And he called. The Book is so called by the Jews from its opening- word. The name Leviticus comes from the ^"ulgate, and is so called because tlie Book treats mainly of the Levitical service. II. Position.— The Sinaitic legislation, begun in Exo- dus, is further developed in Leviticus. Tlie tabernacle being built, and Aaron and his sons being read}' for tlie consecration to tlie divine service, Moses issues instruc- tions relative to the offerings to be made to Jello^'ah, and sets forth the duties of the jiriests. I. Chs. l-T. •) Chs. 8-10. 3. Chs. 11-10, 4. Chs. ir-20, 5. Chs. 21-->5. 0. Ch. 26. T INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 3») III. Theme.- Priestly U\i>ishili()n as to divine service. IV. Authorship.— See A ufJiorsJu'/) under (ienesis. V. Divisions.— Tlie main divisions of tlu' iJook arc: Tiie law ol" tile saeriliee. The law of i)riestly eonseeration. The law of i)urilieation. The law of holiness. The law^ of priestly purity. he hiw of obedience. 7. Ch. 27. The law of vows and tithes. VI. Contents.— 1. Ch. 1. Tlie burnt offering. 2. Ch. 2. The ineal offering. 3. Ch. 3. The peace offering. 4. Ch. 4. Tiie (unintentional) sin offering: including {a) The sin of the chief priest. (/>) The sin of the whole people, (c) The sin of a ruler, (d) The sin of an ordinary- Israelite. 5. Ch. 5. Examples: including (a) Regulations as to the sin offering. (b) Regulations as to the guilt ofifering. 6. Chs. 6, 7, Priestly directions : including (a) Di- rections in sacrificing the burnt offering. (/>) Directions in sacrificing the meal offering, (c) The High Priest's dail}^ meal offering, (d) Directions to be observed in the sin offering. (e) Rites as to the guilt offering. (/) The peace offering, {(j) Things not to be eaten. {k) Historical subscription to these commands. 7. Chs. 8-10. The consecration and inauguration of the priests: including (a) Ch. 8. Aaron and his sons consecrated according to Ex. 20:1-37. (b) Ch. '.>. Aaron and liis sons enter ui)()n llicii" oHicc. ((•) Ch. 10:1-7. Punishment of Nadab and Al)ihu. 40 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. (d) Ch. 10:8-11. Priestly prohibition as to wine while officiating. (e) Ch. 10:12-15. The priest's portion in the meal offerings and jjeace offerings. (/) Ch. 10:1(3-20. The flesh of tlie people's sin offer- ing to be eaten by the priest. 8. Chs. 11-16. Laws of purification and atonement: including (a) Ch. 11. Clean and unclean animals. (b) Ch. 12. Purification after childbirth. (c) Chs. P), 14. Diagnosis, kinds and purification of leprosy. (d) Ch. 15. Purification after certain natural secre- tions. (e) Ch. 10. Rules as to tlie observance of the Da}^ of Atonement. 9. Chs. 17-20. Israel's law of holiness distinguishing- it from heathen nations: including (a) Ch. 17:1-9. Animal sacrifices to be offered at the central sanctuary. (b) Ch. 17 : 10-lG. Blood and the flesh of animals dying naturally, or torn by beasts, not to be eaten. (c) Ch. 18. Unlawful marriages, nnchastity and Mo- lech worship. (c?) Ch. 19. Laws regulating religious and moi'al con- duct. (e) Ch. 20. Penalties for transgressions of the law of holiness. 10. Chs. 21, 22. Rules concerning priests and offer- ings: including (d) Ch. 21:1-15. Rules relative to domestic life. [b) Ch. 21 : 10-24. Priestly rules as to bodily per- fection. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 41 (c) Cli. '22:1-10. Coiulitious of ])aiiakiii,ii' of sacri- ficial food, ((/) Ch. "22:17-25. Perfection of sacrilicial aniuuiLs. {e) Ch. 22:2(')-30. Special injunctions touchiiin' sacri- fices. (/') Ch. 22::)1-:}:). Closing appeal. 11. Ch. 23. Tlie calendar of feasts; including {(t) Ch. 23:1-8. The Sabbatli and unleavened bread. (/>) Ch. 23 : 11-14. The sheaf of first fruits, (c) Ch. 23 : 15- 22. Feast of Weeks, (r/) Ch. 23:23-25. New Year's Day. {e) Cli. 23:20-32. Day of Atonement. (/) Ch. 23:33-30. Feast of Booths or Tal)ernacles. (y) Ch. 23:37,38. Subscription. (h) Ch. 23:39-43. Addi- tional instructions as to the Feast of Booths. 12. Ch. 24. Treats of {a) Ch. 24:1-4. The lamps in the tabernacle, {h) Ch. 24:5-0. The Shewbread. (c) Ch. 24:10-23. J^aws relative to blasphemy, and certain cases of injury. 13. Ch. 25. Treats of (a) Ch. 25:1-7. The Sabbatical years. (J)) Cli. 25:8-55. The year of Jubilee, followed by instructions relative to the rigiit of redemption and usury. 14. Cli. 20. Treats of (a) Ch. 20:1, 2. The prohibition of idolatry and the observance of the Sabbath. (h) Ch. 20:3-45. Exhortation following the delivei'- ance of the foregoing code. (r) CMi. 20:40. Subscrii)t ion. 15. Ch. 27. Regulations relative to vows and tithes. VII. Doctrine.— The doctrines more esi)ecifdly em- phasized in the Book of Leviticus are 1. Access to God through niediatoi-ial agencies. 4:2 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 2. Sill, before and after justification, and its deserts. 3. The holiness of God, and the holiness that God requires through the sanctification of his people. VIII. Messianic— As in the l)Ook of Exodus, so in the Book of Leviticus there is no direct Messianic prophecy ; but there is a xDcrvading and complex Messi- anic element of a typological character. The priest, the altar, the victim, the blood, the fire, the water, the incense, etc., all, declaring by their very nature and multiplicity their own insufticienc}^ point for- ward to Him who was Priest, and Offerer, and Vic- tim in one, and who in his person, and b}" his work, became the one efficient Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus. He was the substitution, as the life of the Levitical victim was substituted for that of the offender. He received the imputation of the punishment due the sinner, as the head of the Levitical victim received. the imputed penalty of the guilty party by the symbolic laying on of the hands of the offerer. And as the Levitical victim was slain in the execution of the penalty incurred by the offender, so He suffered death for the sinner. John 10:11, 17, 18; Heb. 10:10; 11:14; Gal. 2:20. See Messianic under Exodus. Literature. — Commentaries. Lanqe ; Keil and Delitzsch; Speaker's Commentary ; Ginsburg in Ellicotfs Commentary. On Introduction and Criticism see under Literature for Genesis. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 43 NUMBERS. I. Name.— 7:>V////(//.a/' = /// the desert. The Book is so called by the Jews from the fifth word of the first verse; sometimes called Wayedaher = And he said, from the first word of vei'. 1. Called in the J. XX Arifh- moi, and in the Vul<>ate Xinneri, hence the name J\'//v/i- hers. So called from the double enumeration of the Israelites in Chs. 1-4 and 'h\. II. Position.- -The Book of Numbers continues the historical narrative of the Israelites to the fortieth year of the Exodus. The Book opens on the first day of the second month in the second year. There follows an account of the departure from Sinai; the arrival in the wilderness of Paran (or Kadesh); the mission of the spies; the defeat at Hormah ; the arrival in the desert of Zin (or Kadesh) ; and .Varon's death. III. Theme.— The history of Israel from the time of the departure from Sinai to the arrival at the frontiers of the Promised Land. 1\, Authorship.— See Authorship under (Genesis. V. Divisions.— The main divisions of the Book are 1. Chs. 1:1-^10:10. Preparations for leavin«>' Sinai. 2. Chs. 10:11 — 14:45. The joui-ney from Sinai to tlie borders of the Promised Land. ;]. Chs. 15-11). Legrd enactments, and historical events. 4. Chs. •><)-:)<). The liistory of the last year. V^I. Contents. — 1. Ch. 1. Census of the twelve tribes exclusive of the Le\ites. Result of this census, nundjer 44 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. of males above twenty years old, 603,550. The Levites, not included in this census, are appointed guardians of the Tabernacle, and located in the center of the camp. 2. Ch. 2. Position of the tribes in the camp, and their order on the march. 3. Chs. 3, -4. Separate census of the Levites, who are delegated to assist the priests, in lieu of the firstborn, in doing the service of the Tabernacle. Their number, position and duties. 4. Chs. 5, G. Laws relative to: — {a) Exclusion of the unclean from the camp, (b) Restitutions to be made to the priest, (c) Wifely unfaithfulness. (c1) The Naza- rites. {e) Form of priestly benediction. 5. Ch. 7. Offerings of the twelve princes of the tribes at the dedication of the Tabernacle, viz., (a) Six litters for the transport of the materials of the Tabernacle by the Gershomites and Merarites. (b) Vessels for use at the altar, and animals for sac- rifice. 6. Ch. 8. Instructions relative to (a) The superintendence of the golden candlestick. (b) The consecration of the Levites to their service. (c) The term of service for the Levites, i. e., from twenty-five to fifty years of age. 7. Ch. 9. Treats of (a) A second observance of the Passover a month after the general observance of the Passover at the regular time, and for the benefit of those who were pre- vented, by defilement, from observing it at the regular time. (b) The regulations of the march and halt by the cloud and fire. 8. Ch. 10. Treats of INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 45 {(() The uses of the silver trumpets in givinu- siiiiials for marches, halts, assemblies, wars and festivals. (h) Departure from Sinai, and tlie order of tlie maieli. (c) Services of Ilobab, fatlier-in-hiw of Moses, secured as guide through the wilderness. ((/) The chant accompanying tlie moving and resting of the ark. 9. Chs. 11, 12. Treat of (a) The murmurings of the people at 'J'aberah and Kibro th-hattaavah. {h) The appointment of seventy elders to assist Moses. {c) Quails sent to satisfy the people. (d) The Leprosy of IVIiriam. 10. Chs. 13, 14. The spies and the j)eople: embrac- ing, the sending of the spies; their report; the people's refusal to enter Canaan; their consequent rejection; their rash attack upon the Amelekites ; their defeat. 11. Ch. 15. Treats of (d) Enactments relative to the Meal and Drink offer- ings and other sacrifices. (6) An example of punishment for Sabbath-breaking. [c) Instructions as to "fringes" or "tassels." 12. Chs. 16, 17. Xarrative of the rebellion of Korah, Dathan and Abiram, followed by a confirmation of the priestly prerogatives enjoyed by the tribe of Levi. 13. Ch. 18. Treats of (a) Duties and relative posi- ti(ni of priests and Levites. (h) Revenues of the priests defined, (c) Tithes. 14. Ch. 19. Instructions as to purification after de- filement. 15. Chs. 20 : 1 — 22 : 1 . Death of Miriam ; murmurings of the people for water; sin of Moses and Aaron at Meribah; Edom's refusal to pass the Israelites; deatli 46 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. of Aaron, and investiture of Eleazar as liis successor; defeat of the king' Arad ; impatience of the people; the brazen serpent; Silion's refusal to pass Israel; defeat of Sihon and Og; arrival at the plains of Moab. 10. Chs. 22:2— 24:25. History of Balaam. 17. Ch. 25. The fall of Israel into idolatry and im- morality. The zeal of Phinehas rewarded. IS. Cli. 20. Second census of Israel. Number of males above twenty years old, and exclusive of the Levites, 001,730. Xumber of Levites, males, from one month old, 23,000. 19. Ch. 27. Treats of (a) Legislation respecting the inheritance of daughters. (6) Moses warned of his death, and Joshua appointed his successor. 20. Chs. 28, 29. Calendar of sacrifices. 21. Ch. 30. The law of vows. 22. Ch. 31. The conquest of Midian. 23. Ch. 32. ^Apportionment of the transjordanic ter- ritor}^ to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh. 24. Ch. 33. Review of the journey from Ramses to the plains of Moab followed b}" instructions as to the occupation of Canaan. 24. Ch. 34. Boundaries of Canaan and the names of those appointed to allot its territory. 20. Ch. 35. Appointment of fort^'-eight cities for the Levites, and of six among them, three on each side of the Jordan, as Cities of Refuge with regulations pertain- ing thereto. 27. Ch. 30. Regulations respecting heiresses. A^IT. Doctrine.— The docti-ines more especially empha- sized are INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 47 1. Divine Providence; — as witnessed in tlie niainten- anee of the liost of Israel, for forty years, in the wilder- ness of the \vanderin,i»s. 'I. Divine Law; — its transi»ressi()n, i)enalty, remedy, so abundantly illustrated in this Hook. 3. The pilgrim life of the peoj)!*' of (iod; defining at onee the character of this world, and im plying the exist- ence of another. VIII. Messianic— The direct ^lessianic ijropliecy in the Book of Numbers is that uttered by Balaam in •24: lo-H) concerning the people of God as constituting a theocratic kingdom, whose Messianic Ruler is yet to appear, and to whose scepter all nations will be sub- dued. 'Ltiteratnre. — Comiiientanes: Lcoiye; Keil : SjK'aker's Com- mentary; Kalisch on the Prophecies of Balaam. For Introduc- tion a)id Criticism see under Genesis. DEUTERONOMY. I. Name.— ^//e// Hadharim == These tJie words. This title of the Book is taken from its initial words. The p]nglish title Deuteronomy like the LXX and Vulgate is derived from the inexact rendering of the words in 17:18 3Ii.sJnia hcdforcdi hazoili = a repetdion or diijdi- cate of fliis laiv. II. Position.— The liook records the events of the last month of the forty-j^ears wanderings of the Israel- ites, and so directly connects itself with wliat precedes 48 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. in the history of tlie nation. The Book closes with the termination of Moses' mission as the hero of that his- tory. III. Theme.— The disconrses of Moses to the Israelites on the borders of the Promised Land, and just previous to his death. These discourses set before the people the laws which the\" are to obe}', and the spirit in which they are to obey them, when they are settled in the Promised Land. IV. Authorship.— See Auihorsliip under Genesis. V. Divisions.— The general divisions of the Book are 1. Chs. 1:1 — 4:4:3. Historical introduction, tirst dis- course, and historical appendix. 2. Chs. 4:44 — 26:19. Historical introduction, second discourse, and hortatory appendix. 3. Chs. 27:1 — 34:12. Historical introduction, third discourse, and historical appendix. VI. Contents.— 1. Ch. 1:1-5. Historical introduction setting forth as to the discourses following, — the speaker, persons addressed, place where, and time when they were delivered. Speaker, Moses ; persons addressed, all Israel ; place, the land of Moab ; time, the eleventh month of the last year of their wanderings, /. e., the fortieth year after their Exodus froui Egypt. 2. Chs. 1 : — 4 : 40. First discourse of Moses consist- ing of («) A review of the events of the forty-years wander- ings, particularly those events that had a more especial bearing upon their occupanc}^ of the Promised Land. (6) An enumeration of the campaigns in which they had been engaged, and in which their victories had al- ways depended upon their obedience;. the underlying principle of which Moses illustrates by reminding them TNTKODrcriON ()rTI>I\KS. 49 ol" tlu' exclusion ol' the foinicr uciuM-at ion from tlie Proniised Land (mi a('(*oiinl ol" cliso))c'dieiH'e, and also the like exclusion of himself, not so much liowever because he was disobedie east of the .Jordan. 4. ( "h 4:44-40. Hist oi'ical introduction to the second discouise of Moses as that which is to treat of the leii'islation proper, and in view of the occupation of Canaan. 5. Chs. 5-20. Second discourse of Moses embracing the legislation proj^er, and consisting of two principal parts : — (d) Chs. 5-11. The decalogue, as the basis of the whole ^losaic Code, and especially an exposition of the first commandment, its spirit and the spirit in which it was to be observed by the nation. (h) Chs. 12:1 — 2(3: 15. Code of special laws treating of — Religious Statutes, Olticial Functions, and Social Usages. {(') Ch. 2'i:l) C'hs. 28: ] — 29: 1. In view of the preceding code, a settinii" fortli of the consequences to foHow its observ- ance or neglect. (c) Chs. 29 : 2— :3() : 20. The body of the final discourse treating of tlie estaljlislnnent of a fi-esh covenant be- tween God and the people, the promise of pardon upon penitence, and the choice set before Israel. 7. Ch. 81:1-29. The farewell of Moses, including the commission of Joshua, and the delivery of the Deu_ teronomic law to the Levitical priests. 8. Chs. 31:30—32:52. The Song of Moses closing with historical notices. 9. Ch. 33. The Blessing of Moses. 10. Ch. U. The Death of Moses. Vir. Doctrine.— The two principal doctrinal teach- ings empliasized are 1. Obedience; — its spirit, imperativeness and blessed- ness. 2. Disobedience; — its origin, heinousness and entail- ment of miser}^ VIII. Messianic— In Deut. 18 : 15-19 occurs the di- rect personal Messianic promise of the Prophet like unto Moses, wherein the Messiah, as the future Mediator of salvation, is set forth in his prophet character as after- wards he is in his kingly. Literature. — Commentaries : Keil and Delitzsch ; Lange ; Speaker 8 Commentary. On Introduction and Criticism see under Genesis. INTKdDrCTION OUTMNES, "i I JOSHUA. I. Historico-Prophetical Books.— Tlic Pciitalcucli, accoi'diiiu' 1<) the .lews, constitutes tlic lirst ureal divis- ion of tlie Old 'I'estanient, and is called tlie Torah, or TJie Lair. The second ^i-eat division of the Old Testa- nienl. accordiii.u lo liie Jews, enihi-aces tlie l>ooks of .Joshua. .Indues, 1st and 2nd Samuel, and 1st and 2nd Kings. Tile collective name given to the Books of this second division \sX('heiin BlsJionlm, that is, the Earlier or Former Prophef.s. The Pentateuch contains an ac- count of the founding of tlie Old Testament kingdom of God. and the laws of that kingdom gi\en of (iod to and through Closes. These Books of tlie " Former Proph- ets" trace the historical development of this kingdom of (Tod from the death of ^Moses, the mediator of tlie old covenant, to the dissolution of the kingdom of .Tiidali, and the Babylonian captivity ; — a i)eriod of nearly nine hundred years. These Books are called the pro- phetical liooks of History, because, in the main, they describe the history of the Old Testament covenant nation and kingdom of iUxl in the light of the divine ])lan of salvation, setting forth the divine revelation, as it was accomplished in the historical development of Israel. II(Mice these Jiooks do not contain a general history, a complete and detailed account of the natui'al development of the Israelitish nation from a political point of \iew, but trace the histoi-y of the ])eopIe of (4od, oi" Isi-ael, in its theocratic develoj)ment as a coven- ant nation, and as the channel of that salvation which was to be manifested to all nalions in the fulness of time. Whatever has no diiccl. \ilal connection with 0-4 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. this loftier purpose and peeiiliar vocation of Israel, is omitted, or briefly referred to, and onl}- that recorded which affected beiielicently or otherwise the develop- ment of the divine kingdom in Israel. II. Name.— Yeliosh ua = Josh jig = Jeliovah-Sa vioii r. The l>ook of Joshua derives its name from Joshna, the successor of Moses, and the leader of the Israelites in the conquest of Canaan. III. Position.- While on tlie one hand the Book of Joshua bears an independent character, still it is also intimately related to the Pentateuch in the nature of its contents, in its literary structure, and in its furnishing the account of the final stage in the history of the Origines of the Hebrew nation. It is thus closely con- nected with the Book of Deuteronomy inasmuch as it is a continuation of the history of Israel from the death of Moses to the death of Joshua. IV. Theme.— Being prophetico-historical the Book of Joshua is not simp)ly a continuation of the historj^ of Israel under the leadership of Joshua. The chief design of the Book is to set forth Jehovah's covenant faithful- ness in the fulfillment of his promises, so that, by his almighty help, the people of Israel make conquest and take possession of the land of Canaan as their promised inheritance. V. Date.— As to the date of its composition, Joshua was evidently written before the time of Ahab (915-896 B.C.) by a comparison of Josh. 0:20 with 1 Ki. 16:34. It was evidently written before the time of Solomon as at the time of the writing, the Canaanites were still dwelling in (4ezer (Josh. 16:10), whereas during Solo- mon's reign (1013-973 B. C.), Pharaoh drove the Canaan- ites from thence and destroyed them (1 Ki. 9:16). As INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 53 at the time of the writing- of Joshua tlie Jebnsites were still inhabiting Jerusalem (Josh. 15: (;;j), whereas David drove these Jebnsites out of Jerusalem (2 Sam. 5:6-9), therefore the com|)osition of Josluia antedates David's reign (1053-1013 B. C). Joshua was evidentl^^ written before Judges, inasmuch as Judges begins where Joshua leaves off, and inasmuch as Judges seems to make quo- tations from Joshua, and to give abridged statements of historical incidents more circumstantially related in Joshua. Moreover the date of the composition cannot have been manj- yeai'S after the death of Joshua, inas- much as the writer in 0:25 speaks of Rahab in such a manner as to imply that she was still living; while in 5:1 he refers to himself as if he were among those who crossed the Jordan. VI. Authorship.— The autliorship of Joshua cannot be determined with certainty. According to Higher Criticism it proceeded from the same complex source as the Pentateuch, in the main from the hands of the Deuteronomist. (See Authorship under Genesis.) Aside from other considerations, the differences in language decidedly antagonize this view. Certain portions of Joshua were doubtless written by Joshua himself; and what he wrote probably served as the basis for the Book as we now have it, the authorship of which might pos- sibly be assigned to Kleazai- or Phinehas. VII. Biography and the Monuments.- Joshua, the assistant and successor of Moses, was the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, and was born in Egypt. lie is lirst mentioned as being the victorious commander of the Israelites in their battle against the Amalekites at Rephidim. Ex. 17:8-1G. He accompanied Moses j^art of the way when the latter ascended Sinai to receive for 54 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. the first time the two Tables of the Law. Was one of the twelve sent to explore the land of Canaan and one of the two who brought back a favorable report. Nu. 13: 17; 14: G. Shortly before his death, Moses, being so directed (Nu. 27:18), invests Joshua with definite au- thority, in connection with Eleazar the priest, over the people. Deut. 3 : 28. After this God directly charges Joshua by the mouth of Moses (Deut. 31, 14; 23), which charge is renewed under the direction of God (Josh. 1 : 1), whereupon Joshua assumes command of the peo- ple at Shittini, sends spies into Jericho, crosses the Jordan, fortifies a camp at Gilgal, circumcises the peo- ple, keeps the Passover, and is visited by the Captain of the Lord's Host. The Book that bears his name con- tinues and completes the biograph}' of Joshua as the hero of the wars of conquest for the possession of Canaan. One of the most important of recent discoveries is that of the Tell Amarna Tablets unearthed in 1887 from the ruins of the palace of Amenoi)his IV., midway between Thebes and Memphis, about 180 miles by river south of Cairo, Egypt. The tablets are brick, dating about 1480 B. C, inscribed in Aramaic, resembling Assyrian. The inscriptions consist of a large mass of i^olitical corres- pondence, letters written by Phoenicians, Amorites and IMiilistines to Amenophis III. of Egypt. The events recorded in these letters include the conquest of Damas- cus by the Hittites, of Ph(Pnicia by the Amorites, and of Judea by the Hebrews. They refer to the conquet>t of the country between Mt. Seir on the east, Ajalon, Lachish, Ascalon and Gezer on the west, and Shilohand Himmon on the north. They also contain the name of one ot lh(" kings killed by Joshua, viz., Japhia (Josh. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 55 10:3), and also tlie iiaiuo of Jabin, king- of Ilazor, wlioin Joshua attacked (.losli. 11:1). In these letters the Hebrews are ealled Abiri, and are said to have conie from the desert, and from Mt. Seir. Tlie date of these letters is exactly that which is to be derived from the Bible, 1 Ki. 0:1, for the Hebrew invasion of Canaan. VIII. Divisions.— The principal divisions are two: — 1. C1is. I-l'^ Account of tlie passage of the Jordan, and the series of victories by wliicli the conquest of Canaan was effected. 2. Chs. 13-24. Account of the distribution of the land among the tribes, and of the closing events in Joshua's life. IX. Contents.— 1. C1is. 1, 2. Preparations to cross Jordan and make conquest of Canaan. Joshua divinely encouraged. Promised help from the 2^ east-Jordan tribes. Mission of the spies to Jericho and compact with Rahab. 2. Chs. 3, 4. Passage of the Jordan. Two monu- ments erected commemorating the event. Gilgal head- quarters of the Israelites. 3. Chs. 5-8. Joshua circumcises the people and ob- serves the Passover at Gilgal. He receives instructions as to to the conquest of Jericho. Tiie city taken and "devoted," Rahab and her household being spared. Joshua advances against Ai, and is repulsed on account of Achan's offense. Achan having been punished, Ai is possessed. Joshua erects an altar on Ebal, and car- ries out the instructions of Deut. 27:2-8. -4. Ch. 0. The Gibeonites, by craft, secure iniinunity for their lives, and are retaiiu^d in the community as slaves. 5. Ch. 10. The con([U('st ol" Southeni Canaan. 0(3 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Joshua defeats at Beth-liorou the tive kiiii>s of Jerusa- lem, Hesliboii, Jarniuth, Lacliish, Egloii. Afterwards he gets possession of Makeddah, Libiiah, Lacliish, Gezer, Eglou, Hebron, Debir. 6. Ch. 11. The conquest of Northern Canaan. Joshua defeats Jabin, king of Hazor, at tlie waters of Merom, and takes the towns belonging to liini. Re- view of Joshua's victories. 7. Ch. I'l. Supplementary list of kings (U'feated ])y the Israelites, east and west of Jordan. 8. Ch. 13. ]>eing instructed Joshua proceeds to dis- tribute tlie conquered territory. Limits and cities of the transjordanic tribes. 9. Ch. 14. Joshua and Eleazar prepare to distribute the land l)y lot. Caleb receives his portion at Hebron according to Dent. 1 loti, 10. Ch. 15. l^orders of Judah. Caleb's conquest of Hebron. OthnieFs conquest of Kirjath-sepher (Debir). Cities of Judah arranged by districts. 11. Chs. 16, 17. The children of Joseph, /. e., west half of Manasseh and Ephraim. South border of the two tribes treated as one. Borders of Ephraim with cities belonging to it but located in Manasseh. Borders of ^Manasseh with cities belonging to it but located in Issachar and Asher. Permission to the joint tiibes to extend their territor}'. 12. Ch. 18. Assembling of Israelites at Shiloli. Tent of meeting erected. Joshua directs a surve}' of the land still undistributed. Its distribution b}- lot to the seven remaining tribes. Borders of Benjamin. 13. Ch. 10. Lots of Simeon, Zebulon, Issachar, Asher, . Xaphtali and Dan. Assignment of Timnath- serah in Ephraim to Joshua. IXTRODUrXION OUTLINES. 57 14. rii. -H). Tlu' appointment of cities of refn«>e. 1'). Cii. 'U. 'I'lie forty-eight cities assigned by tlie Israelites to the tribe of Levi accoidinii to Num. 1)5:1-8. IC). Ch. "-v^t^. Division of tlie land com[)lete(l. The '.ij tribes dismissed to their liome east of the Jordan. Inci- dent of the altar erected at the point of the crossing of the Jordan. K. ("h. 'l'-\. First ol" Joshua's two closing discourses. Kxhoi'ls the people to faithfulness to tlie law, and to abstain from intercoui'se with the native inhal)itants of Canaan, 15. Cii. -M. Joshua's second closing' discourse deliv- ered at Shechem. Review of (lod's mercies from patri- archal da3's. People pledge themselves to obedience. A stone witnessing thereto erected at Shechem. Death and burial of Joshua. Burial of Joseph's bones at Shechem. Death and burial of Eleazar. X. Doctrine.— The doctrines emphasized are 1. Faithfulness on the part of God to fulfill covenant promises. 2. Faithfulness on the part of the godly to possess the promised inheritance. XT. Messianic— The Messianic (dement in the Book of Joshua is of a typological nature. See Messianic under Exodus. As a type, the Book of Joshua finds its antitype in the Epistle to the Ephesians. Literature.— Xe//, /// Keil and DelitzscJi Commentaries. Lamje. Spcctkcr's aiifJ Pulpit (/(niniirutai-ies. 58 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. JUDGES. I. l^ame.— Shaft ini^ Judges. The Book takes its name from the men who judged or rnled in Israel in the period between Joshua and Samuel, and whose transactions the Book chiefl}' relates. The Book is not a complete his- tory of the times, but only accounts of part of the nation at any one time. JI. Position.— Tlie second of the historico-i^rophetical Books. See under Joshua. Continues the annals of the Israelitish nation from the death of Joshua to the death of Samson, and the rise of Samuel the prophet. III. Theme. —The general theme of the Book is, — Calamit}' following upon apostasy; — Deliverance follow- ing upon obedience. To illustrate this theme the autlior brings together the most important data of Hebrew his- tory between Joshua and Eli. IV. Date.— Tiie Book of Judges was evidently written between the time of Saul, and the middle of the reign of David, from the following comparisons: — 1. Judg. 1 : 21 compared with 2 Sam. 5: ij-S. Accord- ing to the former the Jebusites inhabiting Jerusalem had not been driven out. According to the latter David took tlie stronghold of Zion, and drove out tlie Jebusites. 2. Judg. 1:29 compared with 1 Ki. 1):1G. According to the former the Canaanites had not been driven out of Gezer. According to the latter, Pharaoh, during the reign of Solomon, captured Gezer, burnt it withhre, and slew the Canaanites dwelling in it. o. Tlie expression in Judg. 17 : (3 ; 1 S : 1 ; 19:1; 21 : 25, that " In those davs there was no king in Israel," where INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 59 tliere seems to be a comparison between tlie times of the Kiiiiis and those of tiie .hulges, and from wliieli itwonld appear tliat the l>ook was not written Ix'fore the time of Saul. 4. ''Tile ('ai)ti\ity of tlie land" in 18: oO, refers to tlie victory i^ained over tlie Israelites by the Philistines, and the disastrous results to Israel that followed it, as further explained by ver. 31 following. V. Authorship. -Of the authorship of Judges nothing- is positively known. The weight of probability assigns it to Samuel, and the date of its composition about the begin- ning of David's reign. As the Book covers a long histori- cal period, the author can have drawn his matei'ials only from written sources, or oral ti'adition, most likely the former in view of the historical precision that marks most pai'ts of the Book. VI. The Judges.— The Judges were leaders, deliverers and governors in Israel; not simply administrators of civil jurisprudence, but virtual rulers. 1. Sam. 8:5, 6. The Judges were not always the general authority chosen by prescribed law, nor was the position an hereditary one. During the period of the Judges there were six periods of servitude. The chronology is as follows: — .Judg. 3: 7-11. Ist Servitude to Cushan-Rishathaim For 8 years. Judg. :5 : 7-11. Deliverance by Otlmiel, Judge 40 Judg. 3 : 12-30. 2nd Serv. to Eglon of Moab. Amnion, Anialek. 18 Judg. 3: 1-2-3J. Deliverance by Ehud, Judge with Shamgar... 80 J udg. Chb. 4, .'i. :3rd Serv. to Jabin of Hazor in Canaan 20 Judg. Chs. 4, .5. Deliv. by Deb^rali and Barak, Barak, Judge. 40 .Jadg. () : 1— S: ^2. 4th Servitude to Midian, Amalek, &c 7 Judg. 6 : 1— 8 : :i2. Deliverance by Gideon. Judge 40 Judg. s : :33— 9 : 37. Abinielecli reigns 3 Judg. 10 : 1, 2. Tola, Judge t.'3 Judg. 10 : ;3-.5. Jair, Judge '^2 Judg. 10 : 6—12 : 7. .")th Servitude to Ammonites, Philistines... is Judg. lo:C-)2:7. Deliverance by Jephtah. Judge G Judg. 12:8-10. I.jzan, Judge 7 Judg. 12: 11, 12. Elon, Judge 10 60 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Judg. 12 : 13-15. AMon. Judge For 8 years. .ludg. Chs. 13-16. 6th Servitude to Philistines 40 Judg. Chs. 13-16. DeUverance by Samson, Judge 20 1 Sam. 1 : 1-4: 18. Eh, Judge 40 1 Sam. 7 : 2. 7th Servitude (of the Ark) to Philistines 20 1 Sam. 7 : l.")— 25 : 1. Deliverance by Samuel, Judge 12 An exact ehroiiology of the period of the Judges is as yet unattaiiied, in order to make the sum total of the above years, plus the forty years wanderings, the seven years of Joshua's conquest, and the eighty years of Saul's and David's reigns, harmonize with the statement in 1 Ki. 6:1, which assigns 480 years to the period from the Exo- dus to the fourth \^ear of Solomon's reign. Nor does the statement in Acts 13 : 20 settle the disputed points. One explanation is that some of the periods named in the Judges are synchronous. Another is that the years of Israel's servitude to their heathen oppressors are not reckoned in the 480 years of 1 Ki. 6:1. The succession of events is regular till the close of Samson's judgeship, where it is suddenly broken off, and not resumed till the history reopens with First Samuel. VII. Divisions.— The principal divisions are three: — 1. Introduction; — C'hs. 1 : 1 — 3 : 7. 2. History ;— Chs. 3:8—16:31. 3. Appendix; — Chs. 17-21. VIII. Contents. -1. The Introduction is twofold: — general and special. ((/) Chs. 1:1 — 2:5. General introduction setting forth the historical connection with what precedes in Joshua, and furnishing a summaiy of the results of Joshua's wars of conquest. (6) Chs. 2 : 6 — 3 : 7. Special introduction setting forth the historical connection with what immediately follows, and treating of the people's sins, punishments and deliv- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 61 orances dui-iiiu' llu' period of llic .Indies, 1 litis iiilrodiie- inii' the special history tiiat follows. •2. (1is 3:8— KJ:;)!. History of the Jiid-cs and of theiiwars of deliveraiiee. See ehroiiolo^ieal tableabove. ;>. C'lis. 1T-"21. Appendix. 'Die histoiy of tlie. Judges al)ru[)tly interrupted at the close of C'h. 10, is not re- sumed till 1 Sam. opens. C'hs. 17-21, falling between, and forming- a sort of appendix, are still not mere ap])en- dix, for they form an essential part of the body of the work, while the events they chronicle occured in the earliest part of tlie period of the Judges. These events are mainly two, riz., ((/) Chs. 17, 18. Account of the worship of images by Micah, the Ephraimite, and the transportation of tliat worship by the Danites to Laish-Dan. {b) Chs. 19-21. Account of the infamous conduct of the inhabitants of Gibeah, and the war of revenge which was waged by Isi'ael against the tribe of Benjamin as a punishment for the crime. The Book of Joshua may also be divided into foui* periods based upon the four principal appearances of the Angel of Jehovah. IX. Doctrine.— The doctrines em[)hasized are, — (a) Disobedience incurring divine judgments wliich are both punitive and corrective. [b) Penitence and obedience securing ])ard()n and power over ones enemies. X. Messianic— There is no direct Messianic element in the ]>ook of Judges save that connected with the doc- trine of the Angel of Jehovah. JuiterSLtnre. — C'o)!} iiientaries of Kethleheni, his wife Naomi, and their two sons, go to Moab, where Kliineleeh dies. The two sons marry the Moabitesses, Orpah and Hnth. The two sons dying, Naomi determines to retui-n lo ]>ethlehem, but bids her daughters-in-law remain in their own country. Ori)ah does, but Ruth determines to accompany Xaomi back to Ijethlehem. •L (hs. -2-4. After their return to Bethlehem, Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, a relative of Elimelech. Boaz thus becoming acquainted with Ruth, marries her. The offspring of their union was Obed, father of Jesse, and grandfather of David. VII. Doctrine.- The doctrinal thoughts emi)hasized are (d) (xod calls and honors whom he will. (b) Faith in (Tod and devotion to the godly. VIII. Messianic.— While there is no direct Messianic prophecy in the Book of Ruth, still there is a Messianic trait in the fact that Ruth, a heathen woman, of a nation so hostile to Israel as Moab was, and on account of her faithful love to the peo^^le of Israel, and her entire con- fidence in Jehovah, the God of Israel, should have been thought worthy to be made the tribe-mother of the great and godly king David, and a lineage-mother of Jesus according to the flesh. Liiter ature. — Cominevtaries : Keil and Delitzsch : Laugc ; Speaker' s and Pulpit Commentaries : Wright's Rnth iit Ilehreir. (J4 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. FIRST AND SECOND SAMUEL, I. Name.— The name of the two Books arises from the fact that Samuel is theii' principal character, both as concerns himself, and the part he took in consecrat- ing the two kings, Saul and David to the kingly office. The two Books formed originally a single Book. By the LXX the two Books of Samuel, and the two Books of Kings were regarded as a complete history of the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah, and the entire work was divided by them into four Books of the Kings. Hence the title "The First Book of Samuel otherwise called the First Book of Kings," etc. The Books however re- tain the general title they bore in the Hebrew MSS., ?'. e., 1 and 'I Samuel, and 1 and 2 Kings. II. Position.— The Books of Samuel are closely re- Lited to Judges preceding and Kings following. The Book of Judges treats of the affairs of the Hebrew State after the conquest, when the nation was composed of independent provinces, and had a tribal form of govern- ment. Then came the change from the tribal to the monarchical form of government, which radical change occurred under the regency of the prophet Samuel, and is set forth in the hrst Book bearing his name. The Books of Samuel and Kings are closely related in tiiat 2 Sam. closes and 1 Kings opens with events connected Avith the close of David's reign. III. Time.— The period of history included by the Books of Samuel opens with an account of Sjimuers birth and early call, and extends to the close of David's INTR()L)U(^TT()N OUTLINES. G5 l)iil)lie life. Tlu' dcalli of Saul is the liistorically divid- iiiii' point l)el\V(H'ii 1 and '* Sainiiel. IV. Theme.- As in tlie case of Ihc otiicr propliclieo- historieal IJooks, (see under Josliua), tlie design is not to trace the liistory of the nation, in the ordinary sense, but to trace the course of divine revehition; to set forth God's nietliod of dealini;' witli his chosen nation that lie might instruct and establish them in ways of righteous- ness, and so lay a foundation for the world-wide work of Messiah. The historj' therefore is not so much the history of the Kingdom of Israel, as the history of the Kingdom of God. V. Date.— There is nothing in the Books that point to a period later than the close of David's reign, or the tirst j)art of Solomon's reign, as the date of composition. The statement in 1 Sam. 9:9 does not indicate a later date than this, for while Samuel is called a "seer" (1 Sam. 9:9), Xathan and Gad, both contemi^oraries of David, are called "prophets" (1 Sam. 22:5; 2 Sam. 7:2). The statement in 1 Sam. 27 : 6 is no proof that the composition should be assigned to a date after the accession of Rehoboam, and the division of the kingdom into the kingdoms of Judah and Israel, for aside from the fact that the LXX and Pe&hito-Syriac read king and not kings in the passage, is also the fact that the dis- tinction between Israel and Judah existed already in the time of David, and grew out of the fact that David belonged to the tribe of Judah, over which alone lie had first ruled seven and one-half years, during a part of which time Ishbosheth, SauTs son, reigned over Israel. 1 Sam. IS: 10; 2 Sam. 24: 1. The expression " unto this daj^ " does not nr all Isi-ai^l (C'hs. 0, l(i). Saul aids llic iikmi of Jabesli (iilcad, defeats the Ainnionites, is reeogiii/cd king by all tlie people at (Jilgal, where Samuel renews the kingdom (("h. 11). Saniuers address; juslilieshis course, urges (idelity io (Un\ and Ihe king; miracle (Ch. P2). 2. 1 Sam. (lis. ]:)-;)] . Saul and the beginnings of the Monarch}-. Saul and .Jonathan defeat Ihc Philistines at (ieba;the Philistines mass a greal ai'm\-, whei'eu])on Israel is dis- mayed, ami Saul impatient at Samuefs delay, himself otters sacrifice, for which act of disobedience he is re- jected of (4od (lo.-l-li). Jonathan defeats Philistines at Michmash, and for disobeying Saul is si)ared at the demand of the people (13: 15 — 1-t: 45). SauTs victories, cliildren, relatives (14:40-52). Disobeying the order to utterly destroy Anmlek, Saul is rejected from the king- dom (Ch. 15). Samuel anoints David to be king; for mental relief Saul sends for David (C4i. 10). Philistines against Israelites in vale of Elah ; David slays (Toliath (Ch. 1?). .Jonathan's and David's friendship, and Saul's murderous jealousy of Da\i[iz[)ah, to llareth; Saul's massacre of Ahimelech and the priests (Chs. 21, 2:1). David de- livers Keibdi then flees fi'om Saul to the wilderness of Ziph, then to Kn-gedi where 1h' spares SauTs life (Chs. 2.3, 24). Samuers death and burial; David, Xabal, Abi- gail (Ch. 25). David spares Saul; finds refuge with Achish; Philistines arm ; Saul consults the witch of En- dor; Achish dismisses David because of l^hilistine sus- 68 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. picions ; his vengeance on Amalekites who had desolated Ziklag (Chs. 26-30). Death of Saul and Jonathan on Mt. Gilboa (Ch. 31). 3. 2 Sam. Chs. 1-24. David and the succession of the Monarchy. David's lament over Saul and Jonathan (Ch. 1). David made king of Judah at Hebron ; Ishbosheth king of Israel ; battle between their followers (Ch. 2). David's power increases ; his six sons ; Abner forsakes Ishbosheth for David, is slain by Joab, lamented by David who punishes the slayers, after which David made king of all Israel (3 : 1-5 : 3). David captures fortress of Zion from Jebusites ; his friendship with Hiram ; defeats Phil- istines; ark removed to "City of David" (5:4-6:23). Xathan forbids David to build the Lord's house; the Lord will build David's house (dynasty) ; David's prayer (Ch. 7). David's wars, victories, ministers; friendship for Mephibosheth ; war with Amnion (Chs. 8-10). David's sin, punishment, penitence ; Solomon born ; Ammon de- feated (Chs. 11. 12). Ammon's criminal assault on Ta- mar ; Ammon slain by Absalom's order ; Absalom's flight ; restored after three years by Joab (Chs. 13, 14). Ab- salom's rebellion ; David's flight; ark returned to Jerusa- lem; Ziba's treachery; Shimei's cursing; Ahitophel's suicide (Chs. 15-17). Battle in forest of Ephraim; Ab- salom's death ; David's sorrow ; his return to Jerusalem ; Shimei, Mephibosheth, Barzillai ; rivalry (Chs. 18, 19). Revolt of Sheba ; Joab slays Amasa ; Sheba's head pre- sented to Joab; David's ministers (Ch. 20). Three years famine ; satisfaction to Gibeonites ; bones of Saul and his sons buried; Philistine giants slain (Ch. 21). David^s song (Ch. 22; Psa. 18). David's last words; INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 69 names and deeds of his lieroes (Ch. 23). The census and pestilence; the altar and offerinfi: (Ch. 24). IX. Doctrine.— The othcialand national institution of the office of prophet and king in the sphere of revela- tion, and the development of the Kingdom of God. X. Messianic— ^lessianie prophecy in the ]>ooks of Samuel treats for the most part of the Messianic King and Kingdom. We have (a) In 1 Sam. 2 : 1-10, The prayer for it. (h) In 1 Sam. 2:27-36, The first divine intimation of its coming, (c) In 2 Sam. Ch. 7, The covenant with David constituting him and his seed, as the famil}^ house, d^^nasty in whom this Messianic promise is to be developed, and through whom it is to be realized and forever established, [d) In 2 Sam. 23:1-7, The theocratic king, and his theocratic rule. Literature.— Co7?i?nen^ane6' ; Lange ; Keil and Delitzsch ; Pulpit and Speaker's Commentaries ; Driver's Hebrew Text of Samuel ; Edersheim's Israel binder Samuel, Said and David. ^ I r^ U u '-^ T-1 .. O'* ^ -^".- U 1 ^ -Si O ■^ C*> O"? 10 T-H f^ ^ I 1^^ I II i ci ^' ■rH OJ T-^ (73 -^ ^^? ■m CJ Ol X\ oi rCi OJ '^i C>3 23m2233S3 O -r^ '^'i -^ "^^ C^l < ^ ^ M x" "'^ --■ :s i^'o I',' I 7- §^ ;^ ^ t' :c i-c I T-^ r-i C^ ,_ ;=; ^ cv-j ^ 30 00 oi 7^ I . 10 •^ CI Oi I CJO MU mwmmwwwmm WW www CQ CI o 0} 50 ^ 1^ H a. M H W ^- E< go ?t'ot'X?C?C«C>CO-r^Ot-w:COJiOC^»-'5'^ir-M'CCCOi>OOOt- ^ J 'r — t- i> LO i-O IC it CJ C? CJ C? tH tH OS Oi 00 GO 00 00 }> iO CO cc oooc::::c;c:c: — c:c:c;ci3iOiOoaoooacooaoooQ03DX' bi ^: I : : : ^ !>i ^ t- c? r 1 Ill's 'oi t? X ^ X -^ o 7.^ (^7 .. :d CO '^' o ^ "? . ».0 C: ^1 Oded. Micah. Micah. &&^\^^Mi II Si O O O 05 c- ^ o t- t- t- iO lO i-O ^ t- 1- J> t^ t- f t- JO (^i o CO TH CO CO CM Ci 1 J M tH 1— ( 1 ■^ OJ CC TO 1—1 GO O jr^-'i? cc -^' -+ O^ c< c? Ci 53333333 01 (M 07 C^ O^ -M C3 c> rd^ r^ §. 3 S ■ ris^'o!^ j;- SS j;3;5 xrx ■S 1 % 3 ^'rd . . . ■i:) cc ci^rd^^ S ■Sfl.5.2.5.5 :« r-< ^ c3 S a S fl C3 0) "1 1 h- 1 :3 1 0^ <3J 0; 3j ook of the Chroni- cles of the Kings of Israel," were the annals of the re- spective kings of the two kingdoms, written down for the most part during the reign of each king. These annals were evidently written by the person who held the office of the Mazkeer of his time. The Mazkeer was the reco/'C?e?', historiographer, the king's annalist, whose duty it was to record the deeds of the king and the events of his reign. The first mention made among the Hebrews of this office of recorder is in 2 Sam. 8: IG where we are told that in the time of David " Jehosha- phat the son of Ahilud was recorder." He is also men- tioned in 2 Sam. 20:24; 1 Ki. 4:3. In the time of Hezekiah the office was held by Joah the son of Asaph, and in the time of Josiah by Joah the soii of Jehoaz. From such sources the author of the Books of Kings drew his materials. It Avould seem that this author wrote the l^ooks of Kings, or at least completed his his- tory, in the second half of the Babylonian captivity, as he states that Evil-merodach, king of Babylon, released Jehoiachin, king of Judah, from prison in the thirty- seventh year of his captivity. 2 Ki. 25:27-30. On the other hand it would seem that the author completed his work before the close of the captivity as he makes no mention of that event. Who this author of the J^ooks of Kings was is not known. INTRODUCTION OI'TLINES. 75 V. Credibility. — 77/ (^ Jfoniniiciif.s. The liistorN of the Hooks of Kings is admitted to he distinjL»iiis]ied for its fidelity and impartiality. The rulers and heroes ol" Hebrew history are estimated according to the impartial standards of the divine law, and justified or condemned according to their deeds. Moreover the history being- derived from contemporary' annals, rests upon the surest basis of truth, thus possessing, according to skeptics themselves, a very high degree of probability. The his- tory of the Hooks of the Kings receives confirmation also from the monuments. The Moabite Stone dis- covered in 1809, was erected about H. C. 900, by ^fesha, king of Moab, in commemoration of his deliverence from the Israelites. The inscription on the Stone agrees with I^iblical statements pertaining to that i^eriod. Tn the course of the inscription occur the following names, that also occui-in the Hebrew Scriptures, riz., — Jehovah, C'hemosh (the national god of the Moabites), Mesha, Omri, Moab, Gad, Israel, Medeba, Atoroth, Dibon Baal- meon, Nebo, Jahaz, Heth-diblathaim, Aroer, Iloronaim and Kirjathaim. This is strikingly confirmatory of the historicity of the Scripture narrative, and i^roves that the names in the l>ooks of Kings have come down to us in their integrity, and that they represent real ])er- sons and i)laces. The Assyrian monuments furnish similar i-emarkable confirmations of the history in these Hooks of Kings. Foi' e.\am])h': — for some centuries Samaria was known to the Assyiians as '• Heth-( )nii'i " = "house" Ol- "city of Omii." thus agreeing with the Hebrew records in the iniiioitance they assign to this king, as especially condrniing the statenuMil in 1 Ki. 16:24. Ahab, Omri's son and successor, is mentioned by name in an Assyrian contemporary insciipiion, wliieji 76 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. in harmony with the account in 1 Ki. 18:46; 21:1, 2, calls him "Ahab of Jezreel." The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser contains a notice of the Israelitish king, Jehu, and another of the Syrian king Hazael, who suc- ceeded Benhadad, Ahab's contemporar3\ The state- ments in 2 Ki. 15:29; 16:9, 10, 29, etc., receive abun- dant confirmation from the Assyrian monuments. The annals of Tigiath-pileser also mention the Israelite kings, Menahem and Hoshea. The annals of Sargon, Shal- maneser's successor, note the events connected with the capture of Samaria, and the fall of the northern kingdom of Israel, and assign these events to his (Sar- gon's) first year, which was B. C. 722, 721. Thus an exact agreement exists between the Assyrian and Hebrew dates, the Hebrew chronology placing the fall of Samaria 135 years before the capture of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar, which was in the eighteenth year of that king, or B. C. 586, and B. C. 586 -f 135 = B. C. 721. There is a like close agreement, and remarkable confirmation in the Assyrian and Hebrew accounts of the military operations between Sennacherib and Heze- kiah: the annals of Sennacherib campared with 2 Ki. 18: 7, 13-16. And the walls of Karnak in Egypt con- firm the statement of 1 Ki. 14:25, 26. VI. Divisions.— The Books of Kings ma}^ be divided upon the basis of their three principal historical periods, viz.^ 1. 1 Ki. Chs. 1-11. Solomon. 2. 1 Ki. Chs. 12-22 and 2 Ki. Chs. 1-17. Israel and Judah. 3. 2 Ki. Chs. 18-25. Judah. VII. Contents.— The Scripture references in the pre- ceding table of The Kings indicate the contents. Com- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 77 pare also the IJooks' ol" those prophets who were contein- poraries of the kings. VIII. Doctrine.— The two principal teaehinj^s that receive repeated and startling enforcement are, — 1. Obedience and righteousness ])rocure every blessing. 2. Disobedience and apostas}- work general ruin. IX. Messianic— The only Messianic element in the Books of Kings is that which is bound up in the theo- cratic development of the kingdom, and in its typical characters, as, e. g., Solomon. Liiterature. —Keil and Delitzsch, Lange, Speaker's and Pul- pit Commentaries. Various works on the Bible and Recent Dis- FIRST ANDSECOND CHRONICLES. I. Name.— Z)i&7'e hayyamim== Registers of Days or Journal of Affairs. The nature of the w^ork gives it this name. The name Chronicles comes from some copies of the Vulgate. II. Position.— The Books of Chronicles originally con- stituted one Book. The}^ are placed at the end of the Hebrew Canon, being included in the Hagiographa. As the events related in them, however, generally belong to the same age as the Books of Kings, they appropriately follow those Books, as in the A. V. III. Time.— Considering that the I^ooks of Chronicles open with the genealogies found in Genesis, the}' cover 78 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. a period of time l)ei>iniiiiii> witli Adam, and extending to tlie proclamation of Cyrus lor tlu^ rebuildinii' of tlie temple in Jerusalem. IV. Coiiipo.sitioii:— iSV>?//Yr.S', Date and Auf/iorsliij). The author of Chi'onicles refers to various works treat- ing- of the main portions of the history covered by liis Books, wliicli works he douV)tless used in the composi- tion of liis own woi'k. These works are in addition to the earlier historical, canonical J>ooks from Genesis to and including Kings. The tirst mentioned of these ad- ditional soui'ces are, — The Book of Nathan the projihet, and The Book of Gad the seer. 1 Ghr. 20:29. Tlie Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite. and the Visions of Iddo the seer, are also mentioned in addition to the Book of Nathan the prophet, as sources for the history of Solomon. 2 Chr. 9:29. Other sources for the history of other kings are, the IJook of Shemaiah the prophet, the Book of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies (2 Chr. 12:15), the ^fidrasli or Commentary of the prophet Iddo (2 Chr. 1:3:22), the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel (2 Chr. 16:11; 25:20; 28:20; 32: 32); the same work or works referred to, as the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah (2 C^hr. 27: 7; 35: 27; 30:8); the Book of the Kings of Israel (2 Chr. 20:31; 33: 18); the Commentary of the liook of Kings (2 Chr. 21:27). The author also refers to Isaiah the prophet (2 Chr. 26:22), and to the vision of Isaiaii the prophet (2 Chr. 32 : 32). Comparing the Books of Chronicles with the liooks of Samuel and Kings there is uo good reason to doubt that the compiler of the former Books not only made use of the latter Books, but that the\' were for him in many matters the chief source in his history of the kings. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. ?0 As to tlic inatlor of date: — -as the history in liicsc liooks of C'lii'oiiielos t<'rininat(\s witli the i)roehiiiiation of (\vnis for the rebiiihliiii; of .lei'usalein ('? Chr. :}(;:2'^, 'I')), about .■):)(*) I>. C\, tlie IJooks eoiikl not have been (•onii)ose(I before that monai-eh's reii;n. On the otlier hand there is nothinii in the Hooks of Chronieh's behjnj;- iiiii to an ai>e hiter tlian that of K/i'a, w liieh is probable proof that tliey were composed in his time. 'J1ie sui)- pt)sit ion that the geneak)gies in 1 ('hr. 8:19-24 exteneneal()- gies. And this is confirmed by the fact that in the last part of the list occur names of i)ersons found also in Kzra, who speaks of them as liavin,i>- gone up Avith him in the reign of Artaxerxes. Accordingly the genealogies in (lironicles do not come down later than the time of Ezra, for Zerubbabel went u}) to Jerusalem in the begin- ning of the reign of Cyrus, 5:>G 1>. C., and the grand- children of Zerubbabel, mentioned in 1 Chr. :>: 10-21, would be the contemporaries of K/ra, who went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, about to? B. V. Ezra 7:0, 7. In point of authorship, the spii-it, tlie style, the ling- uistic nsages, the comparison of the l>ooks of Clironicles and Ezra, — all point to Ezra as the author. V. Credibility.— x\s the main portion of the liistory in Chronicles is the same as that contained in the IJooks of Kings, the IJooks of Chronicles possess all the claims to be considered genuine history that belong to the nai*ra- tives in the earlier Books. Where the authoi* of Chron- 8 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. ielevS t'uinislu's additional iiiatlcr he refers to the oriiiiiial sources whence he derived his iuforiiiatioii. And in ad- dition to this the historical credibility of the author is conhrnied by independent testimony, and canonical au- thorities not named by tlie writer. Thus the invasion of Jerusalem by the Philistines and Arabians in the reign of Jehoram (Chr. 21:10-11)), not mentioned in Kings, is contii-med by Joel o : 4-G. And the Avars of Uzziali and Ahaz against the Philistines, described in 2 Chr. 26:6; 28:18, agree with Isa. 14:28; Amos 6:2. In respect to numbers, e. y., ages and reigns of kings, the Books of Chronicles and Kings as a rule agree. In a few instances numbers in Chronicles are excessive, but so excessive as at once to indicate that the fault is not to be ascribed to the author, but to a corruption of the original text. VI. Desig-n.— Although the Books of Samuel and Kings were already written, still the author of Chroni- cles had a design in preparing his woi'k not met by the former Books. This design was in the tirst place, to furnish the genealogies of the Israelites, which were but partially given in the other Books of the Hebrew peo- ple. In the next place his design was to give a connected history from the death of Saul to the procla- mation of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. In carrying out this design he confines himself, after the separation of the ten tribes, to the house of Judah, omitting considerable matter found in Samuel and Kings, and introducing new matter, esj^ec- iall^^ such as relates to the armies of David, and the service of the priests and Levites in the temple. VII. Divisions and Contents. — These are as fol- lows : — INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 81 1. 1 Chroii. Chs. 1-9. A series of genealogical tables, similar to those found in Genesis, beginning with Adam, together with the genealogies of the Israelites in the times following the history in the Pentateuch, terminat- ing in the royal line with the sons of Elioenai (3:24), who lived after the return of the Jews from Babylon. Interspersed with the genealogies are other notices, — historical, geographical and liturgical. 2. 1 Chron. Chs. 10-29 and 2 Chron. Chs. 1-9. Be- gins with the death of Saul and the accession of David to the Kingdom of Israel, and giving the histories of David and Solomon, ends with the death of Solomon. 3. 2 Chron. Chs. 10-36. Begins with the reign of Rehoboam, Solomon's son and successor, embraces the history of the kingdom of Judah only, and extends to the proclamation of Cyrus for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem. VIII. Doctrine. — Remembering that the Books of Chronicles were written at the termination of the Baby- lonian exile, these doctrinal teachings become empha- sized : — 1. God's dispensational ways from the beginning. 2. The election of grace and the reward of faithful- ness in the return of a remnant from captivity to the Land of Promise. 3. The abandonment of idolatry and the attainment of spirituality through divine chastisement. IX. Messianic. -The Books of Chronicles close with a kingless nation ; but a nation looking forward to the near coming of its true King, Jehovah, the Messiah; — the King of whom its David and Solomon w(M*e types. Literature. — Keil and Delitzsch, L(ni(/(\ Pulpit », Vnitij, etc. Clis. 7: 27 — 0: 15 ai-e ij^enerally conceded to be llie work of Ezra. The reinaindei- of the Book is for tlie most part assigned by critics to the author of tlie l^ooks of Chron- icles. No sufficient reason exists, however, against as- cribing the entire Book to Ezra. That Ezra speaks at times in the first person, and at othertiines uses the third person, is in the light of ScriiDture usage, no sufficient reason to infer diversity of authorship. Ch. 10 stands in such close connection with what precedes that we cannot but conclude it was written by the same author. Moreover it is not at all probable that Ezra would begin his narrative with 7:27, or with the letter of Artaxerxes that immediately precedes it in 7:12-26; but would rather prefix to it an introduction after the manner of 7 : 1-1 0. Hence it is concluded that Ezra wrote the sec- ond part of the Book bearing his name, i. e., Chs. 7-10. But the first part is also to be assigned to him as its au- thor. Ezra did not go up to Jerusalem till the seventh year of Artaxerxes, about B. C. 458. He therefore had no active i)art in the affairs related in the first part of the Book, and ending with the dedication of the temple and the observance of the passover (0 : 15-22). But the manner in which the second part of Ezra opens, viz.^ — '^ Now, after these things, in the reign of xVrtaxerxes," naturally refers to a preceding part. As Ezra wrote an account of the second company of exiles who returned to Jerusalem, it was the most natural thing for him to prefix to it an account of the preceding company who 84 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. had returned. He had several documents to furnish him with the materials for this part of his history, viz.^ the same list that Nehemiah had found when he went up to Jerusalem, and incorporated in his Book (Neh. 7: 5-73); the decree of Cyrus in favor of the Jews; the letter of their enemies to Artaxerxes, and his order to stop build- ing the temple ; and the decree of Darius for its rebuild- ing. These documents together with the statements of those who had been eye-witnesses of those former trans- actions furnished Ezra with the material for writing the history of the first part of his Book, Chs. 1-6. This histor^^ is consecutive, and directly connected with the second part. Why should any other than Ezra write the greater part of the Book (Chs. 1-6) and prefix it to a writing of Ezra, instead of calling it by some other name ? VII. Divisions and Contents.— The Book of Ezra naturally divides itself into two parts. 1. Ezra Chs. 1-6. Account of the first company of exiles who went uj) to Jerusalem from Babylon with Zerubbabel, in the beginning of the reign of Cyrus, and the restoration of the Temple. The account includes, — (a) Ch. 1. Decree of Cyrus permitting the Jews to return to Jerusalem, and take with them the sacred vessels Nebuchadnezzar had removed to Babylon, (h) Ch. 2. Register of those w^ho returned, (c) Ch. 3. Altar of Burnt-offering set up; Feast of Booths observed ; foundations of the temple laid, (d) Ch. 4. The work of restoring the temple impeded till the second year of Darius, (e) Ch. 5. The work of restoration resumed under the impetus given by the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. (/) Ch. 6. The temple restored, dedicated, and the Passover observed. J INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 85 2. Ezra Ohs. 7-10. Account of tlie going up to Jerusalem of Ezra and his companions in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, and the reforms they introduced after their arrival ; embracing (a) Ch. 7. The permis- sion of Ezra and his company to return ; the decree of Artaxerxes; Ezra's gratitude to God. (b) Ch. 8. Ezra's companions and the journey to Jerusalem, (c) Ch. 9. Jews in Judah having contracted marriage with foreign wives, Ezra makes a solemn confession to God in the name of his people, (cl) Ch. 10. The reform of abuses. VIII. Doctrine.— The history in Ezra emphasizes 1. God's government of the world for the benefit of his people, as, e. g., in the decrees of restoration, etc. 2. Restoration to God, reorganization of the worship of God, and reformation in life. IX. Messianic— While there is no direct Messianic prophec}^ in the Book of Ezra, still a number of Mes- sianic prophecies were uttered in the times of Ezra and the restoration, as, e. g., in the Books of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, and in the post-exilic Psalms. Zerubbabel is also a type of the Messiah. liiterSLtiir e,—Keil and Delitzsch, Lange, Speaker's and Pul- pit Commentaries. Ryle in Cambridge Bible for Schools. Hun- ter's After the Exile. NEHEMIAH. I. Name.— This Book receives its name Nehemiah from the fact that he is the chief character in as well as the author of the Book. This Nehemiah is not to be confounded with the Nehemiah of Ez. 2:2. 86 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. II. Position.— The Books of Ezra and Xeheniiali, formerly taken as one Book, are in modern editions of the Hebrew Bible, in the LXX, in the Peshito-Syriae and Vulgate, separated as the}^ slionld be. The Book of Kehemiah, unlike Ezra, is written wholly in Hebrew. It properly follows Ezra as it supplements and completes the account of the return of the Jews from captivity, recorded in Ezra. III. Time.— Nehemiah flourished and wrought his work in behalf of the restored captives nearly one hun- dred years after Zerubbabel reached Judea. The Book itself of Nehemiah covers a period of about twelve years, from B. C. 444 to 432. See Chronology under Ezra. IV. Biographical.— Nehemiah was cupbearer to Arta- xerxes Longimanus. In the twentieth year of that mon- arch, Nehemiah, having received intelligence of the distressed condition of his countrymen in Judah, ob- tained permission from the king to visit Jerusalem and to rebuild it. After this the Book furnishes an account of the building of the wall of Jerusalem under his ad- ministration, the dedication of the rebuilt wall, the correction of abuses, interspersed with various lists. See Introduction to Malachi. V. Cov[i-\io^\t\on'.~ AiifhorsMp, Unity, etc. The close connection that exists between different parts of the Books of Neliemiah argues a single authorship. The opening words of the Book assert that this author is Nehemiah himself. And this is for the most part con- ceded with one or two exceptions. Some critics regard Chs. 8, 1), 10 as an interpolation made by the author of the Books of Chronicles upon the basis of contemporary notes. But such an interpolation in the writings of one INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 87 who held the position Nehemiah did, and that an inter- polation too in the middle of the Book, is most unnatural. Moreover there is a close connection between the inci- dents recorded in this so-called interpolated section, and what immediatel}^ precedes; e. g.^ compare 7:73 with 8 : 14-18, and 9:1. Besides the minute particulars given in these three so-called interpolated chapters show that they were written down by an eye-witness; thus note the writer's use of the first i)erson plural in Ch. 10, showing that he was a participator in the events. Once more the unity of authorship, the unity of the whole Book is evidenced by the fact tliat there are linguistic peculiarities common both to the so-called interpolated section and the undisputed parts of the Book, that occur rarely elsewhere. As to 12:1-10, the incorporation of such a list in the Book is altogether ajjpropriate, as its object was to give the names of the Levites who took part in the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, described in 12 : 24-47. It is perfectly consistent with Nehemiah's authorship that reference should be made in 12 : 26, 47 to " the days of Nehemiah and Ezra," for these words could have been written by Nehemiah after he had re- tired from the governorship if not before, as they refer to his political life. The historicity of the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah is confirmed by the correspondence that exists between them and other prophetical writings. VI. Divisions and Contents.— The principal divisions are three, viz., 1. Chs. 1-7. Embracing (a) Chs. 1, 2. Occasion of Nehemiah's visit to Jerusalem, — the restoration of the city's walls, etc. {h) Chs. 3, 4. The opposition to the progress of this work, overcome, (c) Ch. 5. Secures just enactments in certain administrative courses. 88 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. (r/) Oh. (). Another attempt to hinder the completion of the walls defeated, (e) Ch. 7. Beneticent municipal measures adopted, and a list of the exiles who returned with Zerubbabel given. 2. Chs. 8-10. Embracing (a) Ch. 8. The people's request to have the Law^ read, granted; the feast of I^ooths observed, (b) Ch. 9. Confession of sin, and a solemn covenant made, (c) Ch. 10. The terms of the covenant. 3. Chs. 11-13. Embracing (a) (1i. 11. Residents of Jerusalem and neighboring towns. (6) Ch. 12. Leviti- cal lists ; account of the dedication of the walls ; dues of the priests and Levites, and the liberalit}' of the com- munitJ^ (c) Nehemiah's second visit to Jerusalem; religious measures and reforms. See under Malachi. VII. Doctrine and Messianic— See under p]zra, and compare Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Literature.— -See Literature under Ezra. ESTHER, I. 'Name,— Aster =^ Esther = star. The Book is so named from its principal character, a Jewish maid called originally Hadassah, but Esther after she became the wife of Ahasuerus, i. e., Xerxes (B. C. 485-465). II. Time.— The Persian King Ahasuerus of the Book of Esther is now genei'ally identified with Xerxes, who reigned B. C. 485-465. The events therefore took place during his reign. The Book opens in the third year of his reign (1 : 3), i. e., B. C. 482. See Chronology under Ezra. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. SO III. Argument. The narrative of the Book is, briefly, as follows: — King- Ahasiieriis, who reigned from India to Ethiopia, in tlie third year of his reign made a great feast in Shnshan, the palace. During the feast he ordered Queen ^^ashti to be brought in that he might exliibit her beauty to his guests. Yashti refused to com- ply with his request ; whereupon he deposed her from being queen, and chose in her stead Esther, a Jewess, the cousin and adopted daughter of Mordecai. Hainan, prime minister of Ahasuerus, angered because Mordecai did not show him required reverence, obtained a decree from the king for the slaughter of all the Jews in the kingdom. Esther obtains a counter decree. Mordecai is promoted to the highest place of honor, and Haman is hung. The Jews slaughter their enemies, and intro- duce the feast of Purim in commemoration of their deliverance. The Book concludes with a description of the greatness of Ahasuerus. IV. Credibility. —Against the credibility of the history in Esther it is urged that it is not supposable that the king would issue a decree for the slaughter of all the Jew^s in his kingdom and publish that decree twelve months before it was to take effect. It is also considered unnatural that the king, Xerxes, instead of revoking the bloody decree, should issue a counter decree giving the Jews liberty to arm and defend themselves, result- ing in the slaughter of 75,000 of hissubjects. But there is nothing at all incredible in all this, or any like objec- tions that are urged against the historicity of the Book. The> correspond precisely with wliat is known of Xerxes from other sources, with what is known of many another despot. The historical details furnished are too numerous and precise to regard the Book as pui'e fabrication, and 90 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. to regard it as other than gennine contemporary history. The universal observance of the feast of Purim is a standing attestation of the historicity of Esther. The fact that the name of God does not occur in the Book of Esther is certainly strange, but seems also to be by de- sign, and that not simply in order to guard against the profanation of the name at the Purim feast when it was intended that the Book should be read, but also in this way to give peculiar emphasis, to render all the more conspicuous, the providential work of God which is so obviously present and operative all through the historj^ of the Book. V. Composition,— Autho7\ship and Date. The author of the Book is not known. It was probably written by a Jew at Susa during the Persian dominion. The minuteness and vividness of the particulars narrated would seem to show that the writer lived in close prox- imity to the events recorded. VI. Doctrine and Messianic— The Book contains no direct Messianic prophecy. The doctrinal thought em. phasized is God's government in providence. Literature.— -KeiV and Delitzsch, Lange, Haley, Speaker's and Pulpit Commentaries. HEBREW POETRY. Hebrew poetry goes back to the earliest times, appear, ing already in Genesis. A number of the Books of the Old Testament are entirely poetical, while poetical selec- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 91 tions are preserved also in the historical I^ooks. The Books entirely poetical are Job (except Prologue and Epilogue), Psalms, Proverbs, The Song of Songs, and The Lamentations of Jeremiah. Ecclesiastics approaches the form of gnomic poetry. Hebrew poetry may be classified as epic^ when it describes God's dealings with his people, e. r/., Job, Psa. 78; lyric, when it expresses in song the religious or heart experiences of the writer, €. g., The Song of Songs and most of the Psalms; didac- tic when it inculcates the duties of life, e. g., Proverbs; elegiac as in The Lamentations of Jeremiah. There is strictly no dramatic poetry in the Old Testament. Hebrew poetry has properly neither rhyme nor metre, but is always distinguished by rhythm. The rhythm of Hebrew poetry consists in a certain harmonious relation of the parts or members of the single verses to each other, called the parallehsm of members. This paral- lelism of members is the most distinguishing feature of Hebrew poetry. It is classified as synonymous, antitheti- cal, and synthetical parallelism. 1. Synonymous parallelism consists in repeating in different form, and so additionally enforcing, in the sec- ond member of the verse, the thought contained in the first member; e. g., Num. 23:8; Josh. 10:12; Psa. 78:43. R. V. 2. Antithetic parallelism is that wherein the thought of the second member stands in contrast with the first, the contrast emphasizing or confirming; e. g. Psa. 1:G; Prov. 10:1. R. V. 3. Synthetic or constructive parallelism consists of several, and sometimes of many, members, closely con- nected, and illustrating one subject; — it supplements or completes; e. g. Psa. 37:25, 20. R. V. 92 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 4. A fourth kind of parallelism, though of rare occur- rence, is climactic parallelism, where the second member takes up and completes the thought of the first member in the manner of an ascending climax; e. g. Ex. 15: 16; Psa. 29:1. R. Y. By far the greater number of verses in the poetry of the Old Testament consist of disticlis, i. e. two lines, thus exami3les cited above. A very few are monosticlis^ consisting of a single line, e. g., Psa. 16 : 1. In tristichs, or verses of three lines, sometimes the three lines are synonymous (Psa. 5:11); sometimes the first and sec- ond members are i^arallel in thought, and the third com- pletes it (Psa. 2 : 2) ; sometimes the second and third members are parallel (Psa. 3:7); and sometimes the first and third are parallel, and the second is in the nature of a parenthesis (Psa. 4:2). In tetrastichs, or verses of four lines, generally the first member is par- allel to the second, and the third parallel to the fourth (Gen. 49:7), but sometimes the first is parallel to the third, and the second parallel to the fourth (Psa. 55 : 21), and occasional!}' the tetrastich takes other forms. Of rare occurrence are pentastichs (Num. 24:8), and hexa- stichs (Song of Songs 4:8). Using the term strophe in the modified sense as signifying a group of verses, con- nected, together by a certain unity of thought, then strophes are found in Hebrew poetr3\ Such strophes appear in Psalms where refrains occur, as, e. g., Psa. 42: 5, 11, and 43:5, the two Psalms originally consti- tuting one. The progress of thought in poems of con- siderable length are also marked by pauses constituting strophes. Many of the Psalms fall logically, as well as poetically, into groups of verses, thus also constituting strophes. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 93 JOB. I. 'Same,— Eijol)=Joh=2yerseciited or enduring. The Book is so called from the name of its principal charac- ter, or hero. II. Position.— The Book of Job is included in the Hagiographa, the third division of the Hebrew Bible, called accordinii' to the Jews the Ketuhini or Writings. The Book also forms a part of the so-called Cliokhmah — or Wisdom-Literatnre (Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes) of the Hebrews. This Literature is so called on account of the philosophico-religious character of its observations and discussions upon the phenomena and problems of human life. III. Time.— According to the representations of the Book, Job and the events recorded in the Book of Job belong to the patriarchal period, or the very earliest part of the Mosaic period. See V and VI below. IV. Design— Argument. — It is generall}^ conceived that the design of the Book of Job is to discuss the problem — Why do the righteous suffer 9 and that the result of the discussion is a failure to arrive at a satis- factory solution of the problem. But this view of its design is contradicted by the Book, and especially by the Prologue and Epilogue of the Book, precisely where, if anywhere, we should go to find the design of the Book. According to the Prologue and Epilogue, and according to the entire Book, the one great design of the Book is not to discuss the problem of — Why do the right- eous suffer? — but to furnish a pre-eminent example, and that example teaching precisely this — Behold how the 94 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. r'ujhfeoiis can suffer, and sf ill endure stedfastto the end ; stedfast to his God and to his intec/rity. That this is the one great desii>ii of the Book is the plain and em- phatic teaching- of the Prologue, especiallj' as it comes out in God's repeated testimony and challenge with re- spect to Job that there is none like him in all the earth in being perfect, upright, fearing God, eschewing evil, and holding fast his integrity to the end and against all. No interpretation can be put upon the Book, or any part of it, that does not agree with this statement of God in regard to Job, and accept it as a true statement of Job's real character. Moreover that this is the design of the Book is the evident teaching of the prophet Eze- kiel (14:14, 20), and the apostle James (5: 11, R. V.). How this is and that this is the design of the Book ap- pears also from the argument of the Book which is as follows :— The first Celestial Council meets (1 : 6). The principal characters in this Council are God, Satan and Job. The point at issue is, — Which is the greater in and over man, the power of God, or the power of Satan ? A test of this is to be instituted, a supreme trial of it is to be made. Job is the one chosen and mutually agreed upon as the one in whom the test, the trial is to be made. God issues the challenge to Satan in the words — " Hast thou considered my servant Job ? for there is none like him in the earth," etc. Satan accepts the challenge with the words, — "Doth Job fear God for nought?" The details of the challenge are then arranged, accord- ing to which Satan is given permission of God to do what he will with all Job's possessions, Satan's object being to force Job to renounce God. Accordingly Satan goes forth and dispossesses Job of all his estates, and all his children. Job stands the test. Though his posses- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 95 sioiis and cliildren are gone he refuses to renounce God. Satan is discomfited. But God challenges Satan a sec- ond time, and again Satan accepts the challenge. The only stipulation that God makes is that Satan shall spare Job's life. Satan goes forth to do his utmost to force Job to renounce God. The test Satan now institutes and applies to Job is threefold. 1st. He smites Job with lepros}'. 2nd. He turns Job's wife against him. 3rd. He marshals against Job three false friends who by the shrewdest arguments of devilish cleverness try to unbalance Job's reason, and overthrow his convic- tions as to God. These arguments, constituting the third part of the test, occupy the larger portion of the Book, beginning with Ch. 3 and terminating with Ch. 32. But Job endures through it all, stands the test, re- fuses to renounce Gt»d. Satan seeing his defeat does not appear again upon the scene, in the Epilogue, when Job, having stood the test, is blessed of God with double what he before possessed. Examination will show that this conception of the design and argument of the Book alone consistently exi^lains and harmonizes all the parts and statements of the Book. V. Integrity— Historicity. -The genuineness of cer- tain parts of the Book of Job have at different times been called into question. A very few have questioned the genuineness of the Prologue and Epilogue, but these are absolutely necessary to the understanding and com- pleteness of the Book. Without these parts the Book is devoid of any evident design, and the character and experiences of Job are entirely purposeless. Some critics have also questioned the genuineness of Chs. 27:11- 28 : 28 owing for the most part, to the different moods and attitudes taken by Job therein. The real difficulty 96 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. however is not owing to the dift'erent positions taken by Job, but owing to a misconception of the design of the Book on tlie part of the critics. If the design of the Book be as stated above under IV, then the difficult- ies vanish and all becomes plain. According to this design the three false friends are the agents of Satan in the attempt to effect, by the acutest arguments of Sa- tanic plausibility, the overthrow of Job's reason, and force him to renounce God. Relentlessly assailed by such arts and arguments it becomes precisely what is to be expected that Job would manifest different moods, be subject to changes of mind, give utterance to senti- ments seemingly contradictory, and in short be at times cast down to the lowest depths of doubt and despair, as well as times exalted to sublimest heights of assured faith and hope. But the genuineness of the discourses of Elihu (Chs. 32-37), has been especially assailed, and the discourses rejected by many critics as spurious, in- terpolations. But the grounds upon which these dis- courses have been rejected as being spurious, are utterly -insufficient. These grounds are : — 1st. It is objected that Elihu is not mentioned either in the Prologue or Epilogue. But according to the design and argument of the Book as stated above under IV he would not and ought not to be so mentioned; for he was not one of the false friends arrayed to assail Job, and therefore is not mentioned in the Prologue; and on the other hand being a true friend and counselor of Job, and occupying the same position as J-ob, he therefore would not be mentioned in the Epilogue when the three false friends are summoned to have judgment passed upon them. •2nd. It is objected that the discourses of Elihu are at- tached but loosely to the poem as a whole. On the con- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 97 trary we assert that the discourses of Elihu furnish the final link that unites all the discourses. Among other proofs this will become evident by comparing, e. c/., 33 : 23, 24 with 19 : 25-27 ; 16 : 19-22 and 9 : 32-35. 3rd. It is objected that Elihu occupies substantially the same position as the three friends, especially Eliphaz. On the contrary we assert that Elihu occupies substantially the same position as Job, and directly the opposite of that of the three friends; — the passages quoted above in proof. Elihu's position is indicated in 33:23, 24 and corresponds in every particular with Job's position as expressed in 9:32-35; 10:19-22; 19:25-27. Elihu\s conceptions of sin and of God are in every particular truer than those of the three friends. 4th. It is objected that Elilurs style is prolix, labored. On the (contrary it is not as prolix and labored as that of the three false friends, especially Bildad and Zophar. In regard to tlie historical character of tlie Book, and of Job its hero : — We regard the Book as being in the main real history. True the discourses of Job, Elihu, and the three friends may not have been uttered extem- pore in precisely their present form and fulness. But that, they were uttered for the most part extempore, and substantially in the same form, and with almost the same fulness, — there is no good I'eason to doubt; es- pecially when we remembei* the history of those remark- able literary conventions and contests which in some- what later days were held in the same country and by those who were descendants of Job. As to Job him- self, it is now generally conceded that he was a I'eal, historical character. The Book itself certainly intends to convey that idea, for in regular historical narrative form it gives us Job's name; it tells us where Job lived, [7J 98 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. i. e., in the land of Uz, in northern Arabia; it states the number of his children ; it enumerates his posses- sions ; it describes his family and religions life ; it gives the names and nativity of the friends, etc. And in ad- dition to this the prophet Ezekiel and the Apostle James testify to the real, historical character of Job. To re- fer in such language as Ezekiel uses to a fictitious, un- historical character, and associate him with men (Noah and Daniel) who had a real existence, is to saj^ the least extremel}' unnatural. VI. Authorship— Date.— The authorship of Job is not positively known. Among those mentioned as prob- able authors are Job, Moses, Solomon, Jeremiah, a post-exilian author, etc. The most probable of all is Moses, considering the thoroughly extra-Palestine char- acter of the Book on the one hand, and its thoroughly Arabian and Egyptian character on the other hand. In its structure as a poem ; in its use of a number of words and forms of words occurring nowhere else ; in its figures of speech; in its allusions to mau}^ social and civil usages ; in its references to various natural phenomena ; and in many incidental allusions which oftentimes con- stitute the surest indication, the Book is intenselj^ Arabian and Egyptian, and without exception non-Pal- estinian. It is in the highest degree improbable that a Post-Mosaic, Palestinian author should have so thor- oughly detached himself from everything Palestinian, and have become so thoroughly native Arabian and Egyptian, without ever once betraying himself. Re- specting the date of the composition of the Book, a similar difference of opinion prevails. Ezekiel 14:14, 20 implies that the Book of Job had been written in his time. Certain passages in Jeremiah an4 Isaiah indicate INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 99 a kiu)wUMl<>e and use of tlie Hook of Job by these prophets. I>nt erities strenuously object to liavins: the date of the composition of the I^ook assigned to anj' date earlier than the time of these Prophets, or at the utmost earlier than tlie time of Solomon. Their objec- tions are mainly and strictly only two, viz. — 1st. The Book exhibits such remarkable literarj^ finish, culture, power, excellence as to make it impossible to assign it to a date earlier than the age of Solomon, /. e., the mental endowments and capacities of the human race were not sufficiently developed to produce it before that time. 2nd. The theological views set forth in the Book respect- ing life, God, sin, deliverance, immortality, etc., are so clear, true and full as to make it impossible to assign to the Book a date earlier than Solomon or 900 B. C. ; in- asmuch as before that time the race was not sufficiently developed to accept and announce such perfect theologi- cal views as articles of truth and faith. We deny the truth and force of these two objections on these three grounds : 1st. They are rationalistic in nature. 2nd. They are untrue to fact. ord. Thej^ charge the author of the Book with misrepresentation. They are ration- alistic in nature in that they limit the operations of God in revelation and inspiration to what the human mind can itself acquire by the unaided exercise of the human reason. They are untrue to fact in that the Ancient Egyptians before the times of Abraham held to a pure monotheistic conception of God, announced their be- lief in immortality, and looked to a divine-human de- liverer to deliver from sin. They charge the author of the Book of Job w ith misrepresentation in that, conced- ing Job to be a patriarchal character, they make the author put in the mouth of Job the statement of views 100 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. and beliefs not possible to be entertained and expressed till centuries after that, thus making the author guilty of anachronism. VII. Divisions and Contents.— The Book of Job maj^ be divided and its contents indicated as follows : — I. Chs. 1,2. The Prologue. Written in prose. The author's historical statement setting forth the occasion and design of the Book, and consisting of 1. Ch. 1:1-5. Statement as to Job, — his country, character, possessions, religious life. 2. Ch. 1 : 6-22. First meeting of the Celestial Coun- cil, and first trial of Job. 3. Ch. 2. Second meeting of the Celestial Council, second trial of Job and gathering of Job's false friends. II. Chs. 3-31. Debate. Written in poetry. Contains the debate between Job and his three false friends, Eli- phaz, Bildad and Zophar. Ch. 3 is Job's cry, intro- ductory to this debate, which then proceeds as follows : — 1. Chs. 4-14. First debate ; consisting of (a) Chs. 4, 5. Argument of Eliphaz. God is good. No man so good as to be exempt from suffering. The ungodly resent suffering. Let Job submit. (b) Chs. 6, 7. Reply of Job. Job's sufferings are exceptional, but his guilt is not exceptional ; hence the argument of Eliphaz does not meet and satisfy his case. (c) Ch. 8. Argument of Bildad. God is not unjust. Job greatly punished must have greatly sinned. Let him seek God for merc}^ (d) Chs. 9, 10. Reply of Job. True God is not un- just; still injustice prevails on the earth, and the innocent are involved with the guilty. Therefore there must be another cause for suffering. (e) Ch. 11. Argument of Zophar. God detects sin INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 101 where man is unconscious of it. So prominently Job; therefore let him forsake sin, and seek mercy. (/) Chs. 12-14. Reply of Job. He resents Zophar's assumption to an insio-ht of God's ways. His conscience gives him courage, and God must extend hope. 2. Chs. 15-21. Second debate. Consisting of (a) Ch. 15. Argument of Eliphaz. Job assumes su- perior wisdom. Evil does not go unchecked and un- punished, as a tormenting conscience and disastrous end prove. (b) Chs. 16, 17. Reply of Job. But he (Job) is in- nocent, and yet afflicted, persecuted. That he is inno- cent he has in heaven a Witness who will attest and vindicate it. (c) Ch. 18. Argument of Bildad. Vexed at Job, and his protestations of innocence, when the misery he has, and the dishonor that awaits him, argue the con- trary. (d) Ch. 19. Reply of Job. Bildad's argument false, and application cruel. Hence appeals for pity. At any rate his vindicator. Redeemer liveth who will acquit, and reveal himself. (e) Ch. 20. Argument of Zophar. He is unmoved by Job's language. Declares Job perverse. Job's brief prosperity, and present destruction a proof he is wicked. (/) Ch. 21. Reply of Job. Facts contradict Zophar's argument. The wicked prosper and die in peace hence suffering has another cause and reason for it. 3. Chs. 22-28. Third debate. Consisting of (a) Ch. 22. Argument of Eliphaz. God punishes only for impiety, sin. Eliphaz unscrupulously charges Job with inhumanity, avarice, abuse of power. Let Job repent 102 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. {b) Chs. -^a, 24. Reply of Job. Makes no direct re- l)!}- to the false accusations of Eliphaz, but discourses upon the mysteries of God's providence. (c) Ch. 25. Argument of Bildad. Protests against Job's declaration of his innocence. God is great and great is his majesty. (d) Ch. 26. Reply of Job. True God is great as his works show, but the question at issue turns not on Clod's greatness, but on his justice. (e) Chs. 27, 28. Zophar failing to appear Job utters his final words to the three friends. God is great, wise, good, and requires holiness of life. (/) Chs. 29-31. Job's final survey of his whole case, i. e., the conclusion or summing up of the debate. III. Chs. 32-37. Discourse of Elihu. Consisting of (a) Ch. 32 : 1-5. Introduction of Elihu b}^ the author. (b) Ch. 32 : 6-22. Elihu's introduction to his dis- course. (c) Chs. 33-37. Elihu's discourse. God not Job's enemy. God does not afflict unjustly, but in affliction has gracious, disciplinary designs. IV. Chs. 38 : 1—42 : 6. Jehovah's reply to Job. Con- sisting of (a) Chs. 38:1 — 40:2. First part of Jehovah's reply. (b) Ch. 40:3-5. Job's humble confession of un- worthiness. (c) Chs. 40 : 6 — 41 : 34. Second part of Jehovah's reply. (f/) Ch. 42 : 1-G. Job's further confession of God's greatness, and his own unworthiness. V. Ch. 42:7-17. Epilogue. Concluding historical statement by the author setting forth the end of Job's trials; the condemnation of Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar; INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 103 the vindication and commendation of Job; the restora- tion of Job to prosper! t}^ twofold as great as that which he enjo3ed before; and Job's long life and death. VIII. Doctrine.— 1. Job's conception of God is pure, monotheistic, Biblical. 2. As to man he is a sinner who must both have a divine righteousness imputed to him, and himself work righteousness. 3. Atonement (kafar), Redemption {pada), and Ran- soming, Restoring {ga\tl), are clearly defined in their relations, nature and working. 4:. The doctrines of resurrection and immortality are clearly expressed as, e. g., 14:14; 19:26, etc. 5. In its practical bearing the key word of the Book is Endurance (James 5:11); — the perseverance of the godly based on preservation by God. IX. Messianic— While there is no direct personal reference to the Messiah, still there is a strong Messianic element in Job. Jehovah is the Redeemer. The great offices and works of the Redeemer are strongly brought out in the Messianic sections 9 : 32-35 ; 16 : 19-22 ; 19 : 25- 27; 33:23, 24. Jjiteratnre,— Commentaries. Lange, Delitzsch, Davidson, Speaker's and Palpit. THE PSALMS. I. 'S2in\e,—TeMlliin^= Praises or Praise- Songs. So called as setting forth the main object of the Book, viz.^ the worship of God. The title Psalms is derived from the LXX rendering of the Hebrew name. 104 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. II. Position.— The Book of Psalms is included in the Hagiographa, the third great division of the Hebrew Bible. In this division the Psalms have commonly oc- cupied the first place, and hence we find the entii'e Old Testament summed up under the three names of the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Lu. 24:44. III. Divisions.— In the Hebrew Bible, as in theR. V., the Psalter is divided into five Books, riz.^ (1) Psas. 1-41 . •2. Psas. 42-72. (3) Psas. 73-80. (4) Psas. 90-106. (5) Psas. 107-150. This division into Books is older than the LXX translation. The end of each of these five Books is marked b}' a doxology. The 150th Psalm constitutes the doxology of the fifth Book. IV. Collections.— The Psalms cover a i^eriod extend- ing from Moses to post-exilic times. The Psalter is not the work of a single compiler. Originalh' a number of smaller collections existed independently, which were afterwards united in one, the completed Book being thus gradually' formed out of pre-existing smaller collec- tions. It is reasonable to suppose that the first, original collection of Psalms consisted mainly of those Psalms, mostly David's, now classed as Book I. This collection Avas probably made by David's son and successor Solo- mon. The next collection was probably not completed till the time of Ilezekiah. This collection probably con- sisted in the main of those Psalms of David, Asaph, and the sons of Korah, composing Books II, HI. This collection was probably made by those " men of Heze- kiah '' to whom we owe the preservation of man}' proverbs of Solomon not included in the first collection of his Proverbs. (Prov. 25 : 1.) This also agrees with 2 C'hron. .29 : 30. The third and last collect ion was made in exilian or post-exilian times ; no further additions after INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 105 Ilezc'kiah liavini*- been made to tlie Psalter till the times of Ezra and Xeliemiali, wlieii it was enriched by a large number of songs written during and after the exile. To this period are due, in the main, the Psalms composing Books IV, y. With these, howevei', were incorporated certain Psalms belonging to eailier times. Thus Book IV opens with a Psalm or Prayer ascribed to Moses. And in these l>ooks IV, V are seventeen Psalms ascribed to David, some evidently by mistake, but others again unquestionably David's as, e. (/., Psa. 110. Hence it appears that while a general chronological order has been observed in the order of the Psalms, still some- times the chronological order has been displaced by an order based on subject-matter. V. Titles or Inscriptions.— Most of the Psalms are provided with titles or inscriptions, all except thirty- four. Of the antiquity of these titles there can be no question inasmuch as they are found in the LXX. As to the authority of these titles, while there is ground to question their accuracy in some particulars still they are in the main trustAvorthy. 'Iliese titles or inscriptions of the Psalms are chiefly of three kinds, viz.^ — 1. Those which define their musical or liturgical char- acter. 2. Those which assign them to particular authors. 3. Those wliicli designate the particular circumstances under which a Psalm was composed. Any of these may occur separately, or be combined to form one title. A brief consideration of them fol- lows. VI. Titles of Character.— That is, those Psalms to which notices of a liturgical or musical character are prefixed. Such notices are 106 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 1. Lamnasayah — "For the Precentor." Probably designates the leader of tlie choir who was to set it to music, and superintend its practice. Occurs fifty-five times. 2. Lelammed — "For teaching." Probabl}' a Psalm to be taught to or by the Levites. Psa. 60. 3. Leliazkeer — " To bring to remembrance." Prob- ably memorializing Jehovah's goodness. Psas. 38, 70. 4. Letodah — " For thanksgiving." Probably with the thank-offering. Psa. 100. 5. Mizmor — " A Psalm. " A general name for psalvi^ but implying instrumental accompaniment. 6. Sheer — "A Song." Used separatel}^, and in con- junction with mizmor. A Psalm in celebration. 7. Miclitam — " Golden." A song of deep import. 8. MaskeeJ — A " skillful strain," or " skillfully con- structed song." 9. Shiggayon — An "instrument," a "melody," a " lament," or a " dithyrambic ode." 10. Tehillah — " A hymn of praise." For occasions of joy, triumi)h, thanksgiving. 11. Tefillah — " A Prayer." So a whole collection of David's songs. Psa. 72 : 20. 12. Sheer Yededoth — " A song of loves"; where the subject is love. Psa. 45. 13. Sheer hammaaloth — "Song of accents." Pilgrim festival songs, going up to Jerusalem. 14. Particular instruments by which the Psalm was to be accompanied are hannaheloth — " flutes," RTidnegi- noth — " stringed instruments." 15. Particular measures are alamotli, shemenith, get- tith, yedidun. IXTKODUCTION OUTLINES. 107 10. Particnlar melodies are the " Iliiid of the Dawn," " The Dove/' '^ 'J1ie Lily of the Testimony," etc. IT. SelnJi. Probably a pause, or call for renewed at- tention. VII. Authorship Titles.—The authors of tlu- Psalms according to their titles are as follows : — 1. Moses. One Psalm, the 90th. '2. David. Seventy-three Psalms. :>. Solomon. Two Psalms, 72nd and 127th. 4. The Sons of Korah. Eleven Psalms, rlz., 42-40, 84, 85, 87. Korah was the grandson of Kohath, son of Levi. The Korahites or " Sons of Korah" were an important branch of the singers in the Kohathite di- vision in the temple service. 1 Chr. 5: 33; 2 Chr. 20: 19. 5. Heman. One of the "Sons of Korah." One Psa., 88. 0. Asaph. Twelve Psalms, viz., 50, 73-83. 7. Ethan the Ezrahite. One Psalm, the 89th. Asaph, Heman, Ethan are names of the three chief singers of David. The remainder of the Psalms, about a third, are therefore anonymous. VIII. Titles of Occasion.— The titles sometimes con- tain historical notices, i. e., notices purporting to give an account of the particular occasion for which a Psalm was composed. Some of these notices are trustworthy, others are not. They occur only in the Psalms of David, and refer to events in his life. Thus with Psa. 3 com- pare 2 Sam. Chs. 15-18. Psa. 7 comp. 1 Sam. Chs. 24-2G. Psa. 18 comp. 2 Sam. Ch. 22. Psa. 34 comp. 1 Sam. 21 : 1-15. Psa. 51 comp. 2 Sam. Ch. 12. Psa. 52 comp. 1 Sam. Ch. 22. Psa. 54 comp. 1 Sam. 23: 19- 28. Psa. 50 comp. 1 Sam. 21:1-15. Psa. 57 comp. 1 108 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Sam. 22: 1-24. Psa. 59 comp. 1 Sam. 19: 11-18. Psa. 60 comp. 2 Sam. 8:1-13. Psa. 63 comp. 1 Sam. 22 : 3-5. Psa. 142 comp. 1 Sam. 22 : 1, 2 ; 2 Chr. 11 : 15- 19, etc. The historical occasion of other Psalms, not noticed in the titles, might be assigned with a consider- able degree of probability. IX. Classifications.— The Psalms are variously classi- fied upon the basis of their subject-matter, or because of certain peculiar literary features. Thus we have, — 1. Psalms consisting of meditations on different as- pects of God's providence as manifested in creation, history, etc. Such are Psalms 8, 19, 29, 33, 36, 65, 103, 104, 107, etc. 2. Psalms consisting of reflections upon God's moral government of the world, and on the character and con- duct that is pleasing to him; hence these Psalms are of a didactic character. Such are Psalms 1, 15, 32, 34, 37, 49, 73, 75, 77, 90, 92, 112, etc. 3. Psalms expressive of faith, resignation, joy in God's law and God's presence. Such are Psalms 11, 16, 23, 26, 27, 42, 62, 63, 84, 91, 119, 121, 127, 128, 130, etc. 4. Psalms having a more distinct reference to the cir- cumstances of the Psalmist, as petitions for help in illness, persecution, or other trouble, for forgiveness of sins, besides many of personal thanksgiving. In these the Psalmist sometimes includes his companions or co- religionists. Such are Psalms 3-7, 12, 13, 17, 22, 30, 40, 116, etc. 5. National Psalms. That is, Psalms consisting of complaints of national oppression or disaster; and again expressions of thanksgivings for mercies received or promised; and still again prayers for the welfare of INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 109 Jerusalem, and the comin,^ glory of Zion as the metropo- lis of the world. Such are Psalms 14, 44, 46, 47, 48, 60, GC, GS, 76, 79, 87, 118, 122, 124, 129, 144, etc. 6. Historical Psalms. That is. Psalms consisting of a review of the national history with a reference to the lessons deducible from it. Such are Psalms 78, 81, 105, 106, 114. 7. Royal Psalms. That is. Psalms relating to the king or to the Davidic dynasty, and containing thanks- givings, wishes, promises, supplications, maxims, etc. These Psalms frequently have a Messianic import. See below. Such royal Psalms are 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132. 8. Penitential Psalms. So called on account of their being expressions of profound penitence for sin. These Psalms are seven in number, viz., 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143. 9. Imprecatory Psalms. That is, those Psalms which seem to invoke terrible judgments upon the enemies of God and his people. Such Psalms more particularly are 35, 69, 109, 137, and a few other isolated passages. The usage of both the imperative and imperfect is to be noted in the discussion of these imprecatory passages. Compare also Rev. Ch. 18. 10. Hallelujah Psalms. Psalms beginning with " Hal- lelujah " are so called. They are Psalms 106, 111, 112, 113, 117, 135, 146-150. 11. Hodu Psalms, or Thanksgiving Psalms. These are so called because they begin with the word Hodu = Give thanks. They are Psalms 105, 107, U8, 136. 12. The Hallel. Psalms 113-118 are so called as be- ing those Psalms that are chanted at the three great feasts, at the feast of the dedication, and at the new 110 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. moons. Ill the family celebration of the Passover night Psalms 113, 114 are snng before the meal, before the emptjdng of the second festal cup, while Psalms 1 lo- ll 8 were sung after the meal, after the filling of the fourth cup, to which, after the institution of the Lord's Supper, which was connected witli the fourth festal cup Math. 26: 30, Mk. 14: 26 probably refer. 13. Alphabetical Psalms. That is, those Psalms in which successive verses, half verses, or groui^s of verses begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alpha- bet. The alphabetical arrangement is not fully carried in every instance. Such alphabetical Psalms are 9, 10, 25, 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, 145. For Messianic Psalms see below. IX. Theolog^y. —Hebrew ]3oetry is the poetry of friend- ship and fellowship between God and man. It is pre- eminentl}' so with the Psalms. In them God manifests himself and speaks through nature, through historj^ through personal experience to Israel, to the Israelite. And in them the true Israelite, the soul, finds its com- pletest expression, holds blessed communion with God to whom it discloses all its emotions, desires, hopes, fears. The God of the Psalms is very near, and very real, and communion with him most spiritual and inti- mate. The Law of God is also highly magnified in the Psalms. As contrasted with its merely ceremonial enactments, there is a remarkable recognition of the higher and more spiritual requirements of the Law, and an intense affection expressed for it. The confession and remission of sins, purity in heart and holiness of life, the blessedness of righteousness here and hereafter, are matters repeatedly and boldly inculcated. Tlie hope of a future life glorifies not a few Psalm utterances. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Ill X. Messianic— The Messianic hope shines strongly in the Psahns. Tliis Messianic* element is for the most part tyijical. David and Solomon, the Priest and Psalmist, appear therein as types of the Messiah, and of the Mes- siah in his threefold office of Prophet, Priest and King. It is to be remembered, however, that in the Psalms this Messiah, this Anointed One in whom are bound up the redemption of the world and the glorifying of Israel, is not in the first instance, or distinctly, Christ. The Messiah, the Anointed of God, is David, or Solomon, till both the one and the other fail to fulfil the hopes of men's hearts. But the Advent to which Israel looks for- ward is the Advent of Jehovah. He is Israel's true King. It is his coming wiiich is to be Israel's redemj^tion and glory. The Messianic Psalms are the following : — Psalm 2. The Divine and Conquering King. Psalm 16. Jehovah the all, in all, and after all. Psalm 22. The Typical Sufferer. Psalm 40. The Offerer and Offering. Psalm 45. The Marriage of the King. Psalm 69. God's Suffering One. Psalm 72. God's Prince, and His Dominion of Peace. Psalm 85. The Righteous Restoration and Reign. Psalm 87. Zion, — Mountain of God, Metropolis of Earth. Psalm 102. The Suffering Soul, and Suffering City. Psalm 110. The Priest-King. Psalm 118. Praise Jehovah's Loving Kindness. lj\t^T2it\\Yei,— Commentaries : Delitzsch, Perowne, De Witt, Lange, Ewald, Speaker's, Pulpit. 112 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. THE PROVERBS. I. 'Ssiine.—Mishlay = Proverbs. The Book is so called from the nature of its contents. The mashed or prov- erb, coming from the verb to he liJxe, denotes a represen- tation, i. e., a statement not relating solel}^ to a single fact, but standing for or representing other similar facts. The statement may be deduced from a particular in- stance, bnt applicable to other like instances, or it ma}^ be a generalization from experience. The proverb con- cerns itself with observations relative to human life and character, and, by striking comparisons and contrasts, expresses the truth in a pithy, pregnant manner. II. Position. -One of the poetical Books of the Old Testament. Stands in the Hagiographa, or third di- vision of the Hebrew Bible. Is one of the Books included in the Choklmiali — or Wisdom-Literature of the Hebrews. See under Job. III. Design.— The Design of the Book is clearly stated in 1 : 2-4. IV. Divisions and Contents.— Tliese, in brief, are as follows : — 1. Chs. 1-9. This first section gives a masterly de- scription of wisdom, treats of the blessings of wisdom, and warns against various dangers and temptations, es- pecially unchastity. 2. Chs. 10:1 — 22: 16. This second section which has the superscription, "The Proverbs of Solomon," con- tains many master sentences bearing upon ]3 radical life, moral and religious ]3recepts, and prudential maxims. Especially emphasized are, — Jehovah's sovereignty; the blessings that flow from fearing Him; righteousness INTKODUC TION ( )UTLINES. 1 1 o more acceptable Ihaii sacrilicc willi Iliiii; t lie contrasted aims and ends of the wise ;uid the fool; the ri.<»ht use of the lips or toni>ue; parental authority ; kingly justice, riuhteousness, wisdom, mercy, faithfulness, and amena- bleness to divine guidance. 3. Chs. 2-2: 17— -24: 34. In this section the method of a more or less consecutive argument is resumed, as in the first section. The proverbs here constitute a body of maxims interwoven, addressed with a practical aim. 4. Chs. 25-20. This section contains, as stated in the superscription, the "Proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied out." On this superscription, see below. The proverbs of this section do not differ materially in their character from the foregoing. 5. Chs. 30, 31. Ch. 30 is ascribed to Agur the son of Jakeh. Neither Agur nor Jakeh is named elsewhere. The Ch, is also described as an "oracle," a term usually applied to prophetic utterances. The proverbs of this chapter consist of moral and pliilosoi3hical reflections. Ch. 31 contains the " Words of King Lemuel, the prov- erbs which his mother taught him. " The proverbs en- join temperance, justice, etc. V. Composition:— G^e?iiune?ie6'S, Authorship. The second division of the Book, Chs. 10: 1 — 22:16, begins with the superscription " The Proverbs of Solomon." This division is regarded as constituting the oldest col- lection of proverbs, and is generally conceded to have proceeded from Solomon. The section, Chs. 22:17 — 24:34, is evidently intended to go with the preceding division, as belonging to Solomon; jior should the last twelve verses, 24:23-:)4, be excluded, and treated as the product of several wise men ; an unsuitable interpre- [8] 114 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. tation of 24 : 23. The division Chs. 25-29 bears the super- scription " These are also i)ro verbs of Solomon, which the men of Ilezekiah, king of Judah, copied out." These proverbs were not floating about, and by common con- sent attributed to Solomon, for the word rendered "copied out" will not bear that construction. The word can onlj^ signify that these men of Hezekiah "copied out," l. e., transferred, transcribed tvom. owq book into another, proverbs that were correctly assigned to Solomon. The first division, Chs. 1-9, is also by the superscription ascribed to Solomon. It is highly im- probable that the first nine chapters of the Book should have been written by the collector of the proverbs, or by an editor, instead of by Solomon, and that the name of Solomon should be placed at the head of them when the collector or editor himself in that case wrote about one-third of the whole. Moreover the Book shows throughout a carefully executed intention on the part of the author to attribute the proverbs to their i3roper authors, so much so that the last two chapters in the col- lection are with a clear discrimination attributed re- spectively to Agur one and to King Lemuel one. Once more certain iDeculiarities of language characterize all the proverbs attributed to Solomon, which further con- firms the unity of the authorshii) of Chs. 1-29, and ascribes that authorship to Solomon. We also read in 1 Ki. 4: 32 of Solomon that "He spake three thous- and proverbs : and his songs were a thousand and five." VI. Doctrine. -The Book of Proverbs is the Old Tes- tament's sj)ecial treatise on Ethics, the principal source of the Old Testament Ethics. As in the system of Ethics virtue and duty must ever occupj^ the principal place INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 115 so ill the liook of Pi'ov(M'l)s the special (hn'triiic is that of virtue and diitA', rectitude and hiw. Liiteratiire.—Coinnientaries : Delitzsch, Langc, Speaker's, Pulpit, Stuart, Ariiot, Cheyne. ECCLESIASTES. I. ^ame^—Koheletli = One addressuHj a public as- sembly, a preacher; whence LXX, Vulgate, A. V., Ecclesiastes = a preacher. II. Position.— This Book is included in the Hagiogra- pha, and forms a part of the Clwlxlnnali — or Wisdom- literature of the Hebrews. See under Job. III. Design.— The Book discloses, in progress, a men- tal battle between old faitlis and new douT)ts ; between divine providence and retribution on the one liand, and human doubt, irresi^onsibility and despair on the other hand. It both summons to enjoyment, and is intensely sad; it is seemingi}' skeptical at times, and at other times as thoroughly convinced of the truth of the divine faith it inculcates. On the one hand it is a discourse upon the unsatisfactory nature of all things human, with a recommendation to enjoy the blessings of life, while on the other hand it urgently insists upon the importance of fearing God and keeping his com- mandments. The Book cannot be charged with any skeptical or Sadducean tendency, for the wliole I>ook must be interpreted in the light of its closing utterance. 116 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. the suininary of the cliseoiirse, — " Fear God, and keep his coniinaiidineiits; for this is the whole duty of man." IV. Autliorsliii)— Date.— The superscription of the Book reads, — " The words of the Preacher, the son of David, King in Jerusalem." In 1 : 2 the author refers to himself — "I, the preacher, was King over Israel in Jerusalem." And in 1:16 he refers to himself as wiser than all those who had preceded him in Jerusalem. While these statements seem to point to, and suit Solo- mon only, as the author, still the name of Solomon is not found in the Book, and all other indications and in- ternal evidences argue against its Solomonic authorship. The personal references in the Book other than those cited ; the language of the Book in respect to a number of words and exjDressions ; the comparison of the Book with other admittedly Solomonic writings ; the tone of the Book compared with the times of Solomon ; the so- cial and political allusions in the Book so utterl}^ out of harmony with the condition of the Jewish State in the Solomonic period, — all x)oint to another author than Solo- mon, and to a much later period than the Solomonic period for its production. It is in all probability the latest Book of the Canon, and should be assigned to a period later rather than earlier than Ezra, Nehemiah and Malachi. V. Divisions and Contents.— The Preacher opens his discourse with the exclamation "Vanity of vanities," and then proceeding 1. Ch. 1:1-11. Describes the incessant changes in human affairs. 2. Chs. 1:12 — 2:26. The preacher's position and fruitless search for happiness. 3. Ch. 3. Declares there is an appointed time for INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 117 everytliin.o- ; incnleatos doing good, and enjoying there- suits of one's toil; wliile asserting tliat men and beasts are subject to like calamities. 4. Ch. 4. Discourses on the miseries of man, and the benefits of societ3^ 5. Ch. 5. Religious precepts, the vanity of riches, carnal enjoyments. 6. Ch. G. The miseries of man, and an exami^le in illustration. 7. Ch. 7. Proverbs and moral precepts inculcating moderation, and tlie sometimes seeming incongruity be- tween the portions of the righteous and the wicked. 8. Ch. 8. " It shall be well with them that fear God," and not Avell with the wicked, notwithstanding seeming contradictions. 9. Ch. 9. The doctrine of all things come alike to all. 10. Chs. 10-12. Proverbs, precepts and exhortations to remember and fear God, and keep his command- ments. VI. Doctrine.-— Xotwithstanding the seeming pessi- mistic tone of his Book, the author is never tempted to abandon his theistic faith. Xotwithstanding his recom- mendations to enjoy the fruit of one's labors in this Avorld, and his despairing view of life, still he strongly emphasizes the responsibilit}^ of man, and accountability to God. ljiterature»—Coinmentaries : Lange, Keil and Delitzsch, Phuiiptre, Wright, Stuart, Cheyne, Ginsburg. 118 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. THE SONG OF SONGS. I. 'Name,— Sheer liashshereem = The Song of Songs. The name is derived from the opening words of the Book. The grammatical form of the name (the com- bination of a noun in the singular with a dependent plural), is a Hebrew mode of expressing the superlative. The name therefore sets forth the subject-matter of this Book as constituting the most excellent Song, the Song surpassing all other songs. II. Position.— The Song is included in the Hagiogra- pha. It also forms the first of the five Megilloth, or Rolls that are read publich^ at certain sacred seasons in the synagogues. The Song of Songs was read at the Passover. The other fonr Books of the Megilloth are Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther. III. Theme.— A song sung in Jerusalem at the cele- bration of the marriage of Solomon and Shulamite, and of typical import. IV. Unity.— The Book is a unit, i. e., a single con- nected Song and not composed of several distinct songs. This is evident from the following considerations: — 1. The name declares it to be a single poem or song. Thns the singular noun sheer ^ a song. If it had been intended to designate a song composed of a number of songs, the grammatical construction must have been different. 2. The name of Solomon which appears in the title' 1:1, or in exchange for it the designation of " the king," appears at different points throughout tlie poem, thus uniting the whole. 3. The consistency observed throughout the various INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 119 parts confirms the unity of The Song; e. f/., one loved one, and alwaj^s described in almost the same language, the mention of her mother, but never of lier father, etc. 4. The Daughters of Jerusalem form a permanent element throughout, uniting the whole. 5. There are constant repetitions of the same expres- sions and sentiments throughout, thus showing it to be a poetical unit, one song; e. g., the adjuration of the daughters of Jerusalem, the challenging (question, " Who is this?" the chorus-description of Shulamite as "the matchless one among Avomen," etc. 6. The Song throughout relates to different parts and features of one and the same subject and event. V. Date.— It is generally agreed that The Song is con- structed upon a basis of fact; i. e., it refers to incidents that actual^ occurred, and these incidents occurred during Solomon's life-time. But when were these inci- dents recorded ? /. e. , what is the date of the composi- tion and writing of The Song ? According to some the Solomonic period. According to others the post-Solo- monic, but pre-exilic period. And still others sa}^ the period of Ezra and Nehemiah, and even the late period of the Greek erotic poets. The weight of internal and external evidence points to the earlier part of Solomon's reign rather than to the middle or latter part of that reign, or to any subsequent time, as the date not onl}^ for the occurrence of the events referred to in The Song, but also the date of the writing of The Song. In proof of this may be noted 1. The consummate literarj^ excellence of The Song shows that it must have been written at a time when Hebrew language and literature had reached their most flourishing period, the Solomonic period. 120 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 2. The author or authors of Prov. C^hs. 1-0 and 22:17 — 24:22 were evideiitl}' acquainted with The Song, as comparisons will show. 3. The geographical references, commercial and po- litical allusions, evidently I'ecent occurrence of the events recorded, xjoiht to the Solomonic era for its com- position. 4. From historical allusions to Solomon in The Song we must conclude not only that The Song was written during Solomon's reign, but toward the commencement of his reign; thus 0:8 compared with 1 Ki. 11:3. Moreover Solomon's mother Bathsheba is represented as still living. 5. The so-called Aramaisms of The Song are pure Arabic words and forms. The abbreviated relative pro- noun, the letter sh, for the full form aslier, occurs in poems of acknowledged antiquity, e. (/., Song of De- borah, Judg. 5:7. 6. The reference to Tirzah, as that to Jerusalem, in 6:4, is not to either as a political capital, but to their natural location. VI, Authorship.— The Solomonic authorship of The Song is denied almost alone by those who hold to the Shepherd-hypothesis method of interpretation (see be- low), and these as a rule admit that all the other evi- dences i)oint to Solomon as the author. The Solomonic authorship is, in brief, defended on these grounds: — 1. The title, 1:1, ascribes the authorship to Solomon. 2. The extensive and accurate knowledge displaj^ed in The Song offers abundant and unmistakable testi- monj' to Solomon being the author; e. r/.. The Song as a literary, poetic production; the extensive and accurate knowledge displayed in The Song in matters geographi- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 121 cal and liistorical; and a similar knowledge as to the human arts and natural sciences. 3. It is abundantly evident that the chief i-eason for denying tlie Solomonic authorship of 'Flie Song is be- cause it is out of the question to hold to that, and at the same time hold to the Shepherd-hypothesis interpreta- tion. But that condemns the human hypothesis rather than the Solomonic authorship so positively asserted in 1:1. VII. Form.— The Song is not a drama. It most re- sembles the lyric. Certain it is that it is in no sense a drama; but a .so»(/, a nuptial song, lyrical rather tlian dramatic in character. In proof it may be briefly noted, — 1. According to its own name in the Title, 1:1, it is sheer, L e., a song, and a song in celebration, according to the significance of the word. •2. From its poetic and artistic structure it is in the nature of a song, and not a drama. 3. As a sheer, Tlie Song is moreover a poetic compo- sition intended to be sung or chanted, not theatrically represented. 4. According to its form, nature and subject-matter. The Song is a song of love and marriage; and to define it more strictly still, a post-nuptial song; /. e., a song composed to be sung, and that actually was sung during the festivities following upon tlie marriage of Solomon and Shulamite, and in celebration of that nuirriage. 5. The dranui is an institution entirely foreign to tlie Hebrew, tlie Slicinilic mind. 0. Tlie Song violates all tlie pi'incipal rules of a drama; — it is not represented in person throughout; it is devoted to long descriptive and narrative addresses 122 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. requiring no reply ; there is no regular historical succes- sion of events, no dramatic development, no progress of a plot and a denouement; while omissions fatal to a drama constantl}^ appear, and imaginary characters, scenes and speeches are introduced in order to fill out the dramatic conception. VIII. Divisions and Contents.— It is to be remem- bered that The Song is a marriage song ; that all the prin- cipal features and events connected with a Biblical, orien- tal marriage are clearlj^ set forth in it, though not in the precise chronological order in which thej^ naturally oc- cur. It is also to be remembered that The Song was written by Solomon to be sung at the celebration of his marriage with Shulamite; and was so sung, by a choir selected for the purpose, during the festivities that fol- lowed immediately upon the consummation of that mar- riage. So that at the time The Song opens Solomon and Shulamite are actually married, even as in the course of The Song they address each other b}' terms that absolutel}^ require us to regard them as husband and wife. The Song is largeh' composed of descriptive references to prominent incidents that preceded and led up to their marriage, and these incidents embrace all the prominent features of a Biblical and oriental mar- riage. The principal persons introduced into The Song are— Solomon, King in Jerusalem; Shulamite, a Kedarene maiden from east of the Jordan ; Daughters of Jerusalem, a part of the royal household; attendants of the palace; citizens of Jerusalem; mother and brothers of Shulamite. Tlie main divisions of The Song- are as follows : — 1. Ch. 1; 1. Title. Sets forth the name and nature of the Book, /'. e., a Song; and its authorship, /. e., Sol- omon. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 123 2. Clis. 1 : 2 — 2 : 7. First experiences in the royal home. That is, it refers to the first experiences of Shuljunite the bride and wife, in her royal home, after having been bronglit there in bridal procession as de- scribed in 3 : 0-1 1 . 3. Clis. 2: S — 3: 5. Love's separations and meetings. This division describes a i^re-marriage incident, and therefore, in point of time, antedates the preceding division. It refers to a time when before their marriage Solomon visited Shulamite, and that occnred which here Shnlamite narrates to the Daughters of Jesusalem. 4. Chs. 3:0 — 5:1. The roj^al home-bringing of the bride. Describes how Shulamite was brought in royal procession to her royal home in Jerusalem, as the bride and wife of Solomon. 5. Chs. 5:2 — 6:9. Love's separations, meetings and confessions. Refers to another i^re-marriage incident, in which occur mutual descriptions of love and i)raise on the part of Solomon and Shulamite, the beloved and loved one. G. C1is. : 10 — 8 : 4. The royal bridegroom and bride. Consisting of descriptions of Shulamite in the midst of her royal surroundings, and interviews between her and and her royal husband. 7. Ch. 8:5-14. Seals and Songs. Relates to the time of the betrothal contract when Solomon goes ac- companied and introduced by Shulamite into her home, and the betrothal contract having been made is finallj^ sealed, and the customary dowry gifts bestowed. IX. Interpretation.— Three principal methods of in- terpretation have been adopted in explanation of The Song; viz.,— 1. The Allegorical interpretation. Tliis intei'preta- 124 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. tion denies that there is any liistorical basis to the de- scriptions of The Song, and affirms that everything in it is of spiritual ijnport. It treats the persons, objects, events, and ever}^ utterance of The Song as unhistorical, as mere tigures, names, symbols for spiritual persons, objects, sentiments. In general this interpretation re- gards The Song as describing, under the figure of the marriage relation, the mutual love subsisting between the Lord and his people, — in the first instance between the Lord and the Congregation of Israel, and in the sec- ond instance between Christ and the Church. To this interpretation their are serious objections; e. g.^ — (a) This interi)retation in denying a primary, literal, historical sense to The Song destroys its own founda- tion ; for it is from the sphere of the natural and his- torical that the Scriptures rise to the spiritual. (b) Hence this interpretation is contrarj^ to Scripture analogy ; the order of which is first the symbol then the substance, first the type then the doctrine. (c) The allegorical method of interpreting The Song- is destructive of all sound hermeneutical laws, and sub- stitutes therefor an arbitrar}^ sj^stem of exegesis. {d) This interpretation is unable to furnish a satis- factory and uniform exposition of The Song. (e) This interpretation practically makes The Song a meaningless Book to the people of God under the Old Testament. (/) This interpretation leads to all sorts of extrava- gances and mal-interpietations. 2. The Shepherd-hypothesis interpretation. This method of interpretation regards The Song as historical, but introduces another and wholl}' unnamed character in The Song, viz.^ the Shepherd, an obscure peasant. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 125 wlio is sii})posed to be the betrothed of Shulainite, and the suoeessful rival of Solomon. According to this in- terpi'ctation, Solomon, (liirini>' one of his tours in the northern part of his kingdom, saw Shulamite, was over- come by her beauty, was smitten with love for her, and so had her abducted and carried away to his palace in Jerusalem. There he plied her with all the arts and arguments of a flatterer and would-be seducer, in order to persuade her to become one of hi^ liareeiii^ a royal mistress. She refuses his seductive overtures, remains true to this Shepherd to whom she is finally wedded. According to this view The Song is intended to teach the lesson of virtue and womanly fidelity, but womanly fidelity to what is nothing more than a mere earthly, human love; for according to this there is no tyjjical, spiritual teaching in The Song. This Shepherd-hypothe- sis interpretation of The Song is utterly untenable, and, in brief, for the following reasons : — (a) It repeatedly violates grammatical constructions and must do so in order to maintain itself. (h) It repeatedl}^ violates lexical meanings, and Script- ure usiis loqueudi, and must do so in order to maintain itself. (c) It interpolates words and expressions that have no existence in the text, and must do this to maintain itself. (d) It eliminates words and significations from the text because these cannot be retained, and their hypothe- sis maintained. (e) It treats, and is compelled to treat, a nund)er of passages as being " ironical," or " said aside," or " said in a low tone," when thei'e is no intimation of this in the text. (/) It repeatedly makes characters in The Song con- 126 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. tradict themselves Miid each other; and sets text and context at variance. {(/) It represents Solomon as a wonld-be sedncer when throughout 'Jlie Song he is represented as precisely the opposite. {h) It charges The Song and the principal characters in The Song with the most absurd incongruities; — viola- tions of all laws linguistic, social, moral. {i) It introduces an unnamed and entirely fictitious character in The Song. (j ) It violates the laws of interpretation and exegesis in that it repeatedly takes certain statements as partly literal and partly figurative. (k) It contradicts the plain and positive statements of The Song which repeatedly represent Solomon and Shula- mite as the beloved and loved one; represent Shulamite as giving herself to Solomon; represent Solomon and Shulamite addressing each other by the same terms of love, and by terms that, if language has any meaning at all, require us to regard them as husband and wife. 3. The Typical interpretation. It regards The Song as entirely historical, the historical occasion being the love consummated in marriage between Solomon and Shulamite. l>ut it is also typical; and has a certain and blessed teaching. In an allegory everything must be spiritualized. A type typifies one thing, and the antitype far surpasses the type. So then as to the typi- cal character of The Song. (a) Solomon is a type of the Lord, — the one Lord of each and all his followers in all times. (b) Shulamite is a type of the individual believer, fol- lower, lover of that one Lord. (c) The relation between Solomon and Shulamite is a INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 127 type of llial iclalioii wliicli exists or should exist be- tween the J.,or(l and eaeli one of liis individual folh)wers. This is the oidy reasonable interpretation of The Son<»- as is evident, briefly, from the following considera- tions : — (a) It is supported by Scripture analogy. Psa. -lo, and Isa. 5 : 1-7 show plainly liow The Song is to be inter- preted. {h) It is the only interpretation that satisfies the language of the text. (c) It is the only interpretation that furnishes a con- sistent interpretation of the different parts of The Song, and a uniform and consistent interpretation of the whole. ((/) It is supported b}' the direct positive statements of The Song, and all the representations that The Song makes relative to Solomon and Shulamite as the beloved and loved one, the husband and wife. (e) It furnishes not only the only consistent literar}^ interpretation, but also an interpretation consistent with the name and nature of the Book, and its place in the Canon. Literature. — Commentaries : Delitzsch, Moody-Stuarf, Eivald, Ginsburg. PROPHET-PROPHECY. I. Name.— The Hebrew verb ndhci means to cause to bubble up or pour forth abundantly; to speak by a di- vine power; to jjrophesy. From this verb comes the 128 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. title n((hi\ i. e., 'a prophet. Other titles for pi-oplict are rcyeli, meaning a Seer, and liozeh, also meaning Seer but especially in the sense of prophetic vision. The title nahi = prophet is primary, and designates one who belonged to the prophetic order, while the other two terms meaning .see?' are secondary, included in nal)i, and set forth more especially" the mode of receiving the di- vine communications. II. Office.— The office of prophecy and prophet is the announcement and interpretation of the divine will to others as that will is revealed to the prophet by God. The prophets were the divinely called and commissioned representatives of Jehovah, and prophecy the will and words of Jehovah communicated of Jehovah to the j)rophets, by whom it was to be communicated to the people. So the function of the prophet and prophecy is to declare and defend the teachings of (4od's truth, as that truth is set forth in the sphere of jjrecept and of promise. III. Institution.— The prophetical institution was one for which the Law made provision. See Deut. 18 : 9-19. The historical origin of prophecy is contemporaneous w ith the constitution of the Theocracy at Sinai. True, proijhecy existed before this, existed with the first prom- ise of redemption immediately after the fall of our first 13arents. But the Law, the Theocracy, the ceremonials of worship were instituted for the development of that promise through the prophetic office. IV. Inspiration.— The modes of commu-nication be- tween God and men are set forth in Num. 12: G-8 where three modes are specified, lu's. , (1) Vision; (2) Dream; (3) Direct communication and manifestation. The last is the highest form. A like specification is furnished by INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 129 Joel and Daniel. Joel 2:28; Dan. 1:17. Prophecy may include genius, but geinus never constitutes i)roph- ecy. Propliecy is not possible to human attainment, but exclusivel}' something of divine endowment. The l)rox)het stands in a unique, personal and intimate rela- tion to God, who makes him a participator of the divine counsel, and discloses to him secret things. He receives by direct communication with God, the very truth from God, and communicates it in the language God intends to be used. Compare Aaron's relation to Moses, Ex. 4:U-16, and Ex. 7:1, 2, also Deut. 18:18 and Jer. 15:19. V. Classification.— In the main propliecy is of two kinds : — Didactic and Predictive. Didactic prophecy is the revelation to the prophet, and the communication by the proi^het, of the divine will as it concerns the obligations of the present. It instructs man as to what he should be through God's gracious working. Predictive prophecy is the revelation to the prophet, and the communication by the prophet, of the divine will as it concerns the occurrences of tlie future. It foretells to man what certainly shall be through God's sovereign working. As to the union of the two kinds of prophecy, — di- dactic instructs as to the requirements of the present, while predictive foretells the things of the future in harmony with tlie requirements of the present, both be- ing conlirmed by the didactic and i)redictive i)ropliecies of the past. Predictive prophecy is also of two kinds: — Local or Temporar}^, and Messianic. Predictive prophecy and its fulfilment is the stroug- [9] 130 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. est, the incontestable evidence to the truth of the Scriptures. VI. Succession.— The x>i'ophet was sovereignly called of God to his office, generally without special reference to lineal or scholarly antecedents. The Scrij^tures do not represent an unbroken series of prophets, each in- ducted into the office by his predecessor. The steps in prophetic succession may be briefly rei:>resented as fol- lows : — 1. Prophecy began in Eden and witli the Protevan- gelium. 2. Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied. Jude 14, 15. 3. Noah as a preacher of righteousness, and the builder of the ark was a prophet. 2 Pet. 2:5. 4. Abraham. 5. Isaac. 6. Jacob. 7. Intermission of jirophecy from the death of Jacob until the Exodus. 8. Moses. 9. From Moses to Samuel interval without prophecy. 10. Samuel. 11. From Samuel to Malachi prophecy continuous. 12. From Malachi to Christ interval without prophecy. I b W b so 3 C!5 I ^ o o o o <1 D H:) ^ o C"? C5 CD 1« rf3 ^ -^ o ■« Ph W H lO 05 O GO lO T-l 00 GO 00 N g .5 as ^ N = i ^ tj .^ l-D W N N a o a <:i < tl^ ^ ^ 05 1—1 O 00 O rid ^ ,14 ce .5 03 "o '^ •^ ^ o O (D ^ ^ •-5 O CO lO o o C5 CO CO O"? -rH iO »o to iO i.O «D 5D IC »0 lO o ^ •7^ r^ ■ Cw Cy >i >y a> ■£•& oi cc -*-> X X X O O O 111 pL, PL, o J3 0; H W IS] ^ 132 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. ISAIAH I. Name. — Yesliayahii = Isaiah = Jehovah's salva- tion. II. Biography.— Isaiah, who belonged to the Kingdom of Judah, flourished in the Assyrian period. (See Table of Prophets.) Isaiah was the son of Amoz, and resided and iH'ophesied in Jerusalem. lie was married, and two sons are spoken of, both of whose names, like that of Isaiah, were significant as to the times : — the elder Shear-yasluib ^ A remnant shall return; the younger Mailer - slialal - liasli - haz = Spoil swiftly, roh quickly. Isaiah received the prophetic call, and ajipeared as a prophet in the last year of King ITzziah's reign. (See Table of Kings p. 70, 71.) Isaiah continued to prophesy throughout the reigns of the three succeeding kings, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah. He probably continued to exercise his prophetic office up to the beginning of Ma- nasseh's reign. Tradition says that he suffered martyr- dom bj' being sawn assunder in the ijersecutions that followed the accession of Manasseh, and by the order of that wicked king. According to 2 Chron. 20 : 22 ; 32 : 32, Isaiah was the author of a history both of Uzziah and Hezekiah. Isaiah was pre-eminently a statesman as well as a prophet, his influence being strongly felt throughout the reigns during which he x^rophesied, while he was especially in high favor with King Hezekiah. The two i:)rincipal state events with which Isaiah was connected, and in which he took a prominent part, were the two crises through which in his lifetime Judah passed; the first being the invasion of Judah on the part of the allied Syrians and Israelites (Chs. 7, 8), and INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 133 the second being the invasion of Judah on the part of Sennacherib, and the destruction of the Assyrian host (Chs. )>(*), '.u). Tsaiah not only lived to an {idvanced age, but lived to see a number of his predictions ful- filled. III. Ministry.— Isaiah exercised his prophetic minis- trjMturing a period of forty-six j^ears (758-712 ]>. C), and perhaps more nearly for about half a century, as he began to x)rophesy in the last year of Uzziah's reign, and continued to j)rophesy till at least fourteen years of Hezekiah's reign liad j)assed bj^ The sphere of Isaiah's i)roi3hetic ministration was Judah and Jeruga- lem. His labors appear to have been carried on chiefly, if not exclusively, in Jerusalem. In the exercise of his prophetic ministry Isaiah's range of subjects was far- reaching, the burdens of his prophecies embracing all the chief contemporary^ nations, not only Judah and Israel, but also S3 ria, Assyria, I>abylon, Egypt, Moab, Edom, Philistia, Ethiopia, Tja-e, etc. lUit these prophe- cies concerning other nations were intended primarily for the benefit of Judah, its warning, instruction and hope. Throughout his ministrj^ Isaiah showed himself to be without an equal in the prophetic order as a social and moral reformer, as a court councilor and statesmau, as the theologian of all times. The prophetic utterances of Isaiah's ministry revolve about the two great themes of proi:)hecy; — for the unbelieving and disobedient. Judgment; for the believing and obedient, redemption and tlie glorious consummation of the Theocracy. IV. Chronology.— The chronology of this period is 1. Contemporary Prophets; — Ilosea, Micah. 2. Kings of Jndah; — ITzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Ileze- kiah, Mauasseh. See Table j). 70, 71. 134 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 3. Kings of Israel; — Menahem, Pekaliiali, Pekah, Hoshea. See Table p. 70, 71. 1. Damascene Syria; — Hazael (2 Ki. 13: 3-7). Ben- hadacl III. (2 Ki. 13:3-7.) Jeroboam II. invades Syria. Damascus vassal of Assyria. Reziii (Rezou) 742 B. C. Last King of Damascus. 2Ki. 10:5; Isa, Ch. 7. 5. Assyria. Pul = Tiglath-Pileser II. usurps the As- syrian throne, and founds the second great Assyrian em- pire. Reigned 745-728 B. C. Shalmaneser IV. a general of tlie Assyrian army seizes the throne, and succeeds Tiglath-Pileser. Reigned 727-722 B. C. Sargon, a military hero, succeeds, usurping the throne and reigning sixteen years, 722-705 B. C. Sennacherib, son of Sargon, succeeds, and reigns about twenty-four j^ears, 705-081 B. C. ; and is then succeeded by his son Esarhaddon, who reigned 081-008 B. C, and is suc- ceeded by his son Asshurbani]3al = Sardanapalus II. , who reigned 008- 020 B. C. Toward the close of the reign of this monarch begins the swift decline of the Assyrian Empire, and then fol- lows its fall under Esarhaddon II. , the Sarakos of the Greeks. 0. Egypt. After a period of dj^nastic changes, in- ternal dissensions, and threatened invasion from Assyria on the north and Ethiopia on the south, Bokenranef, about 740 B. C, and sole king of the 24th Dj'nasty, was succeeded by the Ethiopian King Shabaka or Sabako, the So of 2 Ki. 17 :4 who took the Egyptian throne and founded the dynasty of the Ethiopians 725 B. C. He was suc- ceeded by Shaba tak whose reign was short when he was INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 135 succeeded by Tirhaka (Tsa. ;')G:0, 37:9), brother-in-law of Sabako, and who after a reign of twenty-six years was succeeded by Rut-Amon or Urdamen, his son-in- law, and he by the first king of the 2(;th Dynasty, Psa- metik I. or Psamineticlius, who was followed about (512 B. C. by his son Neku II., the Pharaoh Necho of 2 Ki. 23:29, and contemporary of Josiah King of Judah. 1. Events. B. C. 750. Jotham made regent along with his father Uzziah. ]>. C. 745. Tiglath-Pileser usurps the Assyrian throne. B. C. 742. Call of Isaiah. Death of Uzzrah. B. C. 741. Death of Jotham; accession of Ahaz. B. C. 738. Tribute paid to the Assyrians by Men- ahem and Rezin. B. C. 734. Pekah deposed and slain; Iloshea with Assyrian help raised to the throne of Samaria; Damas- cus besieged; deportation of transjordanic tribes by Tiglath-Pileser. B. C. 732. Damascus captured by Tiglath-Pileser; Rezin put to death. B. C. 727. Tiglath-Pileser succeeded by Shalmaneser IV., and Ahaz by Ilezekiah. B. C. 722. Sargon seizes the tlirone; captures Sa- maria. End of the Northern Kingdom. B. C. 721. Merodach-baladan captures Babylon. B. C. 712. Embassy of Merodach-baladan to Ileze- kiah. B. C. 711. Conquest of Judah and Aslidod by Sar- gon. B. C. 710. Conquest of Babylonia by Sargon. B. C. 705. Si.irgon murdered, and succeeded by his son Sennacherib. 136 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. B. C. 703. Sennaclierib defeats Merodach-baladan. B. C. 701. Campaign of Sennacherib against Ph' assailed is t lu^ siipcniatural, is inspiration, is in a word the possibility and reality of predictive prophecy. Granted that a prophet, by the power and knowledge i>iven liini of (4od, may foretell years and eentnries beforehand what is to take place, — and there ceases to be any objection, worthy of the name, to the nnity of the Hook of Isaiah, and its au- thorship by Isaiah the son of Amoz. In support of this unity and authorship, and as against the general view that the second half of Isaiah was written by a writer in the last decenium of the exile, it may briefly be noted 1. The New Testament assigns the authorship of the Prophecy of Isaiah to a single author, and that author Isaiah the son of Amoz. Thus, e. ij. , John 12 : 37-41 where two quotations are made from Isaiah, vAr::. , one from the so- called proto-Isaiah, i. e., 6:9, 10, and the other from the so-called deutero-Isaiah, viz., 53: 1. But John evi- dently quotes these passages as being the sayings and writings of one and the same Isaiah, for he emphasizes their Isaianic authorship by the threefold declaration, — "the saying of Esaias," " Esaias said again," and "these things said Esaias." 2. It is the exceptionless rule with the prophets to furnish in the opening words of their prophecies their prophetic credentials. These credentials include a statement — {(i) of the prophet's name; (/>) of the pro- l^het's divine authorit}^, viz., that his prophecy is a word or vision lie had from Jehovah ; {c) the prophet's parentage; ((/) the prophet's imtivity; (e) the reigns during which or time when lie prophesied; (/) the par- ties to whom his pr()i)hecy was addressed; {(j) the place where he received or uttered his iirophecy. Nearly all t he prophets, all the greater prophets, and the majority of 138 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. the minor pmphets furnish most of the above items in presenting and as constituting their proj^hetic creden- tials. Not one of the prophets bat furnishes at least two, i. e., his name, and the divine authoritj^ of his pro- phetic utterances. The greater propliets of the Exilian and post-Exilian periods are especially full and accurate in the data furnished by them as to their prophetical authorit}- and ministry. But the so-called deutero- Isaiah, the greatest of all the prophets, leaves us with- out even the remotest intimation, utterl}^ fails to present any prophetical credentials, does not mention a single item, not even his name or his divine authority for speaking. And yet this prophecy, i. e., Chs. 40-66, is the most pregnant and the sublimest af all the prophe- cies ever uttered. That such a prophecy should be anonymous, should be destitute of divine official author- ity, and in defiance of prophetical usage and law, is incomiirehensible, far more incomprehensible than all the assumed difficulties of the critics. 3. The theologic and Messianic conceptions of the first and second halves of Isaiah are not only in precise agreement, but together constitute one continuously developed, and finally completed unit; — a unit indivis- ible as to nature, argument and authorship, without rendering both parts imj)erfect. The proto-Isaiah alone would be foundation without superstructure. The deu- tero-Isaiah alone would be superstructure without foun- dation. Taking the Book as a unit the conception of God is one and complete as to his nature and attributes : — his majesty, infinitude, almightiness, holiness; his pur- ity, righteousness, faithfulness, truth, mercy, love, jeal- ousy, wrath. It is especially God's holiness, the char- acter of God as " the Hol}^ One of Israel," that is so INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 139 strikino-ly Tsaiaiiie in its forces and frequency. Tt is almost peculiar to the one undivided l>ook of Isaiah, occuring- twenty-five times in Isaiah, and only six times elsewhere throu.i»hout the whole Old Testament. It is characteristic of the second half of Isaiah as well as the first, and constitutes not only a remarkable bond of union between the two halves, but also I'emarkable evidence to the unity of their authoi'ship. The same is true in respect to Isaiah's IVIessianic conception and Xirediction. It is a progressively^ and indivisibly devel- oped unit. Thus, e. ry., the development of the twofold Messianic figure of a plant and a child. Again the development of the threefold office of the Messiah, kingly, prophetical and priestly. And again the mar- velous prophetico-historical development of the life and works of the Messiah between first advent and last Judgment. 4. The argument for a deutero-Isaiah from the historic function of prophecy is not only contrary to the spirit and analogy of prophecy, but is an argument that proves too much. The position is that the author of Isa. Chs. 40-GG lived and wrote in the last decenium of the exile; that he describes historically as past the times and ex- periences of the exiles ; that there is no prediction of the exile; that the exile is presupposed, and only the release from it is predicted. iUit this position is contrary, in- deed subversive of the spirit and analogy of prophecy. For not only do others of the prophets, but Isaiah the son of Amoz himself, throws himself forward by the spirit of i^rophecy into the future, aiul from that pro- phetico-historical standpoint describes events as past, as historically having taken place, which in re.dity are as yet future. Thus, e. r/., 5: 1:5-15; D: l-C; •>:'.: 1, U etc., 140 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. compare Micali 7 : 7-20, etc. So Isaiah describes not only the exile, but also the release from the exile. If It be granted that a prophet maj^ divinelj^ foreknow and fore- tell, there is then not a single statement in the dentero- Isaiali that might not be the work of a prophet who knew that the exile and the release from the exile must take place. Besides, the above position and argument proves too much ; for then portions of the i)roto-Isaiah must have been written after tlie restoration from Babj^- lon, and Isa. Oh. 53 must have been written after the sufferings, crucifixion and burial of Christ. 5. The argument for a deutero-Isaiah from difference in language, literary style and character, not only can- not be but is not pressed. The marvel the rather is that the difference is so slight considering the vast his- torical scope, and diversified i3rophetical teachings of the prophet. The day is past when such slight differ- ences of style as seemingly exist between the proto- and deutero-Isaiah can be alleged to be incomj^atible with unity of authorship. There is nothing in the contents of the so-called deutero-Isaiah that may not have been written by Isaiah the son of Amoz. What seem to be difficulties in style are onl}^ natural and nec- essary to a difference in time, subject, treatment or environment. But examining it more closelj^, the argu- ment from language is strict! j' an argument that strongl}^ confirms the unity of the Book, and its authorshij) bj^ the son of Amoz. There is a considerable number of linguistic peculiarities, Isaianisms^ and these are com- mon alike to the first and last \y<\vi^ of the Book. 6. Many passages in the so-called deutero-Isaiah would be, to say the least, utterly inconsistent and meaningless, if treated as having been written at any INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 141 time during the exile; e. (j., 40: 0; 4:5:^^2-24; 50:4-7; 58:(j; (32:(j; GG:o, 4, 6, etc. 7. Tliere is one other thing esx)ecitilly to be nuuked; a most remarkable argument passing all through, par- tieularly the so-ealled deutero-Isaiah. It is an argu- ment, the one supreme argument that God uses to prove that he alone is the true God; the one sux)reme ar- gument that Isaiah uses to prove that he is God's prophet, and his words God's trutli. I'he course of this argument may in part be traced in these passages, — 41:21-28; 42 : i) ; 43:8-10; 45:20,21; 46:0-10; 48:3- 10, etc. The argument is this; — God represents himself as announcing events before they come to pass as a j)roof that he alone is the true God ; and the same argu- ment Isaiah uses to prove that he is God's prophet, and his words are God's truth. Now it is precisely this ar- gument that this rationalistic criticism jjroposes to make void, to make of none effect, in its attempt to show that the second half of Isaiah was written in the last de- cenium of the exile. It is very evident from the above passages that the prophet regarded himself as revealing the future, and not simply describing what was before the eyes of all. VI. Divisions and Contents.— In brief the Proi:)hecy of Isaiah may be divided, and its contents indicated, ux^on the basis of six parts or Books, as follows : — 1. Chs. 1-G. Tlie Book of Introductions. Contains superscriptions, credeiilials of the Prophet, and pro- phetic statements of judgment and salvation toward Israel; as follows: — (a) Cli. 1. Sets forth the thought- lessness, hypocrisy, and wickedness of the Jews, and the destruction of their cities and desolation of their country. Probably written in the reign of Hezekiah 142 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. after Sennacherib's invasion. (h) Clis. 2-4. Contain threatenings of God's jndgnients upon the people of Judah for idohitry, wickedness, and pride, together with a promise of future blessedness. Probabl}^ written in the reign of Jotliam. (c) Cli. 5. Parable of the vine- yard, addressed to Judah and Jerusalem, res]3ecting Judah and Israel, ending with a denunciation of divine judgments upon the wicked. Probably belongs to the time of Jotham. {d) Ch. 0. Isaiah's call to the pro- phetic office in the last 3^ear of Uzziali. 2. Chs. 7-10. TJie Book of Iminanuel. In Ch. 7, against the confederated forces of Syria and Israel, Isaiah gives Aliaz the sign of Immanuel, and announces the imi^ending judgments of God from the hands of the Assyrians. In Chs. 8: 1 — 9: 10 there is a prediction of the overthrow of Damascus and Samaria by the Assyr- ians, an appeal to trust in God, and a prediction of the Messiah's Kingdom. This proijhecy^ i^robably belongs to the time of Ahaz. In Chs. 9 : 8 — 10 : 1 there is a prophecy relative to the destruction of Israel, probably delivered in the latter i^art of the reign of Ahaz. In Chs. 10:5-34 there is a prediction of the invasion of Judah by the King of Assyria, which was probably uttered in the last part of the reign of Ahaz. Chs. 11, 12 constitute a concluding statement to Chs. 7-10. They j)redict the appearance of the Messiah from the stem of Jesse, set forth the Messianic salva- tion, Messiah's reign and the song of the final redemj)- tion. o. Chs. 13-23. The Book of Oracles (concerning the nations). This division or Book contains proi)hecies directed against foreign nations; viz.^ (a) Chs. 13:1 — 14 : 23. Against Babylon, (h) Ch. 14 : 24-27. Against As- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 143 Syria, (c) Cli. 14:28-32. Ai»aiiist the Philistines. Last year of Aliaz. ((/) Chs. 15, IG. Against Moab. (p) Ch. 17:1-11. Against Damascus anil Samaria. Time of llezelviali. (/") C'h. 17:12-14. Against enemies of Judah, probably the Assyrians. Time of Ilezekiali. {(/) Ch. 18. Against Ethiopia. Time of Ilezekiali. (h) Ch. 19. Against Egypt. Time of Ilezekiah. {i) Ch. 20. Relates a symbolic action performed by Isaiah in the time of Sargon, King of Assja-ia, accompanied with a prophecy that the King of Assyria would lead captive the Egyptians and Ethiopians. Time of Ileze- kiah. (j) Ch. 21:1-10. Against Babjdon. {k) Ch. 21 : 11, 12. Dumah in Arabia. (/) Ch. 21 : 13-17. Con- cerning Arabia, (m) Ch. 22:1-14. Proi^hecy of the invasion of Judah by Sennacherib in the fourteenth year of Ilezekiah's reign, and delivered shortly before the event, {n) Ch. 22:15-19. Against Shebna, treasurer in the middle of Ilezekiah's reign, (o) Ch. 22 : 20-25. Prediction as to Eliakim who is to replace Shebna. (p) Ch. 23. Against Tyre. Chs. 24-27 constitute a concluding statement related to Chs. 13-23, as Chs. 11, 12 were to Chs. 7-10. Tliis concluding statement Chs. 24-27 sets forth the judgment of the earth, the humiliation of Moab, the salvation of the nations, and the redemption and resurrection of Israel. 4. Chs. 28-33. The Bool' of Woes. These prophe- cies belong to the period from the sixth to the fourteenth year of Hezekiah. They treat of the Assyrian invasion, and are prophecies uttered against (a) Ch. 28. E^ihraim and Jerusalem, Avhose vices are rebuked, and judgment threatened, (h) Ch. 29. Against Ariel (Jerusalem), fol- lowed by the promise of returning happiness, (c) Chs. 144 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. oO, ol. Against those who look to P^gypt for help against the Ass^'i'ians, with a promise of future i)rosperit3\ (d) Chs. 32, 33. Variously applied judgments and prom- ises. Chs. 34, 35 constitute a concluding statement related to Chs. 28-33 as Chs. 24-27 are to Chs. 13-23. These Chs. 34, 35 set forth the judgment (Ch. 34") upon all nations of the world, especially (Ch. 34**) Edom, and the redemption (Ch. 35) of Jehovah's people. 5. Chs. 36-39. The Boole of Histories: including (a) Chs. 36, 37. The double demand made by Sen- nacherib for the surrender of Jerusalem, and the mira- cle of its deliverance. (6) Ch. 38. The illness of llezekiah, and the promise of his recovery. (c) Ch. 39. The prediction of the ]>abylonian exile. 6. Chs. 40-66. The Booh of Redemption : includ- ing (a) Chs. 40-48. The certainty of the coming redemp- tion from Babylon. {h) Chs. 49-57. The work and exj^eriences i:)repara- tory to the coming redemption. (c) Chs. 58-66. The conditions of participation in the coming redemption. VII. Theolog-y.— Isaiah is the theologian i^ re-eminent. His theology is all-embracing. Still even the theology of Isaiah has its distinguishing characteristics ; that is, aspects, doctrines, attributes that the times of Isaiah required should be especially emphasized. It was in that vision of Jehovah's glory wherein were especially revealed the supreme attributes of Majesty and Holiness that Isaiah received his prophetic call. These attri- butes of the divine character are therefore distinguish- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 145 ing features in liis tlieology, in his conception of God. And tliey were so in great measure because the times re- quired tliat these supreme attril)utes of Jehovah's majesty and holiness shoukl receive most impressive emphasis. Luxury, independence, injustice, scepticism, idolatry, contempt for the rights of the poor, and an insolent de- fiance of the supreme majesty of Jehovah of hosts, — this was the proud spirit of the times, a spirit that had to be humbled before the awful manifestations of Jehovah's majesty. And even more strongly does Isaiah empha- size Jehovah's holiness. With Isaiah as with his con- temporaries Amos and Hosea, holiness is the essential characteristic of Deity. This holiness is not simply negative but positive, refers not alone to the passive at- tributes, but especially to all the activities of the Divine Being. Jehovah is separated, is essentially deity, that is, is holy, primarily and chiefly in that which he does, in the character of his works. Precisely this Israel was to be, and precisel}^. this Israel was not. Hence Isaiah's theology emphasizes holiness; that holiness which was in Him who required holiness in his; that holiness which rendered Him peculiarly the " Holy One of Israel"; the holiness of the Sei'aphim's song. 0:3. VIII. Messianic— Isaiah is also pre-eminently the Messianic Prophet. The life of the Messiah from be- ginning to ending; the oflices of the Messiah, propheti- cal, priestly and kingly ; the work of the Messiah from its Inception to its consummation in the redemption of the whole earth in the last days, — are set forth with marvelous minuteness and power. The more esi^ecial Messianic sections are 1. Isa. 2:2-4. The Final Messianic Period. 2. Isa. 4:2-0. The Sprout of Jehovah. Lioj 146 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. o. Isa. Ch. 7. Immanuel. 4. Isa. 8 : 23—9 : 6. The Prince of Peace. 5. Isa. Chs. 11, 12. The Shoot of Jesse. 6. Isa. 19: 16-25. Egypt, Assj^ria and Israel United. 7. Isa. 28: 14-18. The Corner-Stone of Zion. 8. Isa. 33:13-24. Zion the City of the Great King. 9. Isa. Ch. 35. The Blessed Time Coming. 10. Isa. 42:1-9. The Chosen Servant of Jehovah. 11. Isa. 49:1-9. The Calling of the Servant of Jehovah. 12. Isa. 50:4-11. The Mission of the Servant of Jehovah. 13. Isa. 52:13—53:12. The Suffering and Saving Servant of Jehovah. 14. Isa. 55:1-5. The Invitation of the Covenant of Redemption. 15. Isa. 61 : 1-3. The Glorious Words and Works of the Servant of Jehovah. Literature. — Commentaries : Delitzsch, Langc, Speaker's, Pulpit, Ewald, Clieyne, Alexander. JEREMIAH. I. Name. — Yermeyah u = Jeremiah = Jehovah raises up. II. Biography.— Jeremiah who flourished in the Chaldean and Exilian period, belonged to the Kingdom of Judah. See Table of Prophets. Jeremiah was born at Anathoth, a small town in the territory of Benjamin, about three miles jiprtheast of Jerusalem. Jeremiah INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 147 was of priestly desceiil. He received liis call to the prophetic miiiistiy when yet a very 3'Oiing man, and served in it for sonietlung over forty years. It would seem that he was never married. The early pait of ids life, and the earlier scene of a brief prophetic ministr}^ was spent in his native town of Anathoth. Tlie main scene of his nunistrj^, and therefoi-e life, was Jerusa- lem. The closing scene of Ins j)roj)hetic nnnistry was Kg.ypt. In the time of Zedekiah he was imprisoned and cast into a miry dungeon, from which he was liberated by order of the king, though still confined to the court of the prison. Indeed the life of the prophet was spent during the most troublous times of the Jewish State, /. e., during the reigns of the last kings of Judah. III. Ministry.— Jeremiah was called to the i^rophetic ministry in the thirteenth j^ear of the reign of King Josiah. He continued in this ministry until the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans, and even later. He prophesied under the reigns of Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. Dur- ing all this time Jeremiah took a most active and effect- ive part, in matters both external and internal, relative to the fate of his people, and the attitude of surround- ing nations. Of these times of the prophet his Book affords not only a graphic, but a more complete histori- cal account than does the IJook of any other of the prophets of his times. IV. Chronolog-y.— The contemporaiy prophets of Jere- miah were Zephaniah, Habakkuk, P^zekiel and Daniel. The principal events were the following: B. C. 039. Accession of Josiah. Reigned about thirtj^-one years. B. C. 626. Call of Jeremiah. 148 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. B. C. 609. Accession of Jelioahaz. Reigned three months. B. C. 608. Accession of Jehoiakim. Reigned eleven years. B. C. 604. Victory of Nebuchadnezzar over Pharaoh Necho at Carchemish on the Euphrates. B. C. 597. Accession of Jehoiachin. Reigned four months. B. C. 597. First siege of Jerusalem, and deportation of Jewish exiles. B. C. 596. Accession of Zedekiah. Reigned ten years. B. C. 586. Destruction of Jerusalem by the Chal- deans, and second deportation of Jewish exiles. v. Genuineness.— The genuineness of the prophecies of Jeremiah lias been generally admitted. It is difficult to see how it could be otherwise, inasmuch as these prophecies are so interwoven with the events of Jere- miah's life, and bear so strongly the stamp of Jeremiah's age. Consequently onl}^ a comparatively limited num- ber of isolated passages or small sections have ever been called into serious question, and these have been ques- tioned on insnfficient grounds. In a number of instan- ces passages are found in the Hebrew text that are wanting or omitted in the LXX. 13 ut the mere fact that these versed are wanting in the LXX furnishes no sufficient proof that they were wanting in tlie Hebrew text before the time of Christ ; and certainl}^ furnishes no sufficient reason for their being rejected from the text. Examined in the light of the context these pas- sages omitted by the LXX are all of them well con- nected, and suitable to the occasion ; while on the other hand it is well known that the LXX, not infrequently. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 140 took liberties witli tlie text. A few other sections in the l^ropliecies of Jeremiah are supposed by some critics to have been written or rather revised by a later writer, the Deutero-Isaiah, inasmuch as thej^ are in his style; thus notably e. gr., Chs. 30, 31, 33. But what possible object the Deutero-Tsaiah could have had in retouching- portions of Jeremiah to make these bare his style, is dif- ficult to see. True, there are a number of passages in Jeremiah that strongly resemble Isaiah ; but comparing these passages, and comparing the styles of Jeremiah and Isaiah, it becomes manifest that these passages are original in Isaiah. The most natural conclusion then is that Jeremiah used or imitated Isaiah. The last chapter of Jeremiah, /. e., Ch. 52, constitutes an his- torical appendix which describes the reign of Zedekiah, the capture of Jerusalem and the events connected with it, and the deliverance of Jehoiachin from imprison- ment in Babylon. This chapter was probably written b}' another and later writer than Jeremiah, in view of the words with which the preceding chapter, Ch. 51, closes, viz., " Thus far are the words of Jeremiah." The Book of Jeremiah does not present the prophecies of Jeremiah in the precise chronological order in Avhich they were delivered; although the disorder is by no means great in the arrangement of tlie x^i'ophecies and the events. The chronological order is perhaps more nearly as follows : Reign of Josiah, — Chs. 1-17. Reign of Jehoiakim,— Chs. 18, 19, 20 ; 21 : 11—22 : 19 ; 25, 35, 36, 45, 46. Reign of Jehoiachin,— Chs. 22:20—23:40. Reign of Zedekiah,— Chs. 21:1-10; 24,27-34, 37, 38, 39. 150 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Clis. 40-44. Events after the capture of Jerusalem, and Jeremiah's migration to Egypt. Chs. 46-51. The prophecies respecting foreign na- tions, having no special relation to the events of his time, are placed at the end. Ch. 52. Appendix bj^ a later hand. VI. Divisions and Contents.— The Book divides itself into two principal parts, according as the prophecies re- late to the prophet's own nation, or to foreign nations, as follows : I. Chs. 1-45. Prophecies relating to the prophet's own nation, including 1. Ch. 1. The call of the Prophet. 2. Chs. 2-10. Rebukes, warnings and promises in the times of Josiah. 3. Chs. 11-20. Rebukes, warnings and promises in the times of Josiah, Jehoiakim and Jehoiachin. 4. Chs. 21-24. Rebukes, warnings and promises in the times of Jehoiachin and Zedekiah. 5. Chs. 25-29. Prophecies uttered during the reigns of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah, placed together on account of similarity of subject-matter, and treating of the over- throw of Jerusalem, and the servitude of the Chaldeans for seventy j^ears. This section is introduced b}^ the announcement of the judgment upon all nations in the fourth 3^ear of Jehoiakim. 6. Chs. 30-33. Prophecies belonging to the latter part of Zedekiah's reign, and making announcements of sal- vation in reference to the future redemption and glorifi- cation of Israel. 7. Chs. 34-39. Pro}3hecies and narratives belonging to the times of Jehoiakim and Zedekiah. 8. Chs. 40-45. Historical narratives treating of the INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 151 life and conduct of tlie T^ropliet amon^: the people left in the land by the dialdeans after the destruction of Jerusalem, both prior to and after their flioht into E«»ypt. II. Chs. 40-52. Prophecies against foreign nations; viz.,— 1. Ch. -40. Against Egypt. 2. Ch. 47. Against the Philistines. 3. Ch. 48. Against Moab. 4. Ch. 49:1-G. Against Amnion. 5. Ch. 49 : 7-22. Against Edom. 6. Ch. 49:23-27. Against Damascus. 7. Ch. 49:28-33. Against Kedar and Ilazor. 8. Ch. 49:34-39. Against Elam. 9. Chs. 50, 51. Against Babylon. 10. Ch. 52. Historical appendix. VII. Theology.— The distinguishing doctrine in Jere- miah's theology, the distinguishing characteristic in his conception of God is that of Love, — Jehovah's love. But this implies also the reverse, viz., jealousy, wrath. Hence associated with Jeremiah's preaching setting forth the tenderness and infiniteness of that love, we find also awful rebukes, warnings, threatenings of judgment di- rected to and against those who had outraged that love. Like Amos and Hosea, Jeremiah bases his theology and preaching on the relation of Jehovah to Israel. Jehovah had chosen Israel, entered into covenant with Israel, brought them out of Egypt, led them through the wilder- ness, and ever educated, delivered and blest them with infinite and almighty love. Especially is Jeremiah the counterpart of his earlier co-prophet in the Kingdom of Israel, Hosea. Like Hosea, Jeremiah uses the figures of marriage and sonship to describe the intinuicy and in- tensity of the relationship between Jehovah and Israel, 152 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. and the duties implied in that relatiousliii). Tliis rehi- tionship Israel liad outrageously violated. Tlie [)artieu- lar sins of whieli Israel was guilty are specitied as idolatr\% scepticism, immoralit}^ formalism, self-confi- dence, obduracy, moral degeneracy. On account of these Israel receives rebukes, warnings, calls to repent- ance, threatenings of judgment, inflictions of chastise- ments, and all these all the more terrible because they proceed from outraged divine love, — "The Wrath of the Lamh.'^ But from this sinful and desperate present, Jeremiah turns to a more hopeful future, aud to utter promises of consolation and restoration. The fullest of these promises are collected in Chs. 30-33, called the " Book of Comfort." These promises set forth first of all one of Jeremiah's favorite doctrines, viz.^ the inde- structibility of Israel. The judgment which must be inflicted is designed for correction, not annihilation. Hence while the nation must go into captivity, it must also through the tenderness and eternity of Jehovah's love be restored from cax)tivity. With the restored peo- ple Jehovah will make a New Covenant, a covenant written not on tables of stones, but the tables of the heart, — an inward, spiritual, everlasting covenant of pardon and grace. Jeremiah also em^jhasizes the doc- trines of personal resi)onsibility, spirituality of religion, while he describes the spirituality and glory of the com- ing Messianic age when, instead of the ark, Jehovah himself shall come and dwell in the midst of his peo- ple. VIII. Messianic — Jeremiah's view of the Messianic King and Kingdom is perhaps less magnificent and com- prehensive than Isaiah's, but none the less spiritual. In that day of the true and final restoration of Israel from all INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 15)5 the lands of tlio diaspoi'a. Www sliall be raised ii]) nnto David a righteous JJrancli, wlio sliall nnixn as l\iiiii", ad- minister justice, save Israel, and be called Jehovali our Riiihteousness. This King is styled J)avid. Not that Jerendah expected David to return in ])erson, but, like Hosea, he looked for one of the line of David who should fulfil the divine ideal. This Kino- should have priestly power. He should be the righteousness of his people. He should thus reign a righteous King over a righteous people. And ransomed Zion should once more be the wonder of all the nations of the earth. The Messianic sections are 1. Jer. 3:14-18. Jerusalem Jehovah's Throne. 2. Jer. 23 : 1-8. Jehovah our Righteousness. 3. Jer. 33: 14-26. Jehovali our Righteousness. 4. Jer. Chs. 30, 31. The Book of Comfort. Ltiteratu.re*—Cvmmeutaries : Keil and Delitzsch, Laiiye, Speaker^s, Pulpit, Streane, OreUi, PJumptre. THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. I. 'Saine,~Ai]tah= Hoir ? The ]]ook is so called in the Hebrew JJible from its opening word. Tn the LXX, Peshito-Syriac and Vulgate it is called The Lamenta- tions of Jeremiah, or simply Lamentations, whence tlie English name. II. Position,- Being poetical (see p. 01), the Book in the Hebrew Hible stands in the Hagiographa just be- 154 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. fore the Book of Ecclesiastes. The Peshito-Syriac and Vulgate place the Book immediately after the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah, from which, in the LXX, it is separated by the Book of Baruch. The A. V. also puts it after the Prophecy of Jeremiah, it being connected therewith by unity of authorship, and unity in historical matter. III. Theme.— The Book of Lamentations is an elegy, a dirge, written over the desolation of Jerusalem. It has for its theme the calamities that befell the people of Judah and Jerusalem in consequence of the siege and capture of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans B. C. 586. IV. Structure.— The Book of Lamentations has a re- markably executed alphabetical arrangement. In the first four chapters the verses are arranged alphabeticall3\ In the first and second chapters each verse consists of three members, and the verses begin severally with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the third chapter the verses consist of single members, and three verses, each having the same initial letter, are assigned to each successive letter of the alphabet, so that the chapter contains in all sixty-six verses. The fourth chapter is similar in structure to the first, except that each verse has two members only. The fifth and last chapter is not alphabetical, but consists nevertheless of twenty-two verses, each formed by two somewhat short members. V. Authorship— Date.— There is no statement in the Old Testament as to the authorshii^ of the Lamentations. The LXX, the Vulgate and the most ancient Jewish traditions ascribe the Book to the Prophet Jeremiah. The evidences furnished by the Book itself confirm rather than disprove the tradition ; for INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 155 1. The same spirit, deeply sympathetic in national sorrow, and ever ready to give unrestrained utterance to its emotions, manifests itself strongly both in the La- mentations and in Jeremiah. 2. In the Lamentations the national calamities are re- ferred to the same causes as in Jeremiah; e. g., the national sins, the guilt of prophets and priests, the peo- ple's false confidence in the help of weak and treacher- ous allies, etc. 3. Similar representations and figures occur in both Lamentations and Jeremiah; e. (/., as to the virgin daughter of Zion, the prophet's eyes flowing with tears, the appeal for vengeance to the righteous Judge, the expectation that the nations who exulted in the fall of Jerusalem would be visited by a like desolation, etc. 4. Mau}^ similarities of expression peculiar to the La- mentations and Jeremiah. From the vividness that characterizes the Book it would seem that it must have been written soon after the events of which it treats. VI. Divisions and Contents*—!. Ch. 1. In language of deep pathos the author describes, and gives expres- sion to his sorrow for the desolations and miseries of Judah and Jerusalem on account of their sins. 2. Ch. 2. He emphasizes the cause of the country's sufferings, viz., Jehovah's just anger that has cast off his j)eoi)le, his land, and his sanctuarj^ 3. Ch. 3. He sets fortli his own and tlie people's in- tense sufferings, while at the same time he expresses hope and confidence in (4od, in (iod's compassion, and the purposes of grace wliich (Uh\ may hav<' in tliis visi- tation. 4. Chs. 4, 5. ZioiTs })as1 uikI pi'cscnl contiasled, and 15G INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. the prayer of the nation for Jeliovah's compassionate regard, and restoration to divine favor. Literature. — Commentaries: Keil and Delitzsch, Lange, Pluinptre, Cheyne, Ewald, Speaker's. EZEKIEL. I. Name.— Yehezkael = Ezekiel = God will strengthen. II. Biography.— Ezekiel was the son of Buzi. He was one of the captives who were carried with Jehoia- chin in 597 B. C. into Babylonia, and was settled with others at Tell-abib, by the river Chebar. He was a j)riest, and as such belonged to the aristocracy of Jeru- salem, who constituted the majority of the first captivity under Jehoiachin. He was married, as mention is made of the death of his wife in the ninth yesiY of the captivity. Ch. 24: 18. He had a house of his own on the Chebar in the land of his captivity. Chs. 3:24; 8:1. There is no account of his death. III. Ministry.— Ezekiel received his prophetic call, and began his prophetic ministry in the fifth year of Jehoiachin's captivity, B. C. 592. Ch. 1:5. He con- tinued to exercise his prophetic ministry for at least twenty-two years, the latest date in his Book (29:17) being twenty-two years after his call, z. e., B. C. 570. Whether he prophesied for a longer period is not known. Ezekiel probably began his prophetic ministry in the thirtieth year of his age. Ch. 1:1. He exercised his prophetic ministry among the Jews who had been brought from Judea, in the captivity of Jehoiachin, by INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 157 Xebiicliaduezzar, King of Babylon, and dispersed in different i)arts of his dominions. This deportation in the reign of Jehoiacliin was the second deportation of exiles. A colony of exiles had located near the river Chebar, either a tributary of the Euphrates, or one of the great canals constructed by Nebuchadnezzar. Ezekiel was dwelling in the midst of this colony of exiles, when, in the fifth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw visions of God, and the divine word was communicated to him. IV. Authorship— Date.— The genuineness of the Book of Ezekiel is admitted by all critics, with scarcely an exception. The Book throughout is uniform, closely connected, while the contents furnish abundant evi- dences of the prophet's age and authorship. Driver re- marks, — "The dates of the several prophecies are in many cases stated with precision. No critical question arises in connection with the authorship of the Book, the whole from beginning to end bearing unmistakably the stamp of a single mind." V. Divisions and Contents.— The prophecies of Eze- kiel were delivered partly before and partly after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. This fall of Jerusalem constitutes their central point. Before this calamity Ezekiel's chief object was to call to re- pentance those who were living in careless securit}'; to warn them against indulging in the false hope that, by the help of the Egyi)tians, the Babylonian yoke would be shaken off (17: 15, 17); and to assure them tliat the destruction of Jerusalem was inevitable and rapidly ap- proaching. After the destruction of Jerusalem Ezekiel's chief object Avas to comfort the exiled Jews by promises of future deliverance and restoration to their own land. 158 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Betweeu the call to repentance in the first part, and the comfort given by the promises in tlie last part, there oc- cur the proi^hecies relative to foreign nations in the middle part of the Book. The l>()ok therefore falls into three principal divisions, viz., 1. Chs. 1-24. The call to repentance, and the ap- proaching fall of Jerusalem. 2. Chs. 25-32. Prophecies on foreign nations. 3. Chs. 33-48. Israel's future restoration. The contents of the Book may be briefly indicated as follows : 1. Chs. 1-3. Ezekiel's call and commission to be Prophet stated both in literal and symbolic form. 2. Chs. 4, 5. The impending destruction of Jerus- alem portrayed symbolically ; and closing with an ex- position, in unmetaphorical language, of Jerusalem's guilt and imminent judgment. 3. Ch. 6. Jerusalem and Judali alike guilty of idol- atry that can only be eradicated by the desolation and depopulation of their territory. 4. Ch. 7. A final denunciation of the kingdom, and the certainty of the coming disaster. 5. Chs. 8-11. Vision of the guilt and punishment of Jerusalem. Sixth year of the exile of Jehoiachin = 591 B. C. 6. Chs. 12-14. The certainty of the fall of Jerusalem further established. Its cause, the nation's sinfulness. Only the righteous delivered. 7. Chs. 15-17. Allegories, showing from different points of view the nation's ripeness for judgment, where- in Israel is compared to a vine-branch, to an adulteress, while Ch. 17 setting forth first the result to be expected from Zedekiah's disloyalty to his Babylonian masters, INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 150 doses with a propliecy of the restoration of the Davidie kingdom in the future. 8. Ch. 18. The prophet empliasizes the doctrine that ever}^ one is rewarded according to his own doings, as against the conix^hiint of the people that they were suf- fering for the sins of their ancestoi's. 9. Ch. 10. A lamentation on the "princes," /. e., the Jewish kings, and on the fall of the kingdom. Two allegories; in the first the Davidic stock is com- pared to a lioness, her two whelps being Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin, whose fates are described; and in the second it is compared to a vine planted, now uprooted, its rods (Jehoahaz and Jehoiachin) destroyed, itself planted in the wilderness (= the exiles with Jehoiachin), and fire going out of the branches, destroying the fruit (= the suicidal jpolicy of Zedekiah). 10. Oh. 20. While Israel's idolatry continues Jehovah will not hearken, but the purifying judgments must come. 11. Ch. 21. Jeliovah's sword drawn against Jerus- alem. 12. Ch. 22. Jerusalem's guilt, not only idolatrj' but moral corruption and extending to all classes. 13. Ch. 23. Under an allegory similar to Ch. IG the prophet describes the past history of Samaria and Jeru- salem, representing the two kingdoms by two women, harlots, Oholah and Oholibah. 14. Ch. 24. The date is the ninth j^ear of the exile, B. C. 588, the tenth day of the tenth month, being the da}^ on which Jerusalem was invested by the Chaldeans, 2 Ki. 25:1; Zech. 8:10. The chapter contains a par- able setting forth the siege of Jerusalem, now commenc- ing, and next the final issue of the siege, viz., the 160 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. forced evacuation of Jerusalem by its inhabitants on account of their sins. The chapter closes with an ac- count of the sudden death of the Prophet's wife, wliich is made the medium of a lesson. 15. Chs. 25-32. Prophecies on foreign nations, viz.^ Amnion, Moab, Edom, the Philistines, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt. 16. Chs. 33-39. The restoration of the land and peo- ple; including (a) Ch. 33. The prophet. (6) Ch. 34. The advent of the Messianic Kingdom, (c) Chs. 35, 36. The land, (r/) Ch. 37. The people, (e) Chs. 38, 30. Jehovah's final triumph over the world. 17. Chs. 40-48. The constitution of the restored Theocracy; including (a) Chs. 40-43. The Temple, {h) Chs. 44-46. The Temple and the People, (c) Chs. 47, 48. The land to be occupied by the restored Dias- pora. (Date twenty-fifth year of the exile^572 B. C.) VI. Theology.— Ezekiel emphasizes in particular the glory and the holiness of God. 1. The fundamental doctrine of Ezekiel's theology was the glory of God. God's glory is the Old Testa- ment expression for the revealed Presence of God among his people. God's glory corresponds to his name, and his name is tlie summary of his nature, so far as he has revealed it. See 1:28; 3 : 23 ; 8:4; 9:3; 10:4, 18, 19; 43:2-7; 44:4, etc. 2. Jehovah's name which is the correlative of his glory is the basis and the summit of everything. All Jehovah's relations and dealings with Israel have been and are and will be for his name's sake. They are designed to manifest his one unchangeable nature. See 20:9, i4, 22; 36:22, etc. 3. Jehovah is holy, and will demonstrate his holiness. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 161 ITis holiness is liis essential Deity. It has been pro- faned by his ])eople. He will sanctify it again in Israel and aniouii' tlie nations. See 20: 41; 2^:26; o0:23; ;)S: ■>:), etc. VII. Messianic. 'I'he Messianic sections in the IJook of Ezekiel are as follows: 1. Ezek. 11:14-21. .fehovali tlie Sanctnary of Ilis I*eopIe. 2. Ezek. 17:22-24. The Cedar Sprout. 3. Ezek. 21: 24-27. The Riohtfnl King. 4. Ezek. 34: 11-31. The Faithful Shepherd. 5. Ezek. 3() : 22-30. The Purification. (). Ezek. 37:7-14. The Resurrection. 7. Ezek. 37:21-28. The Reunion. 8. Ezek. Chs. 38, 39. The Judgment of Gog. 7. Ezek. Chs. 40-48. The Holy Land of the Restor- ation. Liitenxtiire.— Coi/Dnentdi'ies: Keil mid Delitzsch, Lange, Ore Hi, lUt:d(j, Fdirbairii^ Hengstenherg, /Speaker's, Pulpit, DANIEL. I. ^iin\e.—I)(i)i(!jf'l=D(uiiel = ijod my .Indgx'. The Book takes its name from its author, Daniel, who is its chief historical charactei-, and whose prophecies it con- tains. II. Biography— Ministry.— Daniel was probably born in Jerusalem. He was of nol)le if not of royal birth. 1:3. He was cai-ried away captive from .lernsalem to Uahxlon, a1 ihc lirsl invasion of Judali by Xel)ucha(l- [11] 162 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. iiezzar, in the third year of the reign of Jehoiakini. 1:1. The entire period of his exile, which terminated onl}' with his life, was spent at Babylon and its vicinity, where he continued to occupy various positions of honor, and to receive divine communications. He lived and ministered during the reigns of Nebuchadnezzar and his successors, and down to the third 3 ear of Cyrus. 10: 1. The time of his death is uncertain. III. Position.— The Book of Daniel is written partly in Hebrew, partly in Chaldee. (See p. 3.) In the He- brew Bible the Book is now included in the Hagio- grapha. This however has not always been its posi- tion in the Hebrew Bible. (See below.) Its proper place is as in the A. V., with the Prophets, after Eze- kiel. IV. Unity.— Eichhorn and Bei'thold ascribed the Book of Daniel to several authors. The unity of the Book is now generally conceded, i. e., it proceeded from a single author. That this author, whom we take to be Daniel himself, should in the first part of the Book speak of himself in the third person, and in tlie rest of the Book speak of himself in the first person, is perfectly con- sistent when the nature of the contents of the Book is considered, for the first part of the Book is historical, while the second part is prophetical. V. Genuineness.— About A. D. 300, Porphyr}', a pagan philosoi^her belonging to the school of the Xeo- Platonists devoted the whole of the twelfth book of his fifteen against Christianity, in the attempt to show that the Book of Daniel is spurious, and that it was written in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, B. C, 175- 164. After that the genuineness of the Book was not seriously assailed until iii the seventeenth century by INTKOPUCTION OUTIJNKS. IGlj Spinoza, a DiitH, Jew; in tlie eiol.teenth contnrv hy Anthony (V)llins, an English Deist; and then followed Kiehhorn, IJleek, Ewald, Hitzig and others, too^ther Nvilh some of the eritics of the present day in tlie same line. While modern criticism does not aitoo-ether reject the Book of Daniel as spurious, still its authorship by Daniel is denied, wliile it is supposed to have been com- posed under the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes B. C. US or 167. The grounds for this view and an- swers (o the same are 1. The position of the Book in the Jewish C'anon, not among the prophets, but in the Hagiographa, and anmn^- the latest in the Hagiographa. But this implies that the arrangement of the Books in the Hebrew CVmon was the same when the Canon was originally formed in the time of Nehemiah, as it is now. This is denied. In the time of Josephus, Origen and Jerome, Daniel was classified among the prophets. It was not till about the time of Jerome that the Rabbles of the school of Tibei'ias re-arranged the Books of the C^anon, and re- moved Daniel from the prophets, and placed him in the Hagiographa. It is very apparent that their anti-Mes- sianic views led them to do this. Besides if Daniel was written in the time of Antiochus P:piphanes, it could no more have been admitted in the Hagiographa either for that division was already closed. 2. It is objected that Jesus, the son of Sirach who wrote about 200-180 B. C, in his enumeration of Israel- itish worthies, is silent as to Daniel. ^lYue, but he is silent as to others also, and so the objection is without weight. The son of Sirach mentions e. (j. Enoch, 3Ioses, Joshua, but omits Jephthah, Gideon, Samson ; mentions Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, but omits Ezra and Mor- 164 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. decai, etc. On the other hand, other Apocryphal Books confirm the fact that Daniel was the principal and onh^ prophet of the time in which he lived, and that tlie Book which claims to be written by him and to which they refer is gennine; thus, 1 Maccabees, Book of Baruch, Song of the Three Children, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon. 3. It is alleged that there are especially Greek words in Daniel that require us to put the composition of the Book at a late date. But at the most there are only tw^o or three words that can be referred to a Greek origin, and these words names of musical instruments. But when we remember what was the inventive genius of the Greeks in music, and what were the extensive commercial relations of the Greek colonies more than 600 years B. C, it is difficult to see why we are com- pelled to put the date of the composition of Daniel down to 175 B. C. because of two or three Greek words in it. 4. It is alleged that there are historical errors in Daniel. That this charge is entirely unfounded see more fully Pusey's Daniel the Prophet, Keil and De- litzsch commentary, Harman's Introduction, Sayce's Fresh Light from the Ancient Monuments, etc. On the other hand the historical reality of Daniel and the genuineness of his Book receive confirnmtion from 1. The testimony of the prophet Ezekiel, e. g. 14: 14, 20; 28:3. When Ezekiel used this language Daniel had been in Babylon eighteen years. 2. The testimony of Daniel who a number of times throughout his Book claims to be its writer. 3. The testimony of Christ to " Daniel the prophet," e. (J. Matt. 24:15. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. iC.f) 4. The tostiinony of its admission into tlie Canon. 5. The testimony of the Ai)oei'ypha, Joseplius and others. (). The huignaiie of the Hook of Daniel exactly i-ep- resents Daniel's age and position. 7. Tlie exact historical knowledge displayed in the Book confirms the authorship by Daniel. 8. Confirmed by archaeological researches. YI. Divisions and Contents.— The Book of Daniel falls into two principal divisions, viz., — I. Chs. 1-G. Hidorical ; giving an account of im- portant events at Babj Ion in the author's time. II. Chs. T-12. Prophetical ; containing prophecies respecting future empires, the Messiah's kingdom, and the resurrection of the dead. A more detailed chronological analysis is the follow- ing:— 1. Ch. 1. Introduciory. Nebuchadnezzar the king. B. C. 605. 2. Ch. 2. The image dream; Nebuchadnezzar's sec- ond 3'ear. B. C. G03. 3. Ch. 3. The fiery furnace; Nebuchadnezzar's twentieth year. About 1>. C. 580. 4. Ch. 4. Nebuchadnezzar's mania ; his thirtietli 3'ear. B. C. 570. 5. Ch. 5. Fall of ]>abylon. I>. C. 538. Belshazzar regent. (1. Ch. (;. The T. ion's den. J)arius the Mede. B.C. 538. 7. Ch. 7. The four wild beasts. B. C. 555. Bel- shazzar regent. 8. Ch. 8. A'ision of the ram and he-goat. B. C. 553. Belshazzar regent. 166 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 0. C'h. 1). The seventy weeks. 15. C. 538. Darins the ]\[ede. 10. Clis. 10-12. Final vision— the a])oealypse. 1>. C. 534. Cyrus King-. VII. Theology.— The doctrines of the Book of Daniel are closely connected with the writings of the exile, and form a last step in the development of the ideas of Mes- siah. Especiall}' emphasized are the doctrines of the Messiah, of angels, of the resurrection of the dead, and the judgment of the world. VIII. Messianic— The special Messianic sections of the Book of Daniel are 1. Dan. 2:31-45 and 7: 2-27. The Kingdom of the Son of Man. 2. Dan. 9:24-27 and 12:1-13. The Seventy Weeks — Tlie Last Times. loiter ature.— Commentaries : Pusey, Keil and DeUtzscJi, Lange, OreUi, Speaker's, PuJpit. HOSEA I. ISame.— iJas7/f^//(( =:lIosea = Salvation. The Book is so called from the name of its author. II. Biography.— Hosea floui'ished in the Pre- Assyrian period, and belonged to the Kingdom of Israel. His time is about 790-724 B. C. A long life of activity of about sixty years extending from the latter part of the reign of Jeroboam II. into the earliei- part of the reign of Hezekiah. He was the son of Beeri, and probably a native of the Kingdom of Israel, in which kingdom he INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 167 exercised his prophetical office. Nothin*^ further is ac- curately known as to his personal, unofficial liistory. III. Miuistry.— Ilosea's ministry was exercised in and for the benetit of the Kingdom of Israel, or simply Ephraim as he frequently calls the Northern Kingdom, a rebuking designation. According to 1 : 1 ITosea's pro- phetical activity was of long duration, one of the long- est: — he saw Jeroboam's kingdom still in its greatness, saw the rapid and anarchical changes of dynasty that followed in the Northern Kingdom, saw four successive reigns in the Soutliern Kingdom, and saw the beginning of the Assj'rian Period. Delivered orall}', Hosea's prophecies were probabl^^ committed b}^ him to writing near the close of his prophetical career, about 725 B. C. Judali is mentioned to be censured with Israel, and again in contrast to Israel as the house Jehovah would bless and deliver. IV. Chronology.— The prophets contemporary with Hosea were ^Vmos and Isaiah. Contemporar}^ Kings of Judah were l^zziah, Jotham, Ahaz, llezekiah. Con- temporary kings of Israel from Jeroboam II. to subjec- tion of Ilosliea b}^ bhalmaneser, see Table of Kings p. 70, 71. V. Composition.— Hosea is generally conceded to be the author of the Book bearing his name. The Book is composed of the essential contents of discourses de- livered by the Prophet at various times. It is however impossible to indicate the precise limits of each of these individual discourses, or to give them any exact chrono- logical order. This however argues for the unity of the Book as written and transmitted, a unity further con- firmed ])y the orderly advance, according to plan, from wrath and tlircatening to mercy and promises; by the 168 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. clearl}' defined strophical arrangement of the Book ; and by " The Word of the Lord *' in the superscription unit- ing the whole. Hosea's style is concise, abrupt, poetical, powerful in imagery. There are peculiar idioms and unusual con- structions. The symbolical narrative, (hs. 1-3, is prose, the rest poetico-ihythmical. The general character of the prophecy is censure but terminating with promises of ^Messianic import. A number of coincidences between the prophecies of Ilosea and the Pentateuch show an acquaintance with the latter. Hosea also refers a number of times to the prophecies of Amos. A closer resemblance exists be- tween Ilosea and the greater prophets than between the greater pro[)hets and any other of the minor prophets. VI. Historical. —The history of the times of Ilosea is similar to that of Hosea's elder contemporary Amos. Only in Hosea the corrupt condition of the Northern Kingdom is increased and aggravated to the extreme. After the reign of Jeroboam II., when Ilosea began to prophesy, the succession of kings, six in number, was for the most part a succession of royal murders, and anarchy in the State. Ungodly alliances with heathen nations were made, the rival factions in Israel invoking or buying the support alternatel}' of Assjria and Egypt. Thus, after an interregnum of eleven years Jeroboam II. was succeeded by his son Zechariah, who, after a reign of six months, was murdered by Shallum. Shal- lum after a month's reign was overthrown and assassin- ated b3^ ]\Ienahem who sought to strengthen himself l)y bujdng the support of the Assyrian monarch Tighitli Pileser. 2 Ki. 15:17-22; Hos. 8:0. About the same time another faction was seeking aid from Egyi)t. Mena- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. IGO hem was succeeded by his sou Pekahiah, who was mur- dered by his successor Pekah, formerly eut>aged witli Reziu, Kiiii>- of Damascus, iu atta(*kiui»' the Davidic dynasty in Jerusalem. Isa. Cli. 7. Pekah was deposed and murdered by his successor Iloshea, the Assyrian kini>- Tiglath PiU^ser conspirin«>- with him in this. After- wards Hoshea broke with the Assyrian power, and opened treasonable negotiations with So, kin"' of Egypt, -I Ki. 17:4, wilh tiie result that Shalinanesei', Tiglath Pileser's successor, laid siege to Sanmria, which after holding out for three years, capitulated to Sargon, who transi)orted large numbers of Israelites to different parts of Assyria, thus bringing the Northern Kingdom of Israel to an end. In matters of religion as in nmtters of state, corruption pi-evailed : — ingratitude, violence, idolatry, immorality. Jehovah had been forsaken for I>aal; devotion was given to sensuous Canaanitish cults; the worldliness of the priests, and the sensuality of the leaders intensified the public and gross moral cor- ruption; confidence was placed in enemies instead of (TO(i;'the claims of law and religion were set at nought; schisms, homicides, fornications, perjury, theft, bribery, impiet}' fill up the dark catalogue of Israel's sins, the swift and bloody forerunners of Israel's imixMiding de- struction. VII. Divisions and Contents.— According to its sub- ject-nmtt(M- the IJook has a tiireefold division. I. Clis. l-)). The Indictment. II. C1is. 4-i:;. 41ie Argument. III. Ch. 14. The Petition. In the Indict incut, (hs. 1-;), Isi'acl is arraigned for unfaithfulness to .Icho\ah, which unfaithfulness is sym- bolicall\' I'epresented. Thus (a) Chs, 1:2 — 2:1. The 170 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. prophet is directed to take to himself an unchaste wife, Gomer, thus to represent the unfaithfuhiess of Israel to Jehovah. The three children borne b}^ the prophet's unchaste wife are given symbolical names: — Jezreel = God will scalier, that is, in view of the vengeance to be exacted of the house of Jehu on the spot where formerly Jehu had slain the house of Ahab. 2 Ki. Chs. 10, 11. Lo Ru]iania]i= Not mercy, that is, unfaithful Israel should be left without mercy or pardon. Lo Amml = Not my people, that is, Jehovah had rejected them. The rejection how^ever is not final for a promise follows set- ting forth the union again of Judah and Israel, and the restoration to the divine favor, {h) C\\. 2:2-23 The prophet's interpretation of his symbolical narrative in 1:2-2:1. Israel's coming punishment and its cause, %yiz., ingratitude and idolatry; this punishment being also a means of reformation resulting in the restoration of Israel to her Divine Husband, when Jezreel, repre- senting Israel, shall verify the full meaning of the name, and they shall become planted of God again in the earth, for they shall obtain mercy and become his peo- ple, (c) Ch. 3. As in Ch. 1 Hosea again represents the part of Jehovah toward his people. His love for and conduct towards an adulterous wife, are, he declares, symbols of Jehovah's love for the unfaithful Israelites, and the means used by Jehovah to bring them back to godliness, viz., the withholding from them, for a time, civil and religious institutions. In Clis. 4-13, the Argument, sets forth Israel's guilt and punishment. Thus (a) Chs. 4-7. Israel's flagrant moral corruption augmented by the worldliness and sensuality of the nation's priests and leaders, resulting in a national decline that can only end in a national INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 171 fall, (h) Ch. 8. AnnouiRHMnonl of jud lament about to be executed on the Xortliei'ii Kingdom, together with its cause, idolatry and schism ; a judgment tliat has indeed already commenced to be executed, and tliat Israel has brought upon itself by its heatlienish alliances and I'e- ligious abuses, (c) C'hs. 0:1 — 11:11. A more minute description of the coming judgment, viz., disaster, ruin, exile; with an intimation of its cause, r/,c., national in- gratitude and sin, with a closing refei-ence as to the pos- sibility of restoration. ((/) Chs. 11:12 — lo:lG. Again Israel's sin, and how they had witb.stood tlie influence of ancestral example, of the effoits and entreaties of Jehovah, and therefore judgment must be executed. In Ch. 14, the Petition, there is a closing appeal to repent, whereupon Jehovah would come to them again in rich blessings. VIII. Theology.— The fundamental and uppermost doctrine in Hosea's theology is Jehovah's love; — the mighty and indesti'uctible love of Jehovah for Israel, which will not be satisiied until it has brought all Israel into hai'mony with itself. (4od's love for his people is the prominent thought, and God's loving kindness the })rominent expression Ilosea uses to set forth the natural alliliidc of Jeho\ah to his i)e()ple, and man's natural attitude to his fellow-man, as the reflection of that love. Ilo.sea emphasizes also a deep, spiritujd rei)entance, a radical change of heart, as the condition of restoration. And while Hosca like Amos describes the future as a time of restored prosperity and fertility, he especially emphasizes that the chief blessedness of that time will consist in thepei'fect fellowship of love and life between God and his people. 172 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. IX. Messianic— The Messianic element in Hosea is mainly connected with the promised restoration of Israel in the last times, and after a long period of exile, and as set forth chiefly in the first three chapters. Briefly this Messianic element embraces: — 1. The restoration of the Northern Kingdom of Israel after a long period of exile. 2. The reunion of Israel and Judah into one nationality. 3. The submission and obedience of this reunited people to David their King, which finally can refer only to the Messiah. 4. The natural world is to share in the promised blessing of that period. 5. All this is to take place in "the latter days," i. e., the Mes- sianic or closing portion of the Messianic period. Liiterature* — Commentaries : Keil and Delitzsch, Pusey, Lange, Orelli, S2:)eaker's, Pulpit, Eioald. JOEL. I. Name.— Yo'el = Joel = Jehovah is (4od . The Book is so called from the name of its author. II,— Biography.— Joel flourished in the Pre- Assyrian period, and belonged to the Kingdom of Judah. His time limits are B. C. 890-84(1. Probably flourished be- tween B. C. 800-850, or in the earlier part of the reign of Joash. lie was the son of Pethuel, and lived in Judah. Nothing furtlier is known of his personal un- official history. III. Ministry.— Joel ministej-ed in Judah. Tliere is no allusion to Israel. Probably resided and ministered INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Ho ill Jenisalein. There is a presumption that he was a priest, lie exercised i^reat ])()wer in the nation, lie not only exhorts but ini])eratively deniaiuls repentance on the part of the nation, aiul witli tlie evident assur- ance that lie will be obeyed. IV. Contemporaries.— King- of Judah, Joash. K'uv^s of Israel, Jehu and Jehoahaz. High Priest, Jehoida. Prophets, Jonah and Amos. Philistines and Phcenicians are referred to as enemies dealing in Jewish slaves. Kdoniites, from the same stock, also enemies, inde- pendent, subdued later. Sabeans of Arabia Felix. Greeks of Asia Minor. No reference to Assyria. Y. Composition,— Authorship, Date, etc. It is gen- erally jidmitted that Joel is the author of the Book bearing his name. The unity of the Book is attested in all its parts and contents, in subject-matter, style, etc. A question has arisen in respect to the date of the com- position of the Book. It must be placed either very early or very late. In support of the earlier date, /. e., about B. C. 860-850, there are these arguments. 1. The position of Joel in the series of the Minor Prophets raises a presumption in favor of this early date. 2. There is no mention of Syria, Assyria and Babylon among the enemiesof Judah, a fact which points to a time when these nations had not yet come into conflict with Judah. On the other hand Amos threatens the Syrians with punish- ment, and foresees that Israel will fall a prey to Assyria, so that Joel antedates Amos. 3. The times and condi- tion of affairs described in Joel precisely suit this earlier date and the reign of Joash, while they do not at all apply to the later date; thus, e. ry., the influence ot the priests, the regularity of the temple services, tl spiritual nature of religion, the absence of any denun le 174 INTRODUCTION OUTl.INES. elation of i)aiiiculfir sins, etc. 4. Tlie earlier date agrees with the references to foreign nations, the latter does not. o. ^Vnios makes nse of Joel. That Joel and not Amos is the original is evident from tlie fact that the passages in qnestion are tirndy embedded in the eon- text of Joel, and belong to his eirele of ideas, whereas they are not in Amos. Compare Jo. o : Ki with Am. 1:2; Jo. 2 : 12 with Am. 4 : (5, etc. 6. The argument from style favors the early ratlier than the late date. VI. Historical.— The historical occasion of the Book of Joel was a terrible visitation of Judah by locusts and drought. This visitation wasnotprophetico-allegorical, but present and actual. Joel describes the destruction effected, views it as the beginning of a great judgment day of Jehovah, calls upon the priests to appoint a day for national humiliation and prayer. This was evidently done, and by divine authority, as he promises the peo- ple richest blessings for the present and future, and complete deliverance from all their enemies. VII. Divisions and Contents.— The Book has a tw^o- fold division : — I. Chs. 1:1—2: 17. Plagues. II. Chs. 2 : 19—3 : 21. Promises. The two parts are joined together b^^ the historical statement in 2: 18. 1. Plagues. The plagues are a divine judgment. The plague of locusts and drought. This chapter is not a prediction. The narrative of the locusts is not an alle- gory, or a fignrative description of the hosts of war. It is the historical record of that which actually took place. 1 : 4 does not describe different insects, but all locusts appearing in different and successive portions of a sea- son or year. Hence the severity of the judgment, ex- INTROOUrTTON OUTTJNES. 175 tending over an entire year. The description of tlie locusts is accurate as well as graphic, 'i'hose atlflictiHl b}' the plague are called upon to mourn the desolation of the land. The worst feature of the plague is the necessit}^ for suspending the daily sacrifices. Therefore the priests required to mourn and the people to join them, (b) Ch. 2: 1-1?. The plague a token of a coming- judgment daj^ of Jehovah. The locusts Jehovah's armj^ doing his will. Threatened judgment may be averted by repentance. Hence humiliation and prayer. 2. Promises. (a) For the present (2:18-27), God will deliver hispeoi^le; evil repaired; new blessings. {h\ For the future (2:19 — 3:21), promises of greater things. The day of the Lord coming with salvation to Israel, terror to Israel's foes. This day introduced by the outpouring of God's spirit. Signs in heaven and earth. Safety in Zion. Nations found gnilty and pun- ished. Gathering in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. Na- tions destroyed. Israel's eternal salvation and blessed- ness. VIII. Theology.— The doctrines emphasized by Joel are 1. Jehovah's judgeship over the whole earth. 2. Repentance and obedience avert punishment. 3. The blessedness of the redeemed. IX. Messianic— General in character. The Messianic salvation is bound up in the existence of the Kingdom of Judah. The Messiah is not defined as of any distinct human x^ersonality, but Jehovah is specified as the au- thor of salvation. The promise of the outpouring of God's spirit finds its essential fulfilment in the Christian Church only, especially in the first establishment of it, though at first the promise related to Judah. It is indi- no INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. cated that members of otlier Jiations shall also partake in the Messiaiiie promise. Literature. — Co)nine)i furies: Keil (ind DcUtzsch, Lunge, Pusey. OrelU. AMOS. I. Name.— ^4 /?«o.s = Burden. The J>ook is so called from its author. II. Biography. —xlmos lived in the Pre-Assj-rian period. He was a native of the Kingdom of Judah, but ministered in the Kingdom of Israel. His time is B. C. 810-782. Latter part of this period marks the time Amos prophesied; i. e., latter part of Jeroboam's and early part of Uzziah's reign, these kings being contem- poraries about twenty-seven years. See table p. 70, 71. Amos was a native of Judah, and of the town of Tekoa, twelves miles south of Jerusalem. III. Ministry.— The prophetic ministry of Amos was in and to the Kingdom of Lsrael. ^)nl\' the passages 2:4, 5 and 6:1 directly concern Judah and Jerusalem. The execution of his mission was in liothel whose priests hegreath' offended by his prophetic utterances; so much so that Amaziah the priest sent word to King Jeroboam that Amos was conspiring against him, al the same time exhorting Amos to flee into Judea and proi)hesy. The prophecies of .Vmos delivei'ed oral^V were probably com- mitted to writing after his return to the Kingdom of Judah. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 177 IV. Contemporaries.— King of Jiulali, Tzziah, and of Isiael, Jeroboam II. See Table p. 70, Tl. Prophets Joel and .Jonah. High Priest at Bethel, Amaziah. Snr- lonnding nations introduced are Damascus, Philistia, T^'re, Edoin, Annnon, Moab. V. Composition. -Amos is generally conceded to be the author of the Book bearing his name, and the unity of the Book is likewise generally admitted. All this is evident not alone from the superscription, but from quo- tations made from the Book, the relation and interde- pendence of parts, historical unity and continuity, sub- ject, style, etc. Though not by profession or descent a prophet, but a shepherd, still Amos like the shepherd David was not uncultured. His writings show marked literary finish and force. His shepherd life was of great suggestiveness to him in the language and imagery em- ployed. He is remarkably ordei-ly in his literary con- structiveness and development; e. ^., the seven sur- rounding peoples taken up in turn, and the series of predictions, each constructed after the same pattern, setting forth their sins and doom. So following this the three successive chapters :5, 4, 5, each beginning with " Hear this word." And so the series of symbolic visions in the last three chapters. The symbolism or imageiy of Amos is extensixe and varied, lie makes large use of the Pentateuch. On llie other hand extensixe use was made of Aiuos by the pi-ophets following, especially Ilosea and Jeremiah. VI. Historical.- 'Die historical occasion of the pi-o- pheey ol" Amos was tiie low moral and religions status of the limes, as observable and notorious not only in the surrounding nations but especially in the Xoi-thern Kiniidom of Israel. Idolatry, injustice, oppression, cor- [12 i 178 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. raptioii, iiuchastit}', formalism call forth rebukes, ad- monitions, and threatenings of divine punishment and overthrow. Tlie terrors of impending judgment close with tlie announcement of the final exaltation of the Theocracy. VII. Divisions and Contents.— The Boolv of Amos consists of two principal parts, riz.^ — 1. Chs. 1-0. Prophetical disconrses of a threatening character. 2. Chs. 7-9. Visions and symbols followed by their interpretation, and other prophetical annonncements. Part first, Chs. 1-6, coiitain (a) 1:1 Preliminary his- torical statement, (h) Threatening discourses against the surrounding nations, riz., Syrians of Damascus (1:2-5); the chief cities of the Philistines (1:6-8); Tyre (1:0, 10); Edom and its chief cities (1:11, 12); the Ammonites (l:lo-lo); Moab (2:1-3). These na- tions are charged witli cruelty against the Israelites, and their destruction is threatened, (c) A charge of diso- bedience and idolatry against Judah and the judgment therefor, (r/) The statement concerning Judah forms a transition to the principal prophecies that follow on to 6: 14 all directed against Israel (excepting perhaps the single allusion to the careless in Zion in 6:1). These discourses of Amos against Israel are directed against their moral and religions crimes such as idolatry, un- chasity, worldliness, the oppression of the poor by the rich, corruption in the administration of jnstice, and formalism in the service of Jehovah. He follows these censnres with warnings to turn to Jehovah, and with threatenings of divine punibliment, overthrow, depor- tation, captivity in a land beyond Damascus. Part second, Chs. 7-9, contain ((/) 7: 1-9. Vision rep- INTKODUCTIOX Ol'TUNES. 170 resoiitiiiii' the oNcrtln-ow of Israel and of the house of Jeroboam. Locusts, fire and a phnubline tlie fii^ures eniplo3'eil to represent this overthrow. (h) 7:10-17. Hostility of Ania/iah to Amos; Amos warns Amaziali, and announces Israel's eaptivity. {c) 8:1-3. Vision of a basket of fruit showing- Israel to be ripe for de- struction. ((]) 8:4-1-1:. The punishment of those who oppressed tlie poor, cari-ied on a shauK'ful trade, .uave thetnselves to idolatry, and upon whom Jehovah would bi'inu- atHiction. moui'nin_i>-, hun^ci- and Ihirst. (r) 9:1- l(t. \'isi()n of the Lord stand inii' on the altar. He ordei's a desli'uction fiom which tliere is no e.sca[)e. Jehovah will blot out the sinfid kingdom, sinners shall perish, the house of Israel shall be dispersed amonL>' the nations but the house of Jacob shall not alto_i>ether be destroyed. (/) 0:11-15. CMosiuiJ' promise tliat Jehovah will rein- state the fallen tabernacle of David; Israel shall [)os.sess the remnant of Edom, and the nations called by Jelio- vah\s name; the land shall be abundanth' blest; the scattered ones of the people restored; the overthrown cities I'ebuilt; the Tlieocracy re-established. A^III. Tlieolog-y. The fundamental doctrine in the theoloiiy of Amos is the sovei'eii^'nty of Jeiiovah in natui-e and in histoi-y. His conce|)tion of (iod is i'emarkal)le for its i)ui'e, ethical monotheism. As to man he is a sin- ner, whose sins are otfensi veto God to whom he must turn forsaking hissins. An intimate, wM)rkini>', sj)ii'itual union must be estal)lished, and in which alone is to be found blessedness. The prophet's views of religion are marked by a deep spirituality. The alternative of not seeking Bethel, Gilgal or Beersheba is not the seeking of Jerusa- lem but th(.' seekinii' of Jehovah, and so li\-e. The 180 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. alternative of idolatrous service is not ceremonial service, but the service of heart and life. IX. Messianic— The Messianic element in the Book of Amos is composed of the promise that forms the con- clusion to the Book, viz., in 9: 11-15, which sets forth 1. vv. 11, 12. The Restoration of the Davidic King- dom. (a) v. 11. Its divine up-building. {b) V. 12. Its divine out-building. 2. v. 13. The Restoration of the cursed but chosen land. (a) V. 13'. Constant productivit}'. (h) V. 13\ Abundant productivity. 3. vv. 14, 15. The Restoration of the Diaspora. (a) V. 14. Re-colonization. (6) V. 15. Immoveable Possession. Literature. — Commentaries : Keil and Delitzsch, Lange, Pusey, Orelli. OBADIAH I. Name. — 06«f///a/^ = Obadiah= Servant of Jeho- vah. The Book is so called from the name of its author. H. Biography and Ministry.— Obadiah who flour- ished in the Pre-x4ssyrian period belonged to the King- dom of Judah. He lived and prophesied during the reign of King Jehoram, B. C. 890-850. Of the prophet hiniself nothing further is positively known. HI. Composition.— Obadiah is generally admitted to be the author of the Book bearing his name : — the small- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 181 est of the prophetic Books. Question lias arisen how- ever in regard to the date of the composition inasmuch as it seems to be necessary to place Obadiah as the earliest of the prophets, or assign his prophecy a date about the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. The weight of argument is in favor of the early date, and for the following reasons : — 1. The comparison of Obadiah's prophecy with Jer. 49 : 7-22, also against Edom. Examining these two pro- phecies it is evident that one has copied or quoted the other. If Jeremiah is regarded as the original then we have the anomaly of a prophet appearing with a single chapter of matter, called a vision, principally borrowed from a great prophet living just before him. Certainly that makes Obadiah's prophetic status somewhat ques- tionable. On the other hand, if Obadiah is the original, there is nothing strange in Jeremiah's borrowing from him in his own great prophetic Book, just as he has bor. rowed from Isaiah. Moreover the prophec}^ in Obadiah is a well-arranged whole, whereas in Jeremiah the same matter is broken up and given in a less forcible and obvious order. For the above reason it is also highly improbable that both Jeremiah and Obadiah are bor- rowing from a still older prophet. 2. The capture of Jerusalem to which Obadiah refers cannot be that made by Nebuchadnezzar, for he carried away the people of Jerusalem to Babylon. The language of Obadiah refers to a very different captivity, see ver. 20. This undoubtedly refers to the capture of the city in the reign of Jehoram, about B. C. 887, when the Philistines and the Arabians made an irruption into Judah and Jerusalem, and took captives, and carried off valuable property (2 Chron. 21 : 16, 17). To this Joel also seems 182 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. to refer (3:4-6). He represents the child) en of Judah and Jerusalem as sold to the Grecians. The captivity of Jerusalem in Sepharad (Obad. 20) — a district in or about Asia Minor — seems to be that of a part of the peo- ple carried away at that time. It therefore seems best to refer the plunderini^; of Jerusalem, to which reference is made in Obadiah, to the reign of Jehoram, and the prophecy to the time immediateh' subsequent, about B. C. 880. 3. This earl}^ date for Obadiah agrees with the allu- sions to his prophecy in Joel, and with tlie references to Edom in Amos. Joel was evidently familiar with the words or wi'itings of Obadiah, e. (j. compare Joel 2:32 with Obad. IT; Joel 3:3 with Obad. 11; Joel 3:7, 8, with Obad, 15; Joel 3: 1? with Obad. 11, 17, etc. IV. Historical. -The histoi'ical occasion of the pro- piiecy of Obadiah was some recent capture of Jerusalem, in which the Edomites had been guilty of the grossest insult and injury to Judah. It does not appear that they were themselves the principal assailants, but they had shown a most unbrotherly spirit by their nuilignant delight at Judairs calamity, by sharing in the i)lunder of the city, by intercepting the fugitives, and slaught- ering them or surrendering them to be sold as slaves. V. Divisions and Contents.— 1. vv. 1-10. The na- tions are summoned by Jehovah's messengers to make war upon Edom. He has detei'niined to humble Edom's pride. Edom will be plundered by enemies, deserted by allies, and its counsellors and heroes overthrown ; all be- cause of Edom's inhuman treatment of his brother Jacob. 2. vv. ] 1-1-4. For in the day of Judah's humiliation and calamity, Edom maliciously exulted, and shared in the plunder. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 183 3. vv. 15-21. But Jehovairs day of ,jii(l.ij:inont for all the nations is at hand, and Edoni will not escape a just retribution. A remnant will remain in Jerusalem; Je- rusalem will no more be defiled l)\' inv^aders; Judah and Israel will possess Edom and Philistia; Jehovah's King- dom will be forever established. VI. Theoloj*-.v— Messianic— Obadiairs theology em- phasizes 1. Jehovah's (MUMuies shall be defeated. '2. Jehovah's people shall prevail. 'A. Jehovah's Kingdom shall be established. The Messianic thought is contained in the closing words of the prophecy which set forth the final I'esult to which all Israel's history pointed, riz., the K'nuidom slidJI he Jp](oraJi\s. JLiteratlire. — Commentaries: Keil and Delitzaeh, Pusey, Lange. Orelli. JONAH. I. Name.— Fo//(//i = Jonah := A Dove. I'he Book is so called from the name of its author. II. Biography.— Jonah, who flourished in the Pre- Assyrian period, belonged to the Kingdom of Israel. He lived and ministered during the reign of Jeroboam II. He was the son of Amittai, and was born about B. C. 859. lie was a native of Gath-IIepher, a town of Lower Galilee in Zebulon. The only incident of Jonah's 184 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. life recorded outside of this Book, and its New Testa- ment reference is mentioned in 2 Ki. 14:25. III. MiDistry.— Jonah's prophetic ministi-y covered quite a long' period, probably not less than 825-790 1>. C. His visit to Nineveh was only a single event in his official career. He doubtless lived a life of faithful prophetical activity in the ungodly and idolatrous king- dom of the Ten Tribes. This certainly seems to be implied by the (rau' = und^ with which the Book begins, as if other calls and ministrations had preceded this one. A single allusion to his ministry in the Kingdom of Israel is that in 2 Ki. 14: 25 where he foretold to Jeroboam H. the success of his wars for the restoration of the boundaries of Israel upon which Hazael, King of Syria, had encroached. He is sent on a mission unique in the history of the ancient economy, r/>. , to preach judg- ment and repentance to the Gentile Ninevites, Not from fear, but from exclusiveness (4: 2) he attempted to fiee to the commercial port of Tarsus in C'elicia. Ar- rested by a miracle he returned, obeyed, preached. The failure of his prophecy on Nineveh was only apparent while it was reall}" a signal success. The royal edict calls the Ninevites to repentance, while discontented Jonaii is rebuked. IV. Contemporaries.— King of Israel, Jeroboam II. Kings of Judah, Amaziah and Uzziah. Prophets, Joel and Amos. V. Composition.— Not only is Jonah historical, but the Book that bears his name is also historical. It is not fiction, allegory, myth or legend, but an account of that which actuall}' took place, genuine history, of deep prophetico-symbolic and typical significance. Ancient Jews and Christians regarded the Book as i-eal history. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 185 The Book of Tobit SO regards it (14:4, 8). In makinj^- Joiiali and his history a type of his own resurrection, Christ affixes the seal of his authority to the Book. Still while the Book records an actual history, it is not solely or chiefly history. The compilers of the Canon considered the Book a prophetical one. 'J'he historical omissions are too great for the Book to be simj)ly a pure history. The J^ook is prophetical, and oidy those his- torical events are fuinished which are required as the basis of the prophetical teaching. Moreover the unity of the Book is actually and externally indivisible. Tlie word ''second" in 3 : 1 connects both halves in the most intimate manner. While Jonah is not distinctly declared to be the author of the Book, still that is in all probability the fact. He probably wrote the I>o()k shortly after his return from Nineveli. Ilis i)rayer of thanksgiving in Ch. 2, uttered from the bowels of the fish, and reproduced essentially, though not perhaps literalh , afterward, follows the Psalms in stiucture and is filled with reminiscences of passages from the Psalms. That Jonah should be the author of the Book and still speak of himself in the third person is in strict accoid- ance with the manner of the other prophets who also speak of themselves in the third person except when they speak of God's revelations to them. The so-called Aramaisms of the Book are all genuine Hebrew words or forms except the one Aramaic name for the decree of the King of Xineveh which Jonah naturally heard in Nineveh itself. The abbieviated form of the relative pio- noun Ishl or sh for (islier) in 1:7 by no means indicates an exilic or post-exilic date, as this abbreviated form of the relative is found not only in The Song of Songs, and in Deborah's Song (Judge o:?), but is also found on a 186 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. beautifully preserved weight, recently discovered on the site of Samaria, which hears an inscription in characters pointing to the 8th century B. C, and where preciseh' this same form, shI, of the relative occurs. VI. Historical.— The narrative of the Book indicates history. Not all the details but the principal facts in this history are given. The immediate occasion of this history of Jonah's mission to Nineveh was the great wickedness of Nineveh, and the just judgment of God to be visited therefor, or repentance shown through the preaching of Jonah. Its historical scope, however, em- braces the entire heathen world, and the true attitude of Israel, of the people of (4od in all times, to the world. VII. Divisions and Contents.— The Book contains two principal divisions, united by the historical state- ment in )5 : 1, viz., 1. Chs. 1, 2. The :Man. 2. Chs. o, 4. The Mission. In the contents we have 1. Ch. 1. The Prophet Jonah receives divine orders to proceed to Nineveh, and declare judgment against it for its great wickedness. Foreseeing, according to 4: 2, a possible repentance on the part of the Ninevites, and a consequent sparing and blessing on the part of God, and selfishly consider- ing God's spiritual blessings to be exclusively for the benetit of Israel, Jonah attempts to evade the divine command b}^ fleeing to Tarshish. A storm rises, the heathen crew pra}', and sleeping Jonah is awakened. The crew regard the storm as a sign of divine wrath, and cast lots to detect the guilty person. The lot falls upon Jonah, who confesses, and, upon his own advice, is cast into the sea. 2. Ch. 2. A large fish sw^allows Jonah, but he is preserved in life and thanks God. On INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 187 the third day he is vomited out on the land. 3. Ch. 3. Tile divine eoniniand eonies ai>ain to Jonaii, wlio obeys, and in Xineveli proclaims its destruction foi' its sins. Headed by the Kin<>-, tiie Xinevites observe a public fast, whereupon Jehovah determines to withdraw ins threatening. 4. Ch. 4. Jonali, seliish of the divine blessings, and feeling that tiie effect of the divine pur- pose to remit the calamity wM)uld put him in a false light, is displeased. His displeasui'e is increased by the incident of tlie i)lant tliat shot up, shaded him, and then was destroyed in tiu^ night, 'i'lie next day's heat angers liim. lie pities tlic plant — Jehovah pities tlie city. VIII. Theolog-y.— Tlic leaching of Jonali is manifest, r/x., 1. Sin incurs the divine judgment. 'I. Repentance secures tiie divine remission, o. (4od"s s|)iritual blessings are for tlie world. 4. 'rhe_\- wlio iiav<' must give tliose Ijlessings oi- be punislied. IX. Messiauic. — Tlie iJook of Jonali is a symbolical one after the analogy of Isa. Ch. ■'), and Kzek. Ch. 10. The IJook is t> i)ical especially in Ch. 'i whei-e Jonali is a type of Chi-ist according to Mat. rl: 4(). 'I'he Hook is proi)hetical and symbolical. Jonah repi-esents Isi-ael. Nineveh represents the heathen woi'ld as afterwards did Babylon and P^dom. Israel has the mission of preach- ing God's Woi'tl to the heathen woi'ld. He seeks to flee from his calling, (rod I'eproves and punishes Israel, because he in whom all the lamili<'s of the earth were to be blessed had neglected his vocation. Israel is restored and recominissione'd to preach that the heathen world shall perish. Israel doubts, delays, despairs and 188 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. therefore God corrects Israel. But as the sparing of Niiieveli came before the correction of Jonah, so the type as to the future is that the multitude of the heathen world shall be gathered in before the Jewish people who must first be humbled and broken. In the fulfilment of his mission Jonah is a type of Israel, and Israel a type of Christ. Mat. 12: 40. As the sparing of Jonah and his preaching of repentance vv'as a sign to the Nin- evites which must bring them to faith or judgment, so the preservation of Christ in the grave, and the preach- ing of the Risen One were a sign to the world of judg- ment and of faith. Ltitersiture, — Commeyitaries: Keil and Delitzsch, Lange, Pfifiey. Orelli, Fairbairii, Wright, Peroivne, Kalisch. MICAH. I. Name.-Jfeeca/i=Micah = Who is like Jehovah ? The Book is so called from the name of its author. II. Biography.— Micah who belonged to the King- dom of Judah, lived in the Assyrian period. His date is about 758-710 B. C. He was a younger contemporary of Isaiah and Hosea. In 1:1 he is called ' ' the Morash- tite," /. e., he was a native of Moresheth, a dependency of Gath, in the maritime plain, about twenty miles south- west of Jerusalem. Like Amos, Micah was a country- man, a " man of the people," born of obscure parentage, his father's name not being mentioned. As in the case of many of the other prophets little is known of the eir- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 189 ciimslances of Micjih's life other than as indicated in liis prophecy. III. Ministry. -According to the superscription 1:1, Micali prophesied under the reigns of Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah, kings of Judah Micah's time limits would therefore be about B. C. 756-697, /'. e., a period of fifty- nine years. The minimum limit of his ministry would be sixteen years, i. e., from the death of Jotham to the accession of Hezekiali. But the prophecy itself fur- nishes a more accurate estimate of the duration of Micah's prophetic ministry inasmuch as 1:6 was evidently uttered prior to the fall of Samaria which took place in B. C. 722, while according to the notice in Jeremiah 26: 17 sg., Micah 3: 12 was spoken during the reign of Hezekiah. Micah's prophetic message was directed both to Israel and Judah, but for the most part to his country Judah. While Isaiah the statesman- prophet at the capital rebuked the courses and foretold the destinies of nations, kings and nobilities, at the same time emphasizing in an unrivaled manner the great truths of religion and uttering glorious promises, — Micah on the other hand spoke as a man of the people, in sympathy with the common people in their sufferings, attacking the wrong like Isaiah, but otherwise less interested in matters of state, foreign policies, etc. His ministry therefore was more exclusively that of an ethical and religious teacher. At the same time Micah had a powerful influence at the capital, and gave weightiest evidence of his prophetic ministry as a religious teacher inasmuch as he was largely instru- mental, according to Jer. 26:17 sq., compared with Mic. 3: 12, in effecting the reformation under Hezekiah. IV. Contemporaries. — Kings of Judah, — Jotham, 190 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Ahaz and Ilezekiah. Kings of Isi'ael, — l^ekali and Ho- shea. Proplu'ts, Isaiali and Ilosea. Assyria referred to as an invading, eonqnering and deporting foe. V. Authorship. -Micali is generally conceded to be the author of the Book bearing his name. The cliief opposition to this view is raised by a few who attribute Chs. 6, 7 to an anonymous autlior. l>ut from their con- tents these cliapters not only may liave been written under the reigns of Ahaz or Manasseh, but in every respect the most suitable time for their production is the reign of Ahaz, rather than the reign of Manasseh, when true prophets were silenced, or any subsequent time. More recent criticism assigns the passage 7:7-20 to the Exile, so that according to this view there is a gap of a century between 7:0 and 7:7. lUit there is no difficulty whatsoever in this passage pi'ccluding it from being tiie work of a prophet who might know and fore- tell that the exile must happen. Besides, a prophecy can hardly be conceived of as ending so abruptly as would be the case at 7 :<). VI. Historical.— The sins of .ludfdi and Israel consti- tuted the historical occasion of Micah's [)rophecy. Tliese sins W'ere against the fundamental laws of social moral- ity, transgressions of tlie elementary i)rinciples of justice and mercy. The very foundations of society were being- upheaved and overtlirown. It is es[)ecially the social sins of his time that Micali attacks with passionate en- ergy. The accumulation of vast estates by wealthy nobles; the unscru[)ulously [)owerful defrauding the honest poor and dispossessing him of his ancestral land and home; governors and judges fleecing the people whom they were sworn to protect; exacting creditois tearing the garment from a man's shoulders; exorbi- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 191 tant taxation ami private extortions; the dictates of natural piety iiiiiored and the most sacred relations of life viohited; strong- fortifications and statel}^ palaces constructed of human lives and cemented with human blood ; everywhere appalling social selfishness, corrup- tion, fierceness. These are the sins that Micah de- nounces, and upon them, the people, for the commission of these sins he denounces the judgments of God, — humiliation, overthrow, anguish, exile, dispersion. Bui Micah also preaches promise; and be3^ond this blackness of darkness dawns the sure hope of restoration, reunion, and glorification. VII.— Divisions and Contents. — Tpon the basis of its subject matter the Book of ]\licah is best divided into three parts, as follows: — I. Chs. 1, 2. Reproof doniinant but closing with promise. II. Chs. 3-5. Pi'oinise dominant but closing with re- proof. III. Chs. 6, 7. The legal controversy and conclu- sion : — will it be reproof or promise 'i I. Chs. 1, 2. Reproof and promise; including 1. Ch. 1. Jehovah the Judge. (<:0 1 : 1 . Supersci-ij)- tion. (6) 1 : 2-5. Jehovah the Judge of Israel is about to appear, (r) 1 : (>, T. Samaria will be destroyed, (f/) 1:8,0. The catastrophe will i-each Jerusalem. (p) 1:10-10. 'Various towns of the Lowland, whei-e the prophet's own home is, will be overwhelmed. 2. Ch. 2. Judcih's woe and Jehovah's i)romise. (f/) 2:1-5. The violent deeds of Judalfs nol)les demand punishment. (6) 2:(i, 7. They would silence true i)r()- phets and listen to false ones, (r) 2:8-11. As they 192 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. eject the poor SO shall they tlioniselves be exiled, (d) 2 : 12, 13. The exiled and dispersed flock of Israel will one da}^ be reassembled, and i>() forth from captivity in a second exodus, led by their Kiniz: ^vith Jeliovah at his side, to restoration. Compare Ex. 13:21; Psa. 110:5; Isa. 52:12. II. Chs. 3-5. Promise and reproof; including? 1. Ch. 3. The censure of rulers, (a) 3:1-1P. Judges, prophets and priests dishonor their office, (b) 3:11''. Their false reliance upon Jehovah, (c) 3:12. Their ungodliness the cause of Jerusalem's impending ruin. 2. Ch. 4. The center of salvation and the humilia- tion to Zion. (rt) 4: 1-5. But in the ending of the days Jerusalem will be the center of instruction, obedience and peace, {b) 4:6-8. The dispersed will be reassem- bled, the eternal reign of Jehovah inaugurated, and the Davidic Kingdom restored. (c) 4:9,10 Zion's im- mediate future is humiliation and exile. ((/) 4:11-13. Zion's ultimate future will be victory over the nations. 3. Ch. 5. Exaltation from Bethlehem, (a) 5:1. Israel and her ruler must be reduced to extremity and insult. (b) 5:2-0. But from l>ethlehem shall come forth a Ruler of David's house to rule over a reunited people, and repel the Ass^^rian invader, (c) 5:7. Israel will be a source of blessing to some. ((/) 5:8, 1). Israel will be a source of destruction to others. (e) 5: 10-15. Israel will be purified and vengeance executed on the disobedient. III. Chs. r>, 7. Controversy and conclusion. The representation is that of a legal suit between Jehovah and his people Israel. Jehovah is plaintiff, Israel is de- fendant. 1. Chs. 0:1 — 7:13. The controversy. {) Vt:o-5. Jehoxah slates liis case, (c) 0: 6, 7. The people admits its sin, and asks how Jeho- vah can be propitiated. ((/) (3 : 8. 'I'he prophet answers. (e) 6: 9-10. Jehovah speaks denouncini>- tlie wickedness, and threatening punishment. ( /) T : l-d. Tlie pro- phet speaks in tlie name of the true- Israel lamenting the corruption. {(/) T:'^-10. They will bear the punish- ment contident that .lehoNah will vindicate his righteous- ness, (h) 7:11-1:5. In answer is heard the divine pi'oc- lamation of Zion's restoration. 2. Ch. 7: 14-20. The conclusion. {(/);:U-i:. The prophet prays for this restoration of Zion, and Jeho- vah promises to effect it. (?>) 7:18-20. The prophet concludes b}- expressing a perfect trust in Jehovah's ]^ardoning mere}' and unchanging faithfulness. VIII. Theology.— The theological doctrines of Micali are similar to those of Isaiah. In the main they set forth 1. The regeneration of Israel through judgment. 2. The establishment of Jehovah's Kingdom under the ideal King of David's line. 0. The evangelization of the nations through that Davidico-Messianic Kingdom. In regard to man Micah emphasizes 1. Man must follow justice toward his neighbor. 2. He must also show mere}', and not only show it, but love mercy. 3. Man must walk humbly with his God; live such a life of fellowship with God as implies an identity of will and purpose. IX. Messianic— Israel is to be scattered in judgment, but it will be restored again in mere}- . The ideal of the Theocracy will be realized. Jehovah shall reign in [13] 194 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Zioii forever. A Prince of the house of David will rule over a reunited Israel. He is to spring from Bethlehem. The Kingdom of God will be established in peace and righteousness. This Messianic production in Micah is in the main threefold, and for the most part contained in Chs. 4 : 1 — 5 : 5*, as follows : 1. Ch. 4:1-7. The linal Messianic period. Comp. Isa. 2 : 2-4. 2. Ch. 4:8-13. The Davidico-Zionitic dominion. Comj). Am. 9:9-15. 3. Ch. 5 : 1-5*. The Ruler from Bethlehem. Comp. Isa. 9:0; Zech. 9:9. Literature. — Commentaries: Keil and Delitzsch, Pusey, Lange, Orelli, Cheyne. NAHUM. I. ^ame.—Nahoorn = Nahum = Consolation. The Book derives its name from its author. II. Biog-rapliy.— Xahum flourished during the As- syrian j)eriod and in the Kingdom of Judah. He was a native of Elkosh, probably a town in Galilee. He probably belonged to the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and, upon the invasion and deportation of the Ten Tribes, escaped into the territory of Judah taking up his residence in or near Jerusalem. Nahum flourished and prophesied between B. C. 065-607. III. Ministry.— Nahum's prophetic ministrj" was car- ried on in the Kingdom of Judah, and in the second INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 105 half of Hezekiah's reign. It was a It or the capture of No-amon (Thebes, in Upper Kgypt) by Asshurbanipal. And it preceded the (lest met ion of Xineveli by the liaby- lonians and Medes. Tlie subject or burden of Xaiiunrs propliecy was the fall and destruction of the Assyrian capital Nineveh. Wliil<^ llie ])r()plie('y of Jonah a.^ainsl Nineveh was follow (m1 ))y the remission of (iod's ,judi>- nients, the prophecy of Nahuni aiiriinsl Nincvcli was followed by the execution of (iod's judmnents. lY. Contemporaries.— Kiui"' of Judah, llezekiah. Prophets, Isaiah and ^licah. iVssyrians who had anni- hilated the Kin.i>doni of Israel, and humiliated the King- dom of Judah. Egyptians. V. Composition.— Nfdiuni is generally admitted to have been the author of the Book bearing his name. The genuineness of the Book has never been called into question. There is a peculiarity in the superscription in that it makes the announcement of the subject pre- cede the announcement of the author. There is how- ever nothing inconsistent in this, liesides, the prophet uses several Avords and forms of words that are almost peculiar to himself. He uses several words that occur elsewhere only in .loh. He uses a striking expression also in 2 : 10 that only occurs besides in Joel 2 : G, while the first clause of 1:15 is nearly word for word the same as that of Isa. 52: 7. Nahum occupies one of the high- est places in Hebrew literature, while he more nearly approaches Isaiah than any of the other Prophets. He possesses a peculiai' power of representing several i)hases of an idea in the briefest sentences, as in liis descrip tion of God, of the conquest of Nineveh, and the capture of Thebes. As to the date of the composition, it must have been 196 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. according to 3: 8-11 after the capture of Thebes by As- shurbanipal which took place shortly after B. C. 664; and on the other hand, as Nineveh is represented as still standing, it must have been before the destruction of that city by the Babylonians and Medes in B. C. 607. VI. Historical.— The historical occasion of Nahum's prophecy was the approaching fall of Nineveh. On ac- count of its great wickedness and corruption Nahuni predicts the fall of the Assyrian capital. This took place not long thereafter when a coalition of Necho, King of Egypt, Cyaxares, King of Media, Nabopolassar, King of Babylon, was formed against Assyria, and the Medes and Babylonians, after defeating the Assyrian forces, laid siege to Nineveh which after two years capitulated. VII. Divisions and Contents.— 1. Ch. 1. The ap- pearance of Jehovah in judgment; his faithfulness toward those who are faithful to him ; the description of the coming fall and irretrievable destruction of the As- syrian capital. 2. Ch. 2. Description of the assault upon Nineveh, the entrance effected, the scenes of carnage and tumult that follow, the flight of the inhabitants, and the sub- sequent deserted and silent condition of the city. 3. Ch. 3. Nineveh's cruelty, avarice, insidious policy, corruption, the cause of her own ruin. Jehovah is against her ; overthrow awaits her ; and amid the rejoic- ings of those who have suffered by her, her empire shall forever pass away. VIII. Tlieology.— The theological teaching of Nahum emphasizes 1. God's moral government of the w^orld. 2. The certain destruction of this world's kingdoms built on the foundation of force and falsehood. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 197 3. The certain triumph of the Kingdom of God up- built on the foundation of truth and riii^hteousness. liiteratiire. — Commentarieti : Keil and Delitzficit, Lange, Pusey, OrelJi. HABAKKUK. I. Name.— iJ(r/??aA-A-ooA' = Habakkuk ^ Embraced. The Book is so called from the name of its author. II. Biography and Ministry.— Ilabakkuk belonged to the Kingdom of Judah. lie flourished and i3rophe- sied during the reign of Jehoiakim, and towards the be- ginning of the Chaldean suf)remacy, /. e. B. C. 608-590. Nothing is known, outside of apocraphal sources, of the personal history of this prophet, and his prophecy gives us no information respecting himself. The subject of his prophec}' is tlie overthrow of Judah by the Chal- deans, and then, in turn, the overthrow of the Chaldean monarchy, — each power for its sins. III. Composition.— Some modern critics maintain that Chs. 1 : 1-2 : 8 is the only part of the Book which is to be assigned to Ilabakkuk ; that 2 : 9-20 is an addition of post-exilic times; and Ch. 3 a praj^er of the post-exilic congregation in time of distress, possibly w ritten by the author of 2 : 9-20, or taken from some Psalm-collection used in the Temple. But against this j)osition, the unity of the Book, and its authorship by the prophet Ilabak- kuk, are both generalh' admitted, on account of the close relation between the several parts, the progress of the thought throughout, and the organic connection of 198 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. the whole. As to tlie date of the eoiupositioii of the prophec}', the balance of probability favors a date shortl}^ before the defeat of Pharaoh-Necho at Carcheinish, B. C. GOo, bj^ which defeat the supreinacj' of the dial- deans was assured. IV. Historical. -The historical occasion of Habak- kiik's prophecy was the rise of the Chaldean power, and its emploj- ment b}^ Jehovah as an instrument to inflict deserved chastisement upon ungodly Judah. When the reformer-king, Josiah, fell in the fatal battle of Megiddo, the hopes of Judah perished. Passing over his eldest son Jehoiakim, the people made Jehoahaz king. After a reign of only three months, Jehoahaz was deposed by Pharaoh-Necho, who was now for a short time supreme over the countries from the Euphrates to the Nile. Xecho placed Jehoiakim on the throne in- stead of Jehoahaz. Jehoiakim was selfish, desi^otic, godless. The nobles all too willingly followed Jehoia- kim's example, so that in a short time the old evils of Manasseh's reign broke out afresh. In the meantime the Chaldeans were mustering and marching threaten- ingly' in the north. Reports of their fierceness and re- sistlessness reached Jerusalem. Fear and doubt settled on many a mind and heart in Judah. AVould a riglit- eous Ood permit such an insatiable invader to overwhelm Judah ? At such a critical moment Ilabakkuk appears upon the scene of his i)roplietic message. V. Divisions and Contents.— 1. Ch. 1. (a) vv. 2-4. Habakkuk expostulates with Jehovah for permitting evil to go so long unchecked in Judah. (h) vv. o-ll. Jehovah replies by pointing to and describing the Chal- deans whom he has raised up to chastise the guilt}- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 11)9 nation, (c) vv. 12-17 Ilabakkuk is amazed that Jeho- vah can use as his instruments those cruel Chaldeans. 2. Ch. 2. (a) vv. 1-4. In answer to Ilabakkuk's challenge of the divine rectitude, Jehovah declares that the Chaldeans carr}^ in themselves the seed of their own ruin, while the righteons possess tlie i)rinciple of life. (b) vv. 5-20. The truth that the Chaldean bears in himself the germ of his own ruin is expanded and proven in the description of the Chaldean's drunkenness, ambi- tion, iust for conquest, cruelty, injustice, bloodshed, despotism, intrigue, idolatrJ^ (c) Verse 20 contrasts the living God with heathen idols, and so forms the transition to 3. Ch. 3. (a) V. 2. Habakkuk has heard the an- nouncement of God's judgment on Israel, and the final doom of the Chaldeans. But the prophet fears that a delay of the latter will prove too severe a test of faith, and therefore prays that the time may be shortened, (b) vv. 3-15. The answer to tlie prophet's prayer is given in the fuller revelation of Jehovah's working in the world, which is expressed by the description of His Ad- vent to redeem his people and judge their enemies, (c) vv. 10-19. Meditating upon this transcendent Theo- phany the prophet determines to rejoice and rest all as- surance in Jehovah. VI. Theology.— The Apostle Paul has adopted the second clause of Hab. 2 : 4, as one of the watchwords of his theology, — " But the just shall live by his faith," or " in his faithfulness." The essence of Habakkuk's the- ology is 1. Faitli in God and his supreme government. 2. Patience in waiting on God and his working. 3. Rejoicing in God alway. 200 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. VII. Messianic— The Messianic element in Habak- kuk appears for the most part in 2 : 4, 14 and Ch. 3, set- ting forth the righteous life, the coming glor}^, and the advent of Jehovah for the redemption of his people. Literature. — Commentaries : Keil and Delitzsch, Lange, Piisey, Orelli. ZEPHANIAH. I. 'Saine,—SefanyaJi = Zephaniah = Whom Jeliovah hid. The Book derives its name from its author. II. Biography and Ministry.— Zephaniali, who lived in the Chaldean period, belonged to the Kingdom of Judah. According to the superscription, 1:1, he was the great-grandson of Amariah, who was the son of Hezekiah. This Hezekiah was probably King Hezekiah, which would make Zephaniah belong to the royal family. He probably lived and ministered in Jerusalem. Zeph- aniah's prophetic ministry falls between B. C. 639-609, and during the reign of Josiah. He was a contemporary of Jeremiah. III. Composition.— Zephaniah is generally conceded to be the author of the Book bearing his name. As to the date of the composition of Zephaniah's i)rophecy, it doubtless belongs to the beginning of Josiah's reign, and before the great reformation effected by that king. From allusions to the condition of morals and religion in Judah in 1 : 4-6, 8, 9, 12 ; 3 : 1-3, 7, it may be con- cluded with certainty that the period of Josiah's reign during which Zephaniah wrote was prior to the great reformation of his, Josiah's eighteenth year (B. C. 621), INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. '^Ol in which tlie idohitroiis i)raetices coiuleniiiocl b}- Zeph- aniah were abolished by Josiah. The design of Zeph- aniah's prophecy is to announce (4od's judgment, and the moral condition that necessitated it. IV. Historical.— The historical occasion of Zeph- aniah's x>i*opliecy seems to have been the irruption of those mysterious, marauding hordes of Scythians who poured down over Western Asia from the steppes of tlie North, spreading consternation and devastation in their path. As Joel saw the locust plague to be a visitation of judgment from Jehovah, so Zephaniah viewed the desolating invasion of the Scythians. It was a visita- tion wherein Jehovah was manifesting his jiower, judg- ing the nations, and summoning his people to repent- ance. V. Divisions and Contents.— Tlie l>ook has a three- fold division. 1. Ch. 1. Tlie menace. The prophecy opens with an announcement of far-reaching destruction, but es- peciall}^ directed against the idolatei\s in .Tudali and Jerusalem. Jehovah's day of sacrifice is at hand; the victims, the Jewish people, and nations the " sancti- fied " (1 Sam, Ifiro), invited guests. Three classes to be judged; — court oiTicials, merchants and those sunk in irreligious indifterentism. The "Day of Jehovah" further developed and described. 'I. Chs. 2:1-3:7. The admonition, 'i'lie prophet urges his people to repent and so escape the doom which wall overtake, he declares, in succession the Philistines, Moab, Ammoii. Kthiopia, Nineveh. Then again the prophet turns to address JcM'usalem, describe her sins, and her heedlessness to warning. 3. Ch. 3:8-20. The promise. The j)i-()ph<>t exhorts 202 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. the faithful in Jerusalem to wait patientl}^ on Jehovah whom all nations will yet serve, while the faithful, cleav- ing to God, will dwell in safety upon their own land, and be made to rejoice in the coming restoration of Jeho- vah's presence. VI. Theology.— Zephaniah emphasizes the supreme lesson that Jehovah is King and Judge; that judgment is impending; and that judgment will be universal. Force and violence are temporarj^; truth and righteous- ness shall abide. Out of the fury and fall of world em- pires the faithful remnant shall see established the uni- versal empire of Jehovah. VII. Messianic— Zephaniah has no prophecy of a distinct personal Messiah. Jehovah is the Saviour. He will effect redemption. The terrible judgments impend- ing will issue in salvation for Israel and the world. The Messianic element in Zephaniah's prophecy, contained for the most part in 3 : 8-20, is remarkable as contain- ing a prediction of the conversion not only of the heathen nations, but even of those who execute the di- vine judgments upon Israel. Literature. — Commentaries : Keil and Delitzsch, Lange, Pusey, Orelli. HAGGAI I. Name.— llaggai = Festal. The Book derives its name from its author. II. Biography and Ministry.— Haggai, like Zechariah and Malachi, lived and ministered in the Post-Exilian INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 203 period. The date of his ininistiy lla«i:^ai states very definitely in 1:1 where lie dechires that the word of the Lord came to him on the first day of the sixth month of the second year of the reign of Darius (Ilystapes), B. C. 520. All the other communications belong also to the second year of the reign of Darius, and fall within the limits of four months. Apart from his pro- phecy, Ilaggai is mentioned in Ezra 5:1, 2 as prophesy- ing to the Jews while they were rebuilding the temple, after the return from Babylon in tlie second year of Darius, and as helping Zerubbabel and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the higli priest, in their work. Ilaggai and Zechariah were contemporaries in the prophetic ministry. Compare Hag. 1: 1 and Zech. 1:1. III. Composition.— Haggai is generally conceded to be the authcu' of the Book bearing liis name. His style is simple, practical, and goes directly to the point. His prophetic message is addressed to the restored captives, and its design is to incite them to duty and encoui'age them in duty, particularly in the matter of rebuilding the temple, — their national sanctury and living evidence of their national religion. IV. Historical.— The decree of Cyrus pcnnitting the Jews to return to their own land (Kzi-a Ch. 1.), and to rebuild the temple at .Jerusalem, was followed by the joyful compliance of a considerable number, some 50, 000 in all. who set out to return to their Holy Land. The leaders of the returning exiles were Zei-ubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak. Zerub- babel, as the actual oi- legal heir of Jehoiachin, was the rei)resentative of the house of David, and had l)een aj)- ])ointed governor of Judah by Cyrus (Kzi*. 5: 14). Joshua, who held the odiee ol' High Pri<'st, \Nas grandson of 204 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. Seraiah, the last High Priest who had ministered in the Temple at Jerusalem before its destruction. The work of rebuilding began with the erection of the altar in its ancient place, and the commencement of the erection of the Temple. But with the death of Cyrus the emigra- tion of exiles to Judah ceased, and under the reign of some of the successors of Cyrus, particularly Cambyses and Pseudo-Smerdis, the work on the Temple and city was suspended. Great obstacles to the continuance and completion of the work were encountered, owing to the jealousies of the inhabitants of Samaria and Edom, and constant misrepresentations at the court of Persia. Ezra Ch. 4. So for some fifteen years the work of rebuild- ing was arrested, till in the second 3'ear of the reign of Darius it w^as resumed under the prophetic ministry of Haggai and Zechariah. V. Divisions and Contents.— The proj^hecy of Hag- gai consists of four sections, communications, arranged chronologically. 1. Ch. 1. In the second year of Darius, the first day of the sixth month, Haggai appeals to the people no longer to postpone the work of rebuilding the Temple, declares that the failure of their crops is due to their having failed to rebuild the house of the Lord, and that the pleasure and liiesence of Jehovah will attend them in x:>erforming this work. 2. Ch. 2 : 1-9. In the same 3^ear on the twenty-first day of the seventh month the jjrophet again addresses the people with words of encouragement assuring them that this second temple, though inferior in splendor to the first, shall have greater glory than it, and that Jeho- vah will, shake all nations, and the most excellent of the INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 205 nations sliall come lo it, and the liouse shall be filled with glory. Comp. Heb. 12:26, 27. 3. Ch. 2:10-19. In the same year on the twenty- fourth day of the ninth month the prophet addresses the pi'iests declaring thai so long as the Temple remains unbuilt the people are unclean, and hence the seasons are unfruitful. 4. Ch. 2:20-23. On the same day, Ilaggai encourages Zerubbabel, the civil head of the restored community, and representative of David's line, with the assurance that in the approaching overthrow of the thrones and kingdoms of the earth, he will receive special tokens of Jehovah's favor, VI. Tlieolog-y and Messianic— The theological teach- ing of Ilaggai emphasizes 1. The obedience of Jehovah's people will ever secure Jehovah's co-operation. 2. Jehovah will overrule all convulsions among the nations of the earth to effect his purposes, and bring in his reign of peace. The Messianic portion is contained in Ch. 2 : G-9, 21- 23 wherein Ilaggai predicts that heaven and earth will be shaken; Kingdoms overthrown; instruments of war destroyed ; nations bring their treasures to the house of Jehovah, whose latter glory will be made greater than the former; while Zerubbabel, the servant of Jehovah, will become His signet, according to which it is evident that the Jewish governor is made a type of Christ. l,iteriitnre,—Coviuieiit(trien : Kcil and DclitzscJi, Langc, Pusey, Orelli. 200 INTEODUCTION OUTLINES. ZECHARIAH. I. 'Same,— Zechanj ah = Zechsivmh= \y horn Jehovah remembers. The Book derives its name from its author. II. Biography.— According- to 1:1 of his prophec}' Zechariali was tlieson of Berechiah,the son of Iddo. From Neh. 12: IG it appears that Zechariah was a priest, and that he went up from Babylon to Jerusalem with Zerub- babel. In KvA'd 5:1, 2 he is spoken of as prophesying along with Ilaggai, and aiding in the rebuilding of the Temple. In this passage he is called simply Iddo, i:>rob- ably because his father was already dead when Ezra wrote, and liis grandfather was his nearest living ances- tor. Zechariah lived and ministered between B. C. 520- 510. IIow mucli longer he lived, and whether his pro- phetic ministry extended over a greater period than four or five years, is not known. Haggai was Zechariah's contemporary prophet; Joshua was High Pi-iest ; Zerub- babel was governor of the restored community of Jews in Judah ; Tattenai was general Persian governor of the province; and Darius was king. III. Ministry.— According to 2:4 Zechariah was a young man when he was called to the prophetic office. In the beginning of his prophecy he states that the word of the Lord came to him in the eighth month of the sec- ond year of Darius, two months after Haggai received his first divine communication. Besides this Zechariah gives two other dates of divine communications, viz., the twenty-fourth day of the eleventli month in the same year (Oh. 1 : 7), and the fourth day of the ninth month of the fourth year of Darius (Ch. 7:1); — these J' ears were B. C. 520 and 518. As in the case of Hag- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 207 gai so witli Zechariah, tlie first, local, present and prac- tical object of their preaching was to incite and encour- age the people in rebuilding the Temple service. This preaching of these two prophets had its desired efiect. The rebuilding of the Temple progressed rapidlj-. Tat- tenai, the Persian governor, referred the matter of the rebuilding to Darius, but did not interfere with the work. The reference to Darius led to the discovery of the decree of Cyrus in the archives at P>batana; and Darius issued a new decree directing Tattenai to furnish materials for the work, aud to provide the Jews with animals and other requisites for sacrifice. In less than four and a half years from the recommencement of the work the Temple was completed and dedicated on the third day of the twelfth month of the sixth j^ear of Darius B. C. 51(5. But it must be remembered that while Haggai and Zechariah in the exercise of their pro- phetic ministry directed their words and efforts primarily to the rebuilding of the Temj)le, and the restoration of the Temj)le service, still it was by no means with a formal, ceremonial, unspiritual conception of that service, and by no means in any spirit of national ex- clusiveness and religious bigotry. These prophets them- selves predicted that the glory of that Temple was to be its catholicity. They saw not only the nations of their time bringing offerings for the rebuilding of that Temple, but like Isaiah and Micah, they saw all the nations of the future flowing thither to the worship) of Jehovah. There in that i3lace they saw was to be consummated the final reconciliation of num to (Tod and man to man. Looking forward to that coming Messianic reconciliation Haggai preaches, " In this place will I give peace, saith Jehovah of hosts." And Zechariah points the finger of 208 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. prophecy forward, be^-ond the material Temple of Zer- ubbabel, to the glorious outlines of a spiritual Temple, which the priestly King of David's line will build. IV. Composition.— Zechariah is the author of the en- tire Book that bears his name. It isgenerall}^ conceded that this Zechariah is the author of Chs. 1-8. But in modern times some critics have violently assailed the genuineness of Chs. 9-14. Their position is that CUis. 9-11 was the work of a prophet who flourished shortlj^ after the death of Jeroboam II.; and that Chs. 12-14 are to be assigned to another writer who lived between the death of Josiah at ^Megiddo B. C. G09 and the Fall of Jerusalem in B. C. o8('). The general argument em- ployed to prove this position is that there are historical references in Chs. 9-14 that seem to imply that the Xorthern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah still exist, and historical references that seem to ijoint to conditions antedating the Fall of Jerusalem ; f. r/., 9:1-7, 10, 13; 10:2, 10, 11; 11:4, 14, 15, etc. On the other hand it is replied and argued, — (1) That Chs. 9-14 give unmistakable indications of a i)ost-exilic date. Thus, in 9:11, 12 and 10:0-11, the exile not only of P^phraim but of Judah, appears to be presupposed. In 9:9, 11, 12 Judah has been partly restored to its land, and is to expect more complete restoration. In 10:6 sq., Ephraim, still in exile, is to be brought back and reunited to Judah. In 9 : 8 it is represented that the land of Judah has been overrun by a foreign enemy, and the temple desecrated. In 9 : 9 Judah is repre- sented as being without a king, and is therefore bidden to rejoice at the approaching advent of the Messianic King. (2) Other admittedly Exilian and Post-Exilian prophets and writings seem also to imply the still con- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 209 tinned existence of the two Kingdoms, as nmch as Zechariah hinivSelf. Thns, e. r/., note Jer. ^U : 18-20, 27, 31. And yet in spite of this, Ephrainiliad gone into captivity a luindred years befoi-e this, (o) If these Clis. 9-14, or more particnlarly 12-14 were written not long- before the Babylonian captivity how comes it that there is no mention made in them of the Chaldeans who were then on the point of destroying Jernsalem '? Jeremiah writing at that time is full of predictions respecting the destruction of the city by the Chaldeans. (4) It is true that in the last part of the Book are found j)redictions relative to the captivity of Jerusalem ; but the entire description makes it totally unsuitable to refer this to the destruction and captivity of Jerusalsm by the Chal- deans. It evidently refers to times long subsequent to that event, and is closely connected with the advent of the Messiah. V. Historical.— See under III Mmidry. VI. Divisions and Contents.— The Book of Zechar- iah is divided into two parts; viz., Pari 1. Clis. 1-8, and Part 2. Chs. 9-14. Part 1. C1is. 1-8 includes 1. Ch. 1:0. Introduction; a warning voice from the past. 2. Chs. 1 : 7-6 : 8. A series of visions designed for encouragement as to the present, and instruction as to the future; including ((0 1 : 7-17. Vision of the divine chariots and horses in the valley of myrtles represent- ing a time of peace and opportuniiy for rebuilding the city and temple, {h) 1:18-21. Four horns, symboliz- ing the nations opposed to Israel, have their strength broken b}' four smiths, (c) Ch. 2. The man with the measuring line. The significance is that the coming Jerusalem will be of too wide an extent to be confined [14] 210 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. by walls, will have an unlimited population, will have Jehovah for its defence, and many nations will join themselves to Israel, (d) Ch. 3. Joshua, the High Priest appears before the altar burdened with the sins of the people. Satan accuses him, but he is acquitted, and given rule over the Temple, with the right of priestly access to Jehovah. He receives the promise of the advent of Messiah, and restored blessing, {e) Ch. 4. The vision of the golden candlestick and the two olive trees, symbolizing that all obstacles should be re- moved, and the restored community, the chosen people of God, should ever receive sufficient supplies of divine grace. (/) 5:1-4. The vision of the fljing roll sym- bolizing that the swift curse of God shall exterminate sinners, and the land should be purified, (g) 5:5-11.. Israel's guilt, personified as a woman, is cast into an ephah-measure, heavily covered, transported to Baby. Ionia, where it is to remain, as in fact it did, idolatry having ceased in Israel with the return from the exile, (/i) 6 : 1-8. The vision of the four chariots seems to re- fer to the time of the end, and the execution of God's judgments in the earth. 3. Ch. 6:9-15. Symbolical action. The prophet is commanded to crown the High Priest, Joshua. By this act the two offices of priest and king were united in his person, and he became the type of One greater than himself who was still to come, the royal priest, the Branch of the house of David, the Messiah. 4. Chs. 7, 8. Prophecies didactic and predictive; didactic relating to present obedience, justice, mercj^, truth ; and predictive relating to near and remote bless- ings. Part 2. Chs. 9-14, includes INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 211 1. Ch. 9:1-8. SuiTonnding iKilions destroyed; Jeho- vah protects his people; eiieinies shall no more invade their land. 2. Chs. 9:9 — 10:12. The humble, suffering', peace- ful, delivering, strengthening, victorious advent of the Messianic King. 3. Ch. 11. ^Vn allegory, describing the rejection of the divinely appointed Good Shepherd by His ungrate- ful flock, and the fatal consequences to the flock. 4. Chs. 12-14. Contain prophecies resi)ecting Judah and Jerusalem and the Messiah's Kingdom. They treat of Israel's restoration, redemption and re-establishment as God's center for earthly and universal blessing. Judg- ment, repentance, forgiveness and purifying are all secured to Israel through the gracious work of the Mes- siah. The last chapter introduces the universal peace and blessing and glory by the personal return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. VII. Theology— Messianic— Zechariah's teaching em- phasizes especially 1. An obedient, spiritual service of Jeliovah on the part of a holy peoi^le. 2. The redemption of Israel and the nations through the workings of the spirit and grace' of Jehovah. 3. The final and universal Messianic sovereignty of Jehovah over the whole earth. Messianic prophecy in Zechariah is especially remark- able for its fulness. It treats of 1. Chs. 2, 8. The Glory of the New Jerusalem. 2. Chs. 3:8—4:14 and 0:9-15. The Coronation of the Priest-King. 3. Chs. 9:9, 10. The King of Peace. 4. Ch. 11 : 7-14. The Rejected Shepherd. 212 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 5. Oh. 12: 1-9. The Unique Day. 6. Chs. 12 : 10—13 : 9. The Smitten Shepherd. 7. Ch. 14. The final Conflict, Triumph and Empire. Ltitersiture. —Commentaries : Keil and Delitzscli, Lange, Pusey, Oi^elli, Wright. MALACHI I. Name.— Malachi = My Messenger. Probably a con- tracted form of Malachiyah = Messenger of Jehovah. SoAbi (2 Ki. 18:2) is contracted from Abijah (2 Chr. 29:1). II. Biography and Ministry. — Respecting the per- son and life of ^lalachi, the last of the Old Testament prophets, nothing is known outside the Book that bears his name. The date of Malachi's ministry probably falls in the years B. C. 435-410. Nehemiah, cup bearer to Artaxerxes at Susa, having heard that the gates of Jerusalem had been burnt, and breaches made in its walls (Neh. 1 : 2, 3), obtained, a few months later, the desire of his heart, viz.^ the permission of Artaxerxes to go to Jerusalem and restore tlie imi^aired citj-. Ar- rived at Jerusalem he not only repaired the walls and gates of the city, but complaint having been made to him of serious social evils and religious delinquencies, he effected various radical reforms. Then Xehemiah was recalled to the Persian Court. When once more he re- turned to Jerusalem, /. e., upon his second visit (see chronolog}^ under Ezra), he found that many of the re- forms he had effected ui^on his first visit had been un- done. Malachi probably exercised his i:)rophetic minis- INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 213 try during the interval between Neliemiali's first and second visits to Jerusalem, and possibly for a time while Nehemiah was making his second visit. This date agrees better with the terms of 1 : 8 where the allusion to the governor points to the presence of a foreign gov- ernor rather than Nehemiah who refused to avail himself of his official allowances. Neh. 5:14sr/. Besides, the evils that Nehemiah found on his second visit are for the most part precisely the same as those denounced by Malachi. Nehemiah found selfishness and irreverence on the part of the high priest ; a general neglect of the temple service; a failure to pay the tithes; a violation of the Sabbath ; and mixed marriages. And so we find Malachi denouncing the negligence of the priests and people in the matter of the temple service ; the robber}' of God by the withholding of tithes and oiferings; the divorce of Israelite wives and contracting marriages with foreign wx)men. Nehemiah does not speak of di- vorce, and Malachi does not speak of Sabbath breaking, but otherwise the correspondence is so close as to lead to the conclusion that they belong to the same date. III. Composition.— Malaclii is generally conceded to be the author of the lk)ok bearing his name. Standing midway between the old age and the new age, Malachi's style at once bears a strong resemblance to the manner of the older prophets, while it also bears marks of the transitional state. He has peculiarities of expression. His diction shows the decline of poetic prophecy. He is less rhetorical while being none the less argumenta- tive. His chief literary characteristic is a dialectic treatment by nutans of (juestion and answer. He states briefly the truth that is necessaiy to be enforced; then he states the objection that this truth is likely to pro- 214 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. voke; and finally he refutes the objection, substantiates his original proposition, and pronounces in connection therewith warning or promise. IV. Historical.— See under II Biography and Min- istry. V. Divisions and Contents.— 1. Oh. 1:1-5. Malachi addresses Israel. As in the case of his prophetic prede- cessors, the basis of his appeal to Israel is Jehovah's re- lation to the nation. Jehovah had loved them; had chosen Jacob and rejected Esau. The proof of this lay in the contrasted experiences and destinies of Israel and Edom. Israel had been restored to his own land, but Edom's heritage lay desolate beyond restoration. 2. Chs. 1 : 6 — 2 : 9. Israel is utterly indifferent of Jeho- vah's love for them, and utterly neglectful of Jehovah's due from them. Hence Malachi's prophecy consists largely of a reproof of the sins of his contemporaries. The first reproof is addressed to the priests. They offered or permitted the people to offer blemished or un- clean animals for sacrifice, and so the service of Jeho- vah had been brought into contempt. Still Jehovah's name was held in honor throughout the world, and acceptable worship was being offered him among the Gentiles. But these priests who had corrupted them- selves and the offerings were threatened with curse and punishment. Their course had been just the oppo- site of the Levite as the keeper of divine knowledge and the interpreter of the Law. 3. Ch. 2:10-16. The prophet's next reproof is ad- dressed to the iDCople. He denounces them on account of the heartlessness and heinousness of their conduct in divorcing their Israelite wives, and contracting for- eign marriages. INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. 215 4. Chs. 2:17 — 3:G. There were sceptics among the people who denied the divine government and justice, and who doubted whether God won hi ever come to judge between the evil and the good. To these sceptics the prophetic message is addressed that the time speedily approaches when Jeliovah, the Judge whom they thouglitlessly seek shall suddenly come to his temple in the person of the Angel of the Covenant. He will sepa- rate between the righteous and unrighteous, and purify the ungodly nation. 5. Ch. 3 : 7-21 (3 : 7—4 : 3). They had robbed God by withholding tithes and offerings, and so had been visited of God with a judgment upon their lands and products. But a blessing was promised in the future if they would faithf uU}" discharge these duties in a God-fearing sei'vice. They complained that it was vain to serve God. ]5ut the time would come when God would discriminate be- tween those who served him and those who served him not. Destruction would be the portion of the one, blessing and trium]3h the portion of the other. 6. Ch. 3:22-24 (4:4-6). The prophecy concludes with an appeal to obey the requirements of the Mosaic Law, and with a promise of the advent of Elijah the prophet to move the people to repentance against the da}^ of Jehovah, and so avert the curse which otherwise might smite the earth. VI. Theolog-y and Messianic— Tlie theological doc- trines emphasized by Malachi are 1. Jehovah's love for his people. 2. Jehovah's requirement of supreme obedience. 3. Jehovah cometh. The Messianic element in Malachi is contained in its closing section, viz., 2:17 — 3:24(2:17 — 4:0). iJotii 216 INTRODUCTION OUTLINES. treat of the coming of the messenger, the second Elijah, to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord, himself the Angel of the Covenant. The messenger who should come and prepare the way for the advent of the Lord in 3: 1, is one and the same with Elijali tlie prophet in 3: 23 (4: 5), the mediator between the old and the new, tlie herald of the day of judgment, and this messenger and second Elijah, was, according to our Lord's teach- ings, John the Baptist. In teaching us tliat John is the messenger of 3:1*, and the second Elijah, Christ teaches us also that he himself is the Lord, Jehovah, and the Angel of the Covenant. The messenger of 3:V is to be distinguished from the messenger the Angel of the Covenant of 3 : 1^, As the Angel of Jeho- vah was strictly Jehovah himself to Israel of old, so the Angel of the Covenant is the Lord, Jehovah, Mes- siah who cometli for judgment and for mercy. Literature. — Commentaries : Keil and Delitzsch, Laiiye, PiiHey. OrcUi. BS1141.L29 Introduction outlines of the books of Princeton Theological Semmary-Speer Library 1 1012 00038 3184