K E Y
TO THE
OLD TESTAMENT
APOCRYPHA; - OR
AN ACCOUNT OF THEIR
SEVERAL BOOKS,
THEIR CONTENTS AND AUTHORS;
AND -J
v
OF THE TIMES IN WHICH THEY WERE RESPECTIVELY WRITTEN. ¦
BY
The Rev. ROBERT GRAY, a.m.
Late of st, mary hall* oxford, and
vicar of faringdon, berks.
¦'  ¦ ¦ ¦-  ¦ , ,  "  - , ¦  7—
THE FOURTH EDITION,
LONDON i
PRINTED FOR F. AND C; RIVINGTON,
NO. 6ij ST. PAUL'S CHURCH-YARD,
*797<

PREFACE.

THE ufeful Key to the New Teftament
publifhed by Doctor Percy, Bifhop of
Dromore, firft fuggefted the idea of the prefent
work. • It was apprehended that a fimilar affift-
ant to the perufal of the Books of the Old
Teftament, would prove equally convenient to
thofe who have neither leifure nor opportu
nities to confult larger publications, for fcat-
tered information. A difference in the cha
racter of the books here treated of, has com
pelled the Editor to adopt a more diffufive and
difcurfive method of conducting his fubject
than that which is followed by the learned
Bifhop, The uncertainty of the dates and
authors of fome books, the objections to opi
nions generally eftablifhed, and the mixed cha-
A 3 rafter,

VI PREFACE.
racter, and miscellaneous contents of the works
confidered, have neceffarily occafioned compli
cated and extended difcuffions.
The Editor was defirous of exhibiting in
one point of view, the probable period of each
book, the character and defign of its author,
and the proofs of, or objections to its infpi ra
tion. He wifhed to prefer^ the reader with
a general idea of the refpective importance of
each, of its intrinfic pretenfions, and external
fanctions, and to furnifh, in a compendious de
fcription, whatever might contribute to illuf-
trate its hiftory and contents. This the Editor
has done in a manner as concife as poffible,
confidering it confiftent with his plan to prefix
general information and remarks as introduc
tory, and feparately to examine fuch queftions
as were immediately connected with the fcope
of the individual book. He judged it im
proper to deliver opinions without ftating the
reafons on which they were founded, or to
adopt decifions on difputed or doubtful points,
without producing, at leaft, the moft important
objections that might be urged againft them,
leaft the Reader fhould be led to decide on par
tial grounds.

a

Since

to The

Rev. JOSEPH HOLDEN POTT, a.m.

PREBENDARY OF LINCOLN, AND
ARCHDEACON OF ST. ALBANS.
\ \
Dear Sir,
THE happinefs I enjoy from that friend
fhip with which you have long honoured
me, and the reverence I entertain for the various
excellencies of your character, excite me fo
profit, by every occafion of expreffing towards
you my fentiments of fincere acknowledgment,
and lively regard.
At the firft appearance of the following
work, I did not think myfelf authorifed to in
dulge my wiih.es in dedicating it to you ; becaufe
it had not been previoufly fubmitted to your
examination;. Aware of that juft veneration
for the facred volume, which you derive from
an intimate acquaintance with its contents, I
A % knew

( iv )
knew with what concern you would find your
name employed to fanction an account of the
infpired writings, if that account fhould prove
unworthy of your countenance. Since, how
ever, the work has experienced a favourable
reception, and you yourfelf have ftamped a
value on it, by your approbation ; I do not
hefitate, though ftill without your permiffioh,
to infcribe to you the firft fruits of my applica
tion to thofe ftudies which you have affiduoufly
encouraged me to purfue. I could not, I truft,
offer you a more welcome tribute, than a proof
of my admiration of thofe Holy Scriptures, of
which, by your judicious and elegant remarks,
you have often pointed out the perfections, and
of which you conftantlytlluftrate the beneficial
influence, by the diftinguifhed example of your
converfation and life.
* I beg at the fame time to remain, with fin
cere and affectionate refpect,
DEAR SIR,
YOUR MOST FAITHFUL,
AND OBEDIENT SERVANT,
ROBERT GRAY.

PREFACE. IK
tien of a revealed defign, or a fanfied incon-
fiftency with pre-conceived opinions, fhould be
allowed to affect the character, or diminifh the
influence of the facred books ; but experience
fully proves, that thefe are the foundations on
which ignorance and infidelity ground their dif-
refpect for the infpired writings.
The 'Editor has been cautious in treating of
the canonical and apocryphal boolcs, to discri
minate their refpective pretentions with accu
racy ; fince, however valuable the latter may
be confidered for their general excellence, it is
neceffary to keep inviolate, and free from all
intermixture, that confecrated canon. in which
the holy oracles were preferved by the Jews,
which was ftamped as infallible by the teftimony
of Chrift and his apoftles, and which, in the
firft and pureft ages of the church, was reve-*
renced (together with the infpired books of the
New Teftament) as the only fource of revealed
wifdom. The whole defign of the Editor has been to
affift the Reader to form a juft idea of the Old
Teftament, and of thofe uninfpired books which
Were written under the firft difpenfation, and
to furnifh him with fuch introductory intelli gence,

X PREFACE.
gence, as may enable him to read them with
pleafure and advantage. He lays claim to no
praife, but that of having brought into a regular
form fuch information as he could collect from
various works. He acknowledges himfelf in
the moft unreftrained terms, to have borrowed
from all authors of eftablifhed reputation, fuch
materials as he could find, after having deli
berately cohfidered and impartially collated
their accounts. He has appropriated fuch ob
vious information as was to be collected from
thofe writers who are univerfally known to have
treated on the facred books [a], and he has
endeavoured farther to enrich and fubftantiate
his accounts by diligent and entenfive refearch.
He has not wifhed to conceal the fources from
which he has drawn his information, nor has
he fcrupled in fome minute inftances to employ
the words of thofe writers from whom he has
borrowed. He has often produced numerous
authorities, not for oftentation, but to confirm
interefting particulars, and to affift thofe who
may be inclined to inveftigate facts, or to pur
fue the fubject under confideration. In impor
tant and controverted points, he has induf-
[a] As St. Jerom, Grotius, Huet, Calraet, Du Pin, Patrick,
Lowth, &c. 2 trioufly

PREFAQE, Vll
Since the books often contain paffages of
obfcure interpretation, and doubtful import, as
likewife dates, names, and other particulars,
upon the explanation of which their character
for antiquity and authority muft, in fome mea
fure reft, it was impoffible fometimes to avoid
critical and chronological queftions. In, con
fequence of thefe, the notes have been in
creafed in number and extent, beyond what was
at firft intended. The Reader will, however
hereby be faved the trouble of referring to
commentators; or, if unwilling to acquiefce
in the decifipn adopted, he may readily find
the foundation and authorities on which it was
eftablifhed. As the infpiratiori of the canonical books
was to be proved, it was often requifite to point
out the accomplishment of prophecy, which,
therefore, the Editor has done, in the moft fignal
inftances, though commonly by reference only
and curfory obfervation. He prefumes, how
ever, that he has thereby often unfolded an
interefting fcene, or opened a fruitful fource of
inftructive enquiry. The importance, likewife,'
cf fome difcoveries and remarks which learned
commentaries have furnifhed, has fometimes
tempted the Editor to introduce particulars that
A ' 4 may

VIU PREFACE.
may be thought too minute for a general and
compendious introduction ; but he has ufually
endeavoured to confine himfelf to fuch com
ments as contribute to general illuftration, or
are explanatory of paffages immediately Sub
jected to the Reader's attention. He appre
hends, that if the Reader fhould occafionally dif
cover obfervations which reflect only an oblique
or partial light on the facred volume, he will
not be difpleafed, even though it fhould appear
that a larger fpace is thereby allotted to fome
books than their comparative importance might
feem to juftify.
It was thought expedient alfo, occafionally
to advert to thofe popular miftakes, and light
objections which float in fociety, and operate
on weak minds to the prejudice of the facred
books, as the Editor was confcious that fairly
to ftate was to refute them, and that they pro
duce more than their due effect becaufe indif-
tinctly viewed. In conSequence of this defign,
he may, perhaps, be thought to have intro
duced remarks too obvious and trivial. The
fincere and difpaffionate enquirer after truth,
who has deliberately weighed the evidence on
which the Scriptures reft, cannot readily believe
that a paffage partially confidered, a mifconcep- tion

PREFACE. XI
tioufly confulted the authorities on which his
affertions reft, but in matters of little moment,
and where there could be no reafon to fufpect
mifrepreSentation, he has Sometimes taken up
with cited references. He has adopted that
plan which he thought would render his book
moft generally ufeful; and prefumes, that the
uninformed may find it an inftructive, and the
learned a convenient compilation.

ERRATA.
Page 87, 1. 11, for eternal read internal
219, note z, 1. 1, from bottom, for Jofhua read Jaddua
259, 1. 1 1, for quantity read number
305, 1. 22, for appear read appears
374, 1. 13, for captives read captive
430, 1. 2, for diffufe read diffufive
529, laft line, for infpiration rtad infpired perfoa

CON-

ft

CONTENTS. Page Page
REFACE v General Pref. to the
Introduction - - I minor Prophets , 41S
Of the Pentateuch 45 Of Hosea - 424
Genesis - 78 ^oel ... 432
Exodus - - - 96 Amos - 439'
Leviticus - - 101 Obadiah - - 446
Numbers - - no Jonah - - 452
Deuteronomy - 116 Micah - - 461
General Pref. to the ^ahum - - 467
historical Books 124 Habakkuk -_ 474
Zephaniah - 481
Of Joshua - - 139 Haggai - - 486
Judges - - 150 Zechariah 402

Malachi

505

Ruth - - 162
Of the first Book of
Samuel - - 169 Preface to the apo-
Of the second Book of cryphal Books 511
Samuel - - 177 r-> r>
^ r> ''Of the first Book of
Of the first Book of u
¦u- HSDRAS - - C24,
Kings - - 182 .-. „ -> t
r\ t, Of the second Book
Uf the second Hook of c
v - of Lsdras - - C20
Kings - - 187 n rr "
o -d 'Of Tobit - - caa.
Uf the first Hook of t 5^7
r, Judith - . - ci;6
Chronicles 102 r\ ¦>i
Of the second Book of * °FrTHE REST °F THE r/z
Chronicles - ,98 Cha"ers of Esther 566
n„ij„„, y Of the Wisdom of So-
Uf JiZRA - 20?
¦nt lomon - - c7s
Nehemiah - - 21? /-, *? ¦>'%
Esther - - 222 °F Ecclesiasticus 586
Job - - - 229 0» qH ' 59?
Psalms - - 258 °F T«^ Song of the
Proverbs - 278 Thr£* Children 608
u „ 'Of the History of
llCCLESIASTES - 2QO o ,
c c OUSANNAH - - 612
THEbONG0F&OL0M0N2gg n^^„„U t.
y> Of theHistory ofBel
General Preface to and the Dragon 617
the Prophets - 312 Of the Prater of Ma-"
Of Isaiah - - 360 na^seh 622
Jeremiah - 373 O* the first Book of
Of the Lamentations Maccabees - . 625
of Jeremiah - 384 Of the second Book op
Of Ezekiel - - 391 Maccabees - . 634
Daniei - - 403 INTRO-

INTRODUCTION.

THE Bible, which in its original import im
plies only the book [a], is a word appropri
ated by Way of eminence, to that collection of Scrip
tures, which have at different times been compofed
by perfons divinely infpired. It contains the feveral
revelations delivered from God to mankind for their
inftrucfion. Thofe communicated before the birth
of Chrift, are included under that divifion- of the
Bible, which is diftinguifhed by the title of the Old
Teftament [b], and of that divifion only it is here
meant to treat. The Old Teftament comprehends
all thofe facred books which were written by the
defcendants of Ifrael, a people felecfed by God for
important purpofes, to " be a Kingdom of Priefts,
and an Holy Nation [c]." Among this people fuc-
ceffive prophets and infpired writers were appointed
[a] BiCaio vel (S.Cai«, Liber, from /2iCao;, an Egyptian reed,
of the flcin of which paper was made. Chryfoft. Vol. x. p.
349. and Heum. de Origin. Norn. Bib. The Bible is by the
Jews called Mikra, Le&ure : thus the Koran means the reading.
[b] Teftament fignifies covenant, agreeably to the import
of the Hebrew word Berith. Hieron. in Malach. cap. ii.
[c] Exod. xix. 6. xxxiii. 16. Levit. xx. 24, 26. Pfelm,
cxlvii. 19. Rom. iii. 2. ix. 4.
B by

1 INTRODUCTION.
by God to convey fuch prophecies and inftruction*
as were inftrumental to the defigns of his providence.
As thefe fcriptures Were produced, they were admit
ted into tlie, facred volume, which by gradual accu
mulation, at length increafed to its prefent fize.
Thefe being delivered to the Hebrews, in their own
language [d], with every mark that could charac
terize divine revelations, were received with reve
rence, and preferved with the moft anxious care,
and attention. Such only were accepted, as pro
ceeded from perfons unquestionably invefted with
the prophetic character [e], or evidently authorized
by a divine commiffion, who acted under the fanction
of public appointment, and miraculous fupport. The
books which contained the precepts of the prophets,
contained alfo the proofs of their infpiration, and
the teftimonies of their character. By recording
extemporary events they appealed to well known
evidence of their authority, their impartiality, and
their adherence to truth, and every fucceeding pro
phet confirmed the character of his predeceflbr, by
relating the accomplifhment of prophecy in the hif
tory of his own period, or bore teftimony to his pre-
tenfions, by repeating and explaining his predictions.
To the writings of thefe infpired perfons, other
productions were afterwards annexed, on account of
[d] The Hebrew language, if not the firft language of man,
feems at leaft to have as high pretenfions to antiquity as any
other. The books of the Old Teftament, are the only writings
now extant in pure Hebrew.
f e] Jofeph. cont. Apion. Lib. I. th«jr

introduction; 3
their valuable contents, and inftructive tendericy,
though their claims to infpiration have been juftly
rejected. Such only as were undeniably dictated by
the fpirit of God, were confidered by the Jews as
canonical [f], and fuch only are received by us as a
rule of faith and doctrine. The contents of the firft
divifion of the Bible are therefore diftinguifhed into
two claffes. The firft containing the books of ac
knowledged infpiration; the fecond comprifing thofe
which 'are intitled Apocryphal, as being of dubious,
or fufpected character, and authority. The latter
Will be fpoken of in a proper place, as in the prefent
preliminary difTertation, it is purpofed to treat pf
fuch only as are canonical, to trace a fhort {ketch,
cf their hiftory in a general way ; a particular ac
count of each individual book being referved for a
feparate chapter.
Though the books of the Old Teftament are not
always chronologically arranged according to the
order in which they were written, yet the Pentateuch
Was probably the firft of thofe productions which are
contained in the infpired volume.
These five books written by the hand of Mofes,
and confequently free from error, were fecured as a
facred depofit in the tabernacle, where the ark of the
covenant was placed [g] ; aud were kept there, as
well during the journey through the Wildernefs,, as
[f] The word Canon is derived from natut, which may be
interpreted, a rule or catalogue. Athan. Vol. x. p. az8. Hieron,
Vol* x. p. 41. It here means a rule of dottrine.
[o] Deux, xxxi, 26. fi ^¦ far

4 1NTR0DUCTI0U.
for fome time after at Jerufalem. To the fame fanc-
tuary were configned, as they were fucceffively pro
duced, all thofe hiftorical £h], and prophetical books
which were written from the time of Jofhua, to that
of David, including their own works ; during which
period a feries of prophets flourifhed in regular fuc-
ceffion. Solomon having afterwards erected a tem
ple to the honour of God [i], appointed that in fu
ture the facred books fhould be depofited in this holy
receptacle, and enriched the collection by the in
fpired productions of his own pen. After him a
fuccefiion of illuftrious prophets continued to de
nounce vengeance againft the difbbedience of the
Hebrew nation, and to predict the calamities which
that difobedience muft inevitably produce. Jonah,
Amos, Ifaiah, Hofea, Joel, Micah, Nahum, Zepha-
niah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, and Obadiaji fuccef-
fively flourifhed before the deftruction of the temple,
apd contributed by their unerring predictions, to
demonftrate the attributes and defigns of providence,
and to enlarge the volume of infpired wifdom by in
valuable additions.
About 420 [k] years after its foundation, the
temple being rifled and,. burnt by Nebuchadnezzar,
[ h ] The books do not ftand in the order in which they were
written; they were perhaps not arranged at firft according t»
dates, or they might have been accidentally tranfpofed in the
manufcript rolls : in different verfions, they are differently
placed. Dupin Differt. Prel. Lib. I. ch. i. fed. 7.
[1] The Temple was dedicated about A. M. 3000.
[k] Jofephus fays 470, others 428. Uflier 424 years. It
was deftroyed about 586 years before Chrift. the

INTRODUCTION. 5
the original manufcripts of the law and of the pro
phetical writings muft have been removed ; and were
poffibly carried to Babylon, except indeed we fup-
pofe, that the part of the Hebrew nation which re
mained at Jerufalem, obtained permiffion, or found
means to retain them [l]. Thofe Hebrews who
were difperfed in the captivity, probably ufed fuch
copies as had been previoufly diftributed; though
Daniel who refers to the law [m], might by his' intereft
with the Babylonifh kings, have procured accefs to
the original, if we fuppofe it to have been transferred
to Babylon. Within the feventy years during which
the Jews were detained in captivity, were compofed
the affecting lamentations of Jeremiah, the confola-
tory prophecies of Ezekiel, and the hiftory and pro
phecies of Daniel. On the acceffion of Cyrus to the
throne of Perfia, the Jews being releafed from their
captivity, returned to Jerufalem about A. M. 3468,
having doubtlefs procured or recovered the original
books of the law and of the prophets, with a defign
to place them in the temple, which after much op
pofition from the Samaritans, they rebuilt in about
.twenty years, being encouraged to perfevere in this
pious work, by the exhortations of Haggai and
Zechariah; they alio reftored the divine worfhip
according to the law. About fifty years after the
temple was rebuilt, Ezra, who fince the return from
[l] In the account of the things carried to Babylon, no
mention is made of the facred books. 2 Kings xxv. 2 Chro
nicles xxxvi. Jerem. Iiii.
[m] Dan, ix. 11, 13. B 3 Babylon,

6 INTRODUCTION.
Babylon, had been engaged in reftoring the Jewifla
church, is related by tradition to have made, in
conjunction with the great fynagogue, a collection
of the facred writings [N] ; and being affifted by
the Holy Spirit, he was enabled to difcriminate what
was authentic and divine, and to reject fuch parts
as refted but on falfe pretenfions; this collection
was therefore free from error, and refcued from all
accidental corruptions. It muft be obferved, how
ever, that as a long refidence in Chaldea, during
which the Jews were difperfed and feparated from
each other, had fo far precluded the ufe of the
Hebrew letters that they were almoft forgotten and
fuperfeded by thofe of Chaldea, Ezra, pardy in
compliance with cuftom, and partly to differ from
the Samaritans, which obnoxious feet employed the
old Hebrew letters, fubftituted the Chaldean or
fquare letters, which we now Call the Hebrew, for
thofe which prevailed previoufly to the captivity [o], as

[n] Nehem. viii. i, 3, 9. Jofeph. Lib. I. Cont. Apion.
Tracl. Megil. in Gemar, cap. iii. Hieron. cont. Helv. cap,
I. Hilar. Prolog, in Pfalm ; Auguft, de Mirac. Sat. Scrip.
Lib. II. Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. cap. 1. Geneb. Chron.
p. clxxxiii. and eeli, & ad A. M. 3640. Jans, ad Cap. 48.
Eccles. Buxtorf, Tiberiad, Cap. xi. Com. in Mafor. Theo-
dor. Pr»f, in Pfalm. P«d. Connect. Part I. Book v. Dupin
Piff. Prel.
[o] Some aflert alfo, that Ezra introduced the points or
characters which ferve to mark the Hebrew vowels ; others
maintain, that thefe are as ancient as the language ; and a third
clafs, that they were invented by the doctors of the fchool of
Tiberias,

INTRODUCTION. 7
as we changed our old black letter for the Roman
characters. There have, indeed, been fome difputes
on this fubject, but this opinion feems to be beft
fupported [p].
To this genuine collection of Ezra, were after
wards annexed his own facred writings, as well as
thofe of Nehemiah, and of Malachi. Thefe were
probably inferted into the canon by Simon the Juft,
who is related to have been the laft of the great fy-
nagogue [oj, and by this addition was completed
the canon of the Old Teftament, for from Malachi,
no prophet arofe till the time of John the Baptift,
who, as it were, connected the two covenants, and
Tiberias, generally called the Maforites, about 500 years after
Chrift, Or as fome fay later. The Maforites feem to have been
a fucceffion of critics, profelling a traditionary fcience of reading
the fcripture, as the Cabalifts did of interpreting it.
[p] This account is founded on a Jewiih tradition generally
received, and is related on the teftimonies of Eufebius anc|
St. Jerom, but thofe who maintain that the fquare were the
ancient Hebrew letters, have attempted to invalidate thefe au
thorities. The canon, however, was certainly compofed about
the time of Ezra, if not by himfelf. Vid. Eufeb. Chron. ad
A. M. 4740. Hieron. Prsef. ad 2 Reg. Com. in Ezekiel, in
Prol. Gal. & Sixt. Senens. Lib. II. Blblioth. Sanft. Morin.
Cong. Orat. Alfo Scagiler, Bochart, Cafaubon, Voffius, Grotius,
Walton, and Capellus.
[ oj The great fynagogue is a term applied by the Jews ta
a fucceffion of Elders, fuppofed to have amounted to one hun
dred and twenty, who had the government of the Jewifti
church after the captivity. They are faid to have fuperin-
tended and clofed the canon of the fcripture*, Vid. Prid.
Con. An. 292,
B 4 ©f

8 INTRODUCTION^
of whom Malachi prophefied, that he fhould pre
cede the great day of the Lord [rJ.
This canon of the Old Teftament was by the
Jews computed to contain twenty- two- books [s], a
number analogous to that of the letters of the He
brew alphabet, and correfponding with the catalogue
of thofe which are received by our Church as cano
nical. With the Jews, however, Judges and Ruth
were reckoned but as one book ; as likewife the two
books of Samuel, thofe of Kings and of Chronicles
were reflectively united into fingle books ; Ezra
and Nehemiah were alfo joined together, as the pro
phecies and lamentation of Jeremiah were taken un
der one head ; fo that if we confider the twelve mi
nor prophets as they were comprehended in the Jew-
ifh canon, as one book, the number of the books will
be exactly twenty-two, If the Prophets wrote any
other books, they are now loft, but as no more
were admitted into the canon, we have reafon to fup-
pofe, that no more were infpired, though many other
books are mentioned and referred to in the fcrip-
tures, which having no pretenfions to infpiration,
were never received into the facred lift [t], Thefe
twenty-
[r] Malach, iv. 5.
[s] Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. L Hieron. Prol. Galeat. Sixt.
Senens, Lib. I. c. ii. Epiphan. &c.
[t] Orig. Horn. I. in Cant. Auguft. De Cjvit. Dei, Lib.
XVIII. cap. xxxviij. Quaeft, 42. in Numb, It has been faid,
likewife, that fome paffages are cited by the Evangelifts, as
from the prophetic" writings, which are not extant in them,
as in Matt. ii. 23. but St. Matthew might here allude to Judges xii;.

INTRODUCTION. 9
twenty-two books have an unqueftionable. title to be
confidered as the .genuine and infpired productions
of thofe authors, to whom they are feverally affigned.
They contain prophecies, and every other intrinfic
proof of their divine origin; they were received as
authentic by the Hebrews, and pronounced to be
infpired oracles by the Evangelical writers, who cite
them as complete, and uncorrupted. They were
likewife confidered as exclufively canonical in the
Chriftian Church, during the four firft centuries,
after which, fome provincial councils attempted to
increafe the number by fome apocryphal books,
which however, they annexed only as of fecondary
authority, till the council of Trent pronounced them
to be equally infallible in doctrine and truth [u].
The Jews divided the facred books into three
claffes [x]. The firft, which they called the law,
contained, as was before obferved, the five books of
Mofes. The fecond originally included thirteen
xiii. 5, or to Ifaiah xi. 1, where according to St. Jerom, " A
branch fhall go out of his root" might be tranilated, " a Naza
rite fhall grow from his root," or he might refer to the prophetic
accounts in general, -which had foretold, that Chrift fhould be
confecrated to God, as all the Nazarites were. Tlie Evangelifts
ufually cite more according to the fenfe, than to the words, and
they fometimes perhaps allude to well known traditional pro
phecies, to " that which was fpoken by the prophets." See
Other inftances in Ephef. v. 14. 2 Tim. iii. 8. James iv. 5.
Jude 14, 15. which refer to paffages now extant, or to tra
ditional relations. Hieron. de Opt. Gen; Interpr. Vol. I.
j). 122.
I v ] Preface to the Apocryphal books.
j[xj Prolog, to" Ecclus. Philo de Vita Contemp. p. 691.
3 books,

tO INTRODUCTION.
books, which they confidered as the works of the
prophets. The third comprifed four books, called
by the Jews, Chetubim, and by the Greeks, Hagio-
grapha ; diefe are conceived to have been the Pfalms,
and tlie three books of Solomon [v]. The fcrip-
tures were fo divided in the time of Jofephus [z],
probably without any refpect to fuperiority of infpi
ration, but for diftinction, and commodious arrange
ment. From the time of St. Jerom, the fecond
clafs has been deprived of fome books [a], which
have been thrown into the third clafs, and the He
brew doctors have invented many fanciful refine
ments, concerning the nature and degrees of infpi
ration, which are to be afcribed to the books of each
clafs reflectively. Theyaffign an higher authority
to the books of the two firft divifions, though they
attribute alfo the writings included in the third clals*
to the fuggeftion of the facred Spirit [is]. It would
be idle to trouble the reader with the difcuffion of
thefe, and fuch like rabbinical conceits, and it may
be fufficient here to remark upon this fubject, that
though the fcripture mentions different modes, by
which God communicated his inftructions to the
prophets, and particularly attributes a fuperior de
fy] Sixt, Senen. Bib, Sac. cap. vi. p. 3 1 3 , and Vitrin. Ob-
fervat. Sac. Lib. VI, cap, vi, p. 313,
[z] Jofeph, cont, Apion, Lib. I.
[a] Job, Daniel, Ezra* Nehemiah, Either, z Books of
phronicles. [b] Maimon. Mor. Nevoch. p. 2. ch. xxiv. and Smith on Pro
phecy, alfo Mifn, Jud. c. iii- n. 5. Bava Bathra, cap, i, gree

INTRODUCTION.: II
gree of eminence to Mofes, yet that thefe differences,
and this diftinction, however they may affect the
dignity of the minifter employed, cannot be fuppofed
to increafe, or to leffen the certainty of the things re
vealed. Whatever God condefcended to communi
cate to mankind by his fervants, muft be equally in
fallible and true [ci, whether derived from imme
diate converfe with him, from an external voice, or
from dreams or vifions, or laftly from the internal
and enlightening influence of the Holy Spirit. The
mode of communication, where the agency of Pro
vidence is eftablifhed, can in no refpect exalt, or de
preciate the intrinfic character of the thing revealed.
Other divifions, befides that already mentioned, were
afterwards adopted, and the order of the books was
fometimes changed, as defign or accident might
produce a tranfpofition, but no addition or diminu->
tion whatever was permitted to be made among the
Jews [p]j " never any man, fays Jofephus, hath
dared to add to, or to diminifh from, or to alter
ought in them [[eJ -, though other books were writ
ten, which deferved not the fame credit, becaufe
there was no certain fucceffion of prophets, from the
time of Artaxerxes, and it was a maxim, ingrafted
into the Jews in their youth, to efteem thefe writings
[c] 2 Tim. iii. 16.
[ d] Hieron. praf. in Lib. Reg. Bava Bathra, cap. i. Maimon,
?n Tad. Chan. p. 2. f. 95, and R. Gedalias in Schalfch hakkab.
f. 67. f e] Deut. iv. 2. and Jofeph. cont. Apion. Lib. I. Eufeb. Hift.
&clef. Lib. U\. cap, ix. x. Prep, Evangel. Lib. VHL as

12 INTRODUCTION.
as the oracles of God, and remaining conftant in
their veneration, willingly to die -for them, if necef
fary." Thus were they configned to the reverent
acceptance of pofterity, and confecrated by the ap
probation, and teftimony of Chrift himfelf, who ftamp
ed as authentic, the law of Mofes, the prophets, and
the pfalms [f] ; (the pfalms, . comprehending under
that title, the Hagiographa) [c] ; the apoftles like-
wife confirmed the fame [h].
Besides the great temple at Jerufalem, many fy-
nagogues were founded after the return' from the
captivity, and furnifhed by the induftry of the rulers
of the church, with copies of this authentic collec
tion of the fcriptures, fo that though Antiochus
Epiphanes in the perfecution, which he carried on
againft the religion of the Jews, tore in pieces, and
afterwards burnt the facred original of Ezra, and
fuch copies as he could procure [i] ; ftill, as faith
ful copies exifted in all parts, the malevolence ofhis
intention was baffled by God's providence, and Ju
das Maccabeus, when he had recovered the city,
[f] Matt, v.17, 18, 39. xxi. 42. xxii. 29. xxvi. 54. ^Luke
xvi. 16. xxiv. 27, 44. John i. 45. v. 39.
[c] Philo de Vit. Contemp. Lib. VI. Jofeph. contra Apion.
Lib. I. Hieron. in Prolog, in pra;f. in Dan. Epiphan. Homil.
xxix. cap. 7.
[h] Afts iii. 18. xviii. 28. xxiv. 14. xxvi. 22, 27. xxviii. 23.
xxix. 7. Rom. iii. 2. xv. 4. Heb. i. 1. 2 Tim. iii. 16.
1 Peter ii. 6. 2 Peter i. 19. N Afts viii. 32. Rom. iv. 3. ix.
17. x. 4.
[1] 1 Mace. i. 57. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XII. cap. 7. Sulpit.
Sev. Hift. Sac. Lib. II. and

INTRODUCTION. 1%
and purified the temple, procured for it a perfect and
entire collection of the fcriptures, or perhaps depofit-
ed therein, that, which had belonged to his father
Mattathias [k], and doubtlefs fupplied fuch fyna
gogues with frefh copies, as had been plundered
during the perfecution. Many of thefe, however,
muft have perifhed with the fynagogues that were
deftroyed by the armies of Titus, and Vefpafian,
though the religious veneration of the Jews for their
fcriptures, refcued every copy that could be faved
from the general deftruction which overwhelmed
their country, as the fcriptures furnifhed them con
fiderable confolation in all their afflictions. Jofephus
himfelf? we are informed, obtained a copy from Ti
tus [l], and the authentic volume, which till this
final demolition had been depofited in the temple,
was carried in triumph to Rome, and placed with
the purple veils in the temple of Peace [mJ, fo that,
henceforth, no copy of the Hebrew fcriptures was
-preferved from injury by the vigilance of public
guardians, except thofe which were kept in the {bat
tered fynagogues of foreign and difperfed Jews [n],
[kJ i Mac. ii. 48. iii. 48. xii. 9. 2 Mac. ii. 14. viii. 23,
xv. 9.
[ l J Vide his own Life.
[ m ] De Bell. Jud. cap. v.
[n] The Jewifh fynagogues in all countries were numerous :
wherever the apoftles preached they found them ; they were
eftablifhed by the direction of the rabbins in every place where
there were ten perfons of full age and free condition. Vid.
Megill, cap. i. fee*. 3. Maimon. in Tephill. Lightfoot's Har
mony, feft. 17. Exercit. in St. Matt. and

14 INTRODUCTION.
and it is from this time, probably, that errors and
corruptions crept into the facred text. As there was
no longer any eftablifhed ftandard of corredtnefs, by
which the fidelity of different copies could be tried,
faults and miftakes were infenfibly introduced ; the
careleffnefs of tranfcribers occafioned accidental omif-
fions: marginal annotations [o] were adopted into
the text; and the refemblances between different
Hebrew letters, of which, many are remarkably fi-
milar in form, contributed, with other circumftances
too numerous to be here fpecified, to produce altera
tions, and imperfections in the different copies, which,
from the difficulty of collating manufcripts for cor
rection, were neceffarily perpetuated.
Hence originated thofe various readings, and occa-
fional differences which we find in the feveral manu
fcripts ofthe Hebrew Bible, and thefe differences muft
have confiderably multiplied, fince it was enacted by
a conftitution of the elders, that every man fhould
[o] The Hebrew Bibles have marginal readings, called
keri, which fignifies, that which is read, (the text is called
cetib, that which is written :) thefe marginal variations are
by fome afcribed to Ezra, but as they are found in his Books,
as well as in thofe which were inferted in the Canon after his
time, they feem to be conjeftural emendations of corrupted
paffages by later writers, probably by the great fynagogue, or
the Maforites ; thefe words amount to about ioqo, and all,
except a very few, have been found in the texts of different
manufcripts. Vid. Kennicott DifT. Gener. Vitring. Obfervat.
Sac. vol. ii. cap. 19. Capellus, Morinus, Walton, Anan.
Punft. Rev. Lib. I. cap. r. Buxtorf. Vind. Verit. Heb. Par.
ii. c. 4. 9 poffefs

INTRODUCTION. !£
poffels a private copy of the fcriptures. Fortunately
however, it has happened, that thefe differences are
feldom important in their nature or confeqUences, aa
appears from a collation of thofe various copies which
pious and munificent men have induftrioufly collect
ed ; and it fhould indeed feem to be an efpecial ef
fect of fome peculiar providence, that thofe paffages
which relate to faith and doctrine, thofe which de-
fcribe the attributes and perfections of God, and
treat concerning our obligations and duty, are in ge
neral preferved uniform, and uncorrupted. Secure
in their integrity from the confiftent teftimonies of
every copy, we may confidendy rely on the inftructions
which they reveal, and ftedfaftly adhere to the prin
ciples which they inculcate.
There could not indeed be any temptation for the
Jews defignedly to corrupt the doctrine of their fcrip
tures, before the appearance of the Meffiah ; during
the greater part of which time it was watched over by
the prophets : and had fuch a defign prevailed fince
the birth of Chrift, the Jews would not have overlook
ed thofe paffages which fo ftrongly authenticate our
Saviour's pretentions [p] ; indeed fuch a defign muft then
[p] When the Hebrew text differs from the Greek, it a
fometimes more unfavourable to the Jewiih opinions, as in
Pfalm ii. 1 2. The paffage in the 16th verfe of the xxiid Pfalm,
which has been produced as a concerted alteration, is certainly
only corrupted by accident, for the copies which . differing
from the Septuagint, inftead of ruu caaru, " they pierced"
my hands and feet, read %"in3 caari, " as a lion" my hands
and my feet, can hardly be conceived to have be/en intention ally

r6 INTRODUCTION.
then have been fruitlefs, fince it could not be general,
and it muft have been liable to immediate detection ;
for as chriftianity was built on the foundation of the
Old Teftament, and appealed to the Hebrew fcrip
tures for its fupport, wherever the gofpel was re
ceived, the law and the prophets were called into
notice and efteem, and preferved with as much care
and vigilance as prevailed among the Jews; and
when the chriftian converts were commanded under
the Dioclefian perfecution, to furrender them, they
ftigmatized fuch as complied with the requifition,
as betrayers [qJ. Copies then muft have multiplied
by increafing veneration, and however trivial inac
curacies might proportionably prevail, contrived al
teration muft have become more impracticable. Thus
every circumftance feems to have confpired to pre
ferve the integrity of the fcriptures free from a fuf-
picion of intended corruption, or of change in any
effential point. The jealous care with which they
were preferved in the tabernacle, and in the temple,
being not more calculated to fecure their integrity,
than that reverence which afterwards difplayed itfelf
in the difperfed fynagogues, and in the churches con-
fecrated to the chriftian faith ; and hence we find in
ike fcriptures only fuch corruptions as might, have
ally altered to nonfenfe, nor is it probable that two verfes
fcould have been defignedly omitted from ch. xv. of Jofhua,
merely becaufe they defcribe, as in the Septuagint, that Bethle
hem v/as in the territory of Judah/ a circumftance otherwife
well known.
[qJ Traditores. been

INTRODUCTION. If
been accidentally produced [r J. The moft ancient
Hebrew manufcripts that modern enquiry h.ith ever
been able to procure, do not ufually feem to be
above 600, or 700 years old, and none exceed the
age of 900 ; thefe however have been copied from
others more ancient. In proportion to their anti
quity, they are found to be more free from cor
ruptions [s], and for the reafon before affigned-;
that thefe corruptions are but the natural effects of
frequent tranfcription, the confequence of carelefs
hafte, or cafual inadvertency. In important points,
almoft all, though collected at different times, and
in different places, correfpond, or are eafily recon-
cileable with each other. But the purity of the fa
cred volume is eftablifhed, not merely by the general
coincidence of the Hebrew copies, it is ftill farther
proved beyond a poffibility of fufpicion, by the agree*
ment which fubfifts between the Hebrew, and the
Samaritan Pentateuch [t], and by the correfpond ence
[r] See Morinus, Capellus, Grotius, and Kennieott's Bible.
The precepts of fcripture are generally repeated in the diffe
rent Books, fo that errors in thefe muft be immediately detect
ed; the miftakes are chiefly in proper names, and numbers; in.
the latter often occafioned by the ufe of letters for numbers,
I'renzeus, Beza, &c.
[s] The beft are thofe copied by the Jews of Spain: thofe
by the Jews of Germany are lefs correft.
[t] The Samaritans, whether the defcendants of the ten
tribes, who feceded under the reign of Rehoboam, or of the
colony, faid to have been brought from Cuth, or other parts
of Aflyria, (2 Kings xvii. 24.) profeffed the Hebrew religion,
C and

l8 INTRODUCTION.
ence preferved in the Septuagint verfion of the Old
Teftament, (as collected by Ezra) with the original
Hebrew. The Samaritan Pentateuch is a copy ofthe Hebrew
original, and according to the moft general, and
-beft fupported opinion, written in the old Hebrew
or Phoenician characters [uj. Though this Sama
ritan copy has fome variations, tranfpofitions, and
additions, which render it different in fome refpects
•from the Hebrew manufcripts, yet thefe are never of
fuch a nature as to impeach the integrity ofthe fcrip-
.and had a Temple, a Prieft, and a Penfateuch. When that
Pentateuch was copied, is uncertain ; fome fay at the time of
their firft revolt; others contend that it was copied from Ezra's
'colleftion, as it contains fome interpolations afcribed to him.
As the Samaritans reje&ed the regulations eftablifhed by Jofhua,
-as alfo the authority of the Hebrew priefthood, they difre-
garded not only the Books which were written fubfequently to
the revolt of the ten tribes, and which were addreffed more
particularly to the kingdom of Judah, but alfo thofe that were
¦written previoufly to the divifion of the two kingdoms, as the
Books of Jofhua, of Samuel, of David, and of Solomon.
There is ftill a remainder of the Samaritans who have their
Jiigh prieft, faid to be of the race of Aaron, and who offer up
.their facrifice upon Mount Gerizim to this day. The chief
part of tkis feft refide at Sichem, which was afterwards called
.Flavia Neapolis, and now Naploufa. They have fynagogues
in other parts of Paleftine, and are numerous in Syria, and
Egypt, and fome of them are difperfed in the north of Europe,
vid. Jofeph. Ant. Lib. II. Prid. Con. Part I. Book vi. Ben
jamin Itiner. GafTen. in Vita. Pierefcii, and Hotting. Bib.
Critic. Scalig. de Emend. Temp.
[u] Scaliger, Voffms, Capellus. Umver. Hift. Book I. ch. vii.
Prid. Con. Part I Book vi. ture

INTRODUCTION. 1^
ture doctrine, or to leffen our confidence in the pu
rity of the Hebrew copies ; for if we except fome
chronological variations, which are perhaps not ut
terly irreconcileable, and a defigned alteration dif*-
covered in die Samaritan Pentateuch, that was ma-
nifeftly inferted to fupport an opinion, that Mount
Gerizim [x] was the place which God had chofen
for his temple, we fhall find that the variations of
this copy are not more than might reafonably be ex
pected from frequent tranfcription , during a period
of 2000 years [y] ; for fo long a time had elapfed
from the apoftacy of Manaffeh [z], to the introduc
tion of this copy into Europe.
[x] Deut. xxvii.. 4. They have put Gerizim inftead of Ebal
into this verfe.
[ v ] The fathers are fuppofed to have had a Greek tranflation
of the Samaritan Pentateuch, but from the fixth, to the feven-
teenth century no mention is made of the Samaritan Pentateuch :
Scaliger firft lamented, that no one had procured a copy of the
original. In confequence of this hint, the learned Ufher ob
tained two or three copies of it by means of Sir Thomas Davis,
then at Aleppo ; and not long after, Sancius Harley, a prieft of
the Oratory of Paris, brought home another, which he depofited
in the library of his Order at Paris, from which copy Morinus
publifhed it in the Paris Polyglot. Vid. Prid. Con. Part I.
Book vi. The Samaritans have likewife a tranflation of this Pen
tateuch into the language vulgarly fpoken among them, their
language being now fo corrupted by foreign innovations, as to
be very different from the original Samaritan. This tranflation
is publifhed in the Paris and' London Polyglots, and is fo literal,
that Morinus, and Walton thought, that one verfion would Cerve
for both, only noting the variations. Vid. Prid. Con. Part II.
Lib. I.
[z] The fon-in-law of Sanballat, wrio was compelled by
Nehemiah to quit Jerufalem, and who carried away a copy of
C 3 th?

20 INTRODUCTION.
This common agreement is therefore a ftrik-
ing proof of the general integrity of the different
copies, and we fhall be ftill farther convinced, that
the facred volume has preferved its genuine pu
rity in every important point, if we confider how
little the Septuagint verfion of the fcriptures dif
fers from the Hebrew copies, notwithftanding the
many ages that have elapfed fince the time of Ptole
my Philadelphus, the king of Egypt, who was the
fecond monarch of the Macedonian race, about
270 years before Chrift, and under whofe reign this
tranflation was made into Greek. It has been main
tained indeed by fome learned men, that only the
Pentateuch was tranflated at firft, and that the other
books [a] were rendered into Greek fucceffively at
different times ; however this may have been, they
were , all tranflated long before the birth of Chrift
[b]. This verfion has no important variations from the
the law to Samaria. He is called Manaffeh by Jofephus. Vid.
Nehem. xiii. 28. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XI. cap. 7.
[a] Eufeb. Demonft. Evang. Lib. III. cap. ult. Hody de
Bibl. Text. Origen. &c.
[b] The Septuagint was probably the firft verfion into the
Greek, though fome have contended that there was a previous
tranflation into that language, made before Alexander's expedi
tion. Vid. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. cap. xi. Huet»
prop. IV. cap. xii. feft. 3. The account ofthe Septuagint tranf
lation, attributed to Ariflsas is loaded with fo many fabulpufc
cjreumftances, that it deferves but little credit, though repeated
tjy Philo, Jofephus, and other writers. Vid. Ariftaias Hift. fo.
Interp,. Philo in Vit. Mof. Lib, II. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XII. cap.
z. Irena;. Lib. III. cap. 2>- The truth feems to be, that a ver fion

INTRODUCTION. 21
tfhe Hebrew, except in fome chronological accounts,
occafioned probably by the carelefihefs ofthe copyifts
£c]. It was ufed in all thofe countries where Alex
ander had eftablifhed the Grecian language, and feems
to have been admitted into the Jewifh fynagogues in
Judaea, and even at Jerufalem, where that language^
prevailed ; and the Septuagint was certainly moft
ufed there in the time of our Saviour, for the cita
tions in the New Teftament from the Old, feem to
have been made according to that verfion [d]. At
that

fion was begun in the reign of Ptolemy, and perhaps finifhed at
different times for the ufe of the Alexandrian Jews, but before
the time that the Book of Ecclefiafticus was written, and confe-
quently at leaft two centuries before Chrift. Vid. Prolog, to
Ecclus. Hody de Bibl. Text. Lib. II. cap. viii. Comp. 2 Sam.
xxii. with Pfalm xviii. Other tranflations into Greek were
afterwards made by Aquila, Theodotion, and Symmachus. Vid.
Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I, V. Eufeb. Prsep. Evan. c. vi. Pridj.
Con. Part II. Book i.
[c] In the vth and xith ch. of Genefis, every Patriarch is
faid to have lived ioo( years longer, according to the Septuagint,
than in the Hebrew, except Jared, and Methufalem.
[ d ] St. Jerom was of opinion, that the evangelical writers
cited from the Septuagint when it did not differ from the He
brew, but that they had recourfe to the original when there
was any difference ; but the inftances which he has produced,
do not prove, that they referred to the Hebrew ; and the evan-
gelifts fometimes cite from the Septuagint when it differs from
the Hebrew, as in Rom. x. 18. from Pfalm xix. 4. Rom. xv.
12. from Ifaiah xi. 10. In the time of Chrift, the original,
and the tranflation agreed more exactly than they n v do, as
many corruptions muft have been fubfequent to ti.-i ^e;iod ;
'C3 it

h*- INTRODUCTION.
that period then it was unqueftionably an authenti
copy of the infpired books, or it would not have
received the fanction of our Saviour, and of his
apoftles ; ,and though fince that time it has been re
jected by the Jews on account of the eftimation in
which it was held by the Chriftians, yet was it for
the two firft centuries exclufively ufed, and has ever
fince been held in great veneration by the Chriftian
church, as a very faithful, though not a literal verfion.
Thus does the general coincidence between the
Hebrew copies, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and the
Septuagint verfion ofthe Old Teftament, demonftrate
the unaltered integrity of the fcriptures in important
points, as we now poffefs them, and this integrity is
it is therefore in fome degree uncertain, whether the citations
are made from the Hebrew, or from the Septuagint, though
they appear indeed, to be made chiefly from the latter, except
perhaps by St. Matthew, who probably writing in Hebrew,
might cite from the Hebrew. Vid. Hieron. adv. Ruffin.
Mede's Works, p. 785. Dr. Brett imagines that our Saviour
read out of a Targum when he read the leffon in the fyna
gogue. Vid. Luke iv. 18. comp. with Ifaiah Ixi. 1. and that
he cited a paraphrafe on the crofs. Vid. Matt, xxvii. 46.
for Sabafthani is found only in the Chaldaic tongue, and in
the Hebrew it is >jrntl? yazabtani. Chrift and the Apoftles
probably cited what was moft known to the Jews, the fenfe
being the fame, whether from Original, Verfion, or Para-
phrafe. The language fpoken by the Jews in our Saviour's
time was the Hebrew mixed with the Chaldaic, and Syriac,
which dialefts compofe liKewife the bafis of the modern He
brew; Greek however was generally underftood. Vid. Brett's
Differt. on the ancient verfion of the Bible, Blair's Lectures,
ice. ftill

INTRODUCTION. 23
ftill farther confirmed by the conformity which fubfifts
between thofe various tranflations of the Bible into
different languages, which have been performed fince
the time of our Saviour [e]. It appears therefore that
from the time of their firft infpiration, fo the prefent
day, the facred writings have been difperfed into fo
many different hands, that no poffible opportunity
could be furnifhed for confederate corruption, and
every defigned alteration muft immediately have been
detected. The firft Hebrew Bibles were publifhed
towards the conclufion of the fifteenth century, by
the Jews of Italy [f]. Many were afterwards pub
lifhed
Je] The general integrity of the text is likewife confirmed
by the evidence of the Chaldee paraphrafes, which are called
targums or verfions ; thefe were tranflations of the Old Tefta
ment from the Hebrew into Chaldee, for the benefit of thofe
who had forgot the Hebrew after the captivity ; vid. Nehem.
viii. 8., The two moft ancient, and authentic, are that of
Onkelos on the Law, and that of Jonathan on the Prophets ;
thefe were probably made foon after the captivity, or at leaft
before the time of Chrift, but they are blended with more
modern comments. The other targums are of much later
date. The targums are printed in the fecond edition of the
Hebrew Bible, publifhed at Bafil, by Buxtorf the Father, in
i<6io. [f] The Hebrew Bible, according to Houbigant, (Proleg.
p. 94, 96,) was firft printed by R. Jacob ben Chairn, but
Kennicott fays, that this was not publifhed till 1528, and that
therefore it was fubfequent to that revifed by Felix Pratenfis,
publifhed at Venice, 1517. There is ftill extant in Eton Li
brary, a vellum copy of the Chetubim, or Hagiographa, printed
according to Dr. Pellet's account at Naples, in 1487, and pro-'
feably defigned as a fecond or third part to the edition of the
C 4 prophets,

24 INTRODUCTION.
lifhed at Venice, Antwerp, and Amfterdam, as well
as in other places, which have their refpective merits
and defects ; but perhaps, the moft important edition,
that, which does honour to our country, is the cele^
brated work of the late Dr. Kennicott, who,, a few
years fince, publifhed his Bible, containing the very
accurate text of Vander Hooght, with the variations
of near 700 different manufcripts, collected at a great
expence, and collated with great labour and care [g],
too-ether with the variations of numberlefs Samaritan
manufcripts, compared with the Samaritan text, as
publifhed in the London Polyglot [h]. From
prophets, printed, according to Le Long, at Soncino, in i486.
See Le Long and Wolfius, Bibliot. Heb. z. 397. This was fol
lowed by many others. See Kennicott's Hift. ofthe Heb. Text.
6th period. That of Vander Hooght, publifhed at Amfterdam
in 1705, and that of Houbigant, publifhed in 1753., are the moft
diftinguifhed and correct. The firft Bible, and it fhould feem the
firft book that ever was printed, was a Latin Bible, publifhed at
Mentz, about A. D. 1452. A copy of a fecond or third edition
of this printed at Mentz in 1462, with metal types, by John Fauft,
(whom fome fuppofe to have been the firft printer) and Peter
Schaffer, is in the king of France's Library, and a firft volume of
this edition is in the Bodleian Library, and another firft volume
was brought to England in the Pinelli collection, together with a
laft volume qf one which had the appearance of being ftill more
ancient; it had no date. There certainly were two Bibles pub
lifhed before 1462, vid. Pinelli Catalogue. Michael Maittaire, Ann.
Typogr. T. j. p. 272. Catalog. Hiftorico-Critic. Biblioth. Inftruct,
Vol. Theol. p. 3Z. and 14 Vol. of Acad, des Infcrip. p. Z38.
[ g ] The learned M. de Roffi has fince publifhed the variations
of many more, which he collated.
[h] The word Polyglot is derived from TloTw; much, and
yAarlas a tongue;' it means a Bible with the texts of feveral
languages ;

INTRODUCTION. It,
From the earlieft ages of the primitive church,
tranflations have been made into various languages
f i] ; but it would be foreign from the defign of this
introduction to enter into a particular account of the
different verfions that have been made, at different
times, into other languages : we are concerned only
with our Englifh tranflation, of which it may be ne
ceffary to give fome account, after we fhall have taken
a fhort view of the preceding verfions, which have
been made into the language of this country.
It is poffible that the/ firft inhabitants of Britain,
who are laid to have been converted to chriftianity,
had at leaft fome of the fcriptures in their own tongue
[k] ; but the earlieft tranflations, of which we have
any account in our hiftory, are thofe of the Saxon
writers, who enabled their countrymen to read the
fcriptures in their own language. It appears from
writers contemporary with Adelm, or Aldhelm, that
there was then extant, a tranflation of the fcriptures,
or of a part of them at leaft, in the vulgar tongue.
[l] ; and it is known that Adelm, who was the firft
bifhop of Sherborne, tranflated the Pfalter into the
Janguages ; there are Polyglots publifhed in Sp^in, at Antwerp,
at Paris, and London.
[i] Theodor, ad Graec, Infid. Serm. 5, Eufeb. Dem. Evan,
Lib. III. c. ult. Uffer. Hift. Dogm. de Script, & Sac. Vernac.
[k] M. Parker, de Antiq. Ecc. Brit. Teft, Ufh. de Primord,
Eccles. Britan.
[l] The Saxon homilies exhort the people to read the
fcriptures. Vid. alfo Adelm. de Virginit, & Bede, Lib, IJ.L
cap. 5. ab Ann. 634. Saxon

¦2,6' INTRODUCTION.
Saxon tongue, about A. D. 706. Ingulphus [m]
fpeaks of a Pfalter, of St. Guthlack, who was a con
temporary of Adelm, and the firft Saxon anchorite,
and who influenced Ethelbald, king of Mercia, to
found the monaftery of Croyland, and this Pfalter
in the Latin tongue, Lambert profeffes to have feen,
[nJ among the records belonging to Croyland [o].
This was foon [followed by the Latin, and Saxon
tranflations of the Pfalter, and Gofpel, which indeed
frequently appeared, efpecially upon any change in
the language.
The Pfalter and the Gofpel [p], or as fome fay,
all the books ofthe Bible [q_], were tranflated into
the Anglo-Saxon, towards the beginning of the
[mJ Ingulf. Cent. I.e. 83.
[ n ] Lambert in Refpon. ad Art. 26, Epif.
[o] There is alfo in the public library at Cambridge, a tranf
lation of the Pfalms into Latin and Englifh, and another old
Latin tranflation with an interlineary Saxon verfion was in the
Cotton Library, in the fame character with the charter of King
Ethelbald, which is dated at A. D. 736. Vid. Ufi'er. Hift.
Dogmat, p. 104. Ufher informs us, that Mr. Robert Bowyer
was in poffeffion of a Saxon tranflation of the Evangelifts, by
Ecbert, (who is called alfo Ekfrid, Eadfrid, and Eckfrid, Bifhop
of Landisfern,) wio died A. D. 721. vid. Uffer, Hift. Dogm.
c. C. Egbert wrote alfo, a copy of the Evangelifts in Latin,
to which, Aldred a prieft, added a Saxon interlineary tranflation,
which was in the Cotton Library, Vid. Wharton, Anglia Sac.
Pars I. p. 695. Fox, by the encouragement of Matthew Par-
Jeer, publi fned in 157 1, a Saxon verfion of the Evangelifts, made
from the Vulgate, before it was revifed by St. Jerom, of which
the author is unknown.
[pj Vid. Bale, [o^] Fox, and Caius de Ant. Cantab. Lib. I.
eighth

INTRODUCTION. 27
eighth century, by venerable Bede, who is related to
have finiffied the laft chapter of the gofpel as he ex
pired [r].
The whole Bible was tranflated into the Anglo-
Saxon, by order of king Alfred. He undertook the
^verfion of the Pfalms himfelf, but did not live to
complete it. : Another Anglo-Saxon verfion appears
to have beeh made foon after [s].
Several books of the Old Teftament were tranf
lated into the Anglo-Saxon, by Elfredor Elfric, Ab
bot of Malmefbury, and afterwards A. D. 995. Arch-
bifhop of Canterbury. The Pentateuch, Jofhua, and
Judges, of this tranflation were preferved in the Cot
ton library, and publifhed at Oxford in 1699, by Ed
mund Thwaites [t],
One of the firft attempts at a tranflation into the
Englifh language, as fpoken after the conqueft, ap
pears to have been made by Richard Rolle, an Her
mit of Hampole in Yorkfhire, who tranflated, and
wrote a glofs upon the Pfalter, and a metrical paraphrafe
ofthe Book of Job, He died A. D. 1349.
A complete tranflation of the whole Bible, in
cluding the apocryphal books, was foon afterwards
[r] Fox fays, that he tranflated the gofpel of St. John a fe
cond time, but Cuthbert, his fcholar, tells us, that he finifhed at
John vi. 9.
{ s ] This was publifhed with a Latin interlineary text, by John
Spelman., in 1640. Dr. Brett fuppofes this to have been Alfred's
Pfalter. There is another interlineary Pfalter in the library at
Lambeth, apparently of a later period. Spelman publifhed, with
his Pfalter, the various readings of four manufcripts.
[t] Le Long. Calmet. & Lewis Hift. of Tranflat. performed

28 INTRODUCTION.
performed by John Wickliffe [u]. It was a literal
verfion, made from Latin, with the prologues of St.
Jerom, to the books of the New Teftament, and ap
peared between A.D. 1360 and 1380. The New
Teftament of this tranflation, which is ftill extant in
many manufcripts, was publifhed by Lewis in 1731.
Some writers have conceived that an Englifh tranfla
tion was made before the time of Wickliffe [x], and
there are fome copies of an Englifh tranflation at Ox
ford [y], which Ufher affigns to an earlier period ; but
it is probable that thefe may be genuine, or corrected
copies of Wickliffe's tranflation. Lewis is of opinion,
that JohnTrevifa, who is by fome related to have made
an entire Englifh verfion of the fcriptures about 1387,
[u] Huff. Replicat. con. T. Stokes, Arund. Conftit. Lyn-
wood's Gloftary, &c. The New Teftament of Wickliffe's ver
fion fold for four marks and forty pence, as appears from the
regifter of W. Amewich, Bifhop of Norwich, 1429, as quoted by
Fox. Vid. James, Corrupt, of Fathers, p. 277. Fox's preface
to Saxon Gofpels, A. D. 157 1.
[x] Dr. James was of this opinion; fee Corrupt. Fathers,
p. 225. Bifhop Bonner profeffes to have feen one tranflated
above eighty years before that of Wickliffe : fo little, however,
were the fcriptures ufed in the time of Wickliffe, that fome fe-
cular priefts of Armagh, who were fent by Archbifhop Fitzralph,
(the tranflator of the Bible into Irifh) to ftudy divinity at Ox
ford, about A. D. 1357, were obliged to return, -becaufe they
could no where find a Latin Bible. The Clergy were then
feldom able to read Latin. -See Fox's Extracts from Longland's
Regifter. [y] There is a copy of the Old Teftament of this tranflation
jn tlie Bodleian Library, one at Queen's College, and one at
Lambeth; and ofthe New Teftament, one in the Bodleian, and
two at Cambridge, in Sydnev, and Magdalen Colleges. did

INTRODUCTION. 29
did in fact only paint a few fentences on the chapel
walls of Berkeley Caftle, and interfperfc a few verfes
in his writings [z], with fome variations from the
received tranflation. It is however highly probable
that others be fide Wickliffe, undertook this import
ant work, and tranflated at leaft fome parts of the
fcriptures. Hitherto tranflations were , made only
from the Italic verfion, or from that of St. Jerom.
Great objections were, however, made to thefe
and all tranflations, as promoting a too general, and
promifcuous ufe of the fcriptures, which was con
ceived to be productive of evil, confequences, and
Wickliffe's Bible, particularly as it was judged to be an
unfaithful tranflation, was condemned to be burnt. In
the time of Richard the Second, a bill was brought
into the Houfe of Lords, A. D. 1390, to prohibit the
ufe of Englifh Bibles. The bill, however, being
ftrongly reprobated, and oppofed by John Duke of
Lancafter [a], was rejected; but about A. D. 1408,
Arundel, Archbifhop of Canterbury, decreed in a
convocation of the clergy at Oxford, that no unau
thorized perfon fhould tranflate any text of fcriptur?
into Englifh, or any other language by way of book,
and that no tranflation made either in, or fince
Wickliffe's time fhould be read, till approved' by the
[zj Lewis Hift. of Tranflations.
[a] Ufher, Packer, Linwood, and Collier. The Duke is,
related to have faid, " We will not be the dregs of all, feeing
other, nations have the law of God, which is the law of our
faith, written in their own language." Vid. Fox's pref. tO>
Saxon gofpel, A. D. 1571. Ufher de Script. & Sacr. Vern.
3 bifhop

^O INTRODUCTION.
bifhop of the diocefe, or in a provincial council,
This decree was enforced by great perfections,
and as about the fame time Pope Alexander the fiftk
condemned all tranflations into the vulgar tongue,
they were as much as it was poffible, fuppreffed till
the reformation.
It appears, indeed, from our bifhops regifters,
that in confequence of Arundel's commiffion, feveral
perfons were burnt, on refufing to abjure their prin
ciples, for having read the New Teftament, and the
Ten Commandments, in Wickliffe's tranflation [b].
In the reign of Henry VIII. whofe violent paffions
were providentially rendered conducive to the refor
mation in this country, William Tyndale, or as he was
otherwife called, Hickins [c], having left the king
dom on account of his religious principles, tranf
lated at Antwerp, by the Affiftance of John Fry, or
Fryth, and William Roye, the New Teftament from
[b] At that time the people were fo little acquainted with the
fcriptures, and fo ignorant even of the language in which they
were originally written, that upon the appearance of printed
editions of the fcriptures in the Hebrew and Greek originals,
fome of the more illiterate Monks, declaimed from the pulpits,
that " there was now a new language difcovered called Greek,
of which people fhould beware, fince it was that which pro
duced all herefies : that in this language was come forth a,
book called the New Teftament, which was now, in every body's
hands, and was full of thorns and briers. And there had alfo
another language now ftarted up, which they called Hebrew,
and that they who learnt it were turned Hebrews." Vid. Hody
de Bibl. Text. p. 465. Erafm. Epift. Lib XXXI. No. 42,
edit. 1642.
[c] Hift. & Antiq. Oxon. Lib. II. p. 375. vol. ii. the

INTRODUCTION. 3 I
the Greek, and printed it in octavo, in 1526 [d].
The written copies of Wickliffe's tranflation had been
long known, but this was the firft time that any part
ofthe fcriptures was printed in Englifh. It appeared
at Hamborough, or Antwerp, and was difperfed at
London, and Oxford. Wolfey, and the bifhops
publifhed prohibitions, and injunctions againft it as
falfe, and heretical. Tonftal, bifhop of London, and
Sir Thomas More, bought up almoft the whole im
preffion, and burnt it at St. Paul's Crofs, which,
whether or,j not defigned to ferve Tyndale [eJ, did
moft certainly affift him in the continuance of his
defigns [f]. The venders of Tyndale's work were
condemned by theftar-chamber to ride with their
fates to the horfes tails, with papers on their heads,
and with the books which they had difperfed tied
about them, to the ftandard in Cheapfide, and they
themfelves were compelled to throw them into the
fire, and were afterwards amerced by a confiderable
fine [g]. The clergy now profeffed an intention of
.publifhing' the New Teftament themfelve;, and a pn>
[d] Fox's Aits. Ufher de Script, p. 187. Joye's Apology.
[e] Jortin's Life of Eraf. Collier's Ecclef. Hift. vol. ii. p. 2Z.
Sir Thomas More's Engl. Works, vol. ii. p. 369. The Dutch
editions were foon publifhed, and difperfed at a cheap rate, at
about thirteen pence each. The Englifh Books were fold for
about 3s. 6d. Three Editions were fold before 1530. Thu$
were eyes opened to the abufes of popery.
[f] Sir Thomas More objected to' tranflations in general,
and particularly confidered Tyndale's as erroneous, efpecially in
matters of church government. Vid. Spelman's Papers.'
[c] Hall, Henry VIII. Fuller, &c. clamation

3 2 INTRODUCTION.
clamation was iffued againft Tyndale's work ; but
before the appearance of this proclamation, Tyfidale,
by the help of Miles Coverdale, had tranflated the
Pentateuch, which was printed at Hamborough in
1 530. Tyndale, however, in defiance of proclama
tions, proceeded with his defigns, and tranflated the
Pentateuch, which was printed in fmall sctavo in
1530 [h]. As he had but little knowledge of the
Hebrew, he probably tranflated from the Latin, and
his work had great merit, confidering the difadvan-
tages under which he laboured [ij. His prefaces,
which reflected on the bifhops and clergy, were
chiefly complained of, though eagerly read by the
people ; and provoked Henry, at the inftigation of
his minifters, to procure that he fhould be feized in
Flanders, where he was afterwards ftrangled, and his
body was burnt.
In 1535, Miles Coverdale publifhed a tranflation
of the whole Bible, which, as fome have fuppofed,
was printed at Zurich. It was dedicated to the king,
probably by permiffion, though Tyndale was now in
[ h ] Mr. Thorefby fpeaks of a copy printed at Marpurg, in
Heffe, by Hans Luft, in 1530. Vid. Ducat. Leod. Lewis fays,.
that Tyndale tranflated this Pentateuch from the Hebrew, Vid.
Hift. Tranfl. p. 70.
[i] The tranflation of the Pentateuch was finifhed in, 1528 j
but Tyndale being fhipwrecked in his voyage to Hamborough,
loft all his papers, and was obliged to begin his work;again. He
was ftrangled and burnt near Felford Caftle, about eighteen miles
from Antwerp, praying that God would open the king of Eng'
land's eyes. Vid. Fox's Martyrs. He received only 14s. Flemifh
for his work. prifon

Introduction. jj
prifon for his work. Coverdale ftiled it, a fpecial
tranflation, and it paffed under his name ; but it is
fuppofed to have contained much of Tyndale's la
bours, though none of his prologues, or notes [kJ.
When the papal reftrictions were no longer re-
fpected in this country, it was ftrenuoufly urged,
that if Tyndale's tranflation were erroneous, a new
one fhould be made ; and Cranmer had fufficient in
tereft in convocation, in 153$, to obtain, that a pe
tition fhould be made to the king for that purpofe.
Henry, influenced partly by argument, and partly
by the intereft with Queen Anne [l] had in his af
fections, commanded that it fhould be immediately
fet about. Cranmer began with the New Teftament,
affigning a portion of the tranflation to be revifed by
each bifhop. But the refufal of Stokefly, Bifhop of
London, to correct his portion, appears to have put
a flop to the work at prefent. In 1536, Cromwell
directed, in his injunctions to the clergy, " that
every parfon or proprietary of a church, fhould pro
vide a bible in Latin and Englifh, to be laid in the
choir for every one to read at his pleafure."
In 1537 was publifhed a folio edition ofthe bible,
which was called Matthews's Bible, of Tyndale's and
Rogers's tranflation ; it was printed by Grafton, and
Whitchurch, at Hamborough [m], Tyndale is faid
to have tranflated to the end of Chronicles, or, as
[k] This was reprinted in large quarto in 1550, and aeain
with a new -title in 1553.
[ l ] Ann Boleyn.
[m] The 1500 copies colt 500I, then a large fum*
D fome

34 INTRODUCTION.
fome ftate, of Nehemiah, if not all the canonical
books both of the Old and New Teftament [n],
and Rogers completed the reft, partly from Cover-
dale's tranflation. He had compared it with the
Hebrew, Greek, and Latin Bibles, and inferted pre
faces and notes from Luther. As the name of
Tyndale, who had been burnt for an heretic, was
now become in fome degree obnoxious, Rogers pub
lifhed it under the feigned name of Matthews. It
was. dedicated, and prefented at Cranmer's requeft,
by Cromwell, to the king, who gave his affent that
it fhould be printed in England, and generally read ;
and notwithftanding the oppofition of the clergy, the
book was received by the publick with great joy.
Another edition was afterwards prepared, col
lected, and collated with the original, by Miles Co
verdale ; and Grafton and Whitchurch obtained
leave to publifh it at Paris on account of the cheap-
nefs and fuperiority of the paper. But notwith
ftanding the French King's licence, the Inquifition
iri 1538 obliged the printers to fly as heretics, and
very few of the impreffions could be refcued from
the flames [oj\ But the preffes, and other printing
appurtenances, being afterwards procured and brought
to London, the bible was publifhed there in 1539
[p] by the King's authority. This was called the
Bible in the great or large volume. It was publifhed
fN] He certainly tranflated Jonah. See More's Confut. of
Tyndale's Anfwer, 1532; and others tranflated different parts.
[o] A few that an officer of the inquifition had fold as wafle
paper, were recovered. The impreffion confifted of 2500.
[p] Strype's Life of Cranmer, p. 444.
9 in

INTRODUCTION. 35
in folio, and had a frontispiece before it, defigned by
Holbein; but neither Coverdale's, nor Cranmer's
preface, nor Tyndale's notes ; only an account of the
fucceffion'of the Kings of Judah, and directions in
what manner the Old Teftament fhould be read [oj.
In this edition thefe paffages in the Latin, which were
not to be found in the original, were printed in a
fmall letter, as was alfo the controverted Text in St.
John's Epiftle. It was objected to by the Bifhops
as faulty ; but as they admitted that it contained no
herefies, the King faid, " then in God's name let it
go abroad among my people." The epiftles, gof-
pels, and pfalms, of this tranflation, which were in-
ferted into our Liturgy when compiled, and after
wards revifed, in the reign of Edward the Sixth,
were retained in it till the reftoration of Charles the
Second, when the gofpels and epiftles were changed
for thofe of King James's tranflation. The old
pfalter, however, was retained, and is ftill read as
excellent, and familiar by long ufe. An order was
foon afterwards iffued out, that every church fhould
be furnifhed with one of thefe Bibles.
In 1539, a fecond or third edition of this was re
vifed, and publifhed by Richard T'averner, which had
many marginal notes of Matthews's Bible ; and this
[ qj This edition, as well as Matthews's Bible, is divided
into five tomes. The apocryphal books, which are contained
'in the fourth of thefe divifions, are improperly entitled the
books of Hagiographa, as fome of them are called in a fecon-
dary fenfe, or perhaps .by corruption, by St. Jerom. Vid.
Hieron. pr.ef. in Job. Reinhold's Prjeludt. and James's Corrupt.
of Fathers, Par. II. p. 22.
D 1 was

36 INTRODUCTION.
was followed by other editions. In 1540, appeared
a very improved edition, corrected by Archbifhop
Cranmer. It contained a judicious preface, written
by him, and was called Cranmer's Bible, or the Bible
of the greater volume. It was republifhed in 1541,
and countenanced by authority, and a proclamation
was iffued, that every parifh church which was yet
unprovided fhould procure it, under a penalty, if
neglected, of 40s. per month [r]. The Romifh
Bifhops ftill continued their endeavours, in oppofition
to Cranmer, and attempted to corrupt the fubfequent
editions by a multiplication of Latin words [s] ; and
though Cranmer obtained an order that the Bible
ihould be examined by both univerfities, it appears
not to have been put in execution.
In 1542, an act of Parliament was obtained by
the adverfaries of tranflations, condemning Tyndal's
Bible, and the prefaces and notes of all other edi
tions [t], and prohibiting their perufal in publick,
under pain of imprifonment. Cranmer procured an
indulgence for the higher ranks to read them in pri
vate. The ufe of the fcriptures being very much
abufed, the interdiction was continued, and confirmed
during Henry's reign.
In the fhort reign of Edward the Sixth, all perfons
were allowed the ufe of tranflations ; and new edi-
[r] It was publifhed in folio; the price was fixed at 10s.
unbound, and 12s. bound; fix were placed in St. Paul's church
by Bifnop Bonner.
[s] Matt. Parker. Antiq. Lewis, p. 146.
[t]' See an aft for the advancement of true Religion, An. 34.
Ht.iryVllI. tions

INTRODUCTION. 37
tions of Taverner's and of Matthews's Bibles [u]
were publifhed, and the Bible of the larger volume
was ordered to be procured for churches [x]. Every
¦ecclefiaftical perfon under the degree of Bachelor of
Divinity, was enjoined to provide a New Teftament
in Latin and Englifh,, with the paraphrafe of Eraf
mus; and Gardiner, Bifhop of Winchefter, was com
mitted to the Fleet for refufing compliance with thefe
meafures, and perfifting in his opinions, he was at
length deprived. It was ordered alfo, that the epif-
tle and gofpel fhould be read at high mafs on Sun
days and Holidays, and a chapter of the New Tefta
ment in the morning, and ofthe Old at evening fong.
In Mary's reign, different principles prevailed: all
books which were confidered as heretical, as thofe
containing the Common Prayer, and fufpected copies
of the Bible, were condemned. The Gofpellers, as
they were then called, fled abroad, and a new tranf
lation of the fcriptures into Engliffi, appeared at
Geneva, of which the New Teftament was publifhed
{u] One of Taverner's in 1549, and one of Matthews's in
1551. Eleven impreflions of the whole Englifh Bible, and fix of
the New Teftament, were publifhed : fome were alfo reprinted from
Tyndale's, Coverdale's, and Cranmer's editions. Vid- Fullw
and Lewis.
[ x ] Thefe were to be procured at the expence of the parifh.
Before, the impropriator defrayed half the charge of the books
ufed in the church, or fometimes the parfon. In times of po
pery, miffal-s, breviaries, and manuals, being written, were very
expenfive, and bought by the rectors, as alfo when reftories were
eftablifhed. But there were many difputes upon this fubjedt, and
the rectors often compelled the vicars to pay for binding the
bwks. Vid. Lewis, Hift. Tranf. p. 176.
P 3 in

3$ INTRODUCTION.
in 1557; but the remainder of the work did not
come forth till 1560. It was diftinguifhed by cal~
viniftical annotations, and held in high eftimation by
the puritans [y].
Elizabeth was indirectly requefted at her coro
nation, to countenance a tranflation, the Bible be
ing prefented to her in her proceffion, which fhe ac
cepted with great appearance of gratitude and vene
ration ; and the Bifhops were foon afterwards ap
pointed to prepare a tranflation. New editions of
[y] Above thirty editions of this were publifhed by the
Queen's and King's printers between 1560 and 1616, and others
were printed at Edinburgh, Geneva, Amfterdam, &c. The
New Teftament of this is faid to have been the firft Englifh edi
tion of the fcriptures which was divided into verfes. The Greek
and Latin Bibles were not anciently divided into chapters or
verfes, at leaft, not like thofe now ufed. Stephen Langton,
archbifhop of Canterbury, in the reigns of King John, and of
King Henry III. is faid to have firft contrived the divifion into
chapters ; others afcribe the invention to Cardinal Hugo, a Do
minican Monk, of the thirteenth century, who adopted alfo fub-
divifions, diftinguifhed by the feven firft letters of the alphabet
placed in the margin, as convenient for the ufe of the Concord
ance, which he firft planned for the Vulgate. About .1445,
Rabbi Mordecai Nathan, alias Rabbi Ifaac Nathan, a weltern
Jew, to facilitate the conduft of a controverfy with the Chtiftians,
introduced this divifion of chapters into the Hebrew Bibles, and
refumed alfo the ancient divifion into verfes numerically diftin
guifhed by marginal letters at every fifth verfe ; and from him the
Chriftians received and improved the plan ; and Robert Stephens
adopted the divifion into the New Teftament, of which he pub
lifhed a Greek edition in 1551. Vid. Prefat. Buxtorf. ad Coit-
cord. Bibl. Hebraic. Morin. Exercit. Bibl. Par. II. Exert, vii. cap.
iii. Prasf. ad .Concord. Grsec. N. Teft. Fabfici Biblioth. Graec.
Lib. IV. c. v. Prid. vol. I. Book V. the

I N T R O D U C'T ION. 39
the Geneva, and of the great Bible were publifhed.
An act of Parliament was likewife paffed for a tranf
lation of the Bible into Welffi, which was printed in
1556. In 1568, Archbifhop Parker's very correct and
improved tranflation, undertaken by the royal com
mand, and revifed by the Bifhops, under the direc
tion of the Archbifhop, and called the Bifhop's
Bible, appeared in folio [z], with a preface by Parker,
and the initial letter of every tranflator fubjoined to
his portion; and towards the conclufion of Elizabeth's
reign, < Ambrofe Ufher, brother of the primate of
Armagh, rendered much of the Old Teftament
into Englifh, from the Hebrew; which was never
publifhed [a].
Objections, however, being raifed againft all
thefe tranflations, as well as againft others made in
oppofition to them, it was determined in the reign of
King James the Firft, when the principles of the re
formation were thoroughly eftablifhed, to have a
new verfion, which fhould be as much as poffible
free from all the errors, and defects of former tranf
lations. Accordingly fifty-four learned, and emi-
[ z J It was printed in a thick quarto, and afterwards frequently
in folio and quarto in 1569. This Bible was ufed in the publick
fervice for near forty years ; but the Geneva Bible being mpre
adapted to the prevailing opinions, was moft read in private.
See Le Long, p. 430, Lewis, &c.
[ a ] Daniel, Ecclefiaftes, Lamentations, and Job, were tranfS
lated by Hugh Broughton. . The manufcript of this verfion is
ftill in three tomes quarto, in the library of Trinity-college, in
Dublin,
D 4 nent

40 INTRODUCTION,
nent men, were appointed. Seven of thefe, how
ever, either died, or from diffidence declined the
tafk. Every poffible precaution was taken to pre
vent objection to the execution of the work. The
remaining forty-feven were ranged into fix divifions
[b]. Every individual tranflated the portion affigned
to the divifion, all of which tranflations were collated
together, and when each company had determined
on the conftruction of their part, it was propofed to
the o^her divifions for general approbation. They
had the benefit of confulting all preceding tranfla
tions, but were directed to follow, as nearly as it
might be confiftent with fidelity, the ordinary Bible,
which was diftinguifhed by the appellation of the
Bifhop's Bible. The contributions and affiftance of
the learned were folicited from all parts, and dif
ferent opinions were deliberately examined by the
tranflators, without any regard to the complaints
againft their tardinefs in the execution of the work.
The tranflators met at Oxford, and Cambridge, and
Weftminfter [c]. They began the work in 1607, and
[b] Vid. Johnfon's account. Fuller, Selden, and £ oilier.
[c] Three copies were fent to London, and two perfons
from each company were feledted to revife the whole work. It
was afterwards reviewed by Bilfon, Bifhop of Winchester, and
Dr. Myles Smith. Thefe two perfons prefixed the arguments to
the feveral books, and Dr. Smith, afterwards Bifhop of Glou-
•cefter, wrote the preface now prefixed to the folio editions.
Bifhop Bancroft is fuppofed to have been the overfeer under his
majefty, to whom it is faid, in the preface, that the Church was
much

INTRODUCTION. 41
and finifhed it in about three years. The death of
Mr. Edward Lively, who was well fkilled in the
original languages, fomewhat retarded the pub
lication. It came out, however, in 161 1, with
all the improvements that could be derived from
united induftry, and conjoined abilities. It was firft
publiffied in folio, in black letter, but a quarto edi
tion was publifhed in 161 2, in the Roman type. It
has fince been repeatedly publifhed in both. The
Romanifts [d] ftarted many unreafonable objections
againft this tranflation ; and the Prefbtyerians pro
feffed themfelves diffatisfied. It was however allow
ed, even by Cromwell's committee, to be the beft ex
tant; and certainly it is a moft wonderful and incom
parable work, equally remarkable for the general
fidelity of its conftruction, and the magnificent lim-
plicity of its language.
That it is not a perfect work is readily admit
ted; the great advancement made fince the pe
riod of its tranflation, in the original languages j
much bound, The marginal references, and the chronological
index annexed, which are publifhed chiefly in the quarto editions,
were afterwards furnifhed by Bifhop Lloyd.
[ d J The Englifh Romanifts, finding it impoflible to prevent
the introduction of tranflations, publifhed the New Teftament at
Rheims in 1582 from the Latin, in a manner as favourable to
their opinions as poffible, and afterwards in 1609, they publifhed
at Doway a tranflation of the Old Teftament, from the Vulgate,
with annotations. They have therefore a tranflation of the whole
Bible, which, however, they are forbidden to read without a li
cence from their fuperiors. The French Romanifts have no au
thorized tranflation into their language. the

42. INTRODUCTION.
the improvement that has fucceeded in critical learn
ing ; and the many difcoveries that have been ftruck
out in the general purfuits of knowledge, have
much tended to illuftrate the facred writings, and
enabled us to detect many errors and defects of
tranflation that might now be corrected and re
moved. Preceding verfions were, perhaps, in fome
inftances, more fuccefsful ; and fubfequent tranf
lations of individual books may, in fome parts,
have been more faithful ; and, which is a ftill more
important advantage, we are now in poffeffion of
many hundred manufcripts that the tranflators under
King James had no opportunities of confulting [e].
We are likewife emancipated from fuperftitious pre
judices concerning the univerfal purity of the He
brew text, and from a flavifh credulity with regard
to the Maforetic points. Whenever, therefore, it
ffiall be judged expedient by well-advifed and con-
fiderate meafures, to authorize a revifal of this tranf
lation, it will certainly be found capable of many,
and great improvements [f]. As fuch a work, de
liberately planned, and judicioufly executed, would
unqueftionably contribute much to the advancement
of true religion, many pious men have expreffed
their earlieff; wiffies for its accompliffiment ; and
[ e ] Our tranflation was made from manufcripts of three, and
four hundred years old, fince it agrees with thofe only. But
more ancient manufcripts are more corredt, and more confifteut
with the Samaritan Pentateuch, and ancient verfions.
f f] Bifhop Lloyd's edition of our tranflation is improved in
fome refpedts. Dr. Paris likewife revifed it in 1745. doubtlefs,

introduction. 43
doubtlefs, in due time, by the bleffing of God, the
prudent governors of our church will provide for its
execution. It is a work not lightly to be taken in
hand, and perhaps no fingle perfon is adequate to
the tafk. It is to be prefumed, at leaft, that when a
new tranflation ffiall be countenanced by publick
authority, it will be undertaken with the fame cau
tious, and deliberate meafures, that were obferved
under King James. It ffiould be the production of
collective induftry, and general contribution; and
the prejudices and miftakes which muft characterize
the works of individuals, ffiould be corrected by
united enquiry, difpaffionate examination, and fair
criticifm. They, who already confecrate their la
bours to the tafk of translating the whole, or any
part of the fcriptures, are entitled to the publick
¦gratitude and encouragement [cj; their endeavours
muft at leaft contribute to illuftrate the facred pages,
and tend to facilitate the great work of a national
tranflation. Till, however, the execution of this
work fhall be judged expedient, every fincere and
well-difpofed admirer of the holy oracles may be fa
tisfied with the prefent tranflation, which is, indeed,
highly excellent; being in its doctrines uneorrupt,
and in its general conftruction, faithful to the original.
The captious chiefly, and fuch as feek for blemiffies,
are difpofed to cavil at its minute imperfections;
which, however in a work of fuch ferious and in-
[gJ Dr. Geddes has publifhed a profpectus of a new tranf
lation. terefting

44 INTRODUCTION.
terefting value, they may require correction, ffiould
not be invidioufly detailed. The few paffages, which,
by being erroneoufly tranflated, have furnifhed oc
cafion for unjuft and licentious afperfions againft the
facred volume, are fo clearly and fatisfactorily ex
plained, and vindicated by judicious comments, that
no one can be mifled in his conceptions, who is de
firous of obtaining inftruction. To amend the ren
dering of thefe paffages, will be the object of all fu
ture tranflators, who will undoubtedly be defirous
of adhering as much as poffible to the prefent ver
fion, and of adopting, where they can, a conftruc-
tion, familiarized by long ufe, and endeared by ha
bitual reverence ; of which the ftyle has long ferved
as a ftandard of our language, and of which the
peculiar harmony and excellence could never be
improved by any change that refinement might fub-
ftitute.

OS

[ 45 3

OF THE

PENTATEUCH.

THE Pentateuch, under which title the five
Books of Mofes are ufually diftinguifhed, is a
word of Greek original [a]. It was probably firft
prefixed to the Septuagint verfion, and was defigned
to include Genefis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers,
and Deuteronomy; all of which were written by
Mofes, in his own hand, probably in the order in
which they now ftand in our tranflation, though
not diftributed by their author into books, but com
pofed in one continued work, as they remain to
this day among the Jews, with no other divifion but
[ a ] From U.t>lt five, and 1if%o5 volume. It is called by the
Jews, Chomez, a word fynonymous with Pentateuch; alfo
Thorah, with which word the book begins ; it being cuftomary
among the Jews to denominate a book from its firft word. that

46 OF THE PENTATEUCH.
that of little, and great Parafches [b]. It is uncer
tain when they were divided into books, but proba
bly the divifion was firft adopted in the Septuagint
verfion, as the titles prefixed are of Greek deriva
tion ; they were however diftinguifhed as five books
in the time of Jofephus.
That the Pentateuch was written by Mofes, we
are authorized to affirm by the concurrent teftimony
of antiquity, and by the uniform report of uninter
rupted tradition. He fpeaks of himfelf in many
[b] Parafches, from tins, to divide. The divifion ofthe
law into parafches, or feftions, is, by fome, attributed to
Mofes ; by others, with more probability, to Ezra ; they
amounted to fifty-four, that by reading one of thefe portions
every Sabbath in* the fynagogue, the people might fulfil a
fancied obligation to read the law once publickly every year ;
the intercalated years contained fifty-four Sabbaths, and in
other year's a reduclion correfpondent to the number of Sab
baths was eafily made, by an occafional junction of two chap
ters. Thefe greater portions were fubdivided into feven fmal
ler parts, called pefukim, or verfes, which were probably in-
ferted by Ezra for the ufe of the Targumifls, or Chaldee in
terpreters, who after the captivity read a Chaldaic verfion of
the fcriptures, with the original, for the benefit of thofe who
had forgotten the Hebrew tongue, reading verfe for verfe alter
nately. The fame divifion was adopted in the prophetical
books, when the reading of the law was forbidden by An
tiochus Epiphanes, but in them three verfes were read toge
ther. Thefe divifions are by no means the fame as thofe in
our Bibles. The Jews read half of thr feftion on the Monday,
the remainder on the Thurfday, and on the Sabbath tlie whole
of the feftion, both morning and evening. Vid. Prid. fub.
An. 444. parts,

OF THE PENTATEUCH. 47
parts, as the appointed author of its contents [c].
It is mentioned as the work of Mofes under the title
of the Law, by almoft all the facred writers, and
cited as indifputably his work [d], and it was received
as fuch by the Jews and Samaritans, by every feet of
the Hebrew, and of the Chriftian church.
These books, indeed, could not have been writ
ten fubfequently to the time of Mofes, for they are
addreffed to the Ifraelites as contemporaries, and they
never afterwards could have been impofed as a ge
nuine work upon his countrymen, whofe religion
and government were built upon them. But what
is fufficient to eftabliffi, not only the authenticity of
thefe five books, as tn*e work of Mofes, but alfo
their claim to a divine original, as dictated by the
fpirit of God ; is, that the words and laws of Mofes
are cited by the facred writers, as the words and
laws of God [e], and that they were appealed to by
our Saviour, and his Apoftles, on various occafions,
as the genuine work of Mofes ; as the production of
an infpired perfon, or prophet [f] ; and on a folemn
occafion, Chrift confirmed every jot and tittle of the

[c] Exod. xvii. 14. xxiv. 4 — 7. xxxiv. 27. Numb, xxxii*. 4.
Deut. xxxi. 9, 19, 22, 24. Abbadie, Verite de la Relig. Chre
tien. Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. I.
[o] Jofhua i. 7, 8. Judg. iii. 4. 2 Kings xxiii. 25. xiv. 6.
2 Chron. xxx. 16. xxiii. 18. Ezra viii. 3. Nehem. i. 7, 8. ix.
and the Pfalms and Prophets paflim.
[e] Nehem. viii. 14. Jerem. vii, 23. Matt. xv. 4. Galat.
iv. 30. Heb. viii. 5. x. 30. James ii. 8.
[f] John i. 45. v. 46, 47.
Law,

48 OF THE PENTATEUCH.
Law, and bare teftimony to the infallible accomplifh-
ment of its defigns, and promifes [p].
These books, as has been before obferved, were
immediately after their compofition depofited in the
tabernacle [h], and thence transferred to the tem
ple, where they were preferved with the moft vigi
lant care : every expreffion was deemed infpired by
the articles of the Jewiffi creed. The Jews main
tained that God had more care of the letters and
fyllables of the Law, than of the ftars in Heaven,
and that upon each tittle of it, whole mountains of
doctrine hung; hence every individual letter was
numbered, and notice was taken how often it occur
red [1]. It was read every Sabbath day in the fy
nagogues [k], and again folemnly every feventh
year. The prince was obliged to copy it [l], and
the people were commanded to teach it their chil
dren, and to wear it as " figns on their hands, and
frontlets between their eyes" [m]. In the corrupt, and
[c] Matt. v. 17, 18. Luke xvi. 17, 31.
[ h ] Deut. xxxi. 26. Somewhere on the outfide of the ark.
Vid. 1 Kings viii. 9. 2 Chron. v. 10.
[ 1] The Jews reduced the whole Law to 613 precepts, accord
ing to the number of the letters of the Decalogue, intimating
that the whole Law was reduttively contained therein.
[k] Luke iv. 16. A£ts xiii. 15, 27. xv. 21. xxvii. 23.
Hieron. cap. vi. Bava Bathra. Maimon. praef. in Chaz. Aben.
Ezra, in ch. xxv. 16. R. David. Kimchi. Deut. xxxi. io,
24, 26.
[l] Deut. xvii. 18, 19. xxvii. 3. xxxi. 10, 11.
[m] Exod. xiii. 9. Levit. x. 11. Deut.. vi. 6 — 9, 2r. xi,
18, 19. This was probably a figurative precept which the
Jew*

OF THE PENTATEUCH. 49
and idolatrous reigns, indeed, of fome of the kings
of Judah, the facred books appear to have been
much neglected, In the reign of Jehofhaphat it was
judged neceffary to carry about a book of the law,
for the inftruction of the people [n], and many
copies might have perifhed under ManajTeth; yet
ftill a fufficient number was always preferved by
God's providence. It is mentioned, indeed, in the
book of Kings [o], as a particular circumftance,
that in the time of Jofiah, the book of the Law was
found by the high-prieft Hilkiah ; but this by no
means implies, that all other copies had been de
ftroyed ; for whether by the book of the Law there
mentioned, be underftood the original autograph of
Mofes, (which was probably intended [p] ;) or only
an authentic public copy, which might have been
taken by the priefts from the fid* of the ark of the
covenant, to preferve it from the facrilegious violence
of Manaffeth; it can by no means be fuppofed to
have been the only book of the Law then extant*
as every King was obliged to copy it on his accef-
Jews fuperftitioufly fulfilled in a literal fenfe, with phyla&eties,
infcribed bracelets, &c. Vid. Ifaiah ~xlix. 16. Buxtorf. Synagog*
Jud. c. 9.
[*k] 2 Chron. xvii. 8, 9. This indeed might have been an
ancient practice only revived by Jehofhaphat, for the Hebrews
had probably few, if any, eftabllftied fynagogues before the
captivity, and this account only proves, that public copies
were not generally difperfed through the cities <rf Jadaa. Viri»
2 Chron. xv. 3.
fo] 2 Kings xxii. 8, 11.
[p] 2 Chron. xxxiv. 14. E fi0a

$0. OF. THE PENTATEUCH.
fion to the throne, and as it was the very bafis of-
every civil, as well as of every religious regulation ;
and not to mention private copies, Jofiah muft cer
tainly have feen the book of the Law, or he would.
not have projected the reformation , of his, kingdom
in the manner recorded in the bo'pk.-of. Kings [ Q_].
The furprize, therefore, that Hilkiah, and the grief
that Jofiah are related to have, felt, were, owing either;, :
to the extraordinary circumftance of finding the booko
in the time of cleanfing the temple, and of -: their erir
deavours to effect a reformation, or to the multipli.-
city and importance of thofe precepts, which, as,-
they muft have been confcious, had been, violated.
and -neglected.
Whether j or not. Mofes, wrote out twelve copies,,
as is related, by tradition [r] j it is probable,, that-
each tribe, was furnifhed with a book of the Law.
The fchools of the prophets likewife, the ten tribes ¦¦,
ofifraeL and. the Levites, who were appointed^ to:
reqd the Law. in all parts, muft have .been provided..
with books ; and it is certain that . authentic copies ...
were preferved during the captivity [s]* and pub
lickly read after the return [t] ; it may be added
alfo-, that as fcribes of the Law were at this time,
eftablifhed [u], there is no improbability in the ac^
f qJ Hottinger. Hift. Eccles. N. ,T. fe£t. XVI. Pars 4.
P- 137-
[r] H«et, Prop. iv. - •-' •
[s] Dan. ix. 1:, 13. Tobit. vi. 12. vii. 13.
[t] Ezra iii. 2. vi. 18. Nehem. i. 2, 9.
[u] Jerem. viii. 8. Ezra iv. 8. ;
z~~. counts^

6f THE PENTATEUCH. $f
Counts, which ftate^ that Ezra and Nehemiah fur
nifhed 300 copies for the congregation and fyna
gogues, founded on the re-eftabliffiment of the Jew-
iffi church. The fame reverence which hencefor
ward occafioned a multiplication of the copies ofthe
law, produced alfo more 'numerous guardians to
watch over its purity, and the encreafing accuracy
ofthe Mafora, contributed ftill farther to fecure its
integrity. The Jews believed that Mofes was enlightened 'by
a much higher arid, more excellent infpiration than
any fubfequent prophet £x], and his fuperiority is
exprefsly afferted in an eulogium on his character in
the book of Deuteronomy, which may have been
inferted by Ezra. In the New Teftament he is al
ways mentioned diftindtly, and with peculiar re
fpect [yj. He converted with God " face to face,
as a rriari fpeaketh unto his friend [z]," in that
priviledged and familiar intercourfe that St. Paul
promifes to the heirs of future falvatiqn [aJ. Some
indeed have fuppofed that Mofes did not literally
contemplate God himfelf; for our Saviour fays,
that " no man hath feen God at any time" [e],
arid we are told' that " the Law was given by' angels'"
[cj\ He beheld, however, as much as it was " pof-
[x] Vid. Maimon. de Fund. Legis.
[ y] Mark ix. 4. Luke xvi. 29. Afts vii. 35. Rev. xv. 3.
[z] Exod. xxxiii. il.-.
[a] 1 Cor. xiii. 12. Smith's Difcour. on Prophecy, ch. ii,
and xi.
[b] John i. 18. v. 37.
[c] A'£ts vii. 38, 53. Heb. ii. 2. Gal. iii. 19,
E 2 fible

$2 OF THE PENTATEUCH.
fible for man to behold^ fome apparent and diftinct
reprefentation . of the divine prefence, miraculoufly
difplayed, though veiled perhaps in a glorious cloud ;
it being impoffible, as Mofes was informed, for man
to contemplate the actual face, or untempered ma
jefty of God [d]. It muft therefore be underftood
that God fpake to him not in vifions and dark
fpeeches, but in clear and manifeft revelations [e].
Mofes was likewife priviledged to addrefs God at all
times [f], without the affiftance of the high-prieft,
who confulted by means of the Urim and Thum
mim. From this power of obtaining revelations
immediately from God, proceeded thofe ftriking
prophecies which he delivered. And thefe prophe
cies, as well as many others which he records, as
uttered by the Patriarchs, to whom God difclofed
his will, were gradually fulfilled in fucceffive events,.
or finally accomplifhed in the Meffiah. Mofes was
likewife eminently invefted with the power of mira
cles, and performed many illuftrious wonders in.
Egypt, and in the wilderriefs ; for the truth of which
he appeals to his countrymen, and grounds the au
thority of his government and laws upon them [c].
The Egyptian magicians, who were interefted to de
feat his meafures, acknowledged that " the finger
of God [h]" was ffiewn in his miracles, and the
[d] Exod. xxxiii. 20. .
[e] Numb. xii. 7, 8.
[f] Numb. vii. 8, 9. ix. 8. Exod. xxv. 22.
- [o] Numb. xvi. 28 — 35. Exod. xiv. 31. xix. 9.
[h] Exod. viii. 19. Eufeb. Prsep.. Evan. Lib. IX. cap. io„
Ifraelites,

OF THE PENTATEUCH. $3
Ifraelites, who witneffed his power, were fo fatis
fied of the truth of his pretenfions (themfelves hav
ing witneffed the fupport which he received from
God), that they adopted his laws, and incorporated
them into the very frame of their government, fo
that their civil and religious policy was founded on
the platform that he had drawn. They beheld his
extraordinary qualities ; his open and generous tem
per ; his fortitude and meeknefs fo admirably blend
ed [1] ; his piety and wifdom ; his zeal for God's
fervice, and for the welfare of his people [it], which
led him to prefer " affliction to the treafures of
Egypt [l]." They faw, that in obedience to God's
fentence, he continued to wander with them in a
defart, where even fuftenance could be obtained only
by a miracle, and that he exerted the fame ftrenuous
endeavours for the attainment of the promifed land
after it had been revealed to him, that he ffiould not
live to conduct the people to its poffeffion [m].
They beheld, likewife, that difinterefted liberality with
which he diftributed wealth, and honors On other
families, while he left his own to attend on the ta-
[1] Ecclus.xlv. 1 — 5.
[k] Exod. xxxii. 32. By entreating to be " blotted out of
God's book," Mofes meant, that he would fubmit to death,
and the lofs of God's promifed bleflings, if he could obtain
a remiffion of the fins of the Ifraetite*. Com. with Numb.
xi. 15.
t [l] Heb. xi. 24 — 28. Exod. xiv. 1 — 5. Jofeph. Anti<j,
Lib. IV. cap. 8.
[m] Numb, xxvii, 12, 13. E 3 bernaclc

54 OF ,THE PENTATEUCH.
bernacle in a fubordinate character [n], appointing a
flranp-er to fucceed him in the government of the
people, and directing them to look to the tribe pf
Jiidah for their future fovereigns.
If our knowledge of the truth of the exiftence of
thefe qualities be drawn from the accounts of Mofes
liimfelf, it muft be recollected that he addreffed his
contemporaries, who could, from their own experience,
judge of his veracity. His wifdom and integrity are-
difplayed likewife in the description of his actions, and
not by artful encomiums on his own character, of
which he feldom fpeaks, but to illuftrate his conduct
If, indeed, he be fometimes provoked to affert that
claim, to which he was juftly entitled [oj, he con-
fefles with equal candour, his own faults and mif-
condu<5t[pJ. With the fame ingenuous regard to
truth, he alfo records the errors and 'fins of his own

[n] Numb. xi. 29. xxvii, 1 5- — ) 7. xxxiv, 17, Deut, i. 38.
[0] Numb. xii. 3.
, [?] Exod. iv. 10 — 14. Numb. xx. 1 — 12. It is not in thU
laft inltance precifely Hated, how M°fes and Aaron had excited
the divine wrath, and many ftrange conjectures have been
formed on that fubjea ; the text informs us, that God accufed
Mofes and Aaron of incredulity ; and it appears, that Moffes,
though commanded only to fpeak to the" rock, fmote it twice
with the rod. They had, perhaps, "'uttered fome timid or im-
p4ttent expreffions ; and any want of faith in them was more
Qfienfive and dangerous, as they had received fuch fignal affu
rances of favour, and were confpicuous objedts of example to
She people. Vidr Pfalm evi. 32, 33. Numb; xxvii.- 14. Deut.
xxxii. ci. vid. alfo Numb. xi. n— 15.
¦': anceftors

OF THE PENTATEUCH. 55
anceffors and relations [ q_], and boldly cenfures
the difbbedience ofthe people whom he addreffes.
He uniformly reprefents them as a " ftiff-necked
and rebellious people," reminds them of their Safe
ingratitude to God, and fearlefsly threatens them
with farther marks of the divine vengeance [r].
He delivered his laws without refpect to perfons ;
fpoke in the peremptory tone of one commiffioned
: by God, not as defirous to conciliate favour, but as
confiding in the affiftance of him, whofe minifter he
"was. If the contemporaries of Mofes, who were
the fpectators of the works, and qualities which he
"difplayed, had inconteftible evidence of the divine
-appointment of their legiflator ; fucceeding genera
tions bad alfo fufficient proofs of the truth' and au
thority of thofe writings, which he bequeathed for
their inftruflion. They muft have been convinced
that the deliverance from Egypt, and the fuftenance
procured for fo large a multitude, during the con
tinuance in the wildernefs, could have been obtained
only by divine iriterrjofitioh. They muft have been
perfuaded, that their forefathers could not have ac
cepted the difpenfation of Mofes, but in the affurance
of its being revealed from God, and they beheld
permanent teftimonies of his veracity and divine
commiffion, in the perpetual obfervance of thofe
[ *0 Gen. xxxiv. 13 — 30. xlix. 5 — 7. Exod. vi. 20. Numb.
xii. 1,2, 10. xxxii. 4. Capell. ad. A. M. 2481.
[r] Deut. ix. 6 — 24. xxxii. 20 — 25 — 58.
E 4 many

56 OF THE PENTATEUCH.
many feftivals [s], laws, and rites [t], of which he
recorded the inftitution, as well as in thofe ftanding
vouchers of the truth of his hiftory and pretenfions,
the ark and tabernacle [u] ; the Urim and Thum
mim ; and the atteftation of the prophets ; and laftly
in the accompliffiment of his threats and promifes
wiaich they experienced in various viciffitudes ; in
the covenanted protection afforded during their at
tendance on God's fervice at their folemn feafts [x] ;
in the fuperfluous abundance that preceded the fab-
hatical, and the jubilee years [y] ; in the miracu
lous effects of the waters of jealoufy [z] ; in the de
fcent of the celeftial fire, which confumed the facri-
fices [,a] ; and in many other particulars,, which need
not be enumerated, but which fully account for thofe
firm convictions, and for that rooted attachment for
the memory and writings of their great lawgiver,
which they have entailed on their pofterity.
Moses was of the tribe of Levi, the fon of Am
ram, and an immediate defcendant of Abraham.
He was born about A. M, 2432; and diftinguiffied
[s] As thofe of the feafts pf the Paffover, of Pentecoft, of
Tabernacles, of Sabbath, Sec.
[t] As that of Circumcifion.
[ u] As alfo the rod of Aaron, which bloflbmed in the night ;
the preferved manna, and the brazen ferpent, kept till the time
of Hezekiah. Vid. 2 Kings 'xviii. 4. Exod, xvi. 33, 34,
Numb. xvii. 5 — 8. Heb. ix. 4.
[x] Exod. xxxiv. 23, 24.
[y] Levit. xxv. 3 — 22.
[z] Numb. xi. 5—31.
[a] 1 Kings xviii. 38. 2 Chron. vii, 1. 2 Mace. ii. 10. for

OF THE PENTATEUCH. $f
for the attractive beauty of his form. He was mi-
raculoufly preferved from deftruction, and educated
" in all the wifdom of the Egyptians" [b]. He
difplayed early marks of fuperior qualities, and be
ing felected by God for the deliverance and inftruc-
tion of the Ifraelites, he maturely examined the truth
of the divine appearance, and diffidently declined
the commiffion [c], being, as he faid, " flow of
fpeech [d]," and apprehenfive that he was of too
little cftimation, to be appointed as the deliverer of
the Ifraelites. But when encouraged by God, he
accepted of the appointment, and with a perfeverance
and fortitude that have never been equalled, con
tended for, and by divine affiftance effected, the de
liverance of the Ifraelites from their fevere bondage ;
and conducted them through difficulties miraculoufly
fubdued, to the borders of the promifed land; he
communicated to them a code of revealed laws, and
modelled their government to a form adapted to the
conqueft and poffeffion of the country, and calculated
in every refpect to anfwer thofe high purpofes which
it was intended to fulfil. Having accompliffied his
miniftry, and completed the Pentateuch, that work
which unfolds the wifdom of the firft difpenfation,
and which opened a fource of facred inftruction to
mankind; he " in the faith" relinquiflied the pro-
fbect of Canaan ; and in the expectation " of the
[b] Adts vii. 20—22. Philo. de Vit. Mof. Lib. I. p. 606.
Macrob. Saturn, Lib. II. cap. 15.
[c] Exod. iii.
Id] Exod. iv, io«, recompenfe

•5$ OF THE PENTATEUCH,
xecompenfe of an higher reward," refigned that life
which had been devoted to God's fervice, in the
1 20th year of his age, to be fucceeded by no equal
prophet, till the arrival of the Meffiah, of whom
be was a fignal type [e] ; having in many various
circumftances of his character, and eventful life,
obvioufly prefigured the fpiritual redeemer of man
kind [f].
The fepulchre of Mofes, though faid to have
been u in the valley of Moab [g]," feems to have
£>een miraculoufly concealed, in order to prevent
any idolatrous veneration of it; his character, 'how
ever, was remembered by his people, with a reve-
[e] Ezra, or the prophet, -who annexed to the Pentateuch
the account of Mofes's .death, obferves, that no prophet had
fince arifen like unto Mofes ; meaning, perhaps, that the great
prophet, the Meffiari, whom Mofes promifed, was net yet ar
rived. Deut. xviii. 18, 19. xxxiv. ia.
[ f] Eufeb. Demon. Evang, Lib. III. cap. 2. Jortin's Re
marks on Eccles. Hift,. Vol, I. p. 196 — 226. Heb. iii. 2.
{ c ] Deut. xxxiv, 6. Some Maronite jhepherds were faid to
have found his tomb in Mount Nebo, A. D. 1565 ; but this is
an idle fiftion. Vid. Bafnage's Hift. of Jews, Lib. IV. cap. 7,
and Patrick in Deut. iv. 6. St. Jude, in his epiftle, fpeaks of a
difpute between Michael and the Devil, concerning the body of
Mofes, alluding probably to a tradition received among the
Jews, as poffibly does St. Paul, when he mentions the names of
Jannes and Jambres, who withftood Mofes, and relates, that
Mofes faid, he " exceedingly feared and quaked" on Mount
Sinai, fince thefe particulars are not recorded in the Old Tefta
ment. Jude 9. 2 Tim. iii. 8. Heb. xii. 2 1 . An account of
the difpute concerning the body of Mofes, was formerly in an
apocryphal book, entitled ntji avahm-^iut Mucrioc, vide Orige"n>
fJsf* coxa's Lib, III. cap. 2. rence

OF THE J" JEN.T A T E.U C K. 59
fence that approached to f iperftition. By the Greeks
and Romans alfo, and other Heathen nations, he
was acknowledged not only as the moft ancient
lawgiver [h], and as an hiftorian of unimpeached
veracity [i] ; but by an apotheofis, under which
tihe venerable characters of antiquity were ufually
reverenced, he was tranflated among the gods, and
worffiipped under different names [k] ; for it is
eafy to trace the features of the Hebrew legiflator,
veiled under the perfonage of many a pagan deity,
apd to difcern his qualities apd anions under the
bprrowed attributes and conduct which idolatry af-
cribed to the objects of its veneration. So alio were
the cuftoms, laws, and ceremonies of many nations,
evidently derived from the Mofaic inftitutions [l].
Every one, however flightly converfant with the po
licy and religion of pagan antiquity, will difcover
jn the Pentateuch, the fources from whence they
were often drawn. In the heroes and benefactors
confecrated by Heathen admiration, are defcribed
the Patriarchs and illuftrious perfons of fcripture.
In the fictions of pagan mythology, we behold the
disfigured relations of facred: hiftory ; and the proud
{h] Juftin Martyr, Oper. p. 9. Diodor. Sic. Lib. I. p. 84.
Edit, Rhodom. Strabo's Geogr. Lib. XVI. p. 1103. Tacit,
Hift. Lib, V. Juft, Lib, XXXVI. cap. 2. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. I.
*ap- 3.
. [1] To this .even Porphyry bore teftimony.
[k] Artapan. in Eufeb. Voffius> gochart, Juft. Martyr, Apol.
«; 57. Huet, Prop. IV. cap. 8, 9.
[l] Juftin. Paran. cap. 35. Waterland's Charge to the
Clergy of Middlefex, May 19, 173 1. ¦ difcoveries

60 OF THE PENTATEUCH.
difcoveries of philofophy are often but the imperfect
tranfcript of revealed wifdom [m]. In ffiort, the
hiftorians, the poets, and the philofophers of anti
quity have enriched their feveral works with dif-
torted accounts from the facred volume. The pages
of fucceffive writers are pregnant with its relations,
and the names of numberlefs authors might be pro
duced, whofe works either confirm the truth of the
Pentateuch, or bear teftimony to the character and
pretenfions of its author [n]. But this has been
fo often done, that it muft be unneceffary to dwell
on the fubject here.
In a general confideration of the character of that
[m] Eufeb. Pnep. Evan. Lib. IX. cap. 6, 12, 14, 15. Lib.
XIII. cap. 12. Cyril cont. Jul. Lib. I. p. 8. Tatian. ad G nee.
cap. 61. Jofeph. cont. Apion. Lib. I. cap. 2z. Clem. Alex,
Strom. Lib. I.
[n] If there were no tranflation ofthe fcriptures into Greek
before that ofthe Septuagint, yet the Heathen 'writers might
have derived much facred intelligence from colloquial inter
courfe, and Plato indeed profeffes to have fo collefted Phoenician
and Syrian, that is Hebrew accounts. Vide Plato in Cratyl.
Nations appear to have been at firft diftinguifhed for civil and reli
gious knowledge, in proportion to their proximity to, and com
munication with, thofe countries where the light of revelation
fhone. The difperfion of the Jews into foreign countries after
wards furnifhed channels of information to the Heathen nations,
and fome of this people were certainly fcattered into Greece about
the time that the Greek mythology was compofed. Vid. Joel
iii. 6. Eochart's Phaleg. Lib. IV. cap. 24. Grotius de Verit.
Lib. cap 16. Lib. III. cap. 16. Huet. Prop. IV. cap. 2. Bry
ant's Mythol. Pref. to Shuckford's Connect. Edwards's Difcour.
Vol. I. Hartley's Difcourfe on the Truth of the Chriftian Reli
gion in Watfon's Tratts, Vol. 2d. difpetv-

OF THE PENTATEUCH. 6l
difpenfation, which is unfolded in the following books,
fhere are fome remarks which ffiould be ftated for
its illuftration. In the firft place it ffiould be ob
ferved, that we are authorized by the facred writers
to efteem it as in fome refpects imperfect, as a par
ticular ahd a temporary covenant to endure only for
a feafon [o] ; imperfect, in condefcenfion to the un-
difciplined ftubbornnefs of the Ifraelites [p], and im
perfect as elementary and figurative only of a fpiritual
covenant [ q^]. As a code of laws defigned for the
civil government of the Ifraelites, it was contrived
with a view to the regulation of the external conduct.
It was framed rather with intention to control the
lawlefs and difobedient, than to effect an inward and
perfect purity of heart. So farther, as the law could
not juftify mankind from the guilt of original fin, and
as an obedience to carnal ordinances could not be
perfect or fatisfactory, the Mofaic difpenfation did
not ftipulate for thofe rewards which are offered by
[o] Jerem. iii. 16. xxxi. 31 — 34. Heb. vii. 18, 19. viii.
7 — 13. ix. 10.
[p] Exod. xxxiii. 23. Deut. xxxii. 28. Ezek. xx. 25.
Matt. xix. 8. Afts xv. 10, Gal. v. 1. 1 Tim. i. 9, 10.- It
is a great miftake, however, to fuppofe that any ritual precepts
were ordained by the Mofaic law, in accommodation to cuftoms
which prevailed in' Egypt, fince its defign was to fegregate the
Ifraelites from all other nations, and to wean them from all ten
dencies to idolatry, and fince it inculcated a particular abhor
rence of Egyptian practices. Levit. xviii. 3. Circumcifion was
certainly a divine appointment firft obferved as a religious rite by
Abraham. Gen. xvii. 11.
[ aj] Heb. vii. 18, 19. Gal. iv. 3 — 9. Chrift

62 OF THE PENTATEUCHi
Chrift [r], though it held out intimatitfns of im
mortality,' and prepared mankind for the gracious
promifes which were made by die gofpel. As a;
covenant of works, it required undeviating obedience
under th'e fevereft denunciations of wrath [s], and
made no allowance for unintentional offences ; not'
calculated, like the gofpel, to proffer gracious terms
of reconciliation and favour, but to ¦ point out the"
condition of man obnoxious to God's wrath [t],
and the infufficiency of his endeavours to propitiate
fcrgivenefs; and to atone for fin [u]..
It is likewife obvious to remark, that Mofes,
though appointed to communicate a divine law,
muft,1 with refpect to the Ifraelites, be contemplated
as an human legislator. He addreffes them, indeed, as
a ftate fubjected to a theocracy ; but God had deigned
totse confidered in the light of a temporal king to
his chofen people [x] : Mofes, therefore, fpeaking
as the- legiflator of a civil government, and deliver- '
ing his laws to the people confidered in their collec
tive national character, enforces them chiefly on tem
poral fanctions [v] j on motives of prefent reward and
[r] Rom. iii. 20. viii. 3. GaL ii. 16. iii. 21. Heb. viii.
6. ix. 14, 15.
[sj Deut. xxvii. 26. GaL iii. 10.
[f] 1 John i. 7. Rom. iv. 15. viii. 2. 2 Cor. iii. 6 — g.
Col. ii. 14.
[w] Rom. iii. 19, 20. vii. c — "u. Gal. iii. 22.
[x] Exod. xix, 6. 1 Sam. xii. 12, 17, 19. Ifaiah xxxiii*
22. Hagg. ii. 4, 5. Warburg Di v. Legal.' Lib. 5. Sedt. 3.
[ y ] Porter's Diff. p. 260. Mofes had no occafion to reveal
in precife terms the immortality of the foul, which the Uraelites

OF THE PENTATEUCH^ 6 J
and .prefent punifhment ; thus annexing civil benefits
to the obfervance, and- civil penalties to^< the breach
of political laws, as refpedtively their proper and pro
portioned confequences. To- the dull apprehenfions,
likewife, and fenfual minds of the Ifraelitesy promifes
and threats of fpeedy accompliffiment were neceffary,
and well calculated to ¦ control: them, in fubfervi-
ency to thofe laws, of which the violation was im
mediately hoftile to the declared -intention of God,
in the conftkution of the Hebrew polity. Mofes,
refting alfo on the miraculous- proofs of its divine
original which accompanied the promulgation of the
law, and confident of the divine fupport initseft'a-
blifhmenti was under no neceffity of recommend
ing its acceptance by a direct appeal to thofe> high
and important inducements which might havd been
derived 'from the- confideration of a future life ;and
judgment. As -the minifter, however, of- a -divine
revelation, arf-a/teachtr of religion, in which -light
alfo Mofes muft be contemplated; he undoubtedly
intimated higher encouragements than thofe of tem
poral reward, and endeavoured "to "animate his people
by, the diiplay of a more- glorious profpect, He did
not, abiblutely propofe an eternal recompence to the,
as .well as all other people believed, and which had been implied
infGod's promifes to the patriarchs. La Blelerie', in a note to '
the Cufars of -Julian, well obferves, that no nation has received ¦
from its-lawgivers the belief of another life ; the lawgivers have
every where found it. The perfuafion of the immortality of the
foulT as welt as" that «f the existence- of God, is the tenet of all
nations; the faith of mankind,
3 , righteous,

64 OF THE PENTATEUCH".
righteous, but held out the expectation of immbf*
tality to thofe who relied on God's promifes.
Hence it is that he fo particularly defcribes the
attributes and defigns of God [z] ; fo ftrongly in
fills on the advantage of obedience, and occafionally
adverts to that final retribution, which ffiould take
place after death [a]. It was, however, not fo
much by the pofitive declarations, as by the figura
tive promifes of the law, that Mofes held out the
confideration of eternal recompence to his people ;
for it was confiftent with the typical character of the
firft difpenfation, which was figurative in all its parts,
to ffiadow out, rather than directly to reveal thofe
fpiritual rewards, which were to be annexed, as more
exalted fanctions to an higher covenant [b] ; and
that the promifes of the Mofaic law, were the figures
and reprefentations of " better things to come"
[c], as alfo, that its threats were fignificant of ftronger
denunciations, is evident, not ©nly from their cor-
[z J Exod. iii. 6. comp. with Luke xx. 37. Gen. i. 27. ii. 7.
iii. 15. Numb. xxiv. 17. Deut. xxxii. 39.
[a] Deut. xxxii. 29. (where Acherith-am fhould have been
tranflated, their future ftate). Numb, xxiii. 10. Deut, xxxii. 39.
[b] Heb. viii. 6. Though the law was defigned rather to con
vince mankind of fin, by the feverity of its requifi tions, than
to furnifh them with any diltinft affurance of immortality ; yet,
neverthelefs, falvation was unqueftionably to be obtained in
virtue of Chrift's atonement, by thofe who fulfilled the terms of
the old covenant. Luke x. 25, 28; xxv. 42, 43. Rom. iii. 19,
zo. Gal. iii. 22.
[c] Pfabn cxxxiii. 3. Deut. xxx. 15—19. comp. with Luke
x. 25 — 28. 9 refpondent

OF THE PENTATEUCH. 6$
refportdent and allufive character [d], but alfo from
the interpretations of the prophets; and it is cer
tain that if the fenfual and duller ranks were unable
to difcover the full extent of the promifes, yet the
more inftrUcted and more enlightened perfons un
derftood and confided in its fpiritual import [e].
Still, however, it muft be repeated, Mofes does
not ground his laws on fpiritual fanctions, but ra
ther has recourfe to the ftrongeft and moft affecting
motives of prefent confideration, urging God's threat
" of vifiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the
children [*]."
It remains to be remarked, with refpect to the
laws delivered to the people of Ifrael, that fome
were of a general and permanent, others of a con
fined and temporary nature. They are ufually dif
tinguiffied into moral, ceremonial, and judicial.
The ceremonial and the judicial laws are in the
following books joined together, as the Hebrew re
ligion and polity were built up together in one fa-
brick ; thefe laws, as adapted to the particular ftate
[d] Hieron. Epift. Dardan.
[e] Heb. xi. 8 — 16. The Mofaic covenant included that
made to Abraham, which was a counterpart of the gofpel Cove
nant, and of which the promifes were certainly fpiritual, and in
the renewal of this covenant, together with that made at Sinai,
Mofes blends temporal and fpiritual promifes. Vid. Gen. xvii. 7.
Deut. xxix. 13. xxx. Gal, iii. 8, 17. Jude 14, 15.- A<3s xxiv.
14, 15, &c.
[f] Exod. xx. 5. Deut. v. 9. This denunciation againft
idolatry applied to punifhments only in the prefent life, for
God afterwards declared, that as to future retribution, the fon
Ihould not bear the iniquity of the father. Ezek. xviii. 20.
F and

66 O? THE PENTATEUCH.
and government of the Ifraelites [g], and as often
incapable of general application [h], are collectively
reprefented as not obligatory on other nations.
, Many of thefe laws are indeed pronounced by Mofes,
to be " laws and ordinances for ever," " through
all generations [i]," and hence the Jews believe,
that they never fhall be abolifhed [k], but it is cer
tain, that thefe expreffions muft be underftood to
mean only, that fuch laws ffiould not be liable to ab
rogation by any human authority, and that they
ffiould long continue; but by no means, that they
ffiould never be reverfed by the fame authority, on
which they were firft eftablifhed [l].
The ceremonial laws were unqueftionably tran-
fient inftitutions, defigned to intimate and foreffiew
evangelical appointments. As therefore in their na-
[g] Circumcifion, as a rite of diftinftion, was ufelefs when
the barriers between thejew and Gentile were thrown down, its
figurative intention to promote purity of heart was preferved m
the gofpel precepts, and its adtual practice in hot countries, as
conducive to cleannefs, was not forbidden, or difcouraged, but
as it implied a fabferviency to the ritual law.
[h] The number of the prieft* and Levites was limited. All
nations could not be ferved by the Aaronical priefthood, neither
could they refort three times a year to one place.
[i] Exod. xii. 14 — 17. xxxi. 21. xl. 15. Levit. iii. 17. vi.
18. vii. 36. x. 9. xxiii. 14 — 21 — 31 — 41. xxiv. 3. Numb. xv.
15. xix. io.
[k] Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch. Par. II. cap. 38.
[l] The ceremonial laws were fometimes difpenfed with, as
was circumcifion- in the wildernefs, where it was of but little ufe.
So David eat of the fhew bread, and our Saviour juftified his
conduift. Vid. 1 Sam. xxi. 6. Matt. xii. 3 — 4. ture,

OF THE PEtftATEUCH. 67
ture, figurative of future particulars, they have paf
fed away on the accompliffiment of thofe things, of
Which they were the ffiadows [m] ; ritual obferv-
ances are now unprofitable as fpiritual righteoufnefs
is introduced [n], and the Levitical priefthood being
changed, its appendent laws ate changed alfo [o].
The end of the ceremonial laws is fulfilled, and they
remain only as the picture of a well concerted fcheme;
the prophetic teftimonies that fupport a more fpiritual
covenant. The judicial laws, alfo, as far as they reflected
the Ifraelites as a civil fociety, and were contrived
with regard to the peculiar and appropriate condition
of that people ; as far as they were fuited to the ex
igencies of a time, and devifed with a view to the
accompliffiment of certain purpofes now effected, are
no longer binding, as pofitive laws on us.
Christ did not indeed formally, and in exprefs
terms, repeal any part of the Mofaic law; but,
whatever was accompliffied, did neceffarily expire.
The Apoftles, it is true, though they regarded the
ceremonial law as a bondage from which they were
freed [p], ftill continued to obferve fome of its pre
cepts. This, however, was by no means as a necef
fary fervice, but in compliance with the prejudices
[m] ColofT. ii. 17.
[n] Rom. vii. 6. Heb, vii. 18, 19. 1 Peter ii. j. Barnab.
Epift. [o] Heb. vii. 12.
• [p] Acts xxi. 21—27. ' ^or. ix. 20. Gal. iv. v. 1 — 5.
Fa of

65' OF THE PENTATEUCH.
of the profelyte Jews [q_]. *As the force of educa
tion and long habit could not be immediately coun
teracted, the Jews were fuffered to continue in the
obfervance of thofe ritual precepts, which, if now
obfolete, were at leaft harmlefs, while they were not
fet up in oppofition to the pretenfions of the gofpel
covenant. The Apoftles, likewife, living under a govern--
ment which was founded on the Mofaic eftabliffi
ment, and which had the judicial laws incorporated
into the very frame of its conftitution, could not,
without violating the duties of good citizens, and
without offending againft the authority of the civil
magiftrate, refufe to be fubfervient to the regulations
of that polity ; they muft have perceived, however,
that as far as the civil were interwoven with the re
ligious inftitutions, they ffiould give way to evan
gelical appointments. They muft have Underftood,
that as the diftinctions between Jew and Gentile
were now to ceafe, the whole of that ceconomy
which was contrived to keep the Ifraelites a feparate
people, was ufelefs and inconfiftent with the defign
of chriftianity. Yet as they knew that it was only
[ qj Afts xvi. 3. St. Paul circumcifed Timotheus, " be
caufe of the Jews which were in. thofe quarters." In a coun
cil previoufly held, the Apoftles deliberated, indeed, concerning
the neceffity of Circumcifion; but they certainly underftood, that
with refpeft to the Gentiles at leaft, there could be no obligation
to obferve the law, as far as it was of a temporary and local na
ture. They appear to have affembled only to ratify by an una
nimous d\eciiion, the fentiments of Paul and Barnabas. Vid.
Adts XV. 1  29. by

OF, T H-E PENTATEUCH. 69
by the gradual operation of the Chriftian fpirit, that
the Jews could be weaned from a long eftablifhed
obedience to the law, and that in fact till the con-
ftitution of their country ffiould be changed or dif
folved, fuch obedience was in fome degree neceffary;
the apoftles only then reprobated the advocates for
the obfervance of the Mofaic law, when they fought
to enforce it as generally neceffary, and as a means
of juftification [r] : they taught that falvation was
to be obtained without the law [s], and-' exprefsly
exempted the Gentile converts from the neceffity of
reflecting any precepts but thofe which were entirely
moral, or partook of a moral character [t.]
As to the moral laws, whether thofe contained in
the Decalogue, or thofe occafionally interfperfed
through the judicial and ceremonial code, it is evi
dent that thefe, as having in themfelves an intrinfic
excellence and univerfal propriety, and as founded
on thofe relations which eternally fubfift, as well
[r] Auguft. cont. Fauft. Lib. XIX. cap. 17. Juft. Martyr,
Dialog, p. 230. Edit. Thirl. Conftit. Apoftol. Lib. VI. Cap. ii,
12 — 20, 21, 22. Rom. x. 5.
[s] Adts xiii. 39. Rom. iii. 28. ix. 32. Gal, ii. 16.
[t] Adts xv. 1,0, 11. This declaration was firft made in fa
vour of the Gentile nations. Vid. Adts xv. 19, who had neither
prejudices nor civil regulations to control them ; but the Gofpel
liberty was to extend equally to the Jews, when they fhould be
rejeafed from the influence of habit, and the injunctions of civil
authority. Rom. vii. 4. viii. 15. Indeed, after the deftrudtion
of Jerufalem, moft ofthe Hebrew eonverts tp Chriilianity re
nounced the Mofaic law without hefitation : a part only adhered
to it, as the Nazarenes, Ebionites, &c. Vide Mofheim. de Rebus
Chrift. Ant. Conftant. Sac. ii. feet.. 38, note *.
« F 3 with

7© Or THE PENTATEUCH.
with reference to our dependance on God^ as be
tween man and man reciprocally, muft remain in
perpetual force ; for the Mofaic law was annihilated,
only fo far as it was of a figurative and temporary
character. The ten Commandments which were firft given,
as containing the primary principles of all law, were
doubtlefs introduced with fuch majefty and folem
nity, that they might retain an everlafting and irre-
verfible authority, which no time ffiould alter, no
change of circumftance annul or invalidate ; they
were uttered by the voice of God, before the whole
multitude of Ifrael ; were written twice by God's
own finger [u] ; and are obvioufly diftinguiffied
from the other laws, which were given to Mofes
only, which were written by him, and which were
moulded in conformity to the peculiar condition and
circumftances of the Ifraelites. Mofes likewife, (as
has been obferved by Hooker [x],) evidently dif-
criminates the moral from the ceremonial laws, for
in his recapitulation of the law, in the book of Deu
teronomy, he fays, " the Lord fpake unto you out
of the midft of the fire^ ye heard the voice of the
words, but faw no fimilitude, only a voice, and he
declared unto you his covenant, which he command^
ed you to perform, the ten Commandments, and,
wrote them on two tables of ftone," (durable mo-
[u] Exod. xxxi. 1 8. That is by God's immediate power,
and not by the adt of man. Vid. Maimon. More Nevoc. Par. I.
cap. 65.
[x] Hooker's Ecclef. Polit. Book HI. p. 146. numents

OF THE PENTATEUCH. 7 1
numents to intimate their unperiffiable authority)
" and the Lord commanded me at the fame time to
teach you the ftatutes and judgments, that ye might
do them in the land whither ye go over to poffefs it
[y]." Thefe laws then, given for the advantage of
all mankind, founded on principles of invariable and
univerfal propriety [z], and ftamped with the two
great characters of Chriftian excellence, gratitude to
God, and love to man, are properly infcribed on ever-
lafting tablets, in the Chriftian church, and muft be
obferved as long as any reverence for the deity ffiall
exift. The other moral laws, which are intermixed with
the ceremonial and judicial precepts, and which have
entirely a general character [a], may be confidered
[y] Deut, iv. jo — 14. v.
[ z ] The morality of the fourth Commandment, and its per
petual force, (though with a change as to the day) has been
confidered as unqueftionable as that of any ether part of the De
calogue. [a] Of thefe there are many. Vid. Exod. xxi. 19, 20, 22.
xxii. 1, 4, 5, 6, 10, 11 — 16, 19, 20-— 22, 26 — 28. xxiii. 1 — 9,
12. Levit. xvii. 7. xix. 9, 10, 14, 17, 18, 29, 35, 36. xx. 9,
10, 17. xxiii. 22. xxiv. 18. Numb. xxx. 2. Deut. i. 16, 17.
xiv. 29. xv. 7, 8, 11. xvii. 6. xxii. 1 — 3. 14 — 21. xxv. 14,
15, It may be deemed fuperfluous to contend for thefe, as the
fame principles are inculcated in the Decalogue, but every in
junction which illuftrates the moral duties, and dilates moral
precepts, is important. The law and the prophets are not ufe
lefs, though we poffefs the " two Commandments on which
they hang," nor is the decalogue fuperfluous, fince the gofpel
hath furnifhed a more perfect, rule, and declared, that all the
law is fulfilled in one word. Matt. xxii. 40. Gal. v. 14.
Befides, the dignity of the Mofaic law is affedted by this con«
federation,
F 4 as

72 O.r THE PENTATEUCH.
as corollaries from, or commentaries on, the Deca?
logue. Thefe, though blended with others of a
local and temporary nature, and fcattered through a
collection fuperfeded, and virtually repealed, have,
as a revelation of the divine will, which is ever uni
form in the fame circumftances, as well as from their
intrinfic character, a claim to perpetual obfervance,
as much as thofe ofthe Decalogue. They were de
livered it is true with lefs awful circumftances tha.n
were the ten Commandments, which fiimmed up in
a compendious form the whole excellence of the
moral law ; but the other laws had not the lefs au
thority, becaufe delivered by the mediation of Mofes,
at the particular requeft of the people, who trembled
at the voice of God f b j ; and no argument againft
the perpetuity of thefe fecondary laws can be drawn
from the direction added, (chiefly for the fake of
thofe that were of a local and temporary nature) to
obferve them in the land of Judasa ; fince thofe of
the two tables, though indifputably of univerfal obli-.
gation, were delivered with a fimilar application, as
appears from the fanction annexed to the fifth Com
mandment [c]. No part of the law, as far as it is
[b] Exod. xx. 19.
[c] This annexed motive pf temporal reward, as well as the
exordium prefixed to the firft Commandment, and the coir.mc-
moration added to the fourth, in Deut. v. 15. have an appro
priate application when addreffed to the Je^vs, which, however,
by no means affedts the univerfality and perpetuity of the De
calogue ; and if the diredtion which accompanied the other
laws be conceived to reftridt their obfervance to the land of Ca
naan, it can apply only to thofe of a local and temporary nature,
fince the others might, with equal reafon, be obferved elfewhere. ftrictly

OF THE PENTATEUCH- "J J.
ftrictly moral, is abrogated by the gofpel, any more
than are the. commandments ofthe Decalogue. The
old difpenfation is declared invalid only as a covenant
of falvatipn, and it is evacuated in Chrift only as
far as it is accompliffied. Chrift came not to deftroy,
but to fulfil the law [d], and its moral defign is ftill
unaceompliffied, and muft fo continue till the end of
time, for fc till heaven and earth pafs away, one jot
or one tittle ffiall in no wife pafs from the law, till all
be fulfilled [e]." Our Saviour adds, ftill fpeaking
of the kw under one general confideration, " whofo
ever fhall break one of thefe leaft Commandments,
and ffiall teach men fo, he ffiall be called leaft in the
kingdom of Heaven ; but whofoever ffiall do and
teach them, the fame ffiall be called great in the
kingdom of Heaven ;" and he elfewhere annexes the
promife of life to the obfervance of the moral law [f].
The apoftles were fo far from confidering as abolifhed
any part of the Mofaic law, which had a moral cha
racter, that they exprefsly ratified and enjoined as ne
ceffary, injunctions not contained in the Decalogue,
but which had only a moral tendency [o]. It follows then
[d] Matt. v. 17.
[e] Matt. v. 18. Luke xvi. 17.
[f] Matt. v. 19. x. 27, 28.
[c] Adts xv. The Apoftles in the firft council held at Je
rufalem, after having pronounced > the ceremonial law to be
burthenfome and unneceffary, enjoined to the Gentiles, in the
name of " the Holy Ghoft," an obfervance of the Mofaic
law, where it had a general charadter and moral tendency,
and in the very terms, as Well as in the fpirit, of the Mofaic
law, (confidered diftindtly from the Decalogue) they prefcribed unto

74 OF THE PENTATEUCH.
then from thefe confiderations, that though the law
be abrogated, as a covenant infufficient and prepara
tory [h], though its ceremonies have vanifhed as
the veil and covering of fpiritual things, and its ju
dicial inftitutions are diffolved with the ceconomy of
the Hebrew government, its moral pillars remain un
ffiaken. The law then is aboliffied only fo far as
fulfilled and fuperfeded by a more excellent difpenfa
tion. As its precepts prefigured this, they have ter-
unto the Gentiles " as neceffary things," that they fhould ab«
flain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from
tMpgs ftrangled, and from fornication ; inafmuch 3s thefe were
deftriptive of a difpofition to idolatry, and adopted in oppo
fition to the fervice of God. St. James concludes his advice,
by intimating, that thefe jnftrudtions were permanent precepts
of tlie law of Mofes, which was ** read in every city." Vid.
Adb xv. 1, 7, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21, 24, 28, 29. St. Paul,
in his epiftles, afferts the abrogation of the law, only as fet up
in oppofition to the gofpel, to which it was " a fchool-mafter"
(or pedagogue). In comparifon of which it was " elementary
and beggarly ;" but in reference to which, and in its moral
and fpiritual charadter, it was " holy, juft, and gopd." Vid.
Rom. iii. 20, 24, 28, 31. viii. 4. Gal. iii. 24. iv. 9.
1 Tim. i. 8—10. v. 18. 1 Cor. ix. 9, 10. where a Mofaic
precept not in the Decalogue is faid to be fpoken " altogether
for our fakes." Vid. Deut. xxv. 4. In this, as in other in
ftances, where a moral import is couched under a figurative
precept, we may fay with St. Ambrofe, " evacuatur in Chrifto,
non vetus Teftamentum, fed velameu ejus." Epift. 76. Deut.
xxii. 10. Rom. vii. 14. See, laftly, xxiii. 56. where St.
Paul admits the authority of a general precept, delivered in
Exod. xxii. 28.
[h] We are freed alfo from the curfes of the law, " the
miniftration of death." Vid. Gal. iii. 13. 2 Cor. iii, 7. hut
not from its directive power.
6 minated;

OF THE PENTATEUCH. 75
minated ; as its appointments prepared for this, they
were exclufively confined to the Hebrew nation ;
as its commandments correfpond with the moral
defigns of the gofpel, they are incorporated with,
and fhould be obferved under, the Chriftian cove
nant. The Mofaic difpenfation, inafmuch as it was re-
ftricted to one nation, and contrived to effect its pur
pofe, by partial' regulations, cannot be fuppofed to
have been productive of that liberal and diffufive ber
nevolence which characterizes the gofpel ; which is
a .covenant defigned to embrace all nations, and to
promote univerfal love. But though the peculiar
privileges, which the firft covenant conferred on the
Ifraelites, led them to entertain an arrogant and un
reafonable conceitj it is certain that the Mofaic law-
recommended throughout as much benevolence as
was confiftent withrthaTdiftinction, which it was in
tended to promote. The principles on which it is
framed, may be always adopted with advantage, fince
it breathes throughout a fine fpirit of moral equity ;
of merciful regard to ftrangers [1], and even to the
brute creation [k] ; and tends, by its literal and
figurative precepts [l] to awaken benevolence and
charitable difpofitions.
The five books of Mofes furniffi us with a com
pendious hiftory of the world, from the creation to
die arrival of the Ifraelites, at the verge of Canaan,
[1] Paffim.
[kJ Exod. xxiii. 12. Deut. v. 14. xxii. 6, 7/
[t] Deut. xxii. 10. xxv. 4. a period

TjS QF THE PENTATEUCH.
a period of above 2250 years. It is a wide defcrip
tion, gradually contracted ; an account of one nation,
preceded by a general fketch of the firft ftate of
mankind. The books are written in pure Hebrew,
with an admirable diverfity of ftyle, always well
adapted to the fubject, yet characterifed with the
ftamp of the fame author ; they are all evidendy
parts of the fame work, and mutually ftrengthen
and illuftrate each other. They blend revelation
and hiftory in one point of view, furniffi laws, and
defcribe their execution, exhibit prophecies, and re
late their accompliffiment.
Besides the Pentateuch, Mofes is faid to have
compofed many of the Pfalms, and fome have,
though improperly, attributed to him all thofe be
tween the 90th and" the 100th inclufive. He ap
pears, however, to have been the firft writer who
was^ infpired in the productions of facred hymns, and
thofe contained in the xvth chapter of Exodus, and
the xxxiid of Deuteronomy, furniffi very beautiful
models of his enraptured poetry. The book of Job
has been with fome probability fuppofed to have been
written or tranflated by Mofes, and many apocryphal
works have been afcribed to him, by writers de
firous of recommending their works under the fanc-
tion of his name. Cedrenus transferred into his
hiftory, a book, which paffed under the name of
Mofes, ftyled Little Genefis [m], and which con
tained many fpurious particulars. It was extant in
[m] AtifliyHtcif.
2 Hebrew

OF THE PENTATEUCH. 77
Hebrew in the time of St. Jerom, and cited by him,
but condemned as apocryphal, by the council of
Trent. Others attribute to him an apocalypfe, from
which they pretend, that St. Paul copied in ver. 1 5
of ch. vi. to the Galatians ; but thefe, as well as
thofe entitled the afcenfion, and the affumption of
Mofes, and fome myfterious books, were probably
fabricated by the Sethians or Sethedians, an ancient
feet of Gnoftic heretics, who pretended to be derived
from Seth, and to poffefs feveral books of the Pa
triarchs [n]. [n] Athan. Synop.

OF

[ 7S ]

OFTHE
BOOK of GENESIS.
THIS, which is the firft book in order of the
Pentateuch, is called Berefchith in thofe He
brew copies, which adopt the divifion of the Penta
teuch into five books [a]. This word fignifies the
beginning, and was chofen for the title, in confor
mity to the Hebrew cuftom of denominating the fa
cred books from their initial words refpedtively. The
book, however, is ufually entitled Genefis, from a
Greek word [b] which imports generation. It was
written by Mofes, as the concurrent teftimonies of all
ages declare [c], as fome fuppofe, in the land of Mi-
[ a ] Some private copies only are divided, thofe ufed in the
Jewifh fynagogues are not.
[b] TiiEc-i;. Generation, production. It is remarkable that
the New Teftament begins with the fame word Bi£^o{ yttiaiui
[ cj Du Pin. Dirt". Prel. Sedt. I, Huet. The mention which is
made in chap. xii. 6. and xiii. 7. of the Canaanites and Perizzites
being then in the land, does not prove that the paffages were
Written after the expulfion of thefe nations; nor does the expref
fion of " before there reigned any king in Ifrael," neceffarily
imply, that there were kings when the book was written. The
account of the kings of Edom, which correfponds with that in,
the Book of Chronicles, was probably afterwards inferted by
fome prophet, or authorifed perfon. dian,

OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 79
dian, where Mofes fed the flocks of his father-in-law,,
in the wildernefs, with defign, it is faid, to comfort the
Hebrews in their fervitude, by the example of con-
ftancy in their fathers, and by a difplay of the oracles
and promifes of God ; as particularly in that remark
able revelation to Abraham, that " his feed ffiould
be a ftranger in a land not theirs, and ffiould ferve
them, and be afflicted 400 years, and that God ffiould
judge that nation whom they ffiould ferve, and after
wards they ffiould come out with great fubftance
[d]." Eufebius [e] intimates his refpect for this
opinion, but Theodoret [f] and others fuppofe that
the book was written in the wildernefs after the pro
mulgation of the law, and a third hypothefis has
been offered from the Rabbi Mofes Ben Nachman,
that God dictated to Mofes all the contents of the
Book during the forty days that he was permit
ted to have a communication with the deity on
Mount Sinai, and that at his defcent, he committed
the whole to writing. It is, however, as impoffible, N
as it is of little confequence, to determine which of
thefe opinions is beft founded, and it is fufficient for
us to know, that Mofes was affifted by the fpirit of
infallible truth, in the compofition of this facred
[d] Gen. xv. 13, 14. From the birth of Ifaac to the de
liverance from Egypt was 405 years. The 430 years men
tioned in Exodus xii. 40. includes the twenty-five years of
Abraham's fbjourning in Canaan, before the birth of Ifaac.
Vid. Patrick in loe.
[e] Eufeb. Prsp. Evan. Lib. II. cap. 7.
[f] Theod. Quail, in Gen. Ven. Bede, fee. work

80 OF THE BOOK Of GENESIS.
Work [g], which he deemed a proper introduction
to the laws and judgments delivered in the fubfe-
quent books.
The defcription which Mofes furniffies in this
book, concerning the creation, as relating to cir^
cumftances previous to the exiftence of mankind,
could be derived only from immediate revelation
[h]. It was received by the Jews with full convic
tion of its truth, on the authority of that infpiration,
under which Mofes was known to act. But when
the book was firft delivered, many perfons .then liv
ing muft have been competent tq^ decide on the
fidelity with which he relates thofe events, which
were fubfequent to the creation ; they muft have
heard of, or difbelieved, the remarkable incidents
in the lives of the Patriarchs, the prophecies which
they uttered, and the actions which they perform
ed ; for the longevity of man in the earlier ages of
the world, rendered tradition the criterion of truth;
and in the days of Mofes, the channels of informa
tions muft have been as yet uncorrupted ; for though
ages had already elapfed, even 2432 years before
the birth of the facred hiftorian, yet thofe relations
were eafily afcertained, which might have been con
veyed by feven perfons from Adam to Mofes, and
that the traditions were fo fecure from error, we
ffiall immediately be convinced, when we confider
that Methufalem .was 340 years old when Adam
died, and that he lived till the year of the flood,
[g] Rom. iv. 3. Gal. iii. 8. Jam. ii. 23.
[h] Origen Homil. 26 in Numer. when

OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 8 1
when Noah had attained 600 years [1]. In like
manner Shem conveyed tradition from Noah to
Abraham, for he converfed with both a confiderable
time. Ifaac alfo, the fon of Abraham, lived to in-
ftruct Jofeph in the hiftory of his predeceffors, and
Amram,. the father of Mofes, was contemporary with
Jofeph [k]. The Ifraelites then muft Have been
able, by interefting tradition, to judge" how far 'the
Mofaic account was confiftent with truth [l]. If
the memory of man,reached beyond the period af
figned to the creation, they muft have difbelieved
the Mofaic hiftory •; but if through fo fmall a number
of immediate predeceffors, they could trace up the
origin of mankind to Adam, we need not wonder
at the implicit veneration which ratified the records
of the facred hiftorian ; which accepted a revelation,
confirmed by every received account, and ftamped
by every fanction of divine authority. The facred
[1] Adam died, A. M. 930, 126 years only before the birth
of Noah, and therefore muft have been feen by many of Noah's
contemporaries. Lamech, the father of Noah, had certainly
feen Adam and his children, being born fifty-fix years before
Adam's death ; and Noah himfelf might have feen feveral me
morials exifting, to prove the truth of thofe events afterwards re
corded by Mofes, for Noah died only two years before the birth
of Abraham ; and Ifaac might have feen Shem and Selah, who
converfed with Noah many years.
[k] The tradition then was. conveyed from Adam, through
Methufalem, Noah, Shem, Abraham, Ifaac, Jofeph, and Amram
to Mofes, feven intermediate perfons. This account of the lori-
gevity of mankind, in the firft ages of the world, is confirmed
by Manetho, Berofus, Mochus, Heftaeus, &c.
[l] Eufeb, Pi-»p. Evang. Lib. IX. cap. ult.
G charafUr

&2 OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
character of the book is eftablifhed alfo by the in
ternal evidence of its infpiration ; by the revealed
hiftory ofthe creation ofthe world; by the feveral
predictions afterwards fully accomplifhed ; and laftly,
by the fuffrage of our Saviour and his apoftles, who
have cited from it at leaft twenty-feven paffages ver
batim in the New Teftament, and thirty-eight ac
cording to, the fenfe [m ] . :
GenEsJs contains the hiftory of 2369 years to the
death of Jofeph, or thereabouts, if we follow "the
account of the ages of the Patriarchs, and fuppofe
the flood tb have happened about 1656 years after
the creation. It is perhaps fcarce worth the trouble
¦to obferve, that fome very futile objections have
been made to the period which is affigned by Mofes
to the creation, as though it were too recent to be
reconciled with fome natural appearances ; for it has
ever been found, upon accurate inveftigation, that
though the exiftence of the world, according to the
Mofaical account, be too ffiort [n], to be compati ble
[ m ] As Rivet has accurately, calculated.
[™] The creation of the world began, according to Ufher,
on Sunday, Odtober 23 ; before the birth of Chrift 4004 years,
if we follow the Hebrew text. The Septuagint verfion places
it 5872, and the Samaritan 4700 before the vulgar aera. The
Septuagint reckons 2262 years before the flood ; the Samaritan
only 1307. Vid. Jackfon's Chron. Tab. Aug. Civit. Dei,
Lib. XII. Newton's Hift. of Antidel. World, p. 98. Strau-
chius Brev. Chron. tranflated by Sault, p. 166, 176, &c.
Capel. Chron. Sac. in Appar. Walton. Some place the crea
tion about the time of the vernal equinox, fince Mofes and
the facred writers, reckon their firft month Abib from that
time.

OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 83
ble withr the theories of fome fanciful men, yet that
juft philofophical reafoning has always tended to cor
roborate the affurance of the received date of the
creation. The extended accounts of the Chaldean,
Egyptian, and Chinefe chronology, which reach far
beyond all bounds of probability [o], and the mag
nified calculations of fome other nations are now
juftly confidered as the fictions of national vanity, or
the exaggerations of erroneous computation. They
are often in themfelves contradictory [p], and ut
terly inconfiftent with all obfervations on the appear
ance of nature ; all philofophical enquiry ; and the
advancement of mankind in arts, fciences, and re
finement. Thefe improbable fabrications are deli
vered by authors who lived long after Mofes : whofe
veracity is impeached in other inftances ; and whofe
general accounts are inveloped in fable, and tinctured
by credulity. The learned Halley has obferved,
time. Vid. Virgil. Georg. II. 1. 336. &feq, but this was in
memory of their deliverance in Egypt. The firft month in civil
calculations was the firft after the autumnal equinox ; this was
, called Tifri, and anfwers to part of our September.
[o] The Babylonians reckoned up 33,000 years; the Chal
deans in the time of Cicero talked of 47,000 ; and Manetho,
jealous for the reputation of his country, carried back his chro
nological accounts to 36,525 years. Vid. Cicer, de Divin. Lib.
I. Bryant's Mythol. vol. 3. Petav. &c. Maurice's Hiftory of
Hindoftan. [p] Manetho profeffes to have tranfcribed his Dynafties from
fome pillars of Hermes Trifmegiftus. As Sanchoniatho alfo de
rived his theology from Hermes, different accounts muft have
been drawn from the fame fource. Vid. Stilling. Orig. Sac. Lib.
1. cap. z. The fountain or the ftreams muft have been corrupt.
G 2 that

§4 OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
that the oldeft aftronomical obfervations made by
the Egyptians, of which- we' have any account at
this day, were later than 300 years before Chrift
[ qJ. The Chaldsean calculations are unworthy of
attention, fince they contradict the account of the
flood, and are quite irreconcileable with the general
teftimony of ancient hiftory ; and the chimerical ac
counts of the Chinefe, written in hieroglyphics, and
refcued imperfectly and with difficulty from deftruc
tion, cannot properly be produced in fupport of any
theory, repugnant to more authentic chronicles [r],
much lefs can they be fuffered to invalidate the chro
nology of the fcriptures. The incredible and con-
[ qJ Sanchoniathcu the Phoenician Hiftorian', according \i
the moft extended accounts of Porphyry, flourifhed long after
Mofes, probably no£ lefs than two centuries. Manetho and
Berofus lived not more than 300 years before Chrift. Vid.
Bochart. Geogr. Sac. Part 2. Lib. II. cap. 17. Jof. Scalig.
Not. in Eufeb. Chron. p. i2.'Pr2ep. Evang. Lib. I. cap. 9.
Lib. X. cap. 9. Scalig. Can. Ifag. Lib. III. Stilling. Orig.
Sac. Book I. ch. ii. fedt. 4. Diod. Bib. Lib. 1. Laft. de Orig,
Error. Lib. II. cap. 12. Voff. deldol. Lib. I. cap. 28. Wooton's
Refledt. on Ant. and Mod. Learning, and Stackhoufe's Hift. of
Bible. Book I. ch. 5.
[r] One of the Chinefe Emperors, about 213 years before
Chrift, ordered all their hiftorical records to be deftroyed.
The Chinefe have not any work in an intelligible character,
above 2200 years old ; Father Amiot confiders their nation'as
a colony, derived from the immediate defcendants of Noali,
and their traditional knowledge, and religious dodtrines, when
freed' from ignorance and fup«rftitious additions, exhibit a
Correfpondence with the Patriarchal principles. Vid. Martini.
P. 2, 3, 9. Mem. de L'Hift. des Sciences, &c. Chinois, Vol.1.
Par. 1776. tradictory

OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS,. 85
-tradictory accounts which thefe ,[s] nations furniffi,
appear to have been fwelled to fo great a magnitude,
by varying the modes of calculation, by feparating
contemporary events, and by fubftituting lunar for
folar periods. They are the mifreprefentations of
pride, or the errors of inattention, and unworthy to
be put in competitionxwith the accuracy and docu
ments of revealed information [t].
Every
[s] The Greeks could produce no dates beyond 550 years be
fore Chrift, and little hiftorical information before the olympiads,
which began 775 years before Chrift. Herodotus, who flourifhed
lefs than five centuries before our Saviour, begins with fable ;
Thucydides rejedts, as uncertain, all that preceded the Pelopon-
nefian war ; and Plutarch ventured not beyond the time of The-
feus, who lived a little before the miniftry of Samuel. Vid.
Plutarch's Life of Theseus. Strabo's Geograph. Lib. XVII.
[t] Some difficulties, equally futile and unreafonable, have
likewife been ftar,ted againft the probability of that account,
which derives the whole race of mankind from one common flock,
notwithftanding the diverfity of complexion, and the feparation
of country ; but actual obfervation hath afcertained that climate
and local circumftances are fufticient to account for every diflimi-
.laritV, which is difcovered in the appearance of. different nations.
The fuppofed difficulties of emigration are likewife obviated by
recent difcoveries in geography : for thefe demonstrate a much
.greater proximity in countries, between which no communica
tion was fuppofed to exift in the earlier ages of the world, than
obtains between'thofe from which early emigrations have con-
. feffedly been made, and thofe to which they, have been diredted.
It is now .determined, by pofitive examination, that the north
eaft part, of Afia is either connedted with the north weft part of
America, or feparated from it by a very inconfiderable diftance ;
, though, • indeed, this difcovery was not neceflary to prove that
the favage nations of the weftern continent muft have derived
G 3 their

86 OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
Every circumftance, indeed, in the Mofaic ac
count, bears, if impartially confidered, a ftriking
feature of probability and truth; and the whole is far
different from the wild and inconfiftent theories,
which have at different times been imagined and
framed by fanciful- men [u] ; whofe crude and ex
travagant conjectures concerning the creation, only
prove the impoffibility of treating fuch a fubject with
out the aid of infpiration. Mofes defcribes the great
their origin from the fame common fource as the eaftern nations ;
fince not to infift on the arguments for the recency of their efta-
blifhment, which might be drawn from their uncivilized ftate,
and their rude ignorance of the ufeful arts, they retained the
veftiges of opinions and cuftoms, which were fo remarkably
fimilar to thofe that prevailed in the eaft, as evidently to point
out a former connedtion : a reverence for the Sabbath, and an
acquaintance with many appointments of the Mofaic inftitution,
were obferved to exift in America, by the firft difcoverers of
that country, too numerous indeed to be the refult of accident or
cafual refemblance; all the Americans had fome traditionary
acquaintance with the particulars of the Mofaic hiftory; as
of the flood ; of one family preferved ; and of the confufion of
tongues. The Mexicans had a cuftom of tinging the threfhold of
the door with blood, poffibly in allufion to the circumftances that
diftinguifhed the inftitution of the Paffover, and the Canadians
had even fome idea of the Mefliah. Huet. Demon. Evang. cap.
vii. fedt. 3. Lerii Navig. in Brafil. cap. 16. Joann. de Laet.
Antwerp. Not. ad Differt. Grot, de Orig. Gent. American.
Acofta's Hift. Lib. V. cap. 28. Peter Mart. Decad iv. cap. 8.
and Decad viii. cap. 9. Geor. Horn, de Orig. Gent. American.
Harris's Introd. to Collect,. Voyage. Smith's Effay on the
Caufes of Variety of Complexion and Figure in the Human
Species. [uj Cudworth's Intel. Syftem, and Cofmog. pref. to Univ.
Hift. Clarke's Demonft. of Being and Attributes of God. work

OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 87
work of the creation, not in an exact philofophi
cal detail, but in a ftyle adapted to popular appre-
henfions, and with a concife magnificence, defigned
to imprefs mankind with juft notions of God, and
of his ¦attributes [x]. The account is given without
any attempt to eftabliffi fyftem, and in a manner
levelled to all capacities, though univerfally admired
for its fublimity. It reprefents the whole world to be
material and created, in oppofition to the prevailing
'notion, that the heavenly bodies were animated by an
eternal power [y]. The divine agency is repre
fented under images and defcriptions accommodated
to human conceptions, and though the real mode of
God's operation, and proceedings cannot be appre
hended by us at prefent, they are in fome meafure
fubjected to our underftanding, under analogous re
prefentations, which illuftrate their character. But
notwithftanding the nature of God's agency is ad
umbrated under terms and expreffions adapted to
human actions, the account of the creation is not to
be confidered as allegorical, or merely figurative,
any more than the hiftory of the temptation, and of
the fall from innocence ; fince the whole defcription
is unqueftionably delivered as real, and is fo con-
[ x J Some think that the world was inftantaneoufly created,
though reprefented by Mofes, as performed in fucceflion of time,
in accommodation to our conceptions, but it is more reafonable
and confiftent with the account to believe that it was completed
in detail. Mofes fpeaks of the creation Of the univerfe, but
treats of the heavenly bodies only fo far as they refpedted the
earth.1 [ y J Longin. de Sublim. feci. 9.
G 4 . fidered

88 OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
fidered by all the facred writers [z]. In the expla
nation of fcripture; indeed, no interpretation which
tends to fuperfede the literal fenfe ffiould be admit
ted : and for this reafon alfo it is, that thofe fpecu-
lations which are fpun out with a view to render
particular relations in this book more confiftent with
cur ideas of probability, ffiould be received at leaft
with great diffidence and caution. To reprefent the
formation of the woman from Adam's rib, as a work
performed in an imaginary fenfe, or as pictured to
the mind in vifion, feems to be too great a departure
from the plain rules which ffiould be obferved in the
conftruction of fcripture [a], and inconfiftent with
the expofitions of the facred writers. So likewife
the wreftling of Jacob with an angel [b], though
fometimes confidered as a fcenical reprefentation ad-
dreffed to the fancy of the Patriarch, ffiould rather
be contemplated hke the temptation of Abraham [cj, as
[z] John viii. 44. 2 Cor. xi. 3. 1 Tim. ii. 13. Rev. xii. 9.
Allix's Refledt. on Gen. Waterland's Gen. Pref. to Script. Vind,
Watty's Effay towards Vindic. of Mofaic Hift. Nichols's Confer.
with a Theift. Part I. P. 136. Bochart de Scrip. Tentat. p. 836.
[a] Gen. i. 22, 23. This is related by Mofes as a real ope?
ration, though performed while Adam was in a deep fleep, and
is fo confidered by the facred writers. 1 Cor. xi. 8, 9,
[b] Ch. xxxii. 24, 25.
[ c ] Ch. xxii. The enjoined facrifice of Ifaac is properly conr
fidered as a typical reprefentation, which was underftood by
Abraham tp prefigure the facrifice of Chrift. Vid. John viii. 56,
But it cannot be admitted, that ,the command was merely an in
formation by adtion given at the requeft of Abraham, as this, not
withftanding

OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 89
as a literal tranfaction, though perhaps of a figurative
character ; like that, it was defigned to convey in
formation by action inftead of words, of certain par
ticulars which it imported the Patriarch to know [d] ;
and which he readily collected from a mode of re
velation, fo cuftomary in the earlier ages of the
world, however it may feem incongruous to thofe
who cannot raife their (minds to the contemplation
of any ceconomy which they have not experienced,
and who' proudly queftion every event not confiftent
with their notions of propriety.
, After having related the difbbedience of Adam,
and its puniffiment, foftened by the gracious promife
of a future feed, that ffiould bruife the feducer to
fin [e], Mofes defcribes the» multiplication of man-
withftanding the arguments of the learned Warburton, muft be
confidered as inconfiftent with the paffages in fcripture, where
God is faid to have tempted Abraham. Gen. xxii. 1 . Heb. xi.
17, VjdeDiv. Legat. Book VI. fedt. 5.
[d] Ch. xxxii. 24, 25. The fuccefsful ftruggle which Jacob
maintained, was intended to convey to him an affurance of that
deliverance from the hand of Efau, which he had pioufly intreated ;
it is reprefented as an adtual event by Mofes, and is fo received by
Hofea, ch. xii. 4. St. Jerom underftands it as figurative of fpiri
tual conflidts which we are to maintain. Hieron. in cap. 6. Epift.
ad Ephef.
[e] Gen. iii. 15, It is remarkable that in this firft prophecy
pf the Meffiah, he is promifed as the " feed of the woman."
The Jews were at a lofs to account for the reftridtion, of which
the reafon is revealed to us in the account of the miraculous con
ception of Chrift by a virgin. It deferves to be noticed, that the
bruifing of the Mefliah's heel was literally accomplifhed by the
crucifixion, The head likewife of the ferpent is faid to be the
feat of life, his heart being under the throat, and hence, his chief
fare, when attacked, is to fecure his head. kind,

OO OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
kind, and the evil confequences of' the entailed cor
ruption; the intermixture ofthe defcendants of Seth,
" the fons of God," with the family of Cain, " the
daughters of men;" the progrefs of impiety, and
its puniffiment ; the prefervation of Noah, and of
his family, from amidft the general deftruction by
the flood; he proceeds to treat of God's covenant
with man ; of the difperfion of the defcendants of
Noah; of the confufion of tongues; ofthe cove
nant made with Abraham; of the deftruction of
Sodom and Gomorrah ; and of fuch particulars in
the lives of the Patriarchs, as were beft calculated
to illuftrate the proceedings and judgments of
God, and the rife and progrefs of religion; and
he concludes with the interefting ftory of Jofeph,
and of the fettlement of the Ifraelites in Egypt. Thus
have we a clear, though ffiort, hiftory of the firft
ao-es of the world, which prophane writers had vainly
endeavoured to refcue from the lhades of antiquity.
The whole is related with a concife and noble fim-
plicity of ftyle fuitable to the dignity of the fubject.
The facred writer, anxious only to furniffi impor
tant intelligence, defcribes the earlier periods with
rapidity, and dilates more copioufly on the intereft
ing tranfactions of which the effects and influence
were recently experienced. In the hafty fketch,
however, even of the firft ages, Mofes by the fe-
lection of individual families for confideration, de
lineates a ftriking picture of the manners of each
period ; and by occafionally defcending to the minute -
nefs of biography, affords a lively illuftration of the
fmaller

of the book of genesis. 91
fmaller features, and familiar manners of the Patri
archal ages.
In the courfe of his hiftory, Mofes defcribes events
as they occurred, and characters as they appeared.
The actions of the patriarchs and favourite anceftors
of the Jews, however exceptionable, and even the
deceitful cruelty of Levi, (from whom the hiftorian
was defcended,) as alfo the curfes denounced againft
him [f], are related without difguife. One circum
ftance muft, , however, be remembered by thofe who
would underftand the fcope and defign of the facred
writer, in furnifhing us with particular relations con
tained in this book, which is, that he always kept in
mind the promife of the Meffiah ; and was defirous
of fhewing, that the expectation of this great object
of the Jewiffi hopes was predominant in all times,
and influenced the opinions and manners of every
generation. The recollection of this will furniffi the
reafon of many particulars mentioned in the book,
which might otherwife appear extraordinary and ex
ceptionable. It will explain the conduct of Lot's,
daughters [g] ; the violent defire of Sarah for a
/
[f] Ch. xxxiv. 13-^-25. xlix. 5, 6.
[g] R. Samuel and R. Tanchumah, on Gen. xix. 32. This
inceft certainly proceeded from a defire of producing the Meffiah :
as Lot's daughters were previoufly diftinguifhed for chaftity ; as
it was a concerted and deliberate proceeding; and as they wifhed
to perpetuate the memory of the adtion, by the names which
they gave the children ; for Moab implies born of my father,
and Ben-ammi has a fimilar import. Vid. Allix's Refledt, on
Gen. fon;

52 OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS.
fon; the folicitude of Ifaac to remove the barnennefs
of Rebekah ; and the contention between the wives
of Jacob. In conformity with this defign alfo Mofes
relates the jealoufies between Iffimael and Ifaac ; and
between Efau and Jacob ; and many other minute
and fingular particulars, which an hiftorian of his
dignity would not have condefcended to defcribe,
but with a view to illuftrate the general perfuafion
of, and gradual preparation for, the coming of the
Meffiah. The book contains likewife fome fignal and direct
prophecies concerning Chrift [h] ; and other toter-
fperfed predictions ; which by their accompliffiment
authenticate the truth ofthe fer ip ture accounts. Mo
fes defcribes, alfo, the predictions of other perfons,
who were occafionally enlightened by the PIqly
Spirit, to unfold .parts of the divine ceconomy, and
to keep alive the confidence and hopes of mankind,
" delivering the prophecies which have been uttered
ever fince the world began [i]."
It may he briefly obferved, that many particulars
in pagan hiftory, as well as many circumftances in
the prefent appearance of the world, both natural
and moral, tend to prove the truth of thofe accounts
which are furnifhed in this book. Innumerable
[h] Gen. iii. 15. xii. 3. xviii. 18. xxi. 12. xxii. 18. xxvi.
4. xxviii. 14. xlix. 10, 18.
[1] Gen. vi. 3. ix. 25—27. xiii. 15, 16. xv. 5, 13—16.
xvi. 12. xvii. 8, 20. xviii. 14. xxi. 12, 13. xxv. 23. xxvi, 4.
xxvii. 29, 39, 40. xxxv. 11. xl. 13, 18, 19. xii. 29 — 31. xlvi.
4. xlviii. 19. xlix. 3 — 27. L 24. traces

OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 93
traces of the Mofaic hiftory, and of the events and
characters which it defcribes, are difcoverable in every
page of prophane authors.' The fpot on which Sodom
and Gomorrah ftood, ftill indicates a fulphureous qua
lity [k], and daily veftiges Of the deluge point out
its extenfivc effects. The various manners, cuftoms,
and fuperftitions of many ancient nations, unchanged
during a long fucceffion of ages, ftill remain to
prove the fidelity and exadtnefs of the defcriptibns
given by Mofes [l] ; and in the predominant gennis
[k] The lake Afphaltites is a fea of very bituminous nature ;
it throws up great quantities of afphaltos, a drug formerly ufed
by the Egyptians and* other nations for embalming, &c. Vid.
Maundrell. Pocpck. Univer. Hift. Vol. II. Book I. ch. vii. p.
418. Keill's Exam, of Reflect, on Theor. p. 148. Waterland's
pref. to Vind. Jenkins's Reafon. Vol. II. p. 526. alfo Jofeph.
Antiq. Lib. I. Cap. 9. Plin. Nat. Hift. Lib. V. cap. 16. and Ta-
citi Hift. Lib. V. fedt. 7. The account of the latter author is
remarkable. He relates that the plains where the cities flood,
were faid, " olim/uberes, magnifque urbibus habitatos, fulminum
jadtu arfiffe : et manere veltigia, terramque ipfam fpecie torridam,
vim frtigiferam perdidiffe. Nam" cundta fpdnte edita, aut mann
fata, five herba tenus aut flore, feu folitam in fpeciem adolevere,
atra & inania velut in cinerem vanefcunt." He adds, " Ego
ficut inclitas quondam urbes igne caelefti flagraffe concefferim, ita
halitu lacus infici terram, corrumpi fuperfufum fpiritum, eoque
faetus fegetum et autumni putrefcere rebr, folo c'xloque juxt'a
gravi." Vid. alfo Strabo's Geogl: Lib. XVI. TheVenot's Tra
vels and Volney's Voyage en Syrie, &c. Vol. I. p. 281.
[l] His geographical accounts are confiftent with the moft
authentic memorials. Vid.: Joferih. Grotius and Bochart. jJar-
mer's Obfervations ¦ oh divefs paffages Of Script. &c. Huet.
Demon. Prop. IV. Avenarius in verbb Jarek.
3 and

94. OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS*
and difpofition of the modern Jews, we witnefs a
wonderful correfpondence with the picture of their
ancient character. No length of time, or difference
of condition, hath been able to efface thofe ftrong
features of national peculiarity which are imprinted
on this fingular people, and which ffiew themfelves
fo remarkably in their prejudices, conduct, and man
ners, in different countries, and under different go
vernments. The reafon and, ground of their obferv-
ances and ceremonies, are traced out in this book ;
and though in the fubfequent parts of the Pentateuch
the laws are laid down by which their civil and reli
gious conduct are influenced, yet here chiefly are de
fcribed the caufes and fource from which they are de
rived, as may be inftanced in the' cafes of the Sabbath,
and ofthe Circumcifion. [m], not to mention other
particulars. Genefis was, indeed, very properly pre
fixed to thofe books in which Mofes communicated
the divine commands, fince herein are difplayed the
moft impreffive proofs of God's exiflfence and attri
butes, and herein is ffiewn the authority from which
Mofes derived his commiffion as a law-giver ; and it
was therefore probably written as preparatory to the
promulgation of the law [n]. It is likewife excel
lently ferviceable to illuftrate the great defign and
tendency of revelation; which is ever delivered in a
manner conformable tb the fallen and depraved na-
[m] Allix's Reflections on Genefis, republifhed in Bp. Wat-
fon's Theological Tradts. Vid. ch. xxxii. 32. Eufeb. Prasp.
Evan. Lib. VII, ch. 9.
[nJ Eufeb. Pneruivian, ch. ii. Hid. Pelufiot. ture

OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 95
ture of man. It defcribes the origin of a diftinct im
material Spirit, derived immediately from God ; and
the firft inftitution of the marriage union. It paints
out the true fource of evil, in an account confiftent
with the divine attributes, and confirmed by the cha
racter and appearance of. mankind in every age.
Every moral difcourfe, as every religious fyftem,
muft be built on the foundation and conviction that
man was created in innocence, but degraded by fin ;
and hence he is fufceptible of good, and prone to
evil [o]. On account of the dignity and importance
of the fubject, and of the ferious attention which it
deferved, the Jews were forbidden to read the begin
ning of Genefis till they had attained the facerdotal
age of thirty years. A work, indeed, which de
fcribes the firft creation and lapfe of man ; which
treats of God's counfels and intercourfe with his
creatures; which opens the profpect of redemption,
and the grand fchemerof prophecy ; and exemplifies
the high obligations and interefts of man, cannot be
confidered with too mature and deliberate judgment.
[o] Wolfeley's Reafon of Chriftian Religion, p. 152.

¦1 t*|

[- 9* 3

OF THE

BOOK of EXODUS.

THE title ofthe fecond Book of Mofes is, like-
wife, defcriptive of its contents. The word
Exodus [a], which is of Greek original, . implies
emigration; and the book relates the departure of
the Ifraelites out of Egypt, after a previous defcrip
tion of their ftate of fervitude, of the appointment
of Mofes, and of the miracles by which he effected
their deliverance. It prefents us alfo with the ac
count of their journey through the wildernefs; of
the folemn promulgation of the law at mount Sinai ;
ofthe delivery of the Decalogue j and of the build
ing of the Tabernacle. It is univerfally allowed to
have been, written by Mofes; and the words of Ex
odus are cited as the words of Mofes, by Daniel,
David, and other facred writers ; to whom it is ufe
lefs to refer, fince our Saviour himfelf always dif-
t*3 From E|oJoc, a departure, or going out. It is called by
th» tafllk Ve-elleh Semoth ; that is, •' thefe are the names,"
whicPtiithe initial words ofthe book. tinguiffies

OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS. 97
tinguifhes the law (by which the whole Pentateucli
is implied) from the prophets, as the work of Mofes ;
and Rivet has obferved, that twenty-five paffages are
quoted by Chrift and his apoftles out of this book
in exprefs words, and nineteen as to the fenfe, and
this will be found not to be an exaggerated account.
Exodus contains an hiftory of about 145 years,
or perhaps of a fomewhat fhorter period. Many of
the circumftances therein recorded are confirmed by
the teftimony of heathen writers [b]. This, per
haps, it is unneceffary to mention, for our convic
tion of the truth of its relations is built on much
higher evidence. The intrinfic marks of fincerity in
the facred writings are ufually too numerous to re
quire any additional fupport.
This book contains fome predictions, of which it
relates alfo the accompliffiment; as that of the de
liverance of the jews, which Mofes forefaw [c] arid
effected. It likewife defcribes fome which were not
fulfilled till after his death, as that concerning the
conqueft of Canaan [d], and the future divifion and
[b] Numehius fpeaks of the opp'ofition of the Egyptian ma
gicians to the miracles of Mofes. The Exodus under Mofes is
mentioned by Polemon ; (as cited by Africanus in Eufebius ;) by
Manetho; (vid. Jofeph. cont. Apiqn, Lib; I.) by Trogus Pom-
peius ; and by Tacitus, with fome abfurd additions frorh perverted
information. Vid. Tacit. Hift. Lib. V. §. 3. Other writers, as
efpecially Orpheus, in the verfes aferibed tb him, fpeak of the
delivery ofthe two tablets of the law from God, and ofthe in
ftitution of the Hebrew rites. " (*A r
[c] Exodus vii. 4, 5. ,,>>,'"'. '' •;•
[d] Chap. xv. 14 — 17. xxiii. 22, 23, 31. xxxiii. 2. »-;>/
H allotment

9§ Of THE BOOK OF EXODUS.
allotment of the land [f.] ; and alfo thofe which re
lated to- the revolutions that were to take place in
the government ofthe Jews : their future fubjections,
captivities, deliverances, and returns.
If may throw fome light upon this- book, as well
as contribute to our general admiration of fcrip-
ture, if we obferve,. that the events recorded to have
happened under the old difpenfation are often ftrik-
ingly prefigurative of thofe which occur under the
new ; and that the temporal circumftances of the
Ifraelites feem defignedly to ffiadow out the fpiritual
condition of the chriftian church. The connection
is ever obvious, and points out the confiftency of
the divine purpofe, and the harmony deliberately
contrived to fubfift between both difpenfations-. Thus
in the fervitude of Ifrael are defcribed the fufferings
of the church. In the deliverance from Egypt is ¦
foreffiewn its redemption [f] ; and the journey through
the wildernefs is a lively reprefentation of" a chriftian's
pilgrimage through life, to his inheritance in ever-
iafting blifs. So alfo, without too minute a difcuf
fion, it may be obferved, that the manna of which
the Ifraelites did eat [g], and the rock of which
[e] Mofes alfo here predidted the conftant miracle of pro-
tedtion during the time of worfhip three times every year, at
the feaft of the Paffover, at that of Pentecoft, and at that of
Tabernacles. Vid. Exod. xxxiv. 23, 24.. the accompliffiment
of which predictions furnifhed reiterated evidence of the di
vine authority of the Mofaic law.
[f] Zacharias applies the very words of the temporal to the
fpiritual deliverance. Luke i. 68 — 79..
[c] John vi, 33 — 38. Rev. ii. 17, they

Of thf. book of exodus* 95I
they drank [h], as well as the brazen fefpent by
which they were healed, were feverally typical of
correfpondent particulars that were to obtain under
the chriftian eftabliffiment [1] ; as under the facrifices
and ceremonial fervice of the church, of which the
inftitution is here recorded, was defcribed the more
fpiritual worfhip ofthe gofpel [k].
It is neceffary farther to remark, that if We would
underftand the reafon and intention of many injunc
tions contained in this book, we muft recollect, that
the great defign, with which they were framed, was
to preferve the Ifraelites a diftinct and independent
people, and to prevent their communications with
other nations; left they, who were to be entrufted
with the facred depofit of the infpired writings, and
from whom, as from the feed of Abraham, the
Meffiah was to arife, ffiould catch the infection of
idolatry ; or by mingling with the Gentiles, render
the accompliffiment of the promifes doubtful. The
many cautions againft idolatry, and the precepts
levelled againft whatever might tend tp promote its
influence [l] ; the nice difcriminations, the peculiar
and alienating prohibitions, which reftrained the If
raelites from aflbciating with other nations, were all
[h] 1 Cor. x. 1— ^>6. Gal. iv. 22, 24. Col. ii.i 17.
[ 1 ] St. Jerom carries thefe ideas to a very fanciful extreme.
Vid. Hieron. de 42. Marlfion. de Vefle Sacerdot. &c,
[k] Heb. x.
[l] Maimon. More Nevoch. P. IL c. xxxvii. arid Levit.
xix. 19, 27, 28. xxi. 3. which paffages contain laws that were
probably directed againft idolatrous and fuperftitious pradtices.
Vid. Spencer de Leg. Heb. c. 20. H a devifed

ioo or the book of exodus,
devifed with a view to the accompliffiment of this
important defign. And as not only the country, not
only the tribe, but the individual family was foretold,
from which the Meffiah ffiould fpring, it was re
quifite to afcertain exactly the lineage and defcent
of each. Hence are the feeds of jealoufy induftri-
oufly fown between the different tribes, and the
younger preferred to the elder. Under this idea
the laws which were enjoined to afcertain the vir
ginity of the maidens will be judged neceffary ; and
the puniffiment decreed againft adultery will not ap
pear difproportioned or fevere. Thefe inftances are
produced only by way of illuftration; and by at
tending to the views of God in the eftabliffiment of
this religious polity, we ffiall always find much caufe
to admire the wifdom of his laws [m] ; though, in
deed, we are too little acquainted with the ancient
manners of the Hebrew nation, and of other nations
with whom it was connected, to underftand the full
fcope and importance of every particular injunction.
[m] Maimon, More Nevoch, Pars II. cap. xxvi. xxxviL

OF

I "©.I 3

OF THE

BOOK of LEVITICUS.

TH E third book in the order of the Pentateuch
is called Leviticus [a], in the Latin and Eng
lifh Bibles, becaufe in it are defcribed the office and
duties of the Levites ; or rather agreeably to the ac
count of Bifhop Patrick, becaufe it contains the laws
ofthe Jewiffi rites and religious facrifices, 'of which
the charge was committed to Aaron the Levite, and
to his defcendants, who were confecrated by divine
appointment to the priefthood ; being affifted in the
performance of dieir facred office by a fecond branch
of Levi's family, which, by an appropriate title,
was called the tribe of Levi [b] ; and which ob
tained the privilege of officiating as a fecond order of
the priefthood, in recompence of the ready zeal that
it difplayed againft idolatry, and the worffiippers of
the golden calf[c].
Thf
£a] Aivf\m<», in the Greek.
[b] Godwyn's Mofes & Aaron, Lib. I. c. v. Heb. vii. 1 1.
[ c ] Aaron was appointed to the priefthood before the idola
trous proceeding here alluded to. What oppofition he made
H 3 to

120 OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.
The Jews, according to their cuftom, denominate
the book from the firft word in the Hebrew [d] ;
and imagine, in agreement with fome fanciful no
tions of the Jewiffi Maforites, from the particular
fize of one letter in the word, that it has fome myfte-
rious fignifkation ; but thefe conceits it would per
haps be fomewhat difficult to explain, and but of
little ufe to difcufs.
That Mofes was the author of this Book is
proved, not only by the general arguments that de-
monftrate him to have written all the Pentateuch,
but by particular paffages in other books of ferip-
ture, wherein it is exprefsly cited as his infpired
to the perverfe inclinations of the people is not mentioned. He
appear? to have been torrtpelled to fubmit ; and probably he de
figned to difcountenance the idolaters by choofing as a fymbol of
the divine prefence, one of thofe very images which they knew
to have provoked God's anger againft the Egyptians. There
¦were three orders in the Hebrew priefthood; the Priefts, the
Levites, and the Nethinims. The Levites inftrudted the people,
were employed in taking care of the tabernacle, and afterwards
of the temple and the facred books: they were likewife joined
with the priefts in deciding on cafes of leprofy, and in judging
Ceremonial caufes : they had no appropriate portion or inhe
ritance, but fubfifted by the altar, fcattered among the reft of the
tribes, agreeably to the predidtion of Jacob. Vid. Gen. xlix.
7. The Nethinims were defcendants of the Gibeonites, con
demned by Jofhua for their deceit to menial and fervile at-.
^endance on the Priefts. Vid. Jofhua ix. they were called Ne
thinims, from fnj, Nathan, to give ; as given to the fervice of
the temple.
• [d] 8ip'1, Vai-jikrah et clamavit. work.

OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. IO3
work [e]. The laws of rites and ceremonies which
it contains, were delivered from God to Mofes in the
firft month of the fecond year after the departure
from Egypt; that is, about A, M. 2514. They are
communicated in a plain and perfpicuous ftile; the
precepts are fully and circumftantially given : and
their minute particulars are often repeated, and in
fifted on as important, and expreffive of fomething
beyond the mere letter. That the Levitical law had
a covert and myfterious fignification, is, indeed,
juftly allowed by all judicious commentators ; the
whole fervice had a fpiritual meaning; and its in
ftitutions, facraments, and ceremonies were un-
queftionably prefigurative of gofpel appointments
{V). Thus its facrifices and oblations which, if per
formed in faith and obedience, were to conciliate
forgivenefs of fins [g], have been juftly confidered
as fignificant of the atonement to be made by
Chrift. The reqitflite qualities of thefe facrifices
[_£.] 2 Chron. xxx. 16. Jerem. vii. 22, 23. ix. %6. Ezek.
xx. 11. Matt. viii. 4. Rom. x. 5. xiii. 9. 2 Cor. vi. 16.
Gal. iii. 12. 1 Pet. i. 16. and Baruch, ch. ii. 29.
{f] John xix. 36.
[g] Ezek. xx. 11. Rom- x. 5. Gal. jii. 12. Shuckford's
Con. vol. III. b. xi. Thefe were to conciliate forgivenefs only,
in virtue of Chrilt's facrifice, and on the conditions of faith in
God's promifes, and of obedience to his laws, The Jews un
derftood the conditions, however they might he ignorant of
the nature of Chrilt's meritorious atonement, and however they
might have been at length mifled to attribute to their legal facri
fices a real efficacy, and power of effecting reconciliation and
pardon in a future life.
H 4 were

104 0F TKE EOOK OF LEVITICUS.
were emblematical of Chrift's immaculate character.
The mode alio prefcribed as neceffary in the form
of thefe offerings, and the myfrical rites ordained,
were allufive inftitutions calculated to enlighten the
apprehenfions of the Jews, and to prepare them for
the reception of the gofpel [h]. Thus likewife, as
might have been obferved in the account of the pre
ceding book, the ark of the covenant, the whole
ftructure of the tabernacle, the priefthood and its
decorations, were all appofite emblems of correfpon-
dent circumftances, appropriate to a fcheme of more
perfect defcription [i]. So alfo in a lefs important
fenfe were the outward rites and purgations enjoined
by the Mofaic law, defigned to intimate the neceffity
of inward purity [k]. Thus the whole fervice, like
the veil on the face of Mofes, concealed a fpiritual
radiance under an outward covering ; and the internal
import bearing a precife and intlifputable reference to
future circumftances and events, is ftamped with the
indelible proofs of Divine contrivance [l].
These ideas, however, though juft, muft not be
o'rerftrained, fince the fancy, if unreined, is apt to
run into excefs ; and the interpretation of the ritual
law, has been, perhaps, too uncontrouled, particu-
[h] Heb. xiii. il, 12. The Ifraeiites muft have had at lead
fome indiftindt idea of this fpiritual reference. Vid. 1 Cor.
x. 1 — 4.
[1] Heb. viii. 5. ix. 8, 9.
[k] Numb. xix. 13, 19. Deut. x. 16. xxx. 6. Heb. *. 22.
xii. 24. 1 Pet. i. 2. Rom. ii. 28, 29. i Cor. vii. 19.
f l ! Exod. xxxiv. 33. 2 Cor. iii. 13. larly

OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.' IO5
larly by its earlier expofitors, who have fometimes
built their explanations more on fanciful allufion,
than on real analogy, and true connection [m]. It
may be remarked alfo, that fome of thefe ceremonial
laws feem to have been impofed as a puniffiment on
account of the frequent tranfgreffions of a rebellious
people [n] ; or rather as a yoke or curb to reftrain
them from idolatry [o], as well as to difcriminate
them from all other nations; which purpofe they
effectually ferved in all their difperfions and captivi
ties [p]. The fandtimonious obfervances, likewife,
and the frequent purifications enjoined by the Le
vitical law, were defigned to keep up a reverential
awe of the divine majefty, which was fuppofed per-r
fonally to refide among this favoured people ; and to
imprefs them with an idea of the great holinels
which was requifite to qualify them to approach
God's prefence. So alfo, the diftinctions . between
clean and unclean beafts, the regulations concerning
kprofy and impurities, deliberately or cafually con
tracted, were fo minutely and forcibly enacted, in
order to inculcate into the minds of the Ifraelites
their peculiar appropriation to God's fervice [ q_].
£mJ Hgfych. Com.
[n] Gal. iii. 19. 1 Tim. L 8 — 10. Irens. Haeref. Lib. IV.
C. xxviii. Ladtant. de Vera Sapient. Lib. IV. c. x. Spencer de
Legib. Hebra: Lib. I. c. iv.
[o] Lowman's Hebrew worfhip, &c. Vid. ch. xix. 26,28.
Spencer de Leg. Lib. II. Ezek. xx. 24, 25.
[p] Juvenal, Sat. XIV. 1. 103, 104. Tacit. Hift. Lib. V.
§. 5. Grot, de Jur. Bell. Lib. II. 15. 9. Chryfoft. Horn, in
Gen. xxxix.
[ q^] Levit. xx. 25, 26.
The

106 OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.
The multiplied ceremonies, however, and compli
cated rites which were eftabliffied in confequence of
thefe defigns, were certainly fo burdenfome, that
nothing but a conviction of their divine original
could have influenced any people to receive them;
efpecially as the wifdom of their fpiritual import
was not underftood at firft, but only gradually un
folded by the interpretations of the prophets. But
the ceremonial law, though in fact " a yoke too
heavy to be born," and completely obeyed, was,
neverthelefs, well [r] adapted to the time and cir
cumftances under which it was delivered, and to
the dull and perverfe nation for which it was de
figned [s]. It was likewife perfect as to its fpiritual
intention and final views, as a figurative and tempo
rary difpenfation. The tranfient [t] character of its
cej.'emonies"was not explained at firft, left they fhould
be undervalued ; but as foon as this religious fyftem
was eftabliffied, its true nature began to appear to
die people. Their infpired teachers inftructed them
that facrifices and oblations for fin were figurative
atonements of little value in the eyes of God, if un
accompanied by that faith and by thofe qualifications
which he required [u] ; as alfo that the outward
purifications and obfervance* commanded by the
[rJ Adts xv. 10. Gal. v. I.
[s] Deut. xxxii. 28. Jerem. iv. 22. Barrow's i5thfermon
on the Imperfection of the Jewifh Religion. Matt. xix. 8,
[t] Pfalm xix. 7 — 11. Pfalm cxix.
[u] Jerem. vi. 20. vii. 21 — 23. Ifaiah i. 11 — 17. lyiii. 6,7.
lxiii. 1 — 3. Hofea vi. 6. Micah vi. 6 — 8. Amos v. 21 — 24.
Pfalm 1. 8—14. li. 16, 17. Mofaic

OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS,. IO7
Mofaic law, were defigned to illuftrate the importance
of internal righteoufnefs [x].
The facrifices, as .well euchariftical as expiatory,
of which the regulations are prefcribed in this book,
were by no means firft inftituted by the Mofaic law,
but appear to have been adopted, probably by divine
appointment, as the earlieft mode of worfhip ; and
they were offered up by our firft parents [y], as an
acceptable acknowledgment of God's attributes, and
in becoming profeffion of human fubmiffion and
humility. They were eftabliffied, however, under
the Mofaic difpenfation, upon their true principles,
and commanded with [z] circumftances that gave
them . additional importance, and which ferved to il
luftrate their real character and intention. They
were ordained as an atonement for the breach of
the ritual laws [a], and delivered the people from
thofe civil and ecclefiaftical puniffiments to which
they were expofed from the wrath of God, con
fidered as a political governor. They " fandtified
to the purifying of the fiefh," wafhed away legal
[x] Pfalm 1. 8—15. li. 16, 17. 1 Sam. xv. 22. Prov. xv.
§. Hofea vi. 6. Ifaiah i. 11 — 17. 1 viii. 6, 7. Zech. vii. 5 —
10. Rom. ii. 28, 29. Vid. alfo Eufeb. Prap. Evang. Lib. VIII.
p. 9, 10. & Lib. II. c. 17.
[y] Gen. iv. 3, 4. Heb. xi. 4.
[z] Heb. ix. x. 1 — 14.
[a] Falfehood, fraud, and violence, though offences againft
the moral law, might be atoned for by a trevpafs-offering to
God as a civil ruler, but only on condition of ample reparation
to the injured party, which evinc«d a fincerity of repentance.
Lev. vi. 1 — 7. defilements,

I ©8 OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS.
defilements, but were never intended to wipe off the
ftains of moral guilt, or to avert God's anger againft
fin, except as figurative Of that perfect atonement
at the coming of which " facrifice and oblation ffiould
ceafe [b]." They were commemorative acknow
ledgments of guilt, and typical pledges only of a
fufficient facrifice.
The hiftory of the Ifraelites advances about one
month in this book, which, like the reft, blends in-
ftruction and narration in one interefting account. It
defcribes the confecration of Aaron and his fons ;
the daring impiety and inftant puniffiment of Nadab
and Abihu ; and the ftoning of the blafphemer;
particulars, which illuftrate God's care for religion,
and the jealous feverity by which he kept up among
the Ifraelites a reverence for his name. The relation
alfo is animated with fome fignal predictions that ftamp
the work with additional marks of infpiration. Mofes
reveals to the people their future difperfion among the
heathen nations ; their diftrefs, and decline, and der
folation ; and yet confoles them with the promife of
mercy to be mingled with punifhment, in their mira
culous prefervation [c]. The book contains like-
wife one mofl: remarkable prophecy [d], the accom
pliffiment of which was a ftanding miracle among
the Ifraelites, and which for many ages continued
to furniffi an affurance of the divine authority and
[d] Pfalm xl. 6, 7. Dan. ix. 27. Heb. vii. 19. ix. 9.
{c] Chap. xxvi. the whole of which is a collection of pro
phetic threats, that were ftrikingly fulfilled.
[dJ Chap. xxv. 20 — 22. infpiration

OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. IO£
infpiration of Mofes. He here foretold that every
fixth year ffiould produce fuperfluous plenty to fup
ply the deficiencies of the feventh or fabbatical year,
when the land was to remain " unfown, and the
vineyards unpruned [e] ;" and this effectually came
to pafs : the obfervance of the law being invariably
provided for while it continued to be reverenced.
The fame affurance was likewife given of a fponta-
neous fupply to remedy the inconveniencies which
would otherwife have refulted from that neglect of
cultivation of the land which was enjoined for every
49th or 50th year [f] ; and to this was annexed a
rhreat, that the land fhould be brought into defbla-
tion, and the people be fcattered among the heathen,
there to remain for as long a time as they fhould
have neglected the laws of the fabbath and jubilee
[g] : Threats remarkably accompliffied in the feventy
years captivity at Babylon.
[e] Chap. xxv. 2 — 9.
[f] Chap. xxv. 8 — 12. 20 — 23. The jubilee year either
coincided with the feventh fabbatical year, or was provided for
by additional abundance in the 48th year. Vid. Cunsus, &c,
Repub. Heb. c. vi. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. III. c. x. J. Scaliger,
de Emend. Temp. Lib. V.
[c] Levit. xxvi. 34, 35. If we fuppofe thefe laws to have
been negledted from the beginning of the reign of Saul, A. M.
2909, to the fourth year of Jehoiakim, A. M. 3398, which Is
probably the true period, the feventy years captivity will exactly
allow time for the completion of the reft, proportionate to the
fpace of 490 years, during which the laws were violated. It is
remarkable, that the Jews were carried away captive towards
the conclufion of the fabbatical year. Vid. Maimon. Schemitta
ve Jobel. cap. x. fedt. 3.
$ . OF

[ no ]

OF THE

BOOK of NUMBERS.

THIS Book is called the Book of Numbers,
becaufe it contains an account of the number
ing or muftering of the people ; or rather, indeed,
of two numberings : the firft in the beginning of the
fecond year after their departure from Egypt; the
fecond in the plains of Moab, towards the conclufion
of their journey in the wildernefs [a]. The Jews
entitle the book, Vaie-dabber, which in the Hebrew
is the initial word ; and which fome, conceiving it to
imply the mercy-feat, have fuppofed to intimate that
the manifeftations of the divine will, herein de
fcribed, were given in form from the holy oracle,
which the Jews diftinguiffied by the name of Deber ;
and fome paffages from the book might be produced in
fupport of this opinion [b]. However this may
have been, it is certain that Mofes was the infpired
author of the book, and that he delivers in it nothing
but what is confiftent with truth, and agreeable to
[a] Chap. xxvi. [b] Chap. vii. 89. the

OF THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. Ill
the divine will, fince it conftitutes part of the Pen
tateuch, which in all ages has been univerfally af-
cribed to Mofes, and it is cited as his infpired work
in various parts of fcripture [c].
The book comprehends a period of about 38
years, reckoning from fhe firft day of the fecond
month after the deliverance from Egypt, during
which time the Ilraelites continued to wander in the
wildernefs [d]. Moft of the tranfactions, however,
defcribed in this book happened in the firft and laft
of thefe years. The date of thofe events which are
recorded in the middle of the book cannot be precifely
afcertained. The hiftory prefenti us with an account of the
confecration of the Tabernacle, and of the offering
of the princes at its dedication. It defcribes the
journies and encampments of Ifrael under the mi
raculous guidance of the cloud ; the puniffiment at
Taberah ; and the fignal vengeance with which, on
feveral occafionsr Cfod refented the diftruftful mur
murs of the people, and that rebellious fpirit which
fb often broke out in fedition againft his appointed
minifters. The promptitude and feverity with which
God enforced a refpect for his laws, even to the ex
emplary condemnation of the man who prophaned
[c] Jofhua iv. 12. 2 Chron. xxi*. 11. xxxi. 3. Ezek. xx.
1^. xliv. 27. Matt. xii. 5. John vi. 31. ix. 36.
[d] The Ifraelites were condemned to wander fo long in the
wildernefs for their ungrateful murmurs and diftruft in God.
Vid. Numb. xiv. 23, 33. But by this fegrtgasion many import
ant purpofes were accomplifhed.
1 the

112 OF THE BOOK OF NUMBERS.
the fabbath, were neceffary, when even a fenfe pf
the immediate prefence of the Almighty, and a con
fideration of the miracles daily performed, could
not influence to obedience. Amidft the terrors}
however, of the divine judgments which the book
unfolds, we perceive likewife the continuance of
God's mercies in providing affiftance for Mofes by
the appointment of the feventy elders ; in drawing
water from the rock ; and in the fetting up of the
brazen ferpent. The benevolent zeal of Mofes to
intercede on all occafions for the people, even when
puniffied for ungrateful infurrections againft himfelf,
deferves likewife to be confidered. The hiftory is
animated with much variety of event ; and befides
the particulars above alluded to, it contains the ac
count of the refignation and death of Aaron ; of the
conqueft of Sihon and Og; of the conduct of Balaam
[e] towards Balak [f] ; of the merited fate of Ba
laam;
[e] Balaam was probably a true prophet, who had been fe-*
daced by mercenary motives into idolatrous practices, having
had recourfe to heathen enchantments, when he could not
procure divine revelations. Vid. Numb. xxii. 8. xxiv. 1.
2 Pet. ii. 15. He refided at Pethor, a city of Mefopotamia,
towards the banks of the Euphrates. Pethor was afterwards
called Bozor by the Syrians. Hence in 2 Pet. ii. 15. Babafj/.
tou Boa-oj, " Balaam of the city cf Bofor." ViJ. Grotius in
loe. [f] God's anger appears to have been kindled againft Ba
laam, as well for his general practice of divination, as for his-
defire to procure " the wages of unrighteoufnefs," by curfing
thofe whom God had bleffed. Maimonides abfurdly reprefents
the fpeaking of Balaam's afs as a circumftance executed only in

OF THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. I'lj[
ham ; of the infidious project to feduce the Ifraelites,
its fuccefs and effects ; and of the appointment of
Jofhua. We perceive in every relation the confif
tency of the divine intentions, and the propriety of
the laws which God eftabliffied. When we contem
plate, for inftance, the arts and contrivance practifed
by idolatrous nations, we cannot wonder at the rigor
ous commands [g] delivered for the extirpation of
the inhabitants of Canaan ; or that the Almighty
ffiould defire to purge from pollution a land to be
confecrated to his fervice. The book contains like-
wife a repetition of many principal laws given for
the direction of the Ifraelites, with the addition of
feveral precepts, civil and religious. It defcribes
fome regulations eftablifhed for the ordering of the
tribes, and for the divifion of the land which the
Ifraelites were about to poffefs. It furnifhes us alfo
with a lift of the tribes ; and with that of Levi in
particular, which is referved for a diftinct roll, be
caufe in poffeffion of an order in the priefthood.
With refpect to the numberings which are made
in this book, it muft be obferved, that the tribes are
not reckoned in the order in which their heads were
iri virion, though there is no fhadow of reafon why it fhould.';
not be confidered as the account of a real event. Objections to
miracles drawn from their difficulty are prepofterous, when
applied to an omnipotent Being;, and .thatJVIofes fhould not
flop to deferibe the . furprize of Balaam, was as confiftent with
the gravity, as, with the eoncifenefs, of his hiftory. z Pet. ii.
15. and Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. iv. c. 3. Vid. Maim, More Nevoch.
Part II. c. xliii.
[c] Dciit. 1 — 5. xiii. 12 — 1~. xx. io — 18.
I born,

1 14 OF THE book of numbers.
born, but in that of their refpective' mothers, or acr
cording to their accidental or acquired precedence.
ad. That only thofe males who were twenty years,
old and upwards are reckoned. And 3d. That
Ephraim [h] and Manaffeh are mentioned as two
diftinct tribes; but for the particular reafons of every
arrangement in the order and circumftances of this
enumeration, we muft have recourfe to the commen
tators at large. From thefe an ample folution of the
difficulties which occur in confidering the particulars
01 the numberings may be obtained [1].
The moft fignal prophecies which are contained
in this book, and bear teftimony to its infpiration,
are thofe bleffings which Balaam [k] was conftrained
to utter concerning the future profperity of the If
raelites [l], and the deftruction of their feveral ene
mies [m] ; efpecially in that diftinct and extatic de
fcription of the " Star which ffiould come out pf Ja-
[ h ] In the number of the tribe of Ephraim compared with
that of Manaffeh, we perceive the accomplifhment of Jacob's
prophecy. Comp. Numb. i. 33 — 35. with Gen. xlviii. 19, 20.
Gomp. alfo for fimilar illuftration Numb. i. 21. with Gen. xlix.
3, 4. and Numb. i. 27. with Gen. xlix. 8.
[1] Hieron. Com. Parker's Introd. to Numb. Lewis Antiq.
Heb. L. VIII.
[k] Though God had probably rejected Balaam as an apof-
tate prophet, he deigned to employ him on this fignal occafion
as the herald of the divine oracles : to illuftrate the impotency of
the heathen arts, and to demonftrate the power and foreknow
ledge of the divine Spirit.
[l] Ch. xxiii. 8 — 10, 23. xxiv. 8.
[ m ] Ch. xxiv.
9 cob,

OF THE BOOK OF NUMBERS. U5
cob, and of the Sceptre that ffiould rife out of If
rael [n]." The denunciation likewife againft Mofes
and Aaron for their difbelief [o], as well as thofe
againft the people for their murmurs [p], was ftrik-
ingly fulfilled; and it may be added, that the rites
of the Paffover, of which the obfervance is again
enjoined in this book [qJ, were figurative reprefen
tations of a predictive character.
[n] Ch. xxiv. 17, 19. The expreffion of '* the Star" might
be chofen in allufion to thofe portentous lights which were fup
pofed to precede the appearance of illuftrious perfonages ; and it
is remarkable, that, as if in exadl conformity with Balaam's
prophecy, " a Star in the eaft" indicated the time and place of
our Saviour's nativity. Vid. Matt. Ch. ii.
[o] Ch. xx. 12. and Patrick in loe.
[p] Ch. xiv. 20 — 36.
[ 3.1 Ch. ix. 12. comp. with John xix. 36,

I 2 OF

[ u6 ] .

''gg > :

OF THE

BOOK of DEUTERONOMY.

THE fifth and laft Book of the Pentateuch Is
diftinguifhed among the Jews by fts initial
word ; though fometimes the Rabbinical writers call
it the Book of Reprehenfions ; in allufion tp the
frequent reproaches which it contains againft the If
raelites. It is alfo denominated Thora, which im
plies the Law; as well as Mifna, a copy ofthe law; a
word which correfponds with the title that the feven
ty have given it, Deuteronomy [a] fignifying a re
petition of the Law. It contains indeed a compen
dious repetition ofthe Law* enlarged with many ex
planatory additions, and enforced by the ftrongeft^
and moft pathetic exhortations to obedience; as well
for the more forcible impreffion on the Ifraelites in
general, as in particular for the benefit of thofe who
being born in the wildernefs were not prefent at the
firft promulgation of the Law [b]. It is a kind of
manual
[ a ] From ^si/Ifpo; Kpoc, a fecond Law.
[ b ] Mofes in his addrefs to the Ifraelites obferves, that " the
Lord made not the covenant with their fathers, but with thofe
then alive;" for though many who were prefent at Sinai were now

OF THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 1 If
manual of divine wifdom ; a commentary on the de
calogue; and contains fuch laws as concerned the
people in general, as to their civil, military, and re
ligious government, omitting for the moft part what
related to the Priefts and Levites. It was delivered
by Mofes, a little time previous to his death ; to the
people whom he had long governed and inftructed $
and bequeathed, with his other writings, to the charge
of the Levites [c], as the moft valuable teftimony of
his regard, in the fortieth year after the departure
from Egypt, A.M. 2552.
The book opens with an interefting addrefs to the
Ifraelites, in which Mofes briefly recapitulates the
many circumftances in which they had experienced
the divine favour fince their departure from Horeb.
He defcribes the fuccefs and victories which had
marked their progrefs ; • the incredulous murmurs
and ingratitude, by which the people had incenfed
God ; and the effects of the divine wrath ; efpecially
now dead, many alfo muft have been ftill living ; thofe only
having perifhed in confequence of God's threats, who were
twenty years old and upwards when they offended him by
their murmurs ; and even of thofe condemned to die in the
wildernefs, many might, like Mofes, be fuffered to behold the
land which they were not to enter. Mofes, however, may
perhaps mean only, that God made not that folemn covenant
with their forefathers, the patriachs, but with the generation
of his contemporaries. Vid. Numb. xiv. 29. Deut. v. 3. and
Calmet and Eftius in loe, ,
[c] Chap. xxxi. 26. The two, tables of the decalogue were
placed in the ark ; the reft of the law in the fide of the ark.
Vid. 1 Kings viii. 9. Patrick in Deut. xxxi. 26.
I 3 in

Il8 OF THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY.
in the inexorable decree by which he himfelf had
been debarred from that land, for the poffeffion of
which he had fo earneftly toiled. He proceeds with
the moft animated zeal to exhort them to future obe
dience ; and to rehearfe in a difcourfe, renewed at
intervals,, the various commandments, ftatutes, and
judgments, which had been delivered to them by
God, that they might become " a wife and under
ftanding nation ;" and fulfil the terms of that cove
nant which the Lord had made with them in Horeb.
Mofes, while he interfperfes with thefe laws, frequent
reproaches for their paft mifconduct, unfolds the glo
rious attributes of God [d], and reiterates every per-
fuafive motive to obedience. He commands them
to diftinguiffi their firft entrance to Canaan, by a
public difplay of reverence for God's law : by erect
ing ftones on which all its words and precepts might
be infcribed [e]. He enters into a new covenant
with the people ; which included not only that pre
vioufly made at Horeb, but which renewed alfo and
ratified thofe affurances of fpiritual bleffings, long
fince imparted to Abraham and his defcendants [f].
He then, in confiftency with the promifes and fanc-
tions of both covenants, fets forth for their election,
[d] Chap. xvii. 17, 18.
[e] Chap, xxvii. 1 — 5. Mofes exprefsly commands, that
*' all the words of the law" fhould be written, which cannot
mean, as fome have fuppofed, merely the decalogue,
[f] Chap. xxix. 12, 13. Bifhop Bull was of opinion, that
only the Abrahamic covenant was here renewed ; but it fhould
rather feem, that both this and the covenant of Sinai were re
newed and ratified. Vid. Bull's Diff. Poft. c- xi. « life

OF THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. I TO
fr life and good, and death and evil :" temporal and
eternal recompence, or prefent and future punifiV
ment [o].
In the preceding books of the Pentateuch, Mofes1
fpeaks of himfelf in the third perfon; rjrtit here in a
more animated manner; he drops as it were the cha
racter of an hiftorian, and is introduced as immediate
ly addreffing himfelf to his countrymen [h]. Hence
it is that in defcribing what he uttered, he repeats
the decalogue with fome flight change of expreffion
from that which was ufed at its firft delivery ; a va
riation which, as it affected not the import of the
commandment, might have ferved to indicate, that
not the letter, but the fpirit of the law ffiould be re
garded : he likewife introduces fome general altera
tions in the code that he prefents, which ffiould be
confidered as fupplementary additions requifite by a
change of time and circumftances ; and he takes oc
cafion to intimate that fpiritual intention of the law,
by which it was defigned for the inward government
of man [i]. It ffiould here be remarked, that the
fevere fpirit which pervades the law, as ffiewn in the
numerous exactions and declaratory curfes [k] de
tailed irt this book, was confiftently contrived' to
[g] Maimonides, confcious that the Mofaic promifes of tem
poral reward were figurative of future recompenc* gives this
traditionary explanation of the fahction in Deut. iv. 40. Ut
bene fit tibi "in fteculo quod totuin eft bonum." Et prolongei
dies, " in fkculum quod totum eft longum."
[h] Chap. i. 6. ii. 17. iv. 8. ix. 13. x. 3.
[1] Chap. x. 16.
[k] Chap, xxvii. I 4 point

i 20 OF THE BOOK. OF DEUTERONOMY.
point out the rigorous character of the divine juftice,
which, in a covenant of ftipulated obfervances, ne-
cefTarily required punctilious and univerfal obedience
[lJ. For though the divine mercy might com paf
fionate the Weaknefs of human nature, and therefore
it prefcribed atonements not difficult to be paid; yet
God could not, in conformity with his relation to
the Ifraelites, overlook even involuntary deficiencies
or cafual defilement. A fimilar fpirit of ftern equity
appeared likewife as to the civil regulations cf fociety;
and t'px law not only fuffered, but required an exact
retaliation: " Life for life, eye for eye, tooth for
tooth [m]." A requifition which, while it ftrongly
enforced God's abhorrence of injuries, could not be
abufed under a government, which provided cities
pf refuge for undefigning offenders, and adminiftered
its judgments upon principles univerfally known and
accepted.' The book contains a period of nearly two months:
an hiftory of the conclufion of the Life of Mofes,
[l] Deut. xxvii. 26. The law rigoroufly enforced' the ob
fervance of whatever it enjoined, though fome precepts were
framed with fomewhat of lax and indulgent confideration of
what the perverfe temper of the Ifraelites would bear; thus as
they had been long accultomed to divorces, it was judged right,
rather to reftridt them by deliberate regulations, than entirely
to abolifh them, which might have occafioned bad confequences.
Vid. Deut. xxiv. 1—4. Matt. v. 31. xix. 7. Selden Uxor.
Meb. Lib. iii. ch. 24. The laws with refpeft to paternal autho-
rity were rather regulations to reftnet. the unbounded power
which parents did poffefs over their children, than to invert them
with new rights.
[mJ Vid. Chap. xix. 21.
7*.:... i» ¦ , wlmfe

OF THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. Idl
whofe laft days were diftinguiffied by encreafing foli-
citude, and by the moft active exertions for the wel
fare of his people. After a commemorative hymn
[n], in which he pathetically exhorts them " to
confider their latter end ;" and after having uttered
his prophetic bleffings in folemn and appropriate pro
mifes to the feveral tribes, this great man is repre
fented to have retired, by divine command, to the
top of Mount Nebo; from whence he had a profpect
of Canaan, and forefaw the fpeedy accompliffiment
of God's, promifes. He then, in the full poffeffion
of his powers and faculties, " when his eye was not
dim, nor his natural force abated," died in the 120th
year of his age.
The mention of Dan [o] in the firft verfe of the
laft chapter of this book, as well as the account of
the death and burial of Mofes, and fome other fee Hi 's
[n] The fine atteftation to the praife of God, which is con
tained in the 4th verfe of this hymn, is prefixed as a beginning
to the prayer, which the Jews repeat at the burial of their dead,
and which they call Tzidduck hadin, that is, "juft judgment."
Vid. Patrick in Deut. xxxii. 4.
[oj It has been faid, that fome names ufed in the Penta
teuch were not applied to the places which they defcribe, till
after the death of Mofes ; if the truth of this remark could
be proved, we might fuppOfe the modern names to have been
fubftituted by Ezra, or by fome prophet, pofterior to Mofes,
for the information of later times ; but the affertion often pro
ceeds from miftake, and from a want of diftindtion ; for inftance,
the Dan fpoken of by Mofes, might be different from the place
afterwards fo named in Judges xviii. 29. Jofephus conceives it
to have been a river, one of the fources of the Jordan. Vid.
Antiq. Lib, iii. ch. n. ing1/

122 OF THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY.
ingly pofthumous particulars therein defcribed [p]^
have been produced to prove, that this chapter could
not be written by Mofes; and in all probability thefe
circumftances might have been inferted by Jofhua,
to complete the hiftory of this illuftrious prophet; or
were afterwards added by Samuel, or fome prophet
who fucceeded him. They were admitted by Ezra
as authentic^ and we have no reafon to queftion the
fidelity of the account.
The book is cited as the Book of Mofes in many
parts of fcripture [ qJ ; and numberlefs paffages are
produced from it in teftimony, by Chrift and his
Apoftles [r].
With refpect to the prophetic part of Deutero
nomy, it ffiould be remarked, .that the Meffiah is
here more explicitly foretold than in the preceding
books, and defcribed as the completion of the Jewiffi
ceconomy. " I will raife them up a prophet from
arnong their brethren, like unto thee, and will put
my words in his mouth, and he ffiall fpeak unto
them all that I fhall command him [s]." The pro-
[p] There has been an abfurd cavil on chap. i. I. of this
book, where Mofes is faid to have written it " on this fide
Jordan." The word Beeber applies to either fide in relation
to the fpeaker. Vid. i Sam. xiv. 20. Huet. Demon. Evang;
Prop. c. iv. Witfius JVIifcel. Sac. Lib. i. c. 14. Philo de Vit.
Mof. Lib. iii. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. iv. c. 6. Vid. alfo Patrick
in Deut. iii. 1 1.
[ <U J°1». i- S> 7- 1 Kings ii. 3. 2 Chron. xxv. 4. Dan.
ix. 13, &c.
[r] Matt. iv. 4. John i. 45. Afts iii. 22. Gal. iii. 13.
[s] Deut. xviii. 18. comp. with John i. 45. and A&s vii. 37.
phecies

OF THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY. 1 2J
phecies of Mofes encreafe in number and clearneis
towards the clofe of his writings. As he approached
the end of his life, he appears to have difcerned fu
turity with more exactneis. His denunciations con
cerning the future rewards and puniffiments, the
fuccefs, difperfions, and defolations of his people
[t] ; his defcription of the rapid victories of the
Romans [u] ; of the miferies to be fuftained by his
befieged countrymen [x] ; and particularly his pro
phecies relative to their prefent condition, as accom-
plifhed under our own obfervation [y], bear a ftrik
ing evidence to the truth and infpiration of his writ
ings, and fearfully illuftrate the character of the di
vine attributes.
The Book of Deuteronomy brings down the fa
cred Hiftory to A. M. 2552, and completes the
volume of the Pentateuch, of which every part is
uniformly and confiftently perfect.
[t] Chap. iv. 25 — 30. xi. 23 — 29. xxviii. xxx. xxxi. 2, 3 — 8.
xxxii, and xxxiii.
[u] Chap, xxviii. 49 — 52. The Romans are pourtrayed
under the defcription of an eagle, in allufion to the image witi
which their ftandard was decorated.
{x] Chap, xxviii. 52 — 58. comp. with Jofeph. de Bell. Jud.
[ y ] Chap, xxviii. in which a chain of illuftrious prophecies
is delivered in one complicated denunciation, and various cala
mities are blended into one point of view. Vid. Newton on the
Prophecies, 7th Differ.

GENERAL

124 GENERAL PREFACE TO

GENERAL PREFACE

TO THE

HISTORICAL BOOKS.

THE Hiftorical Books of Scripture were writ
ten by perfons who compofed them under the
influence of the Holy Spirit. Some of them are en
titled with the names of diftinguiffied prophets ; and
the reft are univerfally attributed to writers invefted
with the fame character. The Hebrew annals were
kept only by priviledged and appointed perfons [a],
and the writers, who are occafionally mentioned in
fcripture as the penmen of the facred hiftory, are ex
prefsly denominated Prophets or Seers [b]. It is
evident, likewife, that the authors of the hiftorical
as well as of the prophetical books muft have been
infpired, fince they every where difplayed an ac
quaintance with the counfels and defigns of God;
[a] Vid. Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. I.
[b] i Sam. xxii. 5. 1 Kings xvi. 1, 7. 1 Chron. xxix. 29.
z Chron. xii. 15. xx. 34. xxvi. 22, xxxii. 32. Jerem. xxviii. 7,
developed

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS. 12$
developed the fecret fprings and concealed wifdom of
his government ; and often revealed his future mer
cies and judgments in the cleareft predictions. They
uniformly adhere to the moft excellent inftruction;
illuftrate the perfection of God's attributes, and ex
emplify the tendency of his precepts. They invari
ably maintain a ftrict fincerity of intention ; and in
their defcription of character and event they exhibit
an unexampled impartiality. Their writings were
received as facred into the Hebrew canon, and in
Ezra's collection they were arranged under the clafs
of Prophetical Books. The Books of Jofhua, of
Judges, (including Ruth,) of Samuel, and of Kings,
were called the Books of the former prophets [c]j
and confidered as the production not only of en
lightened men of unimpeached veracity, exalted cha
racter, and difinterefted views ; but of perfons who
were occafionally favoured with divine revelations;
who unqueftionably wrote under a divine influence j
and were employed to regifter the judgments and
defigns of God;, and as fuch, indeed, they are cited
by the evangelical writers.
It is clear from all thefe confiderations, that the
facred hiftorians wrote under the influence of the
Holy Ghoft; which though it did not difclofe to them
by immediate revelation thofe dungs that might be
collected from the common fources of intelligence,
undoubtedly directed them in the felection of their
.materials ; , and enlightened them to judge of the
[c] Thofe of Ifaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor
Prophets, being ftyled the Books of the later Prophets.
3 truuV

126 GENERAL PREP ACE TO
truth and importance of thofe accounts, from which
they borrowed their information. The hiftorical
books appear, indeed, to have been generally Written
by authors contemporary with thofe periods to which
they feverally relate ; and hence do they often de-
fcribe fuch particulars as the prophets themfelves had
witneffed and beheld ; and contain fuch minute and
accurate defcriptions, as none but authors coeval
with the events could have furnifhed. Some of themj
however, were compiled in fubfequent times ; and
then they may be fuppofed to have been in part col
lected from thofe authentic documents that were
known and efteemed by their countrymen; and to
have been enlarged with fuch additional particulars,
as muft have been derived from divine communica
tions imparted to themfelves, or others. Thefe-
books are to be confidered, indeed, as the hiftories
of revelations : as commentaries on the prophecies,
and as affording a lively fketch, of the ceconomy of
God's government of his felected people. They were
not defigned as national annals, to record every mi
nute particular and political event that occurred ; but
they are rather a compendious felection of fuch re
markable occurrences as were beft calculated to il
luftrate the religion of the Hebrew nation; to fet
before that perverfe and ungrateful people an abftract
of God's proceedings, and of their interefts and du
ties; as alio to furniffi pofterity with an inftructive
picture of the divine attributes, and with a model of
that difpenfation on which a nobler and more fpiri
tual government was to be erected. It is, indeed,
evident^

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS. 1 27
evident, that fome more diffufe and circumftantial
records [d] were fometimes kept by the priefts,
or other publickly-appointed perfons [e] ; for to
fuch records the facred writers occafionally allude,
as bearing teftimony to their accounts ; or refer to
them for a more minute detail of thofe particulars
which they omit as inconfiftent with their defigns.
Thefe, however, not being compofed by infpired
writers, were not admitted into the facred canon;
and though Jofephus informs us, that the priefts were
accuftomed after every war carefully to correct and
to reform their regifters [f] : and the author of the
fecond Book of Maccabees mentions, that Judas
Maccabeus gathered together fuch writings as had
been difperfed [g] ; yet after the abolition of the
Jewiffi priefthood, and the many calamities, perfe
ctions, and difperfions which this whole nation hath
fuffered, we need not wonder that thefe voluminous
writings have periffied; and indeed it required the
efpecial protection of providence, as well as that re
verential fondnefs which the Jews entertained for the
[d] As alfo genealogies, chronicles of the priefthood, &c.
[e] Cont. Apion, Lib. I. Jofephus fpeaks of genealogical
regifters as diftin6t from the twenty-two canonical books ; and
obferves, that they contained the names of the Hebrew priefts
for a fucceffion of 2000 years. He fpeaks alfo of hiftories
written by others, refpedlable for their confiftency.
J>] The keepers of thefe genealogies are fometimes called
Mafchirim, Recorders or Memerialifts. 2 Sam. viii. ,16. 2
Kings xviii. 18. 1 Chron. xviii. 15. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 8.
1 Mace, xxiii. 24.
[g] 2 Macc.ii. 14, facreo}

128 GENERAL PREFACE TO
facred books, to preferve their canon from deftruction
or injury. We have, however, the lefs reafon to
regret the lofs of the other Jewiffi writings, fince the
fcriptures furniffi us with the fcheme of prophecy,
and with the account of that peculiar ceconomy
by which the Jews were diftinguiffied from all other
nations. T$e hiftorical books of fcripture, if confidered
diftinctly from the Pentateuch, andthe writings more
particularly ftiled prophetical, contain a compendium
of the Jewiffi hiftory from the death of Mofes, A. M.
2552, to the reformation eftabliffied by Nehemiah
after the return from the captivity, A. M. 3595.
After the death of Mofes, Jofhua continued to re
cord thofe miraculous particulars which demonftrated
the divine interpofition in favour of the Ifraelites,
and to commemorate the events that preceded and
accompliffied their fettlement in the land of Canaan,
The eventful period which fucceeded the death of
Jofhua, during which the Hebrews were fubjected
to the government of che Judges, as minifters of the
theocracy, furnifficd a large fcope for the induftry of
the facred hiftorians; and Samuel, or fome other
prophet, appears to have felected fuch particulars as
were beft calculated tq defcribe the period ; and to
have digefted them into the Book of Judges; having,
doubtlefs, procured much information from the re
cords of the Priefts or Judges, fome of whom were
infpired, though prophetic, revelations were " fcarce
in thofe days [h];" and divine communications were
t«] 1 Sam. iii. 1. made

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS. 1 29
made by means of the Urim and Thummim [i].
From the time of Samuel, the Jews feem to have
been favoured with a regular fucceffion of prophets,
who, in an uninterrupted feries, bequeathed to each
other, with the mantle of prophecy, the charge of
commemorating fuch important particulars as were
confiftent with the plan of facred hiftory ; and who,
fuperior to the oftentation of prefixing their names
to their feveral contributions, took up the hiftory
where the preceding prophet ceafed, without dift>n-
guiffiing their refpective contributions. It is poffible,
however, that the books of Kings and of Chronicles
[1] Exodi xxviii. 30. Levit.. viii. 8. Numb, xxviw 21.
The Urim and Thummim, which words fignify light and per
fection, are applied to a miraculous ornament worn on the breaft-
plate of the high-prieft, and erroneoufly fuppofed by fome to be
defcriptive of the twelve jewels in the breaft-plate, which were
engraven with the names of the tribes of Ifrael; but which in
reality meant fomething diftinft from thefe. Compare Exod.
xxxix. 10. with Levit. viii. 8. Some imagine that they were
oracular figures that gave articulate anfwers ; others, that they
implied only a plate of gold, engraven with the Tetragramma-
ton, or facred name of Jehovah. Whatever the ornament was,
it enabled the high-prieft to collect divine inftruftion upon occa
fions of national importance. Some conceive that the intelli
gence was furnifhed by an extraordinary protrufion or fplendor
of the different letters. But others, with more reafon, think
that the Urim and Thummim only qualified the prieft to prefent
himfelf in the holy place, to receive anfwers from the mercy-
feat in the tabernacle; and in the camp from fome other confe-
crated place whence the divine voice might iffue. Vid.. Prid.
Con. Par. I. Book III. Jennings's Jewifh Antiq. Lib. III.
c. ix. Philo Jud. de Monarch. Lib. II. Spencer's Urim and
Thummim.
K do

1J0- GENERAL PREFACE TO
do not contain a complete compilation of the entire.
works of each contemporary prophet ; but rather an
abridgment of their feveral labours, digefted by
Ezra, in or after the captivity, with intention to ex
hibit the facred hiftory at one point of view : and
hence it is that they contain fome expreffions which
evidently refult from contemporary defcription ; and
others, that as clearly argue them to have been com
pofed long after the occurrences which they relate.
Hence alfo it is, that though particular periods are
mote diffufely treated of than others, we ftill find
throughout a connected feries of events, and in each
individual book a general uniformity of ftile.
The object of the facred hiftorians was to com
municate inftruction to mankind, and to illuftrate
the. nature of God's providence in fmall, as well as in
great occurrences, in. particular inftances, as well as
in general appointments ; they therefore often defcend
from the great out-line of national concerns to the
minute detail of private hiftory. The relations, how
ever, of individual events, that are occafionally in-
terfperfed, are highly interefting ; and admirably de-
velope the defigns of the Almighty, and the cha
racter of thofe times to which they are reflectively
affigned. Thofe feeming digreffions, likewife, in
which the infpired writers have recorded fuch re
markable events as related to particular perfonages,
or fiich occurrences in foreign countries, as tended to
affect the interefts of the Hebrew nation, are not
only valuable for the religious fpirit which they
breathe, but are to be admired as ftrictly confiftent, with

the historical books. 131
with the facred plan. Thus the hiftories of Job, of
Ruth, and of Efther, though apparently extrinfic ap
pendages, are in reality connected parts of one en
tire fabrick; and exhibit, in minute delineation, that
wifdom which is elfewhere difplayed on a larger
fcale ; as they likewife prefent an engaging picture.
of that private virtue, which in an extended influ
ence operated to . national profperity. Thefe books
conftitute, then, an important part of the facred vo
lume ; which furnifhes a complete code of inftructive
leffons, conveyed under every form, diverfified with
every ftile of compofition, and enlivened with every
illuftration of circumftance.
While the twelve tribes were united under one
government, their hiftory is reprefented under one
point of view. . When a feparation took place, the
kingdom of Judah, from which tribe the Meffiah was
to defcend, was the chief .object of attention with
the facred hiftorians ; they however occafionally treat
of the events that occurred in Samaria, efpecially
when connected with the concerns of Judah : they
draw inftructive accounts of the government of If
rael, from the feparation of the ten tribes to their
captivity; and place the circumftances which pro
duced it in ftriking colours before the inhabitants of
Judah, whofe unrightepufnefs was afterwards pu-
niffied by a fimilar fate. Some account ofthe circum
ftances which occurred in Samaria, was kept proba
bly by thofe prophets, who were born, er laboured
among the people of that country [kJ ; and the
[kJ 1 Kings xix. 18. ,xL 29. xiv. 2. xvi. 7. 2 Chron.
Xxviii. 9.
K 2 fame

IJ2 GENERAL PREFACE TO
fame prophets furnifhed materials for the facred au
thors of the hiftorical books, who were prophets of
Judah. The prophets who were mercifully raifed up to
oonfole the Hebrew nation during the Babylonifh
captivity, have fcattered among their predictions
fome few lines of contemporary hiftory; but they
have furnifhed no particular account of the circum
ftances that diftinguiffied the condition of their coun
trymen ; who, however, muft have received every
poffible mitigation of the feverity of their affliction,
from the good offices of fuch among them as conci
liated the favour of the Babylonifh fovereighs ; and
from the prophetic affurances which opened to them
the profpect of a return to their country.
As the fucceffion of the prophets ceafed in Mala
chi, the volume of the facred hiftory v/as clofed with
the account of the reftoration of the Jews, and of
their exertions to rebuild their cities, and to re-efta-
bliffi the order and fecurity of their government.
The laft defcription reprefents them fettled and re
formed by the pious zeal of Nehemiah, and ani
mated to the expectation of that " greater glory,'r
which fhould ffiine in their latter temple, when " the
defire of all nations ffiould come [l]."
In poffeffion of the complete volume of the fcrip
tures, the Jews required no farther revelations ofthe
divine will to explain and inculcate the terms of their
acceptance. Enabled by the facred records to look
[l] Haggaiii. 7, 9. back

the historical books. i^i
back on the viciffitudes which their nation had ex
perienced, and to contemplate the character of GodTs
judgments in the inftructive fcenes, they needed no
longer any living prophet to warn them of that wrath
which fin and idolatry would provoke [m], or to af
fure them of that recompenfe which obedience would
obtain. The defign and character alfo of the old
covenant, its fpiritual import, and its figurative con
texture, were now unravelled for the inftruction of
mankind, and no fit fubject remained for the em
ployment of the infpired penmen, till the appearance
of a new difpenfation. Of the period, therefore,
that intervened between the death of Malachi, and
the arrival of that meffenger whom he foretold, no
authentic account can be obtained [n]. An awful
interval of expectation prevailed, on which bur little
light is thrown by the occafional accounts of apocry-
.phal and prophane hiftorians. The nation, however,
appears to have been fucceffively fubjected> to the
Perfian, Egyptian, and Syrian monarchies, till refcued
into liberty by the valour of the Maccabees, in whom
the fucceffors of David were re-eftablifhed on the
throne. Thefe continued to flouriffi, with diminiffied
fplendor, and in fubferviency to the Roman power,
till the days of Herod, under whom Chrift was born,
and " the fceptre departed from Judah [o]." In
[m] Luke xvi. zg, 3 1.
[n] Eufebius attempts not to, go beyond Zerubbabel.
[o] Gen. xlix. 10. The fceptre departed from Judah when
Herod, who was an Idumsean profelyte, afcended the throne.
K 3 Th

134 general preface to
In a retrofpect of the facred hiftory, it is obvious
to remark, that one defign of the infpired writers
was, to place before us the melancholy proofs of that
corruption which had been entailed on mankind ; and
to exhibit in the depravity of a nation highly fa
voured, miraculoufly governed, and inftructed by in
fpired teachers, the neceffity of that redemption and
renewal of righteoufnefs, . which was fo early and fo
repeatedly promifed by the prophets. The univerfal
iniquity overwhelmed by the flood [p] ; the incor
rigible perverfenefs of the Hebrew nation ; the lapfe
of the moft upright perfons, and the hardened and
obdurate wickednefs of confirmed finners, are in-
duftrioufly difplayed with this view ; and in a long
fucceffion of dark fcenes, no perfect character can
be found ; and but few, comparatively, whofe vir-
The defcendants of Zerobabel, as alfo the Afmonsans, who till
this time had poffefled the government (fometimes, indeed, in
reftricted fubjeftion to foreign powers) were of the tribe of
Judah, though the Afmonaeans were by the female Jine, In con
fequence of this predicted change of government, the expectation
of " the Shiloh" was fo general, that it gave rife to a fedt called
Herodians, who flattered Herod as being the Melliah ; as well as
jo the notion afterwards maintained by fome, that Agrippa, the
grandfon of Herod by Mariamne (the grand-daughter of Hyrca-
nus, the Afmojiaaan prieft) was entitled to that diftinftion ; not
to mention the numberlefs falfe prophets who called themfelves
" the Chrift." Vid. Cyril. Alex. cont. Julian. Hieron. in So-
phon. cap. i. Epiph, Hsris. 20. Tertul. de Prxfer, Schol.
in Perfii Satyr. 5. 1. 180. Baron Apparat. ad Annal. Ecclef.
P. I. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XII. §. 8. 1 Chron. iii. Matt. i.
Luke iii.
[p] Gen. vi. 5. tues

THE HISTORICAL 'BOOKS. 135
tues 'could be propofed for imitation to 'mankind;
The facred writers defcribed characters and paffions
as they beheld them, without flattery or difguife,
often without comment or remark; leaving them 'to
excite thofe fentiments of efteem or repugnance which
they, were feverally calculated to awaken. In fome
righteous characters, however, they- tranferibe and
exemplify the purity of God's laws ; and thofe. pre
cepts which they interweave in their, relations^, are
always excellent. In the judgments:, of God they
.likewife pourtray his attributes; reprefent him as
watching over innocence ; as indulgently fufpending
wrath; but as finally avenging himfelf on unrepented
fins. They felect from the events of their hiftory
thofe circumftances which are befb calculated to fur
niffi inftruction, and therefore often pafs with rapidity
over great national events, and dilate with minute-
nefs on whatever may ferve to ffiew the nature of
¦the divine government, or to illuftrate the interefts
and duties of mankind. If they fometimes admit
particulars, of which the. defign in thefe refpects is
not obvious, it muft be reco'lle&ed,. that fuch par
ticulars might have had an importance , among the
Jews, though we are no longer fenfible of their
utility. - '
The chronological and genealogical accounts,
which now ferve chiefly to prove the information
and accuracy of the .facred hiftorians, formerly affift-
ed to keep up neceffary diftinctions, and to afcertain
the. exact accompliffiment of prophecy. If, with re
gard to thefe, or any other minute particulars, the
K 4 facred

I36 GENERAL PREFACE TO
facred books now feem to contain any inconftftencies
or errors, thefe muft be attributed to the negligence
of copyifts, and to the infenfible corruptions which
muft arife from frequent tranfcription, efpecially 'in
fuch points. The errors, however, which induftri-
ous objection affects xo difcover, am-often imaginary.;
and it is not probable, even if we fuppofe the au
thors of thefe books to have been merely humane
unaffifted writers, that they ffiould be fo little con
verfant with the hiftory of their country, as to be
guilty of the contradictions which modern commen
tators have pretended to point out; and whichy if
they had exifted, muft, as more glaring to their con
temporaries whom thefe> writers addreffed, have ne
ceffarily daminiihed their credit.. The truth is, that
if we are fometimes perplexed with difficulties, it is
in" confequence of the want of contemporary ac<-
counts, and an effect of that obfcurity which muft
be fuppofed to overffiadow periods fo long elapfed;
and the genealogical and chronological differences
which are faid fometimes to prevail, have arifen not
Only from the corruptions to which numbers are par
ticularly fubject, but from the different fcope which
the writers took.
In the detail of lineage, the facred writers often
inferted only iljuftrious perfons, and fometimes added
collateral kindred [<5j. They fometimes altered
names, where variety admitted preference; and in
[ c^} Le Clerc SentimenS de quelques Theol. TJieod. Pnef.
in Qiuaeft. Lib. Reg. R. David Kimchi. Michael, &c. '
1 l chrono-

THE HISTORICAL BOOKS. I37
chronological accounts they cJaleula'ted fifeqUefttty in
round numbers, where accuracy was of no con
fequence [r].: They likewife afi»medi various. Kfas.
Thus in Genefis, iMofes reckoned only by the ages*
of the patriarchs j In Exodus .he, as fucceeding
|«r6phets, dated -from the departure out of Egypt;
and Others, whoqlired in later times, from the build
ing of the tempte [s]; from the commencement of
the reigns of their feveral kings [t] ; from their cap
tivities and deliverances [u], and other important
national events [x] ; or, laftly, from the reigns of
foreign kings [y] ; whom if they defcribed by names
different from thofe under which they are mentioned
in prophane hiftory, it was in accommodation to the
titles by which they were known to the Jews. The
difficulties which occur on a fuperficial perufal of the-
fcriptures chiefly originate in want of attention to
thefe confiderations ; and they who have not the
leifure and induftry which are neceffary to elucidate
fuch particulars, will do well to collect the obvious
inftrudtion which is richly fpread through every page
of the facred volume, rather than to embark in ipe-
culations of delicate difcuffion, or to entangle them
felves in objections which refult from ignorance,,
[r] Gen. xv. 13. 1 Kings vi. 1. Uffer Chron. Sac. c. 12.
[sj 2 Chron- v"'- !•
[t] As the earlier prophets.
[u] Ezek. i. 2.
[x] Amos i. 1.
[y] Ezek. xi. 1. Dan, x. 1. Zechar. i. 1. Haggai i. 1.
The,

I38 GENERAL PREFACE, &C
The hiftorical, like all other parts of fcripture, have
every mark of genuine and unaffected truth. Many
relations are interwoven with accounts of other na
tions, yet no inconfiftencics have been detected. A
connected and dependent chain of hiftory, an uni
form and pervading fpirit of piety, a co-operating
defign, invariably prevails in every page of the facred
.books, and the hiftorical unfold the accompliffiment
ofthe prophetic parts.

OP

[ *39 ]

OF THE

BOOK of JOSHUA.
IT has been contended by fome writers, that the
Book which paffes under the name of Joffiua in
all the copies, was not written by him ; but that this
title was chofen rather as defcriptive ofthe chief per-
fonage of the book, than with defign to intimate its
author ; in the fame manner as the books of Efther,
of Job, or of Ruth, are fo called, becaufe they treat
principally concerning the actions of thofe perfons
whofe names they reflectively bear. But if we wave
all arguments that might be drawn from the title,
there will ftill remain fufficient grounds to conclude,
that the book, or at leaft the greater part of it, was
written by Joffiua himfelf, agreeably to the general
opinion. It is, indeed, exprefsly faid, towards the
conclufion of the book, that Joffiua wrote thefe
words in the book of the law of God [a], which
feems to imply, that he fubjoined this hiftory to the
Pentateuch. [a] Chap. xxiv. 26. See alfo 1 Kings xvi. 34. comp, with
J&fhua yi. 26,
Joshua

I^P ©F THE BOOK OF JOSHUA.
Joshua is reprefented through the whole work
as appointed by God to govern and inftrudt his peo
ple. He is likewife defcribed in the book of Eccle-
fiafticus [b], under the title of " Jefus the fon of
Nave," as " the fucceffor of Mofes in prophecies ;"
there is therefore ample reafon to be convinced, that
Joffiua was the author of the book, except, perhaps,
of a few verfes towards the conclufion; the account
of his death being added by one of his fucceffors,
in like manner as he might have fupplied what was
neceffary to complete the hiftory of Mofes. The
ancient Talmudifts, and the voice of general tradi
tion, attribute the book to Joffiua ; and it is ex
prefsly faid in Bava Bathra, that Joffiua wrote the
book diftinguiffied by his name [c] ; and the eight
laft verfes of the law. It is alfo added, in the fame
place, that Eleazar wrote the twenty-ninth verfe of
the twenty-fourth chapter of Jofhua, as Phineas did
the thirty-third ; and probably all the five laft verfes
were added by Eleazar the high-prieft, his fon Phi
neas, or Samuel.
The principal objections made againft the aflign-
ment of this book to Joffiua are, firft, that in the
thirteenth verfe of the tenth chapter, the circum
ftance of the fun and moon being ftayed, is faid to
be written in the book of Jafhir ; by which it is meant
to infinuate, that the book of Joffiua is only a com
pendious hiftory, fclected from larger chronicles, in
[b] Ecclus xlvi. i.
[cj Bava Bathra, cap. i. Spanhem. Hift. Eccl. V. T.
Tom. i. P. 339. later

OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. I4I
later times. Now to whatever book this reference
may be fuppofed to apply, whether to a previous
narrative, or to a fong compofed on the occafion of
the great event here fpoken of, it does not follow
that Joffiua could not be the author of a work in
which the book of Jafhir is quoted ; as probably con
taining a more minute and circumftantial account
of this remarkable miracle [d]. Secondly, thofe
expreffions which have been brought to prove that
the hiftory was written long after the events therein
recorded, as that the ftones which Joffiua fet up,
" are there unto this day [eJ," with fimilar paffages,
which argue that the relation was fometime fubf»-
quent to the occurrences defcribed, do in reality only
ferve to ffiew, what other circumftances confirm, that
Joffiua wrote the book towards the conclufion of
his days ; and then, as fpeaking of the earlier periods
of his government, he might confiftently ufe thefe
and fimilar expreffions [f].
It has been afferted, farther, that fome things are
[ d ] Jofhua defcribes this miracle according to the received
notions of aftronomy. Vid. Calmet Differt. fur le Commande-
ment, &c.
[e] Chap. iv. 9- v. 9. Vid. alfo chap. x. 14. Matth.
xxvii. 8.
[ f ] The book muft have been written by a peifon at leaft
nearly contemporary with Jofhua, fince Rahab was living in
the author's time. Vid. chap. vi. 25. and v. 1. where the
author fpeaks of himfelf as prefent at the pafiage over Jordan.
Obferve alfo chap. viii. 28. xv. 63. xvi. 10. and the circum
ftantial detail of particulars which argues a contemporary
»r*er. related

I42 OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA.
related in this book which did not happen till after
the death of Joffiua; as the expedition of the Danites
againft Leffiem [g] ; which apparently is related as
a fubfequent event in the book of Judges. Hence
fome have attributed the book to Eleazar ; fome to
Samuel ; and fome to Ifaiah, or Ezra ; but- it is not
neceffary on this account to deprive Joffiua of his
title to the book ; for if the relation in Judges be not
the hiftory of a different expedition [h], we may
fuppofe the account in this book to be an interpola
tion made by Ezra, or fome prophet pofterior to
Joffiua; and this is the more probable folution of the
difficulty, fince the verfe which records the conqueft
of the Danites, appears evidently to be an extrinfic
addition, afterwards inferted to complete the account
of the Danites' poffeffions. It may be remarked far
ther, that whatever is faid of Othniel and Achfah,
in the book of Judges, is only a recapitulation of
what happened under Joffiua [1]. The land of Ca
bul mentioned in Joffiua [k], is by Jofephus dif
tinguifhed
[ g ] Chap. xix. 47.
[h] Judges xviii. 37 — 29. It is poffible that the Laifh men
tioned ia Judges was a different place from the Lefhem fpoken
of in Jofhua. The accounts, indeed, vary in fome circumftances.
In Jofhua, Lefhem itfelf is faid to have been called Dan. In
Judges, Laifh is reprefented to have been burnt, and the city
which was built in its room was called Dan.
[1] Chap. xv. 13, 19. and Judges i. 11 — 15. or the paffage
might be a fubfequent infertion into the book of Jofhua.
[k] Chap. xix. 27. and 1 Kings ix. 13. The formeracity
on the borders of Ptolemais, the latter a diftrift containing
fevera] towns. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. VIII. c. ii. Huet.
Demon.

OF TH» BOOK OF JOSHUA. I4J
tinguiffied from that which is fpoken of in the book
of Kings; and " the houfe of God" in this book,
does not imply the temple ; which was not built till
long after the death of J offiua ; but means the Taber
nacle and Ark, which did exift in his time. Thefe
difficulties being thus removed, we may conclude
that Jofhua was the author of the book that bears
his name. Jt contains an account of the diftribution
of property, which muft foon have been committed to
writing. It was admitted by Ezra into the canon as
infpired, and it is cited as fcripture by many of the
facred writers [l], and efpecially as the work of
Joffiua in Kings, where his words are faid to be the
words of God [m].
Joshua who was the fon of Nun, of the tribe
of Ephraim, was firft called Ofea, or Hofea [n], a
name, which, as it fignifies Saviour, was well adapt-
Demon. Evan. Prop. iv. The idea that places are in this
book fometimes diftinguifhed by names not adopted till later
times, is, perhaps, often fanciful, fince the origin and date of
names are extremely uncertain ; but where modern names are
found, they might have been affixed by thofe who read^
copied, or revifed the book.
[lJ 1 Chron. ii. 7. xii. 15. Pfa. c?jia. 3. Ifa. xxviii. 21.
Acfs vii. 45. Heb. xi. 31. xiii. 5. James ii. 25, 28. Ecclus
xlvi. 4. 1 Mac. ii. 5, 6.
[ m ] I Kings xvi. 34.
[n] jmnn, Hofea falvator rtrm*, Jofhua dominus falvator.
The former denotes an hope, the latter an affurance of falva-
tion. Mofes appears to have made this flight change in the
name of Jofhua, in order to commemorate his appointment
" to fpy out the land" into which he was afterwards to conducl
the people. .Vid. Num. xiii. 16, 17. Auguft. cont. Fault. Tom.
VL Lib. XVI. c. 19. ed

*44 0F THE B00K OF JOSHUA.
ed to his character as typical of our fpiritual Saviour.
He is alfo by. St. Luke, and by the author of Ec-
clefiafticus, ftiled Jefus ; a juft reprefentative of that
Jefus who leads us into a Canaan of endlefs felicity,
through the water of baptifm [o]. Joffiua was
" filled with the fpirk of wifdom," and took upon
him the government of Ifrael by command of God
[p] ; agreeably to the prediction of Mofes, who had
promifed that " the Lord ffiould raife up a prophet
like unto him, as his fucceffor [ o_]." The piety,
courage, and difinterefted integrity of Joffiua are
confpicuoufly difplayed through the whole courfe of
his conduct. Independently of the infpiration which
enlightened his mind and writings, he derived divine
information, fometimes by immediate revelation from
God [r] ; and fometimes from the fanctuary, and by
the mouth of Eleazar the high-prieft, the fon of
Aaron, who having on the breaft-piate, and pre-
fenting himfelf before the veil over againft the mercy-
[o] Adts xvii. 45. Ecclus xlvi. 1. Heb. iv. 8. Grot. Corn.
in Matt. i. 21.
[p] Numb, xxvii. i§ — 20. Deut. xxxi. 7, 14. xxxiv. 9.
Jofhua i. 5.
[qJ Deut xviii. 15. This prophecy is in a more efpecial
fenfe applicable to Chrift, the archetype of the prophets.
[r] Chap. iii. 7. v. 13 — 15. It is generally fuppofed in con
formity with the fentiments of the ancient Hebrew and Chriftian
churches, that the perfon who, in the inftance laft referred to, is
related to have appeared to Jofhua, was God himfelf, as he is
afterwards called the Lord (Jehovah in the Hebrew) ch. vi. 2.
and Jofhua would not have been fuffered to worfhip, much lefs
required to reverence, a created being. Vid. Rev. xxii. 8, 9.
It was therefore probably the divine Tioyo?, the angel of the cove
nant, who appeared. Eufeb. Hift. Lib. I. c. 2.
* feat

OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA* 14$
feat whereon refted the divine prefence [s], con
fulted God by th'e Urim and ThUmmim'; and God
anfwered him by a voice which iffued from the
mercy^-feat. During the life of this excellent chief;
the Ifraelites were preferved in fome obedience to
God, and flourifhed under his protection ; and we
contemplate with fatisfaction, the defcription of a
well-governed and fuccefsful people.
Joshua, the leader, as the hiftorian of the Ifraelites,
reprefents in lively colours the progrefs of a nation,
led on to rapid and great victories by the guidance
of the Lord ; yet occafionally checked in their ca
reer, that they might be convinced of their depen-
dance on God for fuccefs, and that it was not " their
own arm" which had procured iti He relates*
with all the animation of one who was appointed
to be an agent in the fcenes difplayed, the fUcceffive
miracles that favoured and effected the conqueft of
the country ; and unfolds the accompliffiment of the
Mofaic prophecies concerning the poffeffion and
divifion of the promifed land [t].
In the Courfe of the narrative, Jofhua points out
the attention paid to the divine precepts in the cir-
1
[s] The Shechinah was a vifible fymbol of the divine pre
fence, which, after having conducted the Ifraelites through the
wildernefs, refted in a glorious cloud between the Cherubims in
the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple ; and hence the
divine oracles were delivered. Vid. Lowman's Rationale ofthe
Hebrew Ritual, Part II. ch. ii.
[t] Gen. xii. 7. xvii. 8. Exod. xv. 14—17. Xxiii. 23.
xxxiii. 2. Numb, xxxiv. 2. Deut. i. 7, 8. xxxii. 49.
L ' cumcifion

I46 OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA.
cumcifion ofthe people [u ] ; in the fetting up ofthe
Tabernacle ; and in the appointment of the cities of
refuge. The book concludes with the account of
the renewal of the covenant ; and of the affecting
exhortation and death of Joffiua, which terminates an
interefting hiftory of about thirty years from A. M.
IS S3 to A. M. 2583 [x] : the whole of which is ani
mated by the difplay of God's attributes, and recom
mended by the nobleft fentiments of piety. It is
[u] The command given to Jofhua to cireumcife again the
children of Ifrael, was only to renew a rite which had been
orrritted in the wildernefs. " The reproach of Egypt,"
which was thereby " rolled away," meant probably the op
probrium incurred by the Egyptians, who might have neg
lected the rite in compliance with the requisitions of the uncir-
cumcifed Horites that over-ran Egypt, or who, perhaps, might
not yet have adopted it. If we underftand that the Egyptians
upbraided the Ifraelites for the negfcft of circumcifion, it will
by no means follow, that the fetter nation learnt it from the
former ; but rather that the Egyptians made it a fubject. of re
proach to the Ifraelites, that they negleifted in the wildernefs*
what they profeffed to confider as a rite of diltincf ion, and the
feal of the promifes. Vid. Shuckford's Conn. vol. iii. b. xii.
and Patrick in Jofhua, ch. v. 6 — 9. Spencer conceives, that
the reproach of Egypt was the flavery to which they had
been fubjedted, and from which they were now refcued and de
clared free, by this token of a free people. Vide Spencer de
Leg. Heb. L. I. c. iv.
[x] Including the account of Eleazar's death, who out
lived Jofhua about five or fix years. This computation is like-
wife grounded on a fuppofition that Jofhua was employed fever-
years in completing the conqueft of the country, and that
he furvjved it about eighteen years. Some do not admit
that he governed the people fo long. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq.
Lib. V. c. i. occafionally
6

OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. 147
occafionally interfperfed with prophecies [y], and
diftinguiffied throughout by every mark of fidelity
and truth. Joffiua, like his predeceffor, defcribes
the difobedience and tranfgreffions of the Jews, not
concealing his own errors. He confpires in the fame
zealous defigns with Mofes, and earneftly recommends
an attention to the laws and ftatutes which that legi-
flator had delivered. The book muft have been a
moft valuable poffeffion to the Ifraelites, as it con
tained the earlieft and moft authentic documents re
lative to the property of every tribe, and furnifhed
to each the title of its refpective inheritance.
It is neceflary to remark, that there is fome acci
dental derangement in the order of the chapters of
this book, occafioned probably by the mode of roll
ing up manufcripts anciently obferved. If chrono
logically placed, they ffiould be read thus : firft chap
ter to the tenth verfe ; then fecond chapter ; then from
the tenth verfe to the end of the firft chapter ; after
wards ffiould follow the fixth and confecutive chap
ters ; to the eleventh ; then the twenty-fecond chap
ter; and, laftly, the twelfth and thirteenth chapters^
to the twenty-fourth verfe ofthe latter [z],
Joshua fucceeded Mofes in the government , .of
Ifrael about A. M. 2-553 ; and died in the 1 10th year
ofhis age, A. M. 2578, at Timnah-ferah ; where
he had retired, contemplating from Mount Ephraim,
the well-ordered and peaceful government which he
[ y) Chap. iii. jar- 1"?. vi. 26. compared with 1 Kings xvi. 34.
Jofh. xxiii. 15, &c.
[z] Bedford's Scrip. Chrofi. Book V. p^ 590.
L 2 had

I48 OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA.
had eftabliffied [a] ; and exhorting tire people with
bis laft Words to a remembrance of God'.s mercy, and
to an obfervance of his laws.
T«e memory of Joffiua, and of his victories, Was
long preferved, and his reputation fpread among the
heathen nations [b]. He is generally confidered as
the original of the Phoenician Hercules ; and the
•fcene of his victories, as well as the conquefts them
felves, is ftill difcernable in the disfigured accounts
•which are given concerning that fictitious hero [cj.
It has been collected from monuments ftill extant,
that the- Carthaginians were a colony of the Tyrians
who fled from, the exterminating fword of Joffiua
[d] j as alfo, that the inhabitants of Leptis in Africa,
were primarily -derived from Zidonians, who had
[a] The Vatican copy of the Septuagint verfion has the
following addition annexed to the account of Jofhua's burial,
in the thirtieth verfe of the laft chapter: " There they put
with him into the fepulchre in which they buried him, the
Tinives of flint with which he circumcifed the kingdom of Ifrael
in Gilgal, when he brought them out of Egypt, as the Lord
commanded them;" and they are there unto this day. The
Alexandrian copy has it not. Vide Harmer, vol. iv. p. 398.
- fB] Some traces of the miracle of the fun arid moon being
ftayed for a whole day by Jofhua, are difcovered in the Chinefe
records, as well as in the disfigured accounts of Statius and Ovid.
Vid. Martinii Hift. Sinic. Lib. 1 . p. 37. Stat. Thebais, Lib. IV.
1. 307. Ovid. Metamor. de Phaeton;
. [c] Procop. Vandal. Lib. II. c. 10. Polyb. Frag. 114.
Salluft. Bellum Jugurth." The Mahometans relate many fabulous
ftories of Jofhua.. Vid. Herbelot, Bib. Oriental, fub voce
Jefchowa. [ d] Allix's ReflecL on Books of Old Teft. ' been
4

OF THE BOOK OF JOSHUA. I49
been compelled to forfake their country in confe
quence of calamities brought upon it by the con
quefts of this great commander.
The Samaritans are by fome writers fuppofed to
have receiyed the book of Joffiua ; there is ftill ex
tant a Samaritan book entitled, the book of Joffiua,
which differs confiderably from the Hebrew copy,
containing a chronicle of events badly obmpjled from
the death of Mofes to the time of the Emperor
Adrian. It confifts of 47 chapters fwelled with fa
bulous accounts. It is written in Arabic in the
Samaritan character [e]. After having been long
loft, it was recovered by Scaliger, and depofited at
Leyden, in manufcript, and has never been pub
liffied. The Jews fuppofe Joffiua to have been the author
of a prayer which they repeat in part on quitting the
fynagogue. It is in celebration of God's goodnefs.
for having granted them an inheritance fuperior to
that of the reft of mankind [f].
[e] Fabric. Apocryph. V. Teft. p. 876, and feq,
[f] Vagep's. Tela Syriac,, p. 223, and feq.

L 3 os

[ i5° '3

OF THE

BOOK OF JUDGES.

THIS Book has been generally attributed to
Samuel, in agreement with the opinion of the
Talmudical doctors [a]. Some writers have affigned
[a] Bava Bathra, c. i. Kimchi Abarb. Ifid. Lib. VI. c. ii.
The Talmud, from "HD^n, .doftrine, is a Jewiffi book, containing
explanatory remarks on the. law, and reverenced by. the Jews, as
much as, or more than the law, as the great fource of their reli
gious opinions. It confifts of two parts: the Mifchna, or text;
and the Gemara, or complement. The former the Jews profefs
to have received as an oral law, delivered to Mofes by God ;
but in reality it confifts of traditions accumulated from the time
of Simon, or Ezra, and contains fome ufeful inftructions. The
Gemara is a commentary ef wild fancies on the Mifchna. There
are two Talmuds, that of Jerufalem, and that of Babylon ; the
laft of which is moft efteemed. It appeared in the fixth or fe
venth century, about 200 years after the former. Maimonides
publifhed a good abridgment of it. Vide Buxtorf. Recenfio oper:
Talmud. Porta^Mofis, in Pocock's works, vol. i. Morin. Exercit.
Biblic. Lexic. Buxtorf. Rabbin, p. 2610. Prid. Con. Part I. B. V.
Mark vii. 7, 8, 13. The Popes, where they have had influence,
have often procured the deftruftion of the Talmuds, as conr
taining pernicious opinions. Much truth, however, is con
cealed under the chimerical expofitions and accounts therein con
tained, it

OF THE BOOK 6F JUDGES. 151
k to Phinehas; fome to Hezekiah; and fome to Eze-
' kiel ; and others have fuppofed that Ezra collected it
from fuch memoirs as eyery judge reflectively fur
nifhed of his own goyernment. It feems, however,
moft probable, that Samuel was the author; who,
being a prophet or feer, and defcribed in the book
of Chronicles as an hiftorian, may reafonably be
fuppofed, inafmuch as he was the laft of the Judges,
to have written t;his part of the Jewiffi hiftory; fince
the infpired writers alone were permitted to defcribe
thofe relations, in which were interwoven the jn-
ffiructions and judgments of the Lord [»],
The book appears to have been written after tlie
eftabliffiment of the regal government, fince the au
thor, in fpeaking of preceding events, obferves, that
" in thofe days there was no king in Ifrael [c] ;"
which feems to imply that there were kings when he
wrote. There is alfo fome reafon to think, that it
was written before the acceffion of Pavid, fince it is
faid in the twenty-firft yerfe of the firft chapter, that
" the Jebufifete were ftill in Jerufalem," who were
difpoffeffed of thatcity early in the rcjgn of David [d].
Jt was likewife Written before .the books of Samuel
[e]; and therefore if the author be underftood, as he
js ufually fuppofed, to fpeak in the thirtieth verfe of
the eighteenth chapter, of that captivity [e] which
happened
[b] Jofeph, cont. Apjon, Lib. I,
[c] Chap. x\x, }. xxi. 25.
[ d ] 2 Sam. v. 6 — 8.
fe J Compare % Sam, xi. 21. wjth Judges ix. 53,
[f] The captivity here fpoken ©f muft have happened be-.
(pre the reign of David, who would not have fuffered the
L. 4 jdolauews

J52 OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES.
happened in the time of Eli, when the ark was cap
tured by the Philiftines, and the idol of Micah was
deftroyed [c] ; there is no objection to the general
opinion, which attributes the book to Samuel [h] ;
who may be conceived to have written it in Ramoth-
Gilead, after the election of Saul.
The book is properly inferted between thofe of
Joffiua and Samuel, as the Judges were governors
intermediate between Joffiua and the Kings of Ifrael.
They were illuftrious princes of the houfe of Judah
[1], raifed up by God, not in regular fucceffion, but
as emergencies required, when the repentance of the
Ifraelites influenced him to companionate their dif
trefs, and to afford them deliverance from their dif-
idolatrous images to remain among his people. When the ark
was captured, many of the Ifraelites muft have been taken
likewife ; and the Pfalmift exprefsly calls this taking of the
ark, " a captivity." Vid. Pfal. lxxviii. 60 — 62. as the wife
of Phinehas lamented that then " the glory was departed from
Ifrael." Vid. 1 Sam. iv. 22.
[g] 1 Sam. iv. 11. and ch. v. Selden d^ Syntag. I. de
Diif. Syris, cap. ii. and Calmet on Judg. ch. xviii. 30.
[h] The word tvaj, Nabia, which is ufed in this book,
might well be employed by Samuel, who wrote the firfl part
at leaft of the firft Book of Samuel. Vid. 1 Sam. ix. 9. The
houfe of God means the Tabernacle, as in Jofhua,
[1] They were called Shophetim, in the Hebrew, which
fignifies judges. They had the fupreme power under fome re-
ftri&idns; and without the enfigns of royalty, being minifters
of God, fubfervient to the theocracy. Vid. chap, viii. 23.. Spme
reckon fifteen and fome fixteen Judges. .They, were fometimes
elected by the people on the performance of great exploits, and
generally continued for life. faculties.

OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 153
ficulties. They frequently acted by a divine fug
geftion, and were endowed with preternatural ftrength
and fortitude [k.] *
After the death of Joffiua, the people appear
for a ffiort time to have had no regularly appointed
governor [l], but to have acted in feparate tribes.
They were for a few years retained in the fervice of
God, by the elders who furvived Joffiua, but after
wards fell into a ftate of anarchy, for a period of
which we have no account, but as to thofe particu
lars fcattered towards the beginning and conclufion
of this book. We find, however, that the people
proceeded to the conqueft of the remaining part of
the country, but that, gradually forgetting the in
ftructions of Mofes, and of Joffiua, and notwith
ftanding a rebuke which they received from an angel
of God [m], they fuffered the inhabitants to remain
tributary among them; who became, as had been
[k] Chap. ii. 18. vi. 14., 34.. xi. 29. xiv. 6, 19. The Jews
imagine, without fufficient reafon, that they were endued with
the fpirit of prophecy. Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch. Par. II.
c. xiv. Grot, in Jud. i. 1.
[lJ In the Samaritan chronicle, it is faid, that Jofhua ap
pointed his nephew Abel to fuvceed him, upon whom the govern
ment fell by lot; but this is a fabulous account. Vid. Saurin.
Differt. fur Heglon Roi des Moabites. Hotting. Smeg. Oriental,
c. viii. p. 522.
[m] Chap. ii. 1. by the word "]»bn ayyiXoc, nuntius, fome
underftand a prophet, which it fometimes fignifies, as in Hag-
gai i. 13. But there is no reafon why we fhould not fuppofe
the meffenger to have been an angel, as angels undoubtedly
appeared on other occafions, the minifters of God's miraculotis
government of the Ifraelites. repeatedly

154 OF THE BOOK 0F Judges.
repeatedly predicted, " fcourges in their fides, and'
thorns in their eyes," and, as it were, " fnares and
traps" to feduce them to idolatry £n]„ For this
they were puniihed, and given up to their enemies,
and held eight years in fervitude to Cuffian, king of
Mefopotamia, till God raifed up Judges to deliver
them. Othniel appears to have been the firft judge;
though fome writers fay, that Simeon, and others,
that Caleb [o] preceded him in the government of
the people. During the intervals between the Judges,
each tribe was governed by its refpe&ive elders;
[n] Exod. xxiii. 33, xxxiv. 12. Jofh. xxiii. 13. Judg. ii. 2.
The Ifraelites were permitted to render tributary thofe nations
who fubmitted to them, though they were to fupprefs their
idolatrous worfhip, " to break down their images, and to de--
ftroy their groves." But thofe nations who in defiance of
God"s declared favour oppofed them, were to be deftroyed ;
and as to the feven nations of Canaan, of thofe who refifted,
*' nothing that breathed was to be faved alive;" that every
trace of idolatry might be fwept away. Vid. Deut. xx. ie— 18.
vii. 1—6. 1 Sam. xv. 5. Though this deftruftion was enjoined
only in cafe of refiftance, yet with no idolatrous city whatever, were
the Ifraelites allowed by the divine command, to make any
league or covenant; for in thefe the authority of thofe deities,
whofe fanftion mult have been adjured, would have been ad
mitted, and fome toleration given to a worfhip that might have
fended to the fedu£tion of the Ifraelites. Vid. Exod. xxiii.
32. They vere therefore enjoined, gradually, to extirpate
the civil and religious communities of the land, and to ren
der tlje people tributary and dependant as individuals. A1J
thefe inftrudtions, however, the people violated, and fuffere4
for their difobedience. Vid, Shuckfcjrd's Con. vol, iii, j?t
XII. [0] Bedford's Script, Chron. L,ib, V- ?. iii,

OF TH'E BOOK OF JUDGES. I 55
affairs of importance being referred to the great
council, or Sanhedrim [p].
The hiftory of this book may be divided jnto two
parts ; the firft containing an account of the Judges
from Othniel to Samfon, ending at the fixteenth
chapter. The fecond part defcribing feveral re
markable particulars that occurred not long after
the death of Joffiua, which are placed towards the
end of the book in the feventeenth and following
chapters, that they may not interrupt the courfe of
the hiftory. What relates to the two laft Judges,
Eli and Samuel, is recorded in the following book.
The chronology of this period is entangled with
many difficulties ; but if we include the period of
34 years, which may be fuppofed to have intervened
between the death of Joffiua and the judicature of
Othniel, the book extends its hiftory from A. M.
2578, to the death of Samfon, A. M. 2887, and
the government of the Judges may be conceived to
[p] The great council appointed by Mofes, continued pro
bably to exift, at leaft, till the eftablifhmerit pf the monarchi
cal government, though there are no proofs that its member?
retained the gift of infpiration. Whether the Sanhedrim *were
the fame council continued, or a fubfequent" inftitution in the,
time of the Maccabees, is uncertain. Like that, however,
it confifted of 70 or 72 elders : thefe were moftly Priefts anc|
Levites, over which the high-prieft generally, but not necef
farily, prefided. It decided on momentous affairs, civil and
religious, and fubfifted to the time of Chrift, but with autho
rity diminifhed in fubjeclion to {he, Roman power. Matth. v,
n. Mark xiii. 9. Selden de Synod. Beaufobre's Introduft. to
Script. There were feveral inferior and dependant Sanhedrims.
The word is deriyed from Q"'h '<"* a council or affembly. have

1^6 OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES.
have continued from A. M. 2612, to the twenty-:
firft year of Samuel's judicature, when Saul was
anointed, A. M. 2929, that is, about 317 years [oj.
The period ftated in the book if computed in fuc
ceffion, would fwell to a much greater number of
years ; but they muft be conceived fometimes to co
incide as contemporary, being reckoned from dif
ferent asras which cannot now be exactly afcertained;
and, perhaps, as Marffiam has conjectured, fome
[ qJ St. Paul appears to reckon 450 years from the divifion
of the land till the time of Samuel, (exclufive of Samuel's
government, which is reckoned under the 40 years affigned in.
the next verfe to Saul) but as this computation would be in-
confiftent with other ftatements in fcripture, and efpecially
with that in 1 Kings vi. 1 . where the fourth year of Solomon's
reign is made to coincide with the 480th year after the deliver
ance from Egypt, Ufher accepts from ancient manufcripts a
different reading of Afts xiii, 20. according to which the 450
years are referred, nbt to the duration of the Judges, but to the
period *hich intervened between the promife of Canaan made
to Abraham, and the divifion of the land. The prefent read
ing, however, is more agreeable to the fcope of St. Paul's
difcourfe, as well as beft fupported by authority ; and there
fore various other folutions of the difficulties that refult from
this account, have been propofed. Many chronologers ' have
imagined that Ttfaxocriots is a miftake of the copyift of the Acts,
for rptaxoa-ioi; ; in which cafe St. r"aul, fpeaking loofely (a>s),
might well reckon 350 years ; for if we deduct from 480
years the 47 years which intervened between the Exodus
and the divifion of the land, together with the 84 years
which muft be affigned -to Samuel, Saul, David, and Solomon,
before the foundation of the temple, we fhall have exactly
349 years. Vid. Uffer. Chron. Sac. c. xii. Poli Synop.i*
1 Kings vi. 1, Of

OE THE BOOK OF JUDGES. 15^
pf die Judges were coeval, reigning over different
diftricts. ~
The book of Judges furniffies a lively defcription
of a fluctuating and unfettled nation ; a ftriking pic
ture of the diforder§ and dangers which prevailed in
a republic without magiftracy, when " the highways
were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through
by-ways [r]," when few prophets were appointed
to control the people [s], and '< every one did that
which w^s right in his own eyes [t]." It exhibits
the conteft of true religion with fuperftition ; dis
plays the beneficial effects that flow from the for
mer; and reprefents the miferies and evil confe
quences of impiety. From the fcenes of civil dif
cord and violence which darken this hiftory, St. Paul,
or the author of the Epiftle to the Hebrews, hath
prefented us with fome illuftrious examples of faith
in the characters of Gideon, Barak, Samfon, and
jephthah [u].
Amidst the great viciffitude. of events defcribed in
this book, in which the juftice and mercies of God
are confpicuoufly ffiewn,, we are much ftruck with
the account of the illuftrious exploits of the Judges ;
of Sifera's defeat and death ; of the victory of Gi
deon ; of the puniffiment of Abimelech ; of Jeph-
|hah's Jnconfiderate vow [x] ; of the adtions of
Samfon;
[r] Chap. v. 6. .. ,
[s] We read but of two prophets in this book. Vid. chap.
iv. 4. and vi, 8. The high-prieft, however, had the power, of
confultjng God by means of tho-Urirn and Thummim,
[t] _Chap. xviir 6. [y] Heb. xi. 32.
[t*]Lt. has been a fubjea of endlefs corjtrpverfy, whether
jfephthah did really offer up his daughter « a burnt offering tq
the

i 5 S OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES'.
Samfon ; ofthe flagitious conduct ofthe Benjamites;
Of the deftruction of Gibeah ; with the defcription
6f many other particulars that enliven the narrative,
which is likewife much embelliffied by the beautiful
fong of Deborah and Barak, and the fignificant pa
rable of Jotham. Many of the facred writers, as
well as St. Paul, allude to, or quote from, the
book [y] ; and feveral relations' contained in it point
the Lord," or Only devote her to perpetual virginity, Which
might be confidered as a facrifice, when every woman looked
forward to the production of the promifed feed. The Jews and
primitive church believed, that he did a&ually immolate her.
In favour of this opinion, it has been obferved, that It is fup
ported by the conftrudtion of the Septuagint, Syriac, and Vul
gate verfions, and by the Chaldee paraphrafe ; that if the vow
extended not to the life, Jephthah might have " gone back ;"
Levit. xxvii. 2—8. That a devotion to celibacy was uncuftomary
among the Jews, and mull have been difhonourable ; that it
could not have been requifite in a dedication to God's fervice, nor
a fufficient fubject for that general lamentation which prevailed
on the occafion, and was continued with fuperftitious obfervance
till later times ; and, laftly, that if Jephthah efteemed himfelf
bound to give up every confideration, rather than violate a
folemn engagement toith God, he might, for his intention, or
general character, be commended by St. Paul, however cenfure
ble and extravagant his promife and the performance of it might
have been. See Heb. xi. Pfa. xv. 4. Jofeph. Antiq. lib. V. c. 9.
TeriuL adv. Marcion. Chryfoft. Horn, de Jeptha. Epiphan. adv.
Hare's. Lib . III. vol. l.p. 1055. & Dod well. Dr. Randolph prtf-
pofes by a new rendering of the text, to maintain that Jephthah
vowed to dedicate whatfoever or whomfoever came out ofthe
door of his houfe, to meet him ; and aifo, to offer a burnt offer
ing. See his Difcourfe, and on Levit. xxvii. 28, 29. Concern
ing the Cherem, fee Selden de Jifre. Nat. & Gent, c- 6, 7.
[y] 1 Sam. xii. 9-— 11. 2 Sam. xi. 21. Pfa. , Ixxxviik U-
Ifaiah ix. 4. x. 26. and perhaps Matt. ii. 23. comp. with Jud.
xiii. 5. 6 out

OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES* l£|
' book [v] ; and feveral relations contained in it point
out the origin- of numberlefs heathen iabksfz,].
The whole period is diftinguiffied by a difplay of
extraordinary events, and by the moft glaring and
miraculous proofs of divine interpofition., The hif
tory of God's government muft neceffarily be cha
racterized by the marks and demonftrations of his
immediate agency ; and the Selected inftruments of
his will may well be expected to exhibit a fucceffion
of unprecedented exploits.
It ffiould be obferved, indeed, that fome of the
actions, which in this book are reprefented to have
been fubfervient to God's defigns, were juftifiablc
only on the fuppofition of divine warrant, whica
fuperfeded all general rules of conduct [a J. With
out this, the deeds of Ehud [b] and of Jael [c]
[y] i Sam. xii. 9 — 11. 2 Sam. xi. 21. Pfa. Ixxxviii. 1 1.
Ifaiah ix. 4. x. z<5. and perhaps Matt. ii. 23. comp. with Jud,
xiii. 5.
[z] The ftory of Nifus's hair; of the golden hair given by
Neptune to his grandfon Pterela, which rendered him invincible
while uncut ; that of Hercules anjl Omphale ; of the pillars of
Hercules ; ofthe death of Cleomedei Aftypalseus; of Agamemnon
and Iphigenia ; and to enumerate no more, that of the Sabine
rarfe, appear to have been ingenious fictions fabricated from the
accounts of this book.
[ * ] God may on particular occafions authorife what without
his fandtion would be unjuft ; as where he commands the Ifraelites
" to fpoil the Egyptians," and to extirpate the nations of Ca
naan. Vid. Exod. iii. 22. Deut. xx. 10 — 18.
[b] We are not to conceive, becaufe God " raifed up the
J-udges," that he dire&ed them in all their aftions. The rela
tion, however, feems to intimate, that Ehud on this occafion
afted by divine authority.
j!c] Jael's conduct, like that of Rahab, as defcribed indie book

l6& OF THE BOOK OF JUDGESj
might be pronounced cenfurable for their treachery)
however prompted by commendable : motives. And
with refpect to fome. other particulars, it is obvious,
that the facred author, by no means vindicates all that
he relates ; and that' the indifcriminate maffacre of
the people of Jabefh-Gilead* and the rape of the
virgins at Shiloh, were certainly ftamped with the
marks of injuftice and cruelty ; and muft be con
demned on thofe principles which the fcriptures have
elfewhere furnifhed, though in the brevity of the
facred hiftory they are here recorded without com
ment, The characters, likewife, of God's appointed
minifters, however fpoken of in this book, and in
other parts of fcripture, as commendable for their
general excellence, or particular merits, are pre
fented to us in fome points of view, as highly de
fective and blameable. It is eafy, however, to dii-
Criminate the ffiades from the light, and to perceive,
that in the defcription of fuch mixed characters as
that of Samfon, much is detailed as reprehenfible ;
and while we are led to admire his heroic patriotifin,
we are taught alfo to cc&demn his criminal infatuation
and blind confidence in Delilah.
With refpect to thofe objections, which a mif-
taken levity has fuggefted againft the credibility of
> book of Jofhua, appears to have arifen from a defire of affifting
in r'"->d's declared defigns in favour ofhis chofen people. As the
expii.' > approved in the hymn of Deborah, an infpired pro-
phetefs, we may fuppofe it to have been performed in compliance
with a divine impulfe, otherwife it could not have been a fubject
of praifc. Some, however, have thought, that Deborah only
foretels Jael's future celebrity. fome

OF THE BOOk OF JUDGES.' I<5l
fome tranfactions recorded in the book, they proceed
either from a want of attention to thofe conftructions
which the refearches of the learned have enabled
them to make [d] ; or from a difregard to the cha
racter of the times defcribed, when a boundlefs en-
thufiafm refulted from a confidence in the divine
favour. [d] The relation, for inftance, of Samfon's fetting fire to the
corn of the Philiftines, cannot reafonably be queftioned by thofe
who confider the character of Samfon; and the great abundance
of foxes (or thoes or jackals) that prevailed in Judsa, which,
indeed, was fo remarkable, that many cities, and even pro
vinces, were denominated after the word which we tranflate
foxes. Vid. I Sam, xiii. 17. Jofh. xv. 28. xix. 42, Judg. i.
35. alfo Cantic. ii. 15. Some writers, indeed, think that
inftead of fchualim, foxes, we fhould read fchoalim, jheaves,
and tranflate zanab, the extreme end, inftead of the tail. Vide
Bernard Repub. des Lett. p. 407. Stackhoufe's Hift. of Bib.
Book V. vol. i. The Vulpinaria, ot feaft" of the foxes, ob
ferved among the Romans, might have derived its origin from
this tranfaction, fome of the particulars of which Ovid de-
fcribes in a fabulous account. Vid. Faft. Lib. IV. L. 684. et
feq. Bochart. Hieros, Lib. III. c. xiii. The extraordinary ftrength
of Samfon is not t6 be confidered as thephyfical effect ofhis hair,
though God judged proper to render the continuance of the
former dependant on the prefervation of the latter, which was
the mark ofhis confecration to God as a Nazarite,

M OF

[ i6i J_

OF THE

BOOK of RUTH.

THE Book of Ruth is a kind of fupplement or
appendix to the Book of Judges, and may be
confidered as an introduction to the hiftory of David
[a], related in the Books of Samuel. In the He
brew canon it compofed but one book with the for
mer ; and though various opinions have been enter
tained refpecting its chronology [b], it is properly
placed in our Bibles between the books of Judges
and Samuel [c]. The famine which occafioned Eli-
melech to leave his country, is faid to have come to
pafs " in the days when the Judges ruled;" hence
fome have affigned the beginning of the hiftory to
the time of Gideon, who was raifed up in defence
[a] Eufeb. Hift. Lib. VI, c. xxv. Hieron. Pro!. Gal. Aug.
de Doft. Chrift. Lib. II. c. viii.
[e] Houbigant Bib. Pref. to vol. ii.
[cj The modern Jews place Canticles, Ruth, Lamenta
tions, Ecclefiaftes, and Either, immediately after the Penta
teuch, giving Ruth fometimes the firft, and fometimes the fifth
place. of

OF THE BOOK OF RUTH. l6j
of Ifrael, about A. M. 2759 [d], 'and under whom
a famine is related to have happened [e] ; notwith
ftanding which fome Jewiffi writers fuppofe the hif
tory to have occurred much earlier, in the time of
Ehud [f].
The chief difficulty, which occurs in fettling -the
chronology of this period, arifes from a genealogical
account of St. Matthew [g], in which it is ftated diat
Boaz, who was the hufband of Ruth, and the great
grandfather of David [h], was the fon of Salmon by
Rachab ; for if by Rachab we fuppofe to be meant,
as is ufually underftood, Rahab [1], the harlot, who
protected
[d] Patrick, in Chap. i. I.
[e] Judges vi. 3 — 6.
[f] Seder Olam. cap. xii.
[oj Matt. i. 5,6.
f h] Ruth iv. 21, 22, and Matth. i, 5, 6.
[ 1 ] We cannot nojv difcover any motive which fhould have
induced St. Matthew to mention Rachab in the genealogy of
Chrift, unlefs fhe were fome perfon previoufly fpoken of in
fcripture; but many reaforis may be affigned why fhe fhould
be introduced in the lineage, if Ihe were the Rahab whofe
condudt is mentioned by Jofhua (and . who, though ftiled niif,
zonah, in the Hebrew, and wopi), by the evangelifts, is cele
brated as an example of faith,) ftill, however, it may be diffi
dently fuggefted, that the chronological differences would be
lefs confiderable, if we could fuppofe her to have been a dif
ferent perfon ; and that the 400 years whieh intervened be
tween the birth of Pharez, and the time of Shamgar, were
filled up by Boaz and his fix immediate anceftors, As a flight
fupport to which, it may be remarked, that the wife of Sal
mon is fpeh ¥*%aG by St. Matthew, whereas in Hebrews xi.
31. and in James ii. 35. the harlot's name is written P»«G, as
M z in

164 OF THE BOOK OF RUTH.
protected Jofhua.'s fpies, about A. M. 2552., it is dif
ficult to conceive that only three perfons, Boaz, Obed,
and Teffe, fhould have intervened between her and
David, who was not born till about 2919. We muft,
however, in this cafe conclude, either with the learned
Ufher, that the anceftors of David, as eminent for
righteoufnefs, or as defigned0 to be confpicuous, be
caufe in the lineage ofthe Meffiah, were bleffed with
extraordinary-length of life [k] ; or elfe that the facred
writers mentioned in the genealogy only fuch names
as were diftinguiffied and known among the Jews.
If however Boaz be confidered as the grandfather
of David, the hiftory cannot by any computation be
affigned to the time of Eli [l}, under whofe judicature
it is placed by Jofephus [m] ; but ffiould be underftood
to have come to pafs at fome earlier period; and per
haps under Shamgar, agreeably to the calculation of
in the feptuagint verfion of Jofhua ii. 1. There is no mention in
the Book 'of Jofhua, or in any part of the Old Teftament, of
Rahab's marriage with Salmon.
[kJ Uffer. Chron. Sac. cap. xii. Poli Synop. in Ruth. And
in Matt. i. 5. Patrick, Whitby, &c.
[l] The famine which occafioned Naomi to refide ten years
in Moab, could not have come to pafs fo late as in the days
of Eli, from the tenth year of whofe judicature to the birth of
David were only forty years. Vid. Ruth i. 1, 4. Aits xiii.
21. z Sam. v. 4. for we cannot fuppofe fo fhort a fpace of
time only as thirty-nine or forty years to have intervened be
tween the birth of Obed and that of his grandfon David, who
was the youngeft of 'eight fons of Jeffe. Vid. 1 Sam. xvi,
10, 11.
[m] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. V. c 11, Ufher,

©F THE BOOK OF RUTH. l6$
Ufher, who places it in the 2686th year ofthe world,
about 123 years after the conqueft of Canaan [n].
¦ The book has been by fome confidered as the pro
duction of Hezekiah ; by others it has been attributed
to Ezra ; but it was in all probability written by
Samuel, agreeably to the opinion of many Jews and
Chriftians [o] ; and the prophet may be fuppofed by
this addition to the Book of Judges, to have brought
down the hiftory to the time of his own birth. It
certainly was written not only after the Judges had
ceafed to rule, but after the birth, if not after the
anointing of David [p] ; whofe defcent from Judah the
facred writer feems to have defigned to certify, as ac
cording to the prophecy of Jacob, the Meffiah was to
fpring from that tribe [ qJ ; and with this view he
traces back the lineage of Boaz to Pharez, the fon of
Judah [r], and grandfon of Jacob [s],
The book contains an account of the converfion of
Ruth, a Moabitefs, and according to Jewiffi tradition,
of the royal race of Moab, which nation was de
fcended from Lot [t], and fettled near the land of
Judah, at the end ofthe fait fea. Ruth having mar-
l [ n ] Chron. Sac. Par. I. c. xii. Du Pin, Lightfoot, &c.
[o] Talmud, Schalfch. Abarb. Brentius, Huet. Drufius, Pa
trick, &c.
[p] Chap. i. 1. iv. 22. It is probable, that David was not
pointed out as an object, of attention to the facred hiftorians till he
was felefted for the throne.
t O ^en. x^x- io. '"
[r] Gen. xxxviii. 29.
[s] Gen. xxix. 35.
[t] Gen. xix. 37.
M 3 ried

1.66 or the book of ruth.
ried Mahlon, the fon of Elimelech, who had fo-
journed in Moab, on account of a famine which
prevailed in Judaea,, xefolved, on the death of Mahlon,
to accompany her mother-in-law in the return to her
country. As Mahlon was of the houfe of Judah,
Ruth relied probably on the promifes made to that
tribe, and had certainly become a profelyte to the
Hebrew religion [u]. After their arrival at Beth
lehem, the former refidence of Naomi, Ruth was
compelled, by her diftrefs, to claim kindred with
Bpaz, who, as the law of Mofes directed [x], took
her to wife and begat a fon, from whom David de
fcended. It may be here obferved, that the Holy Spirit, by
recording the adoption of a Gentile woman into that
family ff0m which Chrift* was. to derive his origin,,
might intend to intimate th,e cqmprehenfive defign of
tb? chriftian difpenfation [y].
It muft be remarked, alfo, that ,ffi the eftimation
of the Jews it was-, disgraceful to David to have de
rived, his. birth from a Moabitefs,; and:Shjmei, in his
["J Cap. i, 1 6.
[x] The. amjientilaw ratified; by Mofes in Deut. xxv. 5. is
fuppofed to. have, applied only to the., brother, or according to the
Rabbins, only to the elder brother by the fame father. Cuftom,
however, feems to have extended the obligation, of marrying the
widow of the deceafed fo the next of kin. Vid. Ruth i. 13.
Boaz was only a kinfman of Elimelech, and by his marriage with
Ruth, he fulfilled the law in its extended interpretation, as well
as that in Levit. xxv. 24, 25. Vid. Selden. de Succefs. in Bona,'
c. xv. Uxor. Hebr. Lib. c. xii.
[yJ Gen. xlix. ic. revilings

OT the book of ruth. 167
revjlings againft him, is fuppofed by the Jews to
have tauntingly reflected on his defcent from Ruth.
This book, therefore, contains an intrinfic proof of
its own verity, inafmuch as it records a circumftance
fo little flattering to the fovereign of Ifrael [z] ; and
-•it is fcarce neceffary to appeal to its admiffion into
the canon of fcripture for a teftimony of its authentic
character ; or to mention uhat the evangelifts, in de
fcribing our Saviour's defcent, follow its genealogical
accounts [a].
The ftbry related in this book is extremely in
terefting; — the widowed diftrefs of Naomi ; her af
fectionate concern for her daughters ; the reluctant
departure of Orpah : the dutiful attachment of Ruth j
and the forrowful return to Bethlehem, are very
beautifully told. The fimpliciry of manners, like-
wife, which is fhewn in the account of Ruth's in
duftry and attention to Naomi ; of the elegant cha
rity of Boaz [b] ; and of his acknowledgment of his
kindred with Ruth, affords us a very pleafing con-
traft to the turbulent fcenes which had been defcribed
in the precedent book, The refpect, likewife, which
the Ifraelites paid to the Mofaic law [c], and their
[z] Hieron. in Tradit. Heb. ad 1 Kings iii. Calmet's Pre
face to Ruth, and Ruth iv. 22.
[a] Matt, i, 3 — 6. Luke iii. 32, 33.
[b] Chap. ii. 16. Howel's Hift. of Bible, vol. i, Book IV.
and Thomfon's Palemon and Lavinia. Strangers were allowed
to glean by the charitable precepts of the Mofaic Law. Vid.
Levit. xix. 9, 10.
[c] Chap. iv. j, 10. Buxtorf. de Sponfal. & Divort.
fed. 27. M 4 obfervance

16$ of the book of ruth.
obfervance qf ancient cuftoms [d], are reprefented
in a very lively and animated manner. St. Jerom
has remarked, that Ruth in her wandering condition,
verified the prophecy of Ifaiah, who predicted that
the " daughters of Moab ffiould be as a wandering
bird caft out of the neft [e]."
[r/] Chap. iv. 7. The form of redemption here referred to
was apparently different from the degrading ceremony obferved
towards him who rejected his, brother's wife, as enjoined in Deut.
xxv. 9. though Jofephus conceives that it was the fame concifely
defcribed, Antiq- Lib. V- c. xi. The Chaldee paraphrafe re-
prefents the kinfman to have drawn off his right-hand glove, in
ftead of his fhoe. The mark of transfer among the more modern
Jews was an handkerchief, as R. Solomon Jarchi informs us.
Vid. Selden de Jure, Nat. & Gent. Juxt. Difc. Heb. c. y. Vid,
alfo, Ruth iv. 11. & Seld. Uxor. Heb. Lib. II. c. xii.
[e] Ifa. xvi. 2. Hieron. Epift. ad Paulin.

OF

¦[ "«9 3

OF THE

FIRST BOOK: of SAMUEL.

THE relations contained in the Book pf Ruth
were a kind of digreffion in the facred hiftory,
with a particular view ; but the general thread is now
refumed reflecting the Judges of Ifrael ; and we are
furnifhed in this, and in the following Book, with an
account of the events and occurrences which hap
pened in the time of the two laft Judges, Eli<and
Samuel; and ofthe two firft Kings, Saul and David.
It is uncertain whether thefe books are called the
books of Samuel, becaufe he was the author of them,
or only becaufe his hiftory conftitutes a principal part
of the facred account. They are in the Vulgate [a]
ftiled
[a] The Vulgate was a very ancient verfion of the Bible
into Latin, but by whom, or at what period it was made, is
not known. The Old Teftament of this verfion was tranflated
from the Septuagint. It was in general ufe till the time of
St. Jerom, and called alfo the Italic verfion. St. Jerom's
tranflation was made immediately from the Hebrew- into Latin, and

170 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL.
ftiled the firft and fecond Book of Kings [b], as
two of thofe four books which contain the hiftory of
the Kings of Ifrael and Judah.
The two books of Samuel were in the Hebrew
canon confidered but as one. The Talmudifts [c]
fuppofe th^t Samuel wrote the twenty-four firft
chapters of the firft book, and that the reft was
furnifhed by the prophets Gad and Nathan. This
opinion is founded upon thefe^ words in the firft book
of Chronicles [d], " Now the acts of David the
king, firft and laft, behold they are written in the •
book of Samuel the feer, and in the book of Nathan
and it was gradually received in the Weftern church, in pre
ference to the Vulgate, or Italic, ^he prefent Vulgate,
which is declared authentic by the Council of Trent, is the
ancient Italic verfion revifed and improved: by the corrections
of St. Jerom and others. This is the only tranflation allowed
by the church of Rome ; and it is ufed by that- church upon
all occafions, except that, in the Miffal and Pfalms, a few
paffages of the ancient Vulgate are retained, as are the apocry
phal books, many of which St. Jerom did not tranflate. There
are two principal editions of the prefent Vulgate ; one publifhed
by Pope Sixtus the Fifth, the other by Clement the Eighth ;
which differ much from each other, though both are declared
authentic from the Papal Chair. Vid. Kennicot's ftate of the
printed Hebrew text, vol. ii. p. 198. Some of the ancient
Italic verfion (of which the copies are now loft), has been
recovered from citations in the writings of the fathers, and
is publifhed, with fupplementary additions, in Walton's
Polyglot. [5] Thefe and the two. fucceeding books are called in the
Greek /3atn^Eiu», the. books " of kingdoms."
[a] Eava Bathra, cap. i. Kimchi.
[ic] icChron.Jxadx.'29. the

OF THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 171
the prophet; and in the book of Gad the feer;"
and it is approved by many writers of confiderable
authority [e]; who maintain that the prophets were
the hiftorians of contemporary events. It will ap
pear evident, at leaft, that the books of Samuel were
written before either the books of Kings or of Chro
nicles, if we compare them together ; for in each of
thefe laft-mentioned books many circumftances are
manifeftly taken and repeated from the books of
Samuel. We may therefore affent to the general
opinion, that Samuel was the author of at leaft the
greater part of the firft book [f] ; and probably he
compofed it towards the latter end of his life [g].
Certain, however it is, from its admiffion to the
canon, as well as from the predictions which it con-

[e] Huet. Demonft. Evang. Prop. IV. Ifid. Orat. Lib. VI.
chap. ii. R. Kimchi, &c.
[f] Procopius Gazaeus informs us, that the Syrians call the
book the prophecy of Samuel.
[g] Chap. v. 5. vi. 18. xxx. 25. ix. 9. In this laft paffage
Samuel incidentally obferves, that they who in his time and in
that of Saul, were called prophets, were anciently denominated
leers. The word prophet, (Nabi) was in ufe, indeed, in the
time of Mofes or Abraham. Vid. Gen. xx. 7. But it then only
implied a man favoured of God ; whereas in the time of Samuel,
it was appropriated to one who forefaw. future events. Vid.
1 Sam. iii. 20. x. 5. xix. 24. In the latter part of Samuel's life,
the word feer might have become nearly obfolete, though occa-
ftonaljy ufed in, and after his time,. But perhaps this remark
might have been afterwards inferted for the inftrudtion of later
times, as poflibly werefome fewotherparticulars. Vid. vii. 15.
xiii. 5. xxvii., 8. tains,

I72 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL.
tains, that the book was the production of a pro
phet ; not to mention that it is referred to by our
Saviour, in vindication ofhis difciples ' [h]. The
firft book of Samuel contains a fpace of near eighty
years, if we reckon from the birth of Samuel, about
or foon after A. M. 2868, to the death of Saul, which
happened A. M. 2948.
The hiftory opens with an account ofthe birth of
Samuel. It defcribes his confecration to the minif-'
try, and his appointment to the prophetic office;
the capture- of the ark; and the completion of God's
judgments on the houfe of Eli ; the curfe on thofe
who poffeffed the ark ; its return, and the fignal
puniffiment of fuch as daringly prophaned its fanctity
[1] ; the election of Saul in conformity to the un-
advifed defire of the Ifraelites for a King [k] ; the
wars
[h] Comp. 1 Sam. xx. 16. with Matt. xii. 3, 4.
[1] Chap. vi. 19. The text, as it now ftands, reprefents
50,070 men of Bethfhemefh to have been fmitten upon this
occafion for the prefumptuous violation of God's exprefs com
mand. Vid. Numb. iv. 20. But the original words are more
properly tranflated by Bochart : " He fmote threefcore and ten
men, fifty out of a thoufand men ;" that is, the number being
1400, God fmote 70, a twentieth part. Jofephus underftood
the paffage thus ; and it muft be obferved, in fupport of this in
terpretation, that Bethfhemefh was but a village. Vid. Patrick
on 1 Sam. vi. 19.
[k] The impropriety of this requeft will be more obvious,
if we recollect; that God had condefcended to be held in the
character of a temporal King to the Ifraelites, refiding, as
it were, among them, and iffuing his decrees from the Ta
bernacle; to require a King was therefore to reject, his
Theocracy.

OF THE flRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. 1J3
wars and evils which arofe, as had been foretold
[l], in confequence of this change of government;
the fins and rejection of Saul; the anointing David,
and the firft difplay of his piety and heroifm [m] ;
the difinterefted friendfhip of Jonathan and David ;
the envious and ungenerous fufpicions of Saul ;
the death of Samuel ; the appearance of his fpirit
[n], denouncing God's judgments againft the im
piety
Theocracy. Vid. chap. viii. 7. xii. 12. Jofeph. cont, Apion.
Lib. II.
[l] Chap. viii. n — 18.
[ m ] The character of David is very beautifully delineated by
the facred writer, and his actions are placed before us in a manner
well calculated to produce effect. He is firft introduced to our
notice as " a valiant and prudent man," anointed on the rejection
of Saul ; and the hiftorian then goes back to relate an atchieve-
ment of David's " youth ;" for it appears that the combat with
Goliah was previous in point of time to the driving away of the
evil fpirit of Saul, otherwife Saul and Abner muft have known
" whofe fon the (tripling was;" and therefore the feventeenth
chapter records particulars prior in pomt of chronology to thofe
related in the fixteenth chapter. Vid. Warburt. Div. Legat.
B. IV. fedt. 6. note e. Such anticipations are not uncuftomary
in the facred writings, and they give much animation to the
hiftory ; and the narration fhould be read in the following order ;
ch. xvii. xviii. 9. xvi. 14 — 23. Some writers, however, confider
the 39 verfes which are omitted in the Vatican copy of the Sep
tuagint, as an interpolation introduced into the Hebrew text, and
the Alexandrian copy of the Greek verfion.
[n] Chap, xxviii. The moft, probable and beft fupported
opinion concerning this relation is, that God fuffered Samuel's
departed fpirit, or a miraculous reprefentation of his perfon, to
appear to Saul, and, as a punifhment for his prefumptuous impiety,
to difclofe his impending fate. The text pofitively calls him
Samuel, (" himfelf," in the original) and he prophefied truly ;
:' for

174 OF THE FIRST B00K 0F saMuel-
piety of Saul ; in the accompliffiment of which the
book terminates, with the account of the miferabfe
fate of Saul, and of his fons. The facred writer
illuftrates the characters, and defcribes the events of
his hiftory in the moft engaging manner. The weak
indulgence of Eli is well contrafted with the firm
piety of Samuel. The rifing virtues of David, and
the fad depravity of Saul, are ftrikingly oppofed.
The fentiments and inftructions fcattered through
the work are excellent ; and the infpired hymn of
Hannah, which much refembles that of the Bleffed
Virgin [o], furnifhes us with a grand prophecy of
Chrift, who is here for the firft time in fcripture de
fcribed as the Meffiah [p], or the anointed of the,
Lord ; as the exalted fovereign and appointed judge
of the earth.
Samuel, the reputed author of this book, was
obtained by the prayers of Hannah [ q_J, and dedi
cated from his infancy to God. He appeared as a
for " on the morrow," that is, foon after, Saul and his fons
were flain, and the hoft of Ifrael defeated. The woman was
herfelf terrified at a real appearance, when probably fhe defigned
a deception, and was preparing her incantations. Vfd. Ecclus
xlvi. 20. Calmet. Differt. Pref. to 1 Sam. Note in Sept. 1.
1 Chron. x. 13. Juftin Martyr, Dial. Tryphon, and Commenta
tors. [o] Com. 1 Sam. ii. 1 — 10. with Luke i. 46 — 55.
[p] 1 Sam. ii. 10. The Meffiah and the anointed, are
fynonymous. mit>B, Mafcuach, is derived from na>D, Mafchach,
to anoint.
[ oj The word Samuel, according to the Hebrew derivation,
implies one defired of God. 4 prophet

176 OF. THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL.
fo confpicuous, " that all Ifrael, from Dan to Beer-
ffieba, knew that Samuel was eftabliffied to be a
prophet of the Lord, who let none of his words fall
fo the ground." His firft predictions concerning
the deftruction which impended over the houfe of
Eli were literally completed [x], and thefe were
followed by others which came to pafs with ftriking
exadtnefs [y].
[x] Chap. iii. 11 — 18. Vid. alfo Chap. ii. 34, 35. which
contain prflphecies that were verified in Zadock and his predecef-
for Abiathar, but which were more fully accomplifhed in Chrift,
the great high-prieft " for ever." Vid. 1 Kings i. 39. ii. 26^
37. 1 Chron. xxix. 22. Heb. v. 10.
[t] Chap. viii. 11— 18. x. 2 — 9. xii. 25. xxviii, 19,

Of..

OF THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL. I75
prophet at a time when the prophetic fpirit was but
rarely known; he accepted the fupreme power in
the government of his country [r] without ambition,
and executed the important duties of his office with
'irreproachable integrity. When required by God,
he refigned his power without reluctance; and in
Compliance with the divine commands, efected two
ftrangers in the government, to the exclufion of his
fons. He was much feared and refpected by Saul,
and the whole nation ; and was allowed by that
monarch to judge Ifrael " all the days of his life
[s]." The author of Ecclefiafticus juftly celebrates
him as a favourite fervant of God, a righteous judge,
and a faithful prophet [t]. He was addreffed by
many revelations from God [u]; and the miraculous
circumftances that demonftrated his appointment, as
well as the prophetic fpirit which infpired him, were
[ r J Some deny that Samuel fucceeded to the priefthood, as he
was not of the pofterity of Aaron, and affert that he only fuc
ceeded to the judicature. Vid. Hieron. cont. Jovin. Lib. I. and
>.n Pfa. xcviii. others maintain that he was dignified with both
characters. Vid. Auguft. in Pfal. xcviii. He is not reckoned in
the catalogue of priefts given by Jofephus. Vid. Selden de
Succeff. ad Pontiff. Lib. I. cap. xiv.
[s] 1 Sam. vii. 15. Patrick obferves that this verfe may
mean, that Samuel was fo diligent in the difcharge of his office»
that he gave himfelf no reft, but fat to judge caufes every day.
Some confider it as a fubfequent interpolation. Samuel may be
fuppofed to have died about two years before Saul, in the ninety-
(eighth year of his age.
[t] Ecclus xlvi. 13 — 20.
[u] Chap. iii. Pfa. xcix. 6, 7. Acls iii, 24.

[ i77 1

OF THE

SECOND BOOK of SAMUEL.
YF we affent to the opinion of the Talmudifts, that
¦*¦ Samuel did not continue the hiftory beyond the
twenty-fourth chapter of the Firft Book of Samuel,
we may affign this Second Book, as well as the latter
part of the former, to the prophets Gad and Nathan. ¦
Many learned Jews have contended, from a fanciful
refemblance of ftile between thefe and the works of
Jeremiah, that this prophet compiled them from the
memoirs of Samuel, Gad, and Nathan [a]. We
may conclude then, either that they were written en
tirely by Samuel ; or partly by him, and finiffied by
fome of thofe infpired perfons that iffued from the
fchools of the prophets, which he is fuppofed to have
eftablifhed. Thefe were colleges for the inftruction
of felect youths in the knowledge of the law, and
[a] Bava Bathra, Abarbinel, Grotius, and Locke. In 2
Mace. ii. 13. it is faid, that Nehemiah gathered together the
acts of David, with other writings ; which perhaps means only
that he collected them for the library which he is there faid to
have founded. N- the

lj$ OF THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL.
the exercife of devotions [b]. Upon many of thefe
difciples God conferred the fpirit of prophecy ; and
probably moft of the fubfequent prophets were elect
ed from thefe fchools [c] ; not, indeed, neceiTarily3
but becaufe therein fitted and prepared for the facred
influence. They were under the direction of a pro
phet really infpired, who was confidered as a father
to the fociety; and Samuel was probably the firft who
poffeffed that dignified character [b].
THrs Second Book of Samuel bears an exact re
lation to the preceding hiftory, and is likewife con
nected with that which fucceeds. We fee through
out the effects of that enmity againft other nations
which had been implanted into the minds of the
Ifraelites by the Mofaic Law, and which gradually
tended to the extirpation of idolatry.-
The hiftory contains a period of near forty years,
from about A. M. 2948 to 298-8. It defcribes the
eftabliffiment and profperity of David's reign ; which
he deferved, as well by his generous refpect for the
memory of Saul, as by the excellency of thofe many
other qualities which his maturer piety difplayed. It-
relates the extinction of Saul's family, and David's
grateful and unfulpicious kindnefs to the furviving

[b] i Sam. x. 5.
[c] For Amos informs us, that he was not, chap. vii. 14-
it was likewife proverbially faid, " Is Saul alfo among the pro
phets ?" Is he raifed to a dignity to which he was not difcipli-
ned by his education ?
[d] Whitby's School of the Prophets ; Smith's Difcourfe on
Prophecy. ¦ ¦ 3 foa

OF THE SE'COND BOOK OF SAMUEL. 179
fon of Jonathan. The infpired author then records
the fall of David ; and exhibits a fad proof of the
unconfcious depravity to which the nobleft minds
may be feduced by paffion. He reprefents to us
God's anger foftened, but not appeafed,- by David's
repentance, who was foon after punifhed by" the
death of the child, and many domeftic calamities;
The tranfgreffion of Ammon was the firft confequence
of his bad example ; and ic evil rofe up againft him
out ofhis own houfe [e]," in the ambitious intrigues
and rebellion of Abfalom. We foon behofd him a
"degraded and fugitive fovereign, reviled by his mean-
eft fubjects ; and feverely punifhed for his conduct
toward Uriah, by the inceftuous outrage of his fort
[f].. The fubmiffive repentance, however, and re
ftored virtues of David, procured his pardon' and re-
eftabliffiment on his throne ; which he dignified by
the difplay of the greateft moderation,' juftice, and
piety. If in the exultation of his recovered pro-
fperity, God fuffered him [g] to be betrayed into ah
oftentatidus numbering of the people, " his heart
fmote him" to immediate repentance; and he pioufly
threw himfelf oh God's mercy, and intreated that
he only might fuffer from the indignation which he
had provoked. The viciffitude of events which the
book defcribes^ the fall and reftoration of David j
the effects of his errors, and his return to righteouf-
hefs, are reprefented in the moft interefting manner.,
[e] Nathan's prophetic Threat, chap. xii. n. ,
[f] Chap. xvi. 21, 22.
[c] Chap. xxiv. i. and i Chron. xxi. ju
N 2' tod1

l8o OF THE SECOND BOOK OF" SAMUEL.
and furniffi valuable leflbns to mankind. The aiP
thor in the concife ftile of facred hiftory, felects only
the moft ftriking features of character ; and the moft
important incidents of thofe revolutions of which he
treats ; and among the confpicuous beauties of the
book, we can never fufficiently admire the feeling
lamentation over Saul and Jonathan [h] ; the ex-
preffive parable of Nathan ; and the triumphant hymn
of David.
The prophecies contained in the book are, firft,
that which blended temporal and fpiritual bleffings in
the promifes relative to Solomon and the Meffiah;
the permanency. of David's throne, and the perpe
tuity of that kingdom, which is prefigured [ij. Se
condly, the predictive denunciations of Nathan [k] ;
and, laftly, the figurative defcriptions of David's
pfalm [l]; by whom the "fpirit ofthe Lord fpake,"
affuring him of an everlafting covenant [m]."
The book, likewife, as well as the former, con
tains other intrinfic proofs of its verity. By de_
fcribing without difguife the mifconduct of thofe cha-
[ h ] This fong is fuppofed to have been fung at the funeral
Of Saul and Jonathan ; it being cuftomary among the Jews to
folemnize the obfequies of their friends with dirges accompanied
by mufic. 2 Chron. xxxv. 24. Matt. ix. 23. Jofeph. Antiq.
Lib. III. c. 9. Muim. c. xiv. feft. 23.
[1] Chap. vii. 12, 16. Heb. i. 5. David feems to have ap
prehended the great extent of God's promifes, and in confe
quence to have burft out in rapturous acknowledgment of his
goodnefs. 2 Sam. vii. 19 — 21. 1 Chron. xvii. 17.
[k] Chap. xii. 11 — 14.
[l] Chap. xxii.
f m] Chap, xxiii, 2.5. rafters,

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF SAMUEL. l8l
rafters that were highly reverenced among the peo
ple, the facred writer demonftrates his impartial fin
cerity ; and by appealing to monuments that attefted
the truth of his relations when he wrote, he fur
nifhed every poffible evidence of his faithful ad
herence to truth. The Books of Samuel connect
the chain of facred hiftory by detailing the circum
ftances of an interefting period. They defcribe the
reformation and improvements of the Hebrew church
eftabliffied by David ; and as they delineate minutely
the life of that monarch, they point out his typical
relation to Chrift; and likewife illuftrate remark
ably his infpired productions, which are contained
in the Book of Pfalms. Many heathen authors have
borrowed from the books of Samuel, or have col
lected from other fources many particulars of thofe
accounts which he gives [n]. This remark will
equally apply to the Books of Kings ; and, indeed,
to all the books of facred hiftory [o].
[ n ] Eupol. ap. Eufeb. Prasp. Lib! IX. Nic Damafc. Lib. IV.
Hift. ap. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. VII. c. vi.
[o] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. VIII. cap. ii. Mehand. Theophr.
Lib. IIL ad Autol. Eufeb. Prsp. Lib. X. Clem. Alex. Strom. L

N j of

I 182 J

OF THE

FIRST BOOK of KINGS.

THIS and the following Book [a] were in the
Hebrew canon reckoned but as one. They
cannot be pofitively affigned to any particular author,
though fome have afcribed them to Jeremiah [b]?
and fome to Ifaiah. There are many, likewife, who
contend that they are the production of Ezra ; and
probably this opinion is moft juft, for they appear to.
be a collection, or hiftorical abridgment, fefected
from the memoirs and books of the prophets; which
are herein frequently referred to [c], as records^
doubtlefs, of contemporary prophets. Thus cf the
Book of the Acts of Solomon," is mentioned in this
very book [d], and was probably written by Nathan,
[a] The Jews call them the Third and Fourth Book of Kings.
In the time of Origen they denominated them from the firft
words " Vammelech David," David the King. Orig. ap Eufeb.
Prsp. Lib. VI. c. xi.
[b] Bava Bathra, Grotius, lfidore, Procopius, Kimchi, &C.
[c] Diodor. in 1 Sam. ix, g. Thepdor. Prsf. in Lib. Reg.
Huet. Propof. iv.
[p] Chap. xi. 41.
,i - Ahijah

OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 1 83
Ahijah the Shilonite, and Iddo, the feer [e]. And
hence thofe who by the Book of the Acts of Solo
mon have underftood the Books of Kings, haye fup-
,pofed that they were compofed by thefe prophets
[f] ; but we elfewhere read that Shemaiah the pro
phet was employed with Iddo the feer, in writing
the acts of Rehoboam [g] ; that the acts of Abijah
were written in the ftoiy of Iddo [h]; the book of
Jehu the prophet likewife related the acts of King
Jehofhaphat [i]; and Ifaiah wrote the acts of Uzziah
[k], of Hezekiah [l], and probably of the two in
termediate Kings, Jotham and Ahaz, in whofe reigns
he flourifhed; fo that we may conclude, that from
thefe feveral records, as well as from other authentic
documents, were compiled the Books of Kings.
They appear to have been arranged by one perfon,
as the ftile and manner are uniform ; and therefore
they may with much probability be affigned to Ezra,
who poffibly compiled therrt during the captivity [m],
The firft book comprifes a period of 126 years,
[e] 2 Chron, ix. 29.
[f] Caijetan, Serrarius, &cr
[g] 2 Chron. xii. 15. ,
[ h ] 2 Chron, xiii. 22.
[1] 2 Chron. xx. 34. and 1 Kings xvi. i.
[if] 2 Chron. xxvi. 22.
[l] 2 Chron. xxxii. 32. and Ifa. xxxvi, xxxvii. xxxviii. and
xxxix. where much of Hezekiah's hiftory is incorporated with
Jfaiah's prophecies. Theodor. Praef. in Lib. Reg.
[ m ] The Chaldaic names by v/hich the months in thefe books
- are denominated, were not ufed by the Jews till in, or after the.
captivity,
N 4. from

I§4 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS.
from the death of David, A. M. 2989, to that of
Jehofhaphat. After the defcription of the decay and
death of David, we are prefented with a moft ftrike
ing hiftory of the reign of Solomon ; of his wifdom
and magnificence ; of the building of the temple ;
of his extended commerce to Ophir [n] ; and of
the vifit of the Qiieen of Sheba [o]. To this fuc-
[n] Various have been the conjedtures concerning the fitua
tion of Ophir. Jofephus places it in the Eaft-Indies, in a country
which, by his defcription, fhould appear to be Malacca. Bochart
contends that it was Taphrobana, or Ceilon. Calmet places it
in Armenia, Montanus in America. And Huetius in the eaftern
coaft of Africa., As various have been the fentiments with refpect
to Tharfhifh, fome confidering it as having been near, and others
as diftant from Ophir : all that the fcriptures telj us, is, that the
navy of Tharfhifh came in once in three years, and furnifhed
Solomon immenfe wealth ; of which we know not the amount,
fince we can make no exact; eftimate of the value of the talents
fpecified ; they were, however, certainly of lefs value than the
Mofaic talents. Vid, Prid. Pref. to Con. Bochart. Phaleg. L. II,
C. xxvii. Bruce's Travels.
[0] The moft learned writers maintain, that the Queen of
Sheba came from Yemen, in Arabia Felix. She is called by Chrift,
" the Queen of the South," and is faid by him to " have come
from the utmoft parts of the earth," as the fouthern part of
Arabia was confidered by the ancients. She is fuppofed to have
been a defcendant of Abraham by Keturah, whofe grandfon
Sheba peopled that country. She therefore probably reforted to
Solomon for religious inftru&ion. Vid. I Kings x. I. and hence
our Saviour's encomium, Matt. xii. 42. She is called Balkis by
the Arabians. The Ethiopians pretend that fhe was of their
country, and many fabulous llories are told of her by different
writers, under the names of Nicaule, Candace, Marqueda, &c.
Vid, L.udolph's Hift. of Ethiopia. Dr. Johnfon's Difc. on Queen
pf Sheba, vol, xv, Calmet. Diet, under word Nicaule. ceeds

OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS. 1 85
ceeds an account of the miferabfe dotage and apof-
tacy of Solomon ; and of his death, preceded by a
profpect of that threatened rending of the kingdom
which fhould take place under his fon [p]. After
wards are related the acceffion of Rehoboam ; his
raffi and impolitic conduct, and the confequent fe
paration of the ten tribes, which happened about
A. M. 3029. This is followed by a concife fketch of
the hiftory of the two kingdoms, in which particular
periods are characterifed by very animated relations j
as that of the difobedient prophet; of the widow
of Zarephath ; of Elijah and the prophets of Baal ;
of Benhadad's pride and defeat ; of Ahab's injuftice
and puniffiment. In the courfe of thefe events, we
contemplate the exact accompliffiment of God's pro
mifes and threats; the wifdom ofhis difpenfations, and
the mingled juftice and mercies of his government.
The book is ftamped with the intrinfic marks
pf infpiration : of the prophecies which it contains,
fome were fpeedily completed [qJ, but that which
foretold
f_p] Chap. xi. 11, 12. God is reprefented in fcripture as
fometimes (efpecially in cafes of idolatry) " vifning the ini
quities of the fathers upon the children," when the meafure
of guilt was completed ; and in the foreknowledge that their
defcendants fhould perfift in evil, God revealed as a punifh-
inent to the difobedient, thofe calamities which awaited their
families. It was in the power, however, of thofe who re
pented, %o avert the divine vengeance. Vid. Levit. xxvi,
40 — 42. 1 Kings xxi. 29.
[ qJ Chap. vi. 12. xi. 11 — 13, 30 — 39. xiv. io, 11, 14,
xvi. 1 — 4. Jehu, in this laft prophecy, foretold that God
would make the houfe of Baafha like that of Jeroboam 3 and it
deferves

l86 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF KINGS,
foretold that " Jofiah ffiould be born unto the houfe
.of David, and flay the high-priefts," was not ftuV
filled till above 350 years after k was delivered [r],
Some of its prophetic denunciations were uttered
under figurative defcription [s] ; and Micaiah, to il
luftrate the infatuation which God had fuffered to
prevail in the counfels of Ahaz, that it might miflead
him to deftruction ; unfolds to the mifguided monarch
the danger of his projected enterprize, under a re
prefentation received in vifion ; in which an imaginary
council, and the fuppofed agency of a lying fpirit are
introduced, in order to explain the divine condudt in
fome analogous proceedings [tJ. Both the books
df Kings are cited as authentic and canonical by our
Saviour and his Apoftles [u].
deferves to be remarked} how exactly the threat was fulfilled^
for as Nadab the fon of Jerobpam reigned two years, fo did
Elah, the fon of Baafha ; and both were flain by the fword.
Vid. xv. 25 — 28. xvi. 8—10. Vid. alfo, for other predictions,
chap. xvii. 1. (compared with James v. 17.) xx. 13. xxi. 19 — 24,
Obferve, that in the nineteenth verfe of the twenty-firft chapter,
inftead of in the place inhere, we fhould read, in like manner, as
the dogs licked Ahab's blood in Samaria. The prophet points
only to the caufe of Ahab's punifhment. Vid. Patrick, &c.
[r] Chap, xiii, 1 — 3-. compared with 2 Kings xxiii. 15 — 20,
Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c, v.
[s] Chap. xxii. 17.
[tJ Chap. xxii. 19 — 28. Vid. alfo 2 Kings vi. 17. Job i,
6-^12. [u] Matt. xii. 42. Luke iv. 25 — 27. A&s vii. 47. Rpm,
xj. 2 — 4. James v. 1 7, 1 8.

OF

£ i87 ]

OF THE

SECOND BOOK of KINGS.

CONCERNING the author of the Second
Book of Kings, it has been treated in the pre
ceding preface ; and it is here only neceffary to re-?
peat, that the Second was united with the Firft Book
of Kings in the Hebrew canon, and confidered but
as one with it; and that it was compiled by Ezra, or
fome other infpired perfon, from the records of for
mer prophets.
The hiftory contained in this Book records the
government and actions of many fucceffive Kings of
Judah and Ifrael, for the fpace of about 300 years ;
from the death of Jehofhaphat, A. M. 31 15, to the
deftruction of Jerufalem and the temple, A. M. 3416,
The connection and occafional quarrels which fub-
fifted between the two nations during part of this
time, till the cpnqueft of Samaria by Shalmanezer,
feem to have induced the facred writer to blend the
fwo hiftories, as in fome meafure treating of the
fame people. Both nations appear to have departed
with almoft equal fteps from the fervice of the true
fjod; and in the hiftory of each we are prefented witbj

188 OF the second book of kings.
with a fucceffion of wicked and idolatrous Kings,
till each had completed the meafure of its iniquity.
Both Ifrael and Judah, though they invariably ex
perienced profperity and affliction in proportion to
their obedience or difobedience, were infatuated by
theiii per-verfe inclinations; and in a long feries of
their refpective fovereigns we find a few only who
were awakened by God's judgments to a fenfe of
their true intereft and duty. The whole period feems
to have been dark and guilty, the glory of the king
dom being eclipfed by the calamities of the divifion ;
and by the increafing miferies of idolatry and am
bition, Succeffive tyrannies, treafons, feditions, and
ufurpations, and the inftant puniffiment which they
produced, ferve at once to illuftrate the evil character
of the times, and the vigilant equity of the divine
government. The events are defcribed with great fim-
plicity, though in themfelves highly interefting and
important. The account of Elijah's affumption into
heaven; of Eliffia's fucceffion to his miniftry; and of
the feries of illuftrious miracles performed by Eliffia;
the ftory of Naaman ; and of the panic flight of the
Syrians; the hiftory of Benhadad and Hazael; of the
predicted death of Ahab and Jezebel, and their chil
dren; and of the deftruction of Baal's prophets, are
all pregnant with inftruction, and have furnifhed
theme for frequent difTertation. We perceive in
thefe impreffive hiftories the characters and qualities
of men, painted with great fidelity; and the attri
butes of God difplayed with great effect. The par
ticulars and circumftances are fketched out with a
brief

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS. 189
brief and lively defcription, and the imagination
lingers with pleafure in filling up thofe ftriking out
lines that are prefented to our view. The facred au
thor, regardlefs of minute order, and of the fuc
ceffion of events, feems fometimes defirous only of
furnifhing us with a view of the ftate of religion
among the people, and of illuftrating the genealogy
of Chrift. In particular, we obferve, how the revolt
of the ten tribes and their fubfequent captivity, con
tributed to keep up the diftinction of the tribe of
Judah ; and to make the prophecies which foretold
that the Meffiah ffiould defcend from this branch,
more confpicuoufly accomplifhed.
The predictions defcribed as delivered and fulfilled
in this book, are thofe which foretold the death of
Ahaziah [a] ; the birth of a fon to the Shunammite
[b]j the recovery of Naaman [c]; plenty in Sama
ria [d] ; the crimes and cruelty of Hazael [e] ; the
fuccefs of Joafh [f]; the defeat of Sennacherib [g] ;
the
[aJ Chap. i. 16.
[b] Chap. iv. 16.
[c] Chap. v. 10.
[d] Chap. vii. 1.
[e] Chap. viii. 10, 12.
[f] Chap. xiii. 19.
[g] Chap. xix. 6, 7, 28, 29, 33. and Herod. Lib. I. This
deftruftion is faid in the Babylonifh Talmud, and in fome Tar
gums, to have been occafioned by lightning. It might, per
haps, have been effedted by the deftruftive hot winds fo fre
quent in thofe parts. Vid. Thevenot's Travels, Part II.
Book I. chap. xx. B. II. ch. xvi. Part I. Book II. ch. xx. Je
remiah calls this a deftroying wind, where the Arabic renders

ig6 OF THE SECOND BOOK OF KINGS.
the prolongation of Hezekiah's life [h] ; the Baby-
Iohifh captivity [i] ; and the peaceful reign of Jo
fiah [k].
After the captivity of the ten tribes, the colony
brought up from Babylon and other places, adopted
the Hebrew religion, and blended it with their own
idolatries ; and henceforward,- in point of time, we
hear little ofthe inhabitants of Samaria. The king
dom of Judah ftill continued fof above a century to
provoke God's anger by its difobedietice and idolatry,'
notwithftanding Ifaiah and many other prophets con
ferred during alt this period to exhort the people to
repentance, by every motive of intereft and fear.-
The good reign of Hezekiah, though lengthened by
divine providence, was too foon fucceeded by the
Cc evil days of Manaffeh,"' in whofe time the temple,
a'nd even the volume of the law feem to have been
almoft entirely neglected/ In the reign of Jofiah re-
it an hot peftilential wind, chap. li. I. Ifaiah threatens Senna
cherib with " a blaft," which might be called the angel ofthe
Lord. Ifaiah xxxvii. 7. 2 Kings xix. 7.
[h] Chap. xx. 6.
[1] Chap. xx. 17, 18. God appears to have revealed to He
zekiah the calamities which awaited his defcendants in the Baby
lonifh captivity, as a punifhment for his oftehtatious difplay of
his treafures, in which he feemed to confide ; and for not having
father profeffed liis confidence in God, whofe mercies he had fo'
..recently experienced. Thefe prophecies, however, and thofe in
the enfuing chapters relative to the fame captivity, were literally
fulfilled above 100 years after. Vid. chap. xxi. 1; — 14. xxiii.'
27. compared with ch. xxiv. 13. and Dan. i. 1 — 6.
[ k) Chap, xxii, 20. ligion1

OF THE SECOND 'gOOK OF KINGS. I9I
ligion for a ffiort time revived ; the public copy ofthe
law was difcovered, and read [l], and idolatry for a
few months fuppreffed; but the tide of iniquity hav
ing rolled back with accumulated force, Jerufalem
is befieged and taken, the city and temple fpoiled,
and the nobleft of the nation led captive to Babylon.
The book concludes with the account of the fecond
fiege by Nebuchadnezzar, which happened about
eighteen years after the firft; then the city and tem
ple [m] were burnt, and foon after the whole dc
ftruction completed by the maffacre, or flight of the
jfemnant which had been left amidft the ruined cities-
©f Judaea.
[l] Chap. xxii. 8. xxiii. 2.
[ m ] According to TJfher's computation, the temple was burnt
about 424 years after it was built.' Jofephus, who conceives it to;
have been burnt 470 years, 6 months, and 10 days from thetime
of its building, obferves with aftonifhment, that the fecond temple
was burnt by the Romans in the fame month, and on the fame
day of the month that the firft temple was fet on fire by the Chal-
dWns ; and the Jewifh doclors add, with as little truth, that the
Levites were fingirig the fame hymn in both deftruftibns, re
peating from Pfal. xciv. 23. thefe words: " He fhall bring upon
them their own iniquity, and he fhall cut them off in their own
wickednefs, yea, the Lord our God fhall cut them off." Vid.-
Antiij. Lib. X. c. xi.

O F

t *9* 1

OF THE

FIRST BOOK of CHRONICLES,

THE Jews formerly reckoned the two Books
of Chronicles but as one [a] ; which was en
titled the Book of Diaries [b], or Journals, in al-
lufion to thofe ancient journals which appear to have
been kept among the Jews. The Books of Chroni
cles, indeed, as well as thofe of Kings, were in all
probability copied, as to many of their hiftorical re
lations, from thefe ancient chronicles of the Kings of
Ifrael and Judah. Such chronicles muft unqueftion-
ably have exifted, fince in the books of Kings there
are frequent references to books of Chronicles, as
containing circumftances which are not found in
thofe fo entitled in our canon, not to mention that
[a] They now adopt our divifion, as well as in the pre
ceding books, in conformity to our .mode of citation in con
cordances, of which they borrowed the ufe from the Latin
church. [b] ownn, dibre hajjamim, Verba dierum, that is, The
words of days ; extracts from diaries. They are called Chro
nicles from the Greek word j^onxa. thefe

THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES. * 93
thefe were written after the books of Kings. The
books of Chronicles which we now poffefs, were fo
named by St. Jerom : they are diftinguiffied in the
Septuagint as the books of " things omitted [c] ;"
and they are fuppofed to have been defigned as a kind
of fupplement to the preceding books of fcripture ; to
fupply fuch important particulars as had been omit
ted, becaufe inconfiftent with the plan of former
books. They are generally, and with much proba
bility, attributed to Ezra [d] ; who has ufed a fimilar
ftile of expreffion, and whofe book appears to be a
continuation of them [e]. Ezra, if he were the
author, might have digefted them by the affiftance
of Haggai and Nehemiah; as well from hiftorical re
cords, as from the accounts of contemporary pro
phets. These books were certainly compiled after the
[c] n«f«?isiiroftE«i;». Thus Xenophon wrote the paralipo-
mena of the Peloponnefian war, as a fupplement to the hiftory of
Thucydides. [ d ] This book appears to have been compiled before that of
Nehemiah, by whom it is cited (Neh. xii. 23.), though the ge
nealogy of the defcendants of Zerubbabel is faid to be brought
down much below the time of Ezra ; for if the Zerubbabel here
mentioned were the fame who conducted the people back from
the captivity, the account may have been fwelled by collateral
kindred ; or poffibly increafed by a fubfequent addition. St.
Matthew, however, gives, in his firft chapter, a genealogy fo
different, that it appears to be that of a different branch, if not
of a different family. Comp. 1 Chron. iii. 19. et feq. with
Matth. i. 13. et feq. and Grot, in Matt. i. 23.
[ e ] Comp. the laft verfes of 2 Chron. with beginning of Ezra.
Patrick's Coram in z Chron. xxix. 21.
O captivity,

I94 THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES.
captivity, as they mention the reftoration by Cyrus,
and fome circumftances that occurred after the return
[f]. The author, however, appears -fometimes to
fpeak as one who lived previous to the captivity [g] ;
but this muft have been in confequence of his tran-
fcribing, without alteration, the accounts of earlier
writers. The books of Chronicles, though they contain
many particulars related in preceding books; aiid
fupply feveral circumftances omitted in preceding ac
counts ; are not to be confidered merely as an abridg
ment of former hiftories, with fome fupplementary
additions ; but as books written with a particular
view ; in confiftency with which, the author fome
times difregards important particulars in thofe ac
counts from which he might have compiled his work >
and adheres to the defign propofed, which feefns to
have been ,to furniffi a genealogical fketch of the-
twelve tribes, deduced from the earlieft times: in
order to point out thofe diftinctions which were ne
ceffary to discriminate the mixed multitude that re
turned from Babylon; to afcertain the lineage of
Judah ; and to re-eftabliffi, on their ancient footing,
the pretenfions and functions of each individual tribe..
The author appears to have intended to furniffi, at
the fame time, an epitome of fome parts ofthe Jew
iffi hiftory ; and in this firft book, taking up the ac
count at the death of Saul, he prefents his country-
[f] 2 Chron. xxxvi. 21 — 23. xxxv. 25.
[g] 1 Chron. iii. 19- iv. 41 — 43. 2 Chron. v. 9. xxi. 20.
xxii. 26. xxv. 25. men

THE FIRST BOOK OF -CHRONICLES. I0£
met) with the picture of David's reign ; efpecially di
lates on his zeal for religion ; and on the preparations
which he made for the building of the temple ; pro,-
bably with defign to excite the reverence and emu
lation of thofe who were about to rebuild it, i$£
defcribes particularly tlie regulations, and arrange
ments adopted by David with relation to the Priefts
and Levites ; as well as to the appointment of the
muficians and other perfons employed in the feryicp
of the temple^ which David eftabliffied on a great
and magnificent fcafe s improving it with the intro
duction of hymns, of which there is a fine fbecimeri
in the fifteenth chapter of this book.
The author, hi repeating fome particulars related
in the preceding books, fpecified the names pf the
perfons employed, and active on great occafions ; And
by this means furnifhed each individual tribe with an
account of the actions of its refpective anceftors.
The genealogical tables of this book muft have
been highly important among the Jews, who were fed
by the prophetic promifes to be extremely obfervant
of thefe particulars. They exhibit the detail of the
facred line through which the promife of the Meffiah
was tranfmitted [h ]. The precedency pf the feveral
[ h ] The genealogies contained in this book are carried back
without interruption to Adam, through a period of near 35530
• years. They furnifha ftriking proof of the folicitude which pre-
Vailedamong the Jews to afcertain the completion of the promifes ;
as.alfo of the vigilant care with which the facred accounts were
preferved... They could not be corrupted formerly, for moft of
the people could repeat them memoriter. The veneration for
them was condemned by St. Paulas excefftye and ufelefs, after
the apjearance^ of the Meffiah. 1 Tim. i. 4. Tit. iii. 9.
0 2 families,

I96 THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES.
families, likewife ; their marriages ; and many advan*
tages, were often dependant on the accuracy of thefe
accounts ; and thofe, who could not prove their de
fcent, were deprived of many privileges. A regular
and unpolluted lineage was efpecially neceflary to thofe
who afpired to the priefthood ; and fuch as could not
produce it were deemed incapable of admiffiori to that
high office [1]. Ezra, likewife, by pointing out the
divifion of families, as recognized before the de
ftruction of Jerufalem, enabled each tribe at the re
turn from the captivity, to#be reftored to its appro
priate inheritance. Thefe genealogical accounts are
likewife ftill ufeful in many refpects [k] ; and, how
ever they may appear fometimes irreconcileable with
modern fyftems of chronology, they were certainly
-confidered as accurate by the evangelical writers, as
they are cited in the New Teftament [i. ].
The authority of the book is likewife eftablifhed
by the accommodation of a prophetic paffage felected
from it to the character of our Saviour by St. Paul
[m] ; and by a pofitive prophecy of the eternity of
fi] Ezra ii. 61, 62. Selden de Succefs. ad Pontif. Lib. II.
cap. ii. p. 213. and cap. iii. p. 215. Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. L
Maimon. in Mifhnah Biath. c. vi. fecf. 1 J.
[k] We collecl; from them, among other things, that Nathan,
from whom, according to St. Luke, our Saviour was defcended,
was the fon of David by Bathfhua, or Bathfheba, 1 Chron. iii. 5.
[l] Matth. i. Luke iii. Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. I. Gro
tius Annot. in Lib. Carpzov. p. 292. Huet. Demonflrat. Evang.
Prop. IV. Walton Officin. Bib, p. 555. Lightfoot Chron.
Vet. Teft. p. 1 42.
[m] t China, xvii. 13. xxii. 1 0. Heb. i. 5. Chrift's

THE FIRST BOOK OF CHRONICLES, I97
Chrift's kingdom [n] ; as well as by other occafional
predictions [o]. It may be added alfo, as remark
able, that an infpired acclamation of David to the
praife of God in this book, breathes the fame fen-
timents of piety which were afterwards uttered in
fimilar expreffions by our Saviour, and which by St,
John, in his enraptured vifions, are afcribed to the
bleffed fpirits who celebrate the praifes of God in,
heaven [p],
[n] 1 Chron, xvii. 14,
I oj Chap. xxii. 9, 10.
[p] Compare 1 Chron. "xxjiCPftfr^fa with M»tth. vi, M.
»nd with Rev, v. 12, 13,

0 3 •?

C ^ 3

OF THE

SECOND BOOK of CHRONICLES.

THIS Book, as well as the former, with which
it was originally united, was probably collect
ed by Ezra, from the writings of the different pro
phets who are feverally mentioned in fcripture as the
hiftorians of their refpective periods [a] ; as well as
poffibly from ancient chronicles which are fuppofed
to have exifted, and which may be conceived to
have been compofed by the Priefts, fome of whom
are called memorialifts, or recorders, as Jehofhaphat
[b] and Joah the fon of Afaph [c]. The book con
tains many things omitted in the hiftorical books
which precede. It begins with a defcription of the
reign of Solomon ; and dilates with particular exadt-
nefs on the munificent piety of that monarch, in the
conftruction of the temple ; minutely fpecifying its
[a J i Chron. xxix. 29. 2 Chron. ix. 29. xii. 15. xiii. 32.
xx . 34. xxvi. 22. xxxii. 32. xxxiii. 19. xxxv. 5.
[b] 2 Sam. viii. 16.
fcj 2 Kings xviii. 18. ornaments

THE SEGOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES. 199
ornaments as .typical of fpiritual decorations which
were to embelliffi the Chriftian church; a fubjeft
highly interefting and ufeful to the Jews, who at
the time when this book was written, were preparing
to rebuild the temple. Hence the account of the
folemn cbnfecration ofthe firft building; ofthe noble
and comprehenfive prayer of Solomon ; and of the
covenanted promifes which God gracioufly imparted
at the dedication, muft have furnifhed much confo
lation to the Jews, fcarce yet reviving from the de-
fpondenceof captives, Then is repeated from the
book of Kings, the reprefentation of the magnificence.
and profperity which Solomon enjoyed, agreeably to
Qod's promife [dJ,
After this we are furnifhed with a recapitulation
pf the hiftory of the Kings of Judah, occafionally
intermixed with relations reflecting Ifrael, when con
nected with Judah, Great part of this hiftory is
(elected either immediately from the book of Kings ;
or both Kings and Chronicles were copied from fome
larger annals, known under the title of the books of
Kings ; fince frequent references are herein made to
fome books of Kings, and fometimes for circumftances
not extant in the canonical books [e]. Thefe ac
counts, however, in the books of Chronicles, are
enriched with many additional particulars. They
prefent us with a lively picture of the ftate of die
[d] Chap. i. n, 12. '
[e] Chap. xvi. n. xxi. xxiv. 27. xxv. 26. xxviii. 26. xxxii.
32. xxxiii. 18. xxxv. 27. O 4 > kingd0m

20O THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES.
kingdom of Judah ; and of the various viciffitudes and
Involutions which it fuftained under different princes.
They ferve, as the author feems to have defigned,
gready to illuftrate the neceffity of depending on God
for defence, without whofe protection kingdoms muft
fall. The advantage derived from obedience to
God, and the miferies that refulted from wickednefs
and fin, are ftrikingly ffiewn. The book abounds
with ufeful examples ; and the characters are forcibly
difplayed by a contrafted fucceffion of pious and de
praved princes. The change and defection even of
individual perfons, and their decline from righteouf-
nefs to evil, is ffiewn with much effect. The rebel
lion of Ifrael, and the conteft between the two king
doms ; the prefervation of Joaffi from the deftruction
which overwhelmed the reft of the houfe of Judah ;
the ftruggles between idolatry and true religion ; the
opportune difcovery of the copy of the law; with
many other interefting particulars which exhibit the
interpofition of the Almighty, defeating evil, and ef
fecting his concerted purpofes, deferve to be confi
dered with great attention.
Several predictions are fcattered through the
book : as the promifes made to Solomon [f] ; to Je
hofhaphat [g] ; and toothers [h]. Some fentiments
appear to be tranferibed from it into the New Terta:
ment [i].
JfJ Chap. i. \z. vii. 17 — 22.
[c] Chap. xix. 2. xx. 15, 17, 37.
[ h ] Chap, xxxiii. 8.
[ij Comp. 2 Chron. ii. 5, 6. with Afis vii. 48, 49. and xvij.
34 ; alfo 2 Chron. xix. 7. with 1 Pet. i. 17.
The

THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES. 20J
The varieties and apparent differences which exift
between thefe books and thofe of Kings, with re,
fpect to numbers, names, and .dates, have deterred
the Hebrew writers from commenting on them.
Thefe, howeyer, are to be attributed to thoflCvarious
caufes which have been before detailed [k] ; to our
ignorance of periods fo long elapfed ; to the different
fcope of the facred writers ; and to thofe mutilations
and corruptions in minute particulars which have
efpecially prevailed in the books of Chronicles ; fof
thefe appear to have been copied with unufbal care-
leffnefs ; and in none is the ?pundtuation fo de
fective. The fecond book contains a brief fketch of the
facred hiftory, from the acceffion of Solomon to the
throne, A. M. 3288, to the return from the captivity,
A.M. 34.68: a recapitulation not only very ufeful
to the Jews, but which reflects great light on other
parts of fcripture [l].
The two books jointly confidered, furniffi in a
connected view, a compendium ofthe Jewiffi hiftory.
In almoft all the Hebrew manufcripts, they are
placed as the conclufion of the bible. In moft of
phe verfions, as in our tranflation, they immediately
fucceed the Books of Kings, and precede the Book
pf Ezra. This appears to be the proper and original
[|t] Introduction, and Preface to Hiftorical Books.
[l] Hieron. Epift. IX. ad Paulin. & Epift. ad Domnion.
St. Jerom juftly remarks, that it were folly to pretend to a
knowledge of fcripture without an acquaintance with the Book
of Chronicles. qrder,

202 THE SECOND BOOK OF CHRONICLES.
order, and is fupported by the Cambridge manufcript.
Dr. Kennicott fuppofes, that the two laft verfes of
the Second Book of Chronicles were improperly
added to it by a tranfcriber, who carelefsly wrote
down the beginning of Ezra ; and on difcovering his
miftake, broke off abruptly, and beginning Ezra
again, repeated the yerfes with proper diftinction of
place [m].
[m] See Kennicott Differ t. on i Chron. xi. i, p. 491,

OF

t a°3 1

M1W rnt

~*

OF THE

BOOK of EZRA.

THIS Book was certainly written by Ezra.
That he wrote the four laft chapters has never
been queftioned, fince, in feveral parts of thefe, he
evidently profeffes himfelf the author, by fpeaking in
the firft perfon [a]. Some critics, indeed, have pre
tended that the fix firft chapters muft have been writ
ten by a perfon more ancient than Ezra, becaufe Ezra
is faid in the feventh chapter [b], to have gone up
from Babylon after the events defcribed in the fix firft
chapters, in the time of Artaxerxes Longimanras ;
Whereas in the fifth chapter, the author has been
thought to fpeak of. himfelf as prefent at Jerufalem,
in the time of Darius Hyftafpes [c] : if this be not
a miftake, Ezra may perhaps be fuppofed to have
[aJ Chap. vii. 27, 28. viii. 1, 15, 24. ix. 5.
[b] Chap. vii. 1.
[c] Chap. v. 4. This verfe is ufually confidered as an anfwer
pf the Jews. It may pofEbly, however, be confidered as a queftion
of Tatriai and his companions. See verfe :o. Perhaps we fhould
read as in the Greek, Syriac, and Arabic verfions, " then faid
they," and the objection is removed, and the fenfe amended.
accompanied

204 OF THE BOOK OF EZRA.
accompanied Zerubbabel in the firft return from the
captivity [p] ; and might have, been again fent up to
Babylon to counteract the reprefentations of thofe
who oppofed at the Perfian court the rebuilding of
the city and temple ; and the account of his departure,
which is given in the fevepth chapter, perhaps refers
only to his going up with that commiffion and power
which he received from Artaxerx.es. But whether
Ezra were or were not at Jerufalem at the time when
this anfwer is fuppofed to have been made to Tatnai,
he may well be conceived, either as copying a public
record of the tranfaction, or as relating a fpeech of
the Jews, to have ufed the expreffion of " We faid
unto them," meaning by " we," his countrymen j
which is furely n° uncommon mode of fpeaking.
Such objections are very futile ; and there is no rea
fon to queftion the authenticity of any part of the
book, which from the higheft antiquity has been at
tributed to Ezra ; who certainly at leaft digefted it ;
and probably towards the end of his days [e],
This book is written with all die fpirit and fidelity
that could be difplayed by a writer of contemporary
events. It is a continuation of the Jewiffi hiftory,
from the time at which the Chronicles conclude ; and
[d] Nehem. xii. i. If the author of this book were not (he
lame perfon with the Ezra, mentioned by Nehemiah, he might
ftill have gone up from Babylon to Jerufalem before the feventh
year of Artaxerxes,
[e] Huet. Demon. Evang. Carpzov. Introd. in Lib. Hift.
V. Teft. Brentii Prssf. Colouii Bibl. Illuft. in Lib. Efd. Walter}
Cfficin. Biblic. p. 559.

OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. 20$
ihe connection of the two accounts is evident, fince
the book of Ezra begins with a repetition of the two
verfes which terminate the books of Chronicles.
The facred writers pafs over the time of the captivity
as a fad period of affliction and puniffiment : during
which, if the people were indulged in the exercife of
their religion, they had few hiftorical events to record;
and therefore we have no general hiftory of their
circumftances ; and muft have recourfe to the books
of thofe illuftrious ¦prophets who flourifhed among
them in Aflyria, for the only particulars that can be
obtained concerning their condition.
The prefent book begins with an account of God's
having difpofed Cyrus, either by pofitive injunction,
or by dlfcovering to him his long-predicted defigns,
to promote the rebuilding of the city and temple of
Jerufalem. It relates the accompliffiment of fome
illuftrious , prophecies in the releafe [f] which that
monarch granted in the firft year of his reign over
Babylon; and in the return ofthe Jews [g] to their
own country after a captivity of feventy years [h],
A. M.
[fJ Ifaiah xliv. 26 — 28. A prophecy uttered concerning
Cyrus, defcribed by name near 200 years before he appeared :
juftly noticed with admiration by heathen writers.^
f g] Scaliger Ifag. Lib. III. p. 260. & de Emend. Temp.
Lib. VI. p. 576.
( h ] The name of Jews feems firft to have been applied to
this people after the return from the captivity. Jofeph. Antiq.
XI. c. v. The Jews returned from Babylon fifty years . after
the taking of Jerufalem ; but the feventy years which Jere
miah predicted as the period for the duration of the captivity, are

406 bF THE BOOK OF pZRA»
A. M. 3468. We then are prefented with a lift of
the leaders and numbers of the captives who returned
under Zerubbabel, and perceive how fatally the na
tion had been diminiffied and brought low by fuc
ceffive defeats and difperfions [1], We contemplate
the picture of an haraffed people reftored from cap
tivity, and returning to their country, which had long
lain defolate [k]. We behold them erecting a tem
porary altar and fervice, and laying the foundation of
their temple. 'Afterwards are defcribed the lamen
tations of thofe who remembered the magnificence
of Solomon's building; the oppofition excited by
the Samaritans and others, whofe affiftance had been
rejected ; the interruption occafioned by their in-
are reckoned from the third or fourth year of Jehoiakim'i
reign, A. M. 3398. Vid, Jer. xxv. 1, 11. xxix. 10. when
Nebuchadnezzar firft invaded Judsa, and carried off captives.
Dan. i. I, 3. 2 Kings xxiv. 1. Patrick in Jerem* xxv. 11.
xxix. 10. Dan. i. I. Zech. 1. 12. vii. 1—5. and Prid. Ant.
A. C. 518.
[1] Many of the JeWs remained in the countries into 'which
they had been carried. The Jewifh writers fay, that only the
dregs of the people returned. It fhould be remarked, that
Ezra fays, that " the whole congregation together was 42,360;"
though if we calculate the feparate numbers, they amount but
to 29,-818. Ezra, perhaps, omits the detail of fome individuals,
collectively reckoned : as thofe of the ten tribes, or thofe who
could not find their regifter; or poffibly the numbers are in fome
inftances corrupted.
[kJ As the land had lain defolate only fifty-two years from
the death of Gedaliah, Prideaux fuppofes that the Jews had
neglecfed the law concerning the fabbatical year, only from the
beginning of .the reign of Afa ; that is, 364 years. Vid. Preface
to Leviticus, p. 109, note g.
2 trigucs ;

OF THE BOOK OF EZR4. 2.97
trigues 5 and at laft, the finiffiihg and dedication of
the temple, about A. M. 3489 [l], and the celebra
tion of the Paffover [m]. Ezra then relates his. re
turn with his cqmpanions to Jerufalem; confeffes the
difobedience of the people to God's laws, in inter
marrying with the Gentile nations of the land ; de
fcribes his own pious and conciliatory prayer; the
repentance pf the people, and their feparation from
the wives and children, who not being of the holy
feed, might, if fuffered to intermingle with the Jews,
have rendered uncertain the accompliffiment of the
promifes ; and he concludes with an enumeration of
thofe' who had tranfgreffed : ftigmatizing, with im-
. partial indignation, the names of even the priefts and
[ l ] The Jews tell our Saviour, that their temple had been
forty-fix years in building ; which muft mean the temple as re
paired and enlarged by Herod. This work was begun in the
eighteenth year of his reign ; from whence to the thirtieth year
of Chrift was a period of forty-fix years ; and the temple was npt
even then entirely finifhed; nor according to the account of
Jofephus till the time of Agrippa, near fixty years after the death
of Chrift. Vidrjohn ii. 20. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XV. c. xiv.
Lib. XX. c. viii.
[m] It is neceffary here to mention, that Juftin Martyr in, his
dialogue with Trypho, afferts that the following fpeech of Ezra
was in the ancient Hebrew copies of the Bible, but [expunged
by the Jews, viz. " Ezra faid to the people, this paffover is>
our Saviour, and our refuge; and if you will be perfuaded of it,
and let it into your hearts, that we are to humble him in a fign,
and afterwards lhall believe in him, this place fhall not be de
ftroyed for ever, faith the God of hofts ; but if you will not
believe in him, neither hearken to his preaching, ye fhall be a
laughing-flock to the Gentiles, rulers

S<3& »F THft BOOK OF EZRA.
rulers who had offended in this important violation
of the law.
The hiftory contains a period of about feventy-
nine years: from A.M. 3468, when Cyrus became
mafter of Perfia, to A. M. 3547, when Ezra effected
the reform defcribed in the laft chapter of his
book ; for between the dedication of the temple, and
the departure of Ezra from Babylon in the feventh
year of the reign of Artaxerxes Longimanus, is a
period of fifty-feven or fifty-eight years ; which this
book paffes over in filence, only mentioning that the
Jews had during that time intermixed with the Gen
tiles. This book is written in Chaldee [nJ from the
eighth verfe of the fourth chapter to the twenty^
feventh verfe of the feventh chapter; for as this part
of the work contains chiefly letters, converfation,
and decrees uttered in that language ; it was confif
tent with the fidelity of the facred hiftorian, to de-
feribe the very words which were ufed ,- efpecially, as
the people recently returned from the captivity were
familiar, and perhaps more converfant with the Chal
dee, than even with the Hebrew tongue; and it
was probably about this time that the Chaldee para-
phrafes began to be ufed ; for it appears by Nehe-
miah's account [o], that all could not underftand the
law, which may mean that fome of them had forgot
ten the Hebrew during their difperfion in the cap-
[nJ The Chaldee or Syriac, was the language then ufed over
all Affyria, Babylonia, Perfia, &c.
[o j Neh. viii. 2, 8. Cafaubon Epift. 590. tivity.

OF THE BOOK OF EZRA. 20£
tivity [p]. Some affign, likewife, to this time, the
origin of the Jewiffi fynagogues, though it is poffible
that they exifted before the .captivity [oj-
Ezra was of the facerdotal family, , a defcendant
of Seraiah [r], in a right line from Aaron. He
fucceeded Zerubbabel in the government of Judaea,
by a commiffion which lafted twelve years, to A. M.
3558; at the expiration of which term, he either
returned at Babylon to give ah account of the ftate
of the province of Judsea ; br elfe retired into a pri
vate ftation in his own country: co-operating, doubt-
lefs, in the pious defigns of Nehemiah his fucceffor,
by whom he is related foon after to have produced
and read the law of Mofes to the people. Ezra,
indeed, appears to have been particularly well fkilled
in the law, to have given much attention to the ftudy
of the fcriptures, and to have been well verfed in the
interpretation of them. He ftiles himfelf a ready
fcribe [s], and profeffes to have prepared himfelf to
inftrudt
[p] Univ. Hift. vol. x. Book II. p. 220.
[ qJ Pfa. lxxiv. 7, 8.
[rJ Chap. vii. 1 — 5. He calls himfelf the fon of Seraiah,
which only implies his defcendant; or at leaft, it is not pro
bable that he was the immediate fon of the high-prieft Seraiah,
who was flain at the taking of Jerufalem. 2 Kings xxv, 1 8.
Prid. Con. Part I. B. V.
[s] Ezra vii. 6. The word, 13D, fophar, implies one fkilful
in the interpretation of fcripture. The origin of the fcribes
is uncertain ; they were probably firft employed in fubferviency
to the prophets, and, perhaps, educated in their fchools.
Judges v. 14, 1 Chron. xxvii. 32. Jerem. xxxvi. 26. They
feem to have been eftablifhed as an order of men after the
? captivity,

210 OF THE BOOR. OF EZRA.
inftruct the people in the ftatutes of God : the tra
dition, therefore, of his having made a collection of
the facred writings is extremely probable. We
know, indeed, from Jofephus, that the Jewiffi priefts
after every important war, were accuftomed on the
eftabliffiment of peace, both at home and abroad,
publicly to afcertain, recognize, and copy out the
regifters of the priefthood [t] ; by which we muft
either underftand the fcriptures, or believe that the
lame practice prevailed as to them.
Ezra, therefore, may well be fuppofed to have
publiffied a correct edition, after the re-eftabliffiment
of the Jews j and probably with the affiftance of the
great fynagogue [tr], which particularly flourifhed
in the time of Artaxerxes Longimanus; not that
there is any reafon to imagine that the facred books
were loft during the captivity; as fome have abfurdly
Conceived, from the fabulous relation of a pretended
captivity, and to have rifen into repute after the ceffation of
prophecy. They are mentioned in the New Teftament as
doftors of the law, and teachers of the people. Matt. xxii. 35.
and Mark xii. 28, &c. They appear in later times to have cor
rupted the law by their traditions, and to have become deficient
in purity of manners. Matt. xv. 3. v. 20. Luke xx. 46. Of
the infpired fcribes, of whom Simon (peaks, there is no account
in fcripture.
[t] 0» *rapa?ui!rO|HEtoi tuv itpuv v.xua. -wuhw ex th> apxaiur yp(«-
fcolw Cwirailiu, are the words cf Jofephus, Lib. I. cont. Apion.
[u] Irenjeus. adv. Hasres, Lib. III.'c. xxv. Tertul. de Habit.
Mulier. c. iii. Clem. Alex. Strom. I. Bafil. Epift. ad Chilon,
&c. Chryfoft. Homil. in Epift. ad Hebra;. Herbelot Biblioth.
Orient, fub Voce Ozair. Ben. Seraiah & Koran, cap. Bacra.
Intxod. p. 6. burning

OF THE BOOK OF EZRA; 211
burning of the law, and of the reftoration of the
fcriptures by divine revelation, which account is given
only in the apocryphal book of Efdras [x] : a work
of little or no authority. The copies ofthe law were
too much reverenced to be loft; and Daniel [y] we
know was in poffeffion of one during the captivity.
He likewife quotes the prophecies of Jeremiah [z] j
and probably other perfons had copies of the fcrip
tures, many of them being favoured by the con
querors ; and if the facred veffels of the temple were
fo carefully preferved, we may well conceive that the
authentic manufcripts of the Hebrew fcriptures were
fafely depofited at Babylon ; and perhaps reftored to
Zerubbabel, or Ezra, on their return to Jerufalem.
but wherever preferved, Ezra certainly produced
the Law, and read it to the people [a;] and the
other books of fcripture were collected by him and
Nehemiah [b], or by the great fynagogue.
Ezra was a moft ufeful perfon to the Jews, who
reverence his memory with a regard almoft equal to
that which they entertain for Mofes. He is not par
ticularly ftiled a prophet in fcripture; but our Saviour
makes no diftinction between the authors of the facred
- books, except that of " Mofes and the Prophets."
Ezra was undoubtedly an appointed minifter of God;
and he wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit,
[x] 2 Efdras xiv. 21.
[y] Chap. ix. 11, 13,
f z ] Dan. ix. 2.
[aJ Nehem. viii. 2. and ancient Univ. Hift. voj. iii. p. 418.
[b] 2 Mace. ii. 13.
P 2 or

212 OF THE BOOK OF EZRA.
or his book would not have been admitted into the
Hebrew canon; or received as facred from the earlieft
ages of the chriftian church.
Ezra is reported by fome traditionary accounts to
have died in the hundred and twentieth year of his
age, and to have been buried at Jerufalem [c];
though others fay that he died in Perfia, and was
buried on the banks of the river Samura; where his
tomb is ffiewn [d]. Befides the books which are
afcribed to Ezra in the apocryphal part of our Bible,
there have been fpurious conftitutions ; benedictions;
and prayers attributed to him ; as likewife a revela
tion; a dream; and a prophecy relative to the Roman
empire ; together with a calendar of pretended au-
fpicious and unlucky days, none of which require
attention. [c] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XI. c. v.
[ d ] Benjamin Tudela.

OF

[ 213 1

OF THE

BOOK of NEHEMIAH.

THE Book of Nehemiah being fubjoined in the
Hebrew canon to that of Ezra as a continuation
of his hiftory, was often confidered as his work [a] :
and in the Latin and Greek Bibles it is called the
Second Book of Ezra; but it undoubtedly was written
by Nehemiah, for he profeffes himfelf the author of
it in the beginning, and uniformly fpeaks in the firft
perfon. It was probably admitted into the cata*
logue of the facred writings by fome of the great
fynagogue [b].
Ezra appears to have continued near ten years in
the government of Judsea, after the reform which he
mentions in the laft chapter of his Book : perfifting
probably in his endeavours to reftore religion, and t«
[a] Hieron. Prxf. in Reg. Eufeb. Chron. ad An. 1584.
[b] When Ifidore afferted, that the fecond book of Ezra was
not in the Hebrew canon, he meant the apocryphal book attri
buted to him ; for he fays, that Ezra's firft book contained the
y/otds of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. c. ii.
P 3 promote

214 0F THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH.
promote the profperity of his country. Circumftances
were, however, fo unfavourable and adverfe to his
defigns, that in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes
Longimanus [c], A. M. 3559, we find, from Ne
hemiah, that reprefentations were made to him at
Babylon of the afflicted ftate of the Jews ; and of
the ruinous condition of their city, of which the
walls were yet unrepaired.
This book begins with an account of Nehemiah's
grief at this report j of his application to Artaxerxes
for permiffion to vifit and rebuild Jerufalem, " the
place of his fathers fepulchres." This he obtained,
probably by the entreaty of Either, the Queen [b],
who favoured the Jews. Nehemiah dien relates his
departure and arrival at Jerufalem with authority;
feelingly defcribes the defolate ftate of Jerufalem,
and his exertions to repair its difmantled walls. He
records the names of thofe patriotic men who affifted
him on diis occafion; the confpiracy of the Amrmonr
ites, and other enemies againft the work, and -the
defeat of their defigns. After the finiffiing of the
walls and fortifications, Nehemiah applied himfelf to
other public -objects. The fcarcity of the inhabitants
in (the large city of Jerufalem firft excited his atr
tention. He fortunately at this time found a regifter
[c] Not Artaxerxes Mnemon, as fome have imagined. Vid.
Scalig. Proleg. Oper. de Emend. T<eifip. Lib. VI. & Patrick.
-The month Chifleu, mentioned in die firft verfe of Neheaiiah,
•aafaers to a part ©f pur November arid December.
. [d] Chap. ii.6. of

OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 215
of thofe perfons who returned from the captivity
under Zerubbabel : which he repeats in the feventh
chapter [e] : in order to complete the reftoration of
their poffeffions to the refpective tribes; and that none
but the Levites and defcendants of Aaron might of
ficiate in the fervice of the temple and of the prieft
hood. Nehemiah then defcribes the public reading of
the Law to the people ; the celebration of the Feaft
of the Tabernacles [f]; and other religious appoint ments,

' [e] Chap. vii. This genealogy differs from that given by
Ezra in the fecond chapter of his book, with refpect. to names
and numbers ; which difference Prideaux attributes to altera
tions made by Nehemiah, in compliance with changes that
had happened fince the departure from Babylon. It is remark
able that the two accounts agree in the total amount ; and the
fum of the numbers which are feparately detailed, will cor
refpond, if to the ,29,818 fpecified by Ezra, we add the 1765
perfons reckoned by Nehemiah, which Ezra has omitted ; and,
on the other hand, to the 31,089 enumerated by Nehemiah,
add the 494 which is an overplus in Ezra's book, not noticed
by Nehemiah : both writers including in the fum total 10,777
of the mixed multitude, which is not particularized in the in
dividual detail. The accounts unemeftionably agreed when
they were received into the canon, unlefs where there might
be fome caufe for a variation ; and probably the differences that
now exift, have originated in the careleffnefs of the copyifts,
Vid. Commentators.
[p] The Scenopegia, or feaft of Tabernacles, was a grand
feftival in memory of the Ifraelites having dwelt in tents in the
wildernefs. It began the 15th of September, and was cele
brated for eight days with great joy. The obfervance of jt
P 4- feems

tl6 OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH.
ments, obferved with a pathetic commemoration and
thankfgiving for God's former mercies, as defcribed
in preceding books of fcripture. Then follows an
account of the renewal of the covenant of obedience
and refpect to God's law, recorded as a memorial,
with the names of thofe who figned it; a catalogue
of thofe who were appointed by lot, or confented to
live at Jerufalem, which was furrounded by hoftile
neighbours ; and the book concludes with a defcrip-
. tion of the reformation, both civil and religious,
which Nehemiah effected; the laft act of which,
the removal of the ftrange wives, was, according to
the general computation, accomplifhed about A. M,
3574 [g] ; but which could not have happened, as
Prideaux has on very fufficient grounds determined,
till A. M. 3595 [h] ; at which time he fuppofes the
firft period of Daniel's prophecy to conclude [i],
and the fcripture hiftory to clofe,
Nehemiah
feems to have been much infifted on by the prophets ; and as it
argued a fenfe of God's former mercies, it feems to, have been
attended with a bleffmg. Vid. Zech. xiv. 16, 17.
[g] Blair's Chronol.
[ h ] The laft aft of Nehemiah's refprmation took place under
the pontificate of Joiada ; (for the original of chap. xiii. 28.
will not admit a confirmation which fhould reprefent Eliafhib
as the high-prieft,) and Joiada fucceeded to the priefthood, A. M.
3591- [1] Prideaux dates the period of the feven weeks from the
feventh year of Artaxerxes, An. A. C. 458; when Ezra was
¦commiffioned by a decree to rebuild the temple, and to reftore
Jerufalem ; from that time, to the reformation effected by Ne
hemiah,

OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 2Z"J
Nehemiah was the fon of Hachaliah; and ac
cording to tradition, of the tribe of Judah [kJ,
though it bad been fanfied, from an apocryphal ac
count of his offering facrifices at the head of the
priefts, that he was of the tribe of Levi [l]. He
appears to have been a different perfon from the
Nehemiah mentioned by Ezra [m], and in this book,
as one who returned from the captivity with Zerub
babel; fince from the firft year of Cyrus to the
twentieth of Artaxerxes Longimanus, no fewer than
ninety-one years intervene ; fo that Nehemiah muft,
on the fuppofition that they were the fame perfons,
have been at this time much above an hundred years
old; at which age it can hardly be thought [n] pro
bable, that he ffiould have taken a journey from Sha-
ffian to Jerufalem ; and have been capable during a
government of twelve years, and afterwards, of all
thofe active exertions, which in this book he is de
fcribed to have made. Nehemiah, however, the au
thor of this book, appears to have been bom at Ba
bylon; and was fo diftinguifhed for his family and
hemiah, were forty-nine years, when the Church and State
were re-eftablifhed; or, according to the figurative defcription
¦of Daniel, when " the ftreet and the walls were rebuilt in
troublous times." Vid. Dan. ix. 25. Prid. Con. An. Ant.
C. 409.
[k] R. Abarb. in Cabal. Eufeb. Chron. Can. A. 1584.
Ifidore, Geneb, &c.
[l] 2 Mace. i. 18. and following verfes.
[m] Ezra ii..i. Nehem. vii. 7.
[n] Michael. Prasf. in Nehem. qualities,

ITS OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH.
qualities, as to be feledted for the office of Cup
bearer to the King : a fituation of great honour and
emolument in the Perfian court. He was likewife
diftinguiffied by the title of Terffiata, which was iji
general appropriated to the King's deputies and go
vernors [o]. By his privilege of daily attendance on
the King, he had conftant opportunites of conciliat
ing his favour ; and was enabled by the royal bounty
to fupport his government with great magnificence
at his own private charge, and generoufly to relieve
his people from the burden of that expence which
they had neceffarily fuftained under preceding go
vernors [p]. In every other refpect, likewife, he
difplayed the moft exemplary and difinterefted zeal
fer the profperity of his country [ qJ. If Nehemiah
were not abfolutely a prophet, he profeffes himfelf to
have acted under the authority and guidance of God
[r.J. He feems to have confpired with Ezra in all
im pious defigns; and probably affifted him in the
reyifal ofthe canon [s]. The Jews report him to
have been one of the great fynagogue. The mthor
of the fecond Book of Maccabees attributes to him
writings which are now no longer extant [t], if they
ever exifted.
f o] Neh. ii. 63. x. i. and Michael, in Loe.
[p] Neh. v. 14, 18. His name fignified confolation.
f qJ Ecclus. xlix. 13.
fa] Neh. ii. 8, 18.
[s] 2 Mace. ii. 13.
[tJ 2 Mace. ii. 13. Vid. Carpz. Introd. ad Lib. Hift. Yet.
Teft. p. 343. Frifchmuth's Diff. de non Sperand. B.eftjtut.
Ar.cs. Ffsdor. III. cap^x.
After

OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. "2.1$
After a continuance of twelve years [u] in the
government of Judasa, Nehemiah appears to have
returned to Shuffian, agreeably to his promife [xj.
What length of time he continued in Perfia cannot
be afcertained. Prideaux, to allow a fufficient in
terval for the corruptions that took place during his
abfence, fuppofes at leaft five years; the text only
fays, " Certain days [y]," which is an ambiguous
expreffion. It is probable that he foon obtained
permiffion to return to his country, where he appears
to have ended his days. It is not poffible to deter
mine how long he furvived his return. Many learned
writers conceiving that Jaddua and Darius, men
tioned in the twenty-fecond verfe of the twelfth
chapter of this book, muft have been the high-prieft
Jaddua, and Darius Codomannus, who was .contem
porary with -the former during his priefthood [z], and
[u] Chap. xiii. 6.
[x] Nehem. ii. 6.
[y] Nehem. xiii. 6. In the Hebrew it is, " at the end of
days," which means, perhaps, at the end of the year.
[z] Some have imagined that Darius, the Perfian, might
have been Darius Nothus ; but the only Darius who was con
temporary with the priefthood of Jaddua was Darius Codo.
mannus. Befides, the text enumerating the fucceffion of the
fligh-priefts, evidently fpeaks of Jaddua as frtgh-prieft, who
did not enter on his office till A.M. 3663; and therefore the
verfe muft have been written above 100 years after Nehemiah
went up from Babylon, when we cannot fuppofe him to have
•feeen lefs than 120 or 130 yeais of age. The text would even
lead us to fuppofe that it was written after the death of Jofhua;
which would tend ftill farther -to convince- us that the paffage is

220 OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH.
and who did not begin to reign till no years after
the date of Nehemiah 's commiffion: have remarked,
that he muft have lived an extraordinary length of
time to have inferted this account; and, indeed,
though it is by no means incredible that Nehemiah
might have been permitted by God to live 130 or
140 years, becaufe his eminent virtues were highly
conducive to the reftoration of his country; yet it is,
perhaps, more probable to believe, that the- whole, or
at leaft the latter part of the regifter contained in the
twenty-fix firft verfes of the twelfth chapter was a
fubfequent addition [a], made by thofe who received
the book into the canon; that is, by fome members
of the great fynagogue; and, indeed, the whole de
tail appears to be an unconnected and foreign inter
polation. Nehemiah frequently in this book calls upon God
not to wipe out the good deeds that he had done:
rather in pious fupplication to be remembered on
their account [b], than in any arrogance of heart.
To have concealed the actions of his government,
would have been inconfiftent with the office of a faith
ful hiftorian ; and have deprived pofterity of an ex-
is a fubfequent interpolation. Jofephus fuppofes Sanballat to
have lived to the time of Alexander the Great; but the hif
torian muft have meant a different perfon from Sanballat the
Horonite, who oppofed Nehemiah ; or he muft have been mif-
taken. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XL c. viii. Prid. An. Ant.
Chrift. 459.
[a] Voffi Chron. Sac. c. x. p. 149. Prid. Con, An, Ant,
Chrift. 458.
[b J Chap. v. 19. xiii. 14, 22, 31. cellen?

OF THE BOOK OF NEHEMIAH. 221
cellent example. The facred writers, confcious of
their own dignity, are equally fuperior to difguife or
vanity. They record their own virtues and their own
failings with equal fincerity.
Nehemiah was probably the laft governor dele
gated by the Perfian Kings ; who, poffibly, after his
death, left the government of Judaea to the high-
pieft of the Jews, till the Perfian empire was de
ftroyed by Alexander the Great [c],
[c] Cornel. Bertram, de Rep. Jud. p. 168, 17}, 175.

OF

[ 222 ]

OF THE

BOOK of ESTHER.

THIS Book is in the Hebrew ftiled « the vo
lume of Efther:" it was received into the
Jewiffi canon with peculiar veneration ; and efteemed
above many of the prophetic Books, probably be
caufe therein are defcribed the origin and ceremonies
of the feaft of Purim. It is called the Book of Efther
[a], becaufe it contains the hiftory of this Jewifh
captive, who, by her remarkable accompliffiments,
gained the affections of Ahafuerus ; and by a marriage
with him, was raifed to the thrdhe of Perfia. The
author of the Book is not certainly known. Some
[a] The word Efther is of Perfian derivation, Starith,
Aftram, Erepa ; its fignification is uncertain. The vowel is
prefixed for foftnefs, according to the Hebrew idiom. Vid,
Caftel. in Lexico Perfico, col. 329, & Pfeiffer in Dub. Vex.
p. 4^8. The original word was defcriptive, and fignified
Dark, which was deemed beautiful by the Jews. Hilar.
CEcon. p. 621. Theocrit. Idyl. x. 26 — 29. Efther was called'
by her own family Hadaflah, which implies a myrtle. Vid.
Targum. ad chap. ii. 7. of
6

OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 2 2J
of the fathers [b] fuppofe it to have been written by
Ezra ; others contend that it was compofed by Joa
chim high-prieft of the Jews, and grandfon of Jofe-
deck The Talmudifts attribute it to the joint la
bours of the great fynagogue [c], which fucceeded
Ezra in the fuperintendance of the canon of fcripture.
The twentieth verfe of the ninth chapter of the book
has led others to believe that Mordecai was the au
thor [o] -, but what is there related to have been
written by him, feems to refer only to the circular
fetter which he diftributed [e]. There are; laftly,
other writers, who maintain, that the book was the
production of Efther's and Mordecai 's united induftry
[f] ; and probably they might have communicated
an account of events fo interefting to the whole na
tion, to the great fynagogue at Jerufalem j fome of
the members of which may with great reafon be fup
pofed to have digefted the information thus received
into its prefent form [g]. We have, however, no
fufficient evidence to determine, nor is it, perhaps,
of much importance to afcertain precifely who was
the author, but that it was a genuine and faithful
[ s ] Epiphan. de Ponder, & Menf. cap. iv. Auguft. de Civit.
Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxxvi. Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. cap. ii.
[c] Bava Bathra, cap. i. f. 15.
. f_ d ] As moft of the Latin fathers, and Clemens AlexandrinuJ
among the Greeks, Strom. Lib. I. Vid. alfo, Elias in Maff,
Aben-Ezra, Abrah. Hifpan. &c.
[e] Chap. ix. 20, 23, 26.
[f] Chap. ix. 29.
( e J Heut. Demonftrat, Evang. Prop. IV. defcription

224 OF THE B°0K °T ESTHER.
defcription of what did actually happen, is certain ;
not only from its admiffion into the canon, but ahb
from the ¦ inftitution of the feaft of Purim, which from
its firft eftabliffiment has been regularly obferved as
an annual folemnity [h] ; on the fourteenth and fif
teenth ofthe month Adar, in commemoration of the
great deliverance which Efther, by her intereft, had
procured ; and which is even now celebrated among
the Jews with many peculiar ceremonies, and with
rejoicings even to intoxication. This feftival was
called Purim, or the feaft of lots (Pur in the Perfian
language fignifying a lot) from the events mentioned
in chap. iii. 7. ix. 24.
The Jews [1] maintain that this book was un-
queftionably infpired by the Holy Ghoft j and that
though all the books ofthe Prophets, and ofthe Ha-
giographi ffiall be deftroyed at the coming of the
Meffiah, that of Efther ffiall continue with thofe of
Mofes, for Efther had faid, that " the days of Pu
rim ffiould not fail from among the Jews [k]." This
is meant, however, only of that part of the book
[h] 2 Mace. xv. 36, 37. Codex. Theod. Tit. de Judseis.
The feaft is called alfo the feaft of Haman and Mordecai. The
month1 Adar correfponds with our February and March. Efther
and Mordecai appear to have ordained only a feaft ; but the Jews
obferve, as they profefs long to have done, a faft on the 1 3th,
which was the day deftined for their extirpation. Jofeph. Antiq.
Lib. XI. c. vi. Heut. Prop. IV. Chriftian Magaz. vol. iv.
p. 260. Prid. Con. Ann. 452. Buxtorf. Synag. Jud. c. xxiv.
Calmet. DicL word Purim.
f 1] Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. II. c. xiv.
[k] Chap, ix. 28. Pfeiffer. Thefaur. Hermeneut. p. 599.
- ¦ «" ' 9 which

OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 22$
which our church confiders as canonical ; for the fix
.chapters which are only in the Greek and Latin copies,
were never received by the Jews ; and they are re
jected as apocryphal by us, in conformity to the fen-
timents of the ancient church, for this and other rear
fons which will be hereafter affigned [l]. It is to be
lamented, indeed, that the fpurious chapters ffiould
ever have been annexed to the authentic part, fince
they tended to difcredit the facred book ; and it has
been fuppofed that a difrefpect for the apocryphal
additions induced fome ancient writers to leave it out
of the catalogue of the canonical books [m] ; and
occafioned Luther to exprefs a wifh that it might
be expunged from the lift [n]. Thefe, however,
being refcinded, the remainder is entitled to our re
verence as canonical. It is eftabliffied by the fuffrage
of antiquity, and bears every mark of authenticity
and truth [o].
There has been much difference of 'opinion con
cerning the period which we ffiould affign to the
events recorded in this book. It is certain, from
[ l ] Preface to the apocryphal chapters of Efther.
[m] Eufeb. Hift. Ecclqs. Lib. IV. c. xxvi. Athan. Epift. 39.
Gregor. Nazianz. de Ver. & Gen. Lib. S. Script. Some think
that Efther was included in thefe catalogues, under the book of
Ezra, as it was fuppofed to have been written by Ezra, It war
in the catalogues of Origen, Cyril, Hilary, Epiphanius, and
Jerom, and in that of the Council of Laodicea: Vid. Infra,
Preface to Apocryph. chapters of Efther. Note s.
[n] Conviv. Serm. f. 494. and Lib. de Serv. Arbit. torn. iii.
f. 82. [o] Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. L. VI. c. xxv. Hilar, in Pfalm i.
Q» many

226 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER.
many inftances, that the Jews diftinguiffied foreign
perfons by names different from thofe which they
bear in prophane hiftory [p] ; as, indeed, all nations
are accuftomed to corrupt proper names in confor
mity to the genius and pronunciation of their own
language. Scaliger contends, from a fanciful re
femblance of names, that Ahafuerus was the fame
with Xerxes [ oj] -, whofe Queen, Ameftris, he con
ceives, might have been Efther. Others, upon
grounds nearly as conjectural and fallacious, have
imagined, that Ahafuerus was Cyaxares ; and others
contend that he was Cambyfes [r]. Ufher fuppofes,
that by Ahafuerus we are to underftand Darius Hy-
ftafpes [s] ; who refided at Sufa, and whofe extent
of dominion and actions correfpond with the account*
of this book. But to each of thefe opinions confi
derable objections may be drawn from the accounts
of prophane hiftorians [t] ; and probably the opinion
of Prideaux ,is beft fupported, who maintains, agree-
[p] Vitringa in Hypot. Sac. p. ioo. § 49.
[ qJ Scaliger de Emendat. Temp. Lib. VI. p. 284. Grotius,
Michaelis, lie. Capellus places the hiftory fo late as the time
of Ochus, who was the fucceffor of Artaxerxes Mnemon-
[r] Targ. R. Salomon, Seder Olam Rabba, p. 86.
[ s J Ufleri Annal. Vet. Teft. Period. Jul. An. 4193. Du Pin,
Maius (Econ. V. T. p. 1073. »The advocates for this opinion
maintain with the Rabbinical writers, that Efther was the Arty-
ftona of Darius; but Artyftona was the daughter of Cyrus; and
the hiftory of Atofla by no means accords, any more than does
that of Parmis, with the account here given of Vafhti. Vid.
Herod. Lib. III. and Lib. VII.
[t^ Vitringa, Lib. VI. p. no. ably

OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 42 J
ably to the account of Jofephus [u] ; of the feptua-
gint ; and of the apocryphal additions to the book of
Efther, that Ahafuerus was Artaxerxes Longimanus
[x] ; whofe extraordinary favour to the Jews might
in fome meafure arife from the fuggeftions of Efther ;
the hiftory, therefore, may be fuppofed to have com
menced about A- M. 3544 [yJ, and it contains an
account of a period which extends from about ten to
twenty years.
The book defcribes the advancement of Efther;
who, by the intereft which ffie conciliated with Aha*
fuerus, delivered the Jews from a great deftruction
which had been contrived for them by Haman, an
infofent favourite of the King. It prefents an in
terefting defcription of mortified pride, and of malice
baffled to the deftruction of its contrivers. It like-
wife exhibits a very lively reprefentation of the vex
ations and troubles, of the anxieties, treachery, and
diffimulation of a corrupt court. The manners are
painted with great force and fidelity ; and the vicif-
fitudes and characters are difplayed with dramatic
effect. The author feems to have been fo intimately
acquainted with the Perfian cuftoms, that fome have
[u] Jofeph. Ant Lib. XI. c. vi.
[x] Prid. Con. An, 470. Sulpit. Sever, Hift. Sac. Lib. II.
p. 307, Calmet Di£t. word Vafhti. Lightfoot, vol. i. p. 137.
The chief objection to the period of Artaxerxes Longimanus is
drawn from Efther ii. 5, 6. but -that paflkge may imply, that Kifh
was carried away captive with Jeconiah ; or that Mordecai was
¦a defcendant of fome one of Nebuchadnezzar's captives.
[y] Petav.^ Indofi. Templi XII. c. xxvii. Auftor. Ecclef.
Goth, p. 319. Q^a conceived

X

228 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER.
conceived a notion that he tranfcribed his Work from
the Perfian chronicles [z]. It has been remarked,
that the name of God is not mentioned throughout
the ' book ; his fuperintendent providence is, how
ever, frequently illuftrated : ft is ffiewn, indeed, in
every part of the work : difconcerting evil defigns,
and producing great events by means" feemingly in
adequate. Calmet afferts, on the authority of Paul Lucas,
that the tombs of Mordecai and Efther are ftill ffiewn
at Amadam in Perfia, in the fynagogUe of the Jews,
who are very numerous there.
[z] Hottinger Thefaur. Philolog. Lib. II. ch. i. p. 488.
Aben»Ezra, Com. in Procem. Selden in Theolog. Lib. III.
Exercit. V. p. 486.

i

or

[• 229 ]

OF THE
BOOK of JOB
CONCERNING the nature, and author o
this Book, various opinions have been enter
tained. Some, as well Chriftian as Rabbinical writers,
have ventured to confider it as a fictitious relation,
of the parabolical kind, without any hiftorical
foundation [a] ; and others as a dramatic work,
grounded on fome traditional accounts of a real per-
fonage ; or as an allegory, in which, under real cha
racters and circumftances, are fhadowed out the
Jewiffi nation, and fome particulars of the Jewifh
hiftory during [b], or after the Babylonifh cap
tivity.
[a] Bava Bathra, Anabaptifts, &c.
[b] Garnett taking up fome ideas of Bifhop Warburton,
has etched out an ingenious allegory, in which the condition
of Job is confidered as defcriptive of the Jewifh fufferings
during the captivity. But though he has ftrained every 'cir-.
cumftance in the hiftory in order to accommodate it to this re
prefentation, he has produced no conviftion. A lively fancy
•• may readily difcover fiich refemblances as he has pointed out ;
but if the judgment be allowed to refleft, it will fuggeft un-
anfwerable objections to the theory, however fpecious it may be.
Q_3 Vii

2JO OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
tivity [c]. But to indulge in fuch unauthorifed
fancies is very dangerous, and inconfiftent with the
refpect due to facred writ; and in the prefent inftance
there is no fufficient foundation for fuppofing that the
book is any other than a literal hiftory of the temp
tation and fufferings of a real character [d] ; fince
it has every external fanction of authority, and is
ftamped with every intrinfic mark that can charac
terize a genuine relation.
Of the real exiftence of Job no reafonable doubt
can be entertained, if we confider, that it is proved
by the concurrent teftimony of all eaftern tradition j
that the whole hiftory of this illuftrious character,
with many fabulous additions, was known among
the Syrians and ChalcUeans ; that many ofthe nobleft
families among the Arabians, are diftinguiffied by
Vid. Garnett's Differt. on Job. The Ufe and Intent of Pro
phecy, Diff. II. Maimon. More Nevoch, p. 3. c. xxii. Bava
Bathra, c. i. fol. 15. Sentimens de quelq. Theolog. Holland.
p. 184. Grot. Com. in Job, Lib. I. Le Clerc, &c.
[c] Bifhop Warburton imagined, that Job was intended to
perfonate the Jewifh people on their return from the captivity ;
that by his three friends were meant the three great enemies of
the Jews : Sanballat, Tobiah, and Gefhem ; and by Job's wife,
the idolatrous wives which fome of the Jews had married, as
we learn from Nehemiah. A ftrange conceit, of which the im
probabilities are by no means glofl'ed over by the elaborate
reafoning, and extravagant affertions of the learned writer.
Vid. Peter's Differt. on Job.
[d] Spanheim Hift. Job. Schultens Com. in Job, and Com
mentators in general. his

OF the eook OF JOB. 2J I
his name [e], and boaft of being defcended from
him ; and laftly, that Job is mentioned as a real
chara&er by Ezekiel [fJ and St. James [g].
The book of Job was likewife certainly written as
a literal relation of actual events : for this is evident
from the ftile of the author;- from his mode of in
troducing the fubject; and alfo from the circum
ftantial detail of habitation, kindred, and condition,
i~s well as from the names of the perfons therein
mentioned : which correfpond with other accounts of
that age and country, in which Job is generally fup
pofed to have exifted [h]. The book then muft be
[e] As was Zalach Eddin, ufually ftiled Saladin, fultan ofthe
Mamalukes : who bore the name of Job, as did alfo his father.
Vid. Elmecin. Hift. Saracen, Job appears alfo to be mentioned
by Ariftotle in his DifTertation de Magnitudine Animalium.
There are even now traditionary accounts concerning the place
of Job's abode. Vid. Thevenot's voyage, p. 447. Le Roque
Voyages de Syrie. torn. i. p. 239,
[f] Ezek, xiv. 14.
[c] James v, 11. Vid. alfo Tobit ii. 12, 15. in Vulgate.
Clemen. Epift, ad Cor. ch, xvii. and Araft. ap. Eufeb. Prap.
Evang. Lib. IX. c. xxv.
[h] It has been faid, that the names of Job and his friends
have a myftical meaning ; but moft of the eaflern names have
fome defcriptive fignification. Spanheim derives the name of
Job from an Hebrew root, p«>, mmn^tit, amare, a word which
imports love, or beloved, And this is more probable than
trie derivatibn fometimes given from a word expreffive of grief;
which, if accepted, muft be fuppofed to have been applied
after Job's misfortunes, Michaelis in his preface derives the
name of Job from a word which fignifies repentance, which
was perhaps fuggefted by Mahomet, Vid. Koran, ch, xxxviii.
¥>» 44- Q^4 allowed

2^2 OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
allowed to contain a literal hiftory of real events ;
though agreeably to the opinion of Grotius, the fub
ject is poetically treated; for though the firft and
laft parts of the book being entirely narration, be
expreffed in a ftile nearly as fimple as that of the
hiftorical books of Samuel or of Kings : the reft re-
fembles rather the poetical works of David and of
Solomon. Considering then that the work is in a great
meafure poetical; and that probably it was written
in metre ; we ffiall readily account for that want of
order and arrangement, which by the omiffion of tri
vial particulars, and by the neglect of diftinction of
times, fometimes gives an air of improbability to the
book ; for many circumftances which muft have oc
curred at intervals, are related in a continued and
uninterrupted feries by the author : intent only on
delivering to pofterity memorable events, and fub-
lime inftruction ; and neglecting every particular not
immediately conducive to this defign [i]. It muft
likewife be obferved, that the verity of the book is
not invalidated by the allegorical manner in which
fome things are related. Human events are literally
[i] The calamities of Job fucceeded each other with a mira
culous rapidity. His friends might have literally obferved feven
days filence in afhes, from refpedt to his affliftion. The artificial
regularity which the learned Michaelis conceived to exift in the
numbers mentioned in this book, does not appear really to ob
tain ; except that when Job's poffeffions are faid to have been
doubled, they are enumerated by an interefting periphrafis.
Comp. chap. i. 3. and xiii. 12. defcribed;

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 233
defcribed; but the proceedings of providence, of
which we are unable to form any apprehenfion, un-
lefs from figurative illuftration, are perhaps here, as
in other parts of fcripture [k], parabolically repre
fented under familiar allufions. Thus are " the
fons of God," or the obedient angels, defcribed as
appearing before the prefence of the Lord, as at the
tribunal of an earthly judge ; fo alfo the difcourfe
and agency of Satan are indirectly fhadowed out, in
a manner agreeable to the mode of human inter
courfe : in order to accommodate to our conceptions,
what would otherwife be utterly unintelligible. The
government of God, in permitting, and in reftricting
the temptations of the faithful, is not immediately
referable to our fenfes ; though his juftice and mercy
may be obliquely intimated by familiar allegory [l].
The interlocutory parts of the book ffiould be con
fidered alfo as defcriptive of real difcourfe, at leaft as
to the fubftance. They are conducted with every
appearance of probability, and the paffions of the
fpeakers feerti to kindle as they proceed. There is,
alfo, no fufficient reafon why we ffiould not fuppofe
God (whofe deciflon of this important controverfy
had been earneftly defired) [m], to have actually
fpoken by himfelf or his angel out of the whirl-

[k] Gen. xxviii. 12, Ifa. vi. i Kings xxii. 19 — 22. Zech,
iii. 1. Rev. xii.
[l] Le Gere in Loe. Codurc. Prjef. in Job. Pfeiffer Dub,
Vex. Cent. iii. Lac. 31.
[m] Chap. x. 2. xii. 5. xiii. 3, 21, 22, 24,
i wind,

£J4 or T"E BOOK OF JOB.
wind [n] ; though fome writers have chofen to con
fider the introduction of the deity as a prophetic
vifion, reprefented to Job and his friends in a trance.
This account, then, of the fuffering and reftoration
of Job, muft be admitted as a real and authentic
hiftory: no where allegorical, except, perhaps, in
thofe parts which reveal the agency of fuperior
beings. The origin of Job is uncertain. There is an
appendix [o] annexed to the Greek, Arabic, and
Vulgate verfions of the book, faid to be taken from
the ancient Syriac, which reprefents Job to have been
the fon of Zareh, a defcendant of Efau ; and which
relates that he reigned in the land of Aufis, upon the
borders of Idumasa and Arabia ; and upon this au
thority many ancient writers, and moft of the fa
thers, concur in fuppofing that he was the fame with
Jobab, the fon of Zerah, mentioned in Genefis [p] ;
but
[ k ] The Chaldee Paraphraft taking the word whirlwind in a
metaphorical fenfe, renders it improperly '.' out ofthe whirlwind
of grief;" as if God had fuggefted to Job, amidft the conflict of
his forrows, the following thoughts.
[oj Sixt. Senen. Bib. Lib. I. and a tranflation of this Appen
dix in Wall's Critical Notes. Vid. alfo, Athan. Synopf. Chry*
foit. de Patient, Horn. II. Ariftas. Philo, Polyhiftor. Eufeb.
Prap. Lib. IX. cap, xxv. Auguft. de Civit. Dei. Lib. XVIII.
cap. xlvii.
[p] Gen. xxxvi. 33. and 1 Chron. xliii. 44. Spanheim in
Job, ch. iv. Mercer. Pineda, &c. There is likewife in the
Greek, a difcourfe of Job's wife, which is generally rejected
as apocryphal. Vid. Origen. ad African. Hieron. Praef. in
Dan, & in Job. & in Quseft, Heb. in Gen. Chryfos. Polych.
Olymp.

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. $35
but as this addition is not found in the Hebrew copies
it is confidered as fpurious ; and the learned Span-
heim has, upon very ftrong grounds, endeavourecL
to prove, that Job, who is the fubject of this hiftory,
was a very different perfon from the fon of Zerah ;
and diat he derived his origin from Uz, the fon of
Nahor, brother to Abraham [ oj ; or from Abraham
himfelf by Keturah. We may affent, likewife, to
the opinion of Biffiop Lowth, that Job dwelt in that
part of Arabia Petraa which was called Edom [r],
and bordered upon the tribe of Judah to the South :
being fituated between Egypt and the land of the
Olymp. Procem. & ad Caten. in Job. Some have imagined that
Job's wife was Dinah, the daughter of Jacob, She is called
Rachman by the Arabs; and is fuppofed by them to have been
the daughter of Ephraim ; or according to others, of Machir,
the fon of Manaffeth. Vid. Sale's notes in Coran. She was pro
bably of the country and religion of Job, though cenfured by
him upon one occafion, as having fpoken foolifhly. Vid. Wefley's
Differt. XXVI.
[ qJ Hieron. Quaeft. Hebr. in Ges. Spanheim, Hift. Job,
cap. iv. Bochart, &c.
[rJ Uz, was Edom. Vid. Lament, iv. 21. Numb, xxxiv. 3.
Jofh. xv. iz. Jerem. xxv. 20. Lowth's Prasl. Poet, xxxii.
and notes. Wefley's Diff. XXIX. Hodges conceives Job and
his friends to have lived fomewhere between Chaldaea, and
Judaea, Some place him ;in Arabia Deferta. All the country
between Egypt and the Euphrates was called Eaft, with refpect: to
Egypt ; and the Jews who there adopted the expreffion, after
wards ufed it abfolutely without reference to their change of
fituation. Vid. Mede, fol. p. 467. and Matt. ii. 1. If Mofes
were the author of this part, he might, in Midian, which is to
th» Weft, properly call Edom the South. Philiftines ;

XJO* OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
Philiftines ; and we may fuppofe that his friends in
habited the country immediately adjacent.
Job does not appear to have been a fovereign [s],
though ftiled the greateft man of the Eaft, with re
fpect to his poffeffions. He and his friends were,
however, perfons of confiderable rank and import
ance, as may be collected from various circumftances
incidentally mentioned in the courfe of the hiftory.
If they were not directly defcended from' Abraham,
they muft be claffed among thofe, who, out of the
family of Ifrael, worfhipped God in fincerity and
truth. The exact period in which they exifted, can
not be determined. Without defcending to minute
enquiries on the fubject [t] we may remark, that
they appear to have lived fome time during the fer-
vitude of the Ifraelites in Egypt ; and that the period
of their hiftory may properly intervene between the-
death of Jofeph and the departure from Egypt [u] :
Which includes a fpace of about 140 or 145 years;
[s] The crown mentioned in xix. 9. is only a figurative ex
preffion for profperity. Job and his friends are in the Greek
called fovereigns : that is, great men.
[t] Some Talmudifts have afferted, that Job was born in the
very year, of Jacob's defcent into Egypt, and that he. died in the
year of the Exodus ; a conceit founded on a fuppofition, that as
the camels and oxen were reftored twofold to Job, fo the years of
his life were doubled; and that, as he lived 140 years after his
affliftion, fo he- lived feventy years before it. Vid. Bava Bathra,
The Rabbins fuppofe that Mofes alludes to the death of Job when
he fays of the Gentiles, that " their defence is departed from,
them." Vid. Numb. xiv. 9.
[u] Spanheim Hift. Job. cap. vi. p. 106. in

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 23^
in which Cafe Job might be fix or feven generations
removed from, Nahor. And fince he furvived his
reftoration to profperity 140 years, he may be fup
pofed to have lived at leaft during part of the time
that the Ifraelites wandered in the wildernefs [x].
As the age of man in that period did not -ufually ex
ceed 200 or 220 years [y], Job was probably over
whelmed in calamities in the prime and vigor of his
life : when if poffeffed of the greateft fortitude to fuf
tain his afflictions, he was alfo endued with the live-
lieft fenfibility to feel them. How long his fuffer-
ings may have lafted is uncertain ; the feven years
for which fome contend, would have been a longer
period than can be admitted. It required not fuch
a continuance of time to demonftrate his faith and
unffiaken confidence : and God delights not in unne-
ceffary feverity. But from a confideration of par
ticulars, it will be evident that lefs than a year can-
hot be affigned for the duration of his diftrefs ; and
this is agreeable to the general Hebrew calculations.
In affigning this period to Job and his friends, we
fuppofe them to have flourifhed before, or about the
time of IVlofes 5 and the fentiments ahd religious
opinions which are maintained in their difcourfe, are
in general fuch as were confiftent with the lhfbrma-
[x] Grot. Praef. Diodat. Argum. in Job.
[ y ] Few of Job's fuppofed contemporaries lived to Co great a
length of years ; but Job Was bleffed with a long life, Hb is by
fome fuppofed to have died about A. M. 2449, fion

238 OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
tion that obtained before the Mofaic difpenfation
[z]. Job appears to have worfhipped God in the
manner of the Patriarchs, before the priefthood was
confined to Aaron ; and in the detail of his piety,
he affords a tranfcript of thofe primitive principles
which he might have derived from Abraham and
Nahor. He and his friends feem to have been ac
quainted with the rules of traditional religion [a], as
collected from occafional revelations to the Patriarchs;
together with the deductions of that confcience which
was " a Law to the Gentiles [b]." But it muft alfo
be obferved, that they fometimes difplay a greater
knowledge of important truths than was confiftent
with the general notions that muft have prevailed is
their time. All of Abraham's defcendants, indeed,
who were contemporary with Job, may be fuppofed
to have been acquainted with the attributes of God ;
and with the ufe of facrifice [c]. They might, from
tradition, have collected fome knowledge of the fall
of angels [d] ; of the creation ; of original fin [e] j
and even of a promifed Meffiah. Yet ftill there
will remain fome particulars of which they were in
formed, that appear to be above the general infor
mation which the Gentiles poffeffed ; and therefore
we may affent to an opinion which is maintained by
[ z J When Elihu reckons up the modes of revelation, he takes
no account of the Mofaic.
[a J Peters's Critical DifTert. on Job, p. 151,
[bJ Rom. ii. 14. and Tertull. cap. ii.
[c] Chap. xiii. 8.
[d] Chap. iv. 18.
[e] Chap. xii. 16. xiv. 4- xv- H- Xxv> 4- xxvi. 13. xxxi. 33.
many,

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 239
many, both Jewiffi and Chriftian writers [f], that
Job and his friends were enlightened by a prophetic
fpirit : as certainly fome few perfons among the Gen
tiles were [g] ; and the conviction that Job was to be
confidered as a patriarchal prophet, was probably the
inducement, which influenced the Jews to admit his
work into the canon of their fcripture, if we fuppofe
it to have been written by himfelf; and not to have
been compiled by an infpired author of their own
nation. Job and his friends were unqueftionably diftin
guiffied by extraordinary marks of God's favour ; and
we are authorized by the book to confider them as
fometimes favoured by divine revelations. Eliphaz
received inftruction, " from the vifions of the night
[h]," and heard the voice of a fpirit, in fecret ftill
whifpers, like the " ftill fmall voice" which Elijah
heard [1]. Elihu alfo felt a divine power [k] ; but
Job himfelf appears to have been invefted with pecu-
[f] Patrick's Appendix to his Paraphrafe. St. Auftin calls
Job " Eximius Prophetarum."
[o] As Balaam, whom the Jews conceived t« have been the
fame perfon with Elihu.
[ h] Job iv. 13, 16. Hence R. Sol. Jarchi was led to remark,
that the Shechinah was upon Eliphaz.
[1] 1 Kings xix. 12.
[k] Chap, xxxii. 8, 18. xxxiii. 15, 16. The name of Elihu;
which fignifies " He is my God," and other circumftances, have
led fome writers to confider him as a reprefentative ofthe Meffiah;
but it muft detract from the dignity of his character to find that he
condemns with too much feverity, and even miftates the fenti-
ments of Job. liar

£40 OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
liar dignity ; and he enjoyed prae-eminent diftinctions
above the Gentile prophets. God fpoke to him
tc out of the whirlwind [l] ;" and it has been fup
pofed, from the fifth verfe ofthe forty-fecond chapter,
that he beheld the manifeftation of the divine pre
fence : as perhaps, in a glorious cloud, for fo the
feventy underftood itk He undoubtedly in many
places, fpeaks by the fuggeftion of the Holy Spirit j
and expreffes himfelf concerning the doctrine of gra
tuitous juftification [m], and of a future ftate, with
a clearnefs and information that were evidently the
refult of prophetic apprehenfion. We can, indeed,
attribute the precife and emphatic declaration con
tained in the nineteenth chapter, to nothing but im
mediate revelation from God ; and muft, agreeably
to the opinion of the moft judicious writers, ancient
and modern, confider it as an evident profeffion of
faith in a Redeemer [n], and of entire confidence in
a refurredtion and future judgment [o].
Having
[l] So the fpirit defcended on the apoftles at the feaft of Pen
tecoft, " fuddenly, with a rufhing mighty wind."
[m] Chap. ix. 2, 3. xxv. 4, Hodges's enquiry into the defign
ofthe Book of Job.
[n] It is not neceffary from this expreffion to conclude, that
the whole myftery of the redemption was revealed to Job ; but
only that he entertained a confolatory affurauce of fome future
perfonage, who fliould appear to deliver mankind from the curfe
of Adam, and to judge the world in righteoufnefs.
[oj Chap. xix. 25 — 29. Some Commentators, it is true;
confider this paffage as expreffive of Job's confidence only in a
prefent reftoration; which is to refhitt the expreffions, in a
moft

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 24I
Having obferved thus much with refpect to the
period in which Job may be fuppofed to have lived,
it may with more facility be confidered at what time,
and by whom his hiftory fhould feem likely to have been
moft unauthorized manner, and to interpret fcripture upon
preconceived notions. Patrick fuppofes this temporal reftora
tion to be typical of a future refurreftion : profeliing to follow
St. Jerom's authority ; but in the place alluded to, St. Jerom (or
the author ofthe commentaries under his name) docs not confine
the words to a figurative pre<liftion. He fays abfolutely, that
Job in this paffage, " refurrectionem futuram prophetat in f;i-
ritu," prophefieth in the fpirit the future refurreflion. And
though in other places St. Jerom admits, with all writers, a double
fenfe of fcripture, it by no means follows that he doss fo in this
place; where, indeed, only a fingle fenfe could be intended,
for Job had uniformly declared his defponder.ee as to the prefent
hfe. St. Jerom likewife, in his epiftle to Paulinus, affirms,
that Job here prophefies the refurre&ion of the body in terms "as
clear and exaft as ever were ufed. " Refurrectionem corporum
fie prophetat ut nullus de e,a vel manifeftius vel cautius fcrip-
ferit." Vid. alfo, Epift. 61. ad Pammach. This remarkable
paffage is fuppofed by the Jews to relate to the reftoration ,of
happinefs in a future life : and certainly it contains a manifeft
and direit prophecy of the future refurreftion of the body, and
of the judgment of the world by Chrift: as the folemnity ofthe
introduction; the tenor of Job's difcourfe worked up to its
higheft pitch ; the replies of his friends ; and every expreffion
(as faithfully tranflated in our Bible) demonftrate. We can
not reftrift the prophecy to a confidence in a temporal reftora
tion, without abrogating the obvious fenfe of the words ; and
without comidering them as utterly extravagant and unmean
ing. Wherefore fhould " they be graven with an iron pen,
and with lead in the rock for ever?" How, " after worms
fhould have deftroyed his body," could Job " fe'e'Godinthe
flefh," except in a future life ? Why, laftly, did he mention
R that

242 OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
been written. Upon this fubject, it is not neceffary
to enter into an examination of the various argu
ments produced by different authors, in fupport of
their feveral opinions ; but it may be obferved, that
fome have conceived the book to be the production
of Job [p] himfelf; or of Elihu [ qJ ; while many
have attributed it to Mofes [r] ; and others to later
prophets ; as to Solomon [s] ; and to Ifaiah [t].
The moft probable opinion is, that it was compofed
from fuch memorials as Job himfelf, or his friends,
might have left in the Syriac or Arabic language^
that his " Redeemer fhould ftand at the latter day upon the
earth," and that " his own eyes fhould behold him," unlefs to
declare his affurance of a future refurrection and judgment ? To
the unexampled mifery of Job, and through him to the reft of
mankind, God might vouchfafe the firft explicit revelation of a
future retributive judgment, and the firft diftinct: view of a fpiri
tual Redeemer. See Peters's Critic. Differt. on Job.
[p] Orig. Cont. Celf. Gregor. Mag. in Job. Lib. I. cap. i.
Suidas in Job. Ifidor. Hifp. Sixt, Senens. Hottinger, Walton,
Bochart, Huet, &c. •
[ qJ Lightfoot fuppofes Elihu to have been the author, be
caufe in the beginning of his difcourfe he appears to fpeak in that
character ; but he is only introduced, as are the other friends, in
the firft perfon, for the fake of ornament.
[r] Bava Bathra, cap. i. f. 15. Kimchi, Methodius apud
Photium. R. Levi Ben. Gerfon in Pnef. Aben-Ezra ad cap. ii. 11.
Huet. Demonft. Evan. Polychron. and Julian. Halicar. ap. Niczt.
in Catena in Job. Hieron. Epift. ad Paul.
[ s J Gregor. Nazianz. Orat. ad Exaequat. Harduin in Chron.
V. Teft.
[ t ] Philo Codercus. Prsf. in Job. Scaliger. Grotius. Le
Clerc. Warburton attributes it to Ezra; and Garnett to
Ezekiel.

OP THE BOOK OF JOB. 24J
The work is -written irt a ftyle agreeable to the genius
of the Arabic language. It is fublime, lofty, com-
preffed, and full of figures and allufive images. It
contains, likewife, much of that profound philofophy,
and elevated turn of thought, for which the Arabians
were as remarkable [u], as for the dignity and alle
gorical caft of their language. It. may be added,
likewife, that fome of the images and remarks in this
book appear to have been drawn from circumftances
peculiar and appropriate to Arabia [x] ; and that it
has every characteriftic of the rrjoft venerable anti
quity, and all the appearance of an original patri
archal work [y],
[h] 1 Kings iv. 30. Jerem. xlix. 7. Obad. ver. Sr. Baruck
iii. 13.
[x] Chap. vi. 15 — 17. xxxvii. 9, 22. Vid* alfo, chap. ix.
26, where Schultens tranflated the word ftvJ», by " naves pa-
pyro vel arundme te"Xtas ;" and fuppofes it to fignify thofe fhip*
made of cane, or the papyrus, that were ufed on the Nile. Vid.
Lucan. Lib. IV. 1. 135, 136.
[y] Grey's Pref. to Job. Origen Cont, Celf. Eufeb. &
Selden upon Rom. ii. 14. Hottinger Smegna Orient. Job men
tions only the moft ancient fpecies of idolatry, the worfhip ofthe
fun and moon. Vid. chap. xxxi. 26, 27. and the moft ancient
kind of writing, by fculpture. His riches are reckoned by his
cattle; and it is by no means clear, that the word Kejitah,
tranflated a piece of money, chap, xliii. 11. does not mean a
lamb. Vid. Spanheim, and Calmet in Gen. xxxiii. 19. Or if it
mean money, there is no reafon to fuppofe that it might not be
in ufe in the time and country affigned to Job. Comp. alfo>
chap, xliii. 8. with Numb, xxiii. 1. Bp. Lowth confiders the
ftyle as bearing evident marks of the moft remote antiquity. Vid.
PrslecL 32.
R 2 That

244 OF THE BOOK. OF JOB.
That the book is drawn up in a poetical form,
and adorned with poetical embelliffimehts, is no
proof that it was not written in great part by Job ;
for though it be inconfiftent with the violence of
outrageous paffion, or the freedom of animated dia
logue, to fpeak in numbers ; yet there is no reafon
why Job may not be fuppofed to have amufed him
felf, when reftored to eafe and profperity, by recol
lecting the circumftances of his affliction ; and to
have defcribed them with metrical arrangement ; it
being cuftomary in the earlier ;ages to compofe the
moft important works in fome kind of meafure [z];
and confiftent with our notions of infpiration, to fup
pofe that its fuggeftions might be conveyed in the
captivating drefs of poetry. How far Job reduced
the work towards its prefent form, cannot be de
termined ; it is contended only, that he left fufficient
materials for fome Hebrew writer to digeft it as it
now appears. As the Hebrew and Arabic language
are derived from the fame origin : both being deduced
from Abraham's defcendants, among whom the He
brew was preferved, and the Arabic originated, they
may well be fuppofed to approximate towards their
fource, and to have much refembled each other ; as
indeed they now do, , with great affinity [a]. It is
therefore poffible^ that Job might have written the
book in die language in which it now exifts [b] ;
the
[z] Ifidore Orig. L. I. zj.
[a] Hunt's Clavis Pentateuchi.
[b] All the defcendants of Abraham, the Ifraelites, Idu-
msans, and Arab?, probablv continued long to ufe the fame
language

OF THE BOOK OF JOB, 245
the laft verfes only being added by fome prophet
who received it into the Jewifh canon [c]. But if
we conceive that the Hebrew language muft have
differed fo much from the Arabic, in the time of
Job, that what he wrote muft have been tranflated
for the ufe of the Hebrews, we may fuppofe it to
have been compofed by fome infpired writer among
the Hebrews ; who retained thofe Syriac and Arabic
expreffions which are interfperfed through the work,
as appropriate ornaments of the hiftory, and as tend
ing, perhaps, to facilitate the verification. Some
critics, indeed, confider thefe expreffions as foreign
corruptions introduced into the Jewifh language after
the captivity; and therefore imagine that the work
muft have been compofed after thofe of David and
Solomon ; but what they confider as Chaldaifrns, are
language till feparation and gradual innovations produced a
change. The names of Ifhmael's, Keturah's, Efau's, and Job's
families, are pure Hebrew.
[c] It is uncertain when the book was received into the7
canon. Some think that it was admitted with Solomon's wri
tings by the men of Hezekiah ; but probably it was inferted
much earlier. In the Hebrew it is placed immediately after the
Proverbs ; but in the Septuagint, and by St. Jerom, it was
pl:ced as in our Bibles. Peters fuggefts, that it 'might have
been prefented to Solomon by the Queen of Sheba; and Wefley,
on a conjecture as (lender, fanfies that it might have been
procured by Elimelech and Naomi, when in Moab, which
was in Idumica^ and near the fpot where he conceives Job to
have lived. The place which it holds in the book affords no
clue to difcover the period of its admiffion. It was, however;
doubtlefs received before the time of Ezekiel. Vid. Mercer. Jin
Proverbs,
R 3 by

2^-6 pF THF. BOOK OF JGfi.
by others, with more probability, reprefented to be
only Syriac and Arabic expreffions [cj;
The book then was probably either written by
Job, or compofed from materials which he left, by
fome writer who lived foon after the period of the
hiftory herein defcribed. They who difpute this an
tiquity, maintain, that befides the pretended Chal
daifrns whioh have been before reprefented as Arabic
and Syriac expreffions, they difcover fome paffages
in the book which are imitations of particulars in
the works of David and of Solomon; but if the
coincidences produced in fupport of this affertion be
not accidental, they prove nothing; fince there is
€qual reafon to fuppofe, that David and Solomon
might have borrowed from Job, as other prophets
certainly did [d] ; fuch imitations of expreffions for
the communication of fimilar fentiments being cuf
tomary among the facred writers.
If, however, we admit, as fome have contended,
that the book contains allufions to the Mofaic laws,
and alfo to circumftances and events of the Jewifh
hiftory ; and that thefe allufions are not merely
fuch as refer to particulars with which Job might
[c] Schultens, Grey's Job, p. 12. It has been dlfputed
whether the names of Job's daughters are of Hebrew or Ara
bic extradtion. But as both languages have the fame" roots, the
difpute is idle. The word Jehovah, which was known only to
the Jews, might have been applied to the deity- by the compiler
fir tranflator.
£d] Huet. Prop. IV. pafjiin, be

Of the book of job. 247.
be acquainted [e] ; nor confift in expreffions that
Mofes, if the compiler or tranflator of the book,
might have introduced [f], fuppofing him to have
compofed it after the delivery of the Law ; though
fuch allufions cannot be allowed to invalidate the an
tiquity which is here attributed to Job himfelf; or to
difprove that he might have furnifhed the chief ma
terials for the work ; they certainly will prove that it
was compofed in its prefent form, long after the pe
riod in which the hiftory muft have occurred ; and
that it was written or tranflated by an author later
than Mofes. As a matter of opinion, however, it
may be obferved, that none fuch allufions do appear
as ffiould influence us to reject the pretenfions of
Job, or of Mofes \g]; none certainly that ffiould
[e] The fentiments in chap. xvii. 5. xxi. 19. xxii. 6. xxiv.
7, 9, 10. and xxxi. 9, 10, 28. produced by Warburton and
others as allufions to the law, which efcaped the author,
might furely be general remarks. All the fuppofed allufions
to the flood, and other particulars defcribed in Genefis, only
prove that Job was acquainted with thofe traditions which the
defcendants of Abraham muft have known, without the Mofaic
account. Job might have heard likewife, of the miracles in
Egypt, and at the Red Sea, if we fuppofe him to refer to them
in chap, xxxviii. 15. ix. 7, 8. xii. 15. xxvi. 12. as likewife of
the wandering of the Ifraelites iti the wildernefs, and of fome
other contemporary events, at which he is imagined (though
perhaps without fufficient reafon) to hint. Vid. chap. xii. 2A,
xxxi. 24. xxix. 25.
[p] The expreffions in chap. xx. 17. xxii. 22. xxix. 46. xv.
' 17, 18. might be general, or introduced by Mofes. The nine
teenth verfe of the fifteenth chapter may apply to Noah and his
fons. Vid. Peters's Differt. on Job, Part I. feet. 2.
[g] Huet. Prop. IV. in Job. R 4. incline

248 OF TH£ BOOK OF JOB.
incline us to believe that the book was not written
long before the captivity [h] ; fince of the pretended
allufions to the regal hiftory of the Jews, none are
fo evident as to juftify any conclufion to the contrary;
and there appears, indeed, to be no fufficient reafon,
notwithftanding every paffage has been critically ana-
lyfed for that purpofe, to fuppofe that the book was
not written or, tranflated nearer the period of the,
hiftory which it defcribes.
The opinion, indeed, moft anciently and generally
entertained was, that it was compofed by Mofes ;
who might have collected the information which it

'ol

[h] The paffage in chap, xxxiii. 15 — 26. has been imagined
to be defcriptive of God's proceedings with Hezekiah, 2 Kings
xx. 2 Chron. xxxii. as that in chap. xxxv. 8, 12. has been
fuppofed to coincide with the account of the punifhment of
Manaffeth, 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11 — 13. fo likewife the denun
ciation in chap, xxxiv. zo. has been reprefented as allufive to
the fudden deftruftion of Sennacherib's army, 2 Kings xix. 35.
But thefe paffages of Job contain only -general defcriptions of
God's judgments, that might eafily be drawn to apply to any
inftance ; and the laft might rather be fuppofed to refer to the
deftruftion of the firft-born in Egypt, Exod. xii. 29. The
pretended refemblance between the writing of Hezekiah, Ifa.
xxxviii. 10 — 17. and the lamentation of Job, chap. vii. I — 8.
is only a cafual fimilarity in the complaints of mifery. It
muft have been the true fpirit of theory that could draw any
argument from a comparifon between the defcription of Job's
friends, chap. xxx. 1 — 8. and the account of the Cutheans
and Samaritans in Nehemiah iv. 1 — 4. or that could fanfy
that the reprefentation of Satan's appearance, Job i. 6. &c. was
defigned on the model of Zechariah's vifion, Zech. iii. 1 — 5.
See other refemblances as fanciful or accidental, in Warburton's
and Garnett's allegories. contained,

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 249
contained, in the land of Midian [i] ; and no ob
jection to this opinion can be drawn from the place
which is affigned to the book in the Bible, as no at
tention appears to have been paid to chronology in
this arrangement.
The book, however, whether written originally
in the Arabic, or in th3 Hebrew language ; whether
compofed or tranflated by Mofes, or any fubfequent
prophet, is unqueftionably to be confidered as an in
fpired work, fince it was certainly in the Jewiffi
canon. It is not, indeed, particularly mentioned by
Jofephus : becaufe the hiftory which it contains was
totally unconnected with the Hebrew affairs, of which
he profeffed exclufively to treat [k]. It was, how
ever, included in the catalogue of twenty-two books,
which he affigned as the number contained in the
facred lift [l]. It is cited as fcriptural by the

¦¦

[1] Origen Cont. Celf. Lib. VI. and in Job. Some have
Conceived that Mofes produced it to cpnfole the Ifraelites under
the hardfhips of their Egyptian bondage. Vid. Origen Com.
Bava Bathra, cap. i. Julian. Halicar. ap. Nicset. 'Ihe book
contains fome paffages that refemble the hymn of Mofes. Com
pare chap. xxix. 2 — 6. with Deut. xxxii. 7 — 14. Grey's Prasf.
ad Lib. Job, and Anfw. to Warburton. But if Mofes were the
author, he probably wrote it in the wildernefs. No argument
can be drawn from the fuppofed refemblance, or difference of
ftile, between the Book of Job, and the writings of Mofes, as
the fubjeft affords fuch fcope for fancy, and fuch oppofite opi
nions have been entertained on the fubjedt.
[k] Procem. Antiq. Jud.
[ l ] Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. I. apoftles,

25O OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
apoftles [m] ; and was univerfally received as canoni
cal by all the fathers, councils, and churches [n].
Though the book of Job is by no means to be
confidered as a drama written with fictitious contri
vance; or as refembling in its conftruction, any of
thofe Grecian compofitions which it preceded fo
long ; it may ftill be reprefented as fo far dramatic,
as the parties are introduced fpeaking with great
fidelity of charafler ; and as it deviates from ftrict
hiftorical accuracy for the fake of effect. It is a
complete, though peculiar work : and regular in its
fubject and the diftribution of its parts [o]. Mr.
Locke juftly pronounces it to be a perfect poem :
the two firft chapters containing a profe argument,
which he conceives (though without fufficient reafon)
to have been added by the compiler ; as alfo the
naming ofthe feveral fpeakers, the want of which
leaves the Canticles in great obfcurity. The inter
locutory parts of the book appear to be written in a
loofe kind of metre. Many of Job's difcourfes are
ftrict and perfect elegies [p], St. Jerom maintained,
that the book is written from the third verfe of. the
third chapter, to the fixth verfe of the forty-fecond
chapter, in hexameter verfes, with fome occafional
variations, according to the idiom of the language
[<*_!- Of this, however, there are no fufficient in-
[mJ 1 Cor. iii. 19. James v. 11.
£ n J Gregor. Praef. in Job.
[oj Lowth's Prasl. Poet, xxxiii.
[p] Chap. iii. vi. vii. x. xii. xvii. xix. xxix. xxx.
[ oj Lowth's Prsleft. xiv. and Shuckford's Connecf. vol. ii.
ch. ix. Hieron. Prasf. in Lib. Job. dications.

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 2$l
dications. The conclufion, which relates the final
profperity and death of Job, muft have been added
by the compiler.
The many excellent qualities of Job have rendered
him to all ages an illuftrious example of righteouf-
nefs, Eufebius has juftly remarked, that he was fo
diftinguiffied for wifdom, as to have found out by
divine grace, a conduct not unfuitable to the evange
lical doctrine of our Saviour ; and it appears from
the paffage, which in the Septuagint is annexed to
this book [r], that the reverence which the Jews
entertained for his character, had given rife to a tra
dition, by no means incredible, according to the
opinion of Theophanes, that Job was one of thofe
faints who rofe out from their graves at the refurrec-
tion of Chrift ; a tradition which, if unfupported by
, any authority, may be ftill confidered as bearing a
merited teftimony to his, fuperior righteoufnefs [s].
To form a perfect notion of the great excellence
of Job's character, we muft contemplate him in
every viciffitude of his eventful life ; and confider
his conduct under every temptation of hazardous
profperity, or aggravated diftrefs. We muft judge
[ft] The addition in the Septuagint runs thus: yilfontlai h
fSraXiy avurrto-taQcii aJ.ov [asv toy and^Tiffiv o nvfioi;. The author of
which muft have believed that Job defcribes his affurance of a
future refurrecfion in this book, as particularly, in the contefted
paffage ; for where elf? in the Old Teftament is it written that
Job fhould rife again ?
[s] The book of Job, it is faid, was read in the ancient
church on faft days, and at Eafter : Job being confidered as a
figure of Chrift. Vid. Origen in Job. of

2C2 OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
of him, not from the unguarded expreffions which
his fufferings occafionally provoked [u]; but from
the deliberate ftrains of his piety; and his patient
fubmiffion to the divine will : under every poffible
affliction but the pangs of guilt, and the terrors of
defpair. If the miftaken feverity of his friends fome
times provoked him to tranfgrefs the decency of an
humble and modeft doubt of his own innocence, yet
. reproof and recollection inftantly called him to a
confeffion of unworthinefs, and to a becoming re-
fignation to the divine decrees [x]. It v/as, indeed,
in vindication of his own character that he difplayed
the fair defcription of his life : eminently diftinguiffied
as it was for integrity and benevolence ; and it has
been a want of fufficient attention to the fcope of the
dialogue, and to the firm principles to which Job,
notwithftanding his occafional impatience, ultimately
adheres, that has caufed fuch ftrange mifconceptions
as have been entertained with refpect to his character
[y] and difcourfe. To obviate, however, all erro
neous objections to an example which the facred
writers have confidered as excellent [z] ; and to pre
clude falfe notions concerning fentiments reprefented
as confiftent with the divine wifdom [a], it is necef
fary to advert to the provocations which Job had re-
[u] Chap. vi. 26.
[x] Chap. viii. 20. xxxiv. 31, 32. xl, 4, 6. xiii. 3, 4.
[y] Garnett and Warburton.
[z] Ezek. xiv. 14. James v. 11. Vid. alfo, Tobit ii. 12.
ver. 15, Vulgate.
[.\] Chryfoft. Horn. v. ad Pop. Antioch. ceived,

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 2$3
ceived ; and to the complicated diftrefs that difcon-
certed his mind, and irritated his paffions. His
friends, who appear to have vifited him with cha
ritable intentions [b], did in reality only aggravate
his misfortunes ; for having taken up a common, but
miftaken notion, that profperity and afflictions were
dealt out in this life according to the deferts of men
[c], they accufe him of having merited his extra
ordinary misfortunes by fome concealed guilt [d] ;
and are led on by the heat of contention to " vex
his foul by their reproaches, and to break him in
pieces with words.." Job folicitous to refute the
charge, and to vindicate the ways of Providence,
affirms, on the contrary, that adverfity is no proof
of divine wrath, but often defigned as a trial [e].
That in this life, the good and the badindifcriminately
flourifh, and often perifh in promifeuous deftruc
tion [f] ; and that, confequently, there muft be fome
period for judgment and equal retribution, for which
the wicked are referved [g]. With refpect to him
felf, he difclaims all fear from reflecting on his paft
conduct; and then defcribes with fomewhat too
much of pride and confidence, the excellency of
thofe -virtues, with which he had " arrayed" his
profperity. With an impatience likewife, that his
[b] Chap. ii. u — 13.
[c] Chap. iv. 7, 8.
[d] Chap. iv. 7, 8, 9. viii. 13. xviii. 21. xxii. 5.
[e] Chap. vii. 18. xxiii. 10.
[f] Chap. ix. iz — Z4. xii. 6. xxi. 7 — 15.
[c] Chap, xxi, 30. xxvi. 6. xxvii. 8, 9, 19. xxxi. 3.
fufferingc,

±Z)ac OF THE BOOK OF JOB".
fufferirigs, great as they were, could not jifftifyi he
profeffes a thorough defpondence and difregard with
refpect to the prefent life ; earneftly wiffies [h] for
death, and appeals to the decifions of a future judg
ment for juftifkation [i]. For this affumption, and
for this impatience, he is juftly cenfured by Elihu ;
whofe " wrath was kindled againft Job, becaufe he
juftified himfelf rather than God." Elihu, however,
reprehends him with rather too much harffinefs, and
in fome meafure mifreprefents his fentiments [k].
Yet inafmuch as Elihu had refted the equity of the
divine difpenfations on the acknowledged attributes
of God, he had reafoned juftly as far as he had pro
ceeded ; and therefore, perhaps, is only tacitly [l]
cenfured by the deity, when God pronounces that
" Job had fpoken the thing that was right." God
even purfues the argument of Elihu,- and in a ftile
of inimitable majefty, proclaims his own uncontrolled
power, - and unfathomable wifdom to the difcourt-
[hJ Chap. vi. 8— ii. vii. 7. ix. 21. x. 1. xvi. 22. xvii.
11 — 16. Thefe paffages fully prove, that Job did not look for
ward to any temporal reftoration : of which he declares alfo the
improbability, and laments only that he fhould not live to fee
his reputation vindicated. Vid. chap. xiv. 7—14. vii. 8—IO.
x. 21,22. Peters's DifTert. on Job, Part, II. feci. 4. Scott's
Verfion of Job, Appendix II.
[1] Chap. xiii. 15 — 19. xiv. 12 — 15. xvi. 19. xvii. 15.
xxiii. 3 — 10. xxvi. 6. xxx. 23, 24. xxxi. 14. all confidently
with chap. xix. 25 — 29.
[k] Chap, xxxiii. 8, 9. xxxiv. 5, 9, 35.
[l] Some have conceived that the opening of God's fpeech
was addreffed as a reproof to Elihu, though the fubftance of the
anfwer was defigned for Job. tenanting

OF THE BOOK OF JOB. 2$$
tenancing of human knowledge. After the moft
awful and impreffive reprefentation of his own glo
rious works and attributes [m], and after fome re-
prehenfion of Job, for his arrogant profeffion of in
nocence, the Almighty condemns the falfe reafoning
of the three friends, and ratifies the conclufion which
Job had made with refpect to a future judgment [n].
Such is the fcope of the difcourfe, which finely
unfolds God's defigns in dealing out afflictions to
mankind [o] ; which, when it firft appeared, muft
have conveyed truths that unaffifted reafon had not
learnt ; and have been well calculated to refute the
abfurd notions which then began to rife concerning
the two independent principles of good and evil [p]„
When the book was received into the Jewifh canon,
it muft likewife have been well adapted to counteract
any erroneous conceptions that might have been
formed from a confideration of the temporal promifes
of the Law : which though they covenanted prefent
reward to the Hebrew nation, confidered as a com-
[m] Chap. xl. 8, 10.
[nJ Job had fpoken right by having recourfe to the_ arrange
ments of a future judgment. If the divine juftice did not reft
on this foundation, it muft have executed its decrees in the pre
fent life, as the friends of Job maintained. God does not con
defcend to explain the equity of his own counfels, any farther
than by approving the convi&ions of Job ; this was never quef-
tioned in the controverfy, but defended on both fides though on
different principles.
[o] Job's character was fully proved and perfected by this
trial, and the pride and impatience of his temper corre&ed.
' [p] Ufe and Intent of Prophecy, p. 207.
3 jnunityv

2C6 OF THE BOOK OF JOB.
^
munity, by no means affured to individuals a juft and
exact remuneration in the prefent life [ qJ. The-
book likewife admirably ferves to prove, that the
power of temptation, allowed to evil fpirits, is re-
ftricted in merciful confideration of human weaknefs.
It exhibits in an interefting hiftory, the viciffitudes
of human affairs. It illuftrates the danger of con
tention ; the ingratitude and bafenefs of common
friendffiip [r] ; the <vigilant care of providence ;
and the neceffity of refignation to the divine will.
Through the whole work we difcover religious in-
ftruction ffiining forth amidft the venerable fimplicity
of ancient manners. It every where abounds with
the nobleft lentiments of piety, uttered with the
foirit of infpired conviction. It is a work unrivalled
for the magnificence of its language, and for the
beautiful and fublime images which it prefents [s].
In the wonderful fpeech of the Deity, every line de
lineates his attributes, every fentence opens a picture
of fome grand object in creation [tJ characterized by
t oj This is evident from the relations of facred hiftory ; from
the complaints of the Pfalmift ; and from the fu-fferings and der
nunciations of the Prophets.
[r] Job xiii. n.
[s] The book, in fome of its beauties of imagery and de
fcription, has been compared with, and juftly preferred to the
works of Homer. Vid. Wefley's Diff. VI. ex Gnom. Homer.
Jacob du Port. Burke on the Sublime. P. 2. Sett. 4, 5.
[t] Various have been the conjectures concerning the Be
hemoth, and the Leviathan, which are fo forcibly defcribed
in this book. The former is by fome fuppofed to have been
the elephant, by others, the hippopotamus ; ,the latter is
1 ufually

•F THE BOOK OF JOB. 2J7
by its moft ftriking features. Add to thisj that its
prophetic parts reflect much light on the ceconomy
oft God's moral government; and every admirer of
facred antiquity, every enquirer after religious in>-
ftruction, will ferioufly rejoice, that the enraptured
fentence of Job [u] is realized to a more effectual and
unforefeen accompliffiment : that while the memora
ble records of antiquity have mouldered from the
rock, the prophetic affurance ahd fentiments Of Job
are graven in fcriptures, that no time ffiall alter, no
changes fhall efface.
ufually reprefented to have been the crocodile. But as the de*
fcriptions exceed the character of all animais now known, they
have been conceived to contain fome myftery. It is one defign
of fcripture to convince mankind of ignorance ; ahd difficulties,
while they exercife fagacity, inculcate the ufeful leflbn of humility.
Vid. Bochart Hierozoicon. Lib. V. c. xv,
[u] Chap. xix. 23.

© r.

I *58 ]

**

OF THE

BOOK of PSALMS.

THE Book of Pfalms, which in the Hebrew is
entitled Sepher Tehillem [a], that is, the
fiook of Hymns, or Praifes of the Lord, contains
the productions of different writers [b]. Thefe pro
ductions are called, however, the Pfalms of David,
becaufe.-a great part of them was compofed by him,
who for his peculiarly excellent fpirit, was diftinguifh
ed by the title of « the Pfalmift [c]." ' Some of
them were perhaps penned before, and fome after
the time of David ; but all of them by perfons under
the influence of the . Holy Ghoft, fince all were
[a] In the New Teftament it is called by Chrift and his apof
tles, Bi6?w>c $u>.fi.m. Luke xx. 42. Afts i. 20. The word
Pfalter is derived from ¦^a.^lnpioi, pfaltery, a mufical inftru-
ment, ftiled Nabal in Hebrew. It was ftrung and made of wood
in the ftile of a harp, and in the fhape of a Greek delta, A.
Vid. 1 Kings x. 12. Athsen. Lib. IV. cap. xxiii. and Calmet's
Diff. fur les Inftrum.
[bJ Hieron. ad Cyprian. & Sophron. Hilar. Prsf. inPfal.
Genebr. in Pfal. i. R. David Kimchi.
[c] 2 Sam. xxiii. 1. judged

OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 2$9
judged -worthy to be inferted into the canon of facred
writ. Ezra probably collected them into one book,
and placed them in the order which they now pre
ferve, -after they had been previoufly collected in
part [d]. It appears that the 150 Pfalms therein
contained were felected from a much greater number,
which, it may be prefumed, were not fuggefted. by
the Holy Spirit. The Levites were, indeed, enjoined
to preferve, in the temple [e], all fiich hymns as
might be compofed in honour of God; and of thefe,
doubt-lefs, there muft have been a large quantity ;
but fuch only could be admitted into the canon as
were evidently ¦ infpired compofitions ; and we may
judge of the - ferupulous feverity with which they
"were examined, fince the numerous hymns of Solo
mon were rejected ; and even, as it is faid, fome ef
'David's^ himfelf were thought unentitled to infertion
'[f]. The , authority - of thofe, however, which we
now poffefs, is eftabliffied, not only by their rank
among the facred writings [gJ, and by the unvaried
teftimony of every age,- but likewife by many in-
.. [d] .2 Chron. xxix, 25 — -28. They were fo collected in the
time of Chrift. Vid. Luke xx. 42. The fecond Pfalm is cited
by St. Paul in the order in which it now ftands, Afts xiii. 33.
.Vid. Athan, in Synop^ torn, ii. p. 86. Hilar. Prol. in Lib. Ezra
iii. ,10,. 1 1 . & Proleg, in Pfalm. Eufeb. ad Pfal. lxxxyi.
[e] Jofeph. Arit^q. Lib. III. c. i. & Lib. V. c. i.
[f] The prophets, were not always empowered to write by the
fuggeftion of the fpirit ; though St. Ambrofe thought that David
did always poffefs .the gift. of prophecy. Vid. Prsef. in Pfalm i.
1 Sam. xvi. 13.
, [c] They are cited as the Law. John x. 34. xii. 34.
S 2 trinfic

26<3 OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
trinfic proofs of infpiration. Not only do they breathe
through every part a divine fpirit of eloquence, but
they contain numberlefs illuftrious prophecies that
were remarkably accomplifhed, and that are fre
quently appealed to by the evangelical writers. ' The
facred character of the whole book is eftabliffied by
the teftimony of our Saviour, and his apoftles; who
in various parts, of the New Teftament appropriate
the predictions of the Pfalms as obvioufly appofite to
,the circumftances of their lives, and as intentionally
pr.ecopcerted. to defcribe them. Yet, as Dr. Allix
juftly. .remarks, though the. facred writers have fixed
the fenfe of near fifty Pfalms [h], they have by no
-means :cited all that.they might have cited ; but have
only furnifhed a key to their hearers, making appli
cations incidentally as opportunities occurred.
David has," by .the later Jews, been reckoned
among the Hagiographi [i] ; not being confidered
by them as a prophet any more than Daniel, becaufe
. he ..lived differently from the prophets, and amidft
-the magnificence of a court. He was fuppofed, how
ever, by them, to have prophefied by the infpiration
" of the Holy Ghoft, without any exterior impulfe,
[ h J Netv Teftament, paflim.
[1] ' R. Albb, Maam. III. c. x. Kimchi Madrafh Sillim, vol. ii.
The Jewifh gradations of prophecy are often very fancifully de
termined; but David muft be pronounced a prophet by the
Jewifh rule, fince he is a true prophet who is not deceived in
foretelling future events. Vid. Maimon. de Fundam. Legis,
cap. x. § 2. Deut. xviii. 22. Jerem. xxviii. 9, Maimon. More.
Nevoch. Par. II. cap. xiv. 'but

of 'The* book of psacms; 26 r.
but from fome internal influence urging, and '''en
abling him to fpeak and utter inftructions on divine,*
as well as human fubjects, with more than his wonted
powers, and in a ftile fuperior to that of the pro
ductions of human abilities. But the prophetic cha-.
radter of David is eftabliffied on much higher au
thority, and the importance and clearnefs. of his pre
dictions demonftrate his title to the higheft rank
among the prophets [k]. Many attempts have been
made to afcertain precifely which Pfalms were de
rived from David's pen, as likewife to difcover the
authors of the others. Some are faid to have been
Gompofed by Mofes ; and fome were written in, or
after the captivity [l]. It is neceffary to refer to the
commentators at large for various opinions upon" this
fubject ; and without dilating, to canvafs the date
and author of each individual Pfalm, or to fpecify the
circumftances that occafioned its production, it may
be briefly obferved, that the Talmudifts [m] and
Maforetic writers admit, as authors of the Pfalms,
Adam, Melchifedec, Abraham, Mofes, the fons of
Korah, David, Solomon, Afaph, Jeduthun, and
Ethan ; and that Calmet, after a judicious inveftiga-
tion of particulars, has adopted nearly the following
arrangement, if we confider them, as diftributed' in
the Hebrew, and in our tranflation,
. ,-[k] 2, Sam,, xxi. I. xxiii. 2. 2 Chron. xxix.;25- Nehem.
xii. 24. Ezek. xxxiv. 23. Matt. xiii. 35. xxii. 43. xxvii. 35.
Mark xii. 36. Afts i. 16. ii. 39. -iv, 25.- Heb,,iii. 7. .. ,
. [l] Lightfoot Chron, of Old. Teft. Maius CEcon.. V. Teft.
Hammond's, Patrick's, and Home's Commentaries.
:„ [m] Bava Bathra, cap. i. Kimchi, &c.
S 3 Undes.

262 or the book or rsAtte.
Under the firft head, are twelve Pfalms, of which?
the chronology is uncertain ; viz. i. iv. v. viii, xix.
Ixxxi. xc xci. xcix. ex. cxxxix. cxlv. The firft of
thefe was probably compofed by David, or Ezra ; the
Ixxxift. [n] is attributed to Afaph; the xcth. to
Mofes ; and the cxth. to David. The authors of
the others are . unknown,, though fome of them are
infcribed to David.
Under the fecond head are included the Pfalms
which were compofed by David, during the perfecu
tion carried on againft him by Saul, or other enemies ;
thefe are in number twenty ; viz. vii. xi. xvi. xvii.
xviii. xxii. xxxi. xxxiv. xxxv. lii. liv. lvi. lvii. lviii.
lix. lxiv. cix. cxl. cxli. cxlii.
Under the third head are placed fuch as David
compofed on different occafions, after his acceffion
to the throne ; thefe, which amount to forty-four, are
as follow : ii. vi. ix. xii. xx. xxi. xxiii. xxiv. xxviii.
xxk. xxxii. xxxiii. xxxviii. xxxix. xl. xii. li. Ix. Ixi.
lxii. Ixiii. lxv. lxviii. lxix. lxx. lxxxvi. xcv. xcvi. ci;
ciii. civ. cv. evi. cviii. cxviii. cxix. cxx. exxi. cxxii.
exxiv. exxxi. exxxiii. cxliii. cxliv.
The fourth head contains thofe which were written
by David during the rebellion of Abfalom, amount
ing to fix ; which are the iiid. xiii. xliii. Iv. Ixxi.
lxxxiv. The fifth head includes thofe written from the
death of Abfalom to the captivity ; thefe, which ap-
[rf] This was probably defigned to be fung in the Temple
upon the feaft of Trumpets; as alfo at the feaft of Taber
nacles. pear

of the book of psaUwRt". a6"3
-pear to be ten, are the xxxth. xiv. Ixxii. hadV. Ixxvi,
lxxviii. lxxix. lxxxii. IxXxiii. cxxxii. Of thefe, pro
bably, David compofed the xxxlri. the lxxiid. and
poffibly the lxxviiith. The lxxvith. feems likely to
have been produced after the miraculous deliverance
from the Affyrian army, in the days of Hezekiah.
The fixth head comprehends the Pfalms compofed
during the diftreffes and captivities ' of the church ;
thefe were written chiefly by Afaph and Korah, and
their defcendants. They may be reckoned thirty in
number, and are the xth. xiii. xiy\xv. xxv. xxvi'.
xxvii. xxxvi. xxxvii. xliv. xlix. 1. Iiii. Ixvii. lxxiii.
Ixxv. Ixxvii. Ixxx. Ixxxviii. Ixxxix. xcii. xciii. xciv.
cii. cxv. cxxiii. cxxv. cxxix. cxxx. cxxxvii.
To the laft head are affigned thofe hymns of joy
and thankfgiving which were written, as well after
other deliverances as upon the releafe from the Baby
lonifh captivity, and at the building and dedication
of the temple. Thefe, which are twenty-eight, are
the xlvith. ' xlvii. xlviii. lxvi. lxxxv. lxxxvii. xcvii.
xcviii. c. cvii. cxi. cxii. cxiii. cxiv. cxvi. cxvii. cxxvi.
cxxvii. cxxviiu cxxxii. cxxxiv. cxxxv. cxxxvi. cxxxviii
cxlvi. cxlvii. cxlviii, cxlix. cl. ,&
According to Calmet's account, from which this
in fome refpects varies, only forty-five Pfalms are
pofitively affigned to David ; though probably many
more ffiould be afcribed to him. It is, however, of
lefs confequenee to determine precifely by whom the
Holy Spirit delivered thefe oracles, fince we have
indubitable evidence of the facred character of the
S 4 'whole

0.6± OT THE BOOK QF PSALMS*
.'J:
whole book ; for it is collectively cited in fcripture.
[o], and is prophetical in almoft every part [p] ; and
feveral of j:hofes<ipetfons who are fuppofed to have
contributed to the compofition of the work, are ex
prefsly reprefented as prophets m fcripture [ qJ.
The name of David is prefixed to about feventy?
three ; and many perfons have collected from the laft
verfe of the feyenty-fecond Pfalm, which reports, that
" the prayers of David the fon of Jeffe, are ended,"
that David's hymns do there conclude ; and if we
confider that tjjis Pfalm was probably produced on
the eftabliffiment of Solomon on the throne of his
father, it is not unlikely that it contains the laft ef-
fufions of David's prophetic fpirit [r] ; but as his
compofitions are not all placed together, many which
follow in thp order of the book, may have been writr
ten by him ; and we may fuppofe him to have been
the author of at leaft all thofe which are not particuT
[o] The evangelical writers cite the Pfalms in general under
the name of David.
[pj Gutheri Theolog, Proph. p. 98. Brentius ad 2 Jam.
xxiii. 26.
[ qJ Heman, Afaph, and Jeduthun, fuppofed authors of
fome pf the Pfalms, are in fcripture called feets, and faid to
nave prophefied. Vid. 2 Chron. xxix. 30. xxxv. 15. 1 Chron.
xxv. 1—5. Vide alfo, 1 Kings iv. 30, 31, where Ethan (whom
fome confider as the author of Pfat. Ixxxvhi. and Ixxxix.) is
fpoken of as eminent for wifdom.
[ rJ Jn the profpect pf the profperity ofhis fon's government,
David, on the. ftrength of divine promifes, breaks out into an
enraptured defcription of the duration, extent, and character of
the kingdom of Chrift. Vid. ver. 7, 11, 12, 17. -
¦'" '' .' - larly

OF. THE, BOOK OF PSALMS, %$$
|Brly affigned to others, nor confiftent with his time
[s]. The Pfalms are certainly not arranged with
any regard to chronology [t], and many which folT
low the feventy-fecond in the order of the book,
Ate infcribed with the name of David, It muft be
obferved, however, that the titles prefixed tp the
Pfalms, fome of which are not in the Hebrew manu
fcripts, are often of very queftionable authority ;
and fometimes undoubtedly not of equal antiquity
with the text, being poffibly affixed as conjectural.
They were not always defigned to point out the au
thor, but often apply to the muficians [u] appointed
to fet them to mufic. They likewife fometjmes ap
pear to be only terms of inftruments [x], or direc
tions for the choice of tunes [y]. But it muft be
[s] St. Peter cites the fecond Pfalm as David's, though it
is not infcribed to him ; and others which have no title, were
undoubtedly written by David. Comp. Pfal. xcv. 7, 8. with
Heb. iv. 7, Pfalm xcvi. with 1 Chron. xvi. 7, &c. Pfal. cv.
with 1 Chron. xvi. 3. Pfal. evi. 47, 48. with 1 Chron. xvi. 35,
36. On the other hantH fomo which have no title were not
written by David, as exxxvii. whick was ncjt written till the
babylonifh captivity.
[t] Hieron. in Jerem. xxv.
[u] Some qf the names prefixed to the Pfalms are affigned
to the Muficians whom David appointed. Vid. 1 Chron. xv.
16 — 22. xvi. 7. The word Lamnetzeach is fuppofed to mean,
" to the lead" of the band." It is derived froraMnatzeach,
which fignifies Overfeer.
[x] As, perhaps, Nehitoth, Sheminith, Gitith, Michtam,
Aijeleth Shehar, &c. Vid. Geirus ad Pfa. v. Michaelis; &c.
[y] As Neginoth. Vid. Burney's Hift. Muf. 1 vol. p. 23;.
Harmer's Obfervations on Paffages in Scripture, vol. ii. ch. ii.
Obferv. III. confeffed,

266" of the book of psalms.
confeffed, that upon this fubject the opinions are fo
various and conjeftural, that nothing fatisfactory can
be offered, any more than upon the word Selah [z],
which fo often occurs.
Many fanciful divifions of this book have been
made. The Jews, at fome uncertain period, divided
it into five fections, probably in imitation of the divi
fion of the Pentateuch [a}. The four firft books of'
this divifion terminate with the word Amen ; the fifth
with Hallelujah. Our prefent order of the Pfalms
is, perhaps, that in which they were fung in the tem
ple [b]., and this may account for the occafional re
petitions. Moses may be confidered as the firft compofer of
facred hymns [cj; all nations feem afterwards to
have adopted this mode of expreffing their religious
fentiments, and to have employed hymns in cele
brating the praifes of their refpeftive deities [d], on
[¦&] Serah is tranflated in the Septuagint Sla^/aty*, a paufe in
tinging, or a change in tune. Vid. Hieron. Epift. ad Marcel. &
Calnwt Differt. fur Selah.
[a] Madrafh Sillim. fol. z, vol. i. Hieron. Praf. in Pfalm.
juxt. Heb. Verit. Hilar. Prol. in Pfalm. Huet affigns this divi
fion to the time of the Maccabees. Vid. Prop. IV. in Pfalm
Gregor. Nyff. in Pfalm, Lib. I. c. v. Lib. II. c. xi. 2 Mace.
ii. 13, 14.
[ b ]' Euthym. Prol. in Pfalm. Comp. Pfalms xiv. and Iiii..
[cj Exod. xv. Deut. xxxii.
[dJ Eufeb. Hilt. Eccl. Lib. II. c. xvii. Pharmut. de Nat.
Deor. Targ. in Cent. i. 1. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. VI. Por
phyry de Abftin. Lib. IV. § 8. Alex, ab Alex. Genial. Dter,
Lib. IV. c. xvii. a"n

OF THE BOOK OF. PSALMS. Q.6j
an idea derived, perhaps, from revealed truth, that
they were acceptable to the divine nature.
The compofition of facred- hymns was carried to
great excelknce by fucceeding prophets ; but was
improved to its higheft perfection under David y
who, if he did not firft introduce, certainly eftabliffi
ed the cuftom of finging them in public fervice [e],
with- alternate interchange of verfe, as in our cathe
dral fervice [f]. David was, indeed, a great patron
$£ facred mufick [gJ ; he introduced many new in
ftruments and improvements in this fpiritual part of
the Jewiffi- worfhip, which was fuperinduced ever
that of facrifice [h]. The practice of Pfalmody
muft have received fome interruption from the fuf-
penfion of the temple fervice, during the capuvity
[i]. It was however reftored, with lefs fplendour,
by Ezra \_k] ; and continued till it received the fanc-
tion of Chrift and his apoftles, who themfelves recom
mended the cuftom bytheir precept and example [l].
The
[e] i Chron. vi. 31. xvi. 6, 7. Ecclus xlvii. 9.,
[fJ Ezra iii. 11.
[c] 1 Chron. xvi. 42. xxiii. 5. xxv. 1. 2 Chron. vii. 6.
xxix. 26. and Jofeph Antiq. Lib. VII.
fa] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVII. c xiv. Codurc,
Caten. in Pfalm. Prasp. p. 10.
f i J Pfalm exxxvii,
[k] Ezra iii. 11. Nehem. xii. 24, 31, 38, 40.
[l] Matt. xxvi. 30. 1 Cor-, xiv. 15. Ephef. v. 19. CoL
iii. 16. Rev. xiv. z, 3. Vid. Calmet VPreface, Boffuet, Ham
mond, AUix, &c. All vocal and inftrumental performers
were excluded from the Jewifh fynagogues after the deftruftioa
of Jerufalem. The Uttle finging now ufed is of modern intro
duction.

26$ OF THE BOOK. OF PSALMS.
The hymn which our Saviour fung with his difci-
ciples at the conclufion ofthe laft fupper, is generally
fuppofed to have confifted ofthe Pfalms that are con-
rained between the one hundred and thirteenth and
the one hundred and eighteenth inclufive [m]. This
was called by the Jews the great Hallel, or Hymn,
and was ufually fung by them at the celebration of
the Paffover. Chrift alfo exclaimed, in his folemn
invocation on God from the crofs, in the complaints of
the twenty-fecond Pfalm [n], and breathed out his
laft fentiments of expiring piety in the words of
David [o]. " No tongue of man or angel," fays
Dr. Hammond, " can convey an higher idea of any
book, and of their felicity who ufe it aright.1-' The
chriftian church has therefore, by divine appoint-!
ment, adopted the Pfalms as a part of its fervice, and
chofen from its firft inftitution to celebrate the praifes
of God in the language of fcripture [p] ; and thefe
facred
dudtion. The Jews, indeed, confider it as improper to indulge
in fuch expreffion of joy before the advent' of their expected Mef
fiah. The German Jews, however, entertain different notions,
and have a mufical eftablifhment; They' have, likewife, fome
melodies, fuppofed to be very ancient ; but it is thought that the
¦ancient diatonic notes are preferved more in the Pfalmody of our
church, than in the Jewifh fynagogues.
[m] Buxtorf. Lex. Talmud, bbn. Col. vi. 13. Lightfoot,
vol. ii. p. 354,- 444.
•'- fVj Comp. Matt, xxvii.- 46. with Pfa. xxii. I.
[oj Comp. Luke xxiii. 46. with Pfa. xxxi. 5.
fp] 1 Cor. xiv. 15. Ephef. v. 19. Colof. iii. 16. James
v. 13. Conftit. Apoft. Lib. II. c. lvii. Eufeb'. Hift. Ecdef.
Lib. ni. c. xxxiii.' Theod. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IL: c. xxiv.
Auguft.
2

OF THE. BOOK OF PSALMS. 2.6$.
facred hymns are, indeed, admirably calculated for
every purpofe of devotion.
The expreffions and defcriptions of the Pfalms
may feem to forme perfons to have been appropriate
and peculiar to the Jewiffi circumftances; and Da
vid, indeed, employs figures and allufions applicable
to the old difpenfation. But as in recording tempo
ral deliverances and bleffings vouchfafed to the Jews,
we commemorate fpiritual advantages thereby fig
nified, we ufe the Pfalms with the greateft propriety
Auguft. Conf. Lib. IX. c. vi. § 2. Lib. X. c. xxxiii. § 2.
Plin. Epift. Lib. X. Epift. xcvii. Tertul. Apol. c. ii. p. 3.
c. xxxix. p. 36. Fabric. Bib. Graec. vol. v. c. i. The prac
tice of pfalm-finging, as ufed, in our choir, is derived, pro-
.bably, from the ancient alternate chanting ofthe Jews (Ezra iii.
11. Nehem. xii. 24.) authorized by the apoftles, and adopted
into the earlieft chriftian churches. It was certainly inftituted
at Antioch, between A. D. 347 and 356, by Flavianus and Dio
dorus ; who divided the choir into two parts, which fang alter
nately. Singing was foon afterwards introduced into the
Weftern church by St. Ambrofe ; and adopted with improve
ments by Gregory the Great, who eftablifhed the grave Gre
gorian chant which now prevails in the Romifh church. Choral
eiufick was brought into England by the companions of Auftin
the Monk, A. D. 596, and firft eftablifhed at Canterbury. Ob
jections were often made in this country to church mufic, but
it was approved by the compilers of King Edward's Liturgy,
and foon after was compofed the formula that now regulates
(with little variation) the choral fervice, which, though occa
fionally fufpended till the reftoration of Charles the Second,
has fince been uniformly continued. Vid. Mart. Gerbert.
Mufic. Sac. Bedford's, Temple Mufic. Hawkins's Hift. of
Mufic, vol. i. and ii. Burney's Hift. of Mufic, vol. i. p. 154,
&c.

in

2J0 OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS.
in our church. We need, as an elegant commenta
tor has obferved, but fubftitute the Meffiah for Da
vid, the Gofpel for the Law, and the church of
Chrift for. the church of Ifrael. We need but con
fider the ceremonies and facrifices of the Law as
the emblems of fpiritual fervice, of which every part
liath its cOTrefpondent figure ; and we appropriate
the Pfalms to our own ufe as the nobleft treafure of
infpired wifdom [ qJ. They finely illuftrate the con
nection which fubfifted between the two covenants,
and ffied an evangelical light on the Mofaic difpen-
iation by unveiling; its inward radiance. The.vene-
ration for them has in all. ages of the church: been
confiderable. The fathers affure us, that in the
earlier times, the whole book of Pfalms was generally
learnt by heart [r], and that the minifters of every
gradation were expected to be able to repeat them
from memory; that Pfalmody was every where a
conftant attendant at meals and in bufinefs: that it
enlivened the focial hours, and foftened the fatigues
of life. The Pfalms have, indeed, as Lord Claren
don obferves, been ever thought to contain fome-
thing extraordinary for the inftruction and reforma
tion of mankind [s]. Numberless
[ <U BjJ. Home's Preface to Com. on the Pfalms.
[r] " Pueri modolantur domi, viri foro circumferunt,*'
fays an ancient writer. Vid. Bafil, & Ambrofe Prsef. in
Pfalm. [s] Home's Preface. It is remarkable, that this" Book of
Pfalms is exaftly the kind of work which Plato wifhed to fee
for the inftruttion of youth, but conceived it impoffible to ex
ecute,

©F THE BOOK OF PSALMS. ajt
Numberless are the teftimonies that might be
produced in praife of thefe admirable compofitions*
which contain, indeed, a complete epitome of the
hiftory, doctrines, and inftructions of the Old Tefta
ment [t] j delivered with every variety of ftile that
may encourage attention, and framed with an ele
gance of conftrudtion fuperior far to the fineft models
in which Pagan antiquity hath inclofed its mythology;
Thefe invaluable fcriptures are daily repeated with
out wearinefs, though their beauties are often over
looked in familiar and habitual perufal. As hymns
immediately addreffed to the Deity, they reduce
righteoufnefs to practice, and while we acquire the
fentiments, we perform the offices of piety ; as while
we fupplicate for bleffings we celebrate the memorial
of former mercies.
Hire, likewife, while in the exercife of devotion,
faith is enlivened by the difplay of prophecy. Da
vid, in the fpirit of infpiration, uttered his oracles
with the moft lively and exact defcription. He ex
preffed the whole fcheme of man's redemption : the
incarnation [u] ; the paffion ; the refurrection [xj ;
and afcenfion of the Son of God, rather as a wit-
nefs, than as a prophet. As an eminent type ofhis
ecute, as above the power of human abilities, Ttflo it ®ttf , n
©tta ti»os, a» ew but this muft be the work of a God, or of
fome divine perfon.
[t] Luther called the Pfalms a fmall Bible. The Pfalter was
one of the frrft books printed after the difcovery of the art.
[u] Pfa. ii 8. Afts xiii. 33. Talmud Sucah. cap. v. Aben-
Ezra. R. Kimchi.
[x] Pfalm xvi. 9— -u. , defcendant,

272 OF THE BeOK OF PSALMS.
defcendant, he is often led in the retrofpect of the
circumftances of his own life, to fpeak of thofe of
Ghrift : while he is defcribing his own enemies and
fufferings, the fpirit enlargeth his fentiments, and
fwelleth out his expreffions to a proportion adapted
to the character of the Meffiah. Hence even the,
perfonai fufferings of Chrift are defcribed with minute
and accurate fidelity ; and in the anticipated fcene of
prophecy we behold him pictured on the crofs, with
every attendant circumftance of mockery and horror,
even to the " parting of his garments," and to the
" cafting lots for his vefture [y]."
David apprifed that the Meffiah ffiould fpring
from his own immediate family [zj, looked forward
with peculiar intereft to his character and afflictions.
In the foreknowledge of thofe fufferings whieh Chrift
ffiould experience from his " familiar friends," and
from the numerous adverfaries of his church, David
fpeaks with the higheft indignation againft thofe ene
mies who prefigured the foes of Chrift ; and impre
cates, or predicts, the fevereft vengeance againft
them [a]. So fignal a reprefentative of Chrift, in
deed,
[y] Pfalfn xxii. 16 — 18. compared with Matth. xxvii. 35.
Burnet's 10th: and 1 ith fermons in Boyle's leftures.
fz] 2 Sam. vii. 12. Pfalm cxxxii. 11, 18.
[a] The feverity with which David inveighs againft the
wicked, has been erroneoufly confidered as inconfiftent with
the fpirit of true religion. The paflages, however, which
are objected to on this fcore, are either prophetic threats, or
general denunciations of God's wrath againft fin, as it were,
perfonified. It is the fjpirit, rather than David, which utters its

OF THE BOOK OF PSALMS. 2JJ
deed, was David confidered by the facred writers,
that our Saviour is often exprefsly diftinguifhed in
fcripture by his name [b] ; and the Jews themfelves
perceived that the Meffiah and his kingdom wei"e
fhadowed out as capital objects in the defcriptions of
the Pfalmift. Senfible that what David uttered as
often not applicable to his own perfon and hiftory
[c], muft have had reference to fome future charac
ter, they tranfcribed whole paffages from them into
their prayers, for the fpeedy coming of the great ob
ject of their hopes ; though with that blindnefs that
characterizes their conduct with the marks of glaring
inconfiftency, they deny that thefe fpiritual allufions
fare applicable to the perfon of our Saviour; and
therefore ftill pray in the words of the Pfalmift, for
the arrival of the Meffiah [d].
, Josephus afferts[E], and moft of the ancient
writers maintain, that the Pfalms were compofed in
its imprecations againft the unrighteous enemies of the church.
Forgivenefs and mercy towards the perfon of his own enemies
were diftinguifhed parts of David's chara&er, of which we fee
very beautiful proofs in i Sam. xxiv. 4, 10. xxvj. 7 — 13. 2 Sam.
. , ,.i. 17—727. xix. 16 — 23. He curfed only thofe whom God in-
flructed him to ci^rfe ; and the church, in its public fervice, joins
in thefe curfes, as a religious fociety, and confiftently with the
fpirit of charity.
[b] Ifa. Iiii. ,3. Jerem. xxx. 9. Ezek. xxxiv. 23. Hof. iii. 5.
[c] Pfa. xvi. 10. xxii. 16 — 18. Ixxii. and Juftin Martyr,
Dial. Ift. ¦-•>
[d] Chandler's jDefence, ch. iii. fe£t. 2. Comp. Pfa. xxxii.
with 13th, 16th, 1 8th, and other prayers. Hofan Rabba.
[e] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. VII. c. x. Hieron. Epift. ad Paulin,
T / metre.

-27"4 6f THE BOOK. OF' PSALMS.
'metre. They have undoubtedly a peculiar confor
mation of fentences, and a meafured diftribution of
parts. Many of them are eleg'ac, and moft of Da
vid's are ofthe Lyric kind. There is no fufficient
reafon, however, to believe, as fome writers have
imagined, that they were written in rhyme, or in
any of the Grecian meafures. Some of them are
acroftic ; and though the regulations 6f the Hebrew
meafure are now lo'ft, there can be no doubt, from,
their harmonious modulation, that they were, written
with fome kind of metrical order, and they muft
have been compofed in accommodation to the mea
fure, tb which they 'were fet [f]. The Maforetic
writers have marked them in a manner different fror>
the other facred writings [c].
The Hebrew copies and the Septuagint verfion of
this book contain the fame number of Pfalms ; only
the Septuagint tranflators have, for fome reafon which
does not appear, thrown the ninth and tenth into
one [h] ; as alfo the one hundred and fourteenth, and
[f] It is probable, that the Pfalms were originally divided.
into verfes terminating with the conclufion of the fenfe, though
many of the Jews maintain, that the Maforites introduced the,
diftinftion. Vid. Buxtorf. Com. Maforet. p. 38.
[g] Some perfons fuppofe, that the points were at firft mu-
fical characters,1 and, it is faid, that they ftill ferve, not only to
v m&sk the accentuation in reading, but alfo to regulate the melody
in fmging the prophecies ; and that as to high and low, as well
as. to long and fhort notes. Vid.' Burney's Hilt, of Mufic, vol. i.
p. 251.
£hJ So that the Romanifts, who ufe St. Jerom 's tranflation,
>reckon one behind us from the xth. to the cxivth. and two
6 from

OF THE BOOK. OF PSALMS; ' 2fjj'
and the one hundred and fifteenth; and have divided
the one hundred and fixteenth, and the one hundred '
and forty-feventh, each into two. In the Syriac [i], ;
and Arabic verfions, indeed, and alfo in moft copies
of the Septuagint, as well as in an Anglo-Saxon
verfion, there Is' annexed to the hundred and fifty
canonical Pfalms, an additional hymn, which is en
titled, " a Pfalm of thankfgiving of David, when he
had vanquiffied Goliah." This though admitted by
fome [k] as authentic, was probably (as it is not
in the Hebrew) a fpurious work of fome Hellenifti-
cal Jew; who might , have compiled it out ofthe
writings of David, Ifaiah, and Ezekiel. The verfion
of the Pfalms in our Bible, which was made by the
tranflators employed under James the Firft, is pofte-
rior to that printed in our Prayer-books, which was:
executed in 1539 [l]. This laft, as very. excellent,'
and familiarized by cuftom, was retained in the
Liturgy, though as tranflated chiefly from the Sep
tuagint, with fome variation in conformity to the
from thence to the cxvith. and a^ain one from thence to the
cxlviith. from whence they continue to agree with us.
[1] It is faid in the Syriac, that fome add twelve Pfalms, which
however are there rejected as without authority.
[k] Athan. in S'ynop.
[l] Introduction, p. 35. This was Tyndal's and Coverdale's
tranflation, corrected by Tonftal and Heath. In this the four
teenth Pfalm contains eleven verfes; whereas in the Hebrew, and
in our Bible, it contains but feven (or rather eight). The three
verfes are, however, genuine, though loft from the Hebrew,
for they are in the Septuagint, and are cited by St. Paul, . Vid.
•Rom. iii. 13 — !g.
T 2 Hebrew,,

276 OF IHE BOOK OF PSALMS.
Hebrew, corrupted by the Maforetic points, it does
not fo exactly correfpond with the original as does
that in our Bibles [m].
David was the fon of Jeffe, of the tribe pf Judah,
a defcendant of that family to which God's covenant
was made. He was born about A. M. 2920, and
lived feventy years, during forty of which he was in
poffeffion of the throne of Ifrael [n], being raifed by
God from an humble to a confpicuous ftation, that
the genealogy of the Meffiah might be difplayed, and
afcertained with more clearnefs and diftinction [0].
He was eminently diftinguifhed for every great and
amiable quality. The particulars of his interefting
life are difplayed with peculiar minutenefs in the fa
cred hiftory; and many of his Pfalms are fo cha-
racteriftic of the circumftances under which they
were compofed, that there cannot be a more en-
[m] Where the tranflators of the verfion publifhed in our
prayer-books have varied from the Septuagint, and followed the
Hebrew Maforetic copies, the Hebrew text, if read without the
points, would be as confiftent with the Septuagint, and odier
ancient verfions, as it is with the tranflation in our Bible. In the
inftances, then, where the authors of the verfion in the Liturgy
have varied, in compliance with the Maforetic authority, they
have generally erred. Vid. Dr. Brett, and Johnfon, at end of
Holy David.
[ n] He reigned over Judah feven years and fix months, and in
Jerufalem over all Ifrael and Judah thirty-three years, being
anointed long before he came into poffeffion of/ the throne. Vid.
2 Sam. xxiii. 2. and Chandler.
[oj The word David implies " beloved." Vid. 1 Sam.
xiii. 14^ and xvi. 18. Bp. Porteus's fermon on David's cha
racter. , ; gaging

Of the book of psalms. 277
gaging tafk, than that of tracing their connection
with the events ofhis hiftory [p] ; and of difcovering
the occafions on which they were fever-ally produced^
in the feeling and defcriptive fentiments which they
contain. If in the fucceffive fcenes of his life, we
behold him active in the exercife of thofe virtues
which his piety produced, we here contemplate him
in a no lefs attractive point of view. In this book
we find him a fincere fervant of God, divefted of all
the pride of royalty; pouring out the emotions of
his foul, and unfolding his pious fentiment in every
viciffitude of condition. At one time we have the
prayers of diftrefs ; at another, the praifes and ex
ultation of triumph. Hence are the Pfalms ad
mirably adapted to all circumftances of life, and
ferve alike for the indulgence of joy, or the foothing
of forrow ; they chafe away defpondence and afflic
tion, and furniffi gladnefs with the ftrains of holy
and religious rapture. [ p ] Delany's Life of David. 1

O*

,[ *78 ]

OF THE

BOOK of PROVERBS.

THE Proverbs, as we are informed at the be-,
ginning, and in other, parts of the book [a],
were written by Solomon^ fhe fon of David; a
man, as the facred writings affure'' us, peculiarly en-;
dued with divine wifdom [b]. Whatever ideas of
hi§ fuperior underftanding we may be led to form by
the particulars recorded of his judgment and attain
ments, we ffiall find them amply juftified, on peru-
fing the works which remain in teftimony of his
abilities. This enlightened monarch, being defirous
of employing the wifdom which he had received to
the advantage of mankind, produced feveral works
for their inftruction. Of thefe, however, three only
were admitted into the canon of the facred writ by
Ezra; the others being either not defigned for re
ligious inftruction, or fo mutilated by time and acci-
[a] Vid. chap. i. I. xxv. I.
[b] Vid. i Kings iii. 12, iv. 29-7-31. xi. 9. 2 Chron. i. 12.
_ ' - , denf.

OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. 9.70
dent, as to have been judged imperfect. The book
of Proverbs, that of Ecclefiaftes, and that of the
Song of Solomon, are all that remain of him, who
is related to have fpoken " three thoufand proverbs
[c];" whofe " fongs were a thoufand and five;" and
who " fpake of trees, from the cedar that is in
Lebanon, even to thehyflbp that fpringeth out of
the wall;" who "fpake alfo of beafts, and of fowls^
and of creeping things, and of fifties." If, however,
many valuable writings of Solomon have periffied^
we have reafon to be grateful for what ftill re-;
mains. Ofhis proverbs and fongs the moft excellent
have been providentially preferved; and as we poffefs
his doctrinal and moral works, we have no right to
murmur at the lofs of his phyfical and philofophical
productions. This book of Proverbs contains the maxims of
long experience, framed by one who was well cal
culated, by his rare qualities and endowments, to
draw juft leffons from a comprehenfive furvey of hu
man life, Solomon judicioufly fums up his precepts
in brief fentences, which are well contrived for po-
[c] Vid. I Kings iv. 32. Jofephus (Antiq. Lib. VIII. c.ii.)
magnifies the account of fcripture to 3000 books of Proverbs;
and St. Jerom as erroneoufty conceives, that thefe 3000 Pro
verbs are contained in the prefent book; but we muft admit
that many of this number have perifhed. Some have fuppofed,
that the phyfical books of Solomon were extant in the days of
Alexander, and were tranflated by means of an interpreter into
the works of Ariftotle and Theophraftes. Vid. Juchafin. Eufebius
(as cited by Anaftafius) fays, that King Hezekiah fuppreffed
them, becaufe abufed by the people,
T 4 pular

&80 OF THE BOOK OF rROVERBS.
p'ular inftruction [d]. The wifdom, indeed, of all
ages, from the higheft antiquity, hath chofen to
cbmpfefs its leffons into compendious fentences,
.which were peculiarly adapted to the fimplicity of
earlier times ; which are readily conceived and eafily
jretained; and which circulate in fociety as ufeful
principles, -to -be" unfolded and applied as occafion
may require. , The infpired fon of David had the
power of giving peculiar poignancy and weight to
this ftyle of writing, and his works .have been as it
were the ftorehoufe from which poftericy hath drawn
its beft maxims [e]. His Proverbs are fo juftly
founded on principles of human nature, and fo
adapted to the permanent interefts of man, that they
agree with the manners of every age ; and may be
affumed as rules for the direction of our conduct in
every condition and rank of life, however varied in
its complexion, or diverfified by circumftances [f].
[dJ The Proverbs of Solomon are called in the Hebrew
Meflialim, from bwa, Marfhal, dominatus eft. The word may
be. tranflated xvpiai $i%cn, fententiae maxime rata, authoritative
maxims, elevated precepts. Vid. Job xxvii. I. Maius~ Vet.
Tell. p. 838. Bacon de Augm. Scient. They are to be con
fidered as general maxims, and not as univerfally and invari
ably applicable, or as always true in a ftrict. fenfe without any
exceptions. [e] Many of the facred writers who followed Solomon bor-
¦ rowed his thoughts and expreffions ; and many heathen writers
are indebted to him for their brighter! fentiments. Vid. Huet.
Prop. 4. where imitations are produced from Theognis, Sopho
cles, Euripides, Anaxilaus, Plato, Horace, and Menander.
f f ] St. Bafil fays of this book, that it is oTiwj SiSzaxuMa. /?m,
an univerfal inftruftion for the government of life. Subfequent

OF THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. 2b I
Subfequent moralifts have, in their difcourfes ' on
ecumenical prudence, done litrle more than dilate on
the precepts, and comment on the wifdom of Solo
mon. Grotius, extenfive as were his own powers,
was unable to conceive that the Book of Proverbs
could be the work of one man, and fuppofes it to
have been a collection of the fineft proverbs of the
age, made in the fame manner as thofe publifhed by
forhe of the emperors at Conftantinople, and per
fected from various collections under Hezekiah [o].
But this opinion, founded on fome rabbinical ac
counts, can deferve but little regard. The work
might, perhaps, compofe part of che 3000 proverbs
which Solomon is defcribed to have uttered, being
probably digefted as far as the twenty-fifth chapter
by that monarch, himfelf, and afterwards received
into the canon with fome additions.
The book may be confidL-red, under five divifions.
The firft part, which is a kind of preface, extends to
the tenth chapter. This contains general cautions
and exhortations from a teacher to his pupil, de
livered in very various and elegant language : duly
connected in its parts ; illuftrated with beautiful de
fcriptions; decorated with all the ornaments of poeti
cal compofition, and well contrived as an engaging
introduction to awaken and intereft the attention.
, The fecond part extends from the beginning of
the , tenth ' chapter to the feventeenth verfe of the
twenty-fecond, and contains what may ftrictly and
properly be called Proverbs, given in unconnected
[g] Grotius Prsef. in Prov. general

a8o- of the book of proverbs.
general fentences [h] with much neatnefs and fim
plicity [i]; adapted to the inftruction of youth, and
probably more immediately defigned by Solomon for
the improvement of his fon [k]. Thefe are truly,
to ufe his own comparifon, " apples of gold in pic
tures of filver."
In the third part, which contains what is included
between the fixteenth verfe of the twenty-fecond
chapter and the twenty-fifth chapter, the tutor is
fuppofed, for a more lively effect, to addrefs his
pupil as prefent; he drops the fententious ftyle of
proverbs, and communicates exhortations in a. more,
continued and connected ftrain.
The proverbs which are included between the
twenty-fifth and thirtieth chapters, and which confti-
tute the, fourth part, are fuppofed to have been felected
from a much greater number by the men of Hezekiah?
that is, by the prophets whom he employed to reftore
the fervice and the writings of the church, as Elia-
kim, and Joah, and Shebnah ; and probably Hofea,
Micah, and even Ifaiah [lJ, who all flourifhed in the
[h] The general fcope of the difcourfe, however, muft be
remembered, even in the explication of detached fentiments.
[ i J The Proverbs generally confift of two fentences, joined
in a kind of antithefis ; the fecond being fometimes a redupli
cation, fometimes an explanation, and fometimes an oppofition
in the fenfe to the firft. This ftyle of compofition produces
great beauties in many other parts of fcripture, where it is em
ployed for poetical arrangement. Vid. Lowth's Praeleft. xix.
[ k J Rehoboam ; though the phrafe " my fon" is only a term
of general application. Vid. Hebrew, chap. xii. 3. Michael.
Prsef. in Lib;
[l] Vid. R. Mofes Kimchi. reign

o the book of proverbs. a8j
reign of thai monarch, and doubtlefs co-operated
with his enjeavours to re-eftabliffi true religion
among the Jpws. Thefe proverbs, indeed, appear
to have been felected by fome collectors after the
time of Solonon, as they repeat fome which he had
previoufly introduced in the former part of the
book [m].
The fifth part contains the prudent admonitions
which Agur, the fon of Jakeh, delivered to his pupils,
Ithiel and Ucal ; thefe are inchfcled in the thirtieth
chapter. It contains alfo the precepts which the mo
ther of Lemuel delivered to her fon, as defcribed in
the thirty-firft chapter.
Concerning thefe perfons whofe works are an
nexed to thofe of Solomon, commentators have en
tertained various opinions. The original words
which deferibe'Agur as, the" author of the thirtieth '
chapter, might be differently tranflated [n]; but ad
mitting the prefent conftruction as moft natural and
juft, we may obferve, that the generality of the fa
thers, and ancient, commentators have fuppofed that
under the name of Agur, Solomon defcribes himfelfi
though no fatisfactory" reafon can be affigned for his
affuming this name [oj. Others, upon very infuf-
[m] Comp. chap. xxv. 24. with xxi. 9. xxvi. 13. with xxii.
13. xxvi. 15. with xxix. 24. xxvi. 22. with xviii. 8, &c.
[n] They might be tranflated the words of the Collector.
In the Septuagint, where this chapter is placed immediately
after the xxivth, we read inftead of the firft verfe, ra $ xiye» a
«»i§ toi; ¦minimal @si, xai ^avo^ai, Thus fpeaketh the man to
thofe who believe, and I ceafe. ;
[p] Vid. Lowth's xviUth Prajlect. and Calmet. ficient

i$4- of the book of proverjs.
ficient grounds, conjecture that Agui and Lemuel
were interlocutors with Solomon ; the book has no
appearance of dialogue, nor is there ary interchange
of perfon : it is more probable, that though the book
was defigned principally to contain tie fayings of
Solomon, others might be added by the men of He
zekiah ; and Agur might have been an infpired wri
ter [p], whofe moral and proverbial fentences (for
fuch is the import of the word Mafia, rendered Pro
phecy [q.]), were joined with thofe ofthe wife man,
becaufe of the conformity of their matter. So like-
wife the dignity of the book is not affected, if we
fuppofe the laft chapter to have been written by a
different hand; and admit the mother of Lemuel to
have been a Jewiffi woman, married to fome neigh
bouring prince ; or Abiah, the daughter of the high-
prieft Zechariah, and mother of king Hefzekiah;
fince, in any cafe, it muft be confidered as the pro
duction of an infpired writer, or it would not have
been received into the canon of fcripture. But it
was perhaps meant that by Lemuel we ffiould under-
ftand Solomon [r] ; for the word which fignifies
[p] The fecond and third verfes, though they tend as well
as the eighth to prove that the chanter was jiot written by
Solomon, yet by no means invalidate the author's claim to in
fpiration, who here defcribes himfelf as devoid of underfiand-
ing before he received the influx of divine wifdom. In the
Septuagint the third verfe expreffes a fenfe directly contrary,
©£o; h^i^xf f*e Cpty'ia,* "«' y«io<rw a-ytun cytuxa, God hath taught
me wifdom, and I have learnt the knowledge of the faints.
[ qJ NttfD. Prov. xxx. I . xxxi. I .
[rJ Vid. R. Nathan. Prov. iv. 1V3, 4. one

OF /HE BOOK OF PROVERBS. 285
one belonging ) God, might have been given- unto
him as defcripive of his character, fince to Solo
mon God had eprefsly declared that he would be a
father [s].
Dr. Delany who was a ftrenuous advocate for
this opinion, dclares that he took great pains to
examine the ojections that have been alledged
againft it, and sfures us that they are fuch as readers
of the beft unerftanding would be little obliged
to him for retailig, or refuting. One of the chief
objections, inded, rather confirms what it was in-.
tended to deftrc. The mother of Lemuel thrice
calls her fon, lar, a word no where elfe ufed
throughout the Cd Teftament, except in the twelfth
verfe of the femd Pfalm [t] ; but this rather
proves that Lenxl muft have been defigned to im
ply Solomon, b<aufe his father is the only perfon
who ufes the wot [u]. Dr. Delany then conceives
that the motherf Lemuel was Bathffieba [x], and
that the commedation annexed was defigned for
her, and he vindates her character as deferving the
[s] 2 Sam. vii. 1.
[t] *ra. Bar inie Chaldee fignifies a fon. David might
have ufed it in thatnfe as well as Bathfheba in this book ; for
we know not how est foreign expreffions, (if it be one,) might
have been adopted i) the Hebrew language.
[u] Vid. Delany Life of David, Book IV. chap. xxi. and
Calmet. [x] Vid. alfo Beird, p. 607, Calmet and Locke, who are
of the fame opinion Prov. iv. 3. Bathfheba is by fome fup
pofed to have | beemdued with the fpirit of prophecy. Vide
chap, xxxi, i. eulogium.

226

OF THE BOOK OF PROVERB

eulogium. Should fome circumftants in the de
fcription, however, be judged inapplcable to her,
there is no reafon why we ffiould pt conceive a
general character to have been intend d. It appears
then upon a collective confideration, 1 at' the greateft
part of the book was compofed, and i rhaps digefted
by Solomon himfelf; that fome addit ns were made,
principally from the works of Solornn, by the men
of Hezekiah ; and that the whole vis arranged into
its prefent form, and admitted intothe canon by
Ezra. It is often cited by the evligelical writers
[y], and the work, as it now ftands contains an in
valuable compendium of inftruction; It is fuppofed
to have been the production of Somon when ar
rived at maturity of life : when hi mind had mul
tiplied its ftores, and been enlaqd by long ob-
fervation and experience. It was -obably written
before the book of Ecclefiaftes, fc it feems to be
therein mentioned [z].
Solomon was born about A. M. 971. He fuc
ceeded David about eighteen years ; er, and enjoyed
a profperous reign of near forty yc s [a]. Under
his government the kingdom was r< larkable for its

well regulated ceconomy, and its ext
It was fo enlarged by his conquefts

five commerce.
d prudent ma-

[r] Vid. Matt.'xv. 4. Luke xiv. 10. n. xii. 16, 17, 20.

James

I Theft, v. 15. 1 Pet. iv. 8. v. 5.
|zj Ecclef. xii-. 9.
[aJ The name' of Solomon is analogo to Pacific, and is
happily defcriptive ofthe peaceful profper|\
The Rabbins confider it as appellative.

6, &c. paffim.

which he enjoyed.
nagement,

0F„ THE BOOK OF PROVERBS. ' 287
nagement, that " he reigned over" or made tribu
tary " all the kings from the river (Euphrates) even
tb the land of the Philiftines and the borders. of
Egypt [b]." Illuftrious men were attracted from
all parts by his fame for wifdom and magnificence
[cj. The fon of Sirach faid of him, that he was
" a flood filled with underftanding ; that his foul
covered the whole earth ; and that he filled it with
dark parables [d]." The high reputatian, indeed,
which he enjoyed, occafioned many fpurious writings
to pafs under the fanction ofhis name, as the Pfalter,
as it is called, of Solomon, which confifts of eigh
teen Greek Pfalms, and which was probably the
work of fome Helleniftical Jew [e], who might have
compiled it from' the writings of David, Ifaiah, and
Ezekiel [f]. Another book likewife, entitled; The
Cure of Difeafes, mentioned by Kimchi; The Con
tradictions of Solomon, condemned by Pope Gjela-
[e] 2 Chron. ix. 26.
[cj 1 Kings x. 20.
[d] Ecclus xlvii. 14, 15. The ancients prided themfelves
much on the knowledge of parables and proverbs. Vid. Prov.
i. 6. Wifd. viii. 8. Ecclus. i. 25. vi. 35. xxix. 1, 2, 3.
[e] The Helleniftical Jews were Jews difperfed in foreign
Countries, who fpoke the Greek language.
[p] This Pfalter, which, like moft of the Helleniftical works,
is full of Hebraifms, was copied from an ancient Greek manu-
fcript in the Augfbtirg library by Andrea Scotto, and publifhed
with a Latin verfion by John Lewis de la Cerda. Vid. Calmet
Pref. Gen. fur les Pfeaumes. Thefe Pfalms . appear from the
index at the end of the New Teftament to have been formerly in
the Alexandrian manufcript, though they have been loft or torn
from thence. fius;

2i88 OF the book of proverbs.
fius ; and his Teftament, cited by M. Gaumin ; with
five other books, mentioned by Alfred the Great
in his Mirror of Aftrology; and four named by
Trithemenus, which favour of magical invention, are
probably all fpurious; as well as the letters which he
is faid to have written to Hiram, and Hiram's an
fwers, though Jofephus confiders diefe laft as au
thentic [g]. The magical writings that were at
tributed to Solomon, were fo affigned in confequence
of an idea which prevailed in the Eaft, that Solomon
was converfant with magic; an idea derived, per
haps, from the fame of thofe experiments which his
phyfical knowledge might have enabled hini to dif
play ; but which, however obtained, certainly pre
vailed; for we learn from Jofephus [h], that many
perfons, when charged with the practice of magic,
endeavoured to juftify themfelves, by accufing Solo
mon of ufing charms againft difeafes, and of form
ing conjurations to drive away demons. Jofephus
relates alfo, that one named Eleazer drove away
feveral demons in the prefence of Vefpafian by means
of a ring, in which was enclofed a root, marked, as
was faid, by Solomon; and by pronouncing the name
of that monarch : and amidft the fuperftitious notions
that long afterwards continued to delude the eaftern
[g] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. VIII. cap. ii. Jofephus grounds
the authenticity of thefe letters on Jewifh and Tyrian re
cords ; but befides other fufpic'ious circumftances, Hiram is
reprefented as fpeaking of Tyre as an ifland, whereas old Tyre,
which- was contemporary with his period, was fituated on the
continent. _
[ h J Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. VIII. cap. ii. nations,

of The book of proverbs. 289
hations, we find fuch imaginary influence over evil
fpirits afcribed to name of Solomon.
The Septuagint and other verfions of this book
differ occafionally from the Hebrew original, and
contain indeed more proverbs, fome of which are to
be found alfo in the Book of Ecclefiafticus. The
order likewife of the poetical books is different iri
the Septuagint [1] and in fome manufcripts, where
the metrical books run thus, Pfalms, Job, and Pro-
Verbs. [1] Codex Alexand; Vid. Grabe in Prolog, cap. i. §. 2,
Melito apud Eufeb. Ecclef. Hift. Lib. IV. cap. 26, &c.

U

or

[ 290 J

OF The
BOOK of ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE
PREACHER.
THIS Book was unqueftionably the production
of Solomon, who for the great excellency of
his inftructions was emphatically ftiled " the Preach
er." It is faid by the Jews to have been written by
him, upon his awakening to repentance [aJ, after
he had been feduced in the decline of life to idolatry
and fin; and if this be true, it affords valuable proofs
of the fincerity with which he regretted his departure
from righteoufnefs. Some, however, have afcribed
the work to Ifaiah [b]. The Talmudifts pretend
that Hezekiah was the author of it [c]j and Grotius,
[aJ Seder Olam Rabba, c. xv. p. 41. Hieron. in Ecclef. i.
12. Vid. alfo chap. ii. 10. vii. 26.
[a] R. Mofes Kimchi. R. Gedalias in Schalfch Hakkab.
fol. 66.
[cj Bava Bathra, c. i. f. 15. The Talmudifts fuppofe He
zekiah to have produced, or compiled, the three books of
Solomon, as likewife the book of Ifaiah. Vid. Peters's Preface
to Differt. on Job. 8vo edit. upon

of the book of ecclesiastes. 291
upon fome vague conjectures, conceives that it was
compofed by order of Zerubbabel [d]. But we
fhall be convinced that it ffiould be affigned to Solo
mon, if we confider that the author ftiles himfelf
" the fon of David, the King in Jerufalem ;" and
that he defcribes his wifdom, his riches, his writings,
and his works, in a manner applicable only to Solomon
[e] ; as alfo that the book is attributed to him both
by Jewiffi and Chriftian tradition. The foreign ex
preffions, if they really be fuch, which induced Gro
tius to confider the book as a production fubfequent
to the Babylonifh captivity, might have been ac
quired by Solomon in his intercourfe and connection
with foreign women [f]. But the ftile of the work
muft have often occafioned the introduction of un-
ufual words [g]. The later Jews are faid to have
been defirous of excluding it from the canon £h],
from fome contradiction and improprieties which they
fancied to exift by not confidering the fcope and de
li r»] Grot, in Ecclef.
[e] Chap, i, 1, 12, 16. ii. 4—10. vii. 25—28. viii. 16.
xii. 9.
[f] 1 Kings xi. iz.
[a] Maimon. More Nevoch. Part It. c. Ixvli. Of the words
produced as foreign by Grotius, all are now allowed to be ¦ ge
nuine Hebrew, except two, viii. 1. "wo. x. 8. mb. which w^re,
perhaps, Arabic or Chaldaic expreffions in ufe in the time of
Solomon. Vid. Calovius
[hJ Mairnon. More Nevoch, p. 2. c. xxviii. Madrafh Cohel.
f. 14. Aben-Ezra, Ecclef. vii. 4. Hieron. in Ecclef. xii. 12,
Gemar in Pirke Abboth, f. i. col. 1. Some abfurdly imagined,
that Solomon maintained the eternity of the world, in ch.
i.4. ¦ U 2 fing

492. OF THE BOOK OF FCCI.ESIASTES.
fign of the author. But when they obferved the
excellent conclufion, and its confiftency with the
law, they allowed its pretenfions. There can, indeed,
be no doubt of its title to an admiffion : Solomon
was eminently diftinguiffied by the illumination of
the divine fpirit, and had even twice witneffed the
divine prefence [1]. The tendency of the book is
excellent, when rightly underftood, and Solomon
fpeaks in it with great clearnefs of the revealed truths
of a future life, and univerfal judgment.
The book, is in the Hebrew denominated " Cohe-
leth," a word which fignifies one who fpeaks in pub
lic [k] ; and which, indeed, is properly tranflated by
the Greek word Ecclefiaftes [lJ, or, the Preacher.
Solomon, as Mr. Defvoeux has remarked, feems here
.to fpeak in a character fimilar to that of the fophifts
among the Greeks ; not, indeed, of the fophifts when
.degenerated into fubtle and quibbling wranglers, but
of the fophifts who, in the dignity of their primitive
character, blended philofophy and rhetoric [m] ; and
made pleafure fubfervient to inftruction, by convey
ing wifdom .with eloquence. Though Solomon is
not hereby to be confidered as having harangued,
[1] 1 Kings iii. 5. ix. 2. xi. 9.
, [kJ Some fay, that the word Coheleth means a collector.
.In the Ethiopick tongue it implies a circle, or company of
men. [lJ E*x*.»(nanj?. The Hebrew word has, however, a femi
nine termination in refpeel to wifdom, perfonified, as it were,
jn, Solomon.
[ m ] Philoftrat. ap. Muret. in Defin. II. Cicero Orat. e. xix. like-

OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES. 2$J
like the common orators of his time, yet, as there
can be no doubt that he often publickly inftructed
his own peopfe, and even ftrangers, who were drawn
by his reputation for wifdom to his court [n], it is not
improbable that this difcourfe was firft delivered in
publick ; and, indeed, fome paffages have been pro
duced from the book in fupport of this opinion [o].
The main fcope and tendency of the book have
been varioufly reprefented. Mr. Defvoeux after an
accurate difcuffion of the different opinions, has pro
nounced it to be a philofophical difcourfe [p], writ
ten in a rhetorical ftile, and occafionally interfperfed
with verfes [qJ. It may be confidered as a kind of
enquiry into the chief good; an enquiry conducted
on found principles, and terminating in a conclufion
which all, on mature reflection, will approve. The
great object of Solomon appears to have been from
a comprehenfive confideration of the circumftances
of human life, to demonftrate the vanity of all fecular
purfuits. He endeavours to illuftrate by a juft efti-
rnate, the infufficiency of earthly enjoyment; n°t
with defign to excite in us a difguft at life [rJ, but
to influence us to prepare for that ftate where there
[n] Mercer. Praef, ip Eccjef.
[o] Chap. xii. 9, 12. Gregor, Mag, Lib. IV. Dial. e. iv.
[p] Defvoeux Philofophical and Critic. Effays on Ecclef.
[oj The Jews do not admit that Ecclefiaftes fhould be confi
dered as a poetical work.
[r] TheManichsans, not confidering that human purfuits
are only fo far vain as they terminate in a prefent object, main
tained the exiftence of an evil principle.
U 3 is

294 O* THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES.
is no vanity [s]. With this view, the Preacher af
firms, that man's labour, as far as it. has refpect only
to prefent objects, is vain and unprofitable [t] ;
that however profperous and flattering circumftances
may appear, yet as he could from experience affert,
neither knowledge ; nor pleafure; nor magnificence ;
nor greatnefs; nor uncontrolled indulgence, can
fatisfy the defires of man [u] ; that the folicitude
with which fome men toil and heap up poffeffions
for defcendants often unworthy, is efpecial vexation ;
that it is better far to derive fuch enjoyment from
the gifts of Providence, as they were defigned to
furniffi, by being rendered fubfervient to good actions
[xj ; Solomon proceeds to obferve, that in this life,
" iniquity ufurps the place of righteoufnefs ;" that
man appears in fome refpects to have " no pre
eminence above the beaft" that perifhes j and that
[s] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, I. 20. c. iii. Hieron. Prol. in
Ecclefs. [tJ Compare Ecclef. i. 2. withPerfius, Sat. I. line 1.
[u] Gregor. Nyffen. Horn. I. in Ecclef. T. i. p. 375. Salen.
Dial, in Ecclef. Bib. Patav. in Ecclef. torn. i. col. 147. Caftal.
Prasf. in Ecclef. Collyer's Sacred Interp. vol. i,. p. 339. Prior's,
Solomon. [xj Chap. iii. 12. Solomon recommends a moderate enjoy
ment of the good gifts of Providence, and thinks fuch enjoy
ment more reafonable than an inordinate purfuit after riches,
or than thofe labours from which no advantage fhould refult
to ourfelves. Vid. Ecclef. ii. 34. viii. 15. ix. 7 — 9. Acts
xiv. 17. 1 Tim. iv. 1 — 4. Drufius in Ecclef. i. 1. Geier,
Prol. in Ecclef. Horace Carm. Lib. II. Ode II. 1. 1—4.
And Wells's Help to the Underftanding of the Holy Scrip
tures. the

OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES. 105
the confideration of thefe circumftances may at firft
fight lead to wrong conclufions, concerning the value
of life ; but that God ffiould not be haftily arraigned,
for that " he that is higher than the higheft, re
gardeth." That even here, thofe who " pervert
judgment," are not fatisfied by abundance, " but
that the fleep of the labouring man is fweet [v]."
Thad though the hearts qf men be encouraged in
evil by the delay of God's fentence, and though the
days of the finner may be prolonged on earth, yet
that, finally, it fhall be well only with them who fear
God [z], Solomon then fums up his exhortations
to good deeds, and to a remembrance of the Creator
jn the days of youth, " or ever the filver cord of
life be loofed, or the golden bowl be broken [a] ;"
when " the dull ffiall return to the earth, and the
fpirit unto God who gave it." And the infpired
teacher bids us " hear the conclufion of the whole
matter," which is, " to fear God, and to keep his
[y] Chap, iii. — vi.
[z] Chap. viii. n — 13.
[a] Chap. xii. 5, 6. By the filver cord of which Solomon
fpeaks in this figurative defcription of old age, fome under-
ftand the humours of the body, which are, as it were, the
thread of life. But the moft judicious writers confider it as an
elegant expreffion for the fpinal marrow, with the nerves arifing
from it, and the filaments, fibres, and tendons that proceed
from them. This white cord is loofened (or fhrunk up) when
it is no longer full of fpirits. The golden bowl is fuppofed
to mean the pia mater. This membrane, which covers the
brain, is of a yellowifti colour. For farther explanation of
this beautiful allegory, confult Commentators and Smith's
U 4 command-

2<j6 OF TF1E BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES.
commandments, for this is the whole of man ; for
God ffiall bring every work into judgment, with
every fecret thing, whether it be good, or whether
it be evil [b]." ,
In the courfe of his difcuffion of this fubject,
Solomon deviates into fome remarks incidentally
fuggefted, in order to preclude objections, and to
prevent; falfe conclufions. It is therefore neceffary
always to keep in mind the purport and defign of the
difcourfe, which is carried on, not in a chain pf re-
[ e ] De Sacy Avertis1. fur l'Ecclef. De Launey, fur l'Ecclef:
xii. 15. Hardouin Paraph, fur l'Ecclef. Witfii. Praef. Mifcel.
Sac. c. xviii. § 36, ^j. The whole force of Solomon's reafon
ing refts on the doctrine of a future judgment, as maintained in
chap. xii. 13, 14. and before in chap. iii. 17. vii. 1, 12. xi. 9.
He had admitted that as to this life, there was but " one event
to the righteous and to the wicked," ch. ix. 1—3. The feven
following verfes in the ninth chapter are fometimes fuppofed to
be fpoken in the affumed charafter of an Epicurean. Compare
chap. ix. 4 — 10. with Wifd. ii. I — 11. But Solomon might,
confidently with the fcope of his own difcourfe, maintain that
the only hope of man is during life, and that in this refpedt, the
moft wretched being, a h-ving dag, is better than the greateft
monarch, a dead lion ; for the living having the profpeft qf
death, may prepare for it, but the dead have no more opportu
nity of purchafing a reward ; that the gratification of their paf-
fions is then perifhed, and that they have no more a portion on
earth. Hence Solomon proceeds to exhort to a difcreet enjoy
ment, and to active exertion, for that wifdpm would find no
employment in the grave : that in this life there is rio equal dis
tribution, and that tlie time of departure from it is uncertain.
.Solomon concludes the chapter with a lively illuftration of the
. final advantage, and deliverance to be produced- by humble wif
dom, however over- looked and defpifed in the prefent life.
Vid- chap, ix. 4 — 18. gular

QF THE BOOK .OF ECCLESIASTES, 2qj
gular deductions and logical confequences, but in a
popular and defultory manner ; and the connection
of the reafoning is often kept up by almoft imper
ceptible links. It is neceffary alfo to examine what
Solomon ftates as his firft doubts and hafty thoughts,
corrected by his cooler judgment ; and to diftinguiffi
what he fays for himfelf, from what he urges in an
affumed character ; for though the book be not, as
feme have imagined [c], a dialogue between a pious
perfon and one of Sadducean principles; yet in
the courfe of the work the Preacher ftarts and
anfwers objections ; takes up the probable opinions,
as it were, of an encircling croud ; and fometimes
admits, by way of conceffion, what he afterwards
proves to be falfe [d]. We muft be careful, there
fore, nop to extend diofe principles which Solomon
grants, beyond their due bounds, nor to underftand
diem in a different fenfe from that in which they are
admitted by him. From want of due confideration
pf thefe circumftances and laws, the fentiments of
Solomon have often been perverted to countenance
falfe and pernicious opinions [e] ; and from want of
[c] Sentimens de quelques Theolog. fur 1'Hift. Crit. du P. R.
Simon, Amftel. 1682, Lett. XII. 272. F. Veard's Paraphrafe
on Ecclef. Lond. 17QI. Some writers maintain, that all thefe
paffages whjch are confidered as objectionable, will admit of a
good fenfe in confiftency with Solomon's difcourfe.
[d] Callal. Prasf. in Ecclef. Not. Philol. Adv. Script. Lqc.
in Ecclef. iii. Dubardin. Refleft. Moral, fur l'Ecclef. Gregor.
Mag. Dal. IV. c. iv.
[e] Witfius Mifcel. Sac. torn. i. p. 213. 226. B. Gerherd. in
Exeges. Loe. de Scrip, p. 156. and Pnef. in Com. T. iii. f. 231.
Lowth's PrElecf. Poet. 24. attention

2p8 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES.
attention to the defign of the book, as here defcribed,
fome writers have had recourfe to very extraordinary
means of reconciling particular paffages with the
main fcope and pious conclufion of the work. Hence
to vindicate it from any imputations of bad tendency,
Olympiodorus maintained that Solomon fpeaks only
of natural things in the book, though he interfperfes
a few moral fentiments ; and St. Auftin endeavours
to explain it by having recourfe to allegory ; but fuch
folutions are not worthy of much attention ; and what
has been already faid will fufficiently account for all
difficulties that may occur in confidering the work.
We need not recollect, that the ftile of the book is
particularly obfcure and vague, though unornamented
and profaic ; that the queftion itfelf is embarrafied
with difficulties ; and that the defultory mode of ar^
c;ument is liable to be miftaken, where various opinions
are introduced ; and when the author diversifies his
character, without accurately difcriminating his feri
ous from his ironical remarks, or objections from,
his anfwers. It muft however be wilful delufion, or
perverfe fophiftry, which felects partial extracts for
the encouragement of fin, where the difpaffipnate
and rational enquirer after truth will find true wifdom,
and deliberate piety..

Of

C 299 ]

OF THE

SONG of SOLOMON.

THE Talmudifts have attributed this Book to
Hezekiah [a] ; other writers have, with as
little reafon, affigned it to Ifaiah ; and others to
Ezra. There are, howeyer, no grounds that ffiould
influence us to reject the authority of the Hebrew
title [b,], whicffi afcribes it to Solomon; and, indeed^
it is now almoft univerfally allowed to have been the
Epithalamium, or Marriage Song of that monarch
[c], compofed on the celebration of his nuptials with
a very beautiful woman, called Shulamite, the

[ a.] Bava Bathra, R. Mofes Kimchi.
[b] The Chaldee Paraphrafe hath this title, " The Songs
and Hymns which Solomon the Prophet, the King of Ifrael,
uttered in the fpirit of Prophecy before the Lord."
[e] Chap. i. 4. ii. 16. iii. 4,7, 11. Vid. alfo, chap. viii. 5.
where Michaelis, inftead of " thy mother brought thee forth,"
reads, " thy mother betrothed^ thee." Vid. I^ot. in Lowth's
Prsleft, 30. daughter,

300 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON.
daughter, as hath been fuppofed, of Pharaoh, and the
favourite and diftinguiffied wife of Solomon [d].
Solomon was eminently fkilful in the compofition
of fongs, and he is related to have produced above
a thoufand [e] ; of which number, probably, this
only was attributed , to the fuggeftion of uhe facrefi

[o] I Kings iii. i, 7. ix. 16 — Z4. Cant. vi. 13. Cornel
a Lapid. Prol. c. 1. Lightfoot's Chron. &c. p. 5. Harmer's
Com. p. 27-T-44. Some imagine the bride to have been a
Tyrian woman ; others a native of Jerufalem. Vid. ch. iii.
4 — 10. viii. 5. It is objefted to the opinion of her being the
daughter of Pharaoh, that the bride's mother is mentioned as
at the court of Solomon; ch. iii. 4. viii. 2, 5, and that flie
fpeaks of a filter unprovided for, ch. viii. 8. and of the poffef-.
fion of a vineyard as her portion, ch. viii. 12. vid. Dr. Percy's
new Tranflat. of Sol. Song. Harmer, however, fuppofes a
former wife of Solomon fo fpeak in the firft inftances, and
that the vineyard mentioned was Gezer, which Pharaoh is
faid in 1 Kings ix. 16, 17. to have " given for a prefent unto
his daughter, Solomon's wife." The bride calls herfelf black,
though fhe reprefents her darknefs as the confequence of exr
pofure to the fun ; and Volney maintains, from a paffage in
Herodotus, and his own obfervation, that the ancient Egyptians
were black. Voyage en Syrie et Egypt, vol. i. p. 175. If
a Gentile woman, fhe was more appofitely.a figure ofthe
Gentile church ; and Patrick has elegantly remarked, that as
the word Secbora denotes that dufkinefs which precedes the
morning dawn, it may figuratively reprefent the Gentile dark
nefs which difperfed before the rifing of the Gofpel light.
The word'Shulamite is, perhaps, derived from that of Solo
mon. Vid. R. Jonathan in Talkut. ad 1. Raam iii. fol. 28.
col. 3.
[eJ 1 Kings iv. 32. Ecclef. xlvii. 17. In the Septuagint.
they are faid to have been 5000.
2 fpirit,

OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 3OI
fpirit, for this only has efcaped the wafte of time [f],
by being preferved in the. confecrated volume of the
fcriptures ; into which it was received as unqueftion-
ably authentic ; and it has fince been uniformly con
fidered as canonical by the chriftian church.
The royal author appears in the typical fpirit of
his time, to have defigned to render a ceremonial
appointment defcriptive of a fpiritual concern ; and
bifhop Lowth has judicioufly determined, that the
fong is a myftical allegory ; of that fort which in
duces a more fublime fenfe on hiftorical truths, and
which by the defcription of human events, fhadows
Out divine circumftances [g]. The facred writers
were, by God's condefcenfion, authorifed to illuftrate
his ftrict and intimate relation to the church by the
figure of a marriage; and the emblem muft have
been ftrikingly becoming, and expreffive to the con
ceptions of the Jews, fince they annexed ideas of
peculiar myftery to this appointment, and imagined
that the marriage union was a counterpart reprefen
tation of fome original pattern in heaven. Hence
[f] Except, perhaps, fome received into the Book of Pfalms,
as poffibly the cxxviith. cxxviii. and cxxxii. Vid. Patrick.
[g] Lowth's Prsl. Poet. 31. Some have conceived it to be
entirely fpiritual. Vid. Calouv. p. 12, 53. Auguft. de Civit.
Dei, Lib. VII. cap. xx. Bernard Serra. I. in Cant. p. 748.
Glafs. Philol. Sac. Lib. V. cap. xx. But it apparently had a
reference to an aftual marriage. The book is full of elegant
allufions to the circumftances of the marriage ceremony among
the Jews. There are fome particulars 'which apply only to the
literal fenfe, as there are others which correfpond only with the
figurative interpretation. was

302 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON.
Was it celebrated among them with very peculiar ce
remonies and folemnity ; with every thing that could
give dignity and importance to its rites [h]. Solo
mon, therefore, in celebrating the circumftances of
his marriage^ was naturally led by a chain of cor-
relpondent reflections, to confider that fpiritual con
nection which it was often employed to fymbolize ;
and the idea muft have been more forcibly fuggefted
to him, as he was at this period preparing to build a
temple to God, and thereby to furniffi a vifible re
prefentation of the Hebrew church.
If this account be admitted, there is no reafon why
we ffiould not fuppofe that the Holy Spirit might
have affifted Solomon to render this fpiritual allegory
prophetic of that future connection which was to
fubfift with more immediate intercourfe between
Chrift, and the church, which he ffiould perfonally
confecrate as his bride. If the predominant idea
which operated on the mind of Solomon, were only
that affinity which at all times was fuppofed to fub
fift between God and the Hebrew church ; yet as
that church was itfelf the type of a more perfect
eftabliffiment, the defcriptive reprefentation of Solo
mon had neceffarily a prophetic character ; and the.
iacred fpirit feems to have often fuggefted allufions
and expreffions more adapted to the fecond, than to
the firft eftabliffiment. Whether the fong; however,
were typically or directly prophetic, it is unqueftion-
[ h ] Cudworth's Tipheret. and Malcuth and Patrick's Preface1.
Selden, Uxor. Heb. Buxtorf. &c. able

OF the song OF SOLOMOttf. 303
able that . this elegant compofition had a predictive,
as well as a figurative character. T he whole of it is
a thin veil of allegory thrown over a fpiritual alliance;
and we difcover every where through the tranfparent
types of Solomon and his bride, the characters of
Chrift, and his perfonified church; pourtrayed with
thofe graces and embelliffiments which are moft
lovely and engaging to the human eye. ,
This fpiritual allegory, thus worked up by Solo
mon to its higheft perfection, was very confiftent
with the prophetic ftile, which was accuftomed to
predict evangelical bleffings by fuch parabolical
figures; and Solomon was more immediately fur
nifhed with a pattern for this allufive reprefentation
by the author of the forty-fifth Pfalm, who defcribes
In a compendious allegory, the fame future connec
tion between Chrift and his church [1].
It was the want of fufficient attention to this
'character in the Song of Solomon, which is, per_
haps, the moft figurative part of fcripture, that firft
induced the rabbinical writers to difpute its authority,
in contradiction to the fentiments of the earlier Jews,
who- never queftioned it's tide to a place in the canon
[k]. It mult likewife have been a perverfe difregard
m. to
[i] The forty-fifth Pfalm was poffibly written on the occafion
of Solomon's marriage with the daughter of Pharaoh.
[k] Though not exprefsly mentioned by Philo, or Jofephus,
it muft have been one of the twenty-two books, reckoned as
canonical by the latter. It was in the earlieft catalogues of
the facrad books received by the- chriftian church, hi that of
Melito, in his letter written to Onefimus, about A. D. 140,
9 in

304 ' OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON;
to its fpiritual import, which has occafioned everi
fome chriftian authors to confider it with a very un
becoming and irreverent freedom [l]. It has been
weakly objected, by thofe who would invalidate its
pretenfions, that the name of God is not mentioned
throughout the work; but this obfervation muft have
arifen from want of reflection on the defign of the
author, which was to adumbrate divine inftruction,
and not directly to inculcate what other parts of
fcripture fo forcibly defcribe/ There is, in fact, no
reafon to queftion its pretenfions to be confidered as
an infpired book, fince it was indifputably in the He
brew canon ; and is feemingly referred to, if not
abfolutely cited by Chrift and his apoftles [m], who
as well as the facred writers of the Old Teftament
[n], take up its ideas, and purfue its allegory [o].
But though the work be certainly an allegorical
reprefentation, it muft be confeffed, that many learned
men, in an unreftrained eagernefs to explain the
in Origen's catalogue. Vid. Eufeb. Hift. Lib. IV. cap. xxvi.
Lib. VI. cap. xxv. and in the canon received by the council of
Laodicea, can. 59.
[l] As Grotius, and even the learned Michaelis, vt>ho has
certainly given too much fcope to fancy in his remarks on this'
book. Vid. Not. in Lowth's Prxleft. 3£.
[m] Comp. Cant. iv. 7. with Ephef. v. 27. Cant. viii. 11.
with Matt. xxi. 33. Cant. i. 4. with John vi. 44. Cant. v. 2.
with Revel, iii. 20. Cant. vii. 1. with Ifaiah lii. "7.
[n] Ifaiah liv. 5. Ixi. 10. lxii. 4, 5. Ezek. xvi. and xxiii.
Hof. ii. 16, 19. and Prophets, paffim.
[oj Matt. ix. 15. xxii. 2, 25. John iii; 29. 2 Cor. xi. 2.
Gal. iv. 22— 31. Ephef. v. 23 — 27. Revel, xix. 7. xxii. 17.
fong,

of the song of soloM6i& 305
fong, even in its minuteft and moft obfcure parties
lars, have too far indulged their imaginations ; and
by endeavouring too nicely to reconcile the literal
with the fpiritual fenfe, have been led beyond the
boundaries which a reverence for the facred writings
ffiould ever prefcribe. The ideas which the infpired
writers furniffi concerning the myftical relation be
tween Chrift and his church,- though well accommo
dated to our apprehenfions, by the allufion of a mar
riage Union, are too general to illuftrate every par
ticular contained in this poem ; which may be fup
pofed to have been intentionally decorated with fome
ornaments appropriate to the literal conftruction.
When the general analogy is obvious, we are not
always to expect minute refemblance, and fhould not
be too curious in feeking for obfcure and recondite
allufions. The Jews prudently forbad their children
to read it till their judgment v/as matured [p], left
in the fervor of youth they fhould give too wide a
fcope to fancy, and interpret to a bad fenfe the fpi
ritual ideas of Solomon. The book, though placed
laft in order of his works, appear to have been
written by that monarch in his youth: in the full
warmth of a luxuriant imagination [qJ. Solomon j,
in the glow of an infpired fancy, and unfufpicious
[p] And the fame reftridtion prevailed in the primitive
chriftian church. Vid. Origen. Prsf. in Cant. Hieron. in
Ezech. Theodor. Oper. torn. i. p. 198. Wolf. Bib. Hebi.
p. 126.
f qJ Solomon married Pharaoh's daughter, towards the be
ginning of his reign. Vid. 1 Kings iii. 11.
X >. of

306 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON.
of mifconception, or deliberate perverfion, defcribes
God and his church, with their refpective attributes
and graces, under colourings, familiar and agreeable
to mankind ; and exhibits their ardent affection un
der the authorifed figures of earthly love. No fimi-
litude, indeed, could be chofen fo elegant and appo-
fite for the illuftration of this intimate and fpiritual
alliance, as the marriage union ; if confidered in the
chafte fimplicity of its firft inftitution ; or under the
interefting circumftances with which it was eftablifhed
among the Jews [r].
Those who imagine that Solomon has introduced
into this hymeneal fong fome ideas inconfiftent with
the refinement of a fpiritual allegory, do not fuffi
ciently confider that the ftrongeft affections of the
mind, if properly directed, are chafte and honour
able. The reciprocal defcription of the bridegroom
and bride ; and the impaffioned language in which
they exprefs their mutual attachment, are compatible
with the ftricteft purity of conception ; and they arc
employed to reprefent refpectively, fpiritual perfec
tions, and fpiritual paffions, with the greateft pro
priety. The figures and expreffions of Solomon
have, indeed, loft their original dignity and decorum,
becaufe they have in later times been often abufed to
a fulfome and depraved fenfe. The judicious reader
will, however, carefully difcriminate between the
genuine import of language, and its perverted ap-
[rJ Calmet. Differt. furies Mariages des Hebreux. plication.

OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 307
plication. The fentiments, likewife, of Solomon,
were unqueftionably chaftened with that referve and
delicacy which, among the Jews, was attached to
the confideration of the marriage union; and the
book does not appear to contain any allufions offen
five to that character of the inftitution which rmdered
it an apt reprefentation of the facred connection.
This book may be confidered as to its form, as a
dramatical poem [s], of the paftoral kind. There
is a fucceffion of time, and a change of place, to
different parts of the palace and royal gardens; The
perfonages introduced as fpeakers, are the bride
groom and bride, with their refpective attendants,
together, as fome fuppofe, with the fifter of the
bride [t] ; and, if the ingenious theory of Harmer
be admitted, the firft and degraded wife of Solo
mon [ii], whom he confiders as the figure of the
Jewifh church. There is certainly an interchange
of dialogue, carried on in a wild and digreffive man-
[s] Origen. ap. Hieron. torn. vii. fol. 63. Greg. Nazianz.
Orat. cxxxi. p. 503.
[t] If the bride herfelf be confidered as the figure of the
chriftian church; the fifter may be fuppofed to reprefent any
younger church rifing under its protection. The bridegroom,
when confulted upon what fhould be done for this fifter, gives
a figurative account of the meafures which fhould be taken to
preferve her purity and fafety. Some attribute the tenth verfe
.to the bride ; and fome to the fitter, profeffing to have, derived
ftrength from the countenance of the bridegroom. Vid. chap.
viii. 8 — 10.
[u] Chap. ii. 5. iii. 1. Harm. Com, p. 44, &c.
X 2 n«r,

308 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON.
ner, and the fpeeches are characteriftic, and adapted
to the perfons with appropriate elegance. The com
panions of the bride compofe a kind of chortis,
which feems to bear fome refemblance to that which
afterwards obtained in the Grecian tragedy [x],
Solomon and his Queen fometimes fpeak in af-
fumed characters, and reprefent themfelves in fictitious
circumftances. They defcend, as it were, from the
throne; and adopt with the paftoral drefs, that fim
plicity of ftile which is favourable to the communica
tion of their fentiments [y]. The ftile, however, is
not more fimple than elegant. The poem, indeed,
abounds throughout with beauties, and prefents every
[ x ] The original chorus of the Greeks, which was the foun
dation on which their drama was built, was an inftitution of a
religious character; and it might poffibly have been derived
from an intimation of fome facred appointment among the
Jews, whofe fingers in the temple fervice compofed a fort of
c'lorus. [y] This book was certainly known to Theocritus, who was
a contemporary with the Septuagint tranflators ; and who might
have been made acquainted with it by Ptolemy Philadelphus,
whofe patronage and regard for literature the poet celebrates.
It is evident that many expreffions, images> and fentiments, in
the Idyllia, are copied from the facred poem; Comp. Cant. i. 9.
with Theoc. xviii. 30. Cant. vi. 10. with Theoc. xviii. 26.
Cant. iv. 11. with Theoc. xx. 26, 27. Cant. iv. 15. with Theoc*
i. 7, 8. Cant. ii. 15. with Theoc. i. 48, 49. Cant. i. 7. with-
Theoc. ii. 6g. Cant. v. 2. with Theoc. ii. 127. Cant. viii. 6, 7.
with Th'eoc. ii. 133, 134. and Theoc. vii. 56. Cant. ii. 8, 9.
with Theoc. viii. 88, 89. Cant. viii. 7. with Theoc. xxiii. 25, 26.
Vid. Weftey in Job, Diff. IV.
9 where

OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON, 3O9
where a delightful and romantic difplay of nature,
painted at its moft interefting feafon with [z] all the
enthufiafm of poetry, and defcribed with every orna
ment that an inventive fancy could furniffi. The
images that embelliffi it, are chiefly drawn from that
ftate of paftoral life in which the Jews were much
occupied ; and to which Solomon, mindful of his
father's condition, muft have looked with peculiar
fondnefs. It is juftly entitled " a fong of fongs,"
or moft excellent fong; as fuperior to any compofition
that an uninfpired writer could ever have produced ;
a fong which, if properly underftood, muft tend to
purify the mind, and tp elevate the affections from
earthly to heavenly things. The book is certainly
compofed with metrical arrangement. The Jews
admit its title to be confidered as a poem, though
not, indeed, on account of its ftrudture or meafure,
but becaufe they regard it as a parable which, ac
cording to Abarbinel, conftitutes one fpecies of the
canticle or fong [a].
There
[z] Harmer, from a confideration of the fcenery here de
fcribed, fuppofes the marriage to have been celebrated in the
fpring, when " the tender grape" began to appear, towards the
latter end of April. See Com. p. 154, 155.
[a] The Maforetic writers, who feem to have been but
little acquainted with the nature of the ancient Hebrew mea
fure, admitted that the Pfalms, Proverbs, and Job, were me
trical, and marked them particularly as fuch. But other
hooks, equally metrical, as the Canticles, and the Lamen
tations, they noted with profaic accentuation; and the Jews
X 3 confide?

310 OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON.
There have been many different divifions of the
book : fome conceive that it naturally breaks out
into feven parts ; and the learned Boffuet has ob
ferved, that it defcribes the feven days which the
nuptial ceremony [b], (as, indeed, almoft all folem-
nities among the Jews) lafted, during which time
felect virgins attended the bride, as the bridegroom
was accompanied by his chofen friends [c]. i
Bossuet's diftribution of the work is as fol
lows [d].
The firft day. chap. i.
fecond day, chap. ii.
third day, chap. iii.
fourth day, chap. v.
fifth day, chap. vi.
fixth day, chap. vii.
feventh day, chap. viii.
Bossuet fuppofes the feventh day to be the fab
bath, becaufe the bridegroom is not reprefented as
confider thefe books as profaic compofitions. Vid. Mantiffa.
Diff. ad Lib. Cofri, p. 413
[b] Gen. xxix. 27. Judg. xiv. 15, 17, Tobit viii. 19, 20,
[ c J Cant. i. 4. ii. 7. v. 1 . Judg. xiv. 1 1 . Pfal. xiv. 14.
Matt. ix. 15. xxv.vi. John iii. 29. The friends of the bride
groom may be confidered as the reprefentatives of angels, pro
phets, and apoftles ; and the friends of the bride are figurative,
perhaps, of the followers of the church. They are called the
daughters of Jerufalem.
[ d ] Boffuet's Praef. et Con', in Cant, and New Tranf. of So
lomon's Song : the learned author of which characterizes the
feven days by a different divifion.

-I

ii.

6.
i7-

/•

v.

1.

2. 

vi.

9-

IO. 

vii.

11.

12. 

viii.

3-

4- 

14.

OF THE SONG OF SOLOMON. 31I
going out to his ufual occupations. This divifion is
at leaft probable, as it throws fome light on the
book. Some have conceiv<|l [e], that thefe periods
are figurative of feven analogous and correfpondent
ages that may be fuppofed to extend from Chrift to
the end of the world : which is a very unauthorifed
conjecture, and juftly rejected by the moft judicious
commentators. [ e J As Cocceius,

X 4 GENERAL

[ 314 1

GENERAL PREFACE '

TO THE

PROPHETS.

rTPHE fecond of thofe great divifions undec which
-¦¦ the Jews claffed the books of the Old Tefta
ment was that ofthe Prophets [a]. This, as has
been before obferved [b], comprehended originally
thirteen books ; but the Talmudical doctors [c] re
jecting Ruth, Job, Lamentations, Daniel, Efther,
Ezra, Nehemiah, and the Chronicles, as hagiogra-
phical, reckon only eight prophetical books ; . calling
thofe of Joffiua, of Judges, of Samuel, and of Kings;
the four books of the former Prophets ; and thofe
of Ifaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve leffer
Prophets (comprized into one) as the four books of
the later Prophets ; by which means they deprive
fome books of a rank to which they are entided ;
and by parting Ruth, Nehemiah, and Lamentations,
[a] Jofeph. cont. Apion. Lib, I.
[bJ Introdudt. p. IO.
[c] Bava Bathra, c, i, from

TO THE PROPHETS. jlj
from the books to which they were feverally united,
enlarge the catalogue of their canonical books. As
the rabbinical notions concerning the degrees of in
fpiration cannot be allowed to affect the dignity of
any of the facred writings [~d] ; and as the preten
fions of every book are feverally confidered in a
feparate chapter, it is unneceffary to examine the
propriety of fuch an arrangement in this preface ; in
which it is defigned to treat in a general way, of the
character of the Prophets, and of the nature and
evidence of that infpiration, under the influence of
which they wrote [e].
The Prophets were thofe illuftrious perfons who
were raifed up by God among the Ifraelites, as the
minifters of his difpenfations. They flourifhed in a
continued fucceffion for above a thoufand years [f] .
all co-operating in the fame defigns, and confpiring
in one fpirit to deliver the fame doctrines, and to
prophefy concerning the fame future bleffings. Mofes,
the firft and greateft of the Prophets, having efta
blifhed God's firft covenant; thofe who followed fum
were employed in explaining its nature ; in opening
its fpiritual meaning ; in inftructing the Jews ; and
in preparing them for the reception of that fecond
difpenfation [o] which it prefigured. Their preten-.
[p] Glaffius Difput. I. in Pfalm ex.
[e] Introduction, p. 10.
[f] Luke i. 70. reckoning from Mofes to Malachi.
[c] Matt. xi. 13. 1 Mace. iv. 46. Cofri. Maam. iii. §. 39,
MafTec. Sotah, cap. ult. Maimon. Bartiner. Gem. Sanh. cap. i,
fions

314 GENERAL preface
fions to be confidered as God's appointed fervants,
were demomftrated by the unimpeachable integrity o*
their characters ; by the intrinfic excellence and ten
dency of their inftruction [h] ; and' by the difinter-
efted" zeal, and undaunted fortitude [1], with which
they perfevered in their great defigns. Thefe were
ftill farther confirmed by the miraculous proofs which
they difplayed of divine fupport [kJ, and by the im
mediate completion of many lefs important predictions
which they uttered [l]. Such were the credentials of
their exalted character, which the Prophets furnifhed
to their contemporaries; and we, who having lived to
witnefs the appearance of the fecond difpenfation,
can look back to the connection which fubfifted be
tween the two covenants, have received additional
evidence of the infpiration of the Prophets, in the
atteftations of our Saviour and his apoftles [m] ; and
in the retrofpect of a germinant and gradually ma
turing fcheme of prophecy, connected in all its parts,
and ratified in the accompliffiment of its great ob
ject, the advent of the Meffiah. We have ftill far-.
ther incontrovertible proof of their divine appoint
ment, in the numerous prophecies which in thefe
later days are fulfilled, and ftill under our own eyes,
continue to receive their completion.
[h^ Deut. xiii. 1 — 3.
[ij Origen. cont. Celf. Lib. VII. p. 336. edit'. Cant.
[kJ Jofh. x. 13. 1 Sam. xii. 18. 2 Kings i. 10. Ifa. xxxviii. 8.
[l] Deut. xviii. 22. 1 Sam. ix. 6. 1 Kings xiii. 3. Ifaiah
xiii. g. Jerem. xxviii. 9. Ezek. xxxiii. 33.
[m] Luke i. 70. xviii. 31. Afts vii. 42. xxiv. 14. Rom.
xvi. ?6. Ephef. ii. 20. 2 Pet. i. 21.
Though

TO THE PROPHETS. 315
Though many perfons are mentioned in fcripture
as Prophets, and the Talmudifts reckon up fifty-five
[n], whom they conceive to have been entitled to
this diftinction, we are concerned only with thofe
whofe books have been admitted into the canon ;
who are eminently ftiled Prophets [oj, as they were
uuqueftionably infpired with the knowledge of fu
ture events; whofe writings have been preferved for
the permanent advantage of the church, as defcrip
tive of the ceconomy of the divine government, as
fraught with the leffons of revealed wifdom, and as
bearing inconteftible evidence to the truth and pre
tenfions of the chriftian religion.
The nature and character of that infpiration by
which the Prophets were enabled to communicate
divine inftructions and predictions, has been the fub
ject of much difquifition. With refpect to the mode
by which the Holy Spirit might operate on the under
ftanding of its agents, when employed in the com
pofition of facred writ, we can form no precife
ideas, as we have no acquired experience to affift our
conceptions ; we can judge of it only by its effects,
[n] Including feven propheteffes. Vid. Gem. MafT. Megil.
[0] rifop»i1i!s, Propheta, from np-ipaV, a ripp^i, to foretel.
Tlie facred writers applied the word K'3J, Nabia, with great
latitude, as well to falfe prophets, as to thofe idolatrous priefts
whom they called prophets of the grove. Vide 1 Kings xviii.
J9, 22. It appears, likewife, to have been fometimes ufed in
the fame loofe fenfe as Ufo^rit is employed by St. Paul fynoni-
rnoufly with the Latin word Vates, a mufician or poet. Vid. 1 Tit.
i. \z. Selden, de Diis Syris Syntag. ii. c. iii. Maimon. More
Nevoch, P. III. c, xxix. ' 1 for

3l6 GENERAL T-REFACE
for of the invifible agency of a divine power we can
have no adequate apprehenfion. There is caufe,
however, to fuppofe that the. fpirit operated chiefly
on the reafoning faculties of the mind," however the
imagination might be kindled by its influence. It
appears rather to have enlightened the intellect than
to have inflamed the fancy [p]. The Prophets them
felves, as men, neither vifionary nor enthufiaftic in
their previous character, as not acting under the bias
of any gloomy or fuperftitious notions, could not
have been liable to be deceived by the delufions of a
clouded or intemperate imagination [ qJ, They
muft themfelves by the ftrong effects of the divine
impulfe, have been fenfible of a fupernatural control,
and they muft have been capable of deciding on its
character by the clear and diftinct impreffions which
they received. They muft have been convinced of
their own infpiration by the difcoveries of an en
lightened mind, as well as by that fpontaUeous and
upwonted facility with which they delivered their
important convictions.
As to the extent of this infpiration, and whether
we are to confider it as general or reftricted, it muft
be remarked, that as it would be abfurd to fuppofe
that the fpirit guided the Prophets only by occafional
and defultory ftarts, and partially enlightened them
by imperfect communications, fo we cannot but admit
them to have been uniformly under its influence;
[p] Maimon. More Nevoch, P. II. c. xxxvi,
£ qJ Geom. Schab. Zohar. col. 408. and

TO THE PROPHETS. 317
and in confequence, to have been invariably preferved
from deception and error, when engaged in the
compofition of the facred books. The fpirit did not
certainly deprive them of the ufe of their faculties
fo as to render them the meer inftruments of con
veying the voice of God ; but it fuperintended and
guided them in the exercife of their own underftand-
ings ; fometimes inftructing them by immediate reve
lation, and fometimes directing them in the commu
nication of that knowledge which they had derived
from the ordinary fources of intelligence [r].
We are authorifed, it is true, in the fcripture, to
conclude, that the Holy Ghoft (who, in his appro
priate character was more immediately an agent in
communicating infpiration) [s], did, indeed, " fpeak
by the Prophets ;" but we are not, therefore, to-
confider the fpirit of infpiration as one perfon ofthe
ever-glorious Trinity, dictating to the facred writers
every fentence and expreffion of fcripture; but ra
ther as a gift of God, a divine influence which open
ed their underftandings to a difcernment of the will
of God. This miraculous power may be reprefented
to our conceptions, as to its effects, under different
points of view ; it may be defcribed firft, as analogous
to a light ffiining on the minds ofthe Prophets, and
difperfing thofe mills, which the corruption of hu
man nature had engendered; which enabled them
[r] Seeker's firft fermon on the infpiration of Scripture.
[s] Mark xii. 36. Acb i. 16, xxviii. 25. Heb. iii. 7. ix. %,
a Pet. i. 21..

to

31 3 CENERAL PREFACE
to read thofe natural principles that were originally
engraven on the mind ; which awakened their fa
culties to a more lively perception of truth, and
affifted their reafon to act as free from prejudice and
reftraint. It muft be confidered ftill farther, as in-
ftructing them by an influx of divine knowledge, in
thofe truths which could be obtained only by im
mediate information from God ; or under one col
lective defcription, it may be reprefented as guiding
and conducting the Prophets, by various means, to
the knowledge of all truth, human and divine.
When they wrote hiftorically, there could be no ne
ceffity for a revelation of thofe events of which the
knowledge might be obtained by their own obferva-
tion, and enquiries [t]. They recorded what they
themfelves had feen, or on fome occafions, what they
had received from unqueftionable documents, or
credible witneffes, the fpirit, indeed, bearing tefti
mony. The Prophets generally take care themfelves
to inform us what they derived immediately from
God; and to diftinguiffi what they fpeak in their
own characters as recording hiftorical events, or even
as reafoning from the doctrines which had been re
vealed unto them. Still however it is not inconfift
ent to maintain, that they wrote under the influence
[ t ] The Prophets were, however, fometimes enabled to de-
fcribe paft events by immediate revelation ; and the word pro
phecy is applied to the difcovery of paft circumftances obtained
by fupernatural means. Vid. I Sam. ix. 20. 2 Kings v. 25,
26. Matt. xxvi. 6. Huet. Defin. IV. Witfius de Prophet.
Lib. I. cap. ii. Of

TO THE PROPHETS. 3 I J
of uniform infpiration ; that is, they were Uniformly
guided by a divine fpirit, which enabled them by
various means of intelligence to difcover truth ; and
to felect and record with fincerity what might be
confiftent with their defigns. And whenever they
communicate divine inftruction concerning the attri
butes and defigns of God, defcribing particulars
which could not be the objects of human fagacity or
memory, they muft have derived their knowledge by
pofitive revelation from above [u].
Divine revelations were obtained by various
ways ; for without dilating on the internal irradiation
above-mentioned, and without following the Jewiffi
writers [x] in their diftinctions concerning the dif
ferent degrees of infpiration which affifted the au
thors in the compofition of the prophetical or hagio-
¦graphical books reflectively [y], we may obferve,
in agreement with the accounts of fcripture, that
though the divine revelations were all equally infal
lible, yet that a greater degree of illumination \vu.i
[u] Stackhoufe's Preface to the Hift. of Bible, p. 26.
[x] The moft learned Jews admit three degrees of Infpira
tion. 1. The Gradus Mpfaic^s. 2. That which is peculiarly
called Prophecy, and which was obtained by dreams and
vifions. And 3. That which they call Ruach Hakkodefh, by
which they fuppofe the Haglographi to have been infpired-
The Jewifh notions, however, though fometimes juft, arc-
generally very fanciful. Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch, P. II.
c. xiv. [y] Abarbin. in Efaiah, ch. iv. Maimon. de Fund. Leg.
c vii. imparted

3 20 GENERAL PRElTAC'E
imparted to fome perfons than to others [z] ; and
that this conferred a proportionate dignity on- the
Prophet fo favoured. The more important commu
nications were likewife fometimes furnifhed with
more confpicuous evidence of revelation, as the dif
penfation imparted to Mofes was introduced with a
correfpondent difplay, and fuperior folemnity. The
predictions of Mofes were not more certainly ful
filled than thofe uttered by Ifaiah, yet is the former
perfonage pofitively declared in fcripture to have
been honoured by an higher revelation in the ex
preffion of having converfed with God " face to face
[a]," than was Ifaiah, or any fubfequent Prophet,
whofe illumination was obtained from dreams or
vifions. The revelations which are related in fcripture to
have been communicated to the Patriarchs, fome
times without any fpecification of an intermediate
agent, and fometimes by the miniftry of angels,
have been frequently fuppofed to have been convey
ed in dreams and vifions, without any actual appear
ance. But certainly fome of the relations refpecting
thefe, cannot but be Underftood in a real and hifto
rical fenfe ; as that, for inftance, in which God is
defcribed as having addreffed Adam in Paradife [b] ;
and that in which the angels are reprefented to
have appeared to, and to have converfed with Abra-
[z] Numb. xii. 8. Deut. xxxiv. io. z Kings ii. 9. Heb.
i. 1. [a] Exod. xxxiii. 1 1.
[e] Gen. iii. 8. hamj

TO THE PROPHETS. j2:
ham [c] ; in both of which, as well as in fome other
cafes [d], it muft be admitted that the abfolute ap
pearance of fome divine perfonage, the Deity, or his
angelical reprefentative, is intended in a ftrict and
pofitive fenfe; as it ffiould feem, likewife, that God
fometimes addreffed his fervants by a voice frorn
heaven [e], without any vifible-manifeftation of him-
felf orhis angel.
[c] Gen. xviii. alfo Gen. xvii. 1 — 3. It is probable, that
wherever God is faid to have appeared, it is to be underftood
that he appeared by fome meffenger, the reprefentative of the
divine Majefty, and authorifed to fpeak in God's name ; this may
be collected from John i. 18. and v. 37. Vid. Gen. xvi. 7, 13.
xxii. 1, II. Judges vi. 11—23. and other places, where the
Lord and the angel are words interchangeably ufed. Vid. Auguft.
de Trinit. c. xi. It was univerfally believed in the ancient
church, that all thofe divine appearances defcribed in the Old
Teftament, whether actual or in vifion, were made by the
Logos, or fecond perfon of the Trinity. Comp. Ifaiah vi. 1.
with John xii. 41. Vid. Bull's Defenf. Fid. Nic. c. i. feci. 1.
The ancient Jews, likewife, fuppofed that the intended Meffiah
appeared as the repreferitative of Jehovah. Vid. Allix. Judg. or
Jews church, th. xiii. xiv. xv. Juft. Mart. Dialog. 249 — 266,
408. edit. Thirlb.
[d] Numb. xxii. 22— 35.
[e] Gen. xxii. 11. Exod. xx. 22. Deut. iv. 12. This
rnode of revelation was called by the Jews ^ip ru, Bath. Col.
Filia Vocis, the daughter Voice, or daughter of a voice, becaufe
when a voice or thunder came out of heaven, another voice came
out of it. It is by them fuppofed to have fucceeded prophecy,
and to have conveyed inftru&ion after the death of Malachi.
It certainly diftinguifhed the dawn of the Gofpel difpenfatjion.
Vid. Matt. iii. 17. xvii. 5. John xii. 28, 29. Pirke R. Eliezer,
«¦ xliv. Jofeph. Archseol. Lib. XIII. c. xviii. and Lightfoot in
Matt. iii. 17.
Y When

322 G E tf E R A L PREFACE
When communications were obtained from an
abfolute converfe with the Deity, every particular
contained in them, muft have been precifely and
diftinctly revealed. And hence the inftructions im
parted to Mofes were fo remarkably perfpicuous and
explicit. No fucceeding Prophet under the Jewifh
difpenfation could, indeed, boaft of fo intimate and
unreferved a correfpondence with the Deity as that
illuftrious Legiflator enjoyed; though unqueftion
ably fome were favoured with divine revelations im
parted by the miniftry of angels ; who feem, from
the accounts of fcripture, abfolutely to have appeared
and converfed with them [f] ; notwithftanding the
Jewiffi writers confider all thefe relations as defcrip
tive of vifionary reprefentations ; maintaining that
God comprehended in his addrefs to Aaron and
Miriam, every mode of revelation by which he de
figned to enlighten the Prophets that ffiould fucceed
to Mofes [g].
The inftitution of the Urim and Thummim,
which was coeval with the time of Mofes [h], fur
nifhed the means of obtaining divine information to
his contemporaries, as well as to Joffiua, and others
who fucceeded him, till the building of the temple,
.or poffibly till the captivity [i]. As we know not in
what
• T_fJ Jofhua v. 13 — 15. Judges xiii. 3, 1 3— 20. Job xxxviii. I .
[cj Numb. xii. 6. Maimon. More Nevoch. P. II. c. xii.
*[h] Exod. xxviii. 33. Numb, xxvii. 21. Mede's Difcourfe
xxxv. [1] It is uncertain when the conful tation by the TJrim and
TJiummim ceafed. Some think that it was appropriate to the
theocracy (

TO THE PROPHETS. 323
what manner this myfterious ornament contributed
to procure divine inftruction : whether, as fome have
fuppofed, it furnifhed intelligence by the brilliancy
and configuration of its infcribed characters ; or whe
ther, as is moft probable, it was the confecrated
means appointed for the attainment of anfwers by an
audible voice [k], we are ftill certain from the na^
ture and verity of that information, as given upon
important occafions, that like all other modes of
divine revelation under the Jewiffi ceconomy, it was
clear and perfpicuous. As far as it was tiefigned tp
inftrudt the people in public concerns* it conveyed
precife directions ; and its predictions of future prof
perity or puniffiment were delivered, not like thofe
of the Pagan oracles, in ambiguous and equivocal
language, but in appropriate and exprefs declarations.
It is certain, alfo, that independently of thofe com
munications which the high-prieft obtained by the
Urim and Thummim, God did furniffi inftruction to
others by an articulate voice, which proceeded from
between the two cherubims above the mercy feat,
in the Tabernacle [l] ; in a manner allufive poffibly
to the circumftance of God's fpeaking by angels.
The other modes by which God vouchfafed to re-
theocracy ; fome imagine that it flopped after the building of the
temple. It continued poffibly till the deftruftion of the temple,
and it was expected to revive after the captivity ; Ezra il. 36.
Nehem. vii. 65. though probably it did not.
[k] Judges i. a. 2 Sam. v. 23, 24.
[lJ Exod. xxv. 22. Levit. i. 1. Numb. vii. 89. ix. 9.
1 Sam. iii. 3. and following verfes.
Y l veal

324 GENERAL PREFACE
veal his inftructions to the Prophets, were thofe of
dreams and vifions [m]. With refpect to dreams,
they were fometimes imparted as admonitions from
God to perfons who had no title to the prophetic
fcharacter [n}. In thefe cafes they were doubtlefs
-lefs diftinct in their impreffion, and rather calculated
to ftrike and amaze, than to enlighten, the mind.
Thofe who received them either waited their expli
cation in the event, or applied for their interpretation
to perfons who were endued with a portion of the
divine fpirit : and the power pf explaining dreams
appears to have been an eminent charafteriftic of the
^Prophets [o]. ;
The dreams which revealed future fcenes to the
imaginations of the Prophets were doubtlefs very
¦forcible, and evidendy predictive. They are fup>-
¦pofed by the Jews to have been introduced by the
immediate efficiency of an angel, who either addreff
ed the Prophets by a voice, or pictured narrative
circumftances to their minds : but however it might
vary in its circumftances, this mode of communica
tion by dreams muft have always conveyed very dif
tinct impreffions. When no voice was heard, and
"information was to be colfe&ed from fome paraboli-
[ m ] It is remarkable, that Homer enumerates -three modes of
obtaining divine Communications, which correfpond with thofe
appointed for the conveyance of revelations to God's felected
people. Vid. Iliad; Lib. I. 1. 62, 63.
[n] Maimon. More Nevoch, Par, II. c. xii. Phito Juda?.
"•¦WEpi ts StW«f*7r1us tuat omptff. Gemarifts in Baruchoth. c. ix.
Gen. xl. Danw iv.
[o] Jerem. xxiii, 28. cal

TO THE PROPHETS. 325
cal fcenes, the dreams were probably characterized by
a lively and regular fucceffion of objects, and by an
accurate difplay of intelligible particulars. They
muft have excited refpect, as differing widely from
the wild, and indeterminate fancies ; the vague, and
incoherent images that conftitute ordinary dreams.
In vifions, which the Jews confidered as a modo
of inftruction fuperior to dreams [p], the Prophet
was convinced of his fubjection to a divine power, by
the miraculous fufpenfion of his common faculties ;
for though on thefe occafions the infpired perfon was
awake, his fenfes were entranced [ qJ, and infenfi-?
ble to all external objects ; or fo far enraptured, as
to be alive only to impreffions from extatic reprefen-r
tations [r]. He was likewife often certified, as in
dreams, by diftinct admonitions of fome particulars
readily afcertained, and enabled to forefee fome cir
cumftances which immediately came to pafs.
In all the cafes here defcribed, the Prophets could
not, without doubting the cleareft and moft palpable
evidence, diftruft the truth of the revelations which
they received ; and with refpect to us, we have am
ple reafon from a collective confideration of their
writings, to be convinced that their infpiration was
accompanied with fufficient characters to diftinguifh
it from the dreams of enthufiafm, or the vifions of
[p] Maim. More Nevoch, Par. II. cap. xiv. and Bayley's
EfTay on Infpiration.
[ oj Nilmb. xxiv. 16.
[r] Ifaiah vi. 1. Ezek. xl. 2. Dan. viii. 17, 18. X. 8.
Acts x. 11. Y 3 fancy.

32<J GENERAL PREFACE
fancy [s]. Tfie accompliffiment of their predictions,
and the purity 6f their doctrines, are indeed irrefra
gable proofs of their divine appointment to prophefy,
and to inftruct mankind.
Upon all occafions on which the Prophets are
related to have been favoured with an intimation of
the divine will, we find that they betrayed no fymp-
toms of a credulous or heated imagination. Cautious
and deliberate in their examination of miraculous re
velations, they appear to have hefitated at firft as
doubtful of their reality ; and often required a fign,
or fome additional evidence, to ratify the commiffion
which they received, and to authorife their reliance
on the divine fupport in its execution. This calm
and rational temper, which rendered the Prophets
diftruftful of their own fenfes if fingly addreffed,
and folicitous to fcrutinize the reality of every ap
pearance, however miraculous in its circumftances,
demonftrates clearly that they were not the dupes of
their own fancy ; and that they expected no reverence
for their commiffion, unlefs characterized with the
fanctions and authority of divine appointment ; and
very ftriking marks of this difpofition were difplayed
by the Prophets, as may be inftanced in the cafe of
Mofes [tJ, in that of Samuel [y], and in that of
Jonah [x].
[s3 Bifhop Hurd's fourth Introd. Sermon on Prophec.
Smith's Difcourfe. Jer. xxiii. 28~
[tJ Exod. iii. and iv.
[y] i Sam. iii.
[x] Jonah i.
Unber

Td THE PROPHETS. #27
IJnder the immediate influence ofthe impreffions
which the Prophets received from thefe communica
tions, they appear to have executed their commiffion
by uttering their inftructions with a divine enthu
fiafm. Enraptured by the effects of that infpiration
which had enlightened their minds, and urged by the
efficacy of a controlling power [y], they delivered
their predictions in an animated and impreffive man
ner, and often with fome bodily actions and geftures
[z]. Thefe' naturally accompanied an earneft de
livery of important convictions, and as reftricted in
confiftency with the dignity and venerable deport
ment of the Prophets, they were very different from
thofe frenzied and extravagant gefticulations by which
impoftors have fought to recommend and enforce
their fantaftic rhapfodies [a].
The word prophecy is often ufed in fcripture to
fignify the finging of praifes to God; in hymns
doubtlefs of infpired excellence, and occafionally
animated with predictions of futurity [b]. The
fpirit of prophecy, in this fenfe of the word, appears
fometimes by God's permiffion, to have communi-
[y] Ifa. xxi. 3. Jerem. xx. 9. Dan. x. 8. Amos iii. 8.
[z] Numb. xxiv. 4, 16. Ezek. iii. 14. Habakkuk iii. 16.
R, Albo, Lib. III. c. x. Smith's Difc.
[a] Chryfoft. Homil. xxix. in 1 Cor. Hieron. Pra:f. in
Nahum. and Proleg. in Habac. Lucan, Lib. V. Schol. in
Plutum. Ariftoph. iEneid, Lib. VI. Plato in Timauim. Jamb.
de Myft. feet. 3. c. ix. Epiphan. adv. Hsr. L. II. f. 1. c. 3.
p. 404.
[b] Hammond on Luke i. 67. Numb. xi. 25. The Chal
dee Paraphraft tranflates ed'HUJ, " praifing GoJ." 1 Chron.
xxv. I.
Y 4 cated

32'S GENERAL PREFACE
cated itfelf to thofe who heard others prophefy, the
divine afflatus being conveyed by a kind of fympa-
thy, and harmonious affection [c]. The Prophets
who were educated in thofe fchools of which the in
ftitution is attributed to Samuel [d], were principally
employed in this fpiritual fervice ; and thus by being
exercifed in habits of piety, and duly attuned and
fandtified for the reception of the divine fpirit, they
feem to have been often favoured and enlightened by
its fuggeftions. The more remarkable prophecies,
however, which referred to diftant periods, which
received their accompliffiment in after ages, and ftill
continue to excite our admiration, were delivered by
perfons, often indeed felected from thefe fchools,
but evidently endued with a larger portion of the
fpirit, and more eminently diftinguifhed by the marks-.
of divine fav6ur.
Such were the principal^ if not the only modes
by which God voUchfafed to reveal himfelf to the
prophets ; always, we have feen, in a manner con
fiftent with the greatnefs of his attributes, and with
the dignity of the prophetic character ; and all thofe
communications which in fcripture are faid to have
been derived from God without any particular de
fcription [e] of the manner in which they were con
veyed,
[c] i Sam. x. 5 — !io. xix. 20 — 24. Smith's Difc. on Pro
phecy. And Lowth's Pnelecl. Poet. 18. p. 225.
[ d J Preface to Second Book of Samuel.
-['e] As when we are told, '<"thus faith the Lord;" or, " the
word df Khe \&& came;" Which is -fometimes applied to per fons

TO THE PROPHETS, 329
veyed, muft be underftood to have been received by
one of thofe channels which have been here pointed
out. The Prophets, as might be expected from the
diftinguiffied marks of divine approbation which they
received, feem to have been Angularly qualified for
the facred miniftry. It is not meant to include in
this confideration thofe perfons of condemned or
ambiguous character, who are reprefented in fcrip
ture as compelled occafionally to give utterance to
the fuggeftions of the facred fpirit; but confining
purfelves to a contemplation of thofe who are de
clared to have been the appointed fervants of God,
and whofe infpired writings ftill continue to inftruct
ftiarikind, it 'may be affirmed, that in the long and
flluftrious fucceffion from Mofes to Malachi, not one
appears who was not entitled to confiderable re
verence by the difplay of great and extraordinary
virtues [f]. Employed \n die exalted office of teach ing
fons not endued with the prophetic character. Thefe expreffions
import only, that the inftru&ion was conveyed by the means
then appointed, whether by angel, urim, prophet, or dream.
Vid. Gen. xxii. 1. with Calmet. Jofhua i. 1. 1 Kings iii. 1 1.
Jer. i. 2—4. Hofea i. .1. &c. Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. II.
c xii.
[f] 2 Pet. i. 21. The Hebrew doctors coifed this general
flak ftom a confideration of the characters of the Prophets,
•hat the fpirit. of prophecy never refted upon any but a holy
and wife man ; one whofe .paffions were allayed. Vid. R»
Albo Maam. iii. ,c. 36. Porta Mofis in Pocock's works. Abarb.
ff*f. in xii. Prophet. Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. II.
c. xxxvi.

330 GENERAL preface
ing and reforming mankind, they appear to have
been animated with a becoming and correfpondent
zeal. No unworthy paffions, nor difingenuous mo
tives, were permitted to interfere with their great
defigns. Not, indeed, that they were always direct
ed by the guidance of the fpirit to undeviating pro
priety of life, fince it is manifeft that they fometimes
acted as unaffifted men fubject to error; but not
withftanding thofe failings which their own ingenuous
confeffions have unveiled, it appears, that in general
their paffions were controlled in fubjection to thofe
perfect laws which they taught, and that the ftrength
of their convictions rendered them infenfible to fe-
cular attractions. When not immediately employed
in the difcharge of their facred office, they lived fe- ,
queftered from the world in religious communities
[g] ; or wandered " in deferts, in mountains, and
in caves of the earth ;" diftinguiffied by their ap
parel, and by the general fimplicity of their ftile of
life [h]. They were the eftabliffied oracles of their
country, and confulted upon all occafions when it
was neceflary to collect the divine will on any civil
or religious queftion ; and we hear of no fchifms or
divifions while they flourifhed. They even con-
c. xxxvi. Vid. alfo, Origen. cont. Celf. Lib. VII. p. 336.
edit. Cantab. Gem. Pefac. c. vi. The rule however is not uni
verfally true. Vid. Numb. xxiv.
[c] There were fchools ofthe Prophets at Jerufalem, Bethel,
Jericho, Ramah, and Gilgal. Vid, 2 Kings xxii. 14. 2 King*
ii. 5. 1 Sam. xix. 20. 2 Kings iv. 38.
[h] 1 Kings i. 9. iv. 10, 38. vi. 1. Ifa. xx. 2* Matt, iii.4.
Heb. xi. 38. Rev. xi. 3. defcended

TO THE PROPHETS. 331
4efcended to inform the people of common concerns
in trivial cafes, in order to preclude them from all
pretence or excufe for reforting to idolatrous prac
tices, and heathen divinations ; and they were alwajs
furnifhed with fome prefcribed mode of confulting
God, or obtained revelations by prayer [i] ; for we
are not to fuppofe that they were invariably empow
ered to prophefy by any permanent or perpetual infpi
ration [k]. Thefe illuftrious perfonages were likewife
as well the types, as the harbingers of that greater Pro
phet whom they foretold ; and in the general outline of
their character, as well as in particular events of their
lives, they prefigured to the Jews the future teacher
of mankind. Like him, alfo, they laboured by every
exertion, to inftrudt and reclaim; reproving and
threatening the finful, however exalted in rank, or
encircled by power, with fuch fearlefs confidence and
fincerity, as often excited refpect. The moft intem
perate princes were fometimes compelled unwillingly
to hear and to obey their directiqns [lJ, though
often fo incenfed by their rebuke, as to refent it by-1
the fevereft perfecutions. Then it was that the Pro
phets evinced the integrity of their characters, by
zealoufly encountering oppreffion, hatred, and death,
in the caufe of religion, Then it was that they firmly
•
[i] Jerem. xxxiii. 3.
[k] Maimon. More Nevoch, Pars II. cap. xxxvi. & xiv.
Mofes, and as fome fay, David, were fuppofed to be exceptions
to this remark, and to have been perpetually infpired.
[l] 1 Kings xii. 21 — 24. »"• 2 — 6. xx. 42, 43. xxi. 27.
2 Chron. xxviii. 9 — 14, fupported
3

23% GENERAL PREFACE
fupported " trial of cruel mockings and fcourgings ;
yea, moreover, of bonds and imprifonment. They
were ftoned, they were fawn afunder, were tempted,
were flain with the fword: they wandered about, def
titute, afflicted, tormented [m] ;" evil intreated for
thofe virtues of which the memorial ffiould flourifh to
pofterity, and martyred for righteoufnefs, which when
ever refentment ffiould fubfide, it would be deemed
honourable to reverence [n].
The manner in which the Prophets publifhed their
predictions, was either by uttering them aloud in
fome public place, or by affixing them on the gates
of the temple [o], where they might be generally
feen and read. Upon fome important occafions,
when it was neceffary to roufe the fears of a dif
obedient people, and to recal them to repentance*
the Prophets, as objects of univerfal attention, appear
to have walked about publicly in fackcloth, and with
every external mark of humiliation and forrow.
They then adopted extraordinary modes of expreff-
ing their convictions of impending wrath, and en
deavoured to awaken the apprehenfions of their
country, by the moft ftriking illuftration of threaten
ed puniffiment. Thus Jeremiah made bonds and
yokes, and put them upon his neck [p], ftrongly to
intimate
[m] Heb. xi. 36. k feq. James v. 10,
[ n J Matt, xxiii. 27'— 29.
[oj Jer. vii. 2. iii. 10. Howel, Lib. VI. p. 167.
[pj Jerem. xxvii. It is clear from the account in the next
chapter, that Jeremiah put the yoke on his own neck. Vid.
chap.

TO THE PROPHETS. 323
intimate the fubjection that God would bring on the
nations whom Nebuchadnezzar fhould fubdue. Ifaiah
likewife walked naked, that is, without the rough
garment of the Prophet [ q^], artd barefoot [rJ, as a
fign of the diftrefs that awaited the Egyptians. So
Jeremiah broke the potter's veffel [s] ; and Ezekiel
publickly removed his houfehold goods [t] from
the city; more forcibly to reprefent by thefe ac
tions fome correfpondent calamities ready, to fall on
nations obnoxious to God's wrath j this mode of
snap, xxxviii. 10. So alfo, I Kings xxii. 1 1. Acts xxi. ii.
Jut, as to fend bonds and yokes may imply only figuratively, to
predict, captivity, it is not neceffary to fuppofe that Jeremiah
literally fent yokes and bonds to all the kings enumerated in
the account, but only that he foretold their fate ; perhaps il-
luftrating his prophecy by fome fignificant tokens. Vid. Mede's
Com. on Apocal. Part I. p. 470. Waterland's Trafts on
Jerem. xxvii. 23.
[ <^] Ifa. xx. Harmer's Obfervat. vol. iv. p. 402. John xxi. 7,
Origen cont. Celf. Lib. VII. p. 336.
{r] It is faid in the text, three years, which means at inter
vals during that time. Some think that we fhould underftand
three" days; a year being fometimes placed in prophetic lan
guage for a day. Others maintain, that the Hebrew text, agree
ably to the Maforetic pun£tuation, applies the three years, not
to Ifaiah's walking, but to the calamity thereby forefhewn,
and the Seventy, St. Jerom, and our old Englifh verfions,
adopt this conftruction. Others, laftly, confider the account
as the narrative of a tranfaftion in vifion, or as a parable
related by Ifaiah.
[s] Jerem. xix.
[t] Ezek. xii. 7. compared with 2 Kings xxv. 4, 5. where
the accomplifhment of this typical prophecy is related. Vid.
alfo, Ezek. xxxvii, x6 — 20, «xpre fling

334 GENERAL PREFACE
expreffing important circumftances by action, being
Cuftomary and familiar among all Eaftern nations.
The conduct of the Prophets upon thefe occafions
muft be confidered with reflection on the importance
of their miniftry ; and with great allowance for dif
ference of manners in their time ; and then will this
mode of prophefying by actions, appear to have been
not only very ftriking and impreffive, but ftrictly
agreeable to the defign and decorum of the pro
phetic character. It has, however, been ftrenuoufly
maintained, that many actions attributed to the Pro
phets, and even fome of thofe which have been here
reprefented as real, were not actually performed;
and that many of thefe accounts ffiould be confidered
as parables related by the Prophets ; or as defcrip
tive of tranfactions in vifion, intended ftrongly to
imprefs the imagination of the Prophets, and to in
form them fymbolically of thofe things in which they
were to inftruct the people [u]. So very pofitive
have been the fentiments on both fides, of thofe who
have fupported thefe oppofite opinions, that it would
be prefumptuous to decide on the fubject. The
Prophets themfelves fometimes inform us only of
certain commands which they received, without ex-*
[ u ] Where it is faid, that " the hand of the Lord was upon
the Prophet," or " the word of the Lord came unto him," it
is generally thought, that a vifion is defcribed ; and where the
inftruftion of the Prophet only was defigned, the tranfafticn
was probably confined to the fcene ofthe Prophet's imagination.
Xid. Gen. xv. 4, 5. Jerem. i. 11, 13. xviii. 1 — 4. xxiv. 1 — 4.
Ezek. iii. 22 — 27. viii. xxxvii, plaining

TO. THE PROPHETS. 23$
plaining whether they underftood them as figurative
inftructions to be defcribed to the people, or whether
they literally obeyed them. This appears in the
account given by Ezekiel, in which he informs us,
that he was directed to make a mimic portraiture of
a fiege, and to continue a great length of time lying
on his fide ; as alfo in that, in which he declares
himfelf to have been commanded to ffiave and to
confume his hair [x]. The nature of thefe injunc
tions feems to import only fome figurative inftructions
given, and obeyed in vifion [y]. At other times
the Prophets defcribe not merely the precept, but
the tranfaction, with particulars fo minutely and cir-
cumftantially detailed, that we might be led to ad
mit a pofitive hiftorical fenfe, did not the difficulties
[x] Ezekiel iv. and v.
[y] It is not pofitively afferted, that thefe injunctions were
not literally executed, but that, probably they never were, fince
Ezekiel does not profefs actually to have performed them ;
and the nature of the thing feems to prove, that they were
acted only in the imagination of the Prophet. But if the
hiftorical fenfe be received, it certainly may be vindicated from
all objections. Ezekiel might have been miraculoufly enabled
to bear the fatigue of lying fo long on his tide ; and the -ob
jection of Maimonides to the reality of the fecond tranfa&ion is
frivolous, for though it was unlawful for the prieft to ihave
(Vid. Levit. xxv. 5. Ezek. xliv. 20.) the Law might certainly
be difpenfed with, by God's command; and, as uncuftomary, it
muft have been more remarkable as a ftgn. The portraiture of
fie fiege, as reprefented by the Prophet, whether it were real
or wfionary, was defcriptive of the circumftances that occurred
at the takjng of Jeru&Iem. Compare Ezek, 1 — 3. with Jofeph.
Astio,. Lib, X. c, xi, and

23& GENERAL PREFACE
and inadequate advantage of an actual performance
tend to demonftrate that the fcene muft have been
fictitious. Thus, however circumftantial be the re
lation of Jeremiah, relative to his concealment ofthe
girdle, it is difficult to conceive that God ffiould
command the Prophet to take, two fuch long journies
[z] merely for the purpofe of this typical illuftration
[a]. Nor was it poffible, without miracles multi
plied for a purpofe which might as well have been
effected by a prophetic vifion, that Jeremiah ffiould
make the various nations which he enumerates, drink
of the cup of fury, which he profeffed to have received
at God's hand [b]. Thefe tranfactions, if performed
-in vifion, might be defcribed by the Prophets as figns
and intimations to thofe whom they addreffe d. 1 he
[z] Jerem. xiii. " Ahfit," fays Maimonides, in a fpirit of
hafty and indignant piety, " ut Deus Prophetas fuos fluids
vel Ebriis fimiles reddat." But this judicious writer appears
to judge too precipitately, and contrary to the opinion of his
countrymen, where he determines, that, whenever thefe aftions
are reprefented by way of parable, or fimilitude, they muft be
underftood as vifionary tranfattions. Vid. More Nevoeh,
Par. II. c. xlvi. Hieron. Prooem. in Ofee. Stillingfleet's Let
ter toa Deift, p. 131.
[a] From Jerufalem to the Euphrates, was about 200 leagues.
Bochart conceives, that as the initial letter of names and places
is often dropped, the Hebrew word phrath, may ftand for Ephrath,
or Ephratah, which was Bethlehem, about fix miles from Jeru
falem. Vid. Bochart. Open Poft. p. 956.
[b] Jerem. xxv. 15 — 29. This might be a direction to me
Prophet, inftructing him figuratively to predict: God's anger,
and the Prophet may be fuppofed to have obeyed it in a figura
tive fenfo. 9 people

TO THE PROPHETS. 337
people would not indeed be fo ftrongly affected there
by, as if they had really witneffed the performance of
thefe actions ; and it muft be added, that where the
circumftances do not abfolutely authorize us to fup
pofe that the Prophet fpeaks of tranfactions in vifion,
and where the action might reafonably and advantage
oufly to the Prophet's defigns be literally performed,
it is more confiftent with the rules that ffiould be ob
ferved in the interpretation of fcripture, to admit a
literal and pofitive conftrudtiort [c].
It is now neceffary to confider more immediately
the writings of the Prophets, It is probable from
the variety of ftile obfervable in thefe, that the Holy
Spirit fuggefted in general, only the matter; and not
the words, to the Prophets [d]; and this idea is con
firmed, when we reflect that our Saviour ahd his
apoftles cited in general more according to the fenfe*
than to the letter of fcripture [e], and commonly
from the Septuagint verfion, at leaft, when it did
not differ from the Hebrew original. Mofes is by
fome fuppofed to have been an exception in this par
ticular, and to have received the very words and
phrafes in which the communications that he ob-
[c] Witfius Mifcel. vol. i. p. 94. Garpzov. Ihtrod, Par. III.
p. 56.' Foeock on Hofea, chi i. 2. Smith's Difc. on Prophecy,
ch. vi. Jenkin's Reafonab. vol. ii. p. 50. Lakemacher Obferv,
Philol. vol. ii. p. 70. Waterland's Trafts. Warburt. Div.
Legat, Lib. IV. fecf. 4.
[d] Maimon. More Nevoch. Par. II. cap. xxix. Origen,"
Epift. ad African.
[e] Abarbinel in Jer. xlix. Z tained

338 GENERAL PREFACE
tained are defcribed [f]. But this remark muft at
leaft be confined to the decalogue, of which the laws
were graven on the tablets by God himfelf; and
even in the recapitulation of thefe in Moab, Mofes
varies a little in the expreffions, to intimate, proba
bly, that the fenfe, and not the letter, is the impor
tant object of attention. Upon all occafions, how
ever, when the Prophets were addreffed by an audible
voice, doubtlefs they recollected by divine affiftance
every word and expreffion in which the revealed in
ftructions were conveyed. Where they collected
their information from the reprefentation of hiero-
glyphical circumftances in dreams and vifions, they
were probably left to exprefs in their own language
the things which they had beheld. And hence is
the ftile of every Prophet more or lefs confpicuous,
according to the nature and clearnefs of the revela
tion imparted to him [g], and likewife characterized
with peculiar difcriminations refulting from educa
tion, and particular intercourfe and habits of 'life.
It cannot however be denied, that fometimes the
Prophets were inftructed in the very expreffions
which they ffiould ufe [h] ; and when writing under
the influence of that infpiration which dictated what-
[f] Bifhop Hurd on Prophecy. Holden's Paraphrafe on
Ifaiah. Lowth on Ifaiah. Whitby's Preface to Com. Gem.
Sanhed. [g] Zachary's, Ezekiel's, and Daniel's Prophecies, are fome
times obfcure from the multitude of images reprefented to their
imaginations in vifion. Vid. R. Albo, c^>. x.
[h] i Cor. ii. 13. ever

TO THE PROPHETS. 239
ever was conducive to the promotion of God's defig'nsi
they delivered both fentiments and expreffions, of
which they themfelves underftood not always the full
importance and extent [i]. Senfible ofthe predomi
nating power [k], they communicated their divine-
intelligence as the fpirit gave utterance ; conveying
prophecies of which neither they, nor their hearers,
probably, perceived the full fcope, nor forefaw dis
tinctly the fpiritual accompliffiment ; writing for the
advantage of thofe that were to come after, and to'
furnifh evidence in fupport of a future difpenfation.
The great object of prophecy was, as has been
before obferved, a defcription of the Meffiah, and
of his kingdom f l]. Thefe were gradually unfolded
by fucceffive Prophets, in predictions more arid more
diftinct. They were at firft held forth in- general
promifes ; they were afterwards defcribed by figures,
and fhadowed out under types and allufive inftitu
tions ; as well as clearly foretold in the full luftre of
defcriptive prophecy. A' complete explication of the
fcripture types v/ould require more compafs than can
be here allowed. It may, however, be obferved by
way of general illuftration, that the remarkable per-
fonages under the old difpenfation were fometimes in
[i] Dan. viii. 13, 14, 26, 27. xiii 8. 1 Cor. xiii. 9—12.
J Pet. i. 10, n, ii.
[tf] Jerem. xx. 9. Ezek. iii. 14.
[t] Matt. -xxvi. 56. Luke i. 70. xviii. 31. xxiv. 44. Johri
1. 45. Acts iii. 18, 24. x. 43. xiii. 27. xv. 15. xxviii. 23.
1 Pet. i. to— 12. Maimon. in Sanh. R. Solomon Jarchi, in
Zechar. ix. Lowman on Prophecy.
Z 2 the

34° GENERAL PREFACE
the defcription of their characters, and in the events
of their lives [m], the reprefentatiyes of the future
difpenfers of evangelical bleffings, as Mofes and
David were unqueftionably types of Chrift [n]. Per
fons likewife were fometimes defcriptive of things,
as Sarah and Hagar were allegorical figures of the
two covenants [o]. And on the other hand, things
were ufed to fymbolize perfons, as the brazen fer-
pent, and the Pafchal Lamb [p], were figns of our
healing and fpotlefs Redeemer. And fo, laftly,
ceremonial appointments, and legal circumftances,
were pre-ordained as fignificant of Gofpel inftitu
tions [qJ.
Hence it was that many of the defcriptions of the
Prophets had a twofold character : bearing often an
immediate reference to prefent circumftances, and
yet being in their nature predictive of future occur
rences. What they reported of the type was often
in a more fignal manner applicable to the thing ty
pified [r] j what they fpoke literally of prefent, was
f mJ Matt. xii. 40.
[nJ Ezek. xxxiv. 23. Vid. alfo, Matt. xi. 14. Heb. vi. 20.
vii. 1 — 3.
[o] Gal. iv. 22—31. and Rom. ix. 8 — 13.-
[p] John iii. 14. Comp. alfo, Exod. xii. 46. with John
xix. 36.
[ qJ 1 Cor. x. 1 — 11. Heb. viii. 5. ix. x. 1 Pet. iii. 20,
22. Eufeb. Prap. Evang. Lib. VIII. cf x. Lowth'* Preface to
Comm. on Prophets. Lowth's Preface to Ifaiah. Vid. alfo,
The Accounts of Exodus and Leviticus.
[ r] Pfalm xxi. 4, 5, 6. xl. 1, 7 — 10. Canticles. Lament, iii.
1—30. Pfa. xii. 9. «omp. with John xiii. 18. Dan. xi. 36, 37.
figuratively

TO THE PROPHETS. 34I
figuratively defcriptive of future particulars [s] ; and
what was applied in a figurative fenfe to exifting
perfons, was often actually charadteriftic of their
diftant archetypes [t]. Many paffages, then, in the
Old Teftament, which in their firft afpect appear to
be hiftorical, are in fact prophetic, and they are fo
cited in the New Teftament, not by way of ordinary
accommodation, or cafual coincidence, but as inten
tionally predictive, as having a double fenfe, a literal,
and myftical interpretation [u].
This mode of wrapping up religious truths in
allegory, was practifed by all nations [x]. It was
familiar to the Jews, and agreeable to their ideas of
the nature of the fcriptures [y]. It gives, likewife,
great interefb and importance to the facred book ;
in the perufal of which the diligent are daily recom-
penfed by the difcovery of more admirable con
trivance, and unexpected beauties ; the intimate ana
logy which was concerted between the Jewiffi and
the Chriftian church, rendering this figurative difplay
ftrikingly proper and curious.
[s] Pfalms and Prophets, paffim.
|>] Pfalm xxii. 16—18. &c.
[v] Comp. Hofea xi, 1. with Matt. ii. 15.
[x] Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. V.
[v] Pfalm cxix. 18. Ecclus. xlviii. 10. and Mede's Difc.
c xxv. Ails viii. 34. Maimon, More Nevoch, Part II,
c, xliii. R, David Kimchi on Hofea i. 4, in Bemidbar Rab.
in Voifin on Pug. f. p, 154. M. B. Ifrael fpes Ifraelis, fe£t.
25, Philo de Vit. Conte'm. p. 893. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. III.
cap. ix. Origen. c. Celf. Lib. II. p. 59. Chandler's Def.
(eft. 5. ch, iii.
Z 3 Besides.

343 GENERAL PREFACE
Besides thofe hiftorical paffages of which the co-?
vert allufions were explained by the interpretation of
the Gofpel writers, who were enlightened by the
fpirit to unfold the myfteries of fcripture, the Pro
phets ofteii uttered pofitive predictions, which in
.confequence of the correfpondence eftabliffied be
tween the two difpenfations were defcriptive of a
double event; however they might be themfelves
ignorant of the full extent of thofe prophecies which
they delivered. For inftance, their promifes of prer
fent fuccefs and deliverances^ were often fignificant
of diftant benefits, and fecular confolations conveyed
affurances of evangelical bleffings [z]. Thus their
prophecies received completion in a firft and fecon-
dary view. As being, in part, figns to excite con
fidence, they had an immediate accompliffiment, but
were afterwards fulfilled in a more illuftrious fenfe
[a] ; the Prophets being infpired by the fuggeftions
of the fpirit, to ufe expreffions magnificent enough
to include the fubftance in the defcription of the
figure. That many of the prophecies in the Old
Teftament were direct, and fingly and' exclufively
[z] 2 Sam. vii. 13, 14. comp. with Heb. i. 5. Penfees de
Pafcal, left. 10, 14.
[a] 1 Kings xiii. 2, 3. Ifaiah vii. 14. and Matt. i. 22.
Comp- Dan. ix. 27. and xii. 7. with 1 Mace. i. 54. and Matt.
xxiv. 15. Vitringa Obfer. Sac. Lib. VI. cap. xx. &c. Glaflii
Philo. Sac. Lib. II. Witfii Mifcel. Sac. torn. i. Lib. III. cap.
iii. and Lib. II. Diff. 1, 2. iEcon. Feed. Lib. IV. c. vi — x.
Sixt. Senen. in Bib. Sandt. Cunseus "Rep. Heb. Jenkin's
Reafon. Penfees de Pafcal, ch. xv. n. 13. Jackfqn's Works,
vol. ii. B. vii. feft. 2. applicable

TO THE PROPHETS. 343
applicable to, and accompliffied in our Saviour, is
certain [b] ; and that fome paffages from the Old
Teftament are cited only by way of accommodation
to circumftances defcribed in the New, is, perhaps,
equally true [c]. ' But that this typical kind of pro
phecy was likewife employed is evident, as well from
the interpretation of the paffages above referred to,
as from the application of many other parts of fcrip
ture by the facred writers, and, indeed, from their
exprefs declarations [d].
It requires much attention to comprehend the
full import and extent of this typical difpenfation,
and the chief obfcurities which prevail in the facred
writings are to be attributed to the double character'
of prophecy [e]. To unravel this, is, however, an
interefting and inftructive ftudy; though an admi
ration of the fpiritual meaning ffiould never lead us to
difregard or undervalue the firft and evident fignifi
cation ; for many great men have been fo dazzled by
[b] Gen, xlix. 10. Pfal. xiii. xiv. Ifaiah lii. Iiii, Dan.
vii. 13, 14. Micah v. 2. Zechar, ix. 9. Mal, iii. I. Origen.
cont. Celf. Lib. I, p. 39.
[c] Comp. Exod. xvi. 18. with 2 Cor. viii. 15. Many paf
fages, however, fuppofed accidentally to correfpond, feem to
have been defignedly prophetic. Comp. Ifaiah xxix. 13. with
Matt. xv. 7, 8. Ifaiah vi. 9. with Matt. xiii. 14. Pfa. Ixxii. 2.
with Matt. xiii. 35. Jerem. xxxi. 15. with Matt. ii. 17.
[d] Hof. xii. 10. 1 Cor. x. 11. Heb. ix. x. Gal. iii. 24.
Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. V. p. 140. Hilar, in Pfa. Ixiii. n. z, 3.
Auguft. de Doft. Chrift. Lib.TH. c. ix. Waterland'x Preface to
Scrip. Vindic. and Lancafter's Abridg. of Daubuz.
[e] Pfeiffer-Hermeneut. Sac. p. 633. Chand. Z>ef. fed. I.
Lowth's Vindic. of Old and New Teft.
Z 4 their

344 GENERAL PREFACE
their difcoveries in this mode of explication, as to
be hurried into wild and extravagant excefs ; as is
evident from the writings of Qrigen [f], and St.
Jerom [c] ; as alfo from the commentaries of St.
Auftin, who acknowledges [h] that he had too far
indulged in the fancies of an exuberant imagination,
declaring that the other parts of fcripture are the beft
commentaries. The apoftles and the evangelifts are,
indeed, the beft expofitors ; but where thefe infalli
ble guides have led the way, we need not hefitate to
follow their fteps by the light of clear reafon, and
juft analogy.
It is this double character of prophecy which oc
cafions thofe unexpected tranfitions and fudden br
terchange of circumftance fo obfervable in the pro
phetic books. Hence different predictions are fome-,
times blended and mixed together [i] ; temporal and
fpiritual
[f] Origen was a fcholar of Clemens Alexandrinus, who de
rived his tafte for allegory from the works of Philo the Jew.
Vid. Phot. Cod. 105. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IV. cap. xix,
Hieron. Epift. ad Mag. Smallbrooke's Anfwer to Woolfton,
vol. L p, 93. •
[g] He profeffes, in the fervor of youthful fancy, to have
fpiritualized Obadiah, before he underftood it, and prefers his
hiftorical explications as a work Matura Senefiutis. Vid. Procem,
in Abdiam, [h] Auguft. Petraft. vol. i. cap. xviii. He contended for a
fourfold fenfe of fcripture. Vid. Glaffii Philol. II. p. 255. et
feq. Vitringa Obferv. Sac. Bib. VI. c. xx.
[ 1 ] As thofe which refer to the firft and fecond reftoration
of the Jews, and to the firft and fecond coming of Chrift; the
Prophets taking occafion from the defcription of near, ta
launch

TO THE PROPHETS. 24-$
Spiritual deliverances are foretold in one prophecy ;
and great and fmaller events are combined in one
point of view. Hence likewife one chain of con
nected defign runs through the whole fcheme of pro
phecy; and a, continuation of events fucceffively ful
filling, and fucceffively branching out into new pre
dictions, continued to confirm the faith, and to keep
alive the expectations of the Jews. Hence was it
the character of the prophetic fpirit to be rapid in its
defcriptions, and regardlefs of the order of hiftory ;
to pafs with quick and unexpected celerity from fub
ject to fubject, and from period to period. " And
we muft allows" fays Lord Bacon [k], " for that
latitude .that is agreeable and familiar to prophecy,
which is of the nature of its author, with whom a
thoufand years are but as one day." The whole of
the great fcheme muft have been at once prefent to
the divine mind, but God defcribed its parts in detail
to mankind ; in fuch meafures, and in fuch propor
tions, that the connection of every link was obvious,
and its relations apparent in every point of view, till
the harmony and entire confiftency of the plan were
difplayed to thofe who witneffed its perfection in the
advent of Chrift.
It may be farther obferved of prophecy as it ap
pears in the facred writings, that it was " a light
fhining in a. dark place [l] ;" that it was not gene-
launch out into that of diftant circumftances, as did our Saviour
in his famous Prophecy. Vid. Matt. xxiv. Vid. Preface tp
Ifaiah. [k] Bacon de Augm, Sclent, Lib. II,
[l-] 2 Peter i. 19. rally

346 GENERAL PREFACE
rally defigned to be fo clear as to excite an expecta
tion of particular events, or a defire of counteract
ing forefeen calamities [m] ; but that it was intended
in the accompliffiment of its predictions to demon
ftrate the wifdom and power of God [n]. It was
fufficiently exact in its defcriptions to authenticate its
pretenfions to a divine authority, and to produce
when it came to pafs, an acknowledgment of its un
erring certainty. Had it been more clear, it muft
have controlled the freedom of human actions ; or
have appeared to have produced its own accompliffi
ment, furnifhing finners with a plea of neceffity [o].
Had the period likewife of the Meffiah's advent been
at firft diftinctly and precifely revealed, the Jews
would have difregarded fo diftant an hope. Some
times, however, when occafion required, the pre
dictions of the Prophets were pofitive, and exactly
defcriptive [p], and occafionally delivered with an
[mJ Had the Jews certainly known Chrift to have been the
predicted Meffiah, they would not have crucified the Lord of life.
Vid. Adts xiii. 27. iii. 17. %
[n] Sir Ifaac Newton on Dan. p. 251. Hurd on Prophecy,
Serm. ii. John xiii. 19. xvi. 4. Lowth's Vindication of the
Divine Authority of the Old and New Teft. p. 171. The pro
phecies relative to the Meffiah muft have appeared very obfcure
and irreconcileable with each other before the appearance of
Chrift, as they referred both to his human and divine character,
to his earthly fufferings and future exaltation.
[o] Lowth's Vindicat. p. yj.
[p] Numb. xxiv. 17. Ifa. ix. 6. Zechar. ix. 9. xi. 12, 13.
Dan. ii. 38 — 45. Mal. i. 1. iii. I. accurate

TO THE PROPHETS. 347
accurate and definite defignation of names and times
[ qJ, And though the character and kingdom of
Chrift were at firft held out in general and indeter
minate promifes, yet fo emphatic were the affurances
as the time approached, and fo peremptory the limita
tion of its period; fo forcible and particular were the
prophecies concerning the Meffiah, when collected and
concentered into one point of view ; that about the
sera of our Saviour's birth, a very general perfuafion
of the inftant appearance of fome great and extraor
dinary perfonage prevailed, not only in Judasa, but
alfo in other countries ; as is evident from the ac
counts of various writers [r], facred and pro
phane [s].
It has been very erroneoufly imagined, that the
Prophets and infpired writers of the Old Teftament
took but little pains to inftrudt the Ifraelites in the
doctrine of a future ftate ; and that in their exhort
ations and threats, they confined themfelves entirely
to motives of temporal reward and puniffiment. And
[ qJ Geri. xy. 13, Numb. xiy. 33. Jerem. xxv. 11, 12.
Dan. ix. 24, 25. Micah v. 2.
[rJ New Teft. paffim. Vid, alfo, 1 Mace. iv. 46. xiv. 41.
and Preface, to the Hiftorical Books, p. 133, note o.
[sj Cicero de Divin. Lib. II. Tacit. Hiftor. Lib. V. Sueton.
Vefpaf. c. iv. Virgil's Eclog. iv. iEneid VI. 1. 791. et feq.
Juftin. in Oftav. c. xciv. Voffius de Sibyl. Orac. c. iv. Cud-
worth's Intel!. Syit. B. I. civ. Boyle's Left. vol. ii. c. 516.
Nechuminas, a Jewifh Rabbi, is faid to have affirmed, about 50
years before the birth of Chrift, that the appearance of the Mef
fiah could not be delayed above 50 years ; collecting his opinion,
probably, from the prophecies of Daniel. it

348 GENERAL PREFACE
it has been as ftrangely afferted, that though the
Jews thought with the reft of mankind, that the
foul furvived the body, yet that they fimply con-
eluded that it returned to him who gave it, without
any interefting fpeculations eoncerning its ftate of
furvivorffiip [t]. But though, as it has been before
obferved [u], Mofes annexed only temporal fanctions
to his laws', (which by no means excluded, but were
indeed underftood to be figurative of greater promifes
[x],) yet the Prophets in their addreffes to the hopes
and fears of their countrymen, unqueftionably held
out the encouragement of eternal happinefs, and the
terrors of eternal mifery. It is certain alfo, that
the Jews looked anxioufly forward to that ftate of
immortality which they expected to inherit, not
merely from the general conviction of a future ftate
of exiftence, which as an obvious truth they in
common with all other nations entertained ; but
from the more pofitive and particular information
that they obtained from revealed accounts ; for not
to mention that the general denunciations of God's
wrath muft have been underftood to involve declara-
\.
[ t ] Le Clerc, Warburton, &c, Vid. Div. Legat. Book V,
feft. 6. p. 476.
[u] Preface to Pentateuch, p. 61.
[xj Heb. xi. 8 — 16, 25, 26. Hence it is, that Maimonides
obferves, " Quod ad refurreftionem autem mortuorum, ~e& ea
fundamentum e fundamentis, legis Mofis, quam ft quis non cre-
dat, non eft ipfi in Judaeorum Religione fors aut locus." Vid,
Pocock's Porta Mofis, p. 60, and yet his countrymen confidered
his teftimony as not fufficiently ftrong, as Maimonides confefles,
Vid. alfo Levit. xviii. 5. tion§

TO THE PROPHETS. 349
tions of permanent retribution, it is manifeft from
numberlefs paffages of fcripture that th'e Prophets di-
reftly appealed to thofe convictions which the people
cherifhed as to a future ftate ; and that they refted
on motives of future confideration,* as on the ftrong
eft arguments to excite obedience [y]. The Pro
phets did not, it is true, fo fully infift upon thefe
motives, nor fo perfectly reveal the affurance and
character of a future judgment, as did our Saviour,
who brought life and immortality diftinctly to view
[z], and whofe Gofpel was entirely grounded on
thofe
[y] Job xix. 25 — 29. and Preface to Job. Pfa. i. 5. xvi. n,
xxx. 19, 20. 1. lviii. 11. lxxiii. 3 — 28. lxxxvii. 6. xcvi. 13.
cxvi. 15. cxxxiii. 3. Prov. x. 2, 28. xi. 7, 8. xiv. 32. xv. 24.
xxi. 16. xxiii. 18. xxiv. 12. comp. with Rom. ii. 6. and Rev.
xxii. 12. Ecclef. iii. 17, 21. xi. 9. xii. 7, 14. Ifa. ii. 17.
v. 16. xxv. 8. xxvi. 9, 19. rvii. 1, 2. lviii. 8. lxiv. 4. comp.
with 1 Cor. ii. 9. Jerem. xvii. 1 1, 13. £zek. xviii. xxxii. 27,
Dan. vii. 10, 18. xii. 2, 3, 13. Hofea xiii. 14. Zephan. iii. 8.
Zech. iii. 7. Malach. iii. 16, 18. iv. 1.
[2] Chrift is faid, in our tranflation, to have " brought
life and immortality to light through the Gofpel," 2 Tim. i.
10. which by no means imports that the doftrine was before
unknown, but agreeably to the fenfe of the original, QulHravloi;
fyon, kai apOapcriav, that he rendered life and immortality more
clear, or diffufed light on that doftrine, as the word fulfil*
fignifies in John i. 9. 1 Cor. iv. 5. Ephef. iii. 9. and elfe
where. Vid. Robertfon's Clavis Pentateuchi, Prsf. p. 19.
note*. Or perhapsVthe ttxt means, that Chrift having abolifh-
«d death, opened to us a profpeft of immortality, and unfold
ed the doctrine to the Gentile world, " which fat in darknefs,
and in the fhadow of death." Chrift likewife brought life
aad immortality to light by annexing them as covenanted re
wards

35O GENERAL PREFACE
thofe higher fanctions and better promifes [a] ; but
they neverthelefs did apply to thefe cogent motives,
and more forcibly fo, as that covenant approached
to which Immortality was annexed as a pofitive and
declared condition [b].
The Jews could not have believed the tranflation
of Enoch [c], and Elijah [d], the recompence of
the Patriarchs [e], and of their great law-giver, who
had no known fepulchre, or the accompliffiment of
the promifes [f], to their own advantage, without a
wards to his Gofpel. Pocock conceives, that the doftrine of
the refurreftion was lefs explicitly laid down in the Law than
in the Gofpel, becaufe the former was delivered to the pofte-
rity of Abraham, who entertained no doubts on the fubject;
whereas the Gofpel was communicated to nations to whom
the doftrine was not previoufly revealed ; whence the remark
of the Athenian philofophers concerning the preaching of St.
Paul. Afts xvii. 18. Vid. Notse Mifcel. in Porta Mofis,
«. vi. l] Heb. viii. 6.
[b] Bull's Harmon. Apoft. c. x. §. 8.
^c] Gen. v. 24. Heb. xi. 5.
' d ] 2 Kings ii. 11.
[ e ] The curfes denounced againft Adam could not be removed
from the Patriarchs, as was promifed by God's covenant, unlefs
by a reftoration to the profpeft of eternal life ; and the Jews
muft have known that their forefathers were dead without having
received the accompli fhment of the promifes. Vid. Heb. xi.
39, 40.
[f] The Jews muft have perceived th^-j tempo ral rewards
were not allotted to individuals in proportion to their deferts ;
they muft have feen the righteous, oppreffed, and the wicked tri
umphant ; and therefore in the conviction of God's truth, they
muft have looked to the completion of his promifes and threats in
a future life. reliance

TO THE PROPHETS. 351
reliance on the enjoyment of fome future ftate in
which they ffiould obtain the confummation of their
reward ; and thofe among them whofe opinions were
grounded on revelation, unqueftionably built their
faith on the expectation of a future life and judg
ment ; as is evident from many parts of the Old
Teftament [g], as well as from exprefs declara
tions of the evangelical writers in the New [h] :
from whatever we can collect concerning their opinions
before [i] and after the publication of the Gofpel ;
[g] Gen. i. 27. ii. 7. xxxvii. 35. Numb, xxiii. 10. Deut.
xiv. 1, 2. xxxii. 39. 1 Sam. ii. 6. xxv. 29. xxviii. 8, 15.
2 Sam. xii: 23. 2 Kings xxii. 20. Pfal. xxiii. 4. The paffages,
which feem to favour a contrary opinion, and to import a diftruft
in a future ftate, are only opinions ftated for refutation, or ftrong
reprefentations of the effefts of death, as to the prefent world.
They imply that by the ordinary laws of nature, or by man's
proper force, the dead fhould not be reftored.
[h] Matt. xxii. 23, 29 — 32. Luke xvi. 31. xx. 37, 38.
John v. 39. viii. 26. xi. 24. Afts xxiii. 8. xxiv. 14 — 16.
Heb. xi. 10, 16, 3c, 39, 40. Luke xiii. 14. and Matt. xiii.
40 — 43, and 51. The Sadducees were diftinguifhed as a feci: who
denied the refurreftion. Afts xxiii. 8.
[1] Wifd.iii. 1, io, 18, 19. iv. 7. v. I, 5, 15. viii. 13.
Ecclus xlix. 10. 2 Mace. vii. 9, 11, 14, 23, 29, 36. xiv. 46.
The Hebrew notions concerning the Sheol (the Hades of the Sep
tuagint) which was the fuppofed place of departed fouls, often
mentioned in the Old Teftament ; concerning the Rephaim, (the
giants, or ghofts of dead men, fpoken of in Job xxvi. 5. and
elfewhere) and concerning " the gathering of the righteous :"
the requeft of Saul to the woman of Endor ; and laftly, the Pa-
radife and the Gehenna", mentioned in the New Teftament, all
tend to prove, that the Jews, before the coming of Chrift, be
lieved the feparate exiftence of the foul, and a future ftate of re
ward and punifhment. as

352 GENERAL PftEFACt
as well as from that firm confidence in a refurfectiofl
and future judgment which they now derive from
the promifes of Mofes, and of the Prophets [k],
and which many expect in the time of the Mef
fiah [~l].
The language of the" Prophets is remarkable for
its magnificence. Each writer is diftinguifhed for
peculiar beauties ; but their ftile in general may be
characterized as* "ftrong, animated, and impreffive.
Its ornaments are derived not from accumulation of
epithet, or laboured harmony, but from the real
grandeur of its images, and the majeftic force of
its expreffions. It is varied with ftriking propriety,
and enlivened with quick but eafy tranfitions. Its
fudden burfts of eloquence, its earneft warmth, its
affecting exhortations and appeals, afford very in
terefting proofs of that lively impreffion, and of that
infpired conviction, under which the Prophets wrote ;
and which enabled them among a people not dif
tinguiffied for genius," to furpafs in every variety of
compofition, the moft admired productions of Pagan
antiquity. If the imagery employed by the facred
Writers appear fometimes to partake of a coarfe and
indelicate caft, it muft be recollected, that the eafterrt
manners and languages required the moft forcible
reprefentations ; and that the mafculine and indignant
fpirit of the Prophets led them to adopt the moft
[k] Buxtorf. Synag. Jud. c. iii. Porta Mofis, p. 52. et feq.
and Pocock's notes, c. vi.
[l] Pocock. Notae Mifcel. in Porta Mofis, c, vi. and* Mede's
PlacitaDoft. Hebrs, vol. ii. B. 3.
9 energetic

T0 THE PROPHETS. 353
energetic and defcriptive expreffions. No ftile is
perhaps fo highly figurative as that of the Prophets.
Every object of nature and of art which could fur
niffi allufions, is explored with induftry ; every fcene
of creation, and every page of fcienCe, feems to have
unfolded its rich varieties to the facred writers, who
in the fpirit of eaftern poetry, delight in every kind
of metaphorical embelliffimcnt. Thus by way of
illuftration, it is obvious to remark, that earthly
dignities and powers are fymbolized by the celeftial
bodies; the effects of moral evil are ffiewn Under
the ftorms and convulfions of nature ; the pollutions
of fin are reprefented by external impurities; and
the beneficial influence of righteoufnefs is depicted
by the ferenity and confidence of peaceful life [ai]i
This allegorical language being founded on ideas
univerfally prevalent, and adhered to with invariable
relation, and regular analogy, has furnifhed great
Ornament and elegance to the facred writings. Some
times, however, the infpired penmen drew their al
lufions from local and temporary fources Of meta
phor; from the peculiar fcenery of their country;
from the idolatries of heathen nations; from their
own hiftory and circumftances ; from the fervice of
their temple, and the ceremonies of their religion j
from manners that have faded, and cuftoms that
have elapfed. Hence many appropriate beauties have
[m] Newton on Daniel. Jones's leftures on. the -figurative
language of fcripture, Vitringa in Efaiam Xxxfv. 4. Lattcaftar's
Abridgment of Daubuz. Mede. Bifhop Hurd's 9th fermon on
Prophecy, A a vanifhed.

3S4 GENERAL PREFACE
vanifbed. Many defcriptions, and many reprefen
tations, that muft have had a folemn importance
among the Jews, are now confidered, from a change
of circumftance, in a degraded point of view. Hence,
likewife, here and there a fliade of obfcurity [n].
In general, however, the language of fcripture, though
highly fublime and beautiful, is eafy and intelligible
to all capacities. The divine truth which it contains
is defcribed in the moft clear and familiar manner ;
it affumes, as it were, the drefs of mankind, and in-
ftructs us with the condefcenfion and familiarity of
human converfe. Not defigned merely for the learn
ed and the wife, it adopts a plain and perfpicuous
language, which has all the graces of fimplicity, and
all the beauties of unaffected eloquence. In treat
ing of heavenly things it reveals myfteries to which
the human imagination could never have foared;
and difclofes the attributes and conduct of God in
reprefentations analogous to our ideas, without de
grading them by any unworthy defcription [o]. It
prefents the divine perfections incarnate, as it were,
to our apprehenfions, by the illuftration of familiar
images. Thus the human affections and corporeal
properties which are afcribed to the Deity in fcrip-
[nJ Bundy's Introduction to the Sacred Books.
[oj " Lex loquitur lingua filiorum hominum," was a Jewifh
remark. But it has been obferved, that no fenfes which favour
of grofs corporiety, are afcribed tp God, as touching or tailing;
it being agreed, fays Maimonides, " Deum jion compungi cum.
corporibus per contaftum corporalem." Vid, Maimon. Par. I.
c. xxvi. xxxiii. xlvii. ture,

TO THE PROPHETS. 3^5
ture, are level to the notions of the vulgar, and yet
are readily underftood by enlightened minds to be
defcriptive only of fome correfpondent attributes that
confift with the excellency of the divine nature ; fo
that when revelation accommodates its language to
our reftricted intellects, it is with fuch faithful ad
herence to the real and effential properties of the
Deity, and to the true character of heavenly things,
that it is calculated to raife the conceptions, and not
to debafe the theme.
It remains to be obferved, that the greateft part
of the prophetic books, as well as thofe more efpe
cially ftifed poetical, was written in fome kind of
meafure or verfe [p] ; though the Jev/s of very early
times appear to have been infenfible of the exiftence
of any numerical arrangement in them [ qJ. As
the Hebrew has been a dead language for near 2000
years, and as it is deftitute of vowels, we can have
[p] The hiftorical relations interfperfed in thefe books are
cf courfe excluded from this remark. So likewife the book
of Daniel, which is chiefly narrative, has nothing poetical,
nor has that of Jonah, except the prayer, which is an ode.
The grave and elevated prophecies of Ezekiel, (whom Eifhop
Lowth has characterized as an orator rather than a poet) feem
to rejeft metrical arrangement. The odes which are in the
books of Ifaiah, Ezekiel, and Habakkuk, are of a diftinct: and
peculiar fpecies of poetry. Vid. Lowth's Preeleft. 25, 26,
27, 28. '
[ qJ Moft of the prophecies in the hiftorical books are un
queftionably written in fome kind of meafure, as thofe of Noah,
Jacob, and Balaam, and the divine hymn of Mofes in the thirty-
fecond chapter of Deuteronomy ; all of which furnifh very beau
tiful fpecimens of metrical poetry.
A a 2 no

3$6 GENERAL PREFACI
no power of afcertaining the pronunciation, or even
the number of its fyllables. The quantity and rhythm
of its verfe muft therefore have entirely periffied;
and there can be no mode of difcovering the rules by
which they were governed [r]. That the Hebrew
poetry in general, however, was controlled to fome
kind of meafure, is evident ; not only from the pe
culiar felection of unufual expreffions and phrafes,
but alfo from the artificial arrangement, and regular
diftribution of many fentences, which run in parallel
divifions, and correfpond, as it were, in equal pe
riods; but whether this meafure refulted from the
obfervance of certain definite numerical feet, or was
regulated by the ear and the harmony of lines of
fimilar cadence, is uncertain [s]. The fententious
modulation, however, which in confequence obtain
ed, was fo ftrong, as to be transfufed, and to pre
dominate in our tranflation. It is obfervable, alfo,
that the meafure is often varied ; and even fometimes
[r] The meafure of the modern Jews is very different from
that of the facred writings, and was probably borrowed from
the Arabians.
[s] Lowth's Pra:left. 3, and 19. et metricae Harians Confut.
The learned deny that correfpondence and fimilitude between the
Hebrew and the Grecian meafures which St. Jerom, on the au
thority of Jofephus and Origen, maintained to exift. Vid. Praj-
' left. 18. Bedford's Temple Mufick, ch. vi. Calmet, &c. The
Hebrew language hardly admitted a tranfpofition of words fuf
ficient for the Grecian meafures ; and it appears evident, that
though the language abounds in fimilar terminations, yet that
rhime was not confidered as neceffary or ornamental in the He-
itjew verfe.

TO THE PROPHETS. 357
in the fame poem, but with a propriety which ap
pears from the effect to be always well adapted to the
fubject. There is nothing inconfiftent with the na
ture of infpiration, to fuppofe that its fuggeftions
might be conveyed in numbers. The Prophets in
the ordinary modes of prophefying, were accuftomed
to compofe their hymns to the found of fome mufi-
cal inftrument [t] ; and there could be but little
difficulty in adapting their effufions to a meafure
which required probably no great reftrictions in a
language fo free and uncontrolled as the Hebrew.
The Holy Spirit, likewife, while it quickened the in
vention of the Prophets, and fired their fancy, might
enable them to obferve the eftabliffied ftile of com
pofition, The Prophets undoubtedly collected their own
prophecies into their prefent form ; though the au
thor of the lives of the Prophets, under the name of
Dorotheus, affirms in a very groundlefs affertion,
that none but David and Daniel did ; conceiving
[t] The Jews conceived that mufick Calmed the paffions, and
prepared the mind for the reception of the prophetic influence.
It is probable that the Prophets on thefe occafions did not ufually
perform themfelves on the mufical inftruments, but rather ac
companied the ftrains of the minftrel with their voice. Vid.
i Sam. x. 5. 2 Kings iii. 15. 1 Chron. xxv. 1. Lowth's
Praelect. Poet. 1 8, et feq. It has been the practice of all nations
to adapt their religious worfhip to mufick, which the fabulous
accounts of antiquity derived' from heaven. Alting, Hift, Acad,
Heb. p. 23. And Smidius de Ca,ntu Ecclef, V. et N. Teft,
Mart. Gilb. de Cantu & Mufica Sac. R, David Kimchi in
f Sam. x, 5. A a 3 that

358 GENERAL PREFACE
that the fcribes of the temple received them as they
were delivered, without order ; but they were indif-
putably compofed and publiffied by thofe Prophets
whofe names they feverally bear [uj. As their ge
nuine productions, they were received into the Jewifh
canon ; and were read in the Jewiffi fynagogues after
the perfecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, when the
reading of the law was interdicted ; and continued fo
to be, to the days of our Saviour, from whofe time
they continued to be read in the Chriftian churches
[x]. They are with great propriety received into
our churches as illuftrating the grand fcheme of pro
phecy, and as replete with the moft excellent in
ftruction of every kind. The predictions which they
contain, were principally accomplifhed in the ap
pearance of Chrift. Some, however, which referred
to the difperfion and fubfequent ftate of the Jews,
as well as to the condition of other nations, ftill
continue under our own eyes to be fulfilled, and will
gradually receive their final and confummate ratifi
cation in the reftoration of the Jews, in the univer
fal eftabliffiment of Chrift's kingdom [y], and in
the
[u] Ifa. xxx. 8. Jerem. xxx. 2. Habak. iii. 2, &c.
[ x ] Afts xiii. 1 5 . When the reading of the Law was re
ftored after this perfecution, the prophetic books furnifhed de
tached paffages for a fecond leflbn, felefted with reference to the
feftion read from the Law, and read by a different perfon. The
prophecies were read only in the morning fervice, and never
on the Monday or Thurfday, which days were appropriated to
the Law exclufively.
[r] A final reftoration of the Jews, and a fpiritual reign pf
Chrift to prevail after that reftoration, are fuppofed to be fore told

TO THE PROPHETS. 359
the fecond advent of our Lord to " judge the world
in righteoufnefs."
told hr fcripture, and were believed fo to be from the earlieft ages
of the chriftian church. Vid. Deut. xxx. I — 5. Ifaiah ii. I — 4.
xi. xxx. 18 — 26. xxxiii. 20 — 24. xlix. 18 — 26. li. 3 — 23.
liv. 11 — 14. Ix. lxv. 17 — 25. Hofea iii. 5. Joel ii. and iii.
Amos ix. 11 — 15. Micah ii. iz. iv. 3 — 13. vii. 11 — 20. Zeph.
iii. 8 — 20. Jerem. iii. 16 — 18. xvi. 15. xxiii. 3— -S. xxx. 3 — 20.
xxxi. 4 — 14, 35 — 40. xxxiii. 7 — 11. Ezek. xx. 40 — 44. xxviii.
25, 26. xxxiv. 26 — 29. xxxvi. xxxvii, xxxviii. and xxxix.
Dan. vii. 26, 27. Zechar. viii. 7, 8. Rev. xx. and xxi. &c.
paffim. Vid. alfo Matt. xx. 21. Afts i. 6. iii. 21. Barnab.
Epift. c. xv. Juftin Martyr Dialog, cum Tryphon. Part II.
p. 315. Edit. Thirlb. Iren. L. V. c. xxxii— xxxvi, Tertiil.
cont. Marcion. L. III. Eyre's Obfervat. ori Prophecy. Wot-
ton Pref. to Clem. Epift. p. 15. The doftrine bf the Millenium
may have been carried to an abfurd and unwarranted excefs ;
but fome of thefe prophecies, even if figuratively taken, atfe
feemingly too magnificent to be reftrifted to the effefts of tlie
firft advent of Chrift, and promife at leaft an effeftual and uni
verfal eftablifhment of his fpiritual influence. '

A a 4 OF

[ 36o ]

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
ISAIAH.

ISAIAH, who was profeffedly the author of this
Book, and has been univerfally fo confidered,
informs us, that he prophefied during the days of
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of
Judah, who fucceffively flourifhed between A. M.
3 1 94 and 3305. He ftiles himfelf the fon of Amoz,
by whom we are not to underftand the Prophet
whofe name is fpelled Amos [a], and who was nearly
coeval with Ifaiah himfelf. It has been fuppofed that
|faiah was of the royal blood ; and fome have main^
tained that his father Amoz was the fon of King
Joaffi, and brother to Uzziah, or Azariah, King of
Judah [b]. He certainly was of that tribe, and of
[a] The Prophet's name is fpelt D1DJ? ; that of the father of
Ifaiah, yi»K. Vid. Hieron. & Procop. inEfai. i. 1. Auguft. de
Civit.-Dei, Lib. xviii. 27. Cyril. Praef. Expof. in Amos.
[b] R. Ifa. Abarb. Praef. in Ifaiah. Seder Olam Zuta, & in
pemar. Codic. Megil. fol. 10, col. 11. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X.
cap. ix. 4. noble

OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 361
noble birth ; and the Rabbins pretend that his father
was a Prophet, which they collect from a general
rule eftabliffied among them : that the' fathers of the
Prophets were themfelves Prophets when their names
are mentioned in fcripture [c].
Isaiah was the firft of the four great Prophets,
and is reprefented to have entered on the prophetic
office in the laft year of Uzziah's reign, about 758
years before Chrift [d]. Some have fuppofed that
he did not live beyond the fifteenth or fixteenth year
of Hezekiah's reign [e] ; in which cafe he prophe
fied during a fpace of about forty-five years. But
others are of opinion, that he furvived Hezekiah,
and that he was put to death in the reign of Manaf-
feth. There is, indeed, a Jewiffi tradition, that he
fuffered martyrdom by command of that tyrant, in
the firft year of his reign, about 698 years before
Chrift, being cruelly fawn afunder with a wooden
faw. On a fuppofition of the truth of this relation,
we muft allow that he prophefied during a fpace of
more than fixty years [fJ.
Several of the fathers have, indeed, borne tefti-
[c] Hieron. in Efai. xxxvii. 2. Epiphan. de Vita & Mort.
Prophet. & Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I.
[ d ] He was nearly contemporary with Hofea, Joel, Amos,
and Micah.
[e] Aben-Ezra Com. in Ifa. i. 1. He certainly lived be
yond the fourteenth year of Hezekiah's reign. Vid. 2 Kings
xx. 1.
[f] Jotham reigned fixteen years, Ahaz fixteen, and Heze
kiah twenty-nine.
mbny

-}6:2 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
mony to the tradition [g] ; and St. Paul is generally
fuppofed to have referred to it in his epiftle to the
Hebrews [h]. St. Juftin the martyr affirmed, that
the Jews had erafed the difgraceful circumftance
from the facred books ; and it is not improbable, that
the bold fpirit of invective, and the high character
by which Ifaiah was diftinguifhed, might have irri
tated a jealous and revengeful monarch to this act of
impious barbarity; though the opprobrium of the
deed muft be much aggravated, if St. Jerom be not
miftaken in relating, that Manaffeth had received
the daughter of Ifaiah in marriage [i]. It is added,
alfo, that Manaffeth endeavoured to juftify his cruel
ty, by pretending that he condemned the Prophet for
faying, that " he had feen the Lord fitting upon a
throne [k] ;" contrary, as the tyrant affirmed, to
what is faid in Exodus, " there is no man ffiall fee
me, and live [l] ;" thus hypocritically attempting to
veil his malice under an appearance of piety. How
ever this may have been, the ftory was certainly em-
bellifhed with many fictitious circumftances ; as, that
the Prophet was fawed afunder in a cedar which had
opened itfelf to receive him in his flight ; and other
[g] Tertul. Lib. de Patien. ch. xiv. Orig. in Matt, k in
Epift. ad Jul. African. & Horn, in Ifaia. Juftin. cumTryphon.
Chryfoft. ad Cyriac. Jerom Lib. V. in Efai. Auguft. de Civit.
Lib. XVIII. cap. xxiv.
[ h ] Heb. xi. 37. and Pearce on this verfe.
[ij Hieron. in Efai. iii.
[k J Chap. vi. 1.
[l,] Exod. xxxiii. 20. particulars

OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 363
particulars fabricated in credulous reverence for his
memory. Epiphanius and Dorotheus, who furniffi
Us with this account, add, that he was buried near
Jerufalem, under the oak Rogel, near the royal fe
pulchre, on the river Siloe, at the fide of Mount
Sion ; and that he remained in his tomb to their
time ; contrary to what others report of his being
carried away to Paneada, towards the fources of the
Jordan ; and from thence to Conftantinople, in the
thirty-fifth year of Theodofius the younger, A. D.
442. The name of Ifaiah is, as Vitringa has remarked,
in fome meafure defcriptive of his character, fince it
fignifies, " the falvation of Jehovah." He has al
ways been confidered as a Prophet of the higheft
eminence [m] ; and looked up to as the brighteft
luminary of the Jewifh church. He fpeaks of him
felf as enlightened by vifion ; and he has been em
phatically ftiled the evangelical Prophet [n], fo co-
pioufly and clearly does he defcribe the Meffiah, and
characterize his kingdom : favoured, as it were,
with an intimate view of the Gofpel ftate, from the
[m] Matt. iv. 14. Rom. x. 16. xxviii. 25. Matt. viii. 17.
Luke iv. 17. Afts xxviii. 25. alfo Vitringa's Proleg. p. 10.
2 Kings xix. 20. xx. 1, 2. et feq. 2 Chron. xxxii. 20. St. Paul
cites his work as part of the Law. 1 Cor. xiv. 2 1 .
[n] Hieron. Praef. in Efaiam, Epift. xvii. Auguft. de Civit.
Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxix. Theod. Prssf. in Efai. Holden's
Paraphrafe of Ifaiah. St. Jerom in his epiftle to Pope Damafus,
fays what was figuratively true, that the feraphin who touched
Ifaiah's lips with fire, conveyed to him the New Teftament.
Ifa. vi, 6, 7. very

364 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
very birth of our Saviour, " to be conceived of a
virgin [o]," to that glorious and triumphant period,
when every Gentile nation ffiall bring a clean offer
ing to the Lord, and " all fleffi fhall come to wor
fhip" before him [p]. The author of Ecclefiafticus,
in his fine and difcriminating encomium on the Pro
phets, fays of Ifaiah, that " he was great and faith
ful in his vifion ;" and that " in his time the fun
went backward, and he lengthened the King's life.
He faw by an excellent fpirit what ffiould come to
pafs at the laft [ oJ\." It is certain that Ifaiah, in
addition to his other prophetic privileges, was in
vefted with the power of performing miracles [r].
Befides thofe that are afcribed to bim in fcripture,
tradition relates, that he fupplied the people befieged
under Hezekiah with water from Siloam, while the
enemy could not procure it [s]. It is remarkable,
that the wife of Ifaiah is ftiled a prophetefs [t] ; and
the Rabbins maintain, that ffie poffeffed the gift of
prophecy. He himfelf appears to have been raifed
up as a ftriking object of veneration among the Jews,
and to have regulated his whole conduct in ful>
[o] Chap. vii. 14.
[p] Chap. lxvi. 20, 23.
[o,_] Ecclus xlviii. 22, 25. Vid. alfo, Calmet's Pref. and
Lowth's Prsleft. 21.
[r] 2 Kings xx. 11. 2 Chron. xxxii. 31.
[sj Hence, as fome have fuppofed, was the origin ofthe
Pool of Siloam. The word Siloam implies fent. Vid. John ix. 7.
Every tradition relative to thefe interefting charafters is worth
recording. [t] Chap. viii. 3. ferviency

OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 36$
ferviency to his facred appointment. His fons, like-
wife, were for types [u], and figurative pledges of
God's affurances ; and their names [x] and actions
were intended to awaken a religious attention in the
perfons whom they were commiffioned to addrefs,
and to inftruct. Ifaiah was animated with the moft
lively zeal for God's honour and fervice. He was
employed chiefly to preach repentance to Judah ;
though he occafionally uttered prophecies againft the
ten tribes, which in his time conftituted the feparate
kingdom of Ifrael, In the prudent reigns of Uzziah
and Jotham, the kingdom of Judah flourifhed ; but
in the time of Ahaz, Ifaiah had ample fubject for re
proach, as idolatry was eftabliffied, even in the tem
ple, and the kingdom nearly ruined by the impiety
which the King had introduced and countenanced.
In the reign of Hezekiah, his endeavours to reform
the people were more fuccefsful; and fome piety
prevailed, till the feduction of Manaffeth completed
the triumph of idolatry and fin.
There are many hiftorical relations fcattered
through this book, which illuftrate the circumftances
and occafions of the prophecies. The prophetical
parts are fometimes confidered under five divifions.
The firft part, which extends from the beginning to
the thirteenth chapter, contains five difcourfes imme
diately addreffed to the Jews and Ephraimites ; whom
fu] Ifaiah viii. 18.
[x] Shear Jafhub fignifies, " a remnant fhall return."
, Mahermalal-hafh-baz, implies, " run fwiftly to the fpoil."
Vid, ch. vii. 3. viii. 1. the

366 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
the Prophet addreffes on various fubjects, in various
tones of exhortation and reproof. The fecond part,
which extends to the twenty-fifth chapter, contains
eight difcourfes, in which the fate of other nations,
as of the Babylonians, Philiftines, Moabites, Syrians,
and Egyptians, is defcribed. The third part, which
terminates with the thirty-fixth chapter, contains
God's threats denounced againft the difobedient Jews,
and enemies of the church, interfperfed with confo-
latory promifes to encourage thofe who might de
ferve God's favour [y]. The fourth part, which
begins at the fortieth chapter, where the prophetic
ftrain is refumed, defcribes in four difcourfes the
manifeftation of the Meffiah, with many introductory
and attendant circumftances.. This divifion ends at
the forty-ninth chapter. The fifth part, which con
cludes the prophecies, defcribes more particularly
the appearance of our Saviour, and. the character of
his kingdom. The- hiftorical part, which begins with
the thirty-fixth, and terminates with the thirty-ninth
chapter [z], relates the remarkable events of thofe
times in which God employed the miniftry of Ifaiah.
With refpect to chronological arrangement, it
[vj Ifaiah, as well as Nahum, Haggai, and Zechariah, were
deemed confolatory Prophets. Vid. Aba.rb. Praf. in Ifai. fol. z-.
col. 1. Lib. I.
[zj The abrupt conclufion of the thirty-eighth chapter, leads
us to fuppofe that thefe hiftorical chapters relating to Hezekiah,
were inferted from the Second Book of Kings, to illuftrate'the
preceding prophecies. Comp. Ifa. xxxvi — xxxix, chapte*s, with
2 Kings xviii. 13. xx. 20.
I muft

OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 367
muft be obferved, that the five firft chapters appear
to relate to the time of Uzziah [a]. The vifion de
fcribed in the fixth chapter muft have happened
early in the reign of Jotham. The next fifteen
chapters contain the prophecies delivered under
Ahaz ; and the prophecies which follow to the end
of the book, were probably uttered under Hezekiah.
Some writers, however, have conceived, that the
chapters have been accidentally deranged ; and it is
poffible that the prophecies were not delivered by
the Prophet exactly in the order in which they now
ftand. Others have attributed the diflocations, if
there be any, to the men of Hezekiah, who are
faid to have collected thefe Prophecies [b].
When Ifaiah entered on the prophetic office, a
darker fcene of things began to arife. As idolatry
predominated, and the captivity drew near, plainer
declarations of God's future mercies were neceffary
to keep alive the expectations and confidence of the,
people. In treating of the captivities and deliver
ance of the Hebrew nation, the prophet is often led
to confider thofe more important captivities and de
liverances which thefe temporal events forefhewed.
Hence with promifes ofthe firft, he blends affurances
[a] Some think that they belong more properly to the reign
of Ahaz. Vid. Taylor's Script. Divin. p. 328, but the defcrip
tion of the reign of an apoftate king would, perhaps, have been
ftill more forcible. Vid. 2 Kings xvi. 3. et feq. The defcrip
tions are not too ftrong for the time of Uzziah, whofe individual
virtues could not entirely reform the kingdom, or reftore its
profperity. Vid. Hieron. Com. in Efai. vi.
[e] Jacob. Brandinglerus in Alan. Typ. Lib. Proph. V. T. of

368 OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
of final reftoration. Brom the bondage of Ifrael, he
likewife adverts to the bondage under which the
Gentile world was held by ignorance and fin; and
hence he exhibits in connected reprefentation, de
liverance from particular afflictions, and the general
deliverance from fin and death. The prefent con
cern is often forgotten in the contemplation of the
diftant profpect. The Prophet paffes with rapidity
from the firft to the fecond fubject, without intima
tion of the change, or accurate difcrimination of
their refpective circumftances ; as for inftance, in the
fifty fecond chapter, where the Prophet, after fpeak
ing of the recovery from the Affyrian oppreffion,
fuddenly drops the idea of the prefent redemption,
and breaks out into a rapturous defcription of the
Gofpel falvation which it prefigured [c].
Among the prophecies of Ifaiah which deferve to
be particularly noted for their efpecial perfpicuity and
ftriking accompliffiment, are thofe in which he fore
told the captivities of Ifrael and Judah [d]; and de
fcribed the ruin and defolation of Babylon [e], Tyre,
and other nations. He fpoke of Cyrus by name, and
of his conquefts, above 200 years before his birth [f], in
[c] Comp. Ifa. Iii. 7. with Rom. x. 15. Ifa. xi. 10. with
Rom. xv. 12. Vid. alfo, chap, xxxiv. xxxv. xl. xlix. Lowth
on ch. lii. 13. and Abarbinel, as quoted by Vitringa, on ch.
xlix. 1.
[d} Chap, xxxix. 6, 7. comp. with a Kings xxiv. 13. and
Dan. i. 3.
[e] Chap. xiii. 19—22. xiv. 22 — 24. xlvii. 7, 8. and Lowtfo
Com. & lifter. Ann. ad A. M. 3347, ch. xxiii.
[fJ Chap. xliv. 28. xiv. 1 — 5. Jofeph. Antiq, Lib. XI.
c. i.

OF ?HE BOOK Ot ISAIAH, Jjrj^
in predidions which are fuppofed to have influenced
that monarch to releafe the Jews from captivity [g],
being probably ffiewn to him by Daniel. But it
muft be repeated, that his prophecies concerning the
Meffiah feem almoft to anticipate the Gofpel hiftory,
fo clearly do they foreffiew the divine charader of
Chrift [h] ; his miracles [i] ; his peculiar qualities
and virtues [k]; his rejedion, [l] and fufferings for
our fins [m]; his death, burial [n], and vidory over
death [o] ; and, laftly, his final glory [p], and the
eftabliffiment, increafe [q_], and perfection [r], of
c. i. St. Jerom has remarked that Xenophon's hiftory is a
good comment on the prophecies of Ifaiah. Vid. Hieron. ad
Efaiam xliv. jr
[o] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib.' XI. c. i. Ezra i. 2.
[h] Chap. vii. 14. comp. with Matt. i. 18 — 23. and Luke L'
17 — 35. Chap. vi. ix. 6. xxxv. 4. xl. 5, 9, 10. xiii. 6-— 8. lxi«;
i. comp. with Luke iv. 18. Ixii. 11. lxiii. 1—4.
[ij Chap. xxxv. 5, 6.
[k] Chap. xi. 2, 3. xl. u. xliii. 1 — 3.
[l] Chap. vi. 9 — 12. comp. with Mark xiii. 14. Chap, viu'
14, 15. Iiii. 3.
[m] Chap. 1. 6. Iiii. 4— 11. The Ethiopian eunuch appears
to have been made a profelyte by St. Philip's explication of this
chapter. Vid. Afts viii. 32. The whole of it is fo minutely
defcriptive of Chrift's paffion, that a famous Rabbi; likewife,
<m reading it, was converted from Judaifm.— ¦ Who, indeed, can
refift its evidence?
[n] Chap. Iiii. 8, 9.
foj Chap. xxv. 8. Iiii. 10, 12.
[p] Chap. xlix. 7, 22, 23. lii. 13—15. Iiii. 4, 5.
f oj Chap. ii. 2—4. ix. 7. xiii. 4. xlvi. 13^.
O] Chap. ix. 2, 7. xi. 4— .10. xvi. 5. xxix; 18— 24. xxxi!.1
i.xl. 4, 5. xlix. 9—13. li. 3—6. lii.6«-io. Ir. 1—3. lix. 16—21,
be. hi. 1—5. lxv. 25.
B b hh.

37° OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
his kingdom; each fpeciiically pointed out, and pour-
trayed with the moft ftriking and difcriminating cha-
raders. It is impoffible, indeed, to refled on thefe,
and on the whole chain of his illuftrious prophecies,
and not to be fenfible that they furniffi the moft in-
conteftible evidence in fupport of chriftianity.
The ftile of Ifaiah has been univerfally admired as
the moft perfed moclel of the fublime ; it is diftin
guiffied for all the magnificence, and for all the fweet-
nefs of the Hebrew language [s]. The variety of
his images, and the animated warmth of his expref
fions, charaderize him as unequalled in point of
eloquence;^ and if we were defirous of producing
a fpecimaa of the dignity and beauties of the fcrip
ture language, we ffiould immediately think of hav
ing recourfe to Ifaiah [t]. St. Jerom fpeaks of him as
fs] See particularly the triumphant ode in chap. xiv. 4 — 27.
which is inimitably beautiful. Vid. Lowth's Prseleft. 28.
[ t ] The fuperior eloquence of Ifaiah appears remarkably on
a comparifon of the eleventh and thirty-fifth chapters of his
work, with the fourth Eclogue of Virgil; in which the Poet
has introduced thoughts, imagery, and diction, ftrikingly fimilar,
indeed, to thofe employed by Ifaiah, but infinitely inferior as to
the effedt produced. Virgil is fuppofed to have borrowed from
the predictions' of the Cumaean Sybil, that defcription of the
Golden Age which he reprefents as ready to commence with the
birth of fome illuftrious perfonage (as, perhaps, the expected
offspring of Ctftavia, or of Scribonia). The ideas, however,
were fo appropriate to the Meffiah and his kingdom, that they
muft have been derived from a facred fource, though it is not
neceffary to confider them as the refult of immediate infpiration.
The Sibylline verfes might have been infpired prophecies fpread
abroad

OF THE BOOK OF ISAIAH. 371
as converfant with every part of fcience [u] ; and,
indeed, the marks of a cultivated and improved mind
are ftamped in every page of his book ; but thefe are
almoft eciipfed by the fplendor of his infpired know
ledge. In the delivery of his prophecies and in-
ftrudions, he utters his enraptured ftrains with an
elevation and majefty that unhallowed lips could
never have attained [x]. From the grand exordium
in the firft chapter, to the concluding defcription of
the Gofpel, to " be brought forth" in wonders, and
to terminate in the difpenfations of eternity : from
firft to laft, there is one continued difplay of infpired
wifdom, revealing its oracles and precepts for the in-
ftruftion of mankind. The prophecies of Ifaiah
were modulated to a kind of rythm, and they are
evidently divided into certain metrical ftanzas or
lines [v].
abroad in Greek verfe by the Helleniftical Jews. Virgil might
have collected ideas with regard to the expected Meffiah, front
the Jews in general, and particularly from Herod, who was about
this, time at Rome, and whofe fons were afterwards received by
Pollio on an embaffy there. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XV. c. xiii.
Or, laftly, the Poet, as other learned perfons among the Ro
mans, might have had fome knowledge of the Septuagint verfion
of the fcriptures, fince they were inquifitive after all kinds of
literature. Vid. Lowth's Paeleft. 21. Chandler's Vindic.
ch. ii. feft. 3. et Poftfcript, p. 44. & Cudworth's Intel. Syft,
c iv. § 16.
[u] Hieron. Prsef. in Effai.
[x] Chap. vi. 6, 7.
[y] Vitringa Proleg. in Efai. p. 8. Lowth's Preface, and
Scaliger's Animad. in Chron. Eufeb.
B b 2 Thb

372 ®K THE BOOK OF ISAIAH.
The Greek verfion of Ifaiah appears to have been
made long after that of the Pentateuch ; it is a very
lax and inaccurate tranflation, and was probably
compofed after the time of Antiochus Epiphanes [z],
Isaiah, befides this book, of prophecies, wrote an
account of the adions of Uzziah [a] ; this has pe
riffied with fome other writings of the Prophets,
which, as probably not written by infpiration, were
never admitted into the canon of fcripture.. Some
apocryphal books have likewife been attributed to
him ; among others, that fo often cited by Origen
and other fathers,, entitled,, the Afcenfion of Ifaiah
£b] ;. not to mention a later book,, called the Vifion
of Ifaiah [c], which is only a compilation from his
works. Thefe are probably attributed to him on as
infufficient grounds as the books of Solomon and
Job. [z] Thofe of Aquila, Symmachus, and Theodsfion, are now
loft. [aJ 2 Chron. xxvi. 22. Dr. Kennicott fancies that Ifaiah
compofed the, 89th Pfalm on the approach of Rezin and Pekah to
Jerufalem. [eJ Origen in Matt, xxiii. et Epift. ad African. Hieron. in
Efaiam 64. Epiphan. Hseres 40, and 67.
[«] This was publifhed at Venice. VJd> Sixt, Senens, Bib.
Sac. in Ifaiah.

9?

i 37.3 ]

j© F THE
BOOK of the PROPHET
JEREMIAH.
JEREMIAH was the fon of Hilkiah; probably
not of that Hilkiah [a] who was high prieft in
the reign of Jofiah, but certainly of facerdotal extrac
tion; and a native of Anathoth, a village about three
miles from Jerufalem, appointed for the priefts, in
that part of Judasa which was allotted to the tribe of
Benjamin [b]. He was called to the prophetic of
fice, nearly at the fame time with Zephaniah, in the
thirteenth year of the reign of Jofiah the fon of
Anion, A. M. 3376. Like St. John the Baptift and
St. Paul, he was even in his mother's womb or
dained a Prophet to the Jews and other nations [cj.
He was not, however, exprefsly addreffed by the
word of God till about the fourteenth year of his
[a] 2 Kings xxii. 4. Clemens Alexand. Strom. Lib. I.
p. 390. edit. Oxon. Sixt. Senens.
[b] Hieron. Prsef. in Prophet. Jofh. xxi. 13, iS. xviii. 28.
f s] Jerem, i. 6, and Hieron. in Hierem.
B b 3 age j

374 GK THE B00K OF JEREMIAH.
age ; when he diffidently fought to decline the ap
pointment on account of his youth, till influenced
by the divine encouragement, he obeyed, and con
tinued to prophefy upwards of forty years, during
feveral fucceffive reigns of the degenerate defcend
ants of Jofiah ; to whom he fearlefsly revealed thofe
marks of the divine vengeance which their fluduat-
ing and rebellious condud drew on themfelves and
their country [d]. After the deftrudion cf Jeru
falem by the Chaldeans, he was fuffered by Nebu
chadnezzar to remain and lament. the miferies and
defolation of Judaea, from whence he fent confo-
iat ;ry affix ances to his captives countrymen. He
was afterwards, as we are by himfelf informed, car
ried with his difciple Baruch, into Egypt [e], by
Johanan the fon of Kareah, who contrary to his
advice and prophetic admonitions, returned from
Judaea. Many circumftances relative to Jeremiah, are
interfperfed in his writings, and many more which
deferve but little credit, have been recorded by
the Rabbins and other writers [f]. He appears to
[d] Chap. xxi. 4— 11. xxiv. 8—10. xxxii. 3, 4. xxxiv. 2—
5. comp. with Ezek. xii. 13. and Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XI. cap. x.
Jer. xxxvi. 30, 31.
[e] Chap, xliii. 3 — 7. Abarbinel erroneoufly afferts that
Jeremiah was carried into captivity with Jeconiah, or Jehoia-
chin ; contrary to the Prophet's own account. Vid. Abarb. in
Ezek. [f] 2 Mace. ii. 1 — 7. Eufeb. Prasp. Evang. Lib. IX. c. xxxix.
Hieron. cont. Jovinian. Lib. II. Tertull. Advi Gnoft. c. viii.
3 have

OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH." 375
have been expofed to cruel and unjuft perfections
from the Jews, and efpecially from thefe .of his own
village [g], during his whole life, on account of the:
zeal and fervor with which he cenfured their incor
rigible fins ; and he is fometimes provoked to break
out into the moft feeling and bitter complaints of
the treatment which he received [h]. The author
of Ecclefiafticus [i], alluding to his fufferings, re
marks, " that they intreated him evil, who never
thelefs was a Prophet fandified in his mother's
womb." According to the account of St. Jerom,
he was ftoned to death at Tahpanhes [kJ, a royal
city of Egypt, about 586 years before the birth of
Chrift: either by his own countrymen, as is gene
rally maintained, or by the Egyptians, to both of
which people he had rendered himfelf obnoxious by
the terrifying prophecies which he had uttered. The
chronicle of Alexandria relates, that the Prophet had'
incenfed the Egyptians by prediding that their idols
fhould be overthrown by an earthquake, when the'
Saviour of the earth ffiould be born and placed in
a manger. His prophecies, however, that are ftill
[g] Chap. xi. 21. Luke iv. 24.
[h] Chap. xx. 7—18,
[1] Ecclus. xlix. 17.
[k] Jerem. xliii. 7, 9. Heb. xi. 37. Hieron. in ch. xxxiii. 9.
Tahpanhes is contracted to Hanes by Ifaiah, ch. xxx. 4. It is
fuppofed by many to have been the city which was afterwards.
called Daphnse Pelufiacs. Other traditions relate, that he was
thrown into a pit, and transfixed with darts. Vid. Gregent.
Difput. cum Herban. Jud. B b 4 extant

'$]& ©F THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH.
extant concerning the conquefts of Egypt by Nebu
chadnezzar, " the fervant of , God," muft have been
fufficient to excite the fears and hatred of thofe
againft whom they were uttered. It was added to
this account which Ptolemy received, that Alexander
the Gr,eat, vifiting the tomb of Jeremiah, and hear
ing what he had predided concerning his perfon,
ordered that the Prophet's urn fliould be removed to
Alexandria, and built a magnificent monument to
his memory [l]. This was foon rendered famous ;
and as a reverence for the1 Prophet's charader en
circled it with imaginary influence, it became cele
brated as a place of miracles [m]. Other accounts,
however, relate, that the Prophet returned unto his
own country; and travellers are ftill ffiewn a place
in the neighbourhood of Jerufalem, where, as they
are told, Jeremiah compofed his prophecies; and
where Conftantine ereded a tomb to his memory.
Jeremiah, who profeffes himfelf the author of
thefe prophecies [n], employed Baruch as his ama-
nuenfis in committing them to writing [o]. He ap
pears to have made at different times colledions of
^yhat he had delivered. The firft feem6 to have
[l] Abulfar. Hift. Orient. Dynaft. Ill, Jean Mofque Pre.
Spirituel, ch. Ixxvii. Raleigh's Hift. of the World, B. II. p. 555.
[mJ Crocodiles and ferpents were fuppofed to be unable to
live near it, and the duft of the place is now deemed a cure for
the bite of the afp. Many other fimilar fiftions were engendered
jby fuperftitious refpect. for the Prophet's memory.
[nJ Chap. i. 1, 4, 6, 9. xxv. 13. xxix. 1. xxx. 2. li. 60.
fo] Chap. iv. 32. xiv. 1. been

OF THE POOK OF JEREMIAH. 377
been compofed in the fourth year of Jehoiakim,
when the»Prophet was exprefsly commanded by God
to write upon a roll all the prophecies that he had
uttered concerning Ifrael, Judah, and other nations
[p] ; this he did by means of Baruch. But this roll
being burnt by Jehoiakim [ oj, another was written
under Jeremiah's diredion, with many additional
particulars [r]. In the eleventh year of Zedekiah,
like prophet appears to have colleded into one book
all the prophecies that he had delivered before the
taking of Jerufalem [s]. To this probably he after
wards added fuch farther revelations as he had occa
fionally received during the government of Gedaliah,
and during the refidence in Egypt, the account of
which terminates with the fifty-firft chapter. The
fifty-fecond chapter,, which is compiled from the five
laft chapters of the fecond book of Kings [t], was
probably not written by Jeremiah, as it contains in
part a repetition of what the Prophet had before re
lated in the thirty-ninth and fortieth chapters of his
book, and fome circumftances which, as it has been
fuppofed, did not happen till after the death of Je
remiah : and it is evident from the intimation con-

[p] Jerem. xxxvi. 2. xxv. 13.
[ qJ Chap, xxxvi. 23. The Jews inftituted an annual faft
in commemoration of the burning of this roll, which is ftill
obferved in December, on the 29th day of the month Cifleu.
Vid. Prid. Par. I. Book I.
[*] Chap, xxxvi. 32.
[s] Chap. i. 3.
[1] 2 Kings xxiv. 18 — 20. xxv, veyed

37S °f THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH.
veyed in the laft verfe (" thus far are the words of
Jeremiah") that his book there terminates. The
fifty-fecond chapter was therefore probably added
by Ezra [u], as an exordium to the Lamentations.
It is, however, a very ufeful appendage, as it illuf
trates the accompliffiment of Jeremiah's prophecies
relative to the captivity and the fate of Zedekiah.
The prophecies, as they are now placed, appear
not to be arranged in the chronological order in
which they were delivered [x]. Whether they were
originally fo compiled by Jeremiah, or Ezra; or
whether they have been accidentally tranfpofed, can
not now be determined. It is generally maintained,
that if we confult the dates of their publication, they
ffiould be placed thus :
In the reign of Jofiah, the twelve firft chapters.
In that of Jehoiakim, chapters xiii. — xx. xxi.
ver. ii — 14. xxii. xxiii. xxv. xxvi. xxxv. xxxvi.
xiv. — xlix. 1 — 33. ver.
In that of Zedekiah, chap. xxi. 1— 10. xxiv.
xxvii. — xxxiv. xxxvii. — xxxix. xlix. ver. 34—
39. 1. and li.
Under the government of Gedaliah, chap, xl.— *
xliv.
Jeremiah does not feem to have received any
revelations from God in the ffiort intermediate reigns
[u] Sixtns Senenfis, without any juft reafon, attributes it to
Barnch, Bib. Lib. I.
[x] Origen Epift. ad African. Hieron. Praef. in Jerem. Bla-
ney's tranflat. of Jeremiah. Of

OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. 379
of Jehoahaz, the fon of Jofiah, or of Jeconiah, the
fon of Jehoiakim.
The prophecies which related to the Gentiles are
contained" in the forty-fixth and five following chap
ters, being placed at the end, as in fome meafure
unconneded with the others. But in fome copies of
the Septuagint [y] thefe fix chapters follow imme
diately after the thirteenth verfe of the twenty-fifth
chapter. Though the Ifraelites had been carried cap
tive before Jeremiah began to prophefy, he occa
fionally addreffed the ten tribes, as fome remains of
them were ftill left in Samaria.
The prophecies of Jeremiah, of which the circum
ftantial accompliffiment is often fpecified in the Old
and New Teftament, are of a very diftinguifhed and
illuftrious charader. He foretold the fate of Zede
kiah [z] ; the Babylonifh captivity ; the precife time
of its duration ; andthe return of the Jews Fa]. He
defcribed the deftrudion of Babylon ; and the down-
fal of many nations rB] ; in predidions, of which the
gradual and fucceffive completion kept up the con
fidence of the Jews for the accompliffiment of thofe
prophecies which he delivered relative to the Meffiah
[y] As in the Vatican and Alexandrian.
[z] Chap, xxxiv. 2 — 5. comp. with 2 Chron. xxxvi. 19.
2 Kings xxv. 5. and Jerem. lii. n.
[a] Chap. xxv. 11, 12. comp. with Dan. ix. 2. xxix. 10.
Ezra 1 ch. 1. Prid. Con. Ann. 518. Newton's eighth and ele
venth Differt. on the Prophecies.
[b] Chap. xxv. 12. Vid. alfo, ch. ix. 26. ¦ xxv. 19 — 25.
xiii. 10 — 18. xlvi. and- following chapters. And Newton's
Differt. XII, and

38O OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH.
and his period [c]. He forefhewed the miraculous ¦
conception of Chrift [d] ; the virtue of his atonement;
the fpiritual charader of his covenant ; and the inward
efficacy ofhis laws [e]. The reputation of Jeremiah
had fpread among foreign nations, and his prophecies
were defervedly celebrated in other countries [f].
Many heathen writers have likewife undefignedly
borne teftimony to the truth and accuracy of his
prophetic and hiftorical defcriptions [c]. Jeremiah,
contemplating thofe calamities which impended over
his country, reprefented in the> moft defcriptive
terms, and under the moft expreffive images, the
deftrudion that the invading enemy ffiould produce.
He bewailed in pathetic expoftulation, the ffiamelefs
adulteries which had provoked the Almighty, after
long forbearance, to threaten Judah with inevitable
puniffiment, at the time that falfe prophets deluded
the nation with the promifes of " affured peace,"
and when the people in impious contempt of " the
Lord's word," defied its accompliffiment. Jeremiah
intermingles with his prophecies fome hiftorical re
lations relative to his own condud, and to the com
pletion of thofe predidions which he had delivered.
[c] Chap, xxiii. 5, 6. xxx. 9. xxxi. 15. xxxiii. 14 — 18.
xxxiii. 9, 26. Huet. Demon. Evan. Prop. VH. § 16.
[dJ Chap. xxxi. 22.
[e] Chap. xxxi. 31 — 36. xxxiii. 8.
[f] Alex. Polyhift. in Eufeb. Praep. Evan. Lib. IX.
[c] Vid. Herodotus, Xenophon Cyropaed. Jofeph. cont,
Apion, Lib. I. Compare particularly the accounts of the taking
of Babylon, as defcribed prophetically by Jeremiah in chap. li.
and hiltorically by Herodotus, Lib. I.
The

OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. 3^3
The ftyle of Jeremiah, though neither deficient
in elegance nor fublimity, has been confidered as
inferior in both refpeds to that of Ifaiah [h], St.'
Jerom [i] objeds a certain rufticity of expreffion to
him j but this it would not be eafy to point out.
His images are, perhaps, lefs lofty, and his ex
preffions lefs dignified than thofe of fome others of
the facred writers; but the charader of his work,
which breathes a tendernefs of forrow calculated to.
awaken and intereft the milder affedions, fed him
to rejed the majeftic and declamatory tone in which
the prophetic cenfures were fometimes conveyed.
The holy zeal ofthe Prophet is, however,, often ex
cited to a very vigorous eloquence in inveighing
againft the frontlefs audacity with which men gloried
in their abominations [k]. The firft part of the
book is chiefly poetical, and, indeed, near one half
of the work is written in fome kind of meafure.
The hiftorical part, towards the middle of the work,
is written with much fimplicity of ftile. The fix -laft
chapters, which are entirely in verfe, contain feveral
[h] Lowth's PraJleft. 21.
[1] Hieron. Praf. and Com. in Jerem. Cunaeus de Repub.
Hebr. Lib. III. cap. vii.
[k] The Prophet is very animated in his admonitions againft
idolatry, being willing to caution the people againft the tempta
tions whieh they would encounter in the captivity. It is remark
able, that the eleventh verfe of the tenth chapter, which contains,
a pious fentiment which the Jews are directed to utter as a pro
feffion of their faith, is written in Chaldee; that they might be
furnifhed with the very words that they fhould anfwer to thofe
who would feduce them. predidions-

3%2 OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH.
predidions delivered in a high ftrain of fublimity.
The defcriptions of Jeremiah have all the vivid
colourings that might be expeded from a painter of
contemporary fcenes. The hiftorical part has fome
charaders of antiquity that afcertain the date of its
compofition. The months are reckoned by num
bers ; a mode which did not prevail after the cap
tivity, when they were diftinguiffied by Chaldaic
names. There are likewife a few Chaldaic expref
fions, which about the time of Jeremiah muft have
begun to vitiate the Hebrew language.
Jeremiah has been fometimes confidered as an
appointed Prophet of the Gentiles [l]. He cer
tainly delivered many prophecies relative to foreign
nations. His name implies the exaltation of the
Lord ; and his whole life was fpent in endeavouring
to promote God's, glory. His reputation was fo
confiderable, that fome of the fathers [m] fancifully
fuppofed that as his death is nowhere mentioned in
fcripture, he was living in the time of Chrift, whom,
as the Gofpel informs us, fome fuppofed to have
been this Prophet [n]. They likewife applied to
him and Elias what St. John myfterioufly fpeaks of
two witneffes that ffiould prophefy 1260 days [0] ;
which fuperftitious fidions ferve, at leaft, to prove
the traditional reverence that was entertained for the
[l] Chap. i. 5 — 16.
[m] Viftorin. in Apoc. cap. xi. 3. Plures apud Hilar, in
Matt. can. xx.
[n] Matth. xvi. 14.
[o] Rev. xi. 3. memory

OF THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH. 383
memory of the Prophet ; who long afterwards conti
nued to be venerated in the Romiffi church as one of
the greateft faints that had flourifhed under the old
covenant : . as having lived not only with the general
ftridnefs of a Prophet, but, as was believed, in a
ftate of celibacy [p] ; and as having terminated his
•righteous miniftry by martyrdom.
[p] Chap. xvi. 2. How far the reftriftiOn here enjoined was
of a typical, or temporary and local nature, is uncertain. The
Chaldee Paraphrafe fuppofes the Prophet to have had children.
Vid. Com. on Jerem. xxxvii. 12.

O F

[ 3^4 ]

OF THE

BOOK of the LAMENTATIONS
of JEREMIAH.

THE Jews denominate this book EchahfA],
from the firft word of the text ; or fometimes
they call it Kinnoth [b], which implies tears, allud
ing to the mournful charader of the work, of which
one would conceive, fays Mr. Lowth, " that every
letter was written with a tear, every word the found
of a broken heart [c]." The Book was compofed
by Jeremiah, as he informs us in the title, and as
the unvaried tradition of the church declares. The
ftile, indeed, itfelfj indicates the fame hand which
compofed the preceding book. Upon what occafion
thefe Lamentations were produced, cannot be pofi
tively determined. In the fecond book of Chroni
cles [d], it is faid, that " Jeremiah lamented for
[a] nS'N, Echah How.
[b] rvu'p, Kinnoth, Spw», Lamentations, or tears,
[c] Gregor. Nazianz. Orat. xii.
[d] 2 Chron. xxxv. 25. Jofiah j"

THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. 38$
Jofiah ;" and Jofephus [e], and other writers [rj,
fuppofe that the work which we now poffefs was
written upon the occafion of that monarch's death ;
maintaining that the calamities which only three
months after; attended the depofition of Jehoahaz
were fo confiderable as to correfpond with the de
fcription of the Prophet, though they are not mi
nutely detailed in facred hiftory. The generality of
the commentators, are however of a different opinion j
and, indeed, Jeremiah here bewails the defolation of
Jerufalem; the captivity of Judah; the miferies of
famine ; and the ceffation of all religious worfhip, in
terms fo forcible and pathetic, that they appear rather
applicable to fome period after the deftrudion of Je
rufalem [g], when; agreeably to his own predic
tions) every circumftance of complicated diftrefs over-
fhadowed Judasa [k]. But upon whatever occafion
thefe Lamentations were compofed, they are evidently
defcriptive of paft events, and cannot be confidered
,as prophetic elegies.
Some Jewifh writers imagined, that this was the
book which Jeremiah didated to Baruch, and which
[e] Jofeph. Antiq. Jud. Lib. X. c. vi.
[f] Hieron. in Lament. R. Selom. ' Lament, ch. iv. 20.
Michaelis note in Praeleft. 23. Ufl'er. Annal. A. M. 3394. &
Lam. ch. v. 7. which Michaelis confiders . as a complaint
mote juft and reafonable in the time of Jofiah than in that 9f
Zedekiah. [c] Chap. i. 1, 3, 6, 12, 18. ii. 2, 5, 6, 7, 16. iv. 6, 10, 22.
v. 6, i8.
[ h ] Chap. xx. 4. may allude to the fate pf ?edekiah.
C c was

386 THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH.
was cut and burnt by Jehoiakim [ij. But there is
no foundation for this opinion, for the book didated
to Baruch contained many prophetic threats [k]
againft various nations of which there are no traces
in this book. In the Greek, Arabic, and Vulgate
verfions of this book, there is a fpurious argument,
which is not in the Hebrew, . nor in the Chaldee pa-
raphrafe, any more than in the verfion of St. Jerom,
who followed the Hebrew. It may be thus tranf
lated : " It came to pafs, that after Ifrael had been
carried away captive, and Jerufalem became defolate,
the Prophet Jeremiah fat weeping, and bewailed Je
rufalem with this lamentation, and bitterly weeping
and mourning, faid as follows." This was probably
added by the Greek tranflators, in lieu of the fifty-
fecond chapter of Jeremiah's prophecies, which they
rejeded from this to the preceding book [lJ. The
Lamentations were certainly annexed originally to
the prophecies of Jeremiah, and were admitted with
them together into the Hebrew canon as one book.
The modern Jews, however, place this work in their.
copies among other fmaller trads, fuch as Ruth,
and Canticles, &c. at the end of the Pentateuch :
having deranged the books of fcripture from the
order which they held in Ezra's colledion.
With refped to the plan of this work, it is com
pofed after the manner of funeral odes, though with
out any very artificial difpofition of its fubjecl:. It
i[ij Jerem. xxxvi. 4 — 23.
[k] Chap, xxxvi. 2.
£1 ] Huet. Prop. IV. cap. xiv. appears

THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. 387
appears to contain the genuine effufions of real grief;
in which the author, occupied by his forrow, attends
not to exad connedion between the different rhap-
fodies, but pours out whatever prefents itfelf. He
dwells upon the fame ideas, and amplifies the fame
thoughts, by new expreffions and figures, as is
natural a to mind intent on fubjeds of afflidion.
There is, however, no wild incoherency in the con
texture of the book ; the tranfitions are eafy and
elegant ; but it is in fad a colledion of diftind fen
tences upon the fame fubjed, which are properly in-
titled Lamentations.
The work is divided into five parts : in the firft,
fecond, and fourth chapters, the Prophet fpeaks in
his own perfon ; or by a very elegant and intereft
ing perfonification, introduces Jerufalem as fpeaking
[m]. In the third chapter, a chorus of the Jews
fpeaks as one perfon, like the Coryphaeus of the
Greeks. In the fifth, which forms a kind of epi
logue to the work, the whole nation of the captive
Jews is introduced in one body, as pouring out com
plaints and fupplications to God. Each of thefe five
parts is diftributed into twenty-two periods or ftanzas,-
in correfpondence with the number of the Hebrew
letters. In the three firft chapters, thefe periods are
[m] In the firft verfe, Jerufalem is defcribed as fitting pen-
five and folitary, as Judasa was afterwards reprefented on the
coins of Vefpafian and Titus. Sitting was/ a natural pofture
of forrow ; and the pifture of fedentary affli&ion was familiar
to the Jews. Vid. Job ii. 13. Pfa. cxxxvii.i, Ezek. iii. 15.
Addifon's Diff. on Medals, C c 2 triplets,

?8£i TfiE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH.
triplets, or confift of three lines [n]. In the fon?
firft chapter:., the initial letter of each period follows
the order of the alphabet ;- and in the third chapter,.
each verfe of the fame ftanza begins with the fame
letter [o]. In the fourth chapter, all the ftanzas
are evidently diftiches [p], as alfo in the fifth, which
is not acroftick. The intention of this acroftick, or
alphabetic arrangement, was to affift the memory in
retaining fentences not much conneded [ oj, and the
fame method was adopted, and is even ftill ufed by
the Syrians, Arabians, and Perfians [r]. It is re
markable alfo, that though the verfes of the fifth
chapter are ffiort, yet -thofe of. the other chapters.
feem to be nearly half as long again as thofe which
ufually occur in Hebrew poetry; and the Prophet
appears to have chofen diis meafure as more flowing,
and accommodated to the effufions of forrow, and
[nJ There is, however, in each of die two firft' chapters, one*
tetracolon, or ftanza of four verfes, in cap. i. 1, in cap. ii. p. p.
[oj The third chapter has 66 verfes in our tranflation, be
caufe each of the twenty-two periods is divided into three verfes,
according to the initial .letters. It is remarkable, that in the
fecond, third, and fourth chapters, the initial letter D is placed"
before J?, contrary to the order obferved in the alphabet, and in
the firft chapter, as well as in the acroftick Pfalms.
[p] The ftanza D, as now read, cannot be divided- into two*
or three verfes.
[ qJ The Lamentations appear to have been fung in pur>
lick fervice. Vid. Lowth's Pra;lecf . 22. and Preface tb Ifaiah*
p. 31.
. [r.J Affemani Bibliothec Oriental, vol. iii. p. 63, i>8o, i8#*
328. perhaps

THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH. 3$9
cerhaps as more agreeable to the nature of funeral
dirges [s],.
This poem affords the moft elegant variety of
affeding images that ever probably were colleded
into fo fmall a compafs [t]. The fcenes of afflic
tion, the circumftances of diftrefs, are painted with
fuch beautiful combination, that we contemplate
every where the moft affeding pidure of defolation
and mifery. The Prophet reiterates his complaints
in the moft pathetic ftile ; and aggravates his forrow
with a boldnefs and force of defcription that corref
pond with the magnitude .and religious importance of
the calamities difplayed to view. In the inftrudive
ftrain of an infpired writer, he reminds his country
men of the grievous rebellions that had provoked
¦the Lord to " abhor his fanduary ;" oonfeffes that
it was of God's mercies that they were not utterly
confumed ; and points out the fources of evil in the
iniquities of their falfe prophets and priefts. He then
with indignant irony threatens Edom with deftrudion
for rejoicing over the miferies of Judcea ; opens a
confolatory profped of deliverance and future pro
tection to Zion ; and concludes with an affeding ad
drefs to God, to cc confider the reproach" ofhis
people, and to renew their profperity.
It is worthy to be obferved, that Jeremiah in en
deavouring to promote refignation in his countrymen,
[s] The-Lamentations which occafionally occur, appear all to
be compofed of this long meafure, which may be fuppofed to have
been properly the elegiac meafure of the Hebrews.
[t] Lowth's Prslect. 22. C c 3 reprefents

39© THE LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH.
reprefents his own deportment under afflidions, in
terms which have a prophetic caft, fo ftrikingly are
they defcriptive of the patience and condud of our
Saviour under his fufferings [u]. The Prophet, in
deed, in the meek endurance of unmerited perfecu
tion was an illuftrious type of Chrift.
Jeremiah is reprefented in fome titles to have been
the author of the 137th Pfalm [x] ; as likewife to
have compofed the 65th [y] in conjundion with
Ezekiel ; but probably neither of them were the pro-
dudion of his pen. The author ofthe fecond book
of Maccabees [z], fpeaks of fome recorded inftruc
tions of the Prophet, which are no longer extant.
In the Vatican library are fome compofitions in Greek,
attributed to the Prophet, containing fpurious letters
from Baruch and Abdemelech to the Prophet, and
fuppofititious anfwers from him.
[u] Chap. iii. I — 30.
[ x ] This is afcribed to him in fome Latin copies, as it for
merly was in fome Greek manufcripts ; but it feems to have been
written by fome captive at Babylon.
[yJ The titles in the Greek and 'Latin copies which affign this
Pfalm to Jeremiah and Ezekiel, are of no authority. The Pfalqi
was probably written by David, upon the occafion of fome graci
ous rain after a drought, or perhaps by Haggai, or fome Prophet
after the return from the captivity. Vid. Calmet.
[z] 2 Mace. ii. 1—7.

Of

C 39* ]

BOOK* of the PROPHET
EZEKIEL.

EZEKIEL, who was the third of the great
Prophets, was the fon of Buzi, a. defcend
ant of .Aaron, ofthe tribe of Levi, that is, ofthe
facerdotal race. He is faid to have been a native of
Sarera [a], and to have been carried away captive to
Babylon with Jehoiachin, King of Judah, A. M.
3406. He fettled, or was placed, with many others
of his captive countrymen, 0T1 the banks of the
Chebar [b], a river of Mefopotamia ; where he was
favoured with the divine revelations which are de
fcribed in this book. He appears to have been mer
cifully raifed up to animate the defpondence of his
contemporaries in their fufferings and afflidions ;
[a] Pfeudo-Epiphan. in Vit. Prophet.
[b] Called by Ptolemy and Strabo, Chaboras, or Aborasj
and by Pliny, Cobaris, Lib. I. cap. xxvi. It flows into the eaft
fide of the Euphrates at Circefium, 'or Carchemifh, almoft 200
jnjfes to the north of Babylon.
C C 4 and

392 OI THE BOOK, OF EZEKIEL.
and to affure them that they were deceived in fup
pofing, according to the reprefentations of falfe pro
phets, that their countrymen who remained in Judaea
were in happier circumftances than themfelves ; and
with this view he defcribes that melancholy fcene of
calamities which was about to arife in Judaea ; and
thence he proceeds to predict, the univerfal apoftacy
of the Jews, and the total deftrudion of their city and
temple ; adverting alfo, occafionally, to tfhofe punifh-
ments which awaited their enemies ; and interfperfing
affurances ofthe final accompliffiment of God's pur
pofe, with prophetic declarations ofthe advent ofthe
Meffiah, ana with promifes of the final reftoration of
She Jews.
The name of Ezekiel [c] was happily expreffive
of that infpired confidence and fortitude which he
difplayed, as well in fupporting the adverfe circum
ftances of fhe captivity, as in cenfuring the fins and
idolatrous propenfities of his countrymen. He be
gan to deliver his prophecies about eight or ten year*
after Daniel, in the fifth year of Jehoiachin's capti
vity ; and as fome have fuppqfed, in the thirtieth year
of his age [r/j.
The
[ c ] Ezekiel, ^Npm'. Fortitudo Dei vel Apprehenfio Dei.
[dJ Ezek. i. i. Hieron in loe. &c. Ufher, Prideaux, and
others, reckon the 30 years here fpoken of, as well. as the 40
days or years mentioned in chap. iv. 6. from the time of the
covenant made by Jofiah in the 1 8 th year of his reign. Vid.
2 Kings xxiii. 3. according to which computation this thirtieth
year correfponds with A. M. 3410, and the fifth year of Jehoi
achin's captivity. Other chronologifts, however, conceive it
* to

of the book of ezekiel. 393
The divine inftrudions were firft revealed to him
in a glorious vifion, in which he beheld a reprefenta
tion, or as he himfelf reverently expreffes it, " the
appearance of the likenefs of the glory of the Lord,"
attended by his cherubims fymbolically pourtrayed.
" The word of the Lord Came exprefsly" unto him,
and he received his commiflion by a voice, which was
followed by a forcible influence of the fpirit, and by
awful diredions for his condud [e]. He appears to
have executed his high truft with great fidelity. The
author of Ecclefiafticus [f] fays of him, that cc he
direded them who went right ;" which may be con
fidered as a merited encomium on the induftry with
which he endeavoured to inftrud and guide his coun
trymen to righteoufnefs. He is reported by fome
writers to have prefided in the government of the
tribes of Gad and Dan in Affyria ; and among other
miracles to have punifhed them for idolatry by a
fearful deftrudion produced by ferpents. In ad
dition to thefe popular traditions it is reported, that
his countrymen were fo incenfed by his reproaches as
to put him to a cruel death [g]. In the time of
Epiphanius it was generally believed that his remains
were depofited in the fame fepulchre with thofe of
to be the thirtieth year of Ezekiel's age; ; or the thirtieth year of
Nebupolaffer's reign ; and others the thirtieth year from the Ju
bilee. Vid. Ufher ad A. M. ' 3409. PHd. An. A. C. 594.
Scaliger Can. Ifag. p. 28. Ezekiel ufually dates his prophecies
from the asra of his appointment to the prophetic office.
[e] Chap. i. ii. and iii.
[f] Ecclus xlix. 9. & Arnald.
[g] Hieron. in Ezech. xii. Shem

394 OF THE book Of ezekiel.
Shem and Arphaxad, which was fituated between the
river Euphrates and that of Chaboras, in the land of
Manr; and it was much reforted to [h], not only by
the Jews, but alfo by the Medes and Perfians : who
reverenced the tomb of the Prophet with a fuper-
ilitious devotion.
The authenticity of Ezekiel's book will admit of
no queftion. He reprefents himfelf as the author in
the beginning and other parts of it, and juftly af-
fumes the charader and pretenfions of a Prophet [i];
as fuch he has been univerfally confidered. A few
writers, indeed, of very inconfiderable authority,
have fancied, from the firft word of the Hebrew
text, which they confider as a connexive particle,
that what we poffefs of Ezekiel is but the fragment
of a larger work. But there is no ffiadow of foun
dation for this conjedure, fince it was very cuftomary
to begin a difcourfe in that language with the particle
vau [k], which we properly tranflate, " Now it
came to pafs." It has been afferted, likewife, on
Talmudical authority, that certain Rabbins delibera
ted concerning the rejedion of this book from the
[ h ] Benjamin Tudela relates, that a magnificent roof was
built to it by Jechoniah and 30,000 Jews, and decorated with
images of Jechoniah, Ezekiel, and others ; likewife, that a
fynagogue and library were erected there, in which was de
pofited a manufcript of Ezekiel's prophecies that was read on
the day of expiation. The pretended tomb of Ezekiel is ftill
fhewn about fifteen leagues from Bagdad.
[1] Chap. i. 1. ii. 2, 5. Clem, ift Epif. Cor. c. 17.
[ k J Jonah i. 1 . and the beginning of moft of the hiftorical
books of fcripture, alfo Calmet Preface fur Ezechiel.
I canon,

OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. J<)$
canon, on account of fome paffages in it which they
conceived to be contradidory to the principles ot the
Mofaic Law [l]. If they had any fuch intention,
they were foon convinced of their miftake, and gave
up the defign. But the Jews, indeed, did not fuffer
the book, or at leaft the beginning of it, to be reacl
by any who had not attained their thirtieth year [m];
and reftridions were impofed upon commentators
who might be difpofed to write upon it [n].
St. Jerom hath remarked, certainly with great
truth, that the vifions of Ezekiel are fometimes very
myfterious, and of difficult interpretation, and that
they may be reckoned among the things in fcripture
which are " hard to be underftood [o]." Ezekiel
himfelf, well aware of the myfterious charader of
thofe reprefentations which he beheld in vifion, and
of the neceffary obfcurity which muft attend the de
fcription of them to others, humbly reprefented to
[l] Comp. Ezek. xviii. 20. with Exod. xxxiv. 7. The peo
ple whom Ezekiel addreffed, prefumptuoufly complained that
they were punifhed for the fins of their forefathers, though, in '
truth, they had merited their captivity by peififting in evil.
God therefore, very confiftently with his former declarations,
threatens by Ezekiel to make fuch diftinction between the
righteous and the wicked, that each man fhould be fenfible of
having deferved his fufferings. • And he affures the people, with
efpecial reference to eternal punifhment, that " the foul that
finned fhould die ;" and that " the fon fhould not bear the ini
quity of the father ;" that each fhould be refponfible only for
his own conduit.
[mJ Calrhet's Di£t. Herbelot. Biblipt. Orient, p. 942.
[n] Cwueus deltep. Heb. 17.
fol Hieron. Prol. in Ezech. and Prol. Gal.
t • ¦ God

jq6 of the book of ezekiel.
God that the people accufed him of fpeaking darkly
*' in parables [p]." It appears to have been God's
defign to cheer the drooping fpirits of his people,
but only by communicating fuch encouragement as
was confiftent with a ftate of punifhment, and cal
culated by Jndiftind intimations, to keep alive a
watchful and fubmiffiye confidence. For this reafon,
perhaps, were Ezekiel's prophecies, which were re
vealed amidft the gloom of captivity, defignedly ob
fcure in their nature ; but though myfterious in them
felves, they are related by the Prophet in a plain and
hiftorical manner. He feems to have been defir
ous of conveying the ftrong impreffions which he
received, as accurately as they were capable of be
ing defcribed.
The reprefentations which Ezekiel beheld in vifion,
are capable of a very interefting and inftrudive illuf
tration from other parts of fcripture : as may be feen
in the commentaries of various writers who have un
dertaken to explain their allufive charader, and the
figurative diredions which the Prophet received in
_ them with relation to his own condud, were very
confiftent with the dignity of his charader, and the
defign of his miffion. Some of thefe diredions were
given, indeed, only by way of metaphorical inftruc
tion ; for when Ezekiel is commanded to " eat the
roll of prophecy," we readily underftand that he is
enjoined only to receive, and thoroughly to digeft its
contents [ qJ ; and when he profeffes to have com-
[p] Ezek. xx. 49.
[qJ Vid. Rev. x. 8—10. plied

OF THE. BOOK OF EZEKIEtr 2gf
plied with the command, we perceive that he fpeaks
only of a tranfadion in vifion. With refped to fome
other relations of this nature contained in Ezekiel's
book [r], whether we fuppofe them to be defcrip
tive of real or imaginary events, they are very recon-
cileable with divine intention in the employment of
the Prophet. On a fuppofition that they were real,
we may reafonably fuppole a miraculous affiftance to
have been afforded when neceffary ; and if we con
fider them as imaginary, they might be reprefented
equally as emblematical forewarnings revealed to the
Prophet [s].
The Book of Ezekiel is fometimes diftributed by
the following analyfis, under different heads. After
the three firft chapters, in which the appointment of
the Prophet is defcribed, the wickednefs and punifh
ment of the Jews, efpecially of thofe remaining in
Judaea, are reprefented under different paa-ables and
vifions. ' From thence to the thirty-fecond chapter,
the Prophet turns his attention to thofe nations who
had unfeelingly triumphed over the Jews in their af-
flidion ; prediding that deftrudion of the Ammon
ites, Moabites, and Philiftines, which Nebuchadnez-
[r] In the general preface to the Prophets, Ezekiel is fup
pofed to have actually removed his houfhold Huff, as thus pro-
phefying by a fign; and this fuppofition feems to be authorized
hy the account. Vid. Ezek. xii. 7. and WateTland in Ezek.
S«>, alfo, when deprived of his wife, he certainly refrained from
the cuftomary fhew of grief, as a fign of the unprecedented and
inexpreffible forrow under which the Jews fhould pine away on
tike deftruftion of their temple. Vid.. chap. xxiv. 16, et fe<j.
jis]. Chap. iv. and v. 2 zar

39? OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL.
zar effeded; and particularly, he foretels the ruin
and defolation of Tyre [t] and of Sidon ; the fall of
Egypt [u], and the bafe degeneracy of its future
people, in a manner fo forcible, in terms fo accu
rately and minutely defcriptive of their feveral fates
and prefent condition, that nothing can be more in
terefting than to trace the accompliffiment of thefe
prophecies in the accounts which are furnifhed by
hiftorians and travellers.
From the thirty-fecond to the fortieth chapter,
Eezekiel inveighs againft the hypocrify and murmur
ing fpirit of his captive countrymen : encouraging
them to refignation by promifes of deliverance [x],
and by intimations of fpiritual redemption [y]. In
the two laft chapters of this divifion, under the pro
mifed vidories to be obtained over Gog and Magog
[z], he undoubtedly predids the final return of the
Jews
[tJ E2ek. xxvi. xxvii. and xxviii. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X.
cap. xi. cont. Apion, Lib. I. Newton's Xlth Differt. on Pro
phecy. Prid. Con. An. 573. Shaw's Travels, p. 330. Maun-
drell, p. 48, 49. Volney, vol. ii. ch. xxix. Bruce's Travels,
Introd. p. 59.
[u] Chap. xxix. and xxx. Newton's Differt. XII. and every
hiftory, and every account of Egypt. Herodotus particularly
relates the accomplifhment of thofe prophecies which Jeremiah
and Ezekiel uttered concerning Hophra, king of Egypt. Vid.
Jerem. xliv. 30. and Herod. Lib. II. Hophra is called Apries by
Herodotus, who, fays the hiftorian, was deftined to misfortune.
See alfo the Teftimonies of Megafthenes and Berofus in Newton.
[x] Chap, xxxvi. 11. xxxvii. 12, 14, 21.
[y] Chap, xxxiv. 4. xxiii. et feq. xxxvii. Z4. et feq.
[z] Rev. xx. 7, 8. Some conceive that thefe prophecies of
Ezekiel related to ;he perfecution of Antiochus Epiphanes. Calmet

OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. 399
Jews from their difperfion, in the latter days ; with
an obfcurity, however, that can be difperfed only by
the event.
The nine laft chapters of this book furnifh die
defcription of a very remarkable vifion of a new tem
ple, and city; of a new religion and polity, under
the particulars of which is fhadowed out the eftabliffi
ment of a future univerfal church [a]. Jofephus fays,
Calmet applies them to Cambyfes. Gog is, however, generally
fuppofed to reprefent the Turks ; who derive their origin from
the Tartars, a race of the Scythians, who were the defcendant*
of Magog, the fon of Japhet. Vid. Gen. x. 2. The word
Gog appears to be applied to the people, and Magog to the
land. We learn from Pliny, that Scythopolis and Hicropolis
were always called Magog, after they were taken by the Scy
thians. The other Prophets fpeak of fome future enemy of the
Jews and church under a fimilar defcription ; but in what manner
this magnificent prophecy is to receive its completion time only
can explain.' Vid. Lowth in loe. Jerem. xxvii. and xxx. Joel iii.
Micah v. Rev. xx. Mede conceives that the Gog and Magog
mentioned in the Revelation of St. John, prefignify fome enemies
different from thofe foretold under thefe names by Ezekiel ; and
that St. John's prophecies apply to fome unconverted heathens to
appear in oppofition to the church towards the conclufion of the
Millenium. Vid. de Gog et Mag. Conjeft. Mede's Works, vol.
II. B. iii.
[a] This obfcure vifion of Ezekiel is generally fuppofed to
contain the defcription of a temple, correfponding in its ftruc-
ture and dimenfions with that of Solomon. The Prophet by
prefenting to the captives this delineation of what had been
" the defire of their eyes," reminded them of the lofs which
they had fuffered from their unrighteoufnefs ; and furnifhed
them with a model - upon which the temple might again rife
from its ruins ; as it did, with lefs magnificence, indeed, in the
time

JUOO OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL.
fays, that Ezekiel left two books concerning the cap
tivity [b] ; and the author of the Syliopfis attributed
to Athanafius, fuppofes that one book has been loft;
but as the nine laft chapters of Ezekiel conftitute in
fome meafure a diftind work, probably Jofephus
might cohfider them as forming a fecond book.
It deferves to be remarked, that we are informed
by Jofephus, that the prophecy in which Ezekiel [c]
foretold that " Zedekiah ffiould not fee Babylon j
though he ffiould die there," was judged by that
monarch to be inconfiftent with that of Jeremiah,
who predided that " Zedekiah ffiould behold the
King of Babylon, and go to Babylon [d]." But
both were exadly fulfilled; for Zedekiah did fee
the King of Babylon at Riblah, and then being de
prived of his eyes, he was carried to Babylon, and
died there [e]. From this account it appears, that
Ezekiel's prophecies were tranfmitted to Jerufalem,
as we know that Jeremiah's were fent to his country
men in captivity [f] ; an intercourfe being kept up,
efpecially for the conveyance of prophetic inftruc
tions: for ought that might confole mifery j or
time of Zerubbabel. Under the particulars detailed by Ezekiel,
however, we often difcover the ceconomy of a fpiritual temple,
which fhould again be fdled " with the glory of the Lord coming
from the Eaft." Vid. chap, xliii. I — 4. Villalpandus, Capellus,
and Commentators at large.
b] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. vi.
[c] Ezek. xii. 13.
d] Jerem. xxxiv. 3.
e] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. cap. x. Vid. Lib. XI. c. x.
[f] Jerem. xxix. 1. and Hieron, in Ezech. xii. 7. awaken

OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL. 4OI
awaken repentance $ and it v/as probably on the
ground of this communication, that the Talmudifts
fuppofed that the prophecies of Ezekiel were ar
ranged into their prefent form, and placed in the
canon by the elders of the great fynagogue [g].
The ftile of this Prophet is charaderized by
Bifhop Lowth as bold, vehement, and tragical [h] ;
as" often worked up to a kind of tremendous dignity.
His book is highly parabolical, and abounds with
figures and metaphorical expreffions. Ezekiel may
be compared to the Grecian iEfchylus ; he difplays
a rough but majeftic dignity ; an unpoliffied though
noble fimplicity ; inferior, perhaps, in originality and
elegance to others of the Prophets ; but unequalled
in that force and grandeur for which he is particu
larly celebrated, He fometimes emphatically and in
dignantly repeats his fentiments; fully dilates his
pidures; and defcribes the adulterous manners o.
his countrymen under the ftrongeft and moft exag
gerated reprefentations that the licence of the eaftern
ftile would admit, The middle part of the book is
in fome meafure poetical; and contains even fome
[ c ] Bava Bathra, c. i. and in Gemar, Ifidor, Orig. Lib, VI.
cap. ii.
[h] The Ezekiel who is quoted by Clemens Alexandrinus
and Eufebius as the tragic poet of the Jews, was a different
perfon from the Prophet. Some fuppofe that he was one of
the feventy tranflators under Ptolemy. His work, in which
he defcribes the Exodus of the Jews under the conduct; of
Mofes, is ftill extant. Vid. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. p. 344.
Eufeb. Pr<ep. Evang. Lib. IX. c. 28, Fabric. Bib. Grax. Lib. II.
C. xix.
P d perfed

402, OF THE BOOK OF EZEKIEL.
perfed elegies [i] ; though his thoughts are in general
too irregular and uncontrolled to be chained down to
rule, or fettered by language.
Some perfons have conceived that Pythagoras im
bibed his knowledge concerning the Mofaic Law
from Ezekiel; and that the Prophet was the fame
perfon with Nazaratus [k], under whom Pythagoras
is related to have ftudied [l]. Pythagoras certainly
did vifit Babylon, and according to many calcula
tions he was contemporary with the Prophet,
[i] Chap, xxvii. and xxviii. 12 — 19.
[k] Called Zabratus, by Porphyry in Vita Pythagor. and
2taratus, by Plutarch. Vid. Huet. Prop. IV.
[lJ Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. Some conceive, that Py
thagoras might have been born about nine years after Ezekiel's
departure for the captivity ; and might have vifited Babylon very
young, and fo have converfed with Ezekiel wh£n the Prophet was
in years.

OF

[ 4°J ]

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
DANIEL.

THAT Daniel colleded thefe prophecies into
their prefent form is evident, fince in various
parts of the Book he fpeaks of himfelf in the cha
rader of its author [a] ; and has been fo confidered
in all ages of the church. Some Jewiffi writers,
indeed, upon a miftaken notion that prophecies were
never committed to writing out of the limits of Ju-
dsa, pretend that the book was compofed by the
men of the great fynagogue, as alfo thofe of Efther,),
and Ezekiel [b]. It was, however, unqueftionably
admitted into the Hebrew canon as the authentic
produdion of Daniel ; and it is cited as his work in
the New Teftament [c].
[a] Dan. viii. i, 2, 27. ix. 2. x. 2. xii. 5, &c.
[b] Bava Bathra, cap. in Gemara, and Rabbins, Jofephus
affures us, that Daniel himfelf committed his prophecies to
writing. . Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. cap. xii.
[cj Matt. xxiv. 15, Mark xiii. 14.
Pd 2 In

4O4 OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
In the time of Jofephus, Daniel was efteemed as
one of the greateft of the Prophets [d] ; but fince
the period in which the hiftorian flourifhed, the Jews,
in order to invalidate the evidence that refults from
the Prophet's writings in fupport of Chriftianity,
have, on the authority of a few dodors, agreed to
clafs him among the Hagiographi [e] ; which de-
cifion, however, does not, upon their own rules,
affed his pretenfions to be confidered as an infpired
writer. The reafon which, among others, the Jews
produce tp authorize this degradation is, that Daniel
lived in the Babylonifh court, in a ftile of magnifi
cence inconfiftent with the reftridions obferved by
the Prophets [f] ; and though the divine will was
revealed to him by an angel, yet as the Prophet
himfelf called this revelation a dream, the Jewifh
writers, by fome unintelligible diftindion, confider
this as a mode of revelation inferior to any of thofe
fpecified in God's addrefs to Mofes [gJ. Without
[d] Jofeph. Lib. X. cap, xi. xii.
[e] Maimon. More Nevoch, Par. II. cap. iv. v. Hieron.
Prasf. in Dan. Theod. cap. ult. Dan. Yet Daniel is reckoned
among the Prophets in fome Ta]mudical books. Vid. Me-
gilla, c. ii. Jacchiades in Dan. i. 17. In the fecond century,
Aquila and Theodotion placed him among the Prophets in
their Greek tranflations, agreeably to his rank in the Septuagint;
and Melito found him reckoned in the fame clafs. Vid. Eufeb.
Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IV. c. xxvi. Epiphan. Hrerts. zg. Nazar.
note 7. De Pond. & Menf. n, 4. 162. Chand. Vindic. ch. i.
fed. 3.
[f] Grot. Prajf. ad Com. in Efai. Huet. Demon. Evan.
Prop. IV. esp. xiv. Kimchi. Prasf. in Pfalm.
[cj Numb. xii. 6. Maimon. J^cre Nevoch, Par, II. c. xiv.
flaying

OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 40$
flaying to refute thefe abfurd fancies, it is only ne
ceffary to obferve, that the exad accompliffiment of
Daniel's many remarkable predidions would have
fufficiently eftabliffied his right to the charader of a
Prophet, even .if he had not been exprefsly dif
tinguiffied as fuch by the facred writers [h] ; and
by Chrift himfelf, who fpoke agreeably to the opinion
of the Jews, his contemporaries, in teftimony to the
prophetic charader of Daniel [i].
Daniel was a defcendant of the Kings of Judah.
He is related to have been born at upper Bethofon
[k], which was in the territory of Ephraim. He
was carried away captive to Babylon in the fourth
year of Jehoiakim, A.M. 3398; probably in the
eighteenth or twentieth year of his age [lJ ; and on
account of his birth, wifdom, and accomplifhments
[m], was feleded to ftand in the prefence of Nebu
chadnezzar ; fo that in him and his companions was
fulfilled that prophecy in which Ifaiah declared to
Hezekiah that " his iffue fhould be eunuchs in the
palace of the King of Babylon [n]."
By
[h] Heb. xi. 33, 34. 2 Pet. i. 21.
{,]] Matt. xxiv. 15. Mark xiii. 14.
[k] Jofh. xvi. 5. Sixtus Senenfis affirms, after Epiphanius,
that Daniel was born in Batheber near Jerufalem. Vid. Bib. Sac.
Lib. I. p. 40. Michaelis confiders this as an improbable tradition.
Vid. Michael. Praf. p. 8.
[l] Aben-Esra.
[m] Dan. i. 3, 4. Ezek. xiv. 14. xxv. 3. xxviii. 3.
[n] 2 Kings xx. 18. Ifa. xxxix. 6, 7. The word eunuch
.formerly was a general title for the royal attendants. The
D d 3 fame

4b6 OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
By the fignal proofs which he gave of an excel
lent fpirit, and by the many extraordinary qualities
which he poffeffed, Daniel conciliated the favour of
the Perfian monarchs ; he was elevated to high rank
[o], and entrufted with great power. In the vicif-
fitudes of his life, as in the virtues which he dif
played, he has been thought to have refembled Jo
feph. Like him he lived amidft the corruption of a
great court ; and preferved an unffiaken attachment
tb his religion, in a fituation embarraffed with dif
ficulties, and furrounded by temptations. He pub
lickly profeffed God's fervice, in defiance of every
danger; and predided his fearful judgments to the
very face of intemperate and powerful ryrants.[p].
ft may be colleded from the penfive caft of his
fame phrafe in the original is applied to Potiphar. Vid. Gen.
xxxix. i. Vid. alfo Acls viii. 27.
[o] The name of Daniel implied, " the man of out defires."
Others fay it fignified, the judgment of God, or according to
Michaelis, God is my judge. (Vid. Mich. Prsf. in Dan. and
Geirus in Dan.) The name given to him in the Babylonifh
court was Beltefhazzar, a name which, as Nebuchadnezzar re
marked in his decree, was derived from the name of his God
(Bel). Vid. Dan. iv. 8. It was ufual among the Babylonians
fo to denominate perfons after the names of their deities, as Ne
buchadnezzar from Nebo, and Evil-Merodach from Merodach.
Vid. Ifa. xlvi. 1. Jerem. 1. 2. It was alfo cuftomary among the
eaftern nations, for the Kings to diftinguifh their favourites by
new names when they conferred on tliem new dignities ; and the
Mogul ftill adheres to the cuftom. Gen. xii. 45. Efther ii. 7.
Scaliger de Emehd. Temp. Lib. V. and VI. Cellar, ad Cur-
t-ium, Lib. VI. c. 6.
[p] Chap. iv. 20—28. v. 18 — 29. writings,

OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 407
writings, that he was of that melancholy difpofition
which might be expeded to charaderize the fervants
of the true God amidft fcenes of idolatry. He ex
perienced through his whole life very fignal and
miraculous proofs of divine favour ; and was looked
up to by the Perfians, as well as by his own country-
men, as an oracle of infpired wifdom [ qJ] ; he con
tributed much to fpread a knowledge of God among
the Gentile nations. Many writers have fuppofed
that Zoroafter the celebrated founder or reformer of
the Magian religion, was a difciple of Daniel, fince
Zoroafter was evidently well acquainted with many
revealed truths, and borrowed from the facred wri
tings many particulars for the improvement of his
religious inftitutes [r].
Daniel appears to have attained a great age, as
he prophefied during the whole period of the cap
tivity. He probably, however, did not long fur-
vive his laft vifion concerning the fucceffion of the
Kings of Perfia, which he beheld in the third year
of Cyrus [s], A.M. 3470, when the Prophet muft
have reached his ninetieth year. As Daniel dates
this vifion by a Perfian sera, it was apparently re
vealed to him in Perfia ; and though fome have af
ferted that he returned from the captivity with Ezra,
[ qJ Dan. v. 1 1. Ezek. xiv. 14. xxviii. 3. Daniel was very
young when Ezekiel bore this teftimony to his praife.
[r] Wendelin. Diff. de Pythagor. Tetr.
[s] Chap. x. 1. xii. 13. Michael, in Jerenn Diff. Prelim.
§• 21.
» D d 4 and

408 OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
and took upon him the government of Syria [t], it
is probable that he was too old to avail himfelf of
the decree of- Cyrus [u], however he might have
been acceffary in obtaining it ; and that agreeably to
the received opinion, fie died in Perfia. Epiphanius
and others affirm that he died at Babylon, and they
fay that his fepulchre was there to be feen many
ages after in the royal cave [x]. But it is more
probable, according to the common tradition, that
he was buried at Sufa, or Shuffian, where certainly
he fometimes refided [y], and perhaps as governor
of Perfia; and where he was favoured with fome of
his laft vifions. Benjamin Tudela, indeed, informs
us [z], that he was ffiewn the reputed tomb of
[t] Herbelot. Biblioth. Oriental, p. 283.
[ ti ] The Daniel mentioned by Nehemiah, ch. x. 6. was a
different perfon from the Prophet, being probably the fame with
Daniel, the fon of Ithamar, fpoken of by Ezra, ch. viii. 2. The
"Belefis, likewife, mentioned by Diodorus, differed from the Pro
phet in his period and character.
[x] Epiphan. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Sac. Lib. I. p. 2. Itappears,
however, from other writers, that the fepulchre of the Perfian
¦Kings was near Perfepolis. Vid. Diodor. Sic. Reland. in Pa-
lseft. Lib. III. p. 635. Strabo relates, that Cyrus was buried at
Perfepolis, and that his monument was there feen by Alexander.
Vid. Strab. Lib. XV. p. 730. His fucceffors were perhaps buried
at Sufa. [y] Chap. viii. z, zj. Shufhan was the capital of Elam, or
Perfia, properly fo called. It was taken from Aftyages, King
of Media, by Nebuchadnezzar, according to the prophecy of
Jeremiah. Vid. Jerem. xlix. 34. It afterwards revolted to
Cyrus. Vid. Xenoph. Cyropasd. Lib. V.
[z] Benjam. Itiner. p. 78. et Abulfar. Hift. Oriental. Dy-
naft. 5. Daniel,

OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 4OQ
Daniel at Tufter (the ancient Sufa) on the Tigris ;
where likewife, as we are affured by Jofephus, was
a magnificent edifice in the form of a tower, which
was faid to have been built by Daniel [a], and which
ferved as a fepulchre for the Perfian and Parthian
Kings. This, in the time of the hiftorian, retained
its perfed beauty, and furnifhed a fine fpecimen of
the Prophet's fkill in architedure.
The Book of Daniel contains a very interefting
mixture of hiftory and prophecies ; the former being-
introduced as far as was neceffary to defcribe the
condud of the Prophet, and to ffiew the defign and
occafion of his predidions. The fix firft chapters
are chiefly hiftorical ; though, indeed, the fecond
chapter contains the prophetic interpretation of Da
niel's dream concerning the kingdoms which were
fucceffively to illuftrate the power of that God, who
removeth and fetteth up Kings, as feemeth good to
him. The four hiftorical chapters which fucceed, relate
the miraculous deliverance of Daniel's companions
from the furnace [b] ; the remarkable puniffiment of
Nebuchadnezzar's arrogance [c] ; the impiety and
portended
[a] Jofeph. "Antiq. Lib. X. cap. xii. The prefent copies of
Jofephus, indeed, place this edifice in Ecbatana, but probably
the hiftorian originally wrote Sufa ; for St. Jerom, who profeffes
to copy his account, reads Sufa, which was in the Babylonifh
empire. Vid. Hieron. Cpm. in Dan. viii. 2.
[b] In this miracle was literally accomplifhed a prophetic
affurance of Ifaiah. Vid. xliii. 2.
[c] It has been ufually fuppofed, that the punifhment in
flicted on Nebuchadnezzar was that fpecies of madnefs which

4IO OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
portended fate of Belffiazzar [d] ; and the divine in-
terpofition for the protedion of Daniel in the lion's
is called Lycanthropy. This diforder operates fo ftrongly on
thofe affedted by it, as to make them fancy themfelves wolves,
and run howling and tearing every thing in extravagant imitation
of thofe animals. Vid. Sennerti Inftitut. Medic. 2. Par. III.
§ 7. and § 2. c. iv. Aertius, Lib. VI. c. 2. Mercur. Var.
Led. VI. 20. Paufan. in Arcad. Ovid. Metam. Lib. I. 1. 232,
et • feq. But it fhould feem from the account, that the divine
threats were fulfilled in a more exadt and literal fenfe ; and that
'Nebuchadnezzar was actually driven from fociety, till his affec
tions were brutalized, and his appearance, changed. Scaliger
conceives, that this Metamorphofis is alluded to by Abydenus,
who remarks, on the authority of the Chaldaean writers, that
Nebuchadnezzar, after having uttered a prophecy relative to the
deftruction of the Babylonifh empire by Cyrus, difappeared. Vid.
Eufeb. Przp. Evan. Lib. IX. c. xii. Scaliger's notes upon the
ancient fragments in the appendix to his work, de Emendatione
Temporum. [ d ] The death of Belfhazzar is related by Xenophon nearly
in the fame manner as it is defcribed by Daniel. Vid. Hiftor.
Lib. VII. and many other particulars recorded in this book are
reprefented in a fimilar way by heathen hiftorians, as St. Jerom
has fhewn by many references. The eaftern Kings had, how
ever, many titles affumed on various occafions ; they are there
fore fometimes fpoken of in this book, as in other parts of fcrip
ture, under titles different from thofe by which they are diftin
guifhed in prophane hiftory ; and probably the facred writers
chofe to characterize wicked princes by thofe obnoxious appel
lations which they affumed in honour of their idols ; as in the
inftance of Evil-Merodach and Belfhazzar. Belfhazzar was pro
bably the fon of Evil-Merodach, by Nitocris, and the grand
fon of Nebuchadnezzar, whofe fon (or defcendant) he is
<alled in fcripture. Vid. Bifhop Hallifax's fecond fermon on
Prophecy. den,

OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 41 1
den [e]. All thefe accounts are written with a fpirit
and animation highly interefting ; we feem tb be pre
fent at the fcenes defcribed ; and the whole work is
enriched with the moft exalted fentiments of piety;
and with the fineft atteftations to the praife and glory
of God.
Daniel flourifhed during the fucceffive reigns of
feveral Babylonifh and Median Kings, to the con
queft of Babylon by Cyrus ; in the beginning of
whofe reign he probably died. The events recorded
in the fixth chapter were coeval with Darius the
Mede ; but in the feventh and eighth chapters Daniel
returns' to an earlier period, to relate the vifions
which he beheld in the three firft years of Belffiaz-
zar's reign [f] ; and thofe which follow in the four
laft chapters were revealed to him in the reign of
Darius. The fix laft chapters of this book are compofed of
prophecies delivered at different times, all of which
are, however, in fome degree conneded as parts of
one great fcheme. They extend through many
ages ; and furniffi the moft ftriking defcription ofthe .
fall of fucceffive kingdoms, which were to be intro-
dudory to the eftabliffiment of the Meffiah's reign.
They charaderize in defcriptive terms the four great
monarchies of the world to be fucceeded by " that
[e] Daniel's deliverance from the den of lions, as well as
that of his friends from .the flames, was long celebrated among
the Jews. Vid1. 1 Mace. ii. 59, 60. and 3 Mace. vi. 3, 4, 5.
[f] Michael. Prif. in ch. vii. Hieron. Com- in ch. vii.
kingdom

412 OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
kingdom which ffiould not be deftrOyed [ o ] . " They
foreffiew the power and deftrudion of Antichrift, in
pfedidions repeated and extended by St. John [h] ;
and conclude with a diftind affurance of a general re-
furredion to a life of everlafting ffiame, or everlaft-
ing glory [i].
The prophecies of Daniel were in many inftances
fo exadly accomplifhed, that thofe perfons who would
have otherwife been unable to refift the evidence
which they furnifhed in fupport of our religion, [have
not fcrupled to affirm, that they muft have been
written fubfequently to thofe occurrences which they
fo faithfully defcribe [k]. But this groundlefs and
unfupported affertion of Porphyry, who in the third
century wrote againft chriftianity, ferves but to efta
bliffi the charader of Daniel as a great and en
lightened Prophet ; and Porphyry, by confeffing and
proving from the beft hiftorians, that all whieh is in-
[g] Dan. vii. 13, 14, 27.
[h] Dan. paffim/and Bifhop Andrews's Refpon. ad Bellarm.
Apol. p. 334. & Revel. The'prophecies concerning the Anti
chrift are ufually applied to the Papal power prefigured by An
tiochus Epiphanes. Vid. chap. viii. 23 — 25. xi. 36 — 45.
[1 J Dan. xii. 2, 31.
[k] The firfl chapter has by fome been thought to have
been written after the time of Daniel, becaufe it fpeaks ofthe
Prophet in the third perfon, and fays that he continued to the
firft year Of Cyrus, (that is, to his firft, year over the Medes
and Perfians, and to the third over Babylon) ; but thefe words
might well proceed from Daniel, as he lived beyond that pe
riod. The condufive verfe of the fixth chapter might equally
have proceeded from Daniel, fpeaking of himfelf in the third
perfon. eluded

OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 413
eluded in the eleventh chapter of Daniel relative to
the Kings of the north, and of the fouth, of Syria,
and of Egypt, was truly and in every particular,
aded and done in the order there related : has un-
defignedly contributed to the reputation of tho'fe
prophecies of which he attempted to deftroy the au
thority ; for it is contrary to all hiftorical teftimony,
and contrary to all probability, to fuppofe that the
Jews would have admitted into the canon of their
facred writ, a book which contained pretended pro
phecies of what had already happened [l]. And
indeed it is impoffible that thefe prophecies ffiould
have been written after the reign of Antiochus Epi*
phanes, fince they were tranflated into Greek near
an hundred years before the period in which he
lived; and that tranflation was in the poffeffion of
the Egyptians, who entertained no kindnefs for the
Jews, or their religion [m]. Thofe prophecies alfo,
which
[ l ] The names of the muficaj inftruments mentioned in this
book, have fome refemblance to thofe of Grecian inftruments ;
but as colonies of Ionians, Dorians, and ^Eolians, were fettled
in Afia, long before the time of Daniel, technical names might
eafily be communicated from them to the Babylonians ; or ra
ther, as the Eaft was the fource of mufick, and the words appear
to be of eaftern derivation, they might be originally derived from
the Eaft to the Greeks. Vid. Marfham. Chron. Sac. 13. and
Chandler's Vindic of Def. chap. i. feet. 2.
[m] St. Jerom informs us, that the Septuagint verfion of
Daniel was rejedted by the church, for that of Theodotion.
Vid. Hieron. on Dan. iv. 8. The Septuagint was admitted
into, Origen's Hexapla, and from his time fell into difcredit.
|efore it was in general, ufe ; the Latin verfion was probably made

^ 14. OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
whiffi foretold the vidories and dominion of Alex
ander [n], were ffiewn to that conqueror himfelf by
Jaddua, the high-prieft, as we learn from Jofephus
[o], and the Jews thereupon obtained an exemption
from tribute every fabbatical year, and the free ex
ercife of their laws. Many other prophecies in the
book have likewife been fulfilled fince the time of
Porphyry [p].
Daniel not onlypredided future events with An
gular precifion, but likewife accurately defined the
time in which they ffiould be fulfilled, as was re
markably exemplified in that illuftrious prophecy of
the feventy weeks [ c^J, in which he prefixed the
period
made from it, and it was cited by the earlieft writers. It was
therefore probably made with the reft of the prophetical books,
which we know were all tranflated before the time of Euer-
getes II. Vid. Prol. in Ecclus. Eufeb. Dem. Evan. Lib. VIII.
p. 381. Clemens. Roman. Epift. I. § 34. Juftin Martyr,
Dialog, cum Trypho, edit. Oxon, p. 87, 241. Chand. Vind,
ch. i. fedt. 3.
[n] Chap. viii. 5. xi. 3. Lloyd's Letter to Sherlock. Chand
ler's Vindic. chap. ii. fedt. 1. Bayle's Didt. Art. Macedo. note 0.
[o] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. cap. xii. Lib. XI. cap. viii.
Newton's Diff. vol. ii. Diff. xv. p. 36.
[p] Porphyry was born at Tyre, A. D. 233. St. Jerom
agrees with him in applying the eleventh chapter as far as the
twenty-firft verfe to the time of Antiochus Epiphanes. The
Prophet afterwards fpeaks of the Romans and of 'the Anti-
chrift, as he does of the latter in the eighth and twelfth chap
ters. Vid. Bifhop Chandler's Vindic. of Def. and S. Chand
ler's Vindication of the Antiquity and Authority of Daniel's
Prophecies. [ Qj Chap. ix. 24 — 27. For computations concerning the
exadt accornplifhment of this amazing prophecy, vid. Uffer.
Annal.

OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 415
period for " bringing in everlafting righteoufnefs by
the Meffiah," as well as in fome other myfterious
predidions which probably mark out the time or
duration ofthe power of Antichrift [r], and as fome
fuppofe, for the commencement ofthe millenium, or
Univerfal reign of faints, which they conceive to be
foretold ; for the explanation of which we muft wait
the event.
From the fourth verfe of the fecond chapter, to the
end of the feventh chapter of this book, Daniel wrote
his hiftory originally in the Chaldaic, or Syriac lan
guage [s] ; and, indeed, the greateft part ofthe book
bears marks of the Chaldaic idiom ; as might well be
expeded from an author who had fo long refided in
Chaldasa. As all the hiftorical particulars which
concerned the Babylonifh nation were probably re
corded in the annals of that government [t] ; Daniel
might poffibly have extraded fome paffages, as, per
haps, the decree of Nebuchadnezzar [u], frpm thofe
Annal. V. T. ad Ann. Per. Jul. 4260. Prid. Connect. Ann.
A. C. 458. Lloyd's Chron. Tables, Num. 3, 4. Bafnage's
Diff. on Seventy Weeks. Calmet Differt. fur les Sept. Sem.
Petav. de Dodt. Temp. Lib. XII. &c.
[n] Chap. vii. 25. viii. 14. xii. 7. Lowth, &c.
[s] Thefe were originally the fame language. Vid". 2 Kings
xviii. 26. Ezra iv. 7. ' The language of Babylon was the
pure Chaldee; the modern Syriac is the language which was
ufed by the Chriftians of Comagena and other provinces bor
dering upon Syria, when that was the language of the coun
try, _
[t] Either ii. 23. vi. 1.
{u] Chap. iv. V-
1 chronicle*; ¦

416 OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL.
chronicles; and no teftimony could be more honour
able, or with more propriety prefixed to his pro
phecies. As the Jews alfo in their difperfion had
feparacely intermixed with the natives of Chaldasa,
they all underftood the language of the country;
and muft have received fo authentic a document of
Daniel's fidelity with particular refped. The re
maining chapters [x] which were written in Hebrew,
contain prophetic vifions, which were revealed only
to the Prophet, and related principally to the church
and people of God.
The ftile of Daniel is clear, concife, fimple, and
hiftorical, though the vifions which he defcribes were
in themfelves of a figurative and emblematical cha
rader. They pourtrayed future circumftances to
his imagination under reprefentations ftrikingly fym-
bolical of thofe particulars which they foreffiewed ;
and they who advert to the enfigns and armorial de
vices of thofe nations of whom' Daniel prophefies,
will difcover a very appofite propriety in the hiero-
glyphical images which the Prophet feleds [y].
Daniel's name, like that of many others of the
[x] The firft chapter of the book, and the three firfl verfes
of the fecond chapter, were written in Hebrew, as they form a
kind of introduction to the book.
[y] Chap. viii. Thus the ram was the royal enfign of the
Perfians, and was to be feen on the pillars of Perfepolis. Vid.
Ammjan. Marcel. Lib. XIX. Sir J. Chardin's Travels. The
goat alfo was the emblem or arms of Macedon. Vid. Juftin.
Hift. Lib. VIII. Mede's Works, B, III. p. 654, 712. Jo
feph. Archasol. Lib. X. cap. x. and Newton on Dan. ch. iv,
Par. I. facred

OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL. 417
facred writers, has been borrowed to countenance
fpurious books, befides the apocryphal additions in
our Bibles. A book intitled the Vifions of Daniel
[z], was condemned as fpurious and impious by the
decree of Gratian [a]. In this book Daniel is faid
to have foretold how many years each Emperor ffiould
live, as well as the events of his reign, and the future
circumftances of the Saracens. Some fuppofititious
magical writings were likewife attributed to the
Prophet [b]. .But Daniel, though well verfed in the
Chaldsean philofophy, as Mofes was " learned in all
the wifdom of Egypt," yet difclaimed all magical
arts, and relied on the true God.
[z] Ofcto-ni Somnialia.
[a] Decret. Part II. Cauff. 27. Qusft. 1. c. xvi. and Athan.
Synop. Lib. II.
[b] Jof. Alb. Fabrici. Codic. Pfeudepig. V. Teft. p. 1 130.

E c General

41 8 gnneral preface to the

GENERAL PREFACE

TO THE

TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS.

TH E writings of the twelve Minor Prophets
were in the Hebrew canon comprized in one
book, which was called by St. Stephen, the Book of
the Prophets [a]. By whom they were fo compiled
is uncertain ; probably, however, they were colleded
together in that form by Ezra, or by fome member
ofthe Great Synagogue [b] ; but certainly above 200
years before the birth of Chrift ; for the author of
the Book of Ecclefiafticus, who wrote about A. M.
h371°> celebrates the memorial' of the Twelve Pro
phets undeT one general encomium r as of thofe who
had comforted God's people, and confirmed their con
fidence in God's promifes of a Redeemer [c]. The
order in which the books are placed, is not the fame
[ a J Adts vii. 42. comp. with Amos v. 25.
[b] Abarb. Pr<ef. in Ifaiah. Bava Bathra, &c.
[cj Ecclus xlix, 10. and Arnald on the Place. Chandler's
Defen. ch. i. fedt. 2. p. 44. It is called the book of the twelve
Prophets, by Cyprian. Epift. 59. in

TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS. 4IQ
in the Septuagint as in the Hebrew [d]. According
to the latter, they ftand as in our tranflation ; but in
the Greek the feries is altered as to the fix firft, to
the following arrangement : Hofea, Amos, Micah,
Joel, Obadiah, Jonah. This change, however, is of
no confequence, fince neither in the original, nor in
the Septuagint, are they placed with exad regard to
the time in which their facred authors refpedively
flourifhed. The order in which they fhould ftand, if chrono
logically arranged, is by Blair, and others, fuppofed
to be as follows : Jonah, Amos, Hofea, Micah, Na
hum, Joql, Zephaniah, Habakkuk, Obadiah, Haggai,
Zechariah, Malachi. And this order will be found to
be generally confiftent with the periods to which the
Prophets will be refpedively affigned in the following
work ; except in the inftance of Joel, who probably
flourifhed rather earlier than he is placed by thefe
chronologers. The precife period of this Prophet,
however, cannot be afcertained, and fome difputes
might be maintained concerning the priority of others
alfo when they were nearly contemporaries, as Amos
and Hofea ; and when the firft prophecies of a later
Prophet were, delivered at the fame time with, or
previoufly to fome of thofe of a Prophet who was
called earlier to the facred office. The following
fcheme, however, in which alfo the greater Prophets
will be introduced, may enable the reader more accu
rately to comprehend the adual and relative periods
in which they feverally prophefied.
[d] Hieron. Prsf. in Lib. Reg. in 12 Prbph. & in Joel.
Ee 2 The

420

GENERAL PREFACE TO THE

The Prophets in their fuppofed Order of Time, arranged accord*
ing to Blair's Tables [e], with but little Variation.

Before Chrift.

Kings of Judah.

Kings of ifrael.

Jonah,

Between 856
and 784.

Jehu, and Jehoahaz, accord
ing to Lloyd; butjoafb
and Jeroboam the Second,
according to Blair.
Amos,
Between 3io
and 785.
Uzziah, ch. I. 1.
Jeroboam the Second,
ch. i. 1.
Hofea,
Between 810
and 725.
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, the
third year of Hezekiah.
Jeroboam the Second,
chap. i. 1.
Ifaiah,
Between 810
and 698.
Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, ane
Hezekiah, chap. i. 1. and
perhaps Manaffeth.
Joel,
Between 810
and 660, or
later.
Uzziah, or poflibly Ma
nafleth.
Micah,
Between 758
and 699.
Jotham, Ahaz, and Heze
kiah, cb. i. 1.
Pekah and Hofea.
Nahum,
Between 720
and. 698.
Probably towards the clofe
of Hezekiah's reign.
_
Zephaniah,
Between 640
and 609.
In the reign of Jofiah, ch.
i. 1.
Jeremiah,
Between 628
and 586.
In the thirteenth year of
Jofiah.
Habakkuk,
Between 612
and 59'S.
Probably in the reign of
Jehoiakim.
Daniel,
Between 6c6
and $34.
During all the Captivity.
Obadiah,
Between 588
" and 583.
Between the taking of Jeru
falem byNebuchadnezzar,
and the deftruftion of the
Edomites by him.
Ezekiel,
Between 595
and 536.
During part of the Capti
vity.
ggai,
About 520
to 518.
After the return from Ba
bylon.
Zechariah,
From 520 to
518, or longer.
Malachi,
Between 436
and 397.
[z] Bifhop Newcame's verfion of Minor Prophets, Preface, p. 43-
TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS. 421
The Twelve Minor Prophets were fo called, not
in refped to any fuppofed inferiority in their writings
as to matter or ftile, but in reference to the brevity
of their works. The fhortnefs, indeed, of thefe pro
phecies feems to have been one reafon for joining
them together [f] ; by which means the volume of
their contents was fwelled to a greatnefs in fome de
gree correfppndent to their importance [c]. Neither
were they later in point of time than the greater
Prophets ; fome haying preceded Ifaiah ; and many
of them having lived before Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and
Daniel ; and by the Greeks, indeed, they are placed
before them. It is a traditionary account, that of
thefe Prophets, fuch as do not furnifh us with the
date of their prophecies muft be fuppofed to have
flourifhed as contemporaries with, or immediately
after the Prophets, that precede them in the order of
the books ; but this is not invariably true j and is
built upon an erroneous fuppofition, that the books
are chronologically arranged in the Hebrew manu
fcripts. Some of the Prophets were probably born in the
territory of Ifrael, but moft in that of Judah. They
appear, however, to have been fometimes commif-

[f] Betli Ifrael relates, thatHaggai, Zechariah, and Malachi
added their writings to thofe of the Minor Prophets, and com
pofed them into one volume, left they fhould perifh. Vid. Bava
Bathra, c. i.
[c] Hieron. Proleg. 12 Prophet. Theodor. inTrocam. Aug.
de Civit. Lib. XVIII. c. xxvii. E e 3 fioned

^2% GENERAL PREFACE TO THE
fioned to preach reciprocally againft thofe tribes among
whom they were not born.
These twelve Prophets furnifh us in fcattered parts
with a lively fketch of many particulars relative to
the hiftory of Judah and of Ifrael j as well as of
other kingdoms ; they defcribe in prophetic anticipa
tion, but with hiftorical exactnefs, the fate of Baby
lon, of Nineveh, of Tyre, of Sidon, and of Da-
mafcus. The three laft Prophets efpecially, illuftrate
many circumftances at a period when the hiftorical
pages of fcripture are clofed, and when prophane
authors are entirely wanting. They defcribe under
the moft ftriking reprefentations, the advent and
character of the Meffiah and his kingdom, and en
deavour by the moft admirable inftruction to excite
thofe religious fentiments which would facilitate . the
inception of the Gofpel, The Jewifh Prophets of
the moft eminent rank at firft flourifhed but as fingle
lights, and followed each other in individual fuc
ceffion ; for during the continuance of the theocracy,
and perhaps fome time after, the Jews were in pof
feffion of the power of confulting God by means of
the Urim and Thummim, But when the calamities
of the captivity approached ; during the continuance
of that affliction, and amidft the melancholy fcenes
which the people contemplated on their return to
defolate cities and to a wafted land; during thefe
dark periods, the Prophets were, by God's mercies,
raifed up in greater numbers for the confolation of
fiis people ; who were encouraged to look forward
to that joyful deliverance by the Meffiah which now
approached.

TWELVE MINOR PROPHETS. 42J
approached. The light of infpiration was collected
into one blaze previous to its fulpenfion; and it
ferved to keep alive the expectations of the Jews
during the awful interval which prevailed between the
expiration of prophecy and its grand completion in
the advent of Chrift. If jn the writings of the later
Minor Prophets, we fometimes are perplexed at fee
ing the light of revelation but faintly glimmering
through the obfcurity of their ftile; we muft re
collect that they lived when the language of the Jews
began to vitiate and decline j that there are no con
temporary records to illuftrate their prophecies -, that
the brevity of their works prevents us from collating
the author with himfelf; and that we who read them
in Englifh, judge of them through the imperfect me
dium of a tranflation [h].
{h] " Hebrasi bibunt Fontes, Graeci Rivos, Latin! Paludes,"
as Picus Mirandula obferved.

Ee 4 of

[ 424 ]

OF THE
BOOK of the PROPHET
HOSEA.

HOSEA has been fuppofed to have been the
moft ancient of the Twelve Minor Prophets;
and, indeed, by fome writers he is reprefented as
having preceded all the prophets, [a], fince he
flourifhed about the middle of the reign of Jeroboam
the Second, the fon of Joafh, King of Ifrael, and to
wards the commencement of that of Uzziah [b],
who

[a] Hieron. in Ofee. Bafil m Ifai. i. Rufin. &c. In the
fecond verfe of the firft chapter it is faid, " the beginning of
the word of the Lord by Hofea," which fome have fuppofed to
imply, that when God began to manifeft himfelf, he addreffed
Hofea ; but it perhaps means only, that the firft revelation to (3)
Hofea was as follows.
[b] Chap, i- 1. Uzziah, or, as he is fometimes called,
Azariah, and Ozias, afcended the throne of Judah in the
twenty-feventh year of Jeroboam the Second, that is, accord
ing to fome chronologifls, in the twenty-feventh year of his
reign, from the aera of his conjunction with his father ; and

OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 425
who began to reign over Jerufalem about A. M. 3 1 94.
According to fome accounts of no great authority
[c], he was of the tribe of Ifiachar, and of the city
of Beleenor [b]j others reprefent him to have been
of the tribe of Judah. He was the fon of- Beeri [eT,
and entered on the prophetic office fometime be
tween the years of 3194 and 3219. He continued
to prophefy above fixty years : during the fucceffive
reigns of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah,
Kings, of Judah ; and probably to about the third
year of the reign of the laft ; or if we reckori by
the Kings of Ifrael, againft which nation he chiefly
prophefied, he may be defcribed as having flourifhed
during the reign of Jeroboam and his fucceffors, to
the fixth year of Hofea, which correlponds with the
third year of Hezekiah. Hofea was therefore nearly
contemporay with Ifaiah, Amos, and Jonah. It
in the [fixteenth year of his monarchy, which commenced
A. M. 3179. As Jeroboam reigned forty-one years, Hofea muft
have entered on his miniftry before the twenty-fifth year of
Uzziah's reign, if he prophefied while Uzziah and Jeroboam
were contemporaries Vid. Comm. on 2 Kings xv. 1.
[c] Pfeudo Epipnan. & Doroth. de Vit. Prophet.
[d] Or Bethfome, not Beleemoth. Vid. Druf. in Ofee,
ch. i. 1.
[e] Not Beerah, who was taken captive ; by Tiglath-Pilefer.
Vid. 1 Chron. v. 6. whofe name is, indeed, fpelf differently,
and who was a Prince of the Reubenites. The word Beeri im
plies a well ; or as fome fay, it is derived from a word which im
ports teaching : whence an argument in fupport of the Rabbinical
fancy, that Hofea was the fon of a, Doctor, or Prophet. Hofea's
name fignifies a Saviour. is

426 OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA.
is probable that he refided chiefly in Samaria 5 and
that he was the firft Prophet, of thofe at leaft whoffe
prophecies we poffefs, that predicted the deftruction
of that country ; which was effected foon after the
Prophet's death by Salmanefer, King of Affyria [f].
Hosea undoubtedly compiled his own prophecies,
and he fpeaks of himfelf in the firft perfon in- this
book [g]. Calmet, indeed, on account of fome
fuppofed chronological difficulties, queftions the au
thenticity of the firft verfe, which he conceives to
have been a fubfequent addition ; but thefe difficulties
may be folved without having recourfe to fuch con
jectures. The book is cited by St. Matthew as un
queftionably the infpired production of a Prophet [h],
as likewife by St. Paul [1], and, indeed, by Chrift
himfelf [kJ.
The prophecies of Hofea being fcattered through
the book without date or connection, cannot now be"
chronologically arranged with any certainty. They
are, however, perhaps placed in the Order in which
they were at firft uttered; and Wells, upon fome
probable conjectures, fuppofes them to have been de
livered in the following fucceffion, reckoning by the
Kings of Ifrael.
[f] 2 Kings xviii. 10. Hieron in Ofee, cap. i. & UfTer ad
A. M. 3197-
[c] Chap. iii. 1, 2, 3.
[h] Matt. ii. 15. from Hofea xi. 1. and Chand. Def. ch. xi.
feft. 1.
[1] Rom. ix. 25, 26. 1 Cor. xv. 35.
[k] Matt. ix. 12, 13. xii. 7. In

OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA.

4*7

In the reign of Jeroboam,
Jn the Interregnum which '
fucceeded the death of
Jeroboam,
In the reign of Menahem,
or in that of his fon
Pekahiah. According
to which account none
are affigned to the fhort
intermediate reigns of
Zechariah andShallum,
In the reign of Pekah,

The three firft chapters*
The fourth chapter.

The fifth chapter, to chap.
vi. 3. inclufively*

From chap. vi. 4. to chap.
vii. 10. inclufively.
From chap. vii. 1 1. to the
end. Comp. chap. vii.
11. with 2 Kings xvii.
4. WeiL; fubdivides
this portion into two
parts, fuppofing the firft
which terminates with
the tenth chapter, to
have been delivered be
fore the King of Affyria
took away the golden
calf that was at Bethel ;
and the remainder after
that event.
»
At whatever periods the prophecies were deliver
ed, the occafion and defign of them are fufficiently clear.

In the reign of Hofea,

428 OF the book of hosea*.
clear. The author, in one continued ftrain of in
vective, declaims againft the fins of Ifrael ; expofes
in the ftrongeft terms the fpiritual whoredoms of
thofe who worfhipped the vain idols erected at Bethel
and Bethaven, calling on Judah to fhun pollutions fo
offenfive to Jehovah. He denounces God's vengeance
againft Ephraim, (the reprefentative of the ten tribes,)
who fhould vainly call on other nations for protection.
He points out the folly of the people in their pur
fuits : telling them, that they had " fown the wind,
and fhould reap the whirlwind." He threatens them
in many prophecies, from among which we may fe-
lect, as remarkable proofs of that foreknowledge
with which the Prophet was infpired, thofe in which.
he foretold the captivities, difperfion, and fufferings
of Ifrael [l] ; the deliverance of Judah, from Sen
nacherib, allufively figurative of falvation by Chrift
[m] ; the punifhment of Judah, and the demolition
of its cities [n] ; the congregation of the Gentile
converts [o] ; the prefent ftate of the Jews [p], and
their future reftoration in the general eftablifhment of
the Meffiah 's kingdom [ q_] ; the calling of our Sa
viour out of Egypt [r] ; his refurrection on the third
[lJ Chap. i. 4, 5. v. 5 — 7. ix. 3, 6 — 17. x. 5,6, 15. xiii. 16.
[m] Chap. i. 7. comp. with 2 Kings xix. 35. and Chand.
Def. ch. ii. fed. 1 . p. 70.
[nJ Chap. v. 10. viii. 14.
[o] Chap. i. 10, 11. ii. 23. comp. with Rom. ix. 24,26.
[p] Chap. iii. 4. Vid: Origen. Philocal. c. i. Hieron. in loe.
[<^J Chap. i. 11. iii. 5. xiv. 4, 8.
[r] Chap. xi. 1. comp. with Matt, ii. 15. and Hieron. Grot.
& in loe. dayj

OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA. 429
day [s]j and the terrors of the laft judgment, figu
ratively to be reprefented in -temporal deftruction
impending over Samaria [tJ. Thus, amidft the de
nunciations of wrath, the people were animated by
fome dawnings of favour; "and .taught to cultivate
righteoufnefs and mercy in expectation of the bleff
ings of the Lord [u] ; and in the affurances of a
final ranfom from the power of the grave, and of a
redemption from death to be vanquifhed and de
ftroyed [x].
The ftile of Hofea has been confidered as particu
larly obfcure ; it is fententious and abrupt, and cha
racterized by a compreffive and antiquated caft. The
tranfitions of perfon are fudden ; the connexive and
adverfative particles frequently omitted. His figures
and fimilitudes are rather lively than elegant, and
are traced with more force than exactnefs [y]. His
writings are animated with a fine fpirit of indigna
tion, defcriptive of the zealous refentment which he
felt againft the princes and priefts who countenanced
the iniquities of the people ; and his work may be
confidered as a noble exordium againft thofe general
[s] Chap. vi. 2. comp. with 1 Cor. xv. 4. Auguft. deTrinit.
cap., xxviii. Cyprian, cont. Jud. Lib. II. cap. xxiv. Bernard.
Serm. I. in Refur. Orig. Homil. 5. in Exod. Tertul. Adverf.
Jud. c. xiii. and Commentators.
[t] Chap. x. 8. comp. with Luke xxiii. 30. and Rev. vi. 16.
Hieron. in loe. and Lowth on Ifaiah ii. 19.
[u] Chap. x. 12. Hieron. in Ioc.
[x] Chap. xiii. 14. comp. with 1 Cor. xv. 55. and Pocock,
in loe.[y] Lowth's Prasleft. 21. offences

43O OF THE BOOK OF HOSEA.
offences which the Prophets who fucceeded him more
particularly detailed ; as well as a diffufe revelation
of thofe judgments which were afterwards more mi-»
nutely defcribed.
The fubject of Hofea's marriage has been much
agitated. Many Jewifh and Chriftian writers con
ceive it to have been enjoined, and performed in a
literal and hiftorical fenfe [z] ; fome fuppofing that
" a wife of whoredoms" may imply a wife who
fhould prove falfe [a] ; or only a wife from among
the Ifraelites, who were remarkable for their idola
trous fornications ; as likewife by an adulterefs [b],
whom the Prophet is reprefented afterwards to have
bought, may be underftopd, a woman who had
apoftatized from God in a fpiritual fenfe. Thofe
who contend for the hiftorical truth of thefe rela
tions, maintain that all impropriety in fuch proceed
ings was done away by God's command ; and that
the immediate minifter of God might, confiftendy
with the defign of his appointment, be employed
thus to illuftrate the fcandalous conduct of the If
raelites. Other writers however contend, that thefe
[z] Hieron. & Theodoret in loe. Auguft. Grotius, Cal-
met's Preface. Carpzov. Introd. ad Lib. Bib. Pars III. p. 277.
Abarbin. & Bafil in loe. cap. viii. p. 933. Grot. & Wells in
loe. ¦ , [a] Wells, Diodat. &c.
[ e ] It is uncertain, whether by the woman fpoken of in the
third chapter, is meant Hofea's wife, whom he is commanded to
take back after her infidelity, as predicted ; or a different perfon
appointed for the Prophet after the death of the firft wife. Con
fult Pocock, and other Commentators. 4 accounts

OF THE BOOK. OF HOSEA. 43 1
accounts are defcriptive of tranfactions in vifion, as
the expreffion of " the word of the Lord," that
came to the Prophet, might feem to intimate [c] ;
and others confider the relations as fictitious reprefen
tations furnifhed by way of parable [d]. Without
prefuming to determine on either fide on a fubject fo
difficult, it may be obferved, that it was not inconfift
ent with the character of a vifion, or of a parabolical
fiction, to fpecify minute particulars with narrative
exactnefs [e]. The names, therefore, of the perfon -
ages introduced [f] in the accounts, can furnifh no
explanation of the nature of the tranfactions j and
whether real or fictitious, they might with equal con
fiftency be reprefented as figurative.
[c] Abert-Ezra, R.- David Kimchi, Maimon. More Nfcvoch,
L. II. c. xlvi. Hieron. Praef. in Com. and General Preface,
p. 333. note u.
[d] Hieron. in loe. Aben-Ezra, Ifidor, &<:. The Chaldee
Paraphraft has been thought to have confidered it as a parable.
He introduces the account thus : " The Lord faid unto Hofea,
Go, and utter a prophecy," &c. Vid. R. Tanch. Rivet, Junius
Tremellius, Pocock, &c.
[ e ] Ezek. xxiii. Luke xvi. 20—3 1 .
[f] By " children of whoredoms," we are probably to under-
ftand legitimate children of a. woman addifted to fornication ;
perverfe, lewd, or idolatrous children, who mould imitate the
xonduct. of their mother.

OF

[ 43* 3

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
JOEL.
THE Book of Joel is placed in the Hebrew
Bible immediately after that of Hofea; but
in the Septuagint verfion the books of Amos and
Micah are interpofed between them. It is difficult -
to determine whether the Greek tranflators were au
thorized by chronology to change the order, fince
there is no pofitive criterion by which the age of Joel
can be afcertained. St. Jerom, however, and many
of the ancients [a], were of opinion, that as no date
is prefixed to the book, its author fhould be fup
pofed, agreeably to the Jewifh rule, to have flourifh
ed at the fame time with Hofea, whofe writings in
the Hebrew manufcripts immediately precede. This
rule is, however, not to be depended on ; neither
can any proof of the priority of Joel be drawn from
[a] Hieron. Praef. in Proph. Theodor. in Prseloq. Proph.
Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIH.
c. xxvii. the

OF THE BOOK OF J'OEt. 43J
the notion fupported by Ufher [b] : who conceived
that the famine and drought of which Joel fpeaks as
impending in his time, were parts of the fame af
fliction which Amos reprefented as actually come to
pafs [c] ; for Joel prophefied calamities againft
Judah; and Amos defcribes afflictions which were
feemingly fuftained, as a., peculiar judgment only by
the prople of Ifrael. Still, however, there is no
fufficient reafon for departing from the Hebrew order
[d] ; nor is it neceffary to fuppofe that Joel prophe
fied after the captivity of the ten tribes, merely be
caufe he makes' no mention of Ifrael. His com
miffion probably was confined to judah, as that of
Hofea, his fuppofed contemporary, was chiefly re-
ftrifted to Samaria; and had the divine threats been
already accomplifhed againft Ifrael, it is reafonable to
fuppofe that the Prophet would; like his fuccefibrs,
have inftructed the peopfe to take warning by the fate
of a fifter kingdom [e ]. We may therefore fafely fup
pofe him to have lived in the reigns of Uzziah, King
of Judah, and of Jeroboam, King of Ifrael [f], who
flourifhed
[ b ] UfTer ad A. M. 3 1 97. Lldyd's Tables.
[c] Amos iv. 7, 8.
[d] Abarb. Praef. in 1 2 Proph.
[e] Ifrael mentioned in ch. iii. 2. means not merely the ten
tribes* but the whole nation of the Jews ; and the Prophet
fpeaks prophetically of a future difperfion among the nations
, , from whieh God's people fhould be gathered;
[f] Lloyd's Tables. A French writer, (P. Pezron, fur les
Prophetes,) fixes the prophecy of Joel to the twentieth year
ef Uzziah, and the thirty-fixth of Jeroboam the Second. Vid.
F f alfo,

434 OF THE BOOK OF JOEL.
flourifhed as contemporary fovereigns between A. M.
3194 and 3219; and to have delivered his prophe
cies foon after Hofea had commenced his miniftry ;
though fome Jewifh and Chriftian writers have chofen
to affign to him a later period [c] ; fome placing
him in the reign of Jotham [h] ; others in that of
Joram [1]; and others contending that he prophefied
under Manaffeth [k.] ; or Jofiah [l], the laft of
which monarchs began to reign about 640 years be
fore the birth of Chrift.
Joel was the fon of Pethuel, or Bethuel, and ac
cording to fome reports, of the tribe of Reuben [m].
alfo, Joel ii. 20. which contains a prediction that feems, at
leaft, in its fecondary fenfe, to relate to the deftruclion of Sen
nacherib's army, which happened in the reign of Hezekiah,
A.M. 3294.
[g] Poli Synopfis.
[h] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxvii.
[1] The advocates for this period maintain, that Joel fore-
fhewed the impending famine which defolated Judsa, feven years
in the reign of Joram. Vid. 2 Kings viii. 1 — 3.
[ k J Seder Olam Rabba, & Zuta, Kimchi, R. Salomo, R. Da
vid Ganz, Drufius, and Wells's Preface to Joel: Wells main
tains that the famine and dearth of which Micah prophefied, was
to take place, (and did happen) in the time of Manaffeth. A'id.
Wells's Preface to Micah, and in Micah vi. 14. note a.a.
[l] Calmet's Preface fur Joel. He .conceives Joel to have
been contemporary with Jofiah, to whofe reign he affigns the
drought fpoken of by Jeremiah, ch. xii. 4. xiv. But the
laft of thefe chapters, whether prophetic or defcriptive, was
compofed probably in the reign of Jehoiakim, the fucceffor of
Jofiah. [m] Epiphan. de Vit. Prophet.
He

OF THE. BOOK OF JOEL. 435
He is related to have been born at Bethoron [n] %
which was probably the lower or nether Bethoron, a
town in the territory of Benjamin [o], between Je
rufalem and Caefarea. Of the particulars of his life,
or of the age to which he attained, we have no ac
count rp]. Dorotheus relates only, that he died in
peace at the place of his nativity.
The book appears to be entirely prophetic, though
Joel, under the impreffion of forefeen calamities, de
fcribes their effects as prefent; and by an animated
reprefentation, anticipates the fcenes of mifery which
lowered over Judsea [ qJ. Though it cannot be po
fitively determined to what period the defcription
contained in the firft chapter may apply, it is gene
rally fuppofed that the Prophet blends two fubjects of
affliction in one general confideration, ox- beautiful al
legory; and, that under the devaftation to be produced
by locufts in the vegetable world, he pourtrays fome
more diftant calamities to be produced by the armies
of the Chakteans in their invafion of Judsea [r].
And
[n] Dorotheus writes Bethomeron. Huet propofes to read
Betharan, a place in the territory of Gad, adjacent to the
tribe of Reuben ; or Bethnemra in the diftrift of Gad ; or
Bethabara;, or Beelmeon, which was beyond Jordan, in the
tribe of Reuben.
[o] Jofh. xviii. 13, 14.
[p] Jerom, though he fuppofes him to have been contempo
rary with Hofea, conceives that he furvived (as well as Hofea,
Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah) the captivity of the ten tribes.
[qJ Chap. i. 4 — 7, 10, 16 — 28. and Lowth's Prsleft. 15.
[r] Thofe who jvill confult Pliny, Bochart, and the na-
turalifts and travellers in general, will find much caufe to ad-
r I 2 mir*»

436 OF THE BOOK OF JOEL.
And hence a defigned ambiguity in the expreffions.
In the fecond chapter the Prophet proceeds to a more
general denunciation of God's vengeance; which is
delivered with fuch force and aggravation of circum
ftance, as to" be in fome meafure defcriptive of that
final judgment which every temporal difpenfation of
the Deity muft faintly prefigure. The fevere decla
rations of Joel are intermingled with exhortations to
repentance, and to the auxiliary means of promoting
its effects', fafting and prayer ; as alfo with promifes
of deliverance, and of a profperity predi&ive of
evangelical bleffings. la treating of thefe he takes
occafion to foretel, in the cleareft terms, the general
effufion of the Holy Spirit, which was to characterize
the Gofpel difpenfation [s] ; concluding with a ftriking
defcription of the deftruction of Jerufalem which fol
lowed foon after, and punifhed the Jews for their ob
ftinate rejection of the facred influence ; fpeaking in
terms that, as well as thofe of our Saviour which re-
fembled them [t], had a double afpecf, and referred
to a primary and a final difpenfation.
In the third chapter, Joel proceeds to foretel the
future affemblage of all nations into the valley of Je
hofhaphat [u], where the enemies of God will be
mire Joel's defcriptive pictures of the deftruftion to be produced
by locufts ; and underftand with what force and propriety the
ravages of thofe all devouring enemies are made figuratively to
reprefent the devaftation and havock of an invading army.
[s] Joel ii. 28 — 32. comp. with Aftsii. 1 — 21. and Afts x. 44
[t] Joel ii. 30, 31. comp. with Matt. xxiv. 29.
[u] The original expreffion means the valley of the Lord's
judgment, from Jehovah, and Shaphat, to judge. cut

OF THE EOOK OF JOEL. 437
cut off in fome final excifion [x] ; and the Prophet
concludes with the affurance of fome glorious ftate
of profperity to be enjoyed by the church: reprefent-
ing its perfections and bleffings under the poetical
emblems of a golden age.
In confideration of thefe important prophecies, we
need not wonder that the Jews fhould have looked
up to Joel with particular reverence [y], or that he
fhould be cited as. a Prophet by the evangelical wri
ters [z].
The ftile of Joel is equally perfpicuous and ele
gant; obfcure only towards the conclufion, where
the beauties of his- expreffion are fomewhat fhaded
by allufions to circumftances yet unaccomplifhed.
His defcriptions are highly animated ; the contexture
of the prophecy in the firft and fecond chapters is
extremely curious ; and the double deftrucfion to be
produced by locufts, and thofe enemies of which
they were the harbingers, is painted with the moft
expreffive force, and under terms that are recipro
cally metaphorical, and admirably adapted to the
twofold character of the defcription [a]. The whole
work is extremely poetical. Herman Von-der
[x] The precife application of his prophecy muft be fhewn
by the event. It is fuppofed to relate to thofe circumftances
predicted in Ezekiel, chap, xxxix. 5 — u. Reu* x^. 8, 9.
[ y ] Joel is related to have received the Cabala, or traditionary
explication of the law from Micah.
[z] Chap. ii. 32. comp. with Rom. x. 13. Afts ii. 16 — 21,
[a] Lowth's Prel. 21. Chandler, &c.
F f 3 Hardt,

433 of the book of joel.
Hardt [b], a learned German, conceiving that Joel's
prophecies were compofed in elegies, endeavoured
about the beginning of the feventeenth century,
to reduce them to Iambic verfe. They undoubt
edly, like the reft of the prophecies, have a metrical
arrangement. [b J Wolfii Biblioth, Heb. torn. ii. p. 169. and Lowth's Pref.
to Ifaiah.

OF

[ 439 J

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
AMOS.

AMOS appears to have been contemporary with
Hofea, but it is uncertain which was the firft
honoured by divine revelations. They both began
to prophefy during the time that Uzziah and Jero
boam the Second reigned over their refpective king
doms; and Amos faw his firft vifion " two years
before the earthquake [a] ;" which, as we learn
from Zechariah [b], happened in the days of Uz
ziah. As there is no fufficient reafon to fuppofe that
this firft verfe was added by any writer fubfequent to
Amos : fince he himfelf might have annexed the asra
in which he beheld his vifion, when he afterwards
collected his prophecies and committed them to
writing, we muft fuppofe this earthquake to have
happened while Uzziah and Jeroboam were con
temporaries, or at leaft within two years of that
[a] Amos i. i. [b] Zechariah xiv. 5.
F f 4 period.

44° °E the jbook. of AMOS,
period. But little attention therefore is due to the
account of Jofephus : who reprefents the fhock to
have been felt on the occafion of Uzziah's ufurpar
tion of the prieftly office, when the prefumptuous
King attempted to offer incenfe to the Lord [c] ;
which facrilegious attempt is by fome placed in the
twenty-fifth year [p], and by fome ftill more towards
the conclufion of Uzziah's reign [e] ; for according
to the moft extended calculations, Jeroboam and
Uzziah did not flourifh as contemporary fovereigns
above twenty-five years. Amos, however, began to
prophefy fome time between A.M. 3194 and 3219.
Some have confounded him with the father of Ifaiah.
The Prophet Amos j>], was a native of Tekoa,
a fmall town in the territory of Judah, about four
leagues fouthward from Jerufalem, and fix fouth
ward from Bethlehem [g] ; adjacent to a vaft wil
dernefs,
[c] 2 Chron. xxvi. 16 — 21.
[d] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. IX. cap. x. xi.
[e] The daring attempt was probably made towards the
conclufion of Uzziah's reign, as Upon that occafion he was
ftricken with a leprofy that lafted unto the; day of his death;
and his fon Jotham took upon him the government, who was
not born till after Jeroboam's death. Vid. Uffer. Annal. ad
A.M. 3:521.
[f] Clemens Alex. Strom. Lib. I. Epiphan. de Vit. Pro
phet, DID]?, Amps, or Hamos, fignifies (Sar«.^», portans, loaded,
-that is, perhaps, wjth the burden of prophecy, chap. vii.
10. If names were intentionally defcriptive, they muft have
been providentially impofed, or affumed after the difplay of
charafter. [g] Amos i. 1. 2 Chron. xi. 5, 6. Epiphanius places it
in the lot of Zebulon ; but Eufebius, Cyril, and St. Jerom, who

OF THE BOOK OF AMOS. 44,1
dernefs, where probably Amos might have exer
cifed his profeffion of an herdfman. Some, indeed,
think that he was not born at Tekoa, but that he
only refided there when commanded by Amaziah to
leave Bethel [h]. But Amos does not appear to
have regarded the arrogant injunction of the Prieft,
but to have continued boldly to prophefy wherever
the fervice of God required his prefence.
Amos was by profeffion an herdfman, and a ga
therer of fycamore fruit [ij. In the fimplicity of
former times, and in the happy climates of the Eaft,
thefe occupations were by no means confidered in
that degrading light in which they have been viewed
fince refinement hath introduced a tafte for the ele
gant arts of life, and eftablifhed faftidious diftinctions.
He was no Prophet, as he informed Amaziah [kJ,
neither was he a Prophet's fon ; that is, he had no
regular education in the fchools of the Prophets,- but
was called by an exprefs irrefiftible commiffion from
who lived near Tekoa, place it to the fouth of Jerufalem, in
the territory of Judah. Vid. Eufeb. de locis Ebraicis. Cyrill.
Prjef. Enar. in Amos. Hieron. Procem. in Amos, et de locie
Ebraicis. [h] Chap. vii. 12.
[i] Chap. vii. 14. The fycamore fruit was a fpecies of
wild fig, fometimes called the Egyptian (fjg, which is faid to
grow from the trunk, and not from the branches pf the tree.
The Septuagint tranflators interpret the Hebrew word Q>np&>
D7U1, ksi^uii to. Qux.a,jAim, . opening the fycamine fruit ; as it was
thought neceffary to open the fkin of this fruit that it might
ripen. Vid. Plinii Hift. Natur. Lib. XJUI. cap. vii. Theophraf.
Diofcorid. et Theod. in loe.
[k] Chap. vii. 14.
God,

442 OF THE BOOK OF AMOS.
God [l], to prophefy unto his pebble Ifrael. The
Holy Spirit did not difdain to fpeak by the voice of
the moft humble man; and feledted its minifters as
well from the tents of the fhepherd, as from the
palace of the fovereign [m] ; reflecting only the
qualities and not the conditions of its agents, as
capable of infpiring knowledge and eloquence where
they did not exift.
Amos undoubtedly compofed his prophecies in
their prefent form. He fpeaks of himfelf as the
author of them [n], and his prophetic character is
eftablifhed not only by the admiffion of his book into
the canon, and by the teftimony of other writers [o],
but by the exact accomplifhment of many prophecies
which he delivered. His work confifts of feveral
diftind difcourfes ; the particular period of their de
livery cannot now be afcertained [p]. They chiefly
refpect the kingdom of Ifrael, though he fometimes
inveighs againft Judah, and threatens the kingdoms
that bordered on Paleftine [ oj ; the Syrians [r] .

[l] Amos iii. 8. vii. 15.
[m] 1 Cor. i. 27 — 29.
[n] Chap. vii. 8. viii. 1, 2.
[o] Tobit ii. 6. Afts vii. 42, 43. xv. 15 — 17.
[p] Some have fuppofed that the firft of his prophecies is
contained in the feventh chapter ; and that the contents of the
other chapters were afterwards delivered at Tekoa.
[ qJ Vid. two firfl chapters. Thefe prophecies were fulfilled
by the viftories of the Kings of Affyria and Babylon.
[r] Chap. i. 3 — 5. comp. with 2 Kings xvi. 9.

Philiftines ;

OF THE BOOK OF AMOS. 443
Philiftines [s] ; Tyrians [t] ; Edomites [u] j Am
monites [x] ; an,d Moabites [y]. He predicts in
clear terms the captivities and the deftruction of If
rael, to be preceded by fearful figns on earth, and
in the heavens [z] ; concluding with affurances that
God would not utterly deftroy the houfe of Jacob ;
but after fifting, as it were, and cleanfing the houfe
of Ifrael among the nations, God fhould again raife
up the tabernacle, that is, the kingdom of David;
to be enlarged to more than its firft fplendor by the
acceffion of Gentile fubjects; and to be fucceeded
by the eftablifhment of that government which the
Prophet defcribes under poetical images as a bleffed
difpenfation of fecurity, abundance, and peace [a].
[sj Chap. i. 6, 7. comp. with 2 Kings xviii. 8. Jerem.
xlvii. 1. Quint. Curt. Lib. IV. 6. Comp. alfo, chap. i. 8. with
2 Chron. xxvi. 8. and Jerem. xlvii. 5.
[t] Chap. i. 9, 10. comp. with Ezek. xxvi. 7 — 14. Jofeph.
cont. Apion, Lib. 1. and Q^Curt. Lib. IV. 13.
[u] Chap. i. 11, 12. comp. with Jerem. xxv. 9, 21. and xxvii.
3 — 6. 1 Mace. v. 3. and Prid. Con. Part II. ad Ann. A. C. 165.
Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XIII. c. ix.
[x] Chap. i. 13 — 15. comp. with Jerem. xxvii. 3, 6.
[y] Chap. ii. 1 — 3. comp. Jerem. xxvii. 3 — 6.
[z] Chap. viii. 8 — 19. Ufher remarks, that about eleven
years after the time at which Amos prophefied, there were
two eclipfes of the fun ; one upon the feaft of Tabernacles,
and the other at the time of the Paffover. The prophecy,
therefore, in its firft afpeft might allude to the ominous dark-
nefs which on thefe occafions " turned their feafts into mourn
ing." Vid. Uffer.Annal. ad A. M. 3213. Hieron. Theod. &
Grot, in loe.
[a] Amos ix. 11 — 15. Afts xv. 16. Tobit xiii. 10, 11.
Joel iii. 18. Chandler's Def. chap. ii. feft. 1. p. 168. and Com.
in loe. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxviii.
The

444 °F THE BOOK OF AMOS.
The zeal with which the Prophet reproved the
impenitence of the people, and the fevere threats
which he denounced againfb the oppreffion, effemi
nacy, and luxurious indolence that prevailed, ex-
afperated fo much the court of Jeroboam, which cul
tivated its idolatries at Bethel, that they drew upon
him the refentment of the priefts and princes of the
people; and tradition relates, that he was [b] ill
treated and put to death by Uzziah, the fon of Ama
ziah [c], who was irritated by his prophecies and
cenfures, but who foon after experienced the divine
vengeance in the calamities which Amos had pre
dicted to his family and country.
Some writers who have adverted to the condition
of Amos, have with a minute affectation of criticifm,
pretended to difcover a certain rudenefs and vulgarity
in his ftile; and even St. Jerom is of opinion, that he
is deficient in magnificence and fublimity : applying
to him the words which St. Paul fpeaks of himfelf
[d], " that he was rude in fpeech, though not in
knowledge;" and his authority, fays Bifhop Lowth,
has influenced many commentators to reprefent him
as entirely rude and void of elegance ; whereas it
requires but little attention to be convinced that he
" is not a whit behind the very chiefeft" of the Pro
phets : equal to the greateft in loftinefs of fentiment,
[b] Cyrill. Prasf. Expof. in Amos.
[c] Epiphan. de Vit. Proph. c. xii. Ifidor. de Vita et Morte.
S. S. c. xliii. Doroth. Synop. cap. ii. Chron. Pafcal. p.
147. [d] Hieron. Com. in Amos. 2 Cor. xi. 6. and

OF THE BOOK OF AMOS. 445
and fcarcely inferior to any in the fplendor of his
diction, and in the elegance of his compofition.
Mr. Locke has obferved, that his comparifons are
chiefly drawn from lions and other animals, becaufe
he lived among, and was converfant with fuch ob
jects. But, indeed, the fineft images and allufions
which adorn the poetical parts of fcripture in general,
are drawn from fcenes of nature, and from the grand
objects that range in her walks ; and true genius ever
delights in confidering thefe as the real fources of
beauty and magnificence [e]. Amos had the oppor
tunities, and a mind inclined to contemplate the
works of the Deity, and his defcriptions of the Al
mighty are particularly fublime. Indeed, his whole
work is animated with a very fine mafculine elo
quence. [e] Lowth's Prsl. Poet. 21.

OF

[ 446 ]

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
OBADIAH.
THIS Prophet hath furnifhed us with no par
ticulars of his oWri origin or life, any more
than of the period in which he was favoured by the
divine revelations. That he received a commiffion
to prophefy is evident; as well from the admiffion of
his work into the facred canon, as from the com
pletion of thofe predictions which he delivered. Ac
cording to fome traditionary accounts [a], he was
of the tribe of Ephraim ; and a native of Bethacamar
[b], which Epiphanius defcribes as in the neigh
bourhood of Sichem; but which, according to Huet,
was a town in the hilly part of the territory of Ju
dah; and there probably he prophefied, though
[aJ Pfeudo Epiphan. Doroth. Ifidor. &c.
[b] Or Bethacara, or Bethacaron. Huet propofes to read
Bethacad, a town of Samaria ; but Obadiah was probably of
the tribe of Judah, and prophefied againft the infulting enemies
of his country. fome

OF THE BOOK OF OBADIAH. 447
fome fuppofe that he was carried captive to Babylon;
and others that he died in Samaria [c].
There is fcarce an Obadiah mentioned in facred
hiftory who has not been confidered by different
writers as the fame perfon with the Prophet. The
prince whom Jehofhaphat employed to teach in the
cities of Judah [d] ; the governor of Ahab's houfe,
who refcued the hundred Prophets from the venge
ance of Jezebel [e] ; the captain of Ahaziah, who
found favour with Elijah [f] ; the overfeer appointed
by Jofiah to infpect the reparation of the temple
[g] ; each has been feparately reprefented as the
Prophet, though not one of them is characterized
in fcripture under that defcription ; and all of them,
except perhaps the laft, lived long before the period
at which Obadiah the Prophet muft be fuppofed to
[c] St. Jerom fpeaks of his^ tomb at Sebafte, formerly Sa
maria, and fays, that St. Paul vifited it, and performed mi
racles there ; but this could not contain the remains of Oba
diah, for in the time of the Emperor Julian, the Gentiles
emptied the fepulchres, burnt the bones of the Prophets, and
difperfed the afhes, after mixing them with thofe of beafts,
about A. D. 362. Vid. Julian, Mifopogon, & Baillet Vies des
Saints du V. Teft. 14 Juin, 19 Nov.
[d] 2 Chron. xvii. 7. Sanft. Proleg. II. n. 5.
[e] 1 Kings xviii. 4. Hieron. in Abdiam, & in Epift. Paul.
R. Selom. Jarchi, R. David Kimchi, and R. Aben-Ezra in
Abd. 1. R. David Ganz, in Chron. Sixt. Senens in Abd. &
Mercer. Com.
[f] 2 Kings i. 13, Clemens Alex. Strom. 1. Eufeb.
Chron. [cj 2 Chron. xxxiv. 12, have

448 OF THE BOOK OF OBADIAH.
have flourifhed. Equally unfounded are thofe con
jectures by which it is imagined that he was the
hufband of the widow of Zarephath [hJ, and a
difciple of Elijah [r] ; as well as that of the ancient
Hebrew doctors, who conceived that he was an
Idumasan, who having become a profelyte. to the
Jewifh religion, was infpired to prophefy againft
the country of which he had forfaken the fuper-
fti tions [k].
Huet, and other writers, in confideration of the
place which he holds among the Prophets in the
Hebrew canon, fuppofe him to have been contern*
porary with Hofea, Amos, and Joel. In conformity
to which opinion, Huet alfo conceives that the Pro
phet delivered his threats againft the Edomites [l]
becaufe they took poffeffion of Elah after it had
been conquered by Pekah and Rezin in the reign
of Ahaz, and exercifed great cruelties againft the
Jews [m]. All thofe writers who imagine thatOba-
» diah
[h] Lyran. in 4 Reg. c. iv. initio. The widow of Za«
rephath, has alfo been reprefented as the mother of the Pro
phet Jonah.
[1] Clemens Alex. Strom. I. Eufeb. Chron. '& Aben-
Ezra. [k] R. Selom. Jarchi, & R. David Kimchi, in Abd. 1. &
R. Ifr. AbaTb. Prasf. in Prophet. Minor. Cyrill. Praef. in
Abd. [ l ] The Edomites were fhe defcendants of Efau ; they ppf-
fcffed Arabia-Petraa, all the country between the Red Sea and
the Lake of Sodom, and fome adjacent territory.
[mJ Huet. Demonf. Evan, in Abd. Cyrill. Praef. in Abd.
Grotius, and Lightfoot's Harmon, of the Old Teft. In our ¦
tranflation

OF THE BOOK OF OBADIAH. 449
diah foretold the calamities Which the Edomites fuf
fered from the invafion of Sennacherib, maintain
that he lived in the' reign of Ahaz or Hezekiah i
but it is more probable that he flotlrifhed about the
fame time with Ezekiel and Jeremiah ; and the beft
opinions concur in fuppofing him to have prophe
fied a litde after the deftruction of Jerufalem by
Nebuchadnezzar, which happened about A. M. 3416.
He predicted therefore the fame circumftances
which thofe Prophets had foretold againft the Edo
mites [n], who had upon many occafions favoured
the enemies of Judah [0] ; and who, when ftrangers j
carried their forces into captivity, and when they
caft lots upon Jerufalem, had rejoiced at the de-
ftruction, and infulted the children of Judah in their
affliction [p].
tranflation of 2 Kings xvi. 6. nb mention is mad* of the Edo
mites, but in the Vulgate it is rendered " the Edomites came to
Elah." The words Aram and Edom are written in the Hebrew
nearly in the fame manner ; and Calmet thinks that it fhould be
written Edom inftead of Syria, through the verfe; as the Edo
mites had previoufly poffeffion of Elah, but it does not appear
that the Syrians had, for whom it could not therefore be recover
ed. Still, however, the Ghaldjean, Hebrew, Syriac, and Arabic
verfions, as Well as Jofephus, fuppofd that Rezin took Elah for
the Syrians, and eftablifhed them there. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq.
Lib. IX. cap. xi. Grotius, &c.
[r] Comp; Obad. ver. 3, 4. with Jerem. xlix. 16. Obad.
ver. ;, with Jerem. xlix. 9. Obad. ver. 8. with Jer. xlix. 7.
Obad. ver. 16. with Jen xxv. 15 — 21. and xlix. 7 — iz. Vidf
Ezek. xxv. iz, 14, and ch. xxxv.
[0] 2 Chron. xxviii. 17. Joel iii. 19.
[p] 11 — 14. Pfalm exxxvii. 7.
G g The

45O OF THE BOOK OF OBADIAH.
The Prophet, after defcribing the pride and cruelty
of the Edomites, declares that though th<ey dwelt
in •fancied fecurity among the clefts of the rocks
T^J' yet that the <c men of Teman [r] fhould
be difmayed," and " every one of the Mount of
Efeu fhould be cut off by flaughter." That the men
who had confederated with them againft Jacob [s],
and been fupported by them as their allies, fhould
inflict the punifhment of their malevolence. The
Prophet'concludes with confolatory affurances of fu
ture teftdrafion'aftd profperity to the Jews, to whom
fhould arife deliverance from Zion : Saviours who
fhould judge the nations ; and a fpiritual kingdom,
appropriated &hd confecrated to the Lord. Thefe
prophecies began to be completed about five years
after, when Nebuchadnezzar ravaged Idumasa [t] ;
and difpoffeffed the Edomites of much of Arabia-
Petfa^a, which they fiever afterwards recovered. But
they were ftill farther fulfilled in the conquefts of
the Maccabees over the remainder of the Edomites
fu]; and they received their final accomplifhment
[ C^] The fouth part of Paleftime, from Eleutheropolis to Petra,
(the ancient capital of Idumaea) and Elah, was full of rocks, in
habited by the natives. Vid. Hieron. in loe.
[r] Teman, a city, or as fome fay, a province of Idumaa, fo
called from Teman, grandfon of Efau. Vid. Jerem. xlix. 7.
Amps i. 12. Vid. Hieron. & Eufeb. in loe. Ebraicis.
[s ] Obadiah ufes the expreffion, " thy brother Jacob," in allu-
fion to Efau's hatred againft Jacob. Vid. Gen. xxvii. 41 . a pri
mary fource of God's difpleafure againft the Edomites.
[t] Uffer. ad A.M. 3419. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c, xii.
[v] 1 Mace. v. 3,65. in

OF THE BOOK. OF OBADIAH. 45 1
in the advent of that Redeemer whom preceding
Saviours had forefhewn.
Obadiah's name implies, the fervantof the Lord:
a title by which Mofes was diftinguifhed [x], and
in which St. Paul gloried. The Prophet's work is
fhort, but compofed, with much beauty: it unfolds
a very interefting fcene of prophecy, and an in
ftructive leffon againft* human confidence and nja-
licious exultation. [x] Numb. xii. 7.

G g 2 OF

[ 45* •]

6F THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
JO N A H.
THOUGH Jonah be placed fifth in the order
of the Minor Prophets, both in the Hebrew
and in the Septuagint copies, he is generally con
fidered as the moft ancient of all the- Prophets, not
excepting Hofea. Jonah was the fon of Amittai, of
the tribe of Zabulon ; and was born at Gath-hepher
[a J, which is fuppofed to have been the fame place
with Jotapeta : a town remarkable for having fuf
tained, under the conduct of Jofephus, a fiege againft
the Roman army. It was fituated in the land of
[a] Vid. 2 Kings xiv 25. The fame place probably with
Gittah-hepher. Vid. Jofh. xix. 13. Dorotheus erroneouily
affirms, that he was born at Carjathmaus, or Carjathjarim, in
the tribe of Judah ; and buried at Saar, (Tyre in Phoenicia,)
and St. Jerom has taken the trouble to refute fome who main
tained that Jonah was born at another Geth, near Lydds, or
Diofpolis, confounding Geth with Gath-hepher, and Diofpolis
with Diocefarea. Zabulon,

OF THE BOOK OF JONAH. 453
Zabulon, near Siphorim [b], towards Tiberias, where
was the canton of Ophir, or Hepher. St. Jerom in
forms us, that the Prophet's fepulchre was fhewn
there in his time ; and there the natives ftill believe
it to exift [c]. Since this place, as indeed all the
land of Zabulon, was in Galilee [d], it may be pro
duced in confutation of the illiberal affertion of the
Pharifees, that out of Galilee arifeth no Prophet [e].
The Orientals now fhew his tomb at Moful [f],
which they fuppofe to be the fite where Nineveh
ftood; and the Turks have built a mofque there,
in which they pretend to poffefs his relics; while
others, who refide at Gath-hepher, now a little Bour-
gade, fhew a Maufoleum of Jonah in a fubterraneous
chapel, inclofed in a mofque, and compel travellers
to enter barefoot. Such are the centefts of fuper-
ftitious reverence, or the claims of mercenary rival-
fhip. [b] Now called Diocsfarea. Vid. Hieron. Procem. Com.
in Jonam.[c] Benjam. Itiner. et Brocardus Argentoratenfis Defcrip.
Terra fandt ;e.
[d] Ifaiah ix. i. Matt. iv. 13,
[e] John vii. 52. Nahum was a Galilean by birth, though
of the tribe of Simeon ; and Malachi, as fome fay.
[f] Thevenot's Travels, Part II. Book I. ch.xi. p. 50. Moful,
now the feat ofthe Patriarch ofthe Neflorians, is on the Weftern
fide of the Tigris ; and is by fome afferted to have been a fuburb
of Nineveh, which is faid to have been on the Eaftern fide,
though Pliny maintains it to have been fituated on the Weftern
fide. Vid. Plinii Lib. VI. cap. xiii. Benjarn. Tudela, Itiner.
Marfham Chron. Sa:c. xviii. p. 558.
G g 3 Some

454 OF THE BOOK OF JONAH.
Some Jewifh writers report upon a very ground-
lefs fancy, that Jonah was the fon of the widow of
Zarephath, whom Elijah raifed from the dead [g] ;
but Jonah reprefents himfelf as an Hebrew, and Za
rephath 'was a city of Sidon Jjh]. He is generally
fuppofed to have flourifhed in the reigns of Joafh
and Jeroboam the Second, Kings of Ifrael ; the for
mer of whom began to reign, A. M. 3163, the
latter died A. M. 3220. In the Second Book of
Kings ,[1], Jonah is faid to have prophefied concern
ing Jeroboam, that he fhould " reftore the coaft of
Ifrael ;" which prqphecy, now not extant, was per
haps delivered in the reign of Jehoahaz, the grand
father of Jeroboam,, when the kingdom of Ifrael was
greatly oppreffed by the Syrians [k] ; and therefore
it is probable that Bifhop Lloyd does not place ; hirn
much too high in fuppofing that he prophefied to
wards the latter end of Jehu's reign ; or in the begin
ning of that of Jehoahaz, when Hazael by his cruel
[g] Hieron. and Ifidor. & Quaeft. ad Antioch. in Append.
ad.Oper. .S. Athan. .Qu. lxv. Jonah was. the fon of .Amittai,
which word implies Truth in the Hebrew, and the willow had
faid to Elijah, " The word of the Lord in thy mouth is
truth*" Vid. i Kings xvii. 24. Hence the Rabbinical con
ceit. Others make him the ;fon 'of the woman of Shunem, a
place in the tribq, of Iffachar. Vid. 2 Kings iv. 16. Some
maintain, that he. was the Prophet -who was fent to anoint
Jehu King over Ifrael. Vid. 2 Kings ix. V, 2. R. .David
Kimchi, &c.
, {h] Comp. Luke iv. 26. with Jonah i. 9.
[1] 2 Kings xiv. 25. ,
[k] Comp. 2 Kings xiii. 3 — 7. with 2 Kings xiv. 26. fc
Jofeph. treatment

OF THE EOOK OF JONAH, 455
treatment of Ifrael, was verifying the predictions of
Elifha [l]. So that though Jonah might be con
temporary with Hofea, Amos, and Ifaiah, he appeals
to have uttered the prophecy alluded to, before any
we're delivered of thofe now extant in the writings of
the Prophets; and the prophecy concerning Nineveh,
of which the publication is related in this book,
muft, contrary to the opinion of many writers .f mJ,
have been delivered long before the time that Oba
diah prophefied.
This book, which is chiefly narrative, furnifhes
us with an account of the mandate that Jonah, who
was more efpecially a Prophet to the Gentiles, re
ceived to preach againft Nineveh, the metropolis of
that mighty kingdom ofAflyria, which was employ
ed by God as the " rod of his anger againft Ifrael
and Judah [n]." It relates that Jonah, who was of
a timid character [o], aware of the pride and falfe
confidence of a city, equally diftinguifhed for its
magnificence and corruption; for its carelefs merri
ment, and inconfiderate diffipation [p], and confcious
[l] 2 Kings vii. 12. and 2 Kings xiii. 3, 4, 22.
[m] Clem. Alex. Strom. Eufeb. Praep. Lib. X. c. xiv. Cyrill.
Prsf. in Jon. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxvii.
Theod. Procem. in 12 Proph.
[n] Ifaiah x. 5.
[0] Jonah, or Jonas, as it is written in the Greek, fignifies a
dove, a name probably defcriptive of his gentle difpofition.
[p] By Zephaniah it is called the rejoicing city, Kfuo-a-uii
Nim 6upp«i»aff!!{ (better than merry Nineveh,) was a proverbial
comparifon. Nineveh was greater than Babylon. Vid. Strabo,
Lib. X. p. 737. Diodor. Siculus, Lib. XVI. p. 65. Edit.
Stephan. G g 4 that

45^ OE THE BOOK 01 JONAH.
that the Lord was " flow to anger," and loth to
execute his threats, was afraid to carry the meffage
of wrath. He knew that the Prophets were expofed
to infult from fuch as confidently maintained that the
day of the Lord would not arife ; and who challenged
God to haften his work [ qJ. He refolved therefore
" to flee from the prefence of the Lord," that is, pof
fibly, as fome have interpreted the expreffion, to flee
from the council of God in the land of Ifrael ; or
perhaps fimply to avoid the divine appointment; but
in this foolifh attempt in his flight to Tarfhifh [r],
which he records with a very ingenuous and repent
ant fidelity, he was arretted and punifhed by a mi
racle ; and when delivered from the jaws of deftruc
tion, he was compelled to utter the doleful meffage,
" Yet forty days, and Nineveh" (if it continue im
penitent) << fhall he overthrown.". The King, who
according to Ufher, was Pul, or poffibly a predeceffor
of that monarch, alarmed by the prophetic threat
conveyed to him under fuch miraculous circum
ftances, proclaimed a folemn faft and fupplication for
[cjj Amos v. 18. Ifa. v. 19. Jerem. xvii. 15. Ezek.
xii. 22.
[r] The Tarfhifh here mentioned was probably the fame
place with Tarfis, or Tarfus, the capital of Cilicia, where St.
Paul receiyed his birth ; and Jonah might be caft on fhore fomc-
where on the coaft of Cilicia. There were likewife places of
the name of Tarfhifh in India and in Spain. Vid. 2 Chron. xx.
36. Bochart. Phaleg. Lib. III. c. xxvii. Stephan. de Urb. 16. '
and Wells's Geograph. of New Teft. Part II. pardon ;

OF THE BOOK OF JONAH. 457
pardon [s] ; and as God's threats are conditional,
and his anger ever foftened by repentance, he fuf-
pended the fentence which he had pronounced, till
about 160 years after, when the wickednefs of the
people provoked its execution. The laft chapter re
prefents the unreafonable difpleafure of Jonah at
God's mercy, and his mortification at having been
employed to deliver a predidtion which was not to
be accompjifhed ; more folicitous for his own repu
tation than for the glory of God, or for the fecurity
of a kingdom. The Almighty is defcribed as con-
defcending gently to reprove-- the Prophet ; and to
juftify his pwn conduft by a miraculous illuftration,
and by an appeal to the companion ofthe Prophet,
which Jonah records with a tacit confeffion of the
equity and goodnefs of God.
It muft be remarked, that the miracle by which
God punifhed the unbecoming flight of Jonah was,
agreeably to the figurative arrangements of the Old
Teftament, rendered fymbolical of an event, that was
£Q ocpur under the New. The Prophet, in this in?-
ftance a fign of Chrift [t], was fwallowed up by a
great fifh [u], as our Saviour was admitted into the
jaws
[s] lifter. Annal. A. M- 3233, Lloyd's Tables. Newton
on the Prophecies, Diff. IX. vol. i. p. 256.
[t] Matt. xii. 39, 40. xvi. 4. Luke xi. 39, 40. Augufr. de
Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxx.
[v] The fifh is generally fuppofed to have been a whale.
The word ufed by the apoftle (Matt. xii. 40.) «»"!©-, Cetus,
means any large fifh, as does the Hebrew word in Jonah, bni
fl, Dag Gadol. Some fuppofe it to have been the Canis
Charoaiias,

458 " OF THE BOOK OF JONAH.
jaws of death, and for a fimilar continuance of
time : both were detained three days and three
nights [x] entombed in the' grave. The objections
that have been made to this miracle are certainly
unworthy of attention [v], fince confiderations of
what may or may not be probable, are clearly not
applicable to works which exceed the meafure of
human power, and deviate from the courfe of human
events, and which, indeed, in their proper defi
nition, are defcribed as unprecedented. The mira
culous prefervation and deliverance of Jonah was
furely not more reqwkable . or defcriptive of al
mighty power than were the multiplied wonders in
the wildernefs [z], the protection of Daniel, or the
Charcarias, the lamia, or fea-dog. The Rabbins talk of a fifh
created on purpofe from the beginning ofthe world; and many
other abfurd notions have been entertained on the fubject . Vid.
Scaliger. cont. Cardan. Bochart. Hieroz. P. II. Lib. V. c. xii.
Drufius in Jonam. Calmet's Differt.
[ x ] As the Hebrew language has not any word which de
fines a natliral day, the Jews defcribe what the Greeks call
tuKfljiftifon, by a day and a night. The fpace of time, therefore,
vhich confifts of one whole revolution of twenty-four hours, and
part of two other days, is properly expreffed in Hebrew by three
days and three nights ; the length of time during which Jonah
<lnd Chrift were refpedively fepulchred in the fifh and in the
grave. . -Vid. Patrick in ch. i, .17. ,
[y] Herman V°n-der Hardt, abfiirdly undertook to turn the
whole book into a kind of prophetic fcheme or parable, though
there is not a fhadow of reafon to fuppofe 'it. any other than a lite
ral narration of aftual events, Vid. Carp^ov. Introd. ad Lib. V.
T. Par. III. p. 349. ,
[z] Aut omnia divina miracula credenda non funt aut hoc cut
non credatur eaufa nulla eft. Vid. Auguft. Epift. I. in Quseft. 6.
dejona, n. 30. refurrecfion

OF THE BOOK OF JONAH. 459
refurrection of the widow's fon; all were pofitive
violations of the general, rules of nature.
Among other teftimonies given to the prophetic
character ^f Jonah, may be reckoned that of Tobit,
who profeffed a firm confidence in the accomplifh-
ment of Jonah's prediction againft Nineveh [a], and
whofe fon, indeed, afterwards lived to witnefs its
Completion. The facred writers, likewife, and our
Lord himfelf [b], fpeak of him as a Prophet of Con
fiderable eminence.
As the word with which this book begins is fre
quently ufed as a connexive particle, fome writers
have conceived that thefe prophecies are but com
pendious extracts of a larger collection; but the
book appears in its prefent ftate to be an entire and
perfect work? and .the particle with which it begins
is here only a. common introductory expreffion.
True it is, that Jonah, as probably all the Prophets,
delivered fome prophecies which are no longer ex
tant; as jappears: from the paffage in the Second
Book pf Kings before alluded to [c] ;• and thefe, as
intended by their fpeedy completion only to excite
the confidence of contemporaries, were probably not
committed to writing ¦ : fuch chiefly being, compofed
for the canon as were defigned for the permanent
inftrudion of the church. There is, however, no,
[a J Tobit xiv. 4 — 6, 15.
[b] 2 .Kings xiv. 25. Matt. xii. 39, \i. xvi. 4. Like
|H. 29. Vi'd. alfo, 2 - Efdras i.- 39.' and Clement. Epift. I. ad
Pom. c. vii.
Jc] 2 Kings xiv. 25, fufficient

460 OF THE BOOK OF JONAH.
fufficient evidence to prove the authenticity of fome
other predictions afcribed to Jonah by Dorotheus
and others [d] : as that " when they fhould fee a
ftone" (i. e. Chrift the corner-ftone) " bitterly la
menting, and all the nations in Jerufalem, then fhould
the city be entirely deftroyed;" which pretended
prophecy alluded to our Saviour's weeping over Je
rufalem [e], and to the affemblage of the Gentiles,
which preceded the deftruction of the holy city.
The ftile of Jonah is narrative and fimple ; the
beautiful prayer contained in the fecond chapter has
been juftly admired. The book furnifhes us with a
fine defcription ofthe power and mercies of God.
The fame of Jonah's deliverance appears to have
fpread among the heathen nations, and the Greeks
who were accuftomed to adorn the memory of their
heroes by every remarkable event and embellifh-
ment which they could appropriate : added to the
fictitious adventures of Hercules, that of having con
tinued three days without injury in the belly of a
dog fent againft him by Neptune [f]. The fable of
Arion and the Dolphin, of which the date is fixed at
a time nearly coeval with the period of Jonah, is pof
fibly a mifreprefentation of particulars recorded in
this facred book.
[d] Epiphan. Doroth. & Chron. Pafcal.
[e] Luke xix. 41.
[fJ Lycophron & Ifaacus Tzetzes, Cyrill. & Theophyladt. in
Jon. Sext. Emp. adv. Gram. Lib, I. cap. xii. Phavoririus in
TfiiTOip©', et Gazxus in Dialog, de Immort. Anim.

0 F

[ 4*1 1

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
M I C AH.
MICAH was unqueftionably the author of
this Book, and he fpeaks in that character
[a]. In the Hebrew manufcripts he Is placed the
fixth ; and in the Septuagint copies the third in order -
ofthe twelve Prophets. He calls himfelf a Moraft-
hite [b], and is fuppofed to have been a native of
Morafthi, a village fituated near the city of Eleuthe-
ropolis, in the foutbwn part of Judah ; a place dif
tinguifhed by St. Jerom [c] from Marefhah, men
tioned in this book [d], and in Jofhua [e].
Micah
[a] Chap. iii. I, 8.
[b] Chap. i. i. Jerem. xxvi. 18.
[c] Hieron. Prol. in Micah. Epic. Paul. c. vi. Eufeb. de
loe. Ebraic. Drufius erroneoufly imagines that Morafthi might
be the fame place with Morfflleth-gath, mentioned in Micah,
ch. i. 14.
[d] Chap. i. 15.
v [bJ Jofh. xv. 44. St. Jerom, however, places this town
Kkewife in the territory oP Judah, ahd fays, that the ruins of it

462 OF THE BOOK OF MICAH.
Micah fpeaks only of the Kings of Judah ; and
he prophefied in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and
Hezekiah, contemporary with whom were Pekah
and Hofea, the two laft Kings of Ifrael. Micah
then began to prophefy foon after Ifaiah, Hofea,
Joel, and Amos ; and he prophefied between A. M.
324.6, when Jotham began to reign, and A. M. 3305,
when Hezekiah died : but probably not during the
whole of that period. It is related by Epiphanius
£f], and the Greek writers who copied him, that
Micah was thrown from a precipice and killed by
Jehoram, fon of Ahab, whom he erroneoufly calls
King of Judah, but who really was King of Ifrael;
and whofe grandfon Jehoram lived at feaft 130 years
before Micah. But thefe writers [c] feem to have
confounded Micah with Micaiah the fon of Imlah,
who flourifhed in Ifrael, and prophefied evil of Ahab
[h] ; and Micah does not appear to have fuffered
martyrdom, as maybe 'collected "from a paffage in
Jeremiah [1] ; but probably died in peace under the
reign of the good King 'Hezekiah. St. Jerom fays,
that his tomb was at Morafthi, and converted into a
it were extant in his time. Jofephus reprefents it to have
been in Idiimsa. Vid. Jofeph. Lib. XIII. c. xxiii. et de Bell.
Jud. Lib. I. c. ii. Antia^. Lib. XIV. c. x. 2 Chron- x>* &•'
xiv. 10.
[ f ] Epiphanius erroneoufly afils him a IVforafthite of the tribe
of Ephraim ; and fays, that he was buried at Marathi.
[g] Athan. in Synop. Eufeb. Chron.
[h] 1 Kings xxii. 8—28, ,
[ij Jerem. xxvi. 18, ig. church

OF THE BOOK PF MICAH. 463
church in his time [k]. And Sozomen [l] profeffes
to have heard, that his body was fhewn, in a divine
vifion, to Zebennus, Bifhop of Eleutheropolis, in the
reign of Theodofius the Great, near a place called
Berathfatia, which probably might be a corruption of
Morafthi, fince Sozomen defcribes it to have been at
nearly the fame diftance from Jerufalem that St.
Jerom places Morafthi [m].
Micah, who received the divine revelations by
vifion [n], was appointed to preach againft both
Ifrael and Judah ; and executed his commiffion with
great animation and zeal. One of his predictions is
related [o] to have faved the life of Jeremiah ; who
under the reign of Jehoiakim would have been put
to death for prophefying the deftruction of the tem
ple, had it not appeared that Micah had foretold the
fame thing under Hezekiah above ioo yeats before
[p]. Micah is mentioned as a Prophet in the book
of Jeremiah [ qJ, and in the New Teftament {rJ.
[k] Hieron. Ep. xxvii. feu Epitap. Paul. c. vi.
[t] Sozom. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. VII. c. xxix. & Nicephor.
Lib. XII. c. xlviii.
[m] About ten ftadk, which anfwers nearly to the two miles
of St. Jerom. Some place Micah's tomb on the declivity of
Mount Olivet. '
[n] " The word of the Lord" came to him. Vid. Dr.
Wheeler. [0] Jerem. xxvi. 18 — 24.
[p] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. vii. Micah iii. 12,
[ oj Jerem. xxvi. 18. comp. with Micahiii. 12.
[r] Matt. ii. 5. and John vii. 42. • . . • _
1 He

464 OF THE B00K 0F MICAH.
He is imitated by fucceeding Prophets [s], as he him
felf had borrowed the expreffions of thofe who pre
ceded, or flourifhed at the fame time with him [t].
Our Saviour himfelf, indeed, condefcended to fpeak
in the language ofthe Prophet [u].
Dr. Wells [x] fuppofes Micah's prophecies to
have been uttered in the order in which they are
here written. He maintains that the contents of the
firft chapter were delivered in the time of Jotham
and Pekah ; and that it confifts of general invective
againft the fins and idolatry of Ifrael and Judah, to
be punifhed by impending judgments. What is
comprifed between the firft verfe of the fecond chap
ter and the eighth verfe of the fourth, he affigns to
the reign of Ahaz, and his contemporaries Pekah
and Hofea ; and the twelfth verfe of the third chap
ter, which is attributed by Jeremiah to the reign of
Hezekiah [yJ, Wells conceives to have been fpoken
in the year when Hezekiah was partner in the king^
dom with Ahaz, in the laft year pf the reign of the
latter j and the remainder of the book the learned
commentator affigns to the reign of Hezekiah. But
at whatever period thefe prophecies were delivered,
[s] Comp. Zephaniah iii. 19. with Micah iv. 7. And Ezek.
xxii. 27. with Micah iii. 1 1.
[t] Comp, Micah iv. 1 — 3. and Ifaiah ii. 2 — 4. Micah iv. 13.
with Ifa. xii. 15. Micah began to prophecy rather later than
Ifaiah. [v] Corhp. Micah vii. 6. with Matt. x. 35, 36.
[ x ] Preface to Micah.
[v] Jerem. xxvi. 18, 19. they

OF THE BOOK OF MICAH. \6$
they contain many remarkable particulars. The
Prophet predicted in clear terms, the invafion of
Shalmanefer [z] and Sennacherib [a J, and their tri
umph over Ifrael and Judah ; the captivities, difper
fion [b], and deliverance [c] of Ifrael ; the ceffation
of prophecy [d] ; the deftruction of Affyria [e], and
of Babylon [f], the reprefentatives ofthe enemies of
the Chriftian church ; the birth of the Everlafting
Ruler at Bethlehem Ephratah [gj ; the eftablifhment
and exaltation of Chrift's kingdom over all nations
[h] ; the influence of the Gofpel [i] ; and the de
ftruction of Jerufalem [k].
The beauty and elegance of Micah's ftile have
been much admired. Bifhop Lowth has characterized
[z] Micah i. 6 — 8. and 2 Kings xvii. 4, 6.
[aJ Micah i. 9 — 16. 2 Kings xviii. 13.
[b] Chap. v. 7, 8.
[c] Chap. ii. 12. iv. 10. v. 8.
fb] Chap. iii. 6, 7.
[»] Chap. v. 5, 6. Some imagine that Micah foretels in this
prophecy the victories to be obtained by the leaders of the
Medes and Babylonians who took Nineveh. Others fuppofe
him to fpeak of the feven Maccabees with their eight royal fuc-
celTors, from Ariftobulns to Antigonus. It may perhaps bear a
reference to fome higher triumph. Vid. Ezek. ch. xxxviii. and
xxxix. [f] Chap. vii. 8, 10. Mede's Difcourfes, p. 796.
[o,] Micah v. 2. comp. with Matt. ii. 6. and John vii. 42.
[h] Chap. iv. 1, 2.
[1] Chap. iv. 1 — 8. comp. with Ifa. ii. 2 — 4.
[k] Chap. iii. 12. This prophecy was fulfilled by the de-
firucfion of Jerufalem by Vefpafian, when, according to Chrift's
prediction, not one ftone was left on another. Vid. Jofeph. Bell.
Jnd. Lib. VII. ch, xvii.
Hh - it

466 OF the book of micah.
it as compreffed, fhort, nervous, and fharp. It is
often elevated, and very poetical, though occafion
ally obfcure from fudden tranfition of fubject.
Micah, after fhewing what is good, for man, and
that the Lord requireth of him " to do juftly, and
to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God [l],"
concludes his book with a fine prophetic affurance of
God's mercies, who fhould caft away the fins ofhis
people, and perform the promifes Which he had
fworn unto Abraham. [l] Chap. vi. 8»

OF

[ 467 1

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
NAHUM,

NAHUM defcribes himfelf as an Elkofhite :
whieh fome have confidered as a patronymick
expreffion, conceiving it to imply his being a defcend
ant of Elkofha 5 but which is generally fuppofed to
intimate that. he Was born at Elkofh, or Elkoflia, a
fmall village in Galilee, of which St. Jerom profeffes
to have feen the ruins [aJ. Nahum is faid to have
been of the tribe of Simeon [b] ; but amidft a variety
of opinions, it is difficult to determine what precife
time fhould be affigned for the period of his exift-
[a] Epiphanius and Dorotheas place it near Begato, or
Bethabara, where St. John baptized his difciples. Vid. Origen
in Joh. But St, Jerom reprefents it as at a great diftance from
that town. He fays that it was called Elkegai. It is not men
tioned in fcripture, or by Jofephus.
[ e] He was probably in Judah when he received divine' reve
lations. Bathabara was fe from the territory of Simeon,
H h 2 ence.

463 OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM.
ence. Jofephus [c] affeits, that he lived in the time
of Jotham, King of Judah: in which cafe he may be
fuppofed to have prophefied againft Nineveh, when
Tiglath-Pilefer, King of Affyria, carried captive the
natives of Galilee, and other parts [d],' about A. M.
3264. The Jews place him fo late as the reign of
Manaffeth [e]. The moft probable opinion is, that
though Nahum might have lived in the reigns of
both thefe Kings, ,yet he delivered thefe prophecies
in Judasa in the reign of Hezekiah [f] ; for he ap
pears to fpeak of the taking of No -Ammon, a city
of Egypt [cj, and ofthe infofent meffengers of Sen
nacherib [h], as of things paft ; and he likewife
defcribes the people of Judah as ftill in their own

[c] Jofeph. Aptiq. Lib. IX. cap. xi. feft. 3. Edit. Hudfon.
Jofephus fays, alfo, that Nahum's predictions concerning Nine
veh came to pafs in 115 years after; in which cafe the
Prophet muft have delivered them in the reign of Ahaz, the
fon of Jotham, when Salmanefer invaded Samaria, and rendered
it tributary. [d] 2 Kings xv. 29.
[e] Seder Olam, Grot. Sixt. Senens. &c. Clemens Alex
andrinus places Nahum between Daniel and Ezekiel, and fup
pofes him to have flourifhed during the captivity. Vid. Strom.
I. p. 92.
[f] Hieron. Theodor..andTheophyIi Prooem in Nahum.
[g] Chap. iii. 8. This city is called alfo Diofpolis, and
was the fame place that was called Thebes by Homer. It was
probably firft taken by Sennacherib, in his expedition to Egypt,
before he marched to Jerufalem. Vid. Calmet in loe. Prid.
Con. A. 713. It was afterwards deftroyed by Nebuchadnezzar.
[h] Chap. ii. 13. comp. with 2 Kings xviii. 17. et feq. -
3 country,

OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM. 469
country, and defirous of celebrating their feftivals.
He cannot therefore be fuppofed to have prophefied
before the fourteenth year of Hezekiah, fince the
expedition of Sennacherib againft this Prince was in
the fourteenth year of Hezekiah's reign ; and there
fore he probably prophefied between A. M. 328.3,
when Shalmanefer carried Ifrael captive into Affyria
[1]; and A. M., 3294, when Sennacherib was medi
tating the deftruftion of Jerufalem.
At this period of perplexity and diftrefs, when
the fate of Samaria was prefent to the apprehenfions
of Judah; when her own cities had been taken by
Sennacherib, and Hezekiah had drained his treafury,
and even defpoiled the temple in the vain hope of
averting the fury of Sennacherib [k] ; then was
Nahum raifed up in confolation [l] to Judah, and
to proclaim deftruction " to him that imagined evil
againft the Lord [m]." At this time Sennacherib
ftill continued to fend arrogant meffages, and blaf-
phemous letters : threatening the deftruction of Je
rufalem ; infulting Hezekiah, and deriding the con
fidence of his people, who trufted in the Lord [n].
Already had Ifaiah been commiffioned to fend an
affurance of protection to Jerufalem [o] ; and Na-
[1] 2 Kings xvii. 6. Nahum ii. 2.
[k] 2 Kings xviii. 16.
[l] Nahum fignifies a comforter. Vid. Hieron.
[m] Chap. i. 1 1.
[n] 2 Kings xviii. and xix. 2 Chron. xxxii, Ifaiah xxxii.
Nahum i. 7. comp. with Ifa. xxxvi. 15.
[o] 2 Kings xix. 20 — 34.
H h 3 hum

47® OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM.
hum confpired with him to promife deliverance- to
Hezekiah [p] from the Affyrian yoke ; and to anti
cipate with prophetic exultation the appearance of
welcome meffengers, that fhould bring good tidings,
and publifh peace to Judah; who fhould celebrate
her folemn feafts fecure from invafion, as her enemy
fc was utterly cut off [ q_J." '
Nahum afterwards in his two laft chapters pro4
ceeds to foretel the future downfal of the Aflyrian
empire ; renewing thofe denunciations of wrath which
about ninety years before Jonah had uttered againft
Nineveh, whofe repentance was but of fhort du
ration ; and predicting in the moft defcriptive man-.
ner, that final deftruction which was effected pro
bably by Nabopalaffer and Cyaxares, A. M- 3J92
f r], but certainly by the Medes and Babylonians ;
whofe confederate forces affaulted the Affyrians un-
[?] Chap. i. 13.
[ oj Nahum i. 15. 2 Kings xix. 35. Ifa. xxxvii. 36, 37.
Berofus and Herodotus give a difguifed account of the miracu
lous deftrucf ion of Sennacherib's army. Vid. Berofus ap. Jofeph.
Antiq. Lib* X. c. i. ii. Herod. Lib. II. c. cxli. ¦
[r] Diodorus Siculus fpeaks ofthe taking of Nineveh by
Arbaces and Belefis ; which muft have happened at a pre
ceding time. Herodotus, however, afferts, that it was taken
by Cyaxares ; and fince the account of Diodorus minutely
correfponds with the prophetic defcription of Nahum, it is
probable that he confounds the two captures, as he miftakes
the fituation of Nineveh, placing it on the Euphrates. Ufher
places the final deftruftion of Nineveh fourteen years earlier
than Prideaux, who affigns it to A. M. 3392. Vid. Diod.
Sic. Lib. II. Herod. Lib. II. Marfham's Chron. Sac. xviii.
p. 556. expect-

OF THE BOOK OF NAHUM. 47 1
expeftedly, " while they were folden together as
thorns, and while they were drunken as drunkards
[s] ;" when " the gates of the river were opened,
the palace diffolved [t]," and an « over-running
flood" affifted the conquerors in their devaluation
£u] ;" who took an endlefs ftore of fpoil of gold
and of filver [x], making an utter end of the place
of Nineveh [y] : of that vaft and populous city,
whofe walls were an hundred feet high [z], and
capable of admitting three chariots abreaft upon
them, and fortified with fifteen hundred towers,
in walls of two hundred feet high [a]. So totally,
indeed, was this city deftroyed, that in the fecond
century after Chrift, not a veftige of it remained
to afcertain the fpot on which it ftood. Its fitu
ation has long been a matter of uncertainty and
difpute [b].
This
js] Chap. i. 10.
[tJ Chap. ii. 6.
[uj Chap. i. 8- Diodor. Sic. Lib. II. p. 80. Edit. S.tephan,
p. 113. Alex. Polyhift. ap. Syncel.
[x] Nahum ii. 9. and Diod. Lib. II, p. 81.
[ y ] Chap. i. 8, 9. and "Newton's ninth Differtation on Pro
phecies, vol. i.
[z] Diod. Sic. Lib. II. p. 65. Edit. Stephan. Strabo,
Lib. XVI. p. 737. ed. Par.
[aJ Lucian, titurx. prop. fin. Lucian was a native of
Samofata, a city on the Euphrates, in a country adjacent to
Nineveh. [b] Bochart. Phaleg. Lib. IV. cap. xx. col. 248. Mar-
fhami Chronic. Sasc. xviii. p. 559. The beft fupported opinions
concur to place the ancient Nineveh |(for fome fuppofed there
Hh 4 -were

472 of the book of nahum.
This illuftrious prophecy thus remarkably accom-
plifhed in little more than a century after it was de
livered, affords a fignal evidence of the infpiration
of Nahum ; and a ftriking leffon of humility to hu
man pride. It muft have furnifhed much confola
tion to the tribes who were carried away captive by
the King of Affyria, as well as to thofe of Benjamin
and Judah ; and all muft have rejoiced with the
hope of deliverance, to hear that their conquerors
fhould in time be conquered, their city levelled to
the duft, and their empire overturned. The book in
which thefe interefting prophecies are contained, is
juftly confidered by Bifhop Lowth as a complete and
perfect poem, of which the conduct and imagery are
truly admirable.
The fire, fpirit, and fublimity of Nahum, are
unequalled. His fcenes are painted with great va
riety and fplendour. The exordium of his work, in
which he defcribes the attributes of God, is auguft;
and the preparations for the attack, as well as the
deftruction of Nineveh, are reprefented with fingular
effect [cj\ The art with which the immediate der
ftruction of the Affyrians under Sennacherib is in
termingled with the future ruin of the empire, af
fords a very elegant fpecimen of the manner in

were two, and forne three cities of that name) on the Tigris.
There are ruins on the eaftern fide of the river, faid to be
thofe of Nineveh. Vid. Tavernier in Harris, vol. ii. Book II.
ch. iv. But probably they are the ruins of Perfian Nineveh.
[_c] Lowth's Praeleft. 21. which

of the book of nahum. 473
which the Prophets delight to introduce prefent and
diftant events under one point of view. The al
legorical pictures in this book a»re remarkably beau
tiful [d].
Neither hiftory nor tradition furnifh us with any
account of Nahum, or of the period of his death.
His tomb, or pretended tomb, was formerly fhewn
in a village named Bethogabra, now called Giblin,
near EmmausJ [dJ Chap. ii. 7, 11, u.

OF

[474 ]

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
HABAKKUK.

SOME writers whofe relations are probably
founded on traditionary accounts, defcribe Ha-
bakkuk as a native of Bethzakar [a] ; and affirm
that he was of the tribe of Simeon. Some fuppofe
him to have flourifhed in the reign of Manaffeth [b] ;
others in that of Jofiah [c] ; and fome have placed
him fo late as Zedekiah [d] ; but the moft approved
opinion is, that he prophefied under Jehoiakim, who
afcended the throne A. M. 3395, and reigned over
Judah eleven years.
[aJ Epiphanius calls it Bethfocher ; Dorotheus, Biticuchar.
Bathzacharias is mentioned in i Mace. vi. 32. this was between
Jerufalem and Bethfura ; and Jofephus defcribes it as a narrow
defile. Vid. Antiq. Lib. XII. c. iv. Bezeth is fpoken of in
1 Mace. vii. 19.
[b] Seder Olam Rabba, and Zuta. Abarb. Jofeph. Antiq.
Lib. X. c. iv.
.[c] Wells, Patrick, &c.
[n] Clem. Alex. Strom. I. Epiphan. &c.
As

.O? TWP BOOK OF HABAKKUK. 475
As the Prophet makes no mention ofthe Affyrians,
pnd fpeaks of the ChakUean invafions as near at hand
f*]> he probably lived after the deftru&ion of the
Affyrian empire in the fall of Nineveh, A. M. 3392,
and not long before the devastation of Juda;a by the
victories of Nebuchadnezzar. Habakkuk was then
jiearly contemporary with, and predicted the fame
events as Jeremiah; and he probably lived to witnefs
the completion of that part of his prophecy which
related to the afflictions of his country.
Habakkuk is faid, as well as Jeremiah, to have
chofen to remain amidft the fad fcenes of a defolate
and deferted land, rather than follow his conquered
.countrymen into captivity, and even to have refufed
to accompany thofe who afterwards retired into Egypt.
There are no proofs, however, that, as fome writers
IJf] have afferted, he lived till within two years of
the return of the Jews, under Zerubbabel, which
happened A. M. 3468 ; but he appears to have
died in his own country, and poffibly he was buried
at Cela, in the territory of Judah, where his tomb was
fhewn in the time of Eufebius [0].
It muft be obferved, that fome Jews have on
very chimerical grounds, pretended that our Prophet
[e] Chap. i. 5. ii. 3. iii. 2, 16 — 19.
[f] Hieron. Procem. in Habac.
[ g ] Eufeb. Topic, who calls it by its old name Ceila, which
is, perhaps, the fame place with.Echela and Betzekar*. Sozomen
fays that Habakkuk's body was difcovered there in the time of
Theodotion the Elder. Vid. Sozom. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. VII.
c. xxix. The Prophet's tomb was fhewn alfo at Gabata, about
twelve miles from Eleutheropolis. was

476 OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK.
was the fon of the Shunamite widow, whom Elifha
reftored to life [h]; and the wretched biographers
of the Prophets who write under the names of Epi
phanius and Dorotheus relate, that on the approach
of Nebuchadnezzar to Jerufalem, the Prophet fled
to Oftracina, in the land of Ifmael, and there con
tinued till after the retreat of the Chaldasans. But
thefe writers appear, as does alfo St. Jerom, to have
confounded the Prophet with the Habakkuk of the
tribe of Levi mentioned by Daniel ; who is defcribed
in the Greek title to Bel and the Dragon, as the au
thor of that book ; and who is therein related to
have been fnatched up at Jerufalem by an angel,
and conveyed to Babylon to furnifh food to Daniel in
the lion's den ; as alfo to have returned in the fame
miraculous manner. Habakkuk is faid likewife,
upon no better authority, to have delivered many
prophecies not contained in the book which we now
poffefs; to have predicted the return of the Jews
from captivity ; the appearance of a great light (the
Meffiah) and God's glory in the temple ; and the
deftruction of the temple by a nation from the Weft
(the Romans) ; as likewife to have compofed the
ftory of Sufanna, and that of his own conveyance to
Babylon. This book, which was certainly compofed by Ha
bakkuk [1], opens with a pious exclamatipn, in
[h] 2 Kings iv. 16. The name of Habakkuk had fome re
femblance with the words of Elifha, who pronounced to the
woman (" thou fhalt embrace a fon.")
[1] Chap. i. 1. ii. 1, 2. which

OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. 477
which the Prophet expoftulates with God in the
bold terms that a zeal for his glory might fuggeft,
on beholding the iniquities and lawltfs violence that
prevailed among the Jews. The Almighty is repre
fented as declaring that he would " work an incredi
ble work in their days," that he would " raife up
the Chaldaeans," who are defcribed by name ; which
nation though then poffibly in alliance, if not in
friendfhip with Judah [k], fhould " march through
the breadth of the land," and take poffeffion of its
dwellings. As Nahum had before predicted the fall of the
Affyrians, who had carried the ten tribes into cap
tivity : fo Habakkuk, blending probably all the in-
vafions of the Chaldaeans [l] under one confidera
tion, defcribes in the moft ftriking manner, their
victories, fiercenefs, and rapidity ; and then, by a
fudden tranfition, contrafts the fcene : and points out
the punifhment of the pride of the victors, and of
their falfe confidence in their gods [m] ; forefhewing
in exprefs terms, the change and infanity of Nebu
chadnezzar [n]. The Prophet ftill continues, with
reverence for God's attributes, to plead the caufe of
his countrymen, as more righteous than thofe whom
[k] 2 Kings xxiii. 29. and Prid. A. 610. Jofiah 31ft.
[l] Chap. i. 5 — 10, The Chaldzeans invaded Judasa three
, times in the reign of Nebuchadnezzar ; firft, in the fourth
year of Jechoiakim, A. M. 3397 ; fecondly, in the reign of
Jechoniah, A. M. 3405 ; and thirdly, in the ninth year of
Zedekiah, A. M. 3414.
[m] Chap. ii. 4 — 12.
[n] Chap. i. n.
God

478 OF THE BOOK OF HASAKKUK.
God had " eftablifhed for correction/' and to en
quire why the Almighty fhould fuffer his people to
be drawn up " like fifhes," by a nation that at
tributed its fuccefs to its own prowefs. He is then
commanded to write, on durable tablets, and in k-
gible characters, the vifion in which it is reveakd to
him firft, that the general expectation on which the
living faith of the juft was built, fhould furely come,
though it muft tarry the appointed time [oj ; and,
fecondry, the deftruction of that kingdom of Baby
lon which had " fpoiled many nations;" and of
, thofe evil Kings who gathered unto themfelves all
people with infatiable ambition, who fhould find that
graven images could not profit, but " the Lord"
only " in his holy temple." The Prophet having
heard the divine promifes and threats -in fearful re-
[o] Ch. ii. 3, 4. Rom. i. 17. Heb. x. 37, 38. The evan
gelical writer cites the paffage according to the Septuagint,
and the original will admit of the fame conftruction. Vid.
' Pearfon's Prolegomena to the Septuagint. Some Greek copies
read tit r.a,^n> f*«xpo», " for a long time :" the Vulgate has if,
adhuc tnfus procul, " the vifion is yet afar off." Bifhop
Chandler is of opinion, that the third and fourth verfes of
the fecond chapter fhould be thus tranflated: " And at the
end he fhall break forth, and not deceive : though he tarry,
expeft him, becaufe he that cometh will come ; he will not go
beyond (God's appointed time.) Behold, if any man draw
back, the foul of him (God) fhall have no pleafure in him : but
the juft fhall live by faith." And the learned Bifhop juftifies this
tranflation by/ a reference to the original and to feveral verfions.
Vid. Chandler's Defence, ch. ii. feci. 1. p. 162, 163, notes a.
The fpiritual deliverance included alfb the temporal reftoration
from the captivity. The Talmudifts apply the prophecy to the
advent of the Meffiah. 4 verence,

OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK. 479
verence, concludes his work with an enraptured
prayer: in which he fupplicates God to haften the
deliverance of his people [p]. He commemorates
in majeftic language, the mercies which their fore
fathers had experienced from God when he delivered
them out of Egypt, and conducted them through
the wildernefs : alluding to particular circumftances
with a defultory and irregular defcription, but with
all the enthufiafm of infpired piety; entering at once
into the midft of the fubject: reprefenting God's
defcent from Teman [ q_J" ; and now contemplating
" the tents of Cufhan [r] in affliction" and terror at
the approach of the Ifraelites; he finifhes, with a
declaration of entire confidence in God, which no
change of circumftance fhould fhake.

*er

[p] The ancient fathers explain this hymn as allufive to the
Meffiah; and the Romifh church has inferted into its offices,
fome parts of it as applicable to Chrift. Vid. Cyprian, cont.
Jud. Lib. II. Eufeb. Praepar. Lib. VI. c. xv. Auguft. de Trin.
Lib. XVIII. Hieron. Theodoret Cyrill. &c. Office da Ven-
dredi Saint, Antienne de Laudes,* a la MefTe.
[ cjj Teman was a part of Seir, or Edom. Paran according
to Ptolemy, was a diftridt towards the extremity of the wilder
nefs; a part of it was near Kadefli. Vid. Numb. xiii. 26. and
Patrick on Deut. xxxiii. 2.
[r] Cufhan may mean Chus, or Midian, a part of Arabia
Petraea, and of Arabia Felix. The Arabians were called Sce-
nitje, or dwellers in tents. The Midianites dwelt in part of
Cufh. The Prophet may allude to the circumftances defcribed
in Exod. xv, 15. Numb. xxii. 3. or xxxi. 2 — 11. or poffibly
to fome later victories. Vid. Judg. iii. 10. vii, 1. &c. Bochart.
Geogr. Sac. 213.
It

480 OF THE BOOK OF HABAKKUK.
It fhould feem from the title fs] prefixed, and
from the intimation fubjoined to the laft verfe of this
prayer, as well as from the word Selah which occurs
three times in the chapter, that the prayer was fet to
mufic ; and perhaps performed in the fervice of the
temple; and it was poffibly delivered in a kind of
meafure. The ftile of the whole book is poetical;
but more efpecially this beautiful and perfect ode ;
which is decorated with every kind of imagery and
poetical embellifhment [t]. Habakkuk is imitated
by fucceeding Prophets, and is cited as an infpired
perfon by the evangelical writers [uj.
[sj The meaning of the word Sigionoth is not known.
Some fuppofe it to imply an inftrument, fome a tune. In the
margin of our Bibles it is explained " according to the vari
able fongs or tunes, called in Hebrew Shigionoth." The
directions annexed to the end of the prayer might have been
added by Jofiah, if the prayer was written in his reign. The
meaning of the word Neginoth is uncertain. Vid. title to
Pfalm iv.
[tJ Lowth's PraleiS. Poet. 21. and 28. and Green on ch. iii.
3—10. [uj Heb. x. 37, 38. Rom. i. 17. Gal. iii. 11. Acts xiii.
41. comp. with Hab. i. 5. St. Luke cites this paffage according
to the Septuagint; and Pocock has fhewn that the original will
admit of the Apoftle's confirmation. Vid. Pocock in Porta Mofis,
c. iii. He derives the word Bagojim, which we tranflate,
" among the heathen," from the word Baga, which ftill fignifies
in the Arabic to be " proud or fcornful ;" and the word Tamah
may be tranflated, " wonder and perifh."

OF

t 481 ]

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
ZEPHANIAH.

THE Prophet Zephaniah informs us that he
was the fon of Cufhi; and that the word of
the Lord came to him in the days of Jofiah King Of
Judah. He is fuppofed to have been of the tribe of
Simeon ; and as he traces back his pedigree for four
generations [a], he was doubtlefs of noble birth
[b] : though not of the royal family, as fome have
imagined [cj from the refemblance between the
names of Hezekiah and that of Hifkia, from whom
the Prophet profeffes himfelf to have been a defcend
ant; the period which intervened between king He
zekiah and the time in which Zephaniah flourifhed,
being fcarce fufficient to admit of three intermediate
anceftors to the Prophet.
[a] Some of the Jews fanfied that thefe anceftors were all
Prophets. Vid. Hieron^ Com. in Sophon. init.
[b] Cyrill.
fc] R. Aben-Ezra.
I i Zephaniah

481 of the book of zephaniah.
Zephaniah begins with denouncing God's wrath
againft " the remnant of Baal [d], and the name
of the Chemarims [e] :" againft them that worfhip-
ped the hoft of heaven, and fwore by Malcham [f] ;
and therefore probably he addreffed thofe idolatrous'
priefts who were not yet extirpated by the religious
zeal of Jofiah [g] ; he foretold, alfo, the deftruction
of Nineveh, which happened A.M. 3392. And
upon thefe confiderations he may be fuppofed to have
[ d ] Baal was anciently a name applied to the true God,
and afterwards proftituted to many Pagan deities. The Baal
whofe worfhip Jezabel introduced from Zidon, was, accord
ing to Mede, a deified King of the Phoenicians. The name
was often given to the heavenly bodies when made the object of
idolatrous worfhip. Vid. Selden. de Diis Syris Syntag. II. c. i.
Mede, B. I. Difc. 42.
[e] The word Chemarim is tranflated idolatrous priefts,
2 Kings xxiii. 5. They were called Chemarim becaufe clothed
in black garments. Vid. Kimchi in loe. and in 2 Kings
xxiii. 5. Black was the cuftomary drefs of idolatrous priefts
in many nations. ' Vid. Horace, Lib. I. Sat. VIII. 1. 23, 24
Apoll. Rhod. Lib. III. 1. 861. Plutarch de Ifid. Apuleius. 1. 10.
Miles. The black ox, that reprefented Ofiris among the Egyp
tians, was covered with a black filk or linen garment. Vid.
Patrick in 2 Kings xxiii. 5.
[f] Malcham was the fame deity with Moloch, a god of the
Ammonites. Some fuppofe him the fame with Baal, as both
words fignify dominion; but the name particularly means the
fun. He was worfhipped by heathens with human facrifices, and
the Ifraelites dedicated their children to his fervice by making
them pafs througli the fire. Vid. Voffius de Orig. et Progref.
Idolat. Lib. II. cap. v. Patrick in Levit. xviii. 21. and Calmet's
Diff. fur l'Idolat.
[c] Ccmp. Zeph. i. 4, ; — 9. with 2 Kings xxiii. 5, 6, 12, &c.
prophefied,

Of the book of zephaniah. , 48J
prophefied before the laft reformation made by Jo
fiah, A.M. 3381. He may be conceived alfo to
have entered on his office towards the commence
ment of the reign of that monarch, who afcended
the thrdne A. M. 3364, fince he preceded Jere-^
miah, who began his prophetic miniftry in the thir
teenth year of Jofiah's reign. Epiphanius relates
that Zephaniah was born at Mount Sarabatha, or
Baratha [h].
Zephaniah and Jeremiah refemble each other fo
much in thofe parts where they treat ofthe idolatries
and wickednefs that prevailed in their time, that St.
Ifidore afferts, that Zephaniah was the abbreviatof
of Jeremiah; but he apparently prophefied before
Jeremiah 1 and the latter feems to fpeak of thofe
abufes as partially removed, which the former de-
fcribes' as prefent in the moft flagitious extent [1].
Zephaniah in this book appears to have con
fpired with Jofiah in his righteous defign of bring
ing back the people to the worfhip and obedience of
the true God* His firft chapter contains a general
denunciation of vengeance againft Judah, and thofe
[h] Dorotheus calls the place Sabarthara. Sarathafa is
mentioned in Jofhua, as a mountainous place iri the territory
of Reuben. Zeredatha, or Sarthas, is fpoken of in 2 Chron.
iv. 17. The place ef Zephaniah's nativity might be Saraa,
hear Efhthaol, in the tribe of Simeon, with the addition of
Beth, or Batha, which fignifies ah houfe; or place of re
fidence. [1] Comp. 2ephan. i, 4/5, 9. with Jerem. ii. 5, 20, 32*
I i 2 who

484 OF THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH.
who fuperftitioufly obferved the rites [k] of idolaters,
or violently invaded the property of others ; and he
declares that " the great day of trouble and diftrefs,
of defolation and darknefs," was at hand. -In the
fecond chapter, the Prophet predicts woe to the
Cherethites [l] ; the Moabites; Ammonites; and
iEthiopians [m j ; and defcribes the defolation of Ni
neveh, in terms wonderfully defcriptive [n]. Thefe
prophecies were chiefly accomplifhed by the con
quefts of Nebuchadnezzar [oj. In the third chap
ter, the Prophet returns to Jerufalem, arraigns her
pollutions, oppreffions, and corruption, which fhould
be punifhed in God's general vengeance ; and con-
[kJ Chap. i. 9. The Chaldee Paraphraft applies this verfe
to thofe who lived after the rules of the Philiftines. Vid. Bo
chart. Hierozoic. Lib. II. ch. xxxvi. If a fuperftitious prac
tice be alluded to, it might be derived from the blind prejudice
of the Philiftines. Vid. 1 Sam. v. 1 — 5. Traces of a fimilar
obfervance may be found among other nations. Vid. Juven-
Sat. VI. 1. 47. Tibul. Lib. I. Eleg. II. 1. 89, 90. Lucan.
Lib. II. 1. 359.
[lJ The Cherethites, or Cherethims, were the Philiftines
who bordered on the Mediterranean, called Cherethims. Ezek.
xxv. 16. and Kptfe, Cretans, in the Septuagint. They are fup
pofed to have been a colony removed from Crete to Paleftine.
Vid. Lowth and Calmet.
[m] Chap. ii. 12. comp. with Jerem. xlvi. 2, 9. Ezek. xxx.
4 — 10. Jofeph. Ant. Lib.. X. c. xi.
[n] Chap. ii. 14, 15. Some have, without fufficient reafon,
fuppofed that this prophecy is an interpolation from Jonah ; and
that it is alluded to in Tobit xiv. 4, 8. Vid. Whifton's Authen
tic Records, vol. ii. Append. IV.
[o] Prid. Con. in 21, 31, and 32, of Nebuchadnezzar.
3 eludes,

OF THE BOOK OF ZEPHANIAH. 485
eludes, as is ufual with the Prophets, with promifes
of a remnant who fhould truft in the Lord's name ;
of a return to his favour ; and of bleffings partly
completed by the Gofpel difpenfations, but finally to
be accomplifhed in the general reftoration of the
Jews [p]. In the fecond and third chapters, like-
wife, the Prophet magnifies his expreffions in fpeak
ing of temporal events to an importance which ac
cords only with the effects produced by the preach
ing of the Gofpel: in the deftruction of idolatry, and*
in the calling of the Gentiles to God's fervice [ qJ.
The ftile of Zephaniah is poetical; but it is not dif
tinguifhed by any peculiar elegance or beauty, though
generally animated and impreffive.
[r] Chap. iii. 8—20. [ o^] Chap. ii. 11. & ch. iii.

I i ,3 OF

[ 4?$ ]

=4=3

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
H A G G A I.

HAGQAI is generally reputed to have been
born in the captivity, and to have returned
from Babylon with Zerubbabel [a]. He is reckon
ed as the tenth in order among the Prophets, both
in the Hebrew and Greek copies ; and may be con
fidered as the firft of the three Prophets who flourifh
ed among the Jews after their return to their count
try. He appears to have been raifed up by God to
exhort Zerubbabel [b], and Jofhua the high-prieft,
the fon of Jofedech, to refume the work of the
temple : which had been interrupted near fourteen
years, in confequence of the intrigues of the Sama
ritans, and other obftrudtions excited to defeat the
edict of Cyrus [b]. He began to prophefy in the
fecond year of Darius Hyftafpes, A. M. 3484, about
[a] Ezra ii. 2. Cyrill. Lib. I. Adv. Julian. Epiphan. &
Doroth.

[ b ] Ezra v. 1 . "
[c] Ezra iv. 24.

fifteen

OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. 487
fifteen years after the foundation of the temple had
been laid [b]. The Prophets, after the captivity,
fometimes reckon by the dates of thofe fovereigns to
whom their country was fubjecbed.
Haggai begins with reprefenting to the people
who delayed by evafive procraftinations the work of
the temple, that they were more follicitous to build
and to adorn their own houfes, than to labour in the
fervice of God ; and informs them, that the fcarcity
and unfruitful feafons which they experienced, were
defigned as a punifhment for their felfifh diifegard to
the glory of the Lord. His earneft remonftrance
and exhortations appear to have produced their ef
fect ; and the Prophet in order to encourage thofe
who fondly remembering the magnificence of that
glorious ftructure which had been reared by Solo
mon, and who, perhaps, impreffed with the defcrip
tion furnifhed by Ezekiel [e], muft have lamented
[d] Ezra v. 1. The Darius of Haggai and Zechariah
could not have been Darius Nothus, who did not begin to
reign till above 100 years after the decree of Cyrus, and be
fore whofe time Zerubbabel and Jofhua muft have been dead,
as well as all thofe who remembered the temple in its firft
glory. But as the fecond year of Darius Hyftafpes corref-
ponds with the feventeenth year after the return from the cap
tivity, many might have at that time been living who remem
bered Solomon's temple which was deftroyed only fixty-eight
years before ; and we m^y allow the temple to have been re
built in about twenty years. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XI.
c. iv. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. Witfius Mifcel. Sac. Lib.
I. c. xx. Dr. Allix, with lefs reafon, contends for Darius
Ochus. £e] Ezek. xl,— xlviii. I i ¦* the

488 OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI.
the comparative meannefs of the prefent building :
declares to them in the name of the Lord, that the
glory of this latter houfe, though it might appear as
nothing in their eyes, yet fhould be greater than that
of the former ; " for thus faith the Lord of Hofts,
yet once it is a little while, and I will fhake. the
heavens, and the earth, and the fea, and the dry
land : and I will fhake all nations, and the defire of
all nations fhall come ; and I will fill this houfe with
glory, faith the Lord of Hofts [f], with a greater
glory," with a glory more apparent and manifeft
than was that clouded and fymbolical reprefentation
of the divine Majefty which overfhadowed the mercy-
feat in the old temple ; and which prefigured only.
that incarnate prefence of the Meffiah in whom
fhould " dwell all the fulnefs of the Godhead bodily
[gJ ;" that from this temple, though not decorated
with filver and with gold, yet there fhould appear
the Prince " of Peace [h]." Haggai, after again
recapitulating
[f] Chap. ii. 6, 7. comp. with Heb. xii. 26.
[c] Colo.f. ii. 9.
[h] Chap. ii. 6 — 9. comp. with Ephef. ii. 14. and Heb. xii.
26, 27. Some writers would reftrift this magnificent prophecy
to -an affurance of the riches and fplendor of the fecond tem
ple, maintaining that non, as the nominative cafe to a plural
yerb, ought to be tranflated defirable things. But things could
not with any propriety of fpeech be faid " to come ;" and
the Hebrew language admits of a plural fubftantive for the ex
preffion of dignity (as even in the fame word in Dan. ix. 23.)
It is not clear, indeed, that the word is plural, for the vau,
which conftitutes the plural termination of iwi, might per
haps belong to the next word, and fignify he; and the Chaldee and

OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. 48^
recapitulating the offences that had excited God's
anger, and which could not be atoned for till the
people fliould have repented of their neglect of God's
fervice-; and after confoling them with a promife of
future bleffings, concludes his fplendid prophecies,
which he was enabled to deliver by four diftinct re
velations [1], with predicting the important revolu
tions that fhould precede the great and final advent
of our Lord [kJ, typically defcribed under the name
of Zerubbabel ; when the kingdoms of the world
fhould become the kingdoms of the Lord, and his
Chrift [lJ : a confummation forefhadowed, perhaps,
in the temporal commotions which happened before
the firft advent of our Saviour [m].
These fignal predictions which obtained to Hag
gai the character of a Prophet [n], were fuppofed
and Vulgate render the word in the fingular number. Cer
tain it is, that neither Zerubbabel's, nor Herod's temple, did
ever equal that of Solomon in magnificence ; and the folemnity
with which this prophecy is introduced, as well as the gran
deur of its defcription, are hyperbolical in the extreme, unlefs
applied to the glorious prefence of the Meffiah. Vid. parallel
Text in Malac. iii. 1 . Chandler's Defen. feci. 1 . ch. ii. New-
come, &c.
[1] They are precifely marked out. Vid. ch. i. 1. ii. 1,
10. 20.
[k] Chap. ii. 22, 23.
[l] Dan. ii. 44. and Rev. xi. 15.
[m] As the Babylonian commotions under Darius; the Ma
cedonian wars, and thofe between the fucceffors of Alexander, or
the difturbances in the Roman empire, which fucceeded the death
of Cafar. Vid. Orofius, Lib. VII. c. xviii. &c.
[n] Ezra v. i. vi. 14. Heb. xii. 26. by

49O OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI.
by the Jews to refer to the time of the Meffiah [o].
Some modern objections have, indeed, been made
to the exact accompliffiment of that prophecy which
has been applied to Chrift : on a pretence that the
temple in which our Saviour appeared, was not in
reality a fecond, but a third temple, rebuilt by He
rod ; but it is certain, that whatever alterations and
additions were made by Herod to Zerubbabel's tem
ple, yet it did not conftitute an entirely new building
[p] ; and as Herod's ftructure was a gradual work
of forty-fix years, no nominal diftinction was ever
made between the two [ qJ ; both being confidered
in pGpular language, as the fecond temple ; and had
the Prophet adopted fuch diftinction, it muft have
led the Jews to expect a demolition of the temple,
inftead of ferving to confole them. It is likewife un
deniable, that the Jews did in confequence of this
prophecy, expect the Meffiah to appear in this tern--
pie [rJ, till after its deftruction by Vefpafian; they
then applied it to a third, which they expect at fome
future period.
The ftile of Haggai is reprefented by the learned
Lowth as entirely profaic [s] ; but Bifhop Newcome
[o] Aben-Ezra-ap Degling. Obfer. Sac. Par. III. Obferv. 20.
[pj Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XV. c. xv.
[ <U Jofeph. de Bel. Jud. Lib. VIII. c. xviii. Prid. Con.
An. A. C. 534.
[rJ Talm. Sanh. c. x. feci. 30. Maimon. in Sanh. Midr.
on Deut. xxxiii. 12. Ber. Ketan on Gen. i. Par. II. Ber.
Rab on Gen. xxvii. 27. Talm. Hier. tr. Beracoth in Lightf.
R. Sal. Jarchi. Book Caphtor, quoted by Grotius de Verit.
L. V.
[s] Prelect. Poet. 21. |ias

OF THE BOOK OF HAGGAI. 49I
has given a tranflation of it on an Idea that a great
part of it admits of a metrical divifion [t]. Haggai,
according to fome traditionary accounts, muft have
been converfant with metrical compofitions. In fome
manufcripts of the Septuagint, Vulgate, and other
verfions of the Pfalter, titles are prefixed to the
exxxviiith, cxlvith, cxlviith, and cxlviiith Pfalms [u],
by which they are afcribed tQ Haggai and Zechariah.
But as thefe titles are not in the Hebrew copies, and
as the dates and occafion of thefe feveral Pfalms are
in fome meafure uncertain, we can place but little
confidence on thefe infcriptions. It is, however,
very probable, that thefe Prophets were concerned
in the compofition of fome of thefe hymns, which
were produced after the return from the captivity.
Haggai was probably of the facerdotal race ; and
Epiphanius relates, that he was buried among the
Priefts at Jerufalem. He and Zachariah are faid to
have been the firft who fung the Hallelujah in the
temple. The Rabbins report, that they were both
of the great fynagogue [x], which they fuppofe to
have had its origin in the time of Darius Hyftafpes,
[t] Newcome's attempt towards an improved verfion of the
Twelve Minor Prophets.
[u] Prol. in Bib. Max.
[x] For this reafon Ifaac Abarbinel excludes them, as well as
Malachi, from the rank of Prophets, though their books were
admitted into the canon, and they were confidered as Prophets
by the Jews, and the" fynagogue was allowed to contain fome
perfons intitled to the rank of Prophets. Vid. Maimon. More
Nevoch, Par. I. c. lix. Vid. Aucfor. Beth Ifrael, ad Bava
Bathra, c. i. O F

C 492 ]

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
ZECHARIAH.

ZECHARIAH was the fon of Barachiah, and
the grandfon of Iddo [a] : the laft of whom is
fuppofed to have been a different perfon from the
Iddo mentioned by Nehemiah as one of the priefts
that returned from Babylon under the conduct of
Zerubbabel [b] ; but it is very poffible that Zecha
riah might have been of the facerdotal race; and
[a] Chap. i. l. Ezra v. i. vi. 14. where fon is put for de
fcendant, as is ufual in fcripture. Vid. Dan. v. 2. Matt. i. 1.
[ b ] Nehem. xii. 4. St. Jerom fays, that it was not doubted
that Iddo was the fame perfon with the man of God who was
fent to Jeroboam. Vid. 1 Kings xiii. 1, 2. 2 Chron. xii. 15.
but this was probably an error. It is certain, at leaft, that Ze
chariah could not be the grandfon of a man who lived above
400 years before he began to prophefy. It is doubtful whether
Iddo, the anceftor of Zechariah, is defcribed in this book as a
Prophet, for that title is ambiguoufly placed in chap. i. 1 . The
Septuagint and Vulgate apply the title to Zechariah. Za*api*»
¦ro» tb Baiax'9> mCl' A&3u, To? n>Kp!)1>j». when

OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 493
when releafed by the decree of Cyrus from the cap
tivity, in which he probably was born, have been
accompanied by his grandfather in the general refto
ration. No certain information can be collected con
cerning the time or place in which Zechariah was
born. Some writers relate that he was of the tribe
of Levi, and confecrated to the prieftly office [c] ;
and we are told that his body was found with a fa
cerdotal white robe at Caphar, or Capher [dJ, at
the extremity of the territory of Eleutheropolis ;
while by others we are informed that he was buried
at Betharia, in the land of Noeman, about forty fur
longs from Eleutheropolis [e] ; not to mention that
according to other accounts his remains were depofit
ed near thofe of Haggai at Jerufalem [f], and that
his pretended tomb is ftill fhewn at the foot of Mount
Olivet. But little reliance can be placed on thefe and
fimilar reprefentations, fome, or indeed all of which,
[c] Cyrill. Praf. in Com. in Zechar. Epiph. Doroth. &c.
[ d ] Sozomen-, who relates an idle tale concerning the mira
culous difcovery of Zechariah's body, in a perfect, ftate, at Caphar,
adds to the account, that an infant was found under the Pro
phet's feet, buried with the ornaments of royalty ; and that
about the fame time an apocryphal book was alfo found, in
which it was written, that the favourite fon of Joafh died fud
denly on the feventh day after that monarch had flain Zechariah,
and that Joafh confidering it as a judgment, ordered that his fon's
body fhould be buried with that of the Prophet. Sozomen.
Lib. IX. c. ult. Niceph. Lib. XIV. c. viii.
[e] Dorotheus.
[?] Epiphanius. have

494 0F TftE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.
have confounded the Prophet with other perforis
mentioned in the fcriptures. Sozomen imagined that
the Prophet was the fame perfon with Zechariah the
fon of Jeberechiah, the witnefs mentioned by Ifaiah
[g], and who appears to have lived in the time of
Ahaz, about A.M. 3262. Others by a great ana-
chronifm, make him coeval with Joafh [h], or Uz
ziah [i].
The author ofthe prefent work [k] was unquef
tionably a contemporary with Haggai; and began' to
prophefy two months after him, in the eighth month
of the fecond year of Darius Hyftafpes, A. M. 3484;
being commiffioned as well as Haggai, to exhort the
Jews to proceed in the building of the temple, after
the interruption which the work had fuffered. We
are informed by Ezra, that the Jews " profpered
through the prophefying [l]," and obeyed the in-
ftrudtiens of Zechariah, who Continued to prophefy
above two years ; the laft revelation of which the
date is fpecified in this book, having been delivered
in the fourth day of the ninth month of the fourth
year of Darius Hyftafpes [m] ; Zechariah therefore
probably fived to witnefs the completion of the tem
ple, which was finifhed in about fix years ; and hav-
[o] Ifaiah viii. z.
[h] 2 Chron. xxiv. 21. Epiphan. &c.
[rJ 2 Chron. xxvi. 5.
[k] Chap. i. 1. Ezra v. 1. vi. 14. Haggai i. I.
[l] Ezra vi. 14.
[m] Chap. vii. 1. The mOnth Chifleu correfponds with part
of our November and December.
9 'ng

OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 495
ing contributed either as a prieft, or a member of the
great fynagogue, as well as a Prophet, to promote
the welfare and interefts of his country, died in peace,
being probably a different perfon from the Zachariah
mentioned by Chrift [n ].
Zechariah, who certainly collected his own pro
phecies into their prefent form [o], is mentioned as
a Prophet by Ezra [p] ; and is cited as an infpired
writer by the facred penmen of the New Teftament
[ c^J. The minute accompliffiment of his own il-
[nJ Our Saviour, vid. Matt, xxiii. f 3 5. imputes to the Jews
the blood of Zacharias the fon of Barachiad : accufing then? of
having flain him between the temple and the altar. By this
martyr, however, was probably meant Zecharias, the fon of
Jehoiada, who is related in 2 Chron. xxiv. 21. to have been
flain by command of Joafh in the court of the Lord's houfe,
(which might be between the temple and the altar,) for it is not
conceivable that both Zachariah and Zechariah were flain in the
fame manner. It is probable, therefore, that the copyifts of St.
Matthew inferted Barachiah, (perhaps firft in the margin) think
ing that it muft have been the Prophet whofe writings were
extant. And this is confirmed, if we confider that Barachiah
is not mentioned in the parallel paffage of St. Luke. Vid.
ch. xi. 5. And St. Jerom affures us, that in a manufcript copy
of the Gofpel of St. Matthew, ufed by the Nazarenes, which
he obtained permiffion from the inhabitants of Beraa in Syria,
to copy, it was written, the fon of Jehoiada. Vid. Hieron.
in Matt, xxiii. & de Script. Ecclef. Jofephus relates, that
Zachariah, the fon of Baruch, was flain in the temple, but he
certainly means the contemporary of Joafh. Vid. de Bell-.
Jud. L. IV.
[o] Chap. i. 9. ii. 2.
[p] Ezra v. I. vi. 14.
[ qJ Matt. xxi. 4, 5. xxvi. 31. xxvii. 9. Mark xiv. 27.
John xiv. 15. xix. 37. Ephef. iv. 25. Rev.'i. 7. and the mar
ginal references in our Bib'le. luftrious

496 OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.
luftrious prophecies bears a fignal teftimony to the
truth of that infallible fpirit by which he was infpired.
He was fo diftinguifhed for the peculiar excellency of
his predictions, as to be ftiled the fun among the leffer
Prophets. It is, however, the fun fometimes clouded
by obfcurity. The enigmatical caft of his vifions,
which are of difficult interpretation, muft, indeed, be
fuppofed neceffarily to produce fome fhades. The
general defign of the work, however, is fufficiently
obvious ; and it is occafionally illuminated with the
brighteft and moft ftriking paffages.
The Prophet, in conformity -with his firft inten-
- tion, begins with general exhortations to his country
men : exciting them to repent from the evil ways of
their fathers, to whom the Prophets had vainly ad
dreffed their cry ; defcribes, as an interefting repre
fentation which he had beheld in vifion, angels of
the Lord miniftering to his will, and interceding for
mercy on Jerufalem, and the defolate cities of Ju-
dsea, which had experienced God's indignation
feventy years [,rJ : while other nations connected
with Judah were in peace. He announces God's
difpleafure againft the heathens who " had helped
[r] Chap. i. 12. Zechariah reckons thefe feventy years from
the befieging of Jerufalem in the ninth year of the reign of Ze
dekiah, and the tenth month, for which a folemn faft was kept
by the Jews. Comp. 2 Kings xxv. 1. with Zech. viii. 19. this
ends in the fecond year of Darius. If we reckon from the de-
ftruclion of Jerufalem in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the
feventy years will be completed in the fourth year of Darius.
Vid. Zech. vii. 1, 5. Prid. An. A. C. 518. forward

OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 497
forward the affliction" of the Jews, by endeavours to
impede the building of the temple ; and declares,
that the houfe of the Lord fhould be built in Jeru
falem, and Zion be comforted [s]. The Prophet
then proceeds figuratively to reprefent the increafe
and profperity of the Jews [t] ; promifing that God
fhould be unto them " a wall of fire ;" that he
fhould dwell in the midft of them, and the nations
to be converted to his fervice [u] ; that the high-
prieft fhould be reftored with his former fplendor in
the perfon of Jofhua, who is declared to be the type
[x] of that fpiritual fervant of the Lord who fhould
be called " the branch [v] :" become the chief cor-
ner-ftone of his church, and remove the iniquity of
the land, and the fuccefs of whofe government h
forefhewn under the promifed completion of Zerubba-
[s] Chap. i. 16, 17.
[t] Chap. ii. 4. comp. with Jofeph. B. Jud. V. 4. 2. Vi
tringa, &c.
[u] Chap. ii. 10 — 13.
[x] Chap. iii. 8. The word Mophet fignifies a wonder, or a
type. Vid. Ifa. xx. 3. Ezek. xii. 7. xxiv. 24. Chand. Def.
ch. iii. fed. 1,4.
[y] Chap. iii. 8,9. A title of the Meffiah, as defcending
from the ftock of David. Vid. Ifa. iv. 2. Jerem. xxiii. 5.
The Chaldee Paraphraft applies thefe texts to Chrift, who is
eminently called Qod's fervant. Vid. Ifa. xii. 1. xlix. 3. lii. 13.
Iiii. 1:. Ezek. xxxiv. 23. The Seventy tranflate the word
Tfemach here and elfewhere, Ak*1oA», the Eaft, or fun-rifing,
thence applied to Chrift. Luke i. 78. and tranflated " the day-
fpring." Hence, perhaps, the Jewifh prophecy mentioned by
Tacitus, (ut valefceret Oriens.) Vid. Tacit. Hift. Lib. V.
c. xiii. Grot, in loe. & ad Agg. ii. 8.
K k bel's

498 OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.
bel's defigns [z]. The Prophet then interweaves in
his difcourfe fome inftructive admonitions: unfolding
the ample roll of God's judgment againft theft and
perjury, and fuch ether prevailing v/ickednefs [a], as
had provoked God's former vengeance. He then
emblematically pourtrays the four fucceffive empires
that had been, or fhould be employed as minifters
of wrath [b]; and is empowered to foretel the efta
blifhment of the Jewifh government ; and to crown
the reprefentative of Chrift, who fhould be both King
and Prieft, with the emblems of civil and religious
authority united [c].
To the captives from Babylon, or other profeffors
of the Hebrew religion [d], who pharifaically [ob
ferved folemn fafts without true contrition, the Pro
phet recommends judgment, mercy, and compaffion
[e] ; and then addreffing himfelf to the Jews, he
promifes a return 'of righteoufnefs and favour to Je
rufalem-: affuring them, that the mournful fafts with
[z] Chap. iv. 9, 10.
[a] Chap. v. and Deut. xxvii. xxviii.
[b] Chap. vi. The chariots and horfes probably reprefent
the Babylonian, Perfian, Macedonian, and Roman empires. The
two brazen mountains may fignify God's immoveable decrees.
Vid. Pfa.-xxxvi. 6.
[c] Chap. vi. 10 — 15.
{d} Some have fuppofed that they who fent to pray before
the Lord, vid. ch. vii. 2. were Perfian officers of Darius. Theo
doret imagines, that they were Cutheans, or Samaritans. Others,
that they were diftant inhabitants of Judza ; but probably they
were Jewifh captives from Babylon. Vid. Calmet and other
Commentators. [eJ Chap. vii. 9, 10. which

OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 499
which they lamented its deftruction, fliould be con
verted into cheerful feafts ; and that the church of
the Lord fhould be enlarged by the acceffion of many
nations converted by means of the Jews [f].
The twelfth verfe of the eleventh chapter of this
bookj which exhibits a prophetic defcription of fome
circumftances afterwards fulfilled in our Saviour, ap
pears to be cited by St. Matthew as fpoken by Jere
my [g] ; and as this and the two preceding chap
ters, which are connected by a kind of- continuation,
have been thought to contain fome particulars more
fuitable to the period of Jeremiah, than to that of
Zechariah, or to the defign of his appointment [h] :
[f] Chap. viii.
[g] Matt, xxvii. 9, 10.
[h] Mede is of opinion, that the defcription of Tyre, in
chap. ix. 3. was not applicable to her condition after the de
ftruaion effected by Nebuchadnezzar ; but new Tyre might be
rifing into profperity in the time of Zechariah. The prophecies
in the ninth chapter againft Damafcus and the Philiftines, and
efpecially againft Afkelon, have been judged more defcriptive
of the defolation produced by Nebuchadnezzar, than of the
circumftances which refulted from the victories of Alexander.'
It may be obferved, likewife, that Affyria is threatened in
chap. x. 1 1 . though that empire was deftroyed before the time
of Zechariah. Affyria, however, may be put for Syria, or the
enemies of God in general. Some, alfo, apply the paffage in
chap. xi. 1 — 6. at leaft in the firft inftance, to the deftruc
tion of Jerufalem produced by the Babylonians ; though, per
haps, it may refer only to thofe calamitous circumftances
which occurred fubfequently to the time of Zechariah, as
under Antiochus or Vefpafian. Vid. 1 Mace. i. Jofeph. de
Bell. Jud.
K k 2 fome

500 OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.
fome learned writers have conceived-[i], that they
were written by the former Prophet ; that they differ
in ftile from the eight firft chapters [k], and have
been accidentally tranfpofcd, or joined to thofe of
Zechariah, from fimilarity of fubject. Other writers
are, however, of opinion, that St.. Matthew in the
place referred to, might allude to fome traditional
prophecy of Jeremiah ; or that the name of Jeremy
Was improperly added or fub ftituted by a miftake of
the copyift of the Gofpel for that of Zechariah [l] ;
and thefe writers' maintain, that the chapters con
cerned in this enquiry admit of a conftruction per
fectly confiftent with the time of Zechariah ; that
Zechariah in them defcribes the conqueft of Damaf-
cus, Tyre, and Sidon, and of the cities of the Phi
liftines, as effected by Alexander [m] ; the victories
of the Maccabees over the troops of Antiochus, who
was of Grecian defcent ; with future fucceffes to be
obtained by converfion to the true God, and deliver
ances fimilar to thofe from Egypt and Affyria [n] ;
[i] Hammond in Matt, xxvii. Mede, Book IV. Epift. 31,
& 60. Kidder. Demonft. Part II. c. iii. Randolph's Texts
cited in N. T. n. 28.
[k] Lowth's Prxleft. Poet. 21.
[l] Matt, xxvii. 9. One MS. the Syriac and Perfic verfions,
Si God. Verc. & Veron. in Blanchini Evan. quad, read J>« t»
wpopifta, without any name, as do fome of the fathers. St. Jerom
profeffes to have feen a book attributed to Jeremiah, in which
the prophetic paffage was contained.
[m] Chap. ix. 1 — 16.
[n] Chap. ix. 13. x. 10 — 11. that

OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. S01
that Zechariah then angry at the little effect pro
duced by his endeavours, denounces the future de
ftruction of Jerufalem, its temple [o] , and lofty
houfes ; and reprefents himfelf as breaking in vifion
thes fymbolical badges of his paftoral office, and as
affuming cc the inftruments of a foolifh fhepherd," to
forefhew the" cruelties which fhould be exercifed by
wicked rulers [p] ; interfperfed with, and adum
brated by which temporal promifes and threats, are
prophecies of Chrift ; who is fpoken of in the moft
ftriking manner, as with refpect to his lowly entrance
to Jerufalem " upon an afs, and upon a colt the fole
of an afs [ cl] ;" and his being valued at thirty 'pieces
of filver, which is typically forefhewn in a vifionary
reprefentation [rJ.
[o] Chap. xi. i — 3. Lebanon is fuppofed to mean the
temple with its cedar buildings. The Jewifh writers relate,
that before the deftrudtion of the temple, the doors, though
barred with iron, opened of their own accord. Vid. Jofeph.
de Bel. Jud. Lib. VII. c. xii. when R. Johanan, a difciple of
R. Hillel, directing his fpeech to the temple, faid, " I know
thy deftruction is at hand, according to the prophecy of Ze
chariah" (open thy doors, O Lebanon). And Tacitus gives
the fame account of the opening of the doors. Vid. Hift.
Lib. V.
[p] Chap. xi. 15 — 17. Bafnage's Hift. of the Jews, Book VII.
Prid. Con. Par. I. B. iii. Anno vi. Ptolemy Philometor.
£ qJ Chap. ix. 9. comp. with Matt. xxi. 2 — 9. where the
Evangelift, perhaps, refers likewife to Ifaiah Ixii. 11. Vid.
alfo, John xii. 14, 15. who cites the fenfe rather than the words
of the Prophet.
[r] Chap. xi. iz, 13. comp. with Matt. xxvi. 15. xxvii,
3—io.
K k 3 What-

T02 OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.
Whatever may be determined as to thefe three-
chapters, there is no fufficient reafon to fuppofe,
with fome commentators, that the twelfth, thirteenth,
and fourteenth chapters alfo, which conftitute a
diftinct prophecy, were written before the time of
Zechariah ; fince they contain nothing incompatible
with the period of that Prophet [sj. But at what
ever time they were written, they were unqueftion
ably the production of an infpired writer, fince they
are cited as fuch in the New Teftament [t]. They
contain prophecies which refer entirely to the cir
cumftances of the chriftian difpenfation. They be
gin with the affurance of fome final victories to be
obtained over the enemies of Jerufalem [u] ; they
defcribe the reftoration of the Jews, their converfion
and bitter compunction for having pierced the Mef-
[s] It has been fuppofed that the Prophet in chap. xii. n.
alludes to the mourning made for Jofiah, who was flain at
Megiddo. Vid. z Kings xxiii. 29. 2 Chron. xxxv. 22 — 25.
But Zechariah might fpeak of this mourning as proverbially
'forrowful, though it happened before his time. Some alfo
have imagined, that the prediction in chap. xiii. 2 — 6. was
uttered before the captivity, though the abufes of which the
final extirpation is there foretold, were not fo totally fup
preffed as to be unknown after the return from Babylon. The
Prophets likewife, in general, in their defcriptions of the final
reformation to be produced in the church, foretel the utter
deftrutfion of idolatry. Vid. Ifa. ii. 18. xxx. 22. xxxi. 7.
Hofea ii. 17. Micah v. 13.
[t] John xix. 37. Matt. xxi. 4, 5. xxvi. 31.
[u] Chap. xii. 1 — 9. comp. with Ezek. xxxvii. xxxix. and
P.ev. xx. g, fiah ;

OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH. 5°3
fiah [xj; their admiffion by baptifm to the privileges
of the Gofpel covenant [yJ ; and their deliverance
from the delufions of falfe prophets. The Prophet
then reverts to foreffiew the difperfion of Chrift's
difciples [z], and the prefervation of a fmall re
mainder of his converts, whofe faith fliould be tried
in affliction. In the laft chapter he reprefents the
deftruction of Jerufalem by the Romans [a J ; the
fubfequent difcomfiture of its enemies [b] ; and the
final and triumphant eftablifhment of Chrift's righ
teous kingdom, who fhould be King over the whole
earth [c]. The Prophet defcribes thefe particulars
with a clearnefs which indicated the near approach
of the events of which he fpeaks.
The ftile of Zechariah is fo remarkably fimilar to
that of Jeremiah, that the Jews were accuftomed to
obferve that the fpirit of Jeremiah had paffed into
him. He is generally profaic till towards the con
clufion of his work, when he becomes more elevated
and poetical. The whole work is beautifully con
nected by eafy tranfitions, and prefent and future
fcenes are blended with the moft delicate contexture.
Epiphanius attributes fome predictions to Zechariah,
[x] Chap. xii. 10,
[y] Chap. xiii. I.
[z] Chap. xiii. 7. comp. with Matt. ^xxvi. 31. and Mark
xiv. 27.
[a] Chap. xiv. 1, 2. that by Vefpafian. Vid. Eufeb. De-
monlt. j_ib. VI.
[b] Chap. xiv. 3.
[c] Chap. xiv. 8. and following verfe.
K k 4 which

5O4 OF THE BOOK OF ZECHARIAH.
which were delivered according to his account by
the Prophet at Babylon, and on the journey in his
return from thence ; but thefe are not extant in
fcripture, and are of very queftionable authority.
The Zechariah to whom an apocryphal book is at
tributed by fome writers, is fuppofed to have been a
different perfon from the Prophet, and according to
Fabricius, he was the father of John the Baptift [p],
[d] Athan. Synop. Fabric. Pfeudep. Script, vol. i.

©F

I $*$ 1

OF THE

BOOK of the PROPHET
MALACHI.

MALACHI was the laft of thofe Prophets
who flourifhed before the Gofpel difpenfation.
Some writers ftrangely imagined that Malachi was
merely a general name, fignifying the angel of the
Lord ; a meffenger, or Prophet, becaufe the title of
Malach-Jehovah, or meffenger of the Lord, was
often applied to the Prophets [a]. The Septuagint
verfion has rendered 'DN^ft, Malachi, his angel ; and
feveral ofthe fathers have quoted Malachi, under the
title of the angel of the Lord; and hence fome have
conceited that he was an angel incarnate, and not a
man [b]. Others have fuppofed that under the ap-
[a] IfaL xliv. 26. Haggai i. 13. Maimon. More Nevoch,
Par. II. c. xii. " Prppheta non raro vocatur Angelus."
[b] Origen. torn. ii. in Joan Hieron. in Agg. Praf. in Ma-
lach. & Epift. ad Evagrium. Tertull. cont. Judae. The fame idea
prevailed concerning Haggai ; the Baptift, &c.
, pellative

506 OF THE BOOK OF MALACHL
pellative name of Malachi, was intended Ezra [c] j
and have maintained that Malachi is not mentioned
among the Prophets in the book of Ecclefiafticus.
But it is, very certain, that Malachi was a different
perfon from Ezra. His work had a diftinct place in
the Hebrew canon; and in fact he is as much no
ticed by the author of Ecclefiafticus, as any of the
other minor Prophets : all of whom are celebrated
under one collective memorial [d]. The names of
the Prophets are very often expreffive of their office ;
and that of Malachi was probably affumed as de
fcriptive of his character [e], as he was eminently
diftinguifhed for the virtues of his mind, and for
the graces of his exterior form ; it being unqueftion
ably the appropriate name of an human Prophet.
Malachi is reprefented by fome traditionary ac
counts, to have been of the tribe of Zabulon, and a
native of Sapha [f] ; to have died young, and to
have been buried with his anceftors at Sapha: after
having affifted as a member of the great Synagogue
in the re-eftablifhment of order and profperity in his
country. Ufher conceives him to have flourifhed
.about A. M. 3588, which is about twenty years
[c] Abrah. Zacut. in Juchafin, David Ganz, Chald. Parap. ia
Malacji. Buxtorf. Tiberiad. c. iii. Hieron. Pra;f. in Malach.
Ifidor. &c.
[d] Ecclus xlix. 10.
[e] Some inventive writers abfurdly fay, that an angel vifibly
appeared to confirm immediately what the Prophet uttered. Vid.
Epiph. Doroth. & Chron. Alex.
[f] Or Sopha, or Supha, or Socha. Vid. Epiphan. Do
roth, &c. later

OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI. $OJ
later than the period affigned tq him by Blair [g].
But as it appears from the confent of all Jewifh and
Chriftian antiquity, that the light of prophecy exr-
pired in Malachi [h], we may fuppofe that the ter
mination of his miniftry coincided with the accom-
plifhment of the firft feven weeks of Daniel's pro
phecy, which was the period allotted for <c fealing
the vifion and prophecy [i]." This, according to
Prideaux's account, muft be affigned to A. M. 3595,
but according to the calculations of Bifhop Lloyd, to
A. M. 3607, twelve years later [kJ ; whichever
reckoning we may prefer, Malachi muft be admitted
to have completed the canon of the Old Teftament,
about four hundred years before the birth of Chrift ;
when the great defigns of Providence were com
pleted in the termination of the prophetic miniftry j
[g] St., Jerom makes Malachi contemporary with Darius
Hyftafpes. Vid. Hieron. Prasf. in 12 Proph, & Procem. in
Mal. Eufeb. Chron. Lib. II. Theodor. Procem. in iz Proph.
B,ut if we admit Blair's account, which gives Malachi the
higheft antiquity, he muft rather have been contemporary
with Artaxerxes Longimanus, or Darius Nothus. Vid. Auguft.
de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxvi. Clem. Alex. Strom, I.
Cyrill. Prsef. in Malach.
[h] Abraham Zacutus.in Juchafin. David Ganz in Zemach
David- Seder Olam Zuta. Maimon. Maffec. Sotah c. ult. Edict.
Bartiner. Gem. Sanhed. c. i. § 13. Cofri Maam, 3. § 39. R.
¦Tanchum. I Mace. iv. 46. ix. zj. Clemens Alex. Strom.
Lib. I. Juftin Martyr entertained a falfe notion that the
fpirit of prophecy did not ceafe till the Chriftian aera. Smith on
Prophecy, ch. xii.
[1] Dan. ix. 24.
[k] Preface to Nehemiah* p. 220, no^te t, and

508 OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI.
and when a fcheme of prophecy was unfolded which
ip its entire contexture was to be accommodated to,
ahd to characterize the Meffiah.
Malachi certainly prophefied fome time after
Haggai and Zechariah, for in his time the temple
was rebuilt and the worfhip re-eftablifhed [l] ; his
miniftry coincided with or fucceeded that of Nehe
miah. He cenfures the fame offences that had ex
cited the indignation of that "governor, and which he
had not been able entirely to reform : for Malachi,
fpeaking of God's fuperior kindnefs to the Ifraelites
above the Edomites, begins with declaiming againft
the priefts for their prophane and mercenary con
duct, and the people for their multiplied divorces
and intermarriages with idolatrous nations [m] ; he
threatens them with punifhment and rejection; de
claring that God would " make his name great
among the Gentiles [n]," for that he was wearied
with the impiety of Ifrael ; and thence the Prophet
takes occafion awfully to proclaim that the Lord
[lJ Chap. i. 7, 10, iz. iii. 10.
[mJ Mal. ii. 11. comp. with Neh. xiii. 23 — 27. and Mal. i.
10. iii. 8. with Neh. xiii. 10, 11.
[ n J Chap. i. 1 1 . The latter part of this verfe relative to
the Mincha, or bread offering to be generally offered up, was
confidered in the primitive church as an exprefs prophecy of
the chriftian facrifice in the Eucharift, of which the circum
ftances are defcribed under the typical rites of the Jewifh wor
fhip. Hence the words of the paffage were inferted into an
hymn in the liturgy of the church of Alexandria, which is called
the liturgy of St. Mark. Vid. John iv. 21, 22. Mede's Dif
courfes on the Chriftian Sacrifice, vol. i, B. II. p. 45 1 .
whom

OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI. S°9
whom they fought fhould fuddenly come to his tem
ple preceded by that meffenger who, like an har-
bringer, fhould prepare his way; that the Lord, when
he fhould appear, fhould purify the fons of Levi
from their unrighteoulhefs, and refine them as metal
from the drofs [o] ; that then " the offering of Ju
dah," the fpiritual facrifice of the heart, fhould " be
pleafant to the Lord," as was that of the Patriarchs,
or their uncorrupted anceftors [p] ; and that the
Lord would quickly exterminate the corruptions and
adulteries that prevailed. He proceeds with an
earneft exhortation to repentance: promifing high
rewards and remembrance to the righteous in that
laft day, when the Lord fhould felect unto himfelf a
peculiar treafure, and finally difcern between the
righteous and the wicked [qJ. Malachi concludes
with another affurance of approaching falvation to
thofe who feared God's name, from that " fun of
righteoufnefs which fhould arife with healing in his
wings ;" and render them triumphant: enjoining till
that day, an obfervance of the Law of Mofes : till
the advent of Elijah [r], the Prophet, whd before
[o] Chap. iii. I — 3. Ifaiah i. 25.
[p] Chap. iii. 4. " As in the days of old."
[ qJ Chap. iii. 16 — 18.
[r] Chap. iv. 5. John came in the fpirit and power of
Elias. Vid. Luke i. 17. and refembled him in office and cha
racter. Vid. Mark ix. 12. Ecclus xlviii. 10. The Seventy,
following the received Jewifh tradition, add " the Tifhbite."
In this fenfe John denies himfelf to be Elias. John i. 21. He
was not Elias himfelf, but another Elias, the antitype of the
firft. 6 the

510 OF THE BOOK OF MALACHI.
the coming of that " great and dreadful day of the
Lord, fhould turn the heart of the fathers to the
children, and the heart of the children [sj to their
fathers ;" who fhould produce an entire amendment
in the minds of the people. Thus Malachi fealed
up the volume of prophecy in the defcription of that
perfonage at whofe appearance the evangelifts begin
the Gofpel hiftory [t] ; and he who terminated the
illuftrious fucceffion of the Prophets, and predicted
the coming of the Baptift, was in an efpecial degree
entitled to a fhare of our Saviour's teftimony : who
declared, in terms which defined the period and ex
tent of prophecy, that " all the Prophets prophefied
until John [u]." Malachi is likewife elfewhere fre
quently cited as a Prophet by the writers of the New
Teftament [x1].
The ftile of Malachi has been reprefented as of
the middle kind ; it is not remarkable for beauty, as
he lived in the decline of the Hebrew poetry, which
decayed much after the Jewifh captivity.
[sj It is propofed to tranflate bil, al; not ' to,' but ' with.'
Vid. Exod. xxxv. 22. & Kimchi. And then the paflage means
not that Elijah fhould reconcile religious differences betiveen
intimate relations, but that he fhould produce a general reforma
tion. Vid. Arnald. in Ecclus xlviii. 10.
[t] Mark i. 1, 2.
[u] Matt. xi. 13. Luke xvi. 16. Janfen. in Ecclus xlviii. 2.
[x] Matt. xi. 10. xvii. 10 — 12. Mark i. 2. ix. 11, 12.
Luke i. 17. vii. 27. Rom. ix. 13.

PREFACE

[ 5" 1

PREFACE

TO THE

APOCRYPHAL BOOKS.
THE books which are admitted into our Bibles
under the defcription of Apocryphal Books,
are fo denominated from a Greek word, which is
expreflive of the uncertainty and concealed nature of
their original [a]. They have no title to be con
fidered as infpired writings ; and though in refpect of
their antiquity and valuable contents they are an-
[a] Apocrypha, from airoxpvifla, to hide. The word feems
to have been firft applied only to books of doubtful authority ;
or as it is ufed by Origen, to imply works out of the canon.
It was afterwards employed to characterize fpurious and per
nicious books. It has been thought, that books of doubtful
character were firft termed Apocryphal by the Jews, becaufe
they were removed airo t»;s xptiwlr,; from the ark of the cove
nant, where the canonical books were placed. Eufeb. Lib.
de Pond. & Menfur. p. 534; or becaufe fhut up from the
generality of readers, and concealed, as fome affert, in a cheft
of the temple. In the primitive church, fome of thefe books,
efpe'cially thofe of Wifdom and Ecclefiafticus, were imparted
to Catechumens, and all of them were allowed to be read under
certain reftriftions. Vid. Canon. Apoft. Athan. Synopf. nexed

£12 PREFACE TO THE
nexed to the canonical books, it is in a feparate
divifion : and by no means upon an idea that they
are of equal authority, in point of doctrine, with
them ; or that they are to be received as oracles of
faith; to fanctify opinions, or to determine religious
controversies. It is univerfally allowed, that thefe books were
not in the canon of the Jews, to whom alone " were
committed the oracles of God [b] ;" and, indeed,
that they were compofed after the clofing of the fa
cred catalogue ; though fome writers without a fhadow
of authority have pretended that fome of them, as
Tobit, Judith, Ecclefiafticus, Baruch, and perhaps
others, were received by the Jews into a fecond
canon [c], faid to be made by a council affembled at
Jerufalem in the time of Eleazar the high-prieft,
upon the occafion of fending, the feventy-two inter
preters to Ptolemy King of Egypt [d] ; and that the
reft were canonized by a third council, affembled in
the time of Sammai and Hillel; but of thefe coun
cils, the Jews, tenacious as they are of traditions,
have no account or memorial; and the books in
queftion were compofed after the ceffation of the
prophetic fpirit, by perfons who difplayed no cha
racters of infpiration ; and fome of whom feem to
[b] Rom. iii. 2. Jofeph. cont. Apion, Lib. I. Hieron. Prol.
Gal. Introduction, p. 8.
[c] Hence they are fometimes called Deutero-canonical by
the Romanifts.
[d] Genebr. Chron. Lib. II. p. 190. col. 2. and p. 284.
col. 1. Maldonate de Sacram. Pcenit. q, de Purgat. p. 145.
Serar. in Mace. Praeloq. iii. have

APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 513
have difclaimecl its pretenfions [e] ; and therefore
they were ranged by the Jews among the writings
which they termed Hagiographa, in an inferior fenfe
of that word [f].
Tobit and Judith were, indeed, fuppofed by the
Rabbinical conceits, to have been derived from that
lower kind of infpiration which was called Bath Col
filia vocis [g]. But this was an abfurd fancy, and
none of the books are cited either as prophetic or
doctrinal by our Saviour or his apoftles [h] ; and
though fome writers have pretended to difcover a
coincidence between certain paffages containedn
them, and others in the New Teftament, it will be
found that the evangelical writers on thefe occafions
only accidentally concur in fentiment or expref
fion with the authors of the apocryphal books ; or
that the refemblance refults from an imitation of
[e] 1 Mace. ix. 27. 2 Mace. ii. 30, 31! xv. 38.
J f] The later Jews efteemed fome, of the prophetical books to
be Hagiographa ia an higher fenfe of the word ; fuppofing them
to be derived from the fecond degree in their fcale of prophecy.
Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch. P. II. c. xiv. Huet. in Judith.
The word was, perhaps, firft intended to defcribe the unin-J
fpired productions of holy men; and afterwards improperly
applied to fanciful diftinftions of the facred books. Vid. Introd.
p. 10.
[gJ Preface to the Prophets, p. 320, note e.
j>] Index Teftimon. a ChAft. & Apoft. citat. ex. Vet, T. in
'fin. Bibl. vulg. edit. Sixt. V. & Clemen. VIII. Venet. 1616.
Catharin. opufc. de Script. Canon. Stapleton de Autor. S. Script.
Lib. II, c. iv. § 14. & Preface to the fecond book of Efdras,
which was written or interpolated after the publication of the
New Teftament. L 1 paffages

514 PREFACE TO THE
paffages in the facred writings of the Old Teftament,
which the evangelical and the apocryphal writers
might equally have had in view. But indeed, if any
occafional allufion, or borrowed expreffions could be
proved, they would by no means eftablifh the autho
rity of the apocryphal books ; which might be re
ferred to, as were other books by the facred writers,
without any defign to confer on them a charader of
divine authority [1].
It is certain, that long after the time of our Sa
viour, the Hebrew canon confifted but of twenty-
two books [k] ; and that at this day the Jews adhere
to the fame lift, though by feparating books for
merly united they increafe the number ; and it is not
probable, or confiftent with any authentic accounts,
to fuppofe, that at any time before or after Chrift,
the canon which the Jews fo religioufly refpected
fhould have been altered by them. It is not pro
bable that they fhould have admitted any addition
after the death of Simon the Juft, who was the faft
of the great fynagogue ; or that, if fuch addition had
been allowed, they fhould have expunged thefe
writings which contain nothing fo favourable to chrif
tianity as the prophetic books which they.hayc.fuf-
[1] 2 Tim. iii. 8. Heb. xii. 21. Jude, ver. 14, Origen,
Prol, in Cant.
[k] Jofeph. cont. Apion. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. III. c. ix.
R. Afarias in Meor Eaaim, p. 29, 141, 169, 175. Pv Gedaliah
Ben-Jechajah in Shalfhelefh Haccab. p. 68, 99, 104. R. Abrah.
Zachus in Juchafin, p. 1 36. R. David Gantz hi Tfemach Da,-
vid, Part II. p. 10. R. Menaffe Ben Ifrael de Greatione, Prob.
X. p. 45. 3 fcred

APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 51$
fered to continue inviolate. Had the books been
erafed before the time of Chrift, the facrilege muft
have excited his cenfures ; and fince the eftablifhment
of the Gofpel any endeavour to deface the canon muft
have been deteded and expofed.
These apocryphal books conftituted no part of
the Septuagint verfion of the fcriptures, as fet forth
by the tranflators under Ptolemy. It is fuppofed
that many of tbem at leaft were received by the
Jewifh fynagogue eftablifhed at Jerufalem, which
poffibly might have derived its origin from the period
of that tranflation [lJ. From the Helleniftic Jew3
they were probably accepted by the Chriftian church;
but by whomfoever, and at whatever time they were
communicated, it is certain that they were not re
ceived as canonical, or enrolled among the produc
tions of the infpired writers ; fince they are not in
any of the earlier catalogues [mJ ; and are excluded
from the facred lift by the fathers of the Greek and
Latin church, who flourifhed during' the four firft
centuries [n] j though they are often cited by them as
[l] Grabii Septuagint. Proleg. ad Lib. Hift. c. i. Prop. 24.
[ m ] Conftit. Apoft. Lib. II. c. lvii. Canon Apoft. Can. uk.
The prefent copies of the canons of the apoftles, which' include
the three books of Maccabees, are evidently corrupted, the ca
nons having formerly correfponded with the canon of the CouncU
of Laodicea. Vid. Zonar. in Concil. Laodic. Can. 59. Eufeb.
Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IV, c. xxv. Lib. V. c. xxiv. Lib. VI. c. xix.
Cofm's Scholiaft. Hiff. ch. iv. fed*. 45.
[n] Dionyf. Hierarch. Ecclef. c. iii. Melito, ap. Eufeb.
lib. IV. c. xxv. Orig. ap. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. VI.
L 1 2 c. xxv.

516 PREPACE TO THE
as valuable and inftrudive works, and fometimes
even as divine, and as fcripture in a loofe and popu
lar fenfe [o]. In the language of the primitive
church they were ftiled ecclefiaftical [p], as contra-
diftinguifhed from thofe infallible works which were
c. xxv. Demonf. Evang. L. VIII. Bafil in Orig. Philocal.
e. iii. Ruffin. Verf. Eufeb. Lib. VI. Tertull. cont. Marcion.
Carm. Lib. IV. c. vii. who reckoning Ruth and Lamentations
.feparately, makes the number twenty-four. Eufeb. Demon.
Evang. Lib. VIII. Athan. Epift. 39. Athan. Synopf. Hilar.
Prol. Exp'lan. in Pfalm. Cyrill. Catech. IV. Epiphan. Hares.
8. cont. Epicur. & Hasres. 76. cont. Anomacos, & de Pond. ,&
'Menfur. Bafil. Philoc. c. iii. Gregor. Nazian. de ver. &
genuin. Lib. S. Script. Amphiloc. Epift. ad Seleuc. Chryfoft.
Homil. IV. in Genef. & Homil. 8. in Epift. ad Hebrae. Hieron.
in Prolog. Galeat. in Lib. Solom. and Prasf. in Efdram, & in
"Paralip. Cofin's Schol. Hift. Canpn VI. fed. 73. Ruffin.
Symbol. Apoft, feft. 35, 36.
[o] Origen cites Tobit and the Maccabees as fcripture.
Lib. VIII. in Epift, ad Rom. de Princip. Lib. II. c. i. Ho
mil. 3. in Cant, as he does likewife the Shepherd of Hernias,
and the Book of Henoch, without believing them to be cano
nical in the ftrift fenfe of the word. Origen, indeed, be
lieved that the- Shepherd of Hermas was infpired. Vid. Enar-
rat. in Epift. ad Rom. p. 411. but this was his peculiar opinion.
Vid. Philocal. c. i. The fathers in general who cite it as
fcripture, ufe the ternv only in a popular fenfe. As Irenaeus
adv. Hasres. Lib. IV. & ap. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. L. IV. c. 8.
& Athanafius de Incarnat. verb. Tom. i. p. 55. who exprefsly
fays that it is not ftrittly canonical. Epift. Pafch. Tom. ii. p. 39,
, 40. So Eufebius quotes Jofephus and Arifbeas, as well as the
Maccabees. Vid. Praep. Evang. Lib. X. c. viii. Demonft.
Evang. Lib. IX. and X. Thus, alfo, Epiphanius calls the apof-
tolical conftitutions divine. Vid. Hasres. 8. and 10. Can. Lib.
y. c. v.
[p] Ruffin. in. Symbolum. canonized

APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 5l7
canonized as unqueftionably infpired, and alfo from
thofe erroneous and pernicious writings which were
ftigmatized and profcribed as apocryphal.
The ecclefiaftical books,' under which divifion were
contained other produdions befides thofe now termed
apocryphal, as the Shepherd of Hermas [ q_], the
dodrine of the apoftles [r], and the firft epiftle of
Clement [s], though confidered as human works,
and as fubordinate to the facred books, were never
thelefs approved and read by the church as capable of
furnifhing much inftimdion. The fathers quote them
as pious and venerable books and as defervedly held
in great eftimation : they fpeak of them in high and
hyperbolical terms, as facred, as bearing fome re
femblance to the infpired writings, but not as certainly
infpired, or as of fufficient authority in points of doc^
trine ; for thofe paffages which they are reprefented
to cfte from them as fuch, are cited in fpurious or
doubtful books, or from fimilar places in facred writ.
Abundant teftimonies have been produced to prove
that they were not received as canonical during the
four firft centuries ; and they have never been gene
rally admitted into the canon of the Greek church ;
nor were they judged canonical in the fame degree as
the Law and the Prophets, even in the Weftern
church, till the Council of Trent, in contempt of all
authority and confiftency, pronounced them fo to be.
[ oj Eufeb. Hift, Ecclef. Lib. III. c. iii.
[r] This book was probably the fame which is now called the
apoftolical canons. Vid. Athan. Epift. xxxix.
Js] Eufeb. Hill. Eccl. Lib. III. c xiv. Lib. IV. c. xxii.
hi 3 In

5^8 PREFACE TO TH;E
In the firft .general .council held at Nice, A. P. 325,
none of thefe books appear to have been admitted as
canonical [t] in any fenfe of that word ; and they cer
tainly were not received by the Council of Loadicea,
which was held about forty years afterwards, of
which [u] the canons were accepted into the code of
the univerfal church [x], and which acknowledged
precifely the fame books that we receive.
In the fifth century St. Auftin [y] and the Coun
tr] Cofin's Scholaft. ch. vi. feel. 54.
[u ] The Greek copies of this council reckon Baruch, the La
mentations, and the Epiftle, as compofing one canonical book
with Jeremiah ; and Athanafius and Cyril have been fuppofed to
have received Baruch as canonical. But Baruch is mentioned in
the catalogues referred to, not probably as the apocryphal book,
but for a more full defcription of Jeremiah's work, in which
Baruch is often mentioned, and in the writing of which he was
employed ; and the epiftle may mean that contained in the twenty-
ninth chapter of Jeremiah's book. Vid. Cofin's Schol. Hift.
ch. vi. feci:. 61. and Preface to Baruch.
[x] Concil. Caked. Can. 1. and Can. 163. Concil. Con
ftant. 6. in Trullo, Can. 2. This laft council confirmed alfo
the council of Carthage, which admitted the apocrypha; but
it muft therefore have confirmed that canon only as it ad
mitted them in a fecondary fenfe, otherwife it could not have
confirmed that of Laodicea, which reje&ed them as notequal.
Vid. Juftin. Novel. 131. Juftellus Praef. in Cod. Ecclef. Uni
verfal. [yj Auguft. cont. Epift. Gaud. Donat. cap. xxiii. Epift. 61.
ad Dulcit. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxxvi. Propter quo-
rundam martyrum paffiones vehementes atque mirabiles, qui an-
tequam Chriftus venillet in carnem ufque ad mortem pro lege Dei
certaverunt. cil

APOCRYPHAL BOOICS. $\$
cil of Carthage [z] appear to have admitted (rather
in deference to popular opinion, and in compliance
with that reverence which had arifen from ufe [a]),
moft of the apocryphal books [b] as canonical ;
meaning, however, canonical in a fecondary fenfe j
as ufeful to .be read ; and ftill with diftinction from
thofe facred and infpired books which were eftablifhed
on the fandion of the Jewifh canon, and on the tef
timony of our Saviour and his apoftles. After this
time, other fathers [c] and councils [d] feem oc-
[z] The forty-feventh canon in which thofe books are confe
crated, is erroneoufly attributed to the third council of Carthage,
which, as the titles fay, affembled in 397 ; for it muft have be
longed to a later council held during the time of Boniface, to
whom it is referred ; and it correfponds nearly with a canon
framed by an African council, held under the confulate of Ho-
norius XII. and Theodofius VIII. in 419, except that it receives
Baruch and Maccabees, which the latter omits. Vid. Cod.
Canon. Ecclef. African. Can. 24. & Binii, & Juftelli, not. in
Concil. Carthag. 3. Can. 47. 48.
[a] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxxvi. & c. xliii.
Epift. 9 and 10. ad Hieron. " Quia a patribus," (fays the canon)
" ifla accepimus legenda." Vid. Cofin's Scholaft. Hift. ch. vii.
not. 82.
[b] Neither Auftin, nor the canon attributed to this coun
cil, enumerate the fourth (that is, the fecond) book of Ef
dras, Baruch, nor the Prayer of Manaffeth; and the canon
omits the books of Maccabees. Vid. Juftellus in Notis a Can.
xxiv. [c] See alfo the fufpefted epiftle of Innocent I. ad Exuper.
and the decree attributed to Gelafius, ad omnes Epifc. in Can.
Vet. Ecclef. Rom. Edit. Par. 1609. Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. c. i.
& Procem. Sap. & Ecclus.
[d] Sum. Caranze in Decret. 7. Concil. Florent. k Cofin's
Scholaft. Hift. ch. xvi. n. 159. The council of Florence was
L 1 4 not

540 preface to the
cafionally to have confidered thefe books as canonical,
and inferior only to the facred writings ; but always
with diftirtdion, and with exprefs declarations of their
inferiority when that queftion was ftridly agitated
[e] ; till at length the Council of Trent, notwith
ftanding the teftimony of all Jewifh antiquity, and
contrary to the fenfe ofthe primitive church, thought
fit to pronounce them all, (except the prayer of Ma
naffeth, and the third and fourth books of Efdras
£f],) together with the unwritten traditions relative
to faith and manners, -as ftridly and in every refpeft
canonical, and of the fame authority as thofe indubi-
tate books which had been copied from the Jewifh
into the Chriftian canon ; and received the atteftation
of Chrift and his apoftles : of which the infpiration
was manifefted by the charader of their compofers,
and proved by the accomplifhment of thofe prophe
cies which they contain [g].
This canon was confirmed by fevere anathemas
£h] againft all who fhould rejed it. And from this
not properly oecumenical ; the canon which reprefents the apo
cryphal books as infpired is probably a forgery, as it is only in
-the epitomes.
[e] Cofin's canon of fcripture: where this is prpved by num
berlefs references to the authors who flourifhed from the firft ages
ofthe church, to the middle of the fixteenth century. Vid. alfo,
Raynold's Cenfura Apocryphorum.
[f] Bib. Sac. Sixt V. & Clement. VIII. Juffu edita Juxt.
decret. Concil. Trid.
[g] " Omnes Libros, &c. pari pietatis affeftu ac reverentia
fiifcipit & veneratur." Concil. Trident. Seff. 4.
[h] " Siquis autem libros ipfos integros ' cum omnibus fuis
partibus, &c. pro facris k canonicis non fufceperit, Anathema- fit,"

apocryphal books, 521
time the Roman Catholics have endeavoured to main-
fain the canonical authority of thefe books, though
fheir moft itrenuous advocates are obliged to allow
that they were not received into the canon of Ezra,
They are compelled to yield a fuperiority as to ex
ternal fandions, to thofe uncontroverted books which
are exclufively canonized in the earlieft and moft
authentic catalogues of the chriftian church [1] ; and
labour to defend the decifion of the Council of
Trent, as to the apocryphal writings, by appealing
j:o the authority of preceding councils, of which the
canons were never generally received, and which
admitted the contefted books as canonical only in a
fubordinate and fecondary fenfe. It is therefore upon
the moft juft and tenable grounds that our church
has framed her fixth article, where in agreement
with all Proteftant churches fhe adheres in her ca
talogue to thofe writings of which there never was
any doubt; and agreeably to the dodrine of the
four patriarchal churches [k], as recorded by Cyril,
Athanafius, Anaftafius, and Gregory Nazianzen, re-
jeds thofe books which are ftiled apocryphal in our
Bibles, though fhe read them, as St. Jerom ob-
ferves, did the Weftern church [lJ, " for example
fit." Vid. Concil. Trid. Seff. 4. k in Bulla P. Pii. IV. fup.
forma Juram. Profeff. fid.
[1] Sixt. Senens. Bib. Lib. I. fed. 1. Bellarm. de Verb.
Dei, c. x. Seel, itaque, c. xiv. feci. 1.
[k] Thofe of Jerufalem, Alexandria, Antioch, andConftan-
tinople. [l] Hieron. Prol. in Lib. Solom. ad Chrom. & Heliod. of

£22 PREFACE TO THE
of life, and inftrudion of manners;" and it muft be
confeffed in general, that notwithftanding fome paf
fages of exceptionable tendency, and fome relations
of improbable circumftances, they are books en
titled to great refped : as written by perfons who
being intimately converfant with the facred writings,
had, as it were, imbibed their fpirit, and caught
their pious enthufiafm. Whoever reads them with
attention, muft occafionally be ftruck by the fplendid
fentiments, and fublime defcriptions which they con
tain. They fometimes likewife prefent us with paf
fages borrowed from the facred writings, and with
the fineft imitations of infpired eloquence ; they in
clude perhaps fome fcattered fragments of divine wif
dom, and fome traditional precepts derived from
men enlightened by a prophetic fpirit. They fome
times illuftrate the accomplifhment of prophecy; and
throw light on the fcriptures by explaining the man
ners, fentiments, and hiftory of the Jews. They
bear then an indired and impartial teftimony to the
truth of our religion ; they are venerable for their
antiquity ; recommended by long eftablifhed appro
bation, and in fome meafure confecrated to our re
gard by the commendations of the church, and by
being annexed to the infpired writings. Where they
are defedive, they may have been perhaps injured or
corrupted by fubfequent additions, as not being
watched over with fuch religious care as the facred
books. It may be added alfo, that many of thofe
pafTages which appear to have a bad tendency, are
capable of a good conftrudion, and that, perhaps, fome

APOCRYPHAL BOOKS. 523
fome blemifhes may be attributed to our tranflators,
who in rendering the apocryphal books, have been
accufed of much careleffhefs [mJ. They who are
difpofed to profit by their perufal will find it not dif
ficult by the light of the infpired books, to difcri-
minate and feled what is excellent and confiftent with
truth, and to rejed fuch objedionable particulars as
prove them to be the produdion of unafufted, and
fometimes xniftaken men.
[m] The learned Du Port, then Greek Profeffor at Cam
bridge, was among the feven able perfons employed under King
James; but though his work has much merit, it is very often
faulty and imperfecl. The tranflators feem to have attributed too
little confequence to the apocryphal books,- though Dr. Geddes
affirms, that the apocryphal books are tranflated better than the
reft ofthe Bible, and attributes it to the tranflators not having
been cramped by the fathers ofthe Mafora.

OF

[ 524 ]

OF THE

FIRST BOOK of ESDRAS.

THE Firft Book of Efdras, or Ezra [a], is
generally fuppofed to have been the work of
fome Helleniftic Jew. It is uncertain at what time it
was compofed ; the particulars contained in it are re
lated by Jofephus; it was therefore probably written
before the time of that hiftorian. The book, though
in its ftile it has much of the Hebrew idiom, was
probably never extant in that language [b] ; at leaft
it certainly was not admitted into the Hebrew canon,
It was annexed, however, to fome copies of the
Septuagint [c], and placed in fome manufcripts be-
[a] The word is written &~\\s in the Hebrew, and E&aj iri
the Greek.
[b] Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. c. ii.
[c] It was not in any of the Greek manufcripts ufed by the
editors of the Complutenfian Bible ; but it was found in fome
Greek copies when Aldus was printing his Septuagint at Venice.
It was publifhed from a manufcript in the library of St. Viclpr,
at Paris, by Robert Stephens, as alfo in the London Polyglot.
There is a Syriac verfion of this book. fore

OF THE; FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. $2$
fore the book of Ezra [d], that of Nehemiah being
inferted between the two. Standing in that order,
it was called the Firft Book of Ezra, and the authen
tic work of Ezra, together with that of Nehemiah,
which feems to have been joined with it, was called
the Second Book of Ezra [eJ. This arrangement
was probably adopted in confideration of the chro
nological order of the events defcribed in the books
refpedively [f]. In fome Greek editions it is, how
ever, placed with more propriety as to its charader,
between the Song of the Three Children, and the
Wifdom of Solomon [o].
As this book was inferted in fome copies of the
Septuagint, it was read in the Greek church; and
the Council of Carthage, which canonized the vulgar
tranflation made from the Septuagint [h], appears
to have admitted this book, together with other fpu
rious additions, as canonical [i], in that extended
acceptation of the word which implied only, worthy
to be read; St. Auftin, likewife, confidered it as
[d] Luc. Brug. in 3 Efdras.
[e ] Bellarm. de Verb. Dei, Lib. I. c. xx. feci, ad de.
[f] It ftands in the fame order in the Alexandrian code, and
in the Syriac verfion.
[g] As in the Frankfort edition of 1597, and in that of Bafil
of 15 1 8. The Latin manufcripts vary. In fome it is placed
after Nehemiah, and called the Second Book of Ezra. Vid,
Calmet Differt. furle Troifieme Livre d'Efdras.
[h] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XIII. c. xxiv.
[1] See the forty- feventh canon improperly affigned to the
third Council of Carthage, but belonging to one held in a later
period. Vid.. Preface to Apocrypha, p. 518, note z. canonical

526 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESdRAS.
canonical in the fame fenfe : that is, as an ecclefiaf-
tical book, attributed to Ezra; and which might
even be thought to contain a prophetic paffage, if
by truth [k] defcribed as conquering all things,
fliould be underftood Chrift. The book is alfo cited
by others of the fathers as a work entitled, the Firft
Book of Efdras : as afcribed to him, and as a re-
fpedable work [lJ ; but never as of equal authority
with the canonical books [m]. St. Jerom without
fcruple pronounced this and the following books to
be vifionary and fpurious [n] ; and it was rejeded
even by the Council of Trent, though it was fuffered
to continue in the printed editions as the fecond
or third book of Ezra, till the publication of the
Bible by Sixtus the Fifth, when it was placed apart
from the canonical books [o] ; and notwithftanding
Genebrard [p] ftill maintained its authenticity, the
Romanifts in general confider it as apocryphal. It
[kJ Chap. i. 38. & Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII.
c. xxxvi. [lJ Cyprian Ep. 74. ad Pompeian. Clemens Alex. Strom.
Lib. II. Juftin Martyr Dial, cum Tryphon, p. 297. Bafil
Epift. ad Chilon. Athan. Orat. III. cont. Arian. Auguft. de
Docl. Chrift. Lib. II. c. viii.
[ m ] Joh. Driedo in Cat. Script. Lib. I. c. iv. ad Diffic. 4.
[n] Hieron. Epift. ad Domnion. k Rogatian. Nee Apo-
cryphorum tertii k. quarti (Efdrae) Somniis delecletur, fays
Jerom. [o] In fome old copies of the Latin Bibles, this and the fuc
ceeding book, as alfo the Prayer of Manaffeth, were marked
with a non legitur : as an intimation that they were not to be
publickly read in the church.
[p] Genebrard in Chron. ad Ait, 3730, p. 95,96. certainly

OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. 527
certainly could not have been written by Ezra, whofe
authentic work it contradids in many particulars;
and it has no pretenfions to be revered as the pro-
dudion of an infpired perfon, although great part of
it be extraded from the facred writings.
The name of Ezra was at all times particularly
reverenced by the Jews, who were accuftomed in
honour of his memory to remark, that he was worthy
that the Law fhould have been given by his hands
unto Ifrael, if Mofes had not been before him. In
confequence of this reputation, numberlefs fpurious
works were publifhed at different times under his
name; and however they might at firft, whether
produced before or after Chrift, have borne the pal
pable marks of forgery, were yet received by the
credulous and unlearned. If the boldnefs of the im-
pofture provoked oppofition, this was foon wearied
and forgotten ; and the books gradually rofe into re
putation under the fandion of a great name [ c^.].
The Firft Book of Efdras includes a period of
about ninety years. The fhort hiftorical fketch of
t <0 Befides the books afcribed to Ezra in our Bibles, and,
other writings before mentioned, vid. Preface to Ezra, p. 211,.
Picus Mirandula profeffes to have read the Cabala of Efdras.
written in feventy books, and informs us, that they contained
many myfteries relating to Chriftianity. Sixtus the Fourth is
faid to have projected a tranflation of them, but only three were
finifhed at his death ; the learned difpute concerning the character,
and even the exiftence of thefe books. Vid. Mirand. Apol.
p. 82. 2 Efd. xiv. 46. Fabricii Codex Pfeudepig. Petr. Ctinit
de Honeft. Difcip. Lib. XXV. c. iii. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Lib, II.
JSpiphan. de Pond, k Menf. § jo. the

528 OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS.
the time which intervened between the celebration of
the Paffover by Jofiah, and the captivity of the Jews,
as furnifhed in the firft chapter of this book, is taken
chiefly from the thirty- fifth and thirty-fixth chapters
of the Second Book of Chronicles. The ftrange
but lively ftory of the three competitors for the fa
vour of Darius, which appears to have been intro
duced to recommend and embellifh the charader of
Zerubbabel [r], might have been founded on fome
popular traditions, as it is related by Jofephus ; but
it is certainly fabulous in moft of its particulars, and
could not concern Zerubbabel, who at the period
affigned was at Jerufalem [s].
The reft of the work, which is chiefly compiled
from the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, is disfigured
by many improbable and contradidory additions, and
by many circumftances which appear to have been
defignedly introduced in order to difguife and vary
the relation (jr]. It contains,* perhaps, nothing ex
ceptionable with refped to dodrine or precept ; but
its accounts are fo incorporated with falfehood, that
the compilers of our Liturgy have not appointed any
feledions from it to be read in the fervice of the
[r] Chap. iii. iv. v.
[s] Ezra ii. 2. Jofephus erroneoufly fays, and perhaps on the
authority of this book, that Zerubbabel returned from Jerufalem
to Darius. Vid. de Antiq. Lib. XI. c. iv. ,
[tJ Comp. chap. ii. 15. with Ezraii. 2. Chap. iv. 48. with
Ezra v. 13. Chap. iv. 43, 46. with Ezra vi. 1. Chap. iv. 44,
57. with chap. vi. 18, 19. and Ezra i. 7^11. Chap. v. 40.
with Nehem. viii. 9, Chap. v. 47, 48. with Ezra i. 1 — 3, &c.
church*

OF THE FIRST BOOK OF ESDRAS. 529
church. Many particulars, indeed, interfperfed thro'
the book, and too numerous here to be produced [u],
are utterly inconfiftent with probability, chronology,
and the relations of fcripture. From fiditious cir
cumftances, however, fome inftrudion may be drawn,
though we cannot but regret that the author of the
fine encomium on truth [x], fliould have fo departed
from its principles as to write under the affumed
charader of infpiration.
[u] Calmet & Arnald.
[x] Chap. iv. 38 — 40. The learned Thorndike by truth
here fpoken of, underftands the truth which God by his law had
declared to his' people, and fuppofes Zerubbabel to have intend
ed to encourage the King to protecl it by countenancing the
building of the temple. Vid. Thorndike's Epilogue, ch. xxxiv.
p. 212.

Mm op

[ 53° ]

OF THE

SECOND BOOK of ESDRAS.
SOME writers have conceived that this work was
compofed by the fame perfon that affumed the
charader of Ezra in the preceding book; but though
it be equally uncertain by whom and at what period
each book was produced, there is reafon to think
that they were not both derived from one perfon,
fince they differ in ftile, and have no connedion or
agreement with each other. Each author, however,
has borrowed the fame title ; and each has inferted a
genealogy in the charader of Ezra : with fome dif
ference, indeed, in the accounts, and both with vari
ation from the lineage furnifhed by the infpired
writer in his authentic book [a].
[a] The accounts in i Efdras viii. i, 2. and in 2 Efdras i.
1 — 3. differ from each other, and both difagree with the gene
alogy inferted in Ezra vii. 1. They were, however, all defigned
for the fame perfon, as is evident from the general agreement
of the fix firft names ; and probably the variations arife only
from accidental corruptions, or from different modes of cal
culation ; indeed, the author of the Second Book of Efdras
enumerates three names more in this genealogy than do the
authors of the preceding books.
TH£

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 53 1
, The Second Book of Efdras is not now to be
found in any Hebrew or Greek manufcripts. It is
fuppofed to have been originally written in the Greek-
language ; but is extant only in a few Latin copies
[b], and in an Arabic verfion [e]. It is generally
'maintained that the work could not have been the
genuine produdion of Ezra, as it feems to bear fome
intrinfic marks of -having been compofed after his
time, and, indeedj after the period at which the pro
phetic fpirit is reputed to have ceafed [d] ; notwith
ftanding alfo the fine fpirit of piety that pervades the
work, and the authors confident affumption of the
prophetic charader, his pretenfions to infpiration
[ b ] Calmet ftates that it was firft printed iri the Latin edition
©f Nuremberg, publifhed in 15 21. Differt. fur le Quatrierrie
Livre d'Efdras, note l.
[c] In the Arabic. verfion it is called the Firft Book of Ef
dras. This verfion differs much from the Latin copies, and has
many interpolations ; one particularly concerning the intermediate
ftate of the foul.
.- [2] Chap. ii. 39, 40. The author'in the laft of thefe verfes
fpeaks of Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi ; though the two
former did not probably flourifh as Prophets till after the re-
tprn from the captivity, ahd Malachi hot till above 100 years
after the decree of Cyrus. Ezra, indeed, if he had been the
author of the book, might, as fpeaking prophetically, have
mentioned even in the captivity thefe Prophets by name ; but
befides other reafons that tend to prove that the work- was writ
ten after his .tirhe, it may be remarked, that the Prophets are
here enumerated, riot according to the order of the Hebrew
canon, but according to that of the Septuagint. Vid. alfo, chap.
xv. 46. where Afia is mentioned, a name probably not known
in the time of Ezra.
M m 2 have

$22 OF THE SECOND BOOK. OF ESDRASj
have not been admitted. It is not, indeed, probable
that an infpired writer would have claimed a name to
which he was not entitled ,- or have interfperfed in
his work thofe extravagant coilceits and apparent in-
confiftencies which occafionally disfigure and degrade
this produdion. The bookj it is true, contains
much fublime inftrudion : many animated exhorta
tions to righteoufnefs, and many fentiments not un
worthy of the facred fource from whence they are
related to have flowed. It reprefents Ezra as com
manded to remonftrate with the people for their dif-
obedience ; and on their contempt of God's words,
as addreffing himfelf to the heathen, whom he en
joins to prepare for that " everlafting light" which
fhould fhine upon them. It defcribes the Prophet as
pleading with' fbbmiffive piety to remove the afflic
tions of his captive countrymen ; as anxioufly en
quiring why the chofen people of the Almighty fhould
fuffer feverer punifhments for their fins than the hea
then for whom they were feemingly rejeded [e] ;
as lamenting the effeds of entailed corruption [f] ;
as bewailing the evil propenfities and condition of
men, of whom a few only appear to be marked out
and diftinguifhed as objeds of divine favour [cj.
He is faid to have been honoured with vifions and
[n] Chap. iii. 28. iv. 23 — 31.
[f] Chap. iii. 20 — 22. iv. 30-^32. vii. 48. The author
fpeaks, indeed, of the extent of Adam's tranfgreflion with a
clearnefs that argues an acquaintance with the evangelical ac
count of its effecls.
[g] Chap. iv. 12. vii. 4 — 54. ix. 15, 16. divine

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. £33
divine communications in anfwer to thofe enquiries.
The boafted revelations are defcribed in a lofty and
prophetic ftile : in a manner fimilar to that adopted
by Daniel, Ezekiel, and St. John. They difcoun-
tenance with becoming dignity the prefumptuous
curiofity and complaints of man [h] ; contain very
elevated defcriptions of God's attributes [i] ; and
reft the equity of his proceedings on the projeded
decifions of a future judgment. They impart confo-
latory affurances of returning favour, and reprefent in'
an interefting vifion, Jerufalem re-eftablifhed on its
foundations [k]. The angel likewife, in thefe pre
tended vifions, reveals many ftriking prophecies rela
tive to the Meffiah, [l J ; the deftrudion ofthe Roman
empire [m] ; and the fate of Egypt; of Babylon [n], and
[hJ Chap. iv. 5 — 11. comp. with John iii. 12.
[1] Chap. vii. 62 — 70. viii. 20 — 23, 39. xvi. 54—63.
[k]. Chap. ix. x. 27. &c.
[l] Chap. ii. 34 — 48. & infra, p. 540, & notes.
[m] Chap. xi. xii. The prophecies relative to the eagle
might have been written by an uninfpired writer acquainted with
Daniel's book, either before or after Chrift. The prophecy con
cerning the lion, which denounced deftruclion to the eagle, is
faid by the Arabic tranflator, to be " a prophecy of the Lord
the Meffiah." Vid. chap. xi. 3-7.
[n] Chap. xv. xvi. In fome ancient copies thefe two lafl
chapters feem to conftitute a diftinft book, called the Fifth
Book of Efdras, and divided into feven chapters. Lee thinks
that they have all the charadlers of antiquity, and refemble
the prophetic ftile. They fpeak. of the deftruclion of nations,
and of fome general troubles from which the faithful only
fhould be delivered. The twenty-ninth -and following verfes
of the fifteenth chapter, have been thought to relate to the;
M m 3 viilories

534 °F THft SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS.
and of other nations, befides others of very obfcure
and uncertain interpretation [o].
So far there appears nothing incompatible with
the charader of Ezra ; and we fhould be inclined to
confider the work' as his produdion, or at leaft as a
compilation of fome fragments written by him, were
it not for the deficiency of external fandions ; and
for the intermixture of particulars feemingly incon
fiftent with the charader and period of that Prophet.
The author's pretenfions, indeed, to infpiration, as'
well as to the name of Ezra, are deftroyed by many
falfe and abfurd particulars [p], which are fo incor
porated with the work, that they cannot always be
confidered as fubfequent interpolations. The book
was never admitted into the Hebrew canon"; and
there is no fufficient authority to prove that it was
vidlories of the Saracens ; and Lee by dragons underftands
thofe who lived in dens and caverns of the earth. Vid. Lee,
p. 45 and 156, \vith note annexed to Fifth Book of Efdras,
None of the pretended prophecies, however, in this book, are'
fo clear and original (except thofe relating to the Meffiah, which
were probably written after the time of Chrift) that they might
not have been framed by an uninfpired writer converfant with'
the prophetic books,
[o] Chap. v. 1 — 13. vi. 7 — 28.
[pj Chap. iv. 45 — 52. v. 5. vii. 11. xiii. 40 — 47. Bafnage
Hift. of the Jews, B. VI. ch. ii. Chap. xiv. 10—12." St.
Cyprian and others, who believed that the end of the world'
was near at hand in their time, are fuppofed to have derived the
notion from this and other paffages in this book. Vid. Cyprian
ad Demetrian. George Hake will on Providence, London,
1*27. fol. Freinfhem Orat. VII. and IX. See other idle tales
i» chap. xiv. 21 — 48. ever

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 53$
ever extant in the Hebrew language [ oj. Its pre
tended prophecies are not produced in evidence by
Chriftian writers, ftriking as fuch teftimony muft
have been, if genuine ; and the book was never
publickly or generally acknowledged either in the
Greek or Latin church [r] ; nor was it ever inferted
in the facred catalogue, by either councils or fa
thers ; but is exprefsly reprefented as apocryphal by
St. Jerom, who defcribes it as rejeded by the
church [s].
The many wild and profperous fancies with.
which the work abounds, feem to prove that it was
the produdion of a Rabbinical Jew [t]. The learn
ed Mr. Lee is inclined to think that it was written or
compiled by an Egyptian Jew before the time of
Chrift ; and it has been obferved in fupport of this
opinion, that it is cited or referred to as a Jewifh
[ qJ Lee fuppofes that Picus. Mirandula, and Leo Judseus,
had feen, and relates,- that Petrus Galatinus had heard of an
Hebrew copy ; as alfo, that Scaliger had boafted of having
the book or books of Efdras in the Syriac ; but the prefumptioris
of its having ever exifted in the Hebrew are but /lender.
Lee's Diff. p. 152.
[r] Bib. Sac. Sixt. V. and Clement. VIII.
[s] Hieron. Epift. ad Domnion & Rogar.- & Prsf. in Lib\
Efd. In anfwer to Vigilantius, who had produced fome paf
fages from this book, he fays, " Tu Vigilans dermis, .& dor-
miens fcribis: & proponis mihi Librum Apocryphum qui fub
nomine Efdrae, a te, & fimilibus tui legitur." Vid. alfo,
Athan. Synop, de Lib. Efd. Wolfius Bib. Heb. torn. i. n.
1768, p. 941, k torn. ii. p. 194, 196, 209.
[t] Chap. iii. 6, p. v. 5, 52—55. vi. 42, 44, 49—52, 55.
fcaynold's Prslecl. 27.
Mm 4 boek.

¦536 OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS.
-book by very ancient writers [u] ; and that it may
be fuppofed to treat of that traditional and myfte
rious knowledge which was faid to have, been de
rived as an oral explication of the Law from Mofes ;
and which was taught in the Alexandrian fchool of
the Jews. Mr. Lee obferves, that in many particulars
it refembfes other apocryphal books, undoubtedly
-written before the time of our Saviour [x] ; and that
there is fome ground for fuppofing that the book of
Enoch [y], and that of the fhepherd of Hermas
[z}, might have proceeded from the fame author as
the prefent work.
On
[uj.Tertull. Lib. de Habit.* Mul. c. iii. & cont. Marcion.
Carm. Lib. IV. c. vii. Clemens Alex. Strom. Lib. IV. &
Lib. I. & Eufeb. Lib. VI. c. xii. Ambrofe de bono Mortis,
.C.x. n, 45, .& Lib. II. in Lucam. St. Ambrofe cites ch. vii.
32. as fcripture, and he profeffes to cite on this occafion from
Ezra ; in order to fhew that the heathens had drawn their beft
maxims from our books.
[ x ] As to the two laft chapters of Tobit, and likewife the
books of Baruch and Wifdom. The book bears, likewife,
fome refemblance to paffages in the ancient Targums, as l;lio(e
of Jonathan and Onkelos. See Kidder's D.emoniiration of die
Mefliah, and Allix's Defence of the, Unity and Diftinction of
.the" Divine Nuture.
[r] This book is cited by St. Jude, ver. 14. if not by St.
Peter ; and an interpretation h borrowed from it by the Targu-
mift Jonathan. It is fuppofed to have been known in the age of
Alexander Polyhiftor, above an hundred years before the birth
of Chrift, or even earlier.
[ z ] The vifions of Hernias' ¦ much refemble thofe of Efdras
in many ftriking particulars. They are thought to have been
Written about feventy-five years after the vulgar a;ra. The

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 537
On a fuppofition that this work was written before
the period of Chrift, we muft admit that thofe par
ticulars whieh appear to be prophetic of circum
ftances relative to the Meffiah and his kingdom, were
colleded from an acquaintance with the infpired
books of the Old Teftament ; or that the work has
been interpolated by fome writer who lived under
the Gofpel difpenfation [a]. But it exhibits, in
every part, fuch a manifeft refemblance to the doc
trines, fentiments, and expreffions, ofthe evangelical
writers ; and correfponds fo much with paffages of
the New Teftament as to particulars interwoven in
the contexture of the book ; that we muft fuppofe it
to have been written after the publication of the
Qofpel, unlefs we admit that the evangelical writers
book of Hermas was highly efteemed in the Greek, and hardly
known in the Weftern church, though now extant only in Latin.
Vid. Lee's Difc. p. 138.
[a] Mr. Lee feems to infinuate that the book might have
been corrupted by the Cerinthians, or even by Cerinthus him
felf, who in his religious fyftem, combined with the dodlrines
of Chrift the opinions of the Jews, and the errors of the
Gnoftics. Some, indeed, have imagined, that this book is ih6
very apocajypfe of that heretic referred to by the ancients, as it
feems to contain fome notions favourable to the Cerinthian
herefy; and Cerinthus is related to have written a kind of apo-
calypfe upon the model of St. John's Revelation. Vid. Lee's
Diff. p. 87. Dr. Allix fuppofed that the fecond book of Efdras
was the production of a Jew who had adopted the opinions of
Montanus : a rigid and enthufiaftic feclary ofthe fecond century,
who predicled- calamities and deftruclion to the Roman empire.
Vid. Allix de Ufu & Prsftant. Num. Mofheim's Ecclef. Hift.
Cent. 2. Part II. § 23. have

JjS OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS.
have borrowed more from this apocryphal book,
than from almoft any canonical book of the Old
Teftament, fince in none except in the Pfalms can
we difcover fuch frequent coincidence of thought
and expreffion [b] ; and the author, indeed, treats
fo- clearly of particulars brought to light by the
Gofpel difpenfation; pourtrays fo expreffively and
[bJ Comp. chap. i. 30. with Matt, xxiii. 37. Chap. I. 32.
with Matt, xxiii. 34. and Luke xi. 49, 50. where the evangelift
refers probably to fome prophecy now loft. Chap. i. 33. with
Luke xiii. 35, &c. Chap. i. 37. with John. xx. 29. Chap. ii.
8, 9. with Mark vi. 11, kc. Chap. ii. 11. with Luke xvi. 9.
Chap. ii. 12. with Matt. xi. 28. Chap. ii. ij. with Matt. vii.
7. and Matt. xxiv. 22, and chap. xxv. 34. and Mark xiii, 37.
Chap, ii- 16. with John v. 28, 29. Chap. ii. 26. with John
xvii. iz. Chap. iv. zi. with John iii. 31, 32. Chap. iv. 28.
"with Matt. xiii. 30. Chap. iv. 30. with Matt. xiii. 30, 39.
"Chap. iv. 31, 32. with Mark iv. 28. 29. Chap. v. 1. with
Luke xviii. 8. Chap. v. 2. with Matt. xxiv. 12. Chap. v.
2, 3. with John xv. 1. Chap. vi. 23. with Matt. xxiv. 31.
Chap. vi. 24. with Luke xii. 53. Chap. vi. 25. with Matt.
xxiv. 13. Chap. vi. 26. with Matt. xiv. 28. Chap. vii. 7.
with Matt. vii. 14. Chap. vii. 55. with Matt. xiii. 43. Chap.
viii. 3. with Matt. xx. 16. and vii. 14. Chap. viii. 22. with
John xvii. 17. Chap. ix. 3. Matt. xxiv. 6, 7. xiii. 32. with
John vii. 19. Chap. ix. 37. with Matt. v. 18. Chap. xv. 4.
with John iii. 36. and viii. Z4. Chap. xvi. 18. with Matt.
xxiv. 8, Chap. xvi. 53, 54, 76. with Luke xvi. 15. Chap.
¦iii. 11. with 1 Pet. iii. 20. Chap. vii. 64. with 2 Pet. iii. 15.
Chap. viii. 39. with 1 Pet. i. 17. Chap. viii. 59. with 2 Pet.
jii. 9. Chap. ix. 15. with 1 Pet. iv. 18. and Matt. vii. 13.
Chap. ii. 41. with 2 Theff. ii. 13. Comp. alfo, chap. v. 4.
¦with Rev. viii. 10, 12. See, alfo, the book of Revelation
paftim, and many other collated references in Lee, p. 1.24 —
127. cha-

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. 539
charaderiftically our Saviour, who is imaged out,
as " the Son of God, exalted on Mount Sion [c],
crowning and giving palms to them who having
confeffed the name of God, had put off the mortal
clothing;" defcribing likewife the charader and com
prehenfive defign of Chrift's kingdom Id], andthe
death of our Saviour Te] ; and fpeaking fo diftindly
of a refurredion and future judgment Pf], that he
muft have been enlightened by divine infpiration, if
fie had lived previoufly to the promulgation of the
Gofpel dodrines.
That the book was written after the appearance of
Chrift, will be deemed farther probable if we confider
the particulars of that paffage in which the author
declares, in the name of the Almighty, that " Jefus
£g], his Son, fhould be revealed with thofe that be
with
{c] Chap. ii. 34 — 36. comp. with John x. 11 — 14. and
Matt. xi. 29. Efd. ii. 42 — 48. comp. with Matt. x. 32. xvi.
16. Luke i. 35. 1 Per. v. 4. and 1 Cor. xv. 53. Efd. vii.
28. comp. with Luke i. 31. Efd. xiii. 1 — 38. comp. with
Matt. xxiv. 30. and xxv. 31. Vid. alfo, Efd. xiv. 9. and
xv. 6.
[d] Chap. ii. 34—41. Chap. ii. 18, 19. where, by the
twelve trees and twelve fountains were defigned, probably, th$
twelve apoftles.
' [e] Chap. vii. 29,
[f] Chap. ii. 16, 23, 31. iv. 42. vi. 20—28. vii, 3 1— 35.
comp. with John v. 25, 29. and Matt. xvi. 27. and xxv. 31.
Vid. alfo, chap. vii. 42 — 45, 55. viii. 61. ix. 10 — 13. xiv. 35.
[c] Chap. vii. 28; 29. The name of Jefus is wanting in
the Arabic Paraphrafe ; but it muft have been in the ancient
manufcripts, as particularly in the Latin copies in the time
1  of

54-0 OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS.
with him ; and that they that remain fhould rejoice
within four hundred years ; that after thefe years
fhould his Son Chrift die, and all men that have
life ;" for it is not probable that an uninfpired writer,
however converfant with the prophetic books, fhould
have been able to etch out a prophecy fo clear and
defcriptive. There appears then to be fome reafon, on a col-
ledive confideration of thefe circumftances, to fup
pofe that the book, or at leaft that the greateft part
of it, was produced after the promulgation of the
Gofpel. The work is, however, of too mixed and
myfterious charader to authorize any pofitive deter
mination. It is a colledion of pretended prophecies ;
cabaliftical fancies ; and allufions to evangelical par
ticulars. Amidft fpurious fabrications, and paffages
tranfcribed from the Gofpel, it may contain frag
ments of works written before the time of Chrift
[h] ; and many writers have confidered it as a com-
of St. Ambrofe, which was about 700 years prior to the fup
pofed date of the Laudean manufcript. This name, though
fynonimous with the word Redeemer, is no where applied to
the Meffiah in the Old Teftament. Vid. Matt. i. 21. The
word Chrift is fynonimous with that of the Meffiah, or the
Anointed ; which words are often ufed by the Prophets in pre
dictions refpecling our Saviour. Vid. 1 Sam. ii. 35. Pfalm
ii. 2. Dan. ix. 25. The Seventy in thefe places tranflate
Majhiacb,- by Xpio-1®-.
[h] Mr. Lee conceives the two firft chapters to be an extrin-
fcc work. He confiders them as a fragment of fome book held
facred among the Egyptian Jews, though not admitted into the
canon. They are not in the Arabic verfion, nor in fome of the
moft ancient Latin copies. Lee's Diff. p. 54. pilation

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS, 54I
pilation of pieces, of which fome, at leaft, may have
been the genuine produdion of Ezra.
Among the various opinions that have been enter
tained concerning this book, fome have imagined that
it might have been compofed foon after the deftruc
tion of Jerufalem, by a Chriftian writer ; who, as was
cuftomary among the ancients, might have affumed
a borrowed title, not with intention to impofe on the
world : but to exhibit under the name of Ezra, as
that of a great dodor of the Law, a fpecimen of
what might be faid on the principles of the Jewifh
fynagogue, concerning the more inward and fpiritual
religion that had been concealed from common ob-
fervation under the veil of Mofes ; and that the au
thor might defign to develop the more fecret wifdom
of God in his government of the world, and of his
church ; with the more notable events relative to the
introdudion and eftablifhment of the kingdom of
the Meffiah, in order to facilitate the reception of the
Gofpel and its myfteries.
It is probable, that the author's intention was to
promote the fuccefs of Chriftianity; and Calmet has
conjedured, that he lived during the time of fome
perfecution of the Chriftians, whom he appears de
firous of exciting to faith and fortitude [i]. But
however pious the defign of the author, it will not
apologize for' the guilt of endeavouring to impofe a
fpurious, for an infpired work on the world ; and for
the prefumption of fpeaking in the name and with the
[ij Chap. ii. 44—47. authority

542 OF THE "SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS.
authority of God. The work, however, may be ad
mired as a produdion of the moft curious and in
terefting charader ; as valuable for many devout and
inftrudive fentiments, and for precepts modelled on
the perfedion of chriftian morality [k]. It may be
admired, likewife, for the beauties of its compofition :
for its lively and elegant illuftrations, and for that
majeftic eloquence which breaks forth through the
difadvantages of a barbarous Latin tranflation. The
Romifh church, though it admit not its canonical
authority, has adopted fome paffages from it into its
offices [l] ; and it is properly fuffered to continue in
bur Bibles as a profitable book if difcreetly and cau-
tioufly ufed, but not as having any authority in point
of dodrine. It may be obferved, however, in vin
dication of the book, even in that refped, at leaft
in one ihftance, that the Roman Catholics \vho have
endeavoured to countenance the notions of purgatory
by the authority of this writer, have perverted his
words ; for the paffage in which he fpeaks, agreeably
to the reprefentation of St. John [mJ, of the fouls
of the righteous, as fet apart in expedation of God's
final judgment, makes no mention of purification, or
of their being placed in a ftate of expiatory punifh
ment. Clemens Alexandrinus has quoted [n] in his
[k] Chap. ii. 20 — 23. iv. 7.
[l] 2 Efdras ii. 36, 37. Miffa in Fer. poft Pentacbfteml
Miff. Rom. p. 316.
[m] Chap. iv. 35 — 41. comp. with Rev. vi. 9 — II."
[n] Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. p. 330.
6 explication

OF THE SECOND BOOK OF ESDRAS. , 54J
explication of Daniel's prophecy, a paffage as from
the book of Efdras, which is no longer to be found
in this or the preceding book ; if it ever exifted in
this, it muft have tended ftill farther to prove that it
was written after the appearance of Chrift. The
words of Clemens may be thus rendered : " For it
is written in Efdras, and thus the Meffiah, the
Prince, the King of the Jews, was in Jerufalem,
after the accomplifliment of the feven weeks ; and
in the fixty-two weeks all Judaea was in peace, and
was without wars; and the Lord our Chrift, the
moft Holy, being come, and having fulfilled the
vifion and prophecy, (Prophet) was anointed in the
flefh, by the Spirit of his Father."

OF

C 544 1

OF THE

BOOK of TOBIT.

THIS Book was probably written by, or at
leaft compiled from the memoirs of Tobit
and Tobias [a] : whom Raphael, the angel, had
commanded to record the events of their lives [b].
The work appears to have been begun by Tobit;
who in the Greek, Hebrew, and Syriac editions,
fpeaks in the firft perfon to the fourth chapter; and
by whom other parts in the book, as the prayer in
the thirteenth chapter, are faid to have been written ;
what he left unfinifhed was probably completed by
his fon ; the two laft verfes of the book being after
wards added by fome compiler [c], who digefted the
materials into their prefent form.
[a] The Greek calls the father T«Cw (Tobet) or T«6it
(Tobit) and the fon T«Ci*s (Tobias) in the Chaldee both are
called miB (Tobija).
[b] Chap, xii, 20.
[c] It is called j3»&o{ rut teyut, " The Book of the Words"
or of the acls of Tobit, ch. i. 1. IT

of The eook of tobit. §4$
It is uncertain, whether this work were originally
Written in the Hebrew or in the Chaldaic language
[d], with both of which Tobit and his family muft
have been well acquainted. The Hebrew copies
publifhed by Munfter and Fagius, appear to be tranf
lations comparatively modern [e] ; and as the book
was extant in the Chaldaic language in the time of
St. Jerom, it is poffible that it was originally written
in that language, though no Chaldaic copy be now
extant. The moft ancient copy that is known to
exift, is a Greek verfion which was probably made
by fome Helleniftical Jew [fJ, and before the time
of Theodofion, as it is quoted by Polycarp [gJ ;
[ d ] Origen profeffes to have heard that the Jews had Tobit
and Judith in their language among the apocryphal books.
Vid. Epift. ad African-, but he probably meant in the Chaldaic
language, which is fometimes called the Hebrew. The names
of the angels, and of the months, are of Chaldsean derivation ;
but thefe might have been equally ufed by a Jew, as the Chal*
daean expreffions and reckonings were generally adopted during
and after the captivity by the Jews. Vid. Berefchit. Rabb. k
Talmud Hier. Huet. Dem. Evan. Prop. 4.
[e] The Hebrew obtained by Fagius from Conftarttinople,
and publifhed by him, feems to have been tranflated from the
Greek ; that of Munfter, which he profeffes to have found in
Germany, was probably rendered chiefly from the Vulgate.
They both, however, vary from the copies from which 'they
are fuppofed to have been refpeilively tranflated. Huet was
in poffeflion of an Hebrew manufcript, which differed from both;
and efpecially from that of Fagius. Vid. Fabric. Bib. Grsc.
Huet. Prop. 4. k Calmet. Pref. fur Tobie.
[f] Hieron. Praf. in Tobiam, & Whifton's Sac. Hift. Vol. I.
[c] Polycarp. Epift. ad Philip. This Greek tranflation
was compofed, however, long after the period affigned to the
N n hiftory,

£46 OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT.
from this our Englifh tranflation, and probably the
Syriac verfion was made : as alfo the Latin verfion,
which was in ufe before the time of St. Jerom.
All the verfions of this book vary fo much from
"each other, that they muft have fuffered many cor
ruptions. St. Jerom's Latin verfion efpecially, which
he profeffes to have tranflated from the Chaldee, dif-
fersTo much from the Greek, that it has been fup
pofed to have been drawn from a more extended
hiftory of Tobit [h]. But if we confider, that St.
Jerom was at that time by his own account ignorant
of the Chaldee, and that he executed the work by
the affiftance of a Jew in one day [1], we may at
tribute many of the adventitious particulars to in
accuracy, and to the redundancies that muft have
refulted from verbal circumlocution. The Greek is
probably moft entitled to refped, and on that ac
count it was preferred by the tranflators of our Bible
£k] ; and, indeed, there are fome miftakes in the
hiftory, for the fixth verfe of the eighth chapter is tranfcribed
almoft verbatim from the Septuagint verfion of Gen. ii. 1 8.
[h] Fabian Juftiniani fuppofed that there muft have been
two originals; and Serarius contends for three. But the va
rieties arife from corruptions in the copies. Vid. Juftin Pref.
in Tob. He mentions an Arabic verfion which correfponds
much with the Vulgate, and which was probably made from
it- [ij " Unius Diei laborem arripui, & quicquid ille mihi
Hebraicis verbis expreffit, hoc ego accito notario fermonibus
Latinis expofui," fays St. Jerom, vid. Prasf. in Tobiam. We
sire not therefore to look for accuracy in a tranflation fo made.
[kJ Coverdale's tranflation appears to have been made from
that of St. Jerom, altered as in the Vulgate. Latin,

OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. 547
Latin, which if not rejeded, would -entirely deftroy
all the authority which the book may claim, and
make it utterly inconfiftent with the times to which,
it is affigned. This, however, is canonized by the
church of Rome.
The book, if it ever exifted in the Hebrew lan
guage, was certainly never in the Hebrew canon,
and has no pretenfions to be confidered as the pro
dudion of an infpired writer. It was probably com
pofed after the clofing of the canon; but perhaps
before the time of our Saviour, though as far as
may be argued from the filenceof Philo and Jofe
phus, it does- not feem to have been known to thofe
hiftorians, and it is not cited in the New Teftament.
It is not to be found in the moft ancient catalogues
of the canonical books, as furnifhed by Melito ;
Origen ; and the Council of Laodicea ; and it muft
be added, that Athanafius [l], Cyril of Jerufalem
[m], Gregory Nazianzen [n], Epiphanius [o], Hi
lary [p], and St. Jerom [qJ, exclude it from the
facred code.
Though Tobit has no canonical authority, it is1 a
book refpedable for its antiquity and contents. In
the Alexandrian manufcript, and in the beft editions
of the Septuagint, it is placed among the hagiogr*»
[l] AthaH. Epift. feftal. & in Synop.
[m] Cyrill. Catech. 4.
[n] Greg. Nazianz. Carm. de Veris Scrip.
[o-] Epiphan. de Pond: k Menf.
[p] Hil. in Prolog. Pfalm.
[ Q.J Hieron. Prol. Gal. Prsef.in Tob. in Prov. &c. paflim;
N. n 2 phical

548 OF- THE BOOK OF TOBIT.
phical books ; and it is cited from the Greek with
great refped by Polycarp [rJ, Clemens Alexandrinus
fs], Chryfoftomy and other writers [t] of, confider
able, authority; and fome Councils, indeed, as thofe
of Carthage [u], Florence, and Trent [xj, efteemed
it canonical ; upon: an erroneous notion of its being
didated by infpiration, and upon a fuppofition that
it was claffed by the Jews among the Hagiographa
as a work of fecondary rank [y].
Houbigant imagines, that the only reafon why it
was not admitted into the canon was, becaufe being
a private hiftory, there were probably but few copies;
and that thefe being kept at Ecbatana in Media,
[rJ Polycarp. Epift. ad Philipp.
[sj Clemen. Alex. Strom. I.
1 [t] Clem. Conftit. Apoft. Lib. I. c. i. Lib, III. c. xv. Lib.
VII. c. ii. Irenaeus Infinuat. Lib. I. c. xxx. Cyprian, paffim.
Auguft. de Docl. Chrift. Lib. III. c. xviii. Ambrof. Lib. de
Tobia. Hilar, in Pfalm cxxix. n. 7. Bafil. Homil. de Avarit.
[u] Concil. Carthag. III. An. 397. c. xlvii. alfo Concil.
Hippon. A. 393, Can. 38. Vid. alfo, P. Innocent I. Epift. 3.
ad Exuper. & Cofin's Schol. Hift. § 83.
[x] Concil. Trid. Self. 4.
[y] Hieron. Prol. Gal. Prsef. in Proverb. & in Tebit. In
"the prefent copies of this laft preface, St. Jerom is reprefented
to have faid that the Jews reckoned Tobit among the Hagio
grapha; but the word Hagiographa is probably, as many of the
Romanifts allow, a corruption, and fubftituted for Apocrypha.
Thofe, however, who contend for the authenticity of the expref
fion, muft at leaft admit, that Hagiographa is ufed only in an
inferior fenfe ; for St. Jerom in the fame place affirms, that the
Jews excluded it from the catalogue of the divine writings, and
-cenfured him for tranflating a book not in their canon. Vid.
-Cofin's Schol. Hift. $ 73. p. 83. where

OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. 549
where Tobias retired, the work though then written,
might not have been known to Ezra: but, indeed,
if it had been then written, and known to the com
piler of the canon, it could have had no title to be
claffed among the canonical books as of the fame
authority with them. The author does not pretend
to prophfty himfelf; but colleds only what had been
delivered by the Prophets [z] : defcribing the fate
of Nineveh [a] ; the difperfion of his countrymen ;
the deftrudion of Jerufalem, and of the temple, in
the fame manner that Jonah and other Prophets had
foretold them.
There are no circumftances mentioned in this
book which are inconfiftent with the period in which
Tobit is related to have lived [b] ; nor is there any
internal objedion to the fuppofition of its being com
piled foon after the events therein defcribed, or at
leaft before the time of Chrift. In the Vulgate, in
deed, the temple of Jerufalem is fpoken of as already
burnt [c] ; and it has been fuppofed that part of
[?] Chap. xiv. 4, 5.
[a] Grotius thinks that Jonas is inferted in chap. xiv. 4, 8.
by miftake for Nahum. But Jonah's prophecy, in ch. iii. 4.
of his book, may be fuppofed to include the deftruclion of
Nineveh by the Medes and Babylonians, Its accomplifhrnent
was protracled but not fruftrated.
[b] It fhould be remarked, that Nebuchodonofor, mentioned
in chap. xiv. 15. was Nabopolafiar. Vid. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib.
XVIII. c. xi. comp. with Lib. J. cont. Apion. & Juchafin.
fol. 136. Affuerus was Aftyages,; or his fon, the Cyaxares of
Herodotus. Nineyeh. was taken A. M. 3392. Vid. Prid. An.
612. Preface to Nahum, p. 474.
fc] Chap, xiv. 7. and xiii. 11. Vulgate.
N n 3 Tobit's

£fO OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT.
Tobit's prophetic affurance was drawn from the
writings of Jeremiah ; but as in the Greek verfion
from which our tranflation is made, that deftrudion
is fpoken of prophetically [d] as yet to happen ; and
as all the predidions which are here inferted might
fiave been drawn from Prophets who preceded his
time, there is no reafon to difpute the antiquity af
cribed to Tobit, or to his book [e]. From the fame
facred fource of the earlier Prophets, might have
been derived thofe predidions which Tobit records
relative to the calling of the Gentiles [f] ; and the
reftoration of Jerufalem to a magnificence prefigura-
tive of its future fpiritual glory in the eftablifhment
of the Chriftian church [g].
With refped to the hiftory contained in this
book, there is no reafon to queftion its truth; at
[d] Chap. xiv. 4. drawn perhaps from Micah iii. 12.
[eJ Aman, mentioned in chap, xiv, 10. was not Haman the
proud enemy of Mordecai and the Jews, mentioned in the
book of Efther, nor Judith's hufband, but fome predeceffor or
contemporary of Tobit, with whofe hiftory we are unac
quainted. [f] Chap, xiii. 11. which perhaps alludes to the offering of
the wife men, defcribed in St. Matt. ii. 11. The prediction may
be drawn from David's prophecy in Pfalm Ixxii. ip. of which
the very words are introduced in the Hebrew copy publifhed
by Fagius. See, alfo, chap. xiv. 6, 7. which might be grounded
¦em the prophecies in Micah v. 12, 14. Ifaiah ii. 13. xxxi, 7.
Zechar. xiii. 2, &c.
[g] Chap. xiii. 16 — 18. xiv. 5 — 8. which figurative paffages
refemble fome metaphorical defcriptions of St. John. Vid. Rev,
xxi. jo — 27. xxii. 3—6. but which were probably borrowed
from Ifaiah liv. u — 17. fcaft

OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. SSl
feaft as to the main particulars ;". and the Jews do not
appear to have entertained any doubts on the fubjed
[h]. It is written with much fimplicity, and with
an air of verity. The charaders are defcribed with
great fincerity and effed '; and the minutevdetail of
genealogy, of time, place, and perfonai circumftances
[i], while they heighten the intereft, tend to de
monftrate the truth. and reality of the relation. To
bit, then, is to be confidered as a real charader ; he
was born probably during the reign of Ahaz ; he
was of the tribe of Nephthali, in the city of Thift«?
[kJ, in Upper Galilee ; he was carried captive to
Nineveh
[h] Juchafin. Hierom- ad Chron. & Heliod. Grot. Praff. ad
Tob. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Lib. VIII.
[1] Chap. v. 1 6. The mention of Tobias's dog has been
frequently reprefented as a ludicrous and unneceffary particu
lar. But there is often as much want of tafte as of candour in
criticifm of this nature. The introduction of fuch incidental
particulars is not unufual in the moft admired works of anT
tiquity. Vid. Odyff. Lib. II. 1. n. ^Eneid. Lib. VIII. I.
463. It deferves to be remarked, that in the eleyenth chapter
of the Vulgate, the dog is faid to have firft appeared as the
harbinger of the fon's return ; and the Syriac verfion repre
fents Anna to have firft perceived the dog ; and indeed, the
Greek has been thought to intimate nearly as much, for it
fays, not ' that fhe faw Tobias himfelf, but wfn^ttonatii av\n
tpjfl>f*6toi>, " perceived that he was coming," as poffibly by the
dog. In this there is nothing low or ridiculous, but an in
cident familiar and elegant. Comp, with Odyff. Lib, XVII.
1. 301, 302.
[k] Thifbe was at the right hand (that is, to the fouth;
for the Jews in the defcription of plaqes, fuppofe the fpeakex
to face the eaft) of Kadefh, ^Nepthali (Kt^w;, or xvfws* or
N n 4 xaha{

552 OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT.
Nineveh after the extindion of the kingdom of
Ifrael, by Enemaffar, or Salmaneffer, about A. M,
3^3 !>].
The hiftory of this captive, and of his family, is
here related in a very interefting manner; it is en
livened with much variety of incident, and decorated
by the difplay of many virtues. Some of the inci
dents, as the miniftry of the angel ; the influence
and defeat of the evil fpirit ; as well as the blindnefs
and recovery of Tobit, have appeared fo improbable
to many writers, that they have chofen to confider
the whole book merely as an inftrudive fidiqn [m],
defigned to illuftrate the relative and fecial chari
ties of life, and to exhibit a pattern of virtue ex
ercifed in trials, and recompenfed in this world ;
but there are no phyfical objedions to the caufes
affigned either for the deprivation £nJ or reftora tion
xai^w; tjjj NeipfWu) the fame place, perhaps, with Cades, the
capital of Nepthali, and poffibly the Cadytes of Hefodotus.
It was one of the three cities of refuge on the' weft fide of the
Jordan. The Vulgate reprefents Tobit to have been born at
Nepthali. Vid. Calmet and Arnald on the place.
[l] The tribe of Nepthali in general had been carried' into
captivity about twenty years before by Tjglath-Pilefer. Vid-
2 Kings xv. 29. The year of Tobit's death is uncertain; all
the copies differ. The Vulgate fuppofes him to have lived
102 years ; the Greek 158. Both accounts are erroneous.
[m] Paul Fagius. It has been compared to the Cyropcedia of
Xenophon, and the Telemachus of Fenelon.
[n] Chap. ii. 1 p. Tobit appears to have flept in a courtr
yard, becaufe polluted by the dead body which he had buried,
and his eyes might have been open habitually, or from ac
cident.

OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. SS3
tion [o] of fight to Tobit, or if they are not natu
rally capable of producing fuch effeds, they might
ftill be miraculoufly rendered inftruments in the hands
of Providence.
With refped to the agency of the angels, there
is nothing inconfiftent with reafon, received opinions
f p], or fcripture, in fuppofing a limited fuperintend-
ence of fuperior beings. We know, indeed, that
under the peculiar circumftances of the Jewifh ceco
nomy, the miniftry of angels was manifeftly em
ployed in fubferviency to God's defigns ; and that
particular perfonages were occafionally favoured with
cident. The excrement of fparrows (fwallows) is hot and acri
monious. Vid. Plinii Lib. XI. c. xxxvii. Gefner Hift. Animal.
Lib. III. and may caufe blindnefs.
[o] It is uncertain of what fpecies was the fifh mentioned in
this book. The gall of the fifh called Callionimus is efficacious
in removing fpecks and obftruclions ofthe fight. Vid. Galen de
Simplic. Medicam. Facult. Lib. X. c. xii. JElian Lib. XIII.
c. iv. Plin. L. XXVIII. c. xi. Aldrovand. Ornithol. L. XVII.
Vales de Sac. Philofoph. But this fifh appears to be too fmall to
correfpond with the defcription of that of Tobit. Bochart con
tends for the Silurus, the fheat-fifh, or fturgeon, called alfo, the
Glanis. This the naturalifts defcribe as large and voracious.
Vid. Ray and Johnfton. And its liver was famous for removing
fuffufions and dimnefs. Vid. Houbigant. But it is objecled that
this fifh, as having no fcales, could not be eaten confidently
with the reftriclions of the Levitical Law. Vid. Lev. xi. 10,
II. The livers of many other fifties may have the fame fanative
qualities. [p] Hefiod Oper. & Dies, Lib. I. Plato de Legibus, Lib. X.
Apulffius de Deo Sacratis. Buxtorf. Synag. Jud. c. x. Orphei
Hymn ad Muf. Plutarch in Brut. Acls xii. 15. Barnab.
Epift. c. xviii. their

554 OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT.
their familiar intercourfe. It is likewife unqueftion
able, that before the power and malevolence of evil
fpirits were checked and reftrided by the control of
our Saviour, their open influence was experienced
[ qJ ; and though in the accounts of this book, in-
vifible beings be reprefented as endued with corporeal
affedions, and defcribed under traditionary names of
Chaldean extradion ; and though the whole hiftory
of their proceedings as here furnifhed, be in fome
meafure accommodated to vulgar conceptions [r] ;
yet it would be a violation of all juft rules of criticifm,
to confider the agency of thefe beings as a mere alkr
gorical machinery. Indeed, the events recorded are
fo dependent on their fuppofed interference ; and the
miraculous circumftances are fo incorporated with
the hiftory, that the truth of the whole account refts
on the fame foundation, and the particular parts can
not be feparately removed.
[ qJ Luke xiii. 16. 1 Pet. v. 8. Rev. xx. 1 — 3.
[r] Chap. vi. 17, viii. 2, 3. The fuppofed effecl of fumi
gation on demons was agreeable to vulgar notions. Vid.
Jofeph. de Bell. Jud. Lib. VIII. c. ii. The perfume was ren
dered efficacious by faith, prayer, and continence ; vid. Matt.
xvii. 2 1 . and the burning of the entrails of the fifh was en
joined rather as a fign and intimation, than as a phyfical caufe
of the defeat of the evil fpirit, as in John ix. 6. We rea
fon, however, upon preconceived conjeclural notions, when we
affert, that devils cannot be affedled by the operation of fmells.
The flight of the evil fpirit, and his being bound by Raphael,
implies only' that he was circumfcribed and reftricled in his
power by an expulfion to the fuppofed fphere of demons.
Vid. Luke viii. -29. Matt. xii. 43. Hieron. in Hierem. c.
xxviii. STILLj

OF THE BOOK OF TOBIT. 555
Still, however, thofe who confider the whole
book as a moral invention defigned for the particular
confolation of the Jews in captivity ; or for their
general inftrudion and encouragement in afflidion ;
may derive the fame profit from that fine fpirit of
piety and benevolence which breathes through every
part of the book [s] ; and which occafionally breaks
out into thofe beautiful fentiments that have been
imitated by fucceeding writers, and copied out into
the Liturgy of our church [t] ; and which fome
times approach even the refined precepts of Chrif
tianity [u].
In the old Roman Miffal, and in the Miffal.of
Sarum, there is a proper mafs of Raphael the arch
angel; and in the prefatory rubrick it is direded^
that the office be celebrated for pilgrims or travellers,
as alfo for fick perfons and demoniacs' [x] ; upon
notions of the archangel's charader, built on the re
lations of this book. Afterwards follow two fhort
prayers, one addreffed to God, and one' to Raphael
himfelf. [s] Chap. iii. viii. xiii.
[t] Tobit iv. 7, 8, 9. and the Communion Service.
[u] Chap. iv. 7. comp. with Luke xi. 41. Chap. iv. 15.
with Matt. vii. 12. and Luke vi. 31. Chap. iv. 16. with Luke
xiv. 13. Chap. iv. 8, 9. comp. with 1 Tim. vi. 18, 19.
£x] Arnald's Diff. on the Demon. Afmodsus.

O F

[ 556 ]

OF THE

BOOK of JUDITH.

THE author, and the period of this hiftory,
are both uncertain [a]. Some commentators
imagine that it was written by Joacim or Eliakim,
whom they conceive to have been high-prieft in the
reign of Manaffeth [b] ; and that it was tranflated
into Chaldee for the ufe of thofe Jews in the cap
tivity at Babylon, who had forgotten their own
language. Others attribute the work to Jofhua, the
fon of Jofedech [c], the companion of Zerubbabel.
But by whomfoever, or in whatever language it
was produced, the original is not now extant. The
Hebrew copy, which fome have profeffed to have
feen at Conftantinople [d], was probably a work of
[a] Ifidor. Orig. Lib. VI. c. 2. Serar. Prolog, in Jud. St.
Jerom feems to confider it as the produclion of Judith. Vid. in.
Agg. i. 6.
[ b ] Chap. iv. 6.
[c] Pfeudo-Philo. Lib. de Temp. R. Afarias, Sixt. Senens.
Jul. Roger, de Lib. Can. c. xx.
[dJ Lib. Munfter. Praf. in Tob. Hebrxum. modern

OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH; 557
modern compofition ; and our Englifh tranflation, as
well as the Syriac, is made from a Greek verfion
which exifted probably long before the time of Theo-
dotion, as it feems to have been known to Clemens
Romanus [e]. The moft probable opinion is, that
the book was originally written in Chaldee [f] by
fome Jew of Babylon ; and it might poffibly have
been defigned to enliven the confidence of the Jews
during the captivity, and to invigorate their hopes of
a deliverance. Upon a fuppofition of the truth of the hiftory,
the circumftances defcribed muft have occurred pre-.
vioufly to the deftrudion of Jerufalem, fince the
Perfians are reprefented as ftill fubjed to the Aflyrian
empire [g] ; and Nineveh, which is here mentioned
as the capital of Nebuchodonofor's, empire [h], was
overthrown before that deftrudion ; and upon the
impending invafion of Holophernes, the Jews are
faid in this book to have been troubled " for the
city and temple of their God." Ufher, therefore,
Lloyd, ' and Prideaux, have agrejed on confidering
the hiftory as coeval with the time of Manaffeth [i] :
i placing

[e] Clemens Rom. Epift. ad Corinth, c. Iv. Vid. alfo, Po
lycarp. & Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I.
[f] Hieron. Praef. in Lib. Jud.
[cj Chap. i. 7 — 10.
[hJ Chap. i. i.
[1] Some place it in the reign of Arnon, or in that of Jofiah,
and others contend for the time of Jehoiakim. Some writers
who place it in the reign of Zedekiah, conceive that Nebu-
chodonofer was the fame perfon with Nebuchadnezzar ; upon
which

558 of the: book of judith.
placing it in about the forty-fourth year of his reign,
A. M. 3348. And Prideaux, with other writers,
after a judicious inveftigation of the feveral opinions
that have . been entertained upon the fubjed [k],
maintains that the Arphaxad of this book was Deioces
[iff; and Nebuchodonofor, Saofduchinus, who af-
which fuppofition, Jerufalem muft have been taken in the fame
year thatBethulia was befieged, if we follow the accounts ofthe
Greek copies of this book, which place the expedition of Holo-
phernes in the eighteenth year of Nebuchodonofbr's reign ;¦ for
the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar coincides with the ninth
year of Zedekiah.
[k] The ancient- tradition among the Jews was, that the
circumftances of the hiftory happened under the reign of Cam-
byfes. Vid. Eufeb. Chron. Hift. Scholaft. Dyonif. Carthus.
Suidas- Verbo Holophernes. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib.
XVIII. c. .xvi. But the capital of Cambyfes was Babylon,
and he reigned but feven years and three months. Vid.
Herod. Lib. III. cap. lxvi. Others place the hiftory in the
time of Xerxes, Vid. Suidas Verbo Judith. Riber. in Na
hum. ii. Eftius and others place it in the time of Darius Hyf
tafpes; and Sulpicius Sev«rus affigns to it a ftill later period,
placing it under the reign of Artaxerxes Ochus, King of
Perfia. Vid. Hift. Sac. Lib. II. Bellarm. de Verb. Dei, Lib. I.
c. xii. [l] Deioces founded Ecbatana; and the beginning of the
twelfth year of Saofduchinus, coincides with the laft year of
Deioces. Thefe and other concurrent circumftances feem to
prove, that Deioces and Arphaxad muft have been the fame
perfon; though fome writers' relate that Deioces lived long,
and died old, in profperity. Calmet fuppofes Arphaxad to be
the Phraortes of Herodotus, the circumftances of whofe life
and death, as he conceives, correfpond better with the accoants
of this book, and who may be fuppofed to have finifhed the forti
fications of Ecbatana, as defcribed in chap. i. 2—4. Vid. Herod.
Lib. I. cen^efj

of The book of judith. $59
cended the throne of Babylon, A. M. 3336 ; and
the learned author places the expedition of Holo-
phernes in A. M. 3349 : making the twelfth year of
Saofduchinus to coincide with the forty- fifth of Ma
naffeth [m].
But though the hiftory cannot with confiftency be
affigned to any other time than that of Manaffeth
[n], there are ftill fo many objedions to this period,
that many writers have chofen to confider the whole
¦work as' a religious romance. It muft be confeffed,
indeed, to be extraordinary, that neither Philo nor
Jofephus fhould make any mention of this fignal de
liverance; for the latter efpecially, though he pro-
[m] Prid. Con. vol. i. Part I. p. 36. Calmet's Preface,
Bellarm. de Verb. Dei, Lib. I. c. xii.
[n] Manaffeth himfelf is not mentioned in this book, (nor,
indeed, any King,) whence fome have fuppofed that the fiege
of Bethulia happened during his captivity at Babylon; or
that he was withheld from an aclive part from cautious or
prudential confiderations ; or laftly, that he was then engaged
in fequeftered repentance. But as Bethulia was on the fron
tiers, the defence of it might have been entrufted to the high-
prieft. The precife fituation of Bethulia is not known; fome
¦place it in the territory of Zabulon, in which there appears to
have been a town of that name, but Judith, Manaffeth, and
Onias were of the tribe of Simeon. There might have been
a frontier town in the hilly country of Simeon, towards Syria,
named Bethulia, though we have no other mention of it in
hiftory. We cannot, however, fuppofe it to have been the
fame place with Bethel, or Bethuel, mentioned in Jofhua xix.
4. and 1 Chron. iv. 30. without allowing that the author has
been guilty of fome geographical miftakes. Vid. chap. iii.
9, 10. and iv. 6. Calmet in chap, vi. 7. and Arnald in chap.
vi. 10. 3 feffed

560 OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH.
feffed to confine himfelf to fuch accounts as were
contained in the Hebrew, (that is, the authentic ca
nonical) books [o], yet by no means adheres fo
"ftridly to his plan that he might not have been ex
peded to have mentioned fo remarkable an inter-
pofition of God in favour of his country ; but as this
omiffion can only furnifh a prefumptive argument
againft the truth of the hiftory ; and as the apparent
inconfiftencies may be accounted for without deftroy-
ing the credibility of the chief particulars ; it is more
reafonable to confider it as the hiftory of real events
f p] : fince many of its circumftances correfpond
with the accounts of Herodotus [ qJ ; and the Jews
as well as the earlier Chriftians, believed it to be a
relation of hiftorical truths.
Many, alfo, of the, difficulties which occur in
confidering the hiftory ; and many of the objedions
to the period which is affigned to it, are to be at
tributed to corruptions that have taken place in the
Greek verfion [r] ; and which are among the in
confiftencies
[o] Procem. Antiq. & Lib. X. c. xi.
[p] Mountfau^n Verite de 1'Hiftoire de Judith. Howel's
Hift. of Bible, ch. clxxiv. Houbigant Prsef. & Notes. Herod.
Lib. I. c. ii.
[ Q_] Nebuchodonofor is ftiled Saofduchinus by Herodotus
and Ptolemy. Nebuchodonofor was, indeed, properly the
name of the Babylonian Kings; but the Jews feem to have
called all the princes who reigned beyond the Euphrates by
that name, as in Tobit, Nabopolaffar is fo called. Vid. Tobit
xiv. 15.
[r] The third verfe ofthe fourth chapter reprefents the
Jews as newly returned from the captivity; but this i* not in
St. Jerom's-

OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH.. $6l
confiftencies that St. Jerom profeffes to have lopped
off as fpurious when he made his tranflation which is
now extant in the Vulgate [s]. Some originate in
the obfcurity that neceffarily hangs over a period fo
diftant, and fo little illuftrated by the remains of
ancient hiftory [t] ; and fome muft be charged pro
bably on the ignorance of the author, who compiled
the book from fuch materials as he could procure ;
and who, to give importance to his hiftory, and to
St. Jerom's verfion. So Likewife, the words in the eighteenth
verfe of the fifth chapter, which fpeaks of the temple as being
caft to the ground, are refcinded as a corruption by St. Jerom ;
though the original Greek words, eycmOn e*s eJaip©-, might mean
¦only that the temple was prophaned and trampled on; as it was
at feveral times, and, perhaps, by the Affyrians, when Ma
naffeth was taken prifoner. The captivities and difperfion fpoken
pf both in the Greek and Latin, may be underftood of the
Affyrian captivities under Manaffeth. Vid. 2 Chron. xxxiii.
11—13. [s] Chap. i. 13. which differs five years from the date given
in chap. i. 1 . In St. Jerom's verfion there is no apparent in-
confiftency. In chap. ii. 1. the eighteenth year is placed in
confequence of the fame calculation, inftead of the thirteenth,
as it ftands in St. Jerom's verfion.. It is, however, poffible,
that there is no miftake, and tfyat five years might have in
tervened between the preparations for war, and the attack on
Arphaxad. [t] Joacim, or Eliakim, is reprefented in this book as high-
prieft, though no high-prieft of that name is mentioned before
the captivity by Jofephus, or in the fcriptures, unlefs we at
tribute that characler to the Eliakim fpoken of by Ifaiah,' chi
xxii. 20 — 25. But the catalogue of Jofephusj.is corrupted,
and the fcriptures no where profefs to furnifh an exacl fucceffion.
ofthe Priefts. Vid. Prid. Con. vol. i. Part I. p. 39.-
O o magnify

$62 OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH.
magnify the charaders which he defcribes, has em-
bellifhed his hiftory, fometimes at the expence of
chronology and truth [u].
If thefe caufes of inconfiftency be admitted, there
will be no neceffity to queftion the trutiv of the prin
cipal circumftances in this hiftory ; and to have re
courfe to fuch- imaginations as Grotius [x] and others
have entertained : who have amufed themfelves by
confidering it as an inftrudive fidion, or ingenious
allegory : in fpeculations they may ferve to prove the
fertility of their invention, but which conduce but
[u] It is faid in chap. xvi. 23. that none made Ifirael afraid
in the days of Judith, nor a long time after her death. Now as
we cannot fuppofe her to have been more than forty years old
when fhe captivated Holophernes ; (probably not fo old, efpeci
ally as fhe is called fair damfel, KaXii -ra-aiiWi), chap, xii, 13.)
and as fhe lived to the age of 105, there muft have been a fixty
years peace at leaft after the deliverance ; which was a longer
fpace of time than intervened between the forty-fifth year of
Manaffeth, and the taking of Jerufalem hy Nebuchadnezzar,
(not to mention the dangers under Jofiah, ¦ and the defeat and
death of that monarchy or, indeed, than any period of uninter*
rupted peace in the courfe of the Jewifh hiftory. We mull there
fore fuppofe the author to have fpoken hyperbolically of the
effecls of Judith's heroifm.
[ x J Grot. Przf. ad Annot. in Lib. Jud. Grotius fancies that
it is a parabolical, or .enigmatic ficlion, written in the-time <ff
Antiochus Epiphanes, to encourage the Jews under the perfecu
tion carried on by him. He imagines that Judith is Judsa; Be
thulia the houfe of God ; and that by Nebuchodonofor and Ho
lophernes, are meant the devil and his agent, and has other
whimfical conceits to explain this fuppofed allegory. Vid. fimilar
notions in Luther, Reiniccius, and Capellus. Limborahi, Theo-
log. Lib. I. cap. iii. p. 9. little

OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. 563
Bttle to illuftrate truth ; or to increafe our reverence
for works refpedable, at leaft, for their antiquity
and fandions ; and valuable for the inftrudion which
they afford. It may be obferved alfo, as an intrinfic
mark of the truth of this hiftory, that the author ap
pears to fpeak of Achior's family as living at the time
when the book was written [y] , and that in the laft
verfe of the Vulgate, it is faid, that the day of Ju
dith's triumph had ever fince been celebrated as a
facred feftival [z].
It appears from the accounts of Origen [a], and
St. Jerom [b], that the Jews reckoned this book
among their apocryphal writings. It is no where
cited by our Saviour or his apoftles [c] ; it is not in
the catalogues furnifhed by Melito, Origen, and
[y] Chap. xiv. 10.
[z] Chap. xvi. 31. Vulgate. This verfe is not in the
Creek, Syriac, or ancient Latin verfions, nor is the feftival men
tioned in any authentic Hebrew calendars. Some writers, how
ever, Aippofe that it was anciently obferved. Vid. Selden de
Siyned, Lib. III. c. xiii. Scaliger de Emend. Temp. Lib. VII.
p. 633, & Calmet in loe.
[a] Epift. ad African.
[b] Hieron. Prasf. in Jud. Some manufcripts of St. Jerom
read improperly Hagiographa. Vid. Preface to Tobit, p. 251,
note y.
[c] There is a refemblance between Elifabeth's falutation of
Mary, in Luke i. 42. and the encomium bellowed on Judith by
Ozias, in chap. xiii. 18. of this book; as likewife between the
exhortation of St._Paul, and a paffage in chap. viii. 24, 25. of
the Vulgate copy of Judith. The coincidence of expreffion is
probably accidental in both parallels. St. Paul in the laft al
ludes to the circumftances mentioned in riumb. xxi. 6. and
xiv. 37. O o 2 Athanafius3

564 OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH.
Athanafius, nor was it received by Hilary, Gregory
Nazianzen, Cyril of Jerufalem, or the Council of
Laodicea ; but being cited with refped by many
ancient writers [d] ; and confidered as canonical in
a fecondary fenfe by St. Auftin [e], and the African
church [f], it was received indifcriminately, and as
of the fame authority with the infpired books by the
Council of Trent [c], which canonized St. Jerom's
tranflation ; and fince that time it has been generally
[dJ Clem. Epift. ad Corinth, c. Iv. Clem. Conftit. Apoft.
Origen. Homil. xix. in Jerem. ad Lib. III. in Johan. Clem.
Alex. Strom. Lib. IV. Tertull. de Monog. c. xvii. Ambrof.
de Offic. Lib. III. & de Vid. Auguft. de Docl. Chrift. Lib. II.
c. viii.
[e] St. Auftin exprefsly remarks, that this book was faid not
to have been admitted into the Hebrew canon. Vid. de Civit.
Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxvi.
[f] Concil. Carthag. 3. Canon 47. See alfo, the fufpecled
epiftle of Pope Innocent I. where the books of Tobit, Judith,
and Mapcabees, are reckoned as fcripture.
[g]. Some controverfialifts have afferted, that St. Jerom al
lowed that the book of Judith was canonized by the Council of
Nice. Vid. Bellar. de V. Dei, Lib. I. 'c. x. Baron. Annal.
torn. iii. Ann. 325. feci. 157. But in theacls of this council, the
book is not mentioned ; and in the place referred to, (vid.
Hieron. Praef. in Judith) St. Jerom only fays, that the Council
of Nice was n>/o;W(legitur) to have reckoned this book in the
number of the facred ivritings ; and he remarks in the fame place,
that the Hebrews (that is, the Hellenifts, or the converted Jews)
confidered it as hagiographical ; and elfewhere (vid. Praef. in
Lib. Salom.) that the church, though it read Judith, did not
receive it as canonical. Vid. alfo, in Prol. Gal. Epift. ad Fur.
& Bellarm. de Verbo Dei, Lib. I. c. x. Erafm. in Cenfur. Prsef.
Hieron. reve-

OF THE BOOK OF JUDITH. 56$
reverenced as an infpired work by the writers of the
Romifh church ; who are, however, much perplexed
and diftreffed for want of arguments to fupport its
pretenfions. The book prefents an interefting fcene of ambition
fruftrated, and of intemperance punifhed. The hif
tory is written with great grandeur and animation,
and the Afiyrian and Hebrew manners are well de
fcribed. The prayer, and the hymn of Judith, are
compofed with much piety [h], The book contains
nothing exceptionable in point of dodrine, for where
Judith celebrates God's juftice in punifhing the crime
of the Shechemites [i], flie by no means attempts,
to juftify Simeon for his vindidive and indifcriminate
cruelty. If the addrefs with which fhe accomplifhed
her defigns fhould be thought to partake of too
, , much of an infidious charader ; it may be permitted,
at leaft, to admire the heroic patriotifm and piety
which prompted her to undertake the exploit ; the
urgency and importance ofthe occafion, will likewife
excufe the indifcreet expofure of her perfon to intern*-
perate paffions ; and in the general defcription of her
charader, fhe may be allowed to have prefented an
exemplary difplay of the virtues which become the
widowed ftate [k].
[h] Concil. Trid. Self. 4,
[1] Chap. ix. 2.
£k] Ambrofe de Vid, Fulgent. Epift. 2,

O 03 OF

[ 5*6 ]

OF THE

REST of the CHAPTERS of the
BOOK of ESTHER.

THE chapters entitled, the Reft ofthe Chapters
of the Book of Efther, are not extant in the
Hebrew, nor in the Chaldaic language, but only in
the Greek and Latin copies. Origen was of opinion,
that they had formerly exifted in the Hebrew [a],
though omitted in the copies that remained in his
time ; and Huet, upon a very improbable fuppofition,
conceives them to have been the produdion of the
great fynagogue, and to have been tranflated from
fome more copious manufcripts by the Septuagint
tranflators [b] ; but thefe, tranflators certainly con
fined themfelves to the canonical books. It
[a] Vid. Origen in Johan. torn. ii. & Epift. ad African.
[b] Origen, indeed, quoting fome paffage from the four
teenth chapter of the book of Efther, fays, "in the book of
Efther, according to the Seventy," the fpurious parts being
annexed to fome copies of the Septuagint, though, indeed,
long after that verfion was made, as Origen muft have known,
however

OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 567
It is at leaft very doubtful whether thefe chapters
did ever exift in the Hebrew language ; and it is un
queftionable that they never were in the Hebrew
canon. If, likewife, we are to rely on the accounts
of this book, there is reafon to believe that even the
authentic book of Efther was not tranflated by the
authors of the Septuagint into Greek ; for in the
firft verfe of the fecond chapter of this apocryphal
part, it is faid, that the epiftfe of Phurim, by which
was probably meant the book of Efther, was inter
preted into Greek by Lyfimachus [c]; who was
poffibly an Helleniftical Jew refiding at Jerufalem ;
and the apocryphal parts contained in this book
were, perhaps, added to the Greek tranflation by
Dofitheus and Ptolomeus, or by fome other Hellen-
ifts of Alexandria. They appear to have been fub
fequent additions interpolated in various parts of the
Greek copies by fome perfon defirous of giving em-
bellifhment to the hiftory ; and who inferted into the
however he might think it unneceffary there to diftinguifh the
canonical from the fpurious parts. Vid. EpifL ad African.
Origen elfewhere rejecls thefe additions as apocryphal. Vid.
Sixt. Senens. Bib. Sana. Lib.L fed. 3. & Lib. V. An. 250.
[c] According to this account, it was tranflated in the fourth
year of the reign of Ptolemy; who, if he were Ptolemy Philo-
metor, lived long after the Septuagint tranflation was made.
Some conceive that Ptolemy Philadelphus was meant ; in the
feventh year of whofe reign that verfion is fuppofed to have been
executed; and Huet imagines that the Seventy adopted this
work of Lyfimachus into their tranflation of the fcriptures, on an
idea that it was executed before the reign of Ptolemy Phi
ladelphus.
O 0 4 body

568 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER.
body of the work fuch traditionary or fanciful cir
cumftances as his enquiry or invention could furnifh,
From the Greek thefe additions were tranflated into
the old Italic verfion [p]. They were not, howr
ever, confidered as canonical by the ancient church
[e], though they might fometimes pafs uncenfured
as annexed to the canonical book. St. Jerom, who
tonfined himfelf to what was in the Hebrew, did
not admit them into his tranflation [f] ; but reprer
fents them 'as rhetorical appendages and embellifh-
ments annexed to the Italic verfion. Since that
time, the moft judicious writers [g] have not fcrupled to
[d] This differed both from the Hebrew and Greek copies.
[e] Melito ap. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IV. c.xxvi. Athan.
Epift- 39. Gregor. Nazianz. Carm. de Script. Sixt. Senens,
Bib. Lib. I. feci. 3. Even the canonical book of Efther, in
deed, is not exprefsly enumerated in thefe catalogues: either
becaufe of thefe fpurious additions, or as the generality of
writers fuppofe, becaufe the authentic book was reckoned as
one book with thofe of Ezra and Nehemiah ; the three being
attributed to the fame author. The fathers profefs to receive the
whole of the Hebrew canon exclufively ; and in the fynopfis
attributed to Athanafius, the apocryphal part of Efther, which
is defcribed as beginning with the dream of Mordecai, is reject
ed ; and: the authentic part is there faid to be reckoned as one
book with another; which other muft have been that of Ezra.
Vid. alfo, Hieron. Praef. in Ezram. & Nehem. The book is
reckoned in the catalogues of Origen, Hilary, Cyril, and Epi
phanius ; and in that of the council of Laodicea.
[p] Hieron. Praef. in Efther. In the Greek church they are
fti}l fuffered to conftitute a part ofthe book of Efther.
[g] Grotius Praef. ad Addit. Efther. Dyonif. Carthuf. Ca-
jetan. Raynold Heidegger, Lib. II. c. x. Kenthii Proleg. ad
Lib.

OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 569
jto confi&r them as extrinfic and fpurious appendages ;
though they are canonized, together with the au
thentic chapters, by the Council of Trent ; and paf-
fages from them are inferted into the offices of the
Rotrrifh church.
It is manifeft on confidering the canonical book,
that it is a complete and perfed work ; and thefe
apocryphal parts, which are introduced into the
Greek copies, will appear to be fuperfluous and
cumbrous additions, to thofe' who take the pains to
examine them. They are in a different ftile from
that of the authentic chapters, and confift partly of
a repetition of particulars contained in them. The
firft chapter, which in the Greek copies is annexed
to the tenth of the canonical chapters, confifts of
an interpretation of a pretended dream of Mordecai,
which contains fome fanciful conceits, and was fur
nifhed probably by the fame perfon that fabricated
the dream which follows in the next chapter. The
intimation contained in the firft verfe of the fecond
or eleventh chapter, was poffibly written by fome
Jew of Alexandria ; it was not in the ancient Italic
verfion. The dream which is related in this eleventh
chapter, and which in the Greek is placed before
the canonical part, is evidently the reverie of fome
inventive writer; and afterwards prefixed to the
work. It does not form a proper introdudion to
the book ; and in the fifth verfe of the fecond ca-
Lib. Apoc. V. T. p. 27. Sixtus Senenfis calls them, laceras
Appendices & pannofa Additamenta. Vid. Bib. Sancl. nonical

570 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER.
nonical chapter, Mordecai is introduced as a perfon
not before-mentioned ; and his genealogy, and other
particulars, are defcribed there, and in the fucceeding
verfe, with a minutenefs which muft have been quite
redundant, if the fecond verfe of the eleventh chap
ter had been authentic.
The account of the devices, and of the difcovery
of the two eunuchs who confpired againft the life of
Artaxerxes, is a repetition, with fome alterations of
what is related in the fecond chapter of the authentic
part [h] ; and could not properly be prefixed (as
it is in the Greek) to the canonical book which
opens the hiftory as if nothing had been previoufly
communicated. ¦ The fixth or fifteenth chapter con
tains a defcription of E fiber's appearance and recep
tion by the King, which is borrowed from the fifth
chapter of the genuine hiftory [ij, and embellifhed
with fome extraneous particulars. So likewife the
prayers of Mordecai and Efther, contained in the
thirteenth and fourteenth chapters [k] ; as well as
the letter in the thirteenth [l] chapter ; and that in
[»J Efther ii. 21 — 23.
[1] The fifteenth chapter is in the Greek and Vulgate in
ferted immediately after Efther's prayer (as given in the
fourteenth chapter) inftead of the two firfl verfes of the fifth
chapter. [kJ Thefe prayers are, placed in the Greek immediately after
the feventeenth verfe of the fourth chapter.
[ l ] This in the Greek is added after the thirteenth verfe of
the third chapter. It might be grounded on fome authentic ac
counts, as the fubftance of it is related by Jofephus. the

OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER. 571
the fixteenth [m], which concludes the apocryphal
book, are all obvioufly fiditious inventions defigned
by fome rhetorical writer [n], to decorate and com
plete the hiftory. They are probably accounts fa
bricated in defigned conformity to particulars alluded
to by the infpired writer in his book ; and are inter
woven with fome ingenuity into the body of the
work. The forgery is, however, occafionally be
trayed by the introdudion of circumftances incom-
. patible with the genuine parts [o] ; and rather by
confiftent with the period affigned to the hiftory (VJ.
Some Greek and Latin copies contain ftill more ex-
[m] This edicl in the Greek copies follows the twelfth verfe a£
the eighth chapter. It appears from the ftile to have been ori
ginally written in Greek, and both the letters are mentioned in
the authentic book in a manner that fhews they were not inferted
in the hiftory. Vid. Efth. iii. 14. viii. 13.
[n] Hieron. ad Paul. & Euftoch. Sixt. Senens. Bib. Lib.
VIII. [o] Comp. chap. vi. 3. with xii. 5. Chap. v. 2. with chap.
xv. 4. Chap. iii. iz. with chap. xiii. 6. Chap. ix. I. with
chap. vi. 8.
[ p ] The King is made in chap. xvi. 1 o. to ftile Aman a Mace
donian ; and afterwards to talk of his defire " to tranflate the
kingdom of the Perfians to the Macedonians ;" particulars that
lead us to fufpeft an anachronifm, as they were more adapted to
the fentiments and circumftances of a later period, when the
Perfians and Macedonians were at war. In the ninth chapter
of the canonical book, Haman is in the Greek called a Mace
donian, but the Hebrew word »jJNrt, fhould have been rendered
as by St. Jerom, and in our tranflation, the Agagite, that is,
of the race of Agag, King of the Amalekites. Jofephus de
fcribes Haman as an Amalekita. Vid. Antiq. Lib. XI. c. vi.
Efther ix. 24. iii. 10. traneous

572 OF THE BOOK OF ESTHER.
traneous particulars ; and the Chaldee Paraphrafe is
loaded with accumulated additions. The copies, in
deed, vary fo much from each other, that Bellar-
mine [ q_] fancied that there muft have been two
original hiftories : the largeft of which he conceived
to comprize the Greek additions. Our church ju-
dicioufly adheres to the chapters which are contained
in the Hebrew : which are indifputably authentic ;
and furnifh an entire and valuable hiftory. The ad
ventitious parts are, however, fuffered to continue
in our bibles as profitable in a fubordinate degree.
They deferve not to be incorporated with the genuine
hiftory, though they illuftrate the charaders, and
dilate on the virtues difplayed for our inftrudion by
the facred writer. *
I o^J Bellarm. de Verb. Dei, Lib. I. c. vii.

OF

[ 573 ]

OF THE

BOOK of the WISDOM
OF SOLOMON.

THE works of Solomon in general, were em
phatically ftiled the Books of Wifdom, and
were fo cited by the fathers [a] ; and in the Eccle-
fiaftical language, the Book of Wifdom compre
hends not only all the authentic Books of Solomon,
but alfo Ecclefiafticus ; and this which is called the
Book of Wifdom, or according to the Greek, the
Wifdom of Solomon. The author of this book
affumes the title, and fpeaks in the charader of that
monarch [b] ; but though it may, perhaps, contain
fome fentiments feleded from his works, and others
afcribed to him by tradition £c], it cannot be re
ceived as an infpired book ; and it was certainly
[a] Melito ap. Eufeb. Ecclef. Lib. IV. c. xxv. Clem. Epift.
ad Cor. Epift. 57. Origen. Horn. xvii. Cyprian. Teft. Lib. III.
c. xvi. Ambrofe de Parad. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. VI.
[b] Vid. c. vii. 7 — 21. compared with I Kings, c. iii. 13.
c. xiv. 29 — 34. Vid. c. viii. 14, 15, 19, 21. c. ix. 7, 8, &c.
[e] Barto Cocceius Biblioth. Rabb. torn, i. p. 249. compofed

574 OF THE TSDOM OF SOLOMON.
compofed long after the time of Solomon. It
never was in the Hebrew canon [d], and probably
never in the Hebrew language [e]. It is not reck
oned in the facred catalogues of the earlier church ;
and the generality of ancient writers confefs, that it
is not to be confidered as the work of Solomon. It
contains citations of fcripture from the Septuagint,
even where that verfion differs from the Hebrew
text [i]j and borrows from books written long
after the time of Solomon [o].
The copy which has the higheft pretenfions to be
confidered as the original, is in Greek profe. Some
learned men have fancied, that they have difcovered
in this book, as well as in that of Ecclefiafticus, the
Hebrew meafure, which obtains in the authentic
works of Solomon [h]. The fentences have in
deed, often a poetical turn; and in the Alexandrian
manufcript, they are written ftitch-wife, like the book
[d] Melito Epift. ad Onefim. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. IV.
c. xxv. Athan. Synop. Epiphan. de Pond. & Menfur. Hieron.
Prol. in Lib. Solom. Joh. Damafcen. de Fid. Orthod. Lib. IV.
c. xviii.
[e] Auguft. de Civit. Dei. Lib. XVII. c. xviik Hieron.
Prol. Gal.
[p] Chap. v. 10, ii. from Prov. xxx. 19. Ch. xi. 12. from
Ifaiah iii. 10.
[g] Compare Wifd. iii. 14. with Ifaiah Ivi. 4, 5. Wifd. ix.
13. with Ifaiah xl.' 13. Wifd. xiii. 11. with Ifaiah xliv. 13.
Wifd; v. 18. with Ifaiah lix. 17. Wifd. ii. 6, 7. with Ifaiah
lvi. 12.
[h] Vid. Grabe's Proleg. torn. ult. c. i. 2. Calmer/s Dicl. in
Wifd. Epiphan. de Ponder. & Menfur. of

OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 575
of Job, of Pfalms, and thofe of Solomon, to which
this was fubjoined in fome old Latin tranflations,
and by Dr. Grabe in his edition. Hence fome have
conceived that it was tranflated from the Hebrew
into Greek ; and fome with lefs reafon fuppofe it to
have been tranflated from the Chaldee, in which
language R. Mofes Ben Nachman profeffes to have
feen it [1] ; though probably what he faw was a
tranflation from the Greek into that language.
But in whatever language it was written, it has
always been defervedly efteemed as a treafure of wif
dom. It was compofed in imitation of the ftile of
Solomon, though, perhaps, not defigned to pafs for
his work, but to communicate fuch inftrudions as
might be confiftent with his affumed charader.
Many ancient writers have cited it as a work at
tributed to Solomon [k], and as not unworthy,
from its refemblance to his writings, to be confidered
as the performance of that enlightened monarch;
and fome appear to have confidered it as his genuine
produdion. Ladantius, with other writers, repre
fents, in loofe citation, the defcription of the juft
man perfecured, which is contained in the fecond
chapter, to be a prophecy delivered by Solomon
concerning our Saviour's fufferings [l]. It is cer-
[1] R. Mofes Ben Nachman, Prol. Com. in Pentat.
[k] Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. VI. p. 669. Eufeb. Hift. Ec
clef. Lib. VI. c. vii. Tertul. cont. Marcion, Lib. III. Ori
gen cont. Celf. Lib. III. & Homil. 8. in Exod. Hieron. in
Pfalm lxxiii.
f>] Laclant. de Ver. Sap. Lib. IV. $ 16. Wifd. ii. 12— 2 r.
3 tain,

$n6 ©F THE WISDOM OF SOLOMOfT*
tain, however, that the book was not written by
Solomon, as St. Auftin, who likewife confiders this
pafTage as prophetic, allows [m]. The antiquity
and high importance of the book, appear to have
excited great reverence in the ancient church [n] j
and fome of the fathers feem to have thought that
the book of Wifdom, and that of Ecclefiafticus, con
tained paflages, at leaft, that were infpired. St,
Auftin affirms that the chriftian writers who immedi
ately fucceeded the apoftles, adduced its teftimony as
divine [o] ; but it does not appear that they, or St.
Auftin himfelf, confidered the book as really the
work of an infpired penman, fince he allowed that
neither this book, nor that of Eeclefiafticus, were pro
duced againft gainfayers with the fame authority as
the undoubted writings of Solomon. And he elfe-
[mJ Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVH. c. xx.
[n] St. Auftin fays, " Non debuit repudiari fententia Libri
fapientias, qui meruit in Ecclefia Chrifti de gradu leeforum
tarn longa annofitate recitari." From this it fhould feem,
that the apocryphal books were read in a lower place by the
leclours, or inferior officers ofthe church. Whereas the infpired
books were read by the priefts and bilhops from a more confpi-
cuous place. De Gradu Epifcoporum. Vid. Auguft. de Prsdeft.
c. xiv. § 27. Edit. Antwerp.
[o] St. Auftin may be underftood to mean, that they who
cited Wifd. iv. 11. cited it as a faithful faying, and as grounded
on divine authority. Vid. de Praedeft. Sancl. c. xiv. § 28.
& Cyprian. L. de Mortal. & L. Teftim. 3 ad Quirin. St.
Auftin fays likewife of this book in an hyperbolical encomium,
that it deferves " ab omnibus Chriftianis, cum veneratione
divins auiloritatis audiri." Vid. alfo, dc Dott. Chrift. Lib. II.
c. viii. - 9 where

OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 577
where admits, that after the death of Malachi, the
Jews had no Prophet till the appearance of Zacha
rias, the father of John the Baptift [p]. Andthe fa
thers, indeed, in general, however they might be
dazzled by particular paffages, or confider them as
fragments of infpired writings, reprefent the book
of Wifdom as inferior to the canonical books ; they
efteem it as a work of admirable tendency, and as of
a fcriptural charader, but not as abfolutely derived
from the fuggeftions of the HolySpirit [ qJ.
Some partial councils [r] admitted it as canonical
in a fecondary interpretation of that word; but it
was always confidered as inferior to the books con
tained in the Hebrew catalogue, till by the peremp
tory decifion of the Council of Trent, it was re
ceived as a work of equal authority with them. Still,
[p] Auguft. de Civit. Dei. Lib. XVIII. c. xxiv.
[ <0 i£ is exprefsly reprefented as inferior to the facred
books by many writers. Vid. Hierarch. de Divin. Nomin.
c. 4. Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. VI. c. xii. Athan. Epift. 39.
& Synop. Epiphan. de Pond. & Menfur. Philaft. de Haeres.
Prodiant. Bafil Praff. Com. in Prov. Auguft. de Civit. Dei.
Lib. XVII. c. xx. Hugo de S. Via. de Script, et Scriptor. Sac.
c. vi. Thom. Aquinas, in Dionyf. de Divin. Honi. c. iv. Left.
IX. Du Pin, Diff. Prel.
[r] As the third Council of Carthage, that of Sardis, and
that of Conftantinople in Trullo; the eleventh of Toledo,
and that of Florence, Provincial fynods, or corrupt councils.
unduly influenced, of which the canons relative to the fcrip
tures were fometimes afterwards forged or altered, and which
were not received by oecumenical councils. Vid. Cofin's Schol.
Hift. Du Pin, Hift. Ecclef. & Bib. Pat. torn. i. p. i. & Arnald's
note to Calmet's preface. P p however,

57^ OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON.
however, the moft zealous defenders [s] of the
Romifh church acknowledge, that it never was in
the Hebrew canon as compofed by Ezra [t] ; .at
the clofing of which we have every reafon to believe
that the fpirit of infpiration ceafed.
The book was probably written by an Helleniftical
Jew; but whether before or after Chrift, has been
difputed. Grotius is of opinion, that it was originally
written in Hebrew by a Jew who lived at fome time
intermediate between Ezra and Simon the Juft; and
that it was tranflated by a Chriftian with fome free
dom and additions of evangelical dodrine. But the
ftile, as St. Jerom has obferved, indicates rather the
artificial contexture of Grecian eloquence, than the
terfenefs and cornpreffive fimplicity of the Hebrew
, language. The book is aifo replete with allufions to
Greek mythology, and with imitations of Grecian
writers : with whofe works, and efpecially with thofe
of Plato, the author appears to have been intimately
acquainted. St. Jerom informs us, that many ancient writers
affirmed that the book of Wifdom was written by
[s] As Ifidore, Nicephorus, Rabanus. Maurus, Hugo, Ly-
ran, Cajetan- Vid, Niceph. Lib. IV. c, xxxiii. , Limborch.
Theolog. Chrift. Lib. I. c. iii. Melch. Canus Loe. Theolog.
Lib. V. cap. ult. Baron Ann. torn. viii. ad Ann. 692, Calmet's
Preface. [t] Ifidore in one place relates, that fome perfons reported
that it was expunged from the Jewifh canon becaufe it con
tained a clear prophecy of Chrift ; an idle fable which Ifidore
muft have difcredited. Vid. Ofric. Lib. I. c. xii. Philo

QF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 579
Philo Jucteus ; by whom the generality of commen
tators [u] fuppofe to have been meant the Philo
fenior, who is mentioned by Jofephus, as having
furnifhed fome relations concerning the Jews which
were tolerably faithful [x] ; and who is generally
fuppofed to have flourifhed before or about the time
\©f the Maccabees. And there are many reafons
which fhould lead us to fuppofe that the book [y]
was written before the birth of Chrift. But as fome
paffages in the book feem to indicate an acquaint
ance with the particulars of the Gofpel difpenfation,
and to be imitative of parts of the New Teftament :
many perfons have maintained that the author muft
have lived after the publication of the evangelical
writings ; and fome have fuppofed, from a conformity
between the principles and fentiments contained in
this book and thofe difperfed through the works of
[u] Hieron. Praef. in Proverb. Salorri. Huet. Prop. .4.'
Beffuet Praef. in Lib. Sap. Driedo de Ecclef. Dogm. c. iv.
[x] Jofeph. cont. Apion. Lib. I. Jofephus remarks, that
Philo, and fome other hiftorians of whom he fpeaks, were en
titled to indulgence, as they had it not in their power to be
come accurately acquainted with the Hebrew writings; from
which we may colled, that he was ignorant of the Hebrew
language, and probably he was an Helleniftic Jew, which is
confiftent with the account of St. Jerom. Some poetical frag
ments of Philo relative to the , Patriarchs are cited by Alex
ander Polyhiftor. Vid. Eufeb. Prasp. Evang. Lib. IX. c. xx.
& xxiv. Clem. Alex. Strom. Lib. I. This Philo was a dif
ferent perfon from Philo Biblius, who flourifhed under Adrian
and Trajan.
ty] OVigen cont. Celf. Lib. I. Eufeb. Demonft. Evan. Lib. I.
c vi. Selden de Pentateifch. P p 2 Philo

$tO OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON.
Philo [z] of Alexandria, which we now poffefs,
that he was the author of it [a]. Dr. Rainolds
imagines that it was compofed about A. D. 42, upon
the occafion of an order from the Emperor Caligula,
that his ftatue fhould be fet up and adored in the
temple [b] of Jerufalem, when Philo was fent to
Rome by the Jews to plead againft this prophanation,
but without effed. This fuppofition the learned
writer defends, as confiftent with the argument and
drift of the book of Wifdom; and to this idea he
refers thofe precepts in the firft and fixth chapters,
which defcribe the duty of princes ; as well as for
the denunciations againft tyrants and idolatry; and
conceives that they were defigned to convey admoni
tion and reproof to Caligula.
But notwithftanding the many prefumptive argu
ments that have been urged in fupport of this opinion,
there is fome reafon to believe that the work was
not written by Philo of Alexandria [c], but, indeed,
previoufly
[z] Firft publifhed at Paris by Tumebus in 1552, after
wards at London, by Dr. Mangey, in 1742, 2 vols. Vid.
collated paffages in Calmet's DifTertation fur l'Auteur du Livre
de la Sageffe.
[a] Bafil Epift. ad Amphiloch. Joh. Beleth. de Div. Offic,
C. Ix. Whitaker's Origin of Arianifm, p. 132—136.
[b] Suelon. in Vita Caligula; 22. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XVIII.
e. viii. Rain. Cenfur. Apoc. Pradea. 22.
[c] This Philo was very converfant with the facred writings,
and indulged himfelf too much in the fanciful explications of
them. His works, which blend the principles of Plato with
the doftrines of fcripture, are fuppofed to have been the
fource at which Origen and the myftical writers imbibed an
extrayagant

•

OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. $^1
previoufly to the birth of Chrift. Some paffages in
it appear to be cited by writers who were, nearly con
temporary with Philo [d] ; and it is probable, that
a work profefling to be the produdion of Solomon,
was publifhed under the Jewifh difpenfation; as,
indeed, by the generality of writers it was fuppofed
to be.
The correfpondence which has been conceived to
exift between this book and the works of Philo, might,
it is faid, be occafioned by the imitations ofthe latter;
and the fuppofed refemblances between paffages in this
book and others in the New Teftament, may be thought
on examination to be either imitations of fimilar paf
fages in the facred books of the Old Teftament [e] ;
vi or
extravagant fpirit of figurative interpretation. Philo is repre
fented to have lived in friendfhip with St. Peter at Rome in the
reign of Claudius, to have been converted to Chriftianity, and to
have afterwards apoftatifed. Vid. Jofeph. Lib. VIII. c, x,
Eufeb. Hift- Lib. II, c. ii. xvii, xviii. Phot. Cod. 105, Hieron.
de Script. Ecclef. c. xi. Eufeb. Prasp. Lib. VII. c. xii. Some
authors maintain that the book of Wifdom differs widely from the
ftile of Philo, and contains fome principles very oppofite to thofe
laid down in his works. Vid. Calmet, Preface fur le Livre de la
Sageffe. [p] Barnab, Epift. from Wifd. ii. 12. Clem. Rom. Epift. ad
Corinth, c. iii. from Wifd. ii. 24. c. xxvii. from Wifd. xi. 22. &
xii. 12.
[e] Thus Wifd. ii. 18. and Mat);, xxvii. 43. might both be
derived from Pfa. xxii. 8, 9. So Wifd. iii. 7. & Matt. xiii. 43.
might be from Dan. xii. 3, Wifd. ii. 7, 8. & 1 Cor. xv. 32.
from Ifa. xxii. 13. k lvi. 12. Wifd. v. 18, 19. & Ephef. vi.
14. from Ifa. lix. 7. Wifd. vi. 7. & Afts x. 34, &c. from
2 Chron. xix. 7. or from Job xxxiv. 19. Wifd. ix. 9. k John
P P 3 »• »— 3.

582 OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON-
or fuch cafiral. coincidences [f] of fentirnents or ex
preffions. as, may be found between aU works treating
on the fame fubjed,
It need not, however, be fuppofed, that the beau--
tiful paffage contained in the fecond chapter, though
written before the coming of Chrift, can confer any
charader of infpiration on the book ; for if we con
fider the defcription of the juft man perfecuted and
condemned to a fhameful death by his confpiring
enemies, as bearing a prophetic afped to the fuffer
ings and condemnation of our Saviour by the Jews ;
it might ftill have been framed by a writer conver
fant with the prophetic books [c], without any in
fpired knowledge. But it is, perhaps, only applicable
by cafual accommodation and undefigned refemblance
to our Saviour, who might be eminently ftiled " the
j. 1  3, 10. from Prov. viii. 22. Wifd. ix. 13. and Rom. xi.
34. or 1 Cor. ii. 16. from Ifa. xl. 13. Wifd. xv. 7. and Rom.
ix. 21. from Ifa. xiv-. 9. and Jerem. xviii. 6. Wifd. xvi. 261
and Matt. iv. 4. from Deut. viii. 3. Wifd. iii. 8. and 1 Cor. vi.
2, 3. from Dan. vii. 18 — 22.
If] Comp. Wifd: vi. 3. with Rom. xiii. 1. Wifd. vii. 26.
with Heb. i. 3. Wifd. xii. 24. with Rom. i. 23. Wild. xiii. 1.
with Rom. i. 19, 20. There is, however, no reafon why the
evangelical writers fhould not be fuppofed to have occafionally
adopted the expreffions, or even the fentiments of a pious though
uninfpired writer.
[G] Comp. chap. ii. iz. efpecially as cited by Barnabas, with
Ifaiali iii. 10. Chap; ii. 18. with Pfa. xxii. 8. or xxi. 9. in the
Septuagint. See alfo Matt, xxvii. 43. where David's prophetic
expreffions are ufed. The righteous are often called th« fons, of
God in a general fenfe/ Vid. Exod'. iv. 22. Prov, i. 8, 10. and
Wifd. xviii. 13. and v. 5. , '
jttft

OP THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON, 583
juft man," and who was in an appropriate fenfe, the
Son of God. The pidure feems, indeed, to be copied
and applied to others by fubfequent writers [h].
The paffages in which the author feems to imper-.
fonate the word of God [ij, and to attribute to it
diftind powers and effeds, need not be confidered
as intentionally prophetic of the attributes and opera- '
fions of the fecond perfon in the Trinity ; but were
probably defigned as generally defcriptive of God's
omnipotent proceedings ; or were accidentally figu
rative of Chrift's charader, by being borrowed as
to their expreffions from parts of the facred writ
ings [k]. So likewife, thofe beautiful encomiums
on wifdom, with which the book abounds, though
written with a piety highly enraptured and fublime,
are not to be confidered as infpired and concerted
illuftrations of that perfed wifdom which dealt in an
efpecial degree in Chrift ; but were defigned only to
celebrate that created wifdom, which being derived
as an emanation from God, refleds his unfpotted
perfedions ; and irradiates the minds of thofe to
whom it is imparted, The author, however, in imi
tation, perhaps, of Solomon's attradive imagery [l],
perfonifies
[h] Plato de Repub. Lib. II. Cicero de Repub. Lib. III.
Laflant. Inftitut. Lib. VI. §. 17. ex Seneca Lib. Moral.
Philofoph. [1] Chap. ix. 1. xvi. 12, 13, 26. xviii. 15.
[k] Deut. viii. 3. xxxii. 39. 1 Sam. ii.. 6. Pfa. cvii. 20.
[l] Prov. viii. The magnificent defcription which Solo
mon here gives of the divine wifdom, was often applied by
the, ancient chriftians to that eternal wifdom which was re-
P p 4 vcaled

584 OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON.
perfonifies this divine wifdom ; and therefore the
defcription neceffarily bears a refemblance to the cha
rader of Chrift, in whom the fulnefs of wifdom per-
fonally refided.
But though the work be not derived from that
infallible fpirit of which the ftamp and charader are
to be difcovered only in the facred books, it was
evidently the produdion of a pious and enlightened
writer ; of one, who by application to revealed wif
dom, had acquired fome portion of its excellence,
and learnt to imitate its language. And, except in
fome few paffages where we are tempted to fufped a
taint of falfe philofophy [*m] ; or fiditious additions
to the accounts of facred hiftory [n] ; there is no
thing in the book inconfiftent with the accounts, or un
favourable to the defigns of revelation ; it offers much
fublime admonition to the Princes and Leaders of man
kind ; it paints in very eloquent defcription, the folly
and confequences of idolatry ; overthrpws many per
nicious errors, and delivers juft information concern
ing a future life and judgment. The fix firft chapters,
which form, as it were, a preface to the book, are a
kind of paraphrafe of the nine firft chapters of the
book of Proverbs ; in the feventh and eighth chapters,
the author propofes himfelf as an example, under
vealed to mankind in Chrift, or rather to our Saviour's perfon,
who was himfelf the eternal word and wifdom of the Father.
But it was, perhaps, only generally applicable to God's revealed
wifdom. Vid. Juft. Mart. p. 267. edit, Thirlb.
[m] Chap. viii. 20. Arnald. k Calmet.
[n] Chap, xvi. 17—19. xvii. 3—6. the

OF THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON. 585
the name of Solomon •,, the ninth chapter is a para-
phrafe of the prayer which Solomon made to the
Lord at the beginning of his reign [o] ; and from
the tenth chapter to the end is a continuation of the
fame prayer dilated ; which though extended to a
confiderable length by the intermixture of nice dif-
quifitions and extraneous difcourfe, is ftill apparently
imperfed. The ftile of this book is various ; it is
ofixn tragical, and fometimes turgid, and not feldom
elegant and fublime ; it abounds in epithets and
poetical imagery. The author often imitates the
fententious periods of Solomon, but with lefs fuccefs,
feys Bifhop Lowth, than the author of the fucceed
ing book [p].
[oj 1 Kings iii, 6 — 9. [p] Prxleft. Poet. 24.

OF

[ 5*6 ]

OF THE

BOOK of ECCLESIASTICUS.
THIS Book, like the preceding, has fometimes
been confidered as the produ&ion of Solo
mon, from its refemblance to the infpired works of
that writer [a]. In the Latin church it was efteemed
the laft of the five books attributed to him. It is
cited as the work of that enlightened King by feveral
of the fathers ; was joined with his books in moft of
the copies ; and like them is written ftitchwife in the
Alexandrian manufcript, being fuppofed to have been
compofed originally in metre [b]. Still, however,
it muft have been written long after the time of So
lomon, who with the fucceeding Prophets that flou
rifhed before and after the captivity, is here men
tioned [c] ; fince the high-prieft Simon, who lived a
litde before the Maccabees, is fpoken of; fince the
[aJ Origen. Homil. in Lib. Numer. Horn. I. in Ezekiel.
Chryfof. in Pfa. cxxxiv. Cyprian. Lib. III. Epift. IX. Teftim.
Lib. ITI. § 96, 113. & Hilar, in Pfa. cxliv.
[bJ Epiphan. -de Pond, k Menfur.
[c] Chap, xlvii. 13. &c. words

OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS. $oJ
words of Malachi are cited [d] ; and fince the author
defcribes himfelf in circumftances that could not have
occurred to Solomon [e]. The book can only be
fuppofed to contain fome fcattered fentiments of So
lomon, induftrioufly colleded [f] with other mate
rials for the work, by an Hebrew writer ftiled Jefus ;
who profeffes himfelf the author [g], and who is re
prefented to have fo been by his grandfon [hJ ; but
who, indeed, imitates the didadic ftile of Solomon,
and like him alfumes the charader of a preacher.
Jesus was, as we learn from the fame authority,
a man who had travelled much in - the purfuit of
knowledge i who was very converfant with the fcrip
tures, and defirous of producing, in imitation of the
facred writers, fome ufeful work for the inftrudion
of mankind; and who having colleded together
many valuable fentences from the Prophets and other
writers, their fucceflbrs, compiled them into one
work with fome original additions of his own pro
dudion. What this Jefus produced in the Syriac,
[d] Chap, xlviii. 10. from Malach. iv. 6.
[e] Cbap. xxxiv, n, 12. li. 6.
[f] Druf. Obfervat. Lib. I. cap. xviii. Athanafius calls Jefus
OwaJ^ tb SoAoftanl©-,, Salomonis Affecla. Vid. Athan. Synop.
Bartolocc. Bib. Rabb, torn- i- p- 249.
[cj Chap. 1. 27.
[hJ See the fecojncj prologue. This prologue is in all the
copies of the Vulgate, and in the Roman edition of the Greek.
It is. probably the authentic work of the grandfon, though it is
not in the Syriac or Arabic verfions. Vid. Eufeb. in Chron.
Hieron- in LVn- ix. Epiphan. Haeres. 8. In the Roman edition
of the Greek it is entitled limply " the Prologue." or

588 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS.
or vulgar Hebrew of his time, his grandfon tranflated
into Greek for the benefit of his countrymen in
Egypt, who by long difufe had forgotten the Hebrew
tongue. To this grandfon we are indebted for the
poffeffion of a valuable work, of which the original
is now loft, though St. Jerom profeffes to have feen
it [1]. The copies of which Munfter, and Paulus
Fagius fpeak, were probably Ben Sira's alphabet, or
modern tranflations from the Greek.
It has been a fubjed of fome difpute, whether the
grandfather or grandfon be the perfon who fhould
be defcribed as the fon of Sirach. The book is en
titled the Wifdom of Jefus, the fon of Sirach ; and
this title muft apply to the author, as the book can
not be fuppofed to have been denominated by the
name of the tranflator. The author, likewife, de
fcribes himfelf as the fon of Sirach in the fifty-firft
chapter, which appears to be the work of the fame
author [kJ. The tranflator, who is ufually called
Jefus, is likewife ftiled the fon of Sirach by Epi
phanius [l] ; and by the author of the anonymous.
[1 J Hieron. Pra;f. in Lib. Salom. St. Jerom informs us, that
j.he Hebrew copy which he faw was entitled Parables (or Pro
verbs) on account probably of the proverbial and fententious
form in which its precepts were conveyed.
[kJ Grotius, without an^ reafon, attributes it, together
with the three laft verfes of the foregoing chapter, to the
grandfon. [l] Epiphan. de Pond. & Menfur. Ifidor. de Ecclef. Offic,
in Lib. I, c. xii. Eufeb. de Praep. Lib. VIII. c. ii. Hieron.
in Dan. ix. Auguft. de Doft. Chrift. Lib. II. Grotius,
Drufnis, &c. prologue,

OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS. 50^
prologue, which is fuppofed to have been written by
Athanafius, as it is extraded from the Synopfis at
tributed to him, and prefixed to this book [m], in
fome Greek, and in all the Latin editions, as well as
in our tranflation ; and it is nolf improbable, that the
younger Jefus might likewife have been a fon of
Sirach, as names were often fo entailed in families.
Genebrard [n] fays, that Jefus, the author of
this book, was a prieft of the race of Jofhua, the
fon of Jofedech [o] ; and Ifidore reprefents him as
his grandfon, though he muft have lived much too
long after Jofhua to have been fo nearly related to
him [p]. Huet and Calmet, in agreement with
fome Rabbinical writers, fuppofe that the author was
the fame perfon with Ben Sira, a Jewifh writer, of
[m] This prologue is prefixed to the Greek in the Antwerp
Polyglot, and to fome other Greek editions ; but it is not in the
Roman edition, nor in the moft ancient copies, nor in the Arabic
Or Syriac verfions. Its accounts can therefore be received only
as of the fame authority as that of the Synopfis, which was
probably written by Athanafius, Bifhop of Alexandria, who
lived between A. D. 458 and 490, above a century after the
great Athanafius.
[n] Chronol. p. 16.
{o] Haggai i. 1.
[p] Some Greek manufcripts make the author a grandfon of
Eleazar. Vid. ap. Druf. ad ch. 1. 3, Others make him a con
temporary with Eleazar ; and fome writers pretend that he was
one of the feventy interpreters fent by Eleazar to Ptolemy
Philadelphus : a perfon of the name of Jefus being mentioned
in the lift given by Ariftseas. Huet fancies that Jefus, the
grandfon, was the fame perfon with Jofephus, the fon of Uziel,
and grandfon of Ben Sira.
whom

59° °F THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICP9.
whom an alphabet of Proverbs is extant, both in
Chaldee and Hebrew [qJ, which correfponds in fo
many particulars with the book of Ecclefiafticus, that
Huet, and other writers, have con fidered it as a cor
rupted copy ofthe Hebrew work of Jefus. If, how
ever, as others contend, Ben Sira is to be confidered
as a different perfon, and according to traditionary
accounts, the nephew of Jeremiah [r], it muft be
admitted that the author of Ecclefiafticus has bor
rowed many things from his work : fince fuch a con
formity as exifts between them could fcarcely be
accidental [sj.
The author of this book is by Calmet and others
fuppofed to have flourifhed fo late as under the Pon
tificate of Onias the Third ; and to have fled into
Egypt on account of the afflidions brought on his
country by Antiochus Epiphanes, about 171 years
before Chrift, to whofe perfecution they conceive
that fome parts ofthe book refer [t]. As, how
ever, the paffages produced in fupport ©f this opinion
bear no dired relation to particular calamities, but
contain only general fupplication for profperity, and
for the triumphant reftoration of their tribes, which
[c^] Both were publifhed with a Latin tranflation by Fagius
at Ifna in 1542. Ben Sira's book is faid to have been received
by the Jews, among the Hagiographa of fecondary rank. Vid.
David in Baba Cama, C. Hachobel.
[r] Buxtorf. & Bartolocc. Bib. Rabbin.
[sj Cornel, a Lapid. Com. in Ecclus.
[tJ Chap, xxxvi. Vid. alfo, ch. xxxiv. 12. xxxv. and li.v
which, however, contain no particulars exclufively applicable to
ihe time of Antiochus. 7 the

OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS. 5QI
the Jews expeded to experience in the advent of the
Meffiah;, as the eulogium contained in the fiftieth
chapter was probably defigned for Simon the Juft,
the firft high-prieft of the name of Simoni whom
the author appears to have remembered, and who
died A. M. 37 11 [u] ; and as the younger Jefus
went into Egypt in the reign of Euergetes the Second,
furnamed Phyfcon, who was admitted to a fhare in the
throne A. M. 3835 [x], it is more probable, that
agreeably to the calculations of other chronologifts,
the book was written about A. M. 3772; when the
author was,o perhaps, about feventy years of age ; and
that it was tranflated about fixty or fixty-three years
after [v] ; nearly at the time that it is fuppofed by
Calmet to have been written.
The tranflator -profeffes to have found the book

. [u] Two Simons, both fons of Onias, and both high-priefts,
are mentioned by Jofephus. The firft furnamed Juftus, who as
the laft of the great fynagogue, is fuppofed to have revifed and
completed the canon, is celebrated in this book. Vid. Jofeph.
Ant. Lib. XII. c. 2. Eufeb. in Chronic. Genebr. Cornel, a
Lapide. Dnvfius, Prid. ad An. 292. The fecond Simon is
mentioned in Antiq. Lib. XII. c. iv. He oppofed Ptolemy
Philopater's entrance into the fanftuary: Vid. Third Book of
Maccabees. [x] He reigned twenty-four years in conjunction with Philo-
metor, and twenty-eight years alone after the death of his bro
ther. Vid. Ufher's Annals, Ann. A. C. 145. Vaillant in
Ptolem. VII. ad An. Lagid, 192. Prid. Con. A. C. 169.
[v] Ufher fuppofes it to have been tranflated ,38 years
earlier. © after

592 OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS.
after he had continued fome time in Egypt [z],
where it might have been depofited by his grand
father [a] ; it was called Ecclefiafticus [b] by the
Latins, which title, though nearly fynonimous with
the Preacher, was 'defigned to diftinguifh it from the
book of Ecclefiaft.es. In Greek it is called the Wif
dom of Jefus the Son of Sirach [c J. It is much to
be admired for the excellency of its- precepts, and
none of the apocryphal books furnifli fuch admirable
inftrudion as this. But it has no title to be confi
dered as an infpired work : though it contains many
paffages derived from the facred writings, and efpe
cially from thofe of Solomon [d] ; and fome which
have a flight refemblance to parts of the New Tef
tament [e], by accidental coincidence of thought
[z] It is uncertain from what xra the -eight and thirtieth
year mentioned in the prologue is reckoned. It might be that
of the tranflator's age. If we fuppofe it to have been the
thirty-eighth year of Ptolemy's reign, above 100 years rmift
have intervened between the time of writing and that of
tranflating the book.
[aJ It is probable that Jefus by atpojumot, or tipopoioi, meant
a copy of this book. In the anonymous prologue, it is faid,
that Jefus received the book from his father, which perhaps he
might, either in Egypt or elfewhere ; for he does not fay
abfolutely that he found the book in Egypt, but that being in
Egypt, and having found the book, he judged it worthy a
tranflation. [b] Some think that it was called Ecclefiafticus by way of
eminence, as the moft valuable of the ecclefiaftical books.
[c] In the Roman edition it is improperly ftiled the Wifdom
of Sirach. •
[d] Ecclus paffim, & Huet. Prop. 4.
[e] Huet. and marginal references in our Bible. and

OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS. 593
and expreffion ; or by concurrent imitation of th/:
early writers of the Old Teftament. The book
never was in the Hebrew canon ; nor was it received
by the primitive church of Chrift, fince it is not in
the moft ancient ahd authentic catalogues, and is
exprefsly reprefented as an uncanonical book by
many ancient writers [f]. It is, however, cited with
great reverence by the fathers of the Greek and
Latin church [c], many of whom endeavoured to
ftrengthen their religious opinions by the fentiments
contained in a book fo defervedly and fo generally
approved. It is "cited as fcripture in a general fenfe
of the word by many provincial fynods, and received
as in a lower degree canonical by fome councils
after the fourth century [hJ. It was, however, uni
verfally confidered as inferior to the books derived
from the Hebrew canon, till received as of equal
authority by the unadvifed and undifcriminating de
cree of the Council of Trent [i].
All the copies of this book now extant vary con-
[f] Prol. of Jefus. Can. Apoft. Can. ult. Eufeb. Hift.
Ecclef. Lib. VI. c. xii. Athan. Epift. 39, & Synop. Epiphan.
de Pond. & Menf. Philaft. Hares. Prodiant. Auguft. de Civit.
Dei, Lib. XVII. c. xx. Hieron. Prol. in Lib. Solom.
Niceph. Lib. IV. c. xxxiii.
[g] Barnab. Epift. Confljt. Apoft; Lib. VII. c. xi. Clem.
Alex. Strom. Lib. VII. Origen in Ezek. Horn. IX. cont. Celf.
Lib. VI. Cyprian de baptiz. H<eret. § 27. Hilar, in 7 Ca. fup.
S. Matt. Epiphan. Hasres. 76. cont. Aetium. Auguft. Lib. de
Grat. & lib. Arbit. c. iii
[h] Concil. Carth. 3, Can. 47.
[1] Concil. Trid. Self. 4. Q_q fiderably

594 OF ™E B0°K OF ECCLESIASTICUS.
fiderably from each other ; and the Latin, of which
the date and author are uncertain, has many repe
titions and additions interwoven feemingly as para-
phraftical ornaments by the tranflator, or fome fub
fequent writer. The Greek verfion, as made early
and immediately from the original, is moft entided
to confideration. This tranflation, however, feems
to have been compofed with too fervile adherence to
the original, and has often the obfcurity of a literal
conftrudion. The tranflator was fenfible of its defeds, and ap
prehenfive, as he has been fince accufed, of mifin-
terpreting his author [k]. There has been a de
rangement of chapters between the thirtieth and
thirty-fixth [l] ; which, as well as many corruptions
and variations, may be imputed to the careleffnefs of
tranfcribers [m]. The old Englifh verfions, as thofe
of Coverdale, and the Bifhops' Bible, by a too rigid
adherence to the Vulgate, adopted many errors.
Our laft tranflators, though not fervilely attached to
any copy, feem chiefly to have regarded the Com
plutenfian : which though fufpeded of conforming
its Greek to the Vulgate, is by Dr. Grabe [n],
mentioned with praife, as derived from the moft
ancient manufcripts. Their verfion is, however, in
fome places inaccurate and obfcure, and fometimes
erroneous. [k] Prologue of Jefus, and Drufius.
[l] Calmet Comm. in chap. xxx. 27.
[m] Haefchelius.
[n] Grabe 's Proleg. cap. iii. § 1.
The

OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICtfS. $g$
The work begins with an eulogium on wifdom j
and many important inftrudions are delivered to the
twenty-fourth chapter, when wifdom herfelf is intro
duced, and is fuppofed to continue to fpeak, to the
fifteenth verfe of the forty-fecond chapter. Here
the colledion of wife fayings, which are obvioufhA
written in imitation of the Proverbs of Solomon,
concludes : and the author folemnly enters upon a
pious hymn, in which he celebrates God's wifdom,
in a ftrain highly rapturous and fublime : and finifhes
his work with a panegyrick on the illuftrious charac
ters of his own nation, and with a prayer or thankf
giving for fome deliverance which the author had
perfonally experienced [o].
This divifion, fays Valefius [p], is a manifeft
copy of the method and order of Solomon's writings :
«nd exhibits an imitation of Proverbs, Ecclefiaftes,
and Canticles ; though fome maintain that the author
left his work imperfed [ qJ. The book contains
a fine fyftem of moral, political, and theological
precepts ; arranged in a lefs defultory manner than
[o] Prideaux with Grotius, attributes this prayer to the
grandfon, becaufe Ptolerny Phyfcon was a greater tyrant than
his predeceffors, in whofe reigns the grandfather might have
tefided in Egypt; but the author fpeaks only of falfe accufation
to the King, which by no means implies that the King counte
nanced the perfecution ; and, indeed, if he had, the author
would hardly have efcaped from, or at leaft have complained of
the cruelty. The grandfather might likewife have been accufed
before a King of fome other country.
[p] Not. ad Script. Ecclef. Lib. IV. c. xxii.
[ qJ The anonymous prologue fays, " almoft perfected."
Qjq 2 the

59^ OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS.
the Proverbs of Solomon; and diftributed under
certain heads which feem to have been formerly
claffed under different titles : many of which are ftill
extant in fome of the Greek copies. Some learned
men have pretended to difcover in the book the
more fecret and abftrufe wifdom afcribed to Solo
mon, and taught in the fchools of the Jewifh dodors
[r]. But it is chiefly valuable for the familiar leflbns
which it affords for the diredion of manners, in
every circumftance and condition, and for the gene
ral precepts which it communicates towards the daily
regulation of life. Its maxims are explained by
much variety of illuftration, and occafionally ex
emplified in the defcription of charader. The an
cient writers entitled it nocvapd^, confidering it as a
complete compendium of moral virtues ; and, per
haps, no uninfpired produdion ever difplayed a
morality more Comprehenfive, or more captivating
and confiftent with the revealed laws of God. The
book furnifhes, alfo, an inftrudive detail of the fen
timents and opinions that prevailed in the rime of
the author ; it fhews the impatience that then pre
vailed for the appearance of the expeded Meffiah
[s] ; and the firm confidence in the hope of a future life
[rJ Lee's Diff. on the Second Book of Efdras, p. 58.
[s] Chap, xxxvi. 1—17, the firft part of which is cited by
St. Auftin as a kind of prophetic prayer for the arrival of
Chrift. Vid. Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVII. c. xx. See,
alfo, chap. 1. 22, 23. Thefe pious fupplications for fome
future bleffings indiftincfly defcribed, proceeded from a con
fidence

OF THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTICUS. 597
life and judgment, which had been built upon the
affurances of the Law and the Prophets. It ferves,
likewife, to prove, that as the Gofpel difpenfation
approached, the Jews were prepared for its reception,
by being more enlightened to underftand the fpiritual
import and the figurative charader of the Law,
fidence in the promifes of the Prophets ; and the Jews who, in
the expectation of their Mefliah, had at firft regard only to one
advent, looked to the full accomplifhment of the prophecies in
his arrival, and therefore allude in their prayers to the expected
converfion of the Gentiles ; the final congregation of the tribes ;
and their triumphant vicf ories, which remain yet to be fulfilled.
The prayer fpoken of in chap. li. 10. is ftated by Mr. Whitaker
fo contain an acknowledgement of the fecond perfon in the
godhead, and is adduced as a proof of the belief of the Jews,
in that effential doftrine, before the incarnation of our Lord,
See the Origin of Arianifrrj difclofed, p. 122.

Qjl 3 »F

[ 59* 3

OF THE

BOOK of BARUCH, with the
EPISTLE of JEREMIAH. '

THE author of this Book profeffes himfelf to
be Baruch ; a perfon of very illuftrious birth,
and diftinguifhed by his attachment to Jeremiah, and
who was employed by that Prophet as a fcribe or
fecretary, to write his prophecies [a] ; and on fome
occafions to read them to thofe againft whom they
were direded. St. Jerom, Grotius, and others, are,
however, of opinion, that the book was not written
by Baruch, nor in the Hebrew language; but by
fome Helleniftical Jew, who affumed the charader of
Baruch; and that the letter which forms apart of
the book, was fabricated by his own invention [b].
But there is, perhaps, no fufficient reafon to difpute
the authenticity of the five firft chapters ; and the
fixth chapter, which is probably fpurious, did not
originally belong to this book. The Greek verfion
[a] Chap. i. i. Jerem. paffim. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X.
c. xi. and Preface to Jeremiah.
[bJ Hieron. Prom, in Com. & Grot. Com. in Baruch. of

OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. $99
of thefe five chapters abounds with Hebraifms ; and
they were probably written in Hebrew, though not
now extant in that language, nor ever admitted into
the Hebrew canon [c] : becaufe Baruch, however
he might have afpired to the prophetic charader,
and have fought great things for himfelf rDJ, was
not endowed with the gift of infpiration : though he
was on one occafion made the fubjed of a divine
revelation, and honoured by a confolatory affurance
from God.
The author in confiftency with the charader of
Baruch, whether rightly or falfely affumed, defcribes
himfelf as the fon of Nerias, and as the grandfon of
Maafias, who were men of eminence in their coun
try. He affirms, that he wrote the book at Babylon,
in the fifth year, and in the feventh day ofthe month
[e], after the Chaldseans had taken and burnt Jeru
falem ; by which muft be underftood the fifth year
of Jehoiachin's captivity, which correfponds with the
fifth year ofthe reign of Zedekiah, and A.M. 3409:
when Baruch accompanied his brother Seraias to
Babylon [f], who was deputed from Zedekiah to
[c] Hieron. Praef. in Hierem,
[d] Jerem. xiv. 5. which fome conceive to allude, to a fruit-
lefs defire of Baruch that he might be favoured with the pro
phetic fpirit. Vid. Maimon. More Nevoch. Par. 11. cap.
xxxii. [e] The name of the month is not fpecified; it probably
means the month Cifleu, or November, the fame month in which
Jerufalem was taken five years before.
[f] Some would place Baruch's journey to Babylon in the
eleventh year of Zedekiah, when Baruch was carried into
Qjl 4- Egypt;

600 OF TftE BOOK OF BARUCH.
folicit the reftoration of the facred veffels of the
temple, which had been carried away among the
fpoil [g]. It has been objeded as inconfiftent with
this account, that Jerufalem is in this book repre
fented as burnt, and in circumftances of diftrefs,
greater than fliould feem, to have occurred at the
time that Jehoiakim was taken prifoner and flain.
But allowing for thofe aggravations which are cuf
tomary in the defcription of great afflidions, there is
no particular in the detail of circumftances that might
not have happened during the fiege of Jerufalem in
the reign of Jehoiakim : when the Jews might have
feen part of their city burnt, and have fuffered from
the moft cruel extremities of famine [h].
It is probable, that Baruch was more immediately
commifiioned by Jeremiah to utter at Babylon thofe
Egypt; when Jerufalem and the temple were deftroyed; when
no high-prieft remained, and no feafts were celebrated, con
trary to the circumftances of the period of this book. The
fifth year cannot be referred to Nebuchadnezzar, who had
obtained his empire feven years before Jehoiachin was carried
into captivity.
[g] The veffels which Seraias obtained, appear to have
been ii'v:.- veffels, which Zedekiah had made to fupply the
pl.ice of ,'ie goldea veffels which had been carried away by
Nebuch ¦ Inezzar, the rapacity of the conquerors having foon
aftenva feized on rhefe alio, vid. 2 Chron. xxxvi. 7 — 10.
Jeremi.. ,i ' declared that the golden veffels fhould not be foon
brought again, cn.ip. xxvii. 16. and the moft valuable were not
reftored till the expiration of the captivity, Vid. Dan. v. 2.
Ezra i. 7. Grotius confiders the latter part of chap. i. 8. as an
interpolation. [h] Chap. i. 2. ii. z — j. prophecies

OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. 601
prophecies which were entrufted to Seraias [i] ; and
that he adually did read to Jehoiachin, and others
whom they concerned, thofe prophecies contained in
the fiftieth and fifty-firft chapters of Jeremiah, which
promifed deliverance to the Jews from their capti
vity, and future deftrudion to Babylon; though
when Baruch fpeaks of having read the words of
this book to the people by the river Sud [k], he
feems to allude only to the epiftle that forms the
chief fubjed of this book, which was fent to Jehoia-*
chin and his aflbciate captives in Babylon, to Joachim,
the fon of Chilcias [l], and the people at Jerufalem;
for Baruch being probably employed to compofe the
letter, may well be conceived to have read it to the
King and the Nobles for their approbation.
The captives, who appear to have been tutored
[i] Jer. li. 59— 64.
[k] Chap. i. 4. This river is not mentioned by geogra
phers. As the Hebrew word Sodi, which might have been
the original, means Pride, fome writers have confidered it as
a figurative expreffion for the Euphrates, on which river the
Jewifh captives were placed. Vid. Jerem. li. 63. Bochart
thinks, that the word fhould be Sori or Suri, (which in the
Hebrew is written in nearly the fame manner) becaufp there
was on the banks of the Euphrates', a city called Sura, or Sorat
(as alfo Mahafia) from which that part of the Euphrates might
have taken its name. Vid. Bochart. Phaleg. Lib. I. c. ix. Cel-
larii Geog.'. Lib. III. c. xvi. p. 46.0..
[l] This perfon was probably the fame with Eliakim, or Hil
kiah, who was high-prieft under Manaffeth and Jofiah, and per
haps under their fucceffors. Vid. Ifaiah xxii. 20. 2 Kings xxii.
4—8. xxiii. 4, 24. 2 Chron. xxxiv. 9. and Calmet. Differt. fur
les Grand Pretres.
by

602 OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH.
by afflidion to a fenfe of their own unworthinefs,
and to have felt a pious fatisfadion at the fuccefs of
the deputation of Seraias, fent back with the facred
veffels a colledion of money to purchafe burnt-offer
ings and incenfe for the altar of the Lord ; and ac
companied it with a letter to their countrymen, in
which they expreffed their fentiments of humility
and repentance, and their confident hopes of that
reftoration which the Prophets had encouraged them
to exped, and which prefigured the future glories
of Jerufalem [m].
The letter, which after the fhort hiftorical preface,
begins at the tenth verfe of the firft chapter, contains
a confeffion which the captives recommended to their
brethren, to be ufed upon folemn days. It exhorts
them to pray for the life of Nebuchadnezzar, who
had complied with their requeft, and poffibly been
indulgent to the captives; to acknowledge that God's
judgments were righteous, and that by their own
difobedience they had provoked the accomplifhment
of thofe curfes which God had threatened [n], and
they then experienced; and laftly, to fupplicate his
mercies with forrow and contrition. This prayer
was probably ufed, alfo, by the captives themfelves,
and the fentiments which it contains were fimilar to
thofe which Daniel and Nehemiah continued to in
culcate during and after the captivity [o]. In the
[m] Irenaeus Adv. Haeres. Lib. V. c. xxxv.
[n] Deut. xxviii. 15 — 53. and the Prophets paffim.
[o] Comp. chap. i. 15, 17. with Dan. ix. 5, 7, 9. Chap. ii.
7 — 11. with Dan. ix. 13 — 15. Chap. ii. 15. with Dan. ix. 19.
Chap.

OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. 60J
third chapter is contained a paffage [p], which Gro
tius haftily pronounces to be an addition by fome
Chriftian; and which others confider as an infpired
prophecy of the incarnation and human intercourfe
of the Mefliah ; but which is, perhaps, only an ac
knowledgment of the divine wifdom, which had
manifefted itfelf to the Patriarchs, and converfed by
revelation with mankind [ qJ. It has, however,
fo far a prophetic caft, as it is imitative of paffages
[r] which, under praifes of wifdom, figuratively ce
lebrate that eternal wifdom which dwelt among us in
the perfon of the Son of God. So likewife Baruch
fpeaks with an almoft prophetic confidence of thofe
bleffings which Jeremiah, and other Prophets might
have taught him to exped from " the everlafting
Saviour" who fhould foon appear [s]; of that joy
which fbould come from the Eaft [t] ; and of the
triumphant glory with which Jerufalem fhould be
exalted, and her fons affembled from all kingdoms
in righteoufnefs and peace. Thefe, however, were
profpeds of future exultation with which all in the
Chap. ii. 19. with Dan. ix. 8. Chap. ii. 7, 9. with Nehem. ix.
32, 34. Chap. ii. 11, 12. with Zech. ix. 10.
[p] Comp. chap. iii. 35 — 37. with John i. 14.
[ qJ Exod. xxiv. 9 — 18.
[r] Comp. chap. iii. 27. with Prov. viii. 31. The paffage is
perhaps in this refpeft, cited as prophetic by St. Auftin, who
fays, that it was generally attributed to Jeremiah. Vid. de Civit.
Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxxiii.
[s] Chap. iv. 22 — 30.
[t] Comp. chap. iv. 36, 37. with Jerem. xxiii. 5. and Zech.
i vi. 12. where the word " Branch" is in the Septuagint ren
dered Amlofw, the Eaft. Vid. alfo, Ezek. xliii. 4. and Mal. iv. 2.
captivity

604 OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH.
captivity muft have confoled their afflidion; they
were general charaders of the kingdom of the Mef
fiah which every one converfant with the facred
writings was capable of defcribing, and by no means
confer the ftamp of infpiration on the book, which
was not received as canonical by the Jews or the
primitive church of Chrift [u]4 though it be cited
with refped, and even as divine fcripture by many
of the earlier writers [x].
Some, indeed, have imagined, that St. Athanafius
[y], and St. Cyril, received it as canonical. In the
catalogues, it is true, of the facred books furnifhed
by thefe fathers, as alfo in the Greek copies of the
canons of the Council of Laodicea, Baruch and the
epiftle are enumerated with Jeremiah and the Lamen
tations; but it is probable, and generally fuppofed,
that by this exegetical detail, were meant only thofe
parts of Jeremiah which we receive as infpired ; that
tlie epiftle in the twenty-ninth chapter of his pro
phecies is fpecified as a diftind part of the work;
and that Baruch is mentioned becaufe he was con^
fidered as a colledor of Jeremiah's writings, and by
fome tbought to have added the fifty-fecond chapter
to his prophecies. It is certain, that Baruch and the
epiftle are not mentioned in the catalogue of St.
Auftin, nor in that of the Council of Carthage [z].
[uj Hieron. Pr<ef. in Hierem. & Procem. in Cpm. Hierem.
[x] Clem. Alex. Pad. Lib. II. c. iii. Eufeb. Demon. Lih,
VI. c. xix. Ambrpfe de Fide, Lib. I. c. ii. Hilar. Prsef. Com.
in Pfalm. Cyril, in Jul,
[y] Athan. Epift. 39.
[z] Concil. Carthag. Can. 47. k Cod. Can. Ecclef. African.
Can. 24. in neither of which is Baruch mentioned. It is,
however,

OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. 605
It is exprefsly excluded, with the reft of the apocry
phal books from the catalogue received from their
anceftors, by the Greek church [a] ; and the mem
bers of the Council of Trent were more perplexed,
and deliberated longer about the admiffion of Baruch,
than of any of the apocryphal books [bJ, becaufe
they allowed (as it was not in the Latin copies of
the catalogue) that it was not received by the Coun
cil of Laodicea ; by that of Carthage ; or by the
Roman Pontiffs [c] ; and the Tridentine fathers
were withheld from rejeding it, only by the confide
ration that parts of it were read in the fervice of the
church. Many ancient writers have cited Baruch under
the name of Jeremiah [d] ; not that they believed
that what we now poffefs under the name of Baruch,
Was adually compofed by Jeremiah, but that they
confidered Baruch as a difciple of the Prophet ; and
imagined, perhaps, that the epiftle in the laft chap
ter of his book was really written by Jeremiah, to
however, probable, that the council or councils to which thefe
canons belonged, received Baruch as canonical in a fecondary
fenfe ; for though it is not mentioned in the lift, it might be in
cluded under the name of Jeremiah, and received as the other
apocryphal books.
[a] Metroph. Critopul. Epitom. Confeff. Orient.
[b] Hiftory of the Council of Trent, L. II.
, [c] It is not fpecified in the fufpefted epiftle of Pope Innocent
the Firft. Vid. Epift. 3. ad Exuper.
[d] Irensus Hares. Lib. V. c. xxxv. Clemen. Alex. Psdag.
LiS. I. c. x. Chryfoft. cont. Judas. Ambrofe in Pfalm cxviii.
ufton. 1 8. Bafil Adver. Eunom. Lib. IV. Epiphan. Hares. 3.
Cyprian. Adv. Jadx. c. i. § 6.
2 whofe

606 OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH.
whofe canonical works it was formerly joined. In
the Romifh church, the book is read at the feaft
of Pentecoft, under the name of Jeremiah [e] ; but
many of the Romanifts do not fcruple to deny its
authority [f].
Besides the Greek copy of this book, there are
two Syriac verfions, one of which correfponds with}
and the other differs much from the Greek [g].
The letter which conftitutes the fixth chapter of
this book is in fome editions of the Greek, and in
the Arabic which is tranflated from the Greek, fub
joined to the Lamentations. It is omitted by Theo
doret in his commentary, and is not to be found in
feveral Greek manufcripts, and in none of the He
brew copies of Jeremiah's writings. It is probably a
fpurious work, and is rejeded as fuch by St. Jerom
[h] ; though cited by Cyprian [i] and others, as an
epiftle of Jeremiah : and fuppofed by fome to be
alluded to by the author of the Second Book of
Maccabees [k], who, however, only fpeaks of Je
remiah's general exhortations againft idolatry. The
letter certainly never was in the Jewifh canon. It
was probably fabricated by fome writer who had
ftudied the charader and writings of Jeremiah ; and
[e] Office du Samedi de la Pentecote, Prophetic VI.
[f] Driedo Script. & Dogm. ad Ecclef. Lib. I. cap. ult. Ly-
ran. Dibnyf. Carthus.
[g] The Latin tranflation alfo differs much from the Greek.
[h] Hieron. Procem. Com. in Hierem. who calls it ^evhun-
[i] Cyprian, de Orat. Domin.
[k] 2 Mace. ii. i, 2. it

OF THE BOOK OF BARUCH. 6of
it contains judicious and fpirited ftridures againft
idolatry, of which the vanity is forcibly expofed.
There is, befides thefe works in the Syriac language,
an epiftle attributed to Baruch, which is called his
firft epiftle ; and feigned to have been written to the
nine tribes and a half, faid to be carried beyond the
Euphrates. It appears to be a fpurious produdion
of a writer acquainted with the Gofpel dodrines;
and is interfperfed with many fiditious inventions.
It was probably fabricated [lJ by fome of thofe
Monks who during the firft ages of the Chriftian
church, flocked in numbers to inhabit the deferts of
Syria. Baruch, after the execution of his commiffion,
appears to have returned to Jerufalem ; where, in
conjundion with Jeremiah, he encountered much
perfecution [m], and witneffed the total deftrudion
of Jerufalem; after which he was drawn by Johanan,
-with Jeremiah, and the remnant of Judah, into
Egypt [n] ; from which country he probably never
returned ; though fome pretend that he went a fe
cond time to Babylon, and died there about A. M.
3428 [o]. In the martyrologies, his death is placed
on the 28 th of September, apparendy without any
authority. ^

[l] Huet. Prop. 4.
[m] Jerem. xliii. 3. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. xi. Hierdn.
in Efaiam.[NJ^Jerem. xliii. 5 — 7.
[0] Talm. Megill. cap. i. R. Abrah. Zacut. in Lib. Juchas.
4- OF

t 608 ]

OF THE

SONG of the THREE CHILDREN.

IN fome copies ,of the Greek verfion of Theodo-
tion, and in the vulgar Latin edition of the Bible,
this Book is inferted between the twenty-third and
twenty-fourth verfes of the third chapter of Daniel ;
as at the beginning of the Book is prefixed, the
Hiftory of Sufannah, and at the end is added, that
of the Deftrudion of Bel and the Dragon ; but none
of thefe additions are to be found in any Hebrew
copy, nor do they appear ever to have exifted in the
Hebrew or Chaldaic language [a]. The pretended
Hebraifms which have been alledged to prove their
authenticity, are fuch as an Helleniftical Jew might
be expeded to have ufed ; or were, perhaps, de-
fignedly adopted to facilitate the reception of fpurious
works. Thefe apocryphal parts appear to have been
firft inferted into the Septuagint verfion [b]-; and
[a] Origen Epift. ad African, p. 14, Edit. Par. Not. a.
[b] The Song ofthe Three Children is not in the Vatican
copy of the Septuagint. they

THREE CHILDREN. 6*0§l
they were certainly in Theodotion's edition, though
there diftinguifhed by an Obelus, to intimate that
they were not in the Hebrew. It is probable, that
the fame author invented, or compofed from 'radi-
tional accounts, all thefe apocryphal additions, which
He interwoved with the genuine work of Daniel.
Annexed toj or incorporated with the infpired book,
they gradually rofe into reputation ; and being fafe;
from Cenfure under the fandion of the Prophet's
name ; and the approbation of the church, which'
fuffered them to be read for inftrudion of manners :
they were, perhaps, fometimes confidered in a loofe
and popular reprefentation, as a part of the genuine
work of Daniel.
It is, however, univerfally admitted, that they
never were in the Hebrew canon [c], and they were
rejeded as fpurious by Eufebius and Apollinarius.
St. Jerom, who confiders them as apocryphal, pro
feffes to have retained them with a mark prefixed,
left he fhould appear to the Unfkilful, to have re-
fcinded a great part of Daniel's book : fince, though
they were not in the Hebrew, they were generally
difperfed and known [d] ; aud St. Jerom, under the
[c] Hieron. Praef. in Dan. Calmet's Preface in Dan. Du
Pin. Diff. Prelim. Lib. I. c. i.
[d] Praef. in Daniel, & Procem, in Com. Dan. when St. Jerom
in his apology againft Rufhnns' profeffes to have delivered only
the fentiments of the Jews, and not his own, with refpect to
thefe additional parts of Daniel he does not retradl his fentiments,
but evades the difcuffion of their authority : and as the Scholiaft
obferves, Vafre refpondet. Vid. Apol. Adv. Ruff. & Scholia ire
Praf. ad Dan. R r charade?

6lO OF THE SONG OF THE
charader of a Jew, endeavours to expofe the abfux-
dity of fome particulars which they contain. There
can, indeed, be no doubt that they were written
long after the time of Daniel, by fome writer de
firous of imitating and of embellifhing the facred hif
tory, though as they were not exprefsly fevered from
the canonical part ~ by any pofitive decree, they were
received by the prepofterous decifion of the Council
of Trent, as genuine, and in every refped cano
nical [e].' It is uncertain at what time they were
compofed. They are in the Arabic and Syriac ver
fion ofthe fcriptures, and are mentioned very early
by Chriftian writers.
The prefent book, which contains only a fong in
praife of God, faid to have been uttered by the three
companions of Daniel when thrown by Nebuchad
nezzar into a burning furnace, is to be admired for
its inftrudion and tendency. Thefe righteous per
fons, whofe reputation was founded on the authentic
accounts of Daniel [fJ, appear by their pious forti
tude to have contributed with the Prophet to the
final fupprefiion of idolatry. The> veneration enter
tained for their charader, of which the memory was
highly celebrated among the Jews [g], probably in-
[e] Concil. Trid. Seff. 4.
[f] Dan. iii. 23.
[g] There was an ancient tradition, that the Three Children
were defcendants of Hezekiah. Vid. Nazianz. Orat. 47. And
fome accounts report, that at laft they fuffered martyrdom, as
alfo, that their bodies, which had been interred at Babylon, were
afterwards removed to Rome. Some Jews, at Rome boafted of a
defcent from them. duced

THREE CHILDREN. 6 1 t
duced fome Helleniftic Jew to fabricate this orna
mental addition to their hiftory. It muft have been
inferted at a very early period, as it is cited by many
ancient writers [h]. The work is compofed with great
fpirit, and the fentiments attributed to the holy chil
dren, are confiftent with the piety for which they
were diftinguifhed. The hymn refembles the 148th
Pfalm of David as to its invocation on all the works
of. creation to praife and exalt the Lord. It was
fung in the fervice of the primitive church ; and in
the Liturgy of Edward the Sixth, it was enjoined by
the Rubrick, that during Lent, the Song of the
Three Children fliould be fung inftead of the Te
Deum. [h] Cyprian, de Lapfis, k de Orat. Domin,

R r 4 of

[ 612 ]

OF THE

HISTORY of SUSANNAH.

THIS hiftory, which in fome Greek copies is
entitled, the Judgment of Daniel, is faid in
the fhort intimation prefixed to the Book by our
tranflators, to have been fet apart from the beginning
of Daniel, where it ftands in the Roman and other
editions of the Greek. The Complutenfian, how
ever, and fome Latin editions, place it as the thir
teenth chapter of that book, though certainly with
lefs regard to chronology ; for the hiftory, if founded
on truth, muft be fuppofed to have taken place when
Daniel was very young, and probably according to
fome accounts [a J, not above twelve years of age.
The Book has no fufficient pretenfions to be con^
fidered as canonical. Some writers, indeed, and
even Origen, in a fufpeded epiftle attributed to him
[b], have conceived that it might originally have
[a] Ignat. Epift. ad Magnef. Theodor. in Ezek. cap. i. Sulpit.
Sever, Sac. Hift. Lib. II. p. 265. Edit. Lug. Bat. 1647.
[b] Origen Epift. ad Jul. African. 2 been

OF THE HISTORY OF SUSANNAH. 613
been written in the Hebrew or Chaldee, and drawn
from the canon by the Jews ; and that the original
copies were induftrioufly fuppreffed by them, be
caufe they contained a relation of particulars difcredit-
able to the Jewifh nation. But there is certainly no
foundation for this improbable fancy; for not to
mention the impradicability of fuch a meafure [c],
it is evident, that if the Jews could have been tempt
ed by any folicitude for their national charader to
mutilate the facred writings, they would rather have
expunged thofe paffages in the infpired books which
refled on them the difgrace, not of individual pro
fligacy, but of general mifcondud ; or thofe which
record the crimes and occafional offences of favourite
charaders. But we know with what jealous vene
ration the canon was preferved inviolate ;¦ and per
ceive in the whole hiftory of a perverfe.and dif
obedient people, with what fincerity they compofed,
and with what fidelity they preferved the records and
annals of their country.
The prefent book appears to have been written in
Greek, by fome Jew who invented the hiftory, or
colleded its particulars from traditionary relations,
in praife of Daniel. And, indeed, the author is fup
pofed to betray himfelf to be a Greek, by fome
quibbling allufions which do not feem to apply in any
other language than the Greek [d], and which are
not
[c] See Introduction, p. 12, &c.
[d] When the firft elder affirms that he beheld Sufannah
under a tree called Qw't Daniel playing on the word, declares
R r 3 that

614 OF THE HISTORY OF SUSANNAH.
not likely to be the conceit of a tranflator. There
are two Syriac verfions, which differ in their con
tents. The hiftory might, perhaps, have fome founda- .
tion in 'truth, though it is not mentioned by Jofe*
phus : who, indeed, has not noticed any of the par
ticulars contained in thefe apocryphal additions to
the book of Daniel. The Jews in general rejeded
it as an improbable fable -. and remarked, that it was
an obvious abfurdity to fuppofe that their country
men in the captivity were in poffeffion of the power
of infliding punifhment on their Judges and Pro
phets [e]. The Jews had, however, fome traditional
accounts ofthe ftpry, and many fancied that it was
alluded to by Jeremiah, in the twenty-ninth chapter
of his book [f] of prophecies : where they fuppofed
the two elders to be defcribed under the names of
Zedekiah and Ahab : though thefe perfons are there
faid to have been put to death by the King of Ba
bylon. Origen, who defends the truth of the ac
count [g], maintains that the Jews were fuffered to
continue in the exercife of their own judicial laws
during the captivity ; and, indeed, they appear to
have experienced in many refpeds, confiderable in-
that the angel fhould Cxiaai> cut him in two ; and when the
fecond reprefents the tree to have been wpiiw, Daniel de
nounces his fentence by an expreffion from whic h ¦nrpiiw was de
rived, frfiaai.
[e] Hieron. in Hierem. ch. xxix. 22,
[f] Chap. xxix. 22, 23.
[c] Epift. ad -African. 'Pracl, 31. in Matt. Athan. Synopf.
Sixt,,. Senens. Lib. V, dulgence

OF THE HISTORY OF SUSANNAH. 61*5
diligence from their conquerors. , Origen adds like-
wife, as a confirmation ofthe veracity ofthe account,
that he had heard from a Jew, as a popular notion,
that the elders attempted to feduce Sufannah by af
furances that the Meffiah fliould fpring from them : to .
. which prophane dealing Daniel is fuppofed to allude
in the fifty-feventh verfe.
The book feems to have been received by the
Chriftian church as containing a relation not incon
fiftent with the facred hiftory, but not as the pro
dudion of Daniel; though as forming an appendage
to his work, and containing an account of circum
ftances in which he was concerned, it, was fome
times cited under his name [h] : and being read by
the church, was confidered with reverence.' Afri-
canus, however, in his epiftle to Origen, reprefents
it as confeffedly fpurious ; and Origen himfelf allows
that it had no canonical authority [i]. Eufebius
and Apollinarius, in anfwer to Porphyry, confider it
as a part of the prophecy of Habakkuk, the fon of
Jefus, of the tribe of Levi ; for which, however,
they do not. appear to have any authority, except
that of the Greek title prefixed to Bel and the Dra
gon: which probably belonged exclufively to that
book [k]. It is received, together with the other
fpurious additions, as canonical by the Romifh
[h] Irenaeus Hieres. Lib. IV. c. xliv. Tertull. de Coron.
Milit. c. iv. Cyprian. Epift. 43. Ambrofe in c. xiii. Dan.
[1] Origen Epift. ad Jul. African. & Grabe de Vitiis. Sept.
Interpret.- ¦
[k] Huet. Prop. 4. in Dan.
R r 4 church 3

Sl6 OF THE HISTORY OF SUSANNAH.
church; but is fuffered to continue in our Bibfes
only as a work from which moral improvement
may be drawn. It illuftrates the confidence of
truth, and the fecurity of innocence. It exhibits
by an inftrudive contrail, chaftity in its moft at-
tradive colours, and licentioufnefs in its moft hkk-
ous form.

C 6l7 1

P F THE

HISTORY ©f BEL and the DRAGON,

THIS Book, which in Theodotion's verfion of
Daniel, and in the Vulgate is annexed as a
fourteenth chapter to the book of Daniel, is properly
rejeded by our church : having never been in the
Hebrew canon, or received as authentic by the earlier
Chriftians, In the Septuagint verfion of the fcrip
tures, into which thefe fpurious parts of Daniel ap
pear to have been firft foifted, there was prefixed to
this book a title, in which it was called, the Pro
phecy of Habakkuk, the fon of Jefus, of the tribe
of Levi [a] ; whence fome attributed the book to
the Prophet whofe infpired work is now extant in
the canon ; but he lived much earlier than the period
which muft be affigned to this hiftory, if its truth be
admitted. There is reafon, however, to fufped that
this title was a fubfequent addition by fome perfon
[a] Hieron. Procem. Comm. in Dan. Sixt. Senens. Bib.
Lib.!. who

6 1 8 OF THE HISTORY OF
who attributed the book to Habakkuk, on account
of the agency which is affigned to him in the hiftory ;
and Theodotion was induced, probably, in confe
quence of fuch fufpicion, to change the title in his
edition, though he fubftituted with as little, reafon,
that of Daniel. If, however, the author's name
really were Habakkuk, he was in all probability
fome Helleniftical Jew, or, at feaft, a different per
fon from the facred writer.
It is moft reafonable to fuppofe, that the book
was never extant in the Hebrew language, though it
might, as Lightfoot [b] has conceived, be a parabo
lical ftory, founded on a paffage in Jeremiah [c],
who threatens punifhment to Bel, the great national
idol of Babylon [d], in terms that, might have fug
gefted the circumftances of his deftrudion as defcribed
in this book.
It is certain, that in all thefe apocryphal additions,
the fame Daniel was meant as the Prophet whofe
writings we poffefs in the canon : though annexed to
the fufpeded title before-mentioned, which, accord-

[b] Lightfoot Stud. p. 12.
[c] Jerem. li. 44. Seld. Syntag. II. de Belo k Dragon.
[d] Bel was originally Belus, the fucceffor of Nimrod, faid
to be the firft deified man; his fon Ninus having erected a ftatue,
and prefcribed worfhip to him : which was the beginning of
idolatry. From Bel was derived the Hebrew idol Baal. Vid.
Hieron. in Ezech. xxiii. k in Ofee xi. The magnificent temple
of Bel, with other particulars relative to his worfhip, is fpoken
of by Herodotus and other hiftorians. Vid. Herod. Lib. I.
Diodor. L. III. c. x. ing

BEL AND THE DRAGON. 6ig
ing to St. Jerom, was in the Septuagint copies [e],
there is an exordium, or, as it were, a firft verfe,
which defcribes Daniel improperly as a prieft, the
fon of- Obadiah, a gueft of the King of Babylon :
and incbnfiftently with the facred accounts of the
Prophet, by which Daniel appears to have been of
the tribe of Judah. Still, however, as that title and
exordium were probably fubfequent additions, we
may conceive the author of this book to fpeak of
the Prophet Daniel ; but not as fome have imagined,
that he gives us only an enlarged account of the
events related in the fixth chapter of the authentic
book of Daniel : for the circumftances are totally
different, except in the particular ofhis being thrown
into the lions den ; and the hiftory recorded in the
facred account is affigned to the reign of Darius :
whereas in the firft verfe of this book, which un
doubtedly is properly placed [f], the events- appear
to be affigned to the reign of Cyrus [ g J.
Man y
[e] St. Jerom calls the book, on account of this infcription,
-kiv&myfxQoii, " falfely intitled." It is rejected as apocryphal
under the title of the Book of Habakkuk, by the author of the
Synopfis attributed to Athanafius.
[f] As it ftands in the Arabic, Syriac, and Alexandrian
copies. [g] It muft be obferved, that the author in this verfe fpeaks
of Cyrus as of the immediate fucceffor of Aftyages : agreeably
to the account of Herodotus and his followers. But it is
certain from prophane and facred hiftory, that there was an
intermediate King of Media who reigned two years, called
Cyaxares, by Xenophon ; and Darius, by Jofephus and Da
niel.

620 OF the history of
Many perfons objed to the improbability of the
circumftances related in this book : as particularly
to the deftrudion of the Dragon [h], and to the
conveyance of Habakkuk from Jerufalem to Baby
lon, merely to furnifh a dinner to Daniel. The
book, indeed, though it be cited as hiftorical by the
moft refpedable writers in the earlieft ages of the
church [i], is confidered as fabulous by St. Jerom ;
and it muft be allowed to contain fome extraordinary
and incredible relations. It is, however, canonized

niel. Vid. Xenophon. Cyropced. Lib. I. c. xix. Jofeph.
Antiq. Lib. X. c. xii. Dan. v. 3 1 . Meflieurs Du Port Royal,
on an idea that the particulars recorded in this book, are fuch
as were not likely to have occurred under Aftyages, Darius,
or Cyrus, affign the hiftory to the beginning of the reign of
Evil-Merodach, the fon of Nebuchadnezzar, placing it about
A. M. ^442.
[h] By the dragon is to be underftood a ferpent, of which,
to the triumph of our great deceiver, the worfhip prevailed
among many nations in early times. Vid. .Lilian, de Animal.
Lib. XI. c. xvii. k Lib. XVII. c. v. Origen cont. Celf.
Lib. VI. Valer. Max. i. 8. Ovid. Metam. Lib. XV. Wifd,
xi. 15. Fragm. Philo, torn. ii. p. 646. Stillingfl. Orig. Sac.
B. III. c. iii. Meffrs. du Port Royal fuppofe, that the Dragon
was burft, not by any fpecific power of the compofition, but by
the fuffocation which it occafioned in a narrow throat. Vid,
Seld. Syntag. II. de Bel k Drag-, c. xvii. Ben Gorion gives a
very different account of the deftruction. Vid. Lib. I. c. x. ap.
Seld. Syntag. II. c. xvii.
[1] Irensus Haeres. Lib. IV. c. xi. Tertull. de Jejun. adv.
Pfychicos, c. viii. De Idolat. c. xviii. Cyprian, de Exhort.
Martyrii. de Orat. Domin. & de Oper. & Elemofyn. Ambrofe
de Jacob, k Vit. beat. c. viii. & in Epift. ad Rom. i. 23. by

BEL AND THE DRAGON. 6it
by the Council of Trent. Daniel, probably by de-
teding the mercenary contrivances of the idolatrous
priefts at Babylon, and by opening the eye's of the
people to the follies of that fuperftition into which
they had been feduced, might have furnifhed fome
foundation for the hiftory; and the writer of the
book appears to have introduced fome additional
circumftances to enliven the narration ; and- to il
luftrate the providence of God in proteding and
providing for thofe who adhere to his fervice.

e?

[ 6m ]

OF THE

PRAYER of MANAS SETH.

THIS fhort prayer is infcribed to Manaffeth,
and is faid to have been compofed by him
during the captivity at Babylon : where, agreeably
to God's threats by his Prophets [aJ, he was carried
in fetters, by Efarhaddon, King of Affyria and Ba
bylon [bJ, in the twenty-fecond year of his reign,
A. M. 3227 [c] ; and where, according to fome tra
ditionary accounts, being feverely treated by the
conqueror | dJ, and having vainly intreated protedion
from the falfe deities whom he worfhipped, he re
membered the advice which he had received from
his father in the words of Mofes, " When thou art
in tribulation, if thou turn to the Lord thy God, he
[a] 2 Kings xxi. 12 — 16.
[b] Prid. Conned. A. 680. Manaff. XIX.
[c] 2 Chron. xxxiii. 11.
[dJ Some writers fabuloufly relate, that he was fhut up in an
heated brazen calf, that on the Prayer of Manaffeth the image
burft, and he was carried by an angel to Jerufalem. Eutich.
Alexand. Annal. will

OF THE PRAYER OF MANASSETH. 623
will not forfake thee, neither deftroy thee [e]."
It appears from the facred hiftory, that he was
awakened by his afflidions to a due fenfe of his
crimes, and induced to turn with humility and re
pentance to the God. of his fathers; and that he
prayed unto the Lord, who was intreated of him,
and heard his fupplication, and brought him again
after a fhort captivity to his kingdom, into Jerufalem ;
where, as he continued ftedfaft in his adherence to
God, and zealoufly laboured to extirpate idolatry, he
enjoyed a long reign of profperity and peace ; being
permitted to continue on the throne fifty-five years
[fJ ; which was a longer period than was allowed
to any preceding or fubfequent King; and an in
dulgence which ferves to illuftrate the efficacy of that
contrition of which the facred writers ftrongly incul
cate the neceffity, and minutely detail the effeds.
The Prayer in our Bibfesj though it contain no
thing inconfiftent with the circumftances and period
of Manaffeth, is not fuppofed to be the authentic
produdion of that Monarch.. The prayer which he
is related in the book of Chronicles to have uttered,
is there faid to have been written in the book of the
Kings of Ifrael, and in the fayings of the Seers [gJ ;
in
[e] Deut. iv. 30, 31. Tradit. Hebr. in Paralip. & Targum
in 2 Chron. xxxiii. 1 1 .
[f] 2 Chron. xxxiii. I, 12, 13. k Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X.
c. iv. [g] 2 Chron. xxxiii. 19. Or of Hofai, as it is rendered in
the margin of our Bibles. The word Hozai fignifies Seers,
3 as

624 OF THE PRAYER OF MAWASSETH.
in feme larger and uninfpired records which have
perifhed. The prefent work is not in any of the
Hebrew copies. It is uncertain in what language it
was originally compofed ; but it cannot be traced
higher than in the Vulgate, into which, probably, or
into fome Greek copies, it was inferted by fome
writer defirous of fupplying the lofs of the authentic
prayer. It was not received as genuine by any ofthe
Fathers or Councils, and was rejeded even by the
Council of Trent.
It is, however, written in a ftile of much piety and
humility : and the Greek church has inferted it into
its euchology, or colledion of prayers. The author
of it fpeaks of repentance as requifite to finners, in
a manner fimilar to the declaration made by our Sa
viour : that he came not to call the juft, but finners
to repentance [hJ.
as the Seventy render it. Some underftand it to be the name of
a Prophet, and fome have thought that Ifaiah is meant. Tlie
Syriac reads Hanan, the Arabic Saphan. Vid. Grot.
£»'] Matt. ix. 13..

c &2$ j

Of thI

FIRST BOOK of the MACCABEES.

THE Firft Book of the Maccabees contains a
colledion of hiftorical particulars relating to
the Jews from the beginning of the reign of Antio
chus Epiphanes, A. M. 3829, to the death of Simon
the Jiigh-prieft, A. M. 3869. It is fuppofed to have
been originally written in the Hebrew, or rather in
the Chaldaic language of the Jerufalem dialed, as
ufed by the Jews after the return from captivity.
The author is by fome thought to have been John
Hyrcanus, the fon of Simon ; who was a prince and
high-prieft of the Jews near thirty years, and who
began his government at the period at which this
• hiftory concludes. Jofephus [a], indeed, informs
us, that the high-priefts were intrufted with the care
of writing the annals of their country ; and at the
period of the Maccabees, great attention feems to
have been paid to preferve them [b]. The author
[a] Cont. Apion, Lib. I.
{»] 1 Mace. xvi. 14. 2 Mace. ii. 14.
S s ©f

626 FIRST BOOK. OF THE MACCABEES.
of the prefent book, who was probably fome perfon
publickly appointed to digeft the hiftory : appears to
have had recourfe to the national records, and fome
times refers to them [cj. He reckons from a Greek
sera, but according to the Hebrew mode of compu
tation [bJ. St. Jerom profeffes to have feen the
book in the Hebrew, under the title of " Sharbit
Sar Bene El [e]," that is, " the fceptre ofthe Prince
of the children of God;" a title which obvioufly al
ludes to Judas, the valiant defender of God's per
fected people. This original is, however, now loft.
The Greek verfion, from which our Englifh tranf.
lation was made, is denominated Maccabees, from
the perfons whofe adions are defcribed in the book.
It was probably executed before the time of Theo^
dotiofy for it appears to have been ufed by audiers,
his contemporaries [f]. In the Paris and London
Polyglots, there are two Syriac verfions of both the
books of the Maccabees, which were made from the
Greek, though they differ from it in fome refpeds.
The two books of the Maccabees were certainly
compofed after the fucceffion of Prophets had ceafed
[c] Chap. xvi. 24.
[ d ] The author calculates from the month Nifan, (March ot
April) the Greeks reckon from October.
[e] "?k >.mD laaiw, fafivQ Ca.fia.vi ih. Vid. Origen. Com.
in Pfalm. vol. i. p. 47. ap. Eufeb. Lib. VI. c. xxv. Hieron.
Prol. Gal. Some read ^>k >ia im to'nitf, " the fcepter of the
rebels againft the Lord." Vid. Druf. Praff. in Lib. Vet.
Teft. - [f] As by Origen and Tertullian. among

FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 627
among the Jews [cj ; and were never reckoned by
them in the catalogue of the facred writings. They
are not cited by our Saviour, or his apoftles; and
were confidered as apocryphal by the primitive.
church, fince they are not mentioned in the lift of
the canonical books furnifhed by Melito, the Council
of Laodicea, Hilary, and Cyril of Jerufalem [h].;
they are exprefsly reprefented as books of a fecondary
rank by many very ancient writers [i] ; and were
received as fuch by St. Auftin, and the Council of
Carthage [kJ ; notwithftanding which, they were
pronounced to be in every refped canonical, by the
Council of Trent.
This firft book is cited as a refpedable hiftory by
the fathers [l 1. It was probably written by a con
temporary author, who had, in part, witneffed the
fcenes which he fo minutely and graphically de-
fcrihes ; and who wrote under a lively impreffion of
the revolutions which his country had recently ex*
[g] i Mace. iv. 46. ix. 27. xiv. 41. Jofeph. cont. Apion,
Lib. I. Parker's Introduce, ad Bib. Voffius, Kidder, &c.
[h] Preface to the Apocryphal Books, p. 514, notes m and n.
{i]1 Origen in Pfa. i. & ap. Eufeb. Hift. Lib. VI. c. xxv.
-Athan: Sy-nop. Hieron. Praef. in Prov. Salomon. Gregor. Mag.
Moral. Expof. in Job. Lib. XIX. c. xvii. Junil. African, de:
Part. Div. Leg. Lib. Ii o. iii.
[k] Auguft. de Civit. Dei, Lib. XVIII. c. xxxvi. Concil.
¦Garthag. 3. Can. 47. In the printed copies of the pretended
decree of Pope Gelafius, only one book of the Maccabees ia
mentioned. [l] Tertull. Adv. Jud. civ. Cyprian, de Exhort, Martyf.
|S- Teft. Lib. III. §4-f'S- §53- '
S s 2 perienced,

628 FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES.
perienced. It is compofed, at leaft, with great ac
curacy and fpirit, and perhaps approaches nearer to
the ftile of facred hiftory than any work now extant.
St. John has been thought to fubftantiate the truth
of a relation herein furnifhed [mJ ; and Jofephus
appears to have copied moft of its accounts into his
Jewifh antiquities ; and though the author has been
reprefented in a few inftances as betraying fome ig
norance in treating of foreign affairs [nJ, yet in
other refpeds, many heathen writers corroborate his
reports. The book contains the hiftory of Mattathias, and
of his family, and of the wars which they at the
head of their countrymen maintained againft the
Kings of Syria, in the defence of their religion and
lives. From the death of Alexander, who had con
quered Perfia, and the countries dependent on that
empire [o J, Judaea followed the fate of Syria; and
for a fpace of near one hundred and fifty years was
{m] S. John reprefents Jefus to have been prefent at the
feaft of the dedication: by which has been underftood the
feaft of the dedication of the altar, of which the inftitution is
recorded in this book. Some have thought, that as this feaft
commenced on the twenty-fifth of December, it might have
been pre-ordained with a reference to our Saviour's birth.
The Jews celebrated this feaft, which they called the feaft of
the lights, for eight days, with illuminations and great joy.
Vid. John x. 22. 1 Mace. iv. 56 — 59. Jofeph. Antiq. Lib.
XII. c. xi.
[nJ Chap. i. 5, 6. viii. 6, 7. Rainold's Cenfur. Apoc. Pr«e-
left. 98, 104.
[0] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XI. c. viii, expofed

FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 629
expofed to all the ambitious contefts which prevailed
between the Kings of Syria and Egypt. After vari
ous revolutions, and alternate fubjedion to each of
thefe kingdoms; and after having occafionally fuf
fered all the oppreffion and exadions that tyranny
could enforce by means of the high-priefts, and
thofe princes who were appointed by the intereft,
and fubjecl; to the control of the conquerors, Judasa
was at the time that this hiftory begins, a tributary
province of Syria, under Antiochus Epiphanes ; and
cruelly harraffed and pillaged by him. The fevere
perfecution which he exercifed, and his avowed de
figns, which tended to exterminate the religion, and,
indeed, the whole nation of the Jews [pj: inflamed
the zeal of Mattathias to refentment and revolt;
and upon his death excited Judas, in compliance
with the dying injundions of his father, to attempt
the deliverance of his country. The fucceffive vic
tories, and prudent condud of Judas and his bre
thren, which effeded the accomplifhment of their
defigns, conftitute the chief fubjed of the prefent
book. The relation affords a lively pidure of a
nation infpired by the patriotic heroifm of its leaders,
and ftruggling with enthufiafm for civil and religious
liberty. It reprefents Judas and his brethren, anxious
to " reftore the decayed eftate of the people," and
to purify the polluted fanduary of their God : as en
deavouring by meafures concerted in piety, and con-
duded with fteady fortitude, to conciliate the divine
[p] Chap. i. 44 — 64. iii. 34 — 36.
Ss 3 countenance.

63O FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES.
countenance. It defcribes, likewife, the gradual, re
covery of Judsea from defolation and miferies to im
portance and profperity [ qJ, and at the fame time
the worfhip of the true God re-eftablifhed on the
ruins of idolatry.
The author, like the facred hiftorians, feleds in
dividual charaders for confideration, and defcribes the
mifcqndud as well as the virtues of his heroes. He
treats of the affairs of other nations only fo far as
conneded with the circumftances of the Jewifh hif
tory; and exhibits the changes and viciffitudes of
other governments, as they tended to affed the in-
terefts of his country.
The particulars recorded in the book, often afford
a key to prophecy [rJ, and efpecially explain the
myfterious vifions contained in the eighth and
eleventh chapters of Daniel, relating to the horn,
by which emblem was prefignified Antiochus [s],
[ qJ Chap. i. 25 — 28. iii. 42—51. comp. with chap. x. xii.
J9 — 23. xiv. 8 — 23. xv. 1 — 9, 24, 32.
[r] Comp. 1 Mace. x. 88,, 89, with Zech. ix. 14 — 18. and
Jackfon's works, torn. ii. p. 844. Vid. alfd, I Mace. vii. 17.
where the fecond and third verfes of Pfalm lxxix. are cited,
either by way of accommodation to the circumftances before
defcribed ; or as intentionally prophetic (perhaps in a fecondary
fenfe,.) of the flaughter effected by Alcimus. The Hebrew word
Chafidim, indeed, which is tranflated faints in the fecond verfe
of the Pfalm, has been confidered as defcriptive of the Afiideans,
who were eminently pious. The Pfalm might, perhaps, have
been hiftorical of the calamities occafioned by Nebuchadne2zar,
and yet like many others, have born a prophetic afpeft to future
circumftances., [s] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. X. c. xi. Hieron.- in Dan. c. viii.
who

FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. "631
who fet up the abomination- of defolation on the
altar [tJ.
Mattathias, the father of Judas, was of the fa
cerdotal race, of the courfe of Joarib [u] ; and as is
generally fuppofed, a defcendant of Phinehas, the
fon of Eleazar, to whom God had given the cove
nant of an cvetlafting priefthood [xj. He himfelf
does not appear to have enjoyed that exalted office
[yJ ; though it was conferred on his fons ; and re
ftrided as an exclufive. privilege to his defcendants
till the typical office was virtually evacuated by the
inftitution of a fpiritual priefthood in the time of
Herod ; who, except in the cafe of Ariftobulus, the
grandfon of Hyrcanus, did not refped the pretenfions
of the Afmonasan family, but conceded the prieft
hood to any of the facerdotal lineage [zj.
[t] Chap. i. 54, 55. By the abomination of defolation,
which . as Daniel had predicted was fet up on the altar, we
may underftand the idol that was placed there by order of
Antiochus. It is fuppofed to have been the ftatue of Jupiter
Olympius. Vid. 2 Mace. vi. 2. Idols in fcripture are com
monly called abominations. Vid. 1 Kings xi. 5, 7. And
the idol- might be faid to make defolate, as it expelled the
worfhip of the true God, and. occafioned the deftruction of
his fervants. 'Comp. Dan. xi. 31. with 1 Mace. i. 54. and
2 Mace. vi. 1, 2.
. [u] Chap. ii. 1. or Jahoiarib. This was the firft of the
twenty-four courfes which ferved in the temple. Vid. I Chron.
xxiv. 7.
[x] Numb. xxv. 11 — 13. 1 Mace. ii. 54. Jurieu's Critic
Hift. vol. i. Part III. c. i. p. 372.
[y] Calmet. Did. Word Mattathias.
[zj Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XX. c. viii.
<¦ ¦'¦.:.<.,. S s 4 Judas,

63I FIRST' BOOK OF THE MACCABEES.
Judas, whofe exploits are celebrated in this hif
tory, has been thought to have derived his title of
Maccabeus from the initial letters of the four words
with which his ftandard is fuppofed to have been
decorated [a], and which were taken from the
eleventh verfe of the fifteenth chapter of Exodus,
" Mi Camo-ka Baelim Jehovah ;" Who is like unto
thee among the gods, O Jehovah ? From this Judas
his defcendants were called Maccabees. They were
called, likewife, Afmonsans, either becaufe, as Jofe
phus informs us, Mattathias was a defcendant of Af-
monasus [bJ ; or by an honourable and eminent
diftindion, as the Hebrew word fignifies princes
[cj. Many writers maintain, that they were de
fcended maternally from . the race of Judah [dJ,
[a] Others who think that Judas was named Maccabaus
before he erecfed his ftandard ; or who collect, from monuments
that a lion was imprinted on the ftandard of the Maccabees,
derive the word Maccabeus from >a riDa, " per me eft plaga."
Vid. Godw.yn de Repub. Jud. Lib, I. c. i. Some derive it
from Macchabeth, or Macehubeth, "hidden," becaufe Mat
tathias and his companions concealed themfelves in the wilder
nefs. Vid. chap. ii. 28—31, Others, laftly, derive it front
Makke-Baiah, which fignifies '' Conqueror in the Lord."
Vid. Prid. An. 167. & Calmet. on 1 Macc.ii. 4.' Ben Gorion,
L. III. c. 9.
[b] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XII, c. viii.
[c] Charchamanim. Vid, Pfalm lxviii.- 3 2. It is rendered
IIpEir&ij, in the Septuagint pf pfalm Ixvii, p. 31. Vid. Kimr
chi. Druf. Praef, in Maccab, Eufeb. Demonft. Evang. Lib,
VIII. [dJ Hieron. in Ofee, cap. iii. in Sophon. c. i. Auguft. cont,
Fauft. Lib. I. c. lxxij. &c, Preface fo Hift. Books; p, 133,
note 0*. Ariftobulus,

FIRST BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 633
Ariftobulus, the fon of Hyrcanus, was the firft who
affumed the title of King after the captivity. He
bequeathed the crown to his fon, after whofe death
it was a fubjed of conteft to his children ; and on
the capture of Hyrcanus the Elder, by the Parthians,
conferred by the Romans on Herod [eJ.
[e] Sulpit. Sever. S. Hift. L. II. •

OF

[ 634 ]

OF THE

SECOND BOOK of the MACCABEES.

THIS Book contains a compilation of hiftorical
records extraded from different works ; but
efpecially an abridgment of an hiftory of the perfe
ctions op Epiphanes, and Eupator [a J againft the
Jews, which had been written in Greek in five
books, by an Helleniftical Jew of Cyrene, named
Jafon : a defcendant p'robably of thofe Jews who
had been placed there by Ptolemy Soter [bJ, and
which is no longer extant. The name of the com
piler is not known. He was doubtlefs a different
perfon from the author of the preceding book. He
dates from an aera fix months later than that chofen
by him, and not only writes with lefs accuracy, and
[a] Chap. ii. 19 — 29. Clemens Alexandrinus calls it the
epitome of the Maccabaic hiftory. Vid. Strom. L. V. p. 595.
[b] Prid. Con. Par. I. B. VIII, An. 320. The Cyreneans
were of Greek extraction. Callimachus, the Poet of Cyrene,
wrote in Greek. Jofeph. Antiq. L. XIV. c. xiii. L. XVI. c. x.
in

SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 635
in a more florid ftile, but likewife relates fome par
ticulars in a manner inconfiftent with the accounts of
the firft book [cj ; from which, neverthelefs, he
has in other inftances borrowed both fentiments and
fads. Some writers have attributed this fecond book
to Philo of Alexandria [dJ ; and others to Jofephus,
on grounds equally conjedural and fallacious. Nei
ther Eufebius nor St. Jerom fpeak of it as among the
works of Philo ; and the difcourfe of the Maccabees,
or the Empire of Reafon, which Eufebius and St.
Jerom fuppofe to have been written by Jofephus [e],
is a very different Work, though it mentions many
particulaFS contained in this book.
Serarius [fJ maintained that the Second Book
of Maccabees was the produdion of Judas, the Ef-
[c] Comp. 1 Mace. vi. 13 — 16. with 2 Mace. i. 16. and ix.
28. 1 Mace. ix. 3, 18. with 2 Mace. i. 10. 1 Mace, iv, 36.
with 2 Mace. x. 2, 3. & Ufher.
[d] Honor. Auguftod. de Scriptor. Eccl. in Philone.
[e] Eufeb. Hift. Ecclef. Lib. III. c. x. Hieron. adv. Pelag.
Lib. I. c. iii. & Lib. de Script. Ecclef. in Jofeph. This book,
whether properly or improperly attributed to Jofephus, is en
titled, £15 McckkuG aia; \oy®', i) mepi auloxpo.lop®' "Aayur^n. The word
Maccabees being applied to all who diftinguifhed themfelves in the
caufe of religion and freedom ; and fometimes, as in this in-
ftance, to thofe who flourifhed before the time of Judas. Vid.
Scaliger in Chron. Eufeb. n. 1853, p. 143. The work of Jofe
phus is a rhetorical declamation on jfhe power of reafon, adling
on religious principles ; in which the author illuftrates his fubjedt
by a defcription of the condud and fpeeches of Eleazar, and the
other martyrs whofe fortitude is celebrated in this fecond book of
Maccabees, j>] Serar, Prol. II. in Mace. & Rupert, de Vift. Verb. fenian,

636 SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES.
fenian, who is defcribed by Jofephus [g] as a man of
great authority for his wifdom; who, likewife, ac
cording to the hiftorian's account was endowed with
the infallible fpirit of prophecy [h], and predided
the death of Antigonus, the fecond fon of John Hyr
canus the Prieft; and whom Serarius imagines to be
mentioned in the fourteenth verfe of the fecond chap
ter of this book. But that paffage is generally al
lowed to relate to Judas Maccabasus ; and affords no
light with refped to the author of this book. It is
with more probability, though with equal uncertainty
affigned to Simo"n, or Judas Maccabasus ; while, fome
have fanfied that the whole book is only a letter
written by the fynagogue of Jerufalem to die Jews
in Egypt : not diftinguifhing the hiftorical from the
epiftolary parts [1]. By whomfoever it was com
pofed, it fliould feem to have been originally written
in Greek ; and the compiler, as well as the author,
whofe work he abridged, follows the Syrian mode of
computation, reckoning by the years of the Seleu-
cidre [kJ.
The two epiftles which are contained in the firft
and fecond chapters, and which are there faid to
have been written by the Jews at Jerufalem to their
[o] Jofeph. Antiq. Lib. XIII. c. xix.
[hJ Jofeph. de Bell. Jud. Lib. I. c. iii.
[1] Genebr. Chronol. Coteler. Not. ad Can. Apoft. p. 338/
[k] Prideaux conceives, that the compiler muft have been an
Egyptian Jew, fince he feems to have acknowledged the lefler
temple in Egypt, for he diftinguifhes the temple at Jerufalem as
"' the great temple." Vid. chap. ii. 19. xiv. 13. brethren

SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 637
brethren at Alexandria, exhorting them to obferve
the feaft of the Tabernacles, and that of the Purifi
cation, are by Prideaux confidered as fpurious ; the
fecond, indeed, is faid to have been written by Judas,
who was not living at the time ofthe date [lJ ; and
it contains many extravagant and fabulous particu
lars. It begins at the tenth verfe of the firft chapter,
and terminates with the eighteenth of the fecond j
from thence to the end of the chapter is a fhort pre
face ofthe compiler to the abridgment of Jafon's hif
tory ; which commences with the third chapter, and
concludes with the thirty-feventh verfe of the fifteenth
chapter, the two laft verfes forming a kind of con
clufion to the work.
The book contains an hiftory of about fifteen
years, from the enterprize of Heliodorus in the tem
ple, A. M. 3828, to the vidory of Judas Maccabasus
againft Nicanor, A. M. 3843. The chapters are not,
however, arranged exadly in chronological order.
The book begins at a period fomewhat earlier than
that of the firft book of Maccabees'. As the author
appears at firft to have intended only an epitome of
the .hiftory of Judas Maccabaeus and his brethren,
with fome contemporary events [mJ, the account of
the punifhment of Heliodorus, which occurred under
Sele\icus, the predeceffor of Epiphanes, as well as
the circumftances related in the two laft chapters
which happened under Demetrius Sotor, the fuc-
[l] Com. 1 Mace. ix. 3, 18. with 2 Mace. i. 10,
[ m] Chap. ii. 19 — 23. ceflbr

638 SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES.
ceffor of Eupator, have been fometimes reprefented
as fubfequent additions by fome later writer. But
fince thefe events as conneded with the time' of
Judas, were not irrelative to the author's defign :
there is no reafon, except from a pretended difference
of ftile, to difpute their authenticity as a part of Ja
fon 's hiftory : or, at leaft, as a genuine addition af
fixed to the epitome by 'the compiler. The author
had no title, any more than the writer of the prer
ceding book, to be confidered as an infpired hif
torian : he fpeaks, indeed, of his own performance
in the diffident ftile of one confcious of the fallibility
of his own judgment, and diftruftful of his own
powers [nJ. His work was never confidered as
ftridly canonical till received into the facred lift by
the Council of Trent, though examples are produced
from it by many ancient writers [oj. It muft be
allowed to be a valuable and inftrudive hiftory ; and
affords an interefting defcription of a perfeeuted and
afflided people : furnifhing in the relation of the
condud of Eleazar, and of the woman and her chil
dren who fuffered for their attachment to their re
ligion, an example of conftancy, that might have
animated the martyrs of the chriftian church. The
[n] Chap. xv. 38. which is written in the ftile of an un
infpired writer, and refembles the conclufion of the oration of
jEfchines againft Ctefipho. Vid. Preface to 1 Mace. p. 625,
626. [ o ] Ambcofe de Jacob, & Vita Beat. c x. xL xiL & Lib.
de Oftic. c.*"xl. xii. Auguft. de cur. gerend. pro Mortuis,
L. I. § 3- author

SECOND BOOK QF THE MACCABEES. 639
author induftribufly difplays the confidence in a re-
furredion and future life [p] which prevailed at the
period of his hiftory, and which was the encourage
ment that enabled thofe who were fo feverely tried,
to fuftain their tortures. He likewife, perhaps, more
particularly enforced the doctrine ¦ of a refurredion
with a defign to counterad the propagation of the
,Sadducean principles, which were then rifing into
notice. It has been thought to detrad from the credibi
lity of the particulars recorded in this book, that
neither the author of the preceding work, nor Jofe
phus in thofe his acknowledged writings, where he
treats of the perfecution carried on by Antiochus
[ Q_Jj fhould mention the fufferings of the martyrs
whofe memorial is here celebrated. But the filence
of thefe hiftorians can furnifh no fufficient argument
to deny that there was, at leaft, fome ground-work
for the account of this book, with whatever exagge
rations we may fuppofe it to have been decorated.
The defcription, likewife, of the prodigies and me
teorological conflids which portended calamities to
Judsea, ought not to invalidate our confidence in the
veracity of the writer of this book : fince it is un
queftionable from the teftimony of refpedable hif
torians [rJ ; and, indeed, from the evidence of holy
writ [s] : that fuch ominous appearances have fome-
[p] Chap. vii. 9, 11, 14, 23, 29, 36. & xiv. 46.
[ oj De Bell. Jud. L. I. Jofeph. Antiq. L. XII. c. v.
j>] Jofeph. deBell. Jud. Lib. VII. c. xii.
[5] Luke xxi. 25.
<+ 3 times

64O SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES.
times been witneffed. And when, as in this inftance*
the phenomena are reprefented by an hiftorian, per
haps nearly contemperary, to have continued forty
days [t] : it is unreafonable to fufped delufion, or
wilful mifreprefentation. So, likewife, however im
probable thofe accounts may appear, in which God
is defcribed to have vindicated the infulted fandity
ofhis temple [u] ; and to have difcountenanced the
adverfaries of his people by apparitions and angelical
vifions [xj ; it is certain, that many philofophical
and judicious writers have maintained the reality of
fimilar appearances [yJ ; and that the popular fuper-
ftitions and belief in fuch apparitions may, without
credulity, be fuppofed to have originated in the mi
raculous interpofitions which were fometimes dif
played in favour ofthe Jewifh people [zj.
But though the book may, perhaps, be vindicated
in general, with refped to hiftorical truth, it con
tains fome parts of exceptionable charader; and
fome paffages in it have been objeded to as of dan
gerous example [a]. The Romanifts, indeed, who
in deference to the decifion of the Tridentine fathers,
admit the canonical authority of the book, have
[tJ Chap. v. 1 — 3.
[ u ] Chap. iii. 24 — 29.
[x] Chap. x. 29, 30. xi. 8.
[y] Cicero Tufcul. Queeft. L. I. & de Natur. Deor. L. II.
f zj Jofhua v. 13.
[a] Chap. i. 18 — 36. & Rainold's Cenfur. Apocryph. torn.
ii. Pnelect,. 133, 134. Vid. alfo, chap, xiv.- 41-1— 46, where the
furious attempt of Razis to fall on his own fword Is fpoken of
with feeming approbation. produced

SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 64I
produced the laft verfes of the twelfth chapter to
countenance their notions concerning purgatory and
prayers for the dead [bJ.
The work, as the produdion of a fallible and
unenlightened man, may contain a mixture of error ;
and certainly fhould be read with that difcretion
which, while it feeks inftrudion, guards againft the
intrufion of falfe and pernicious opinions. If St. Paul,
in his eulogium on fome illuftrious examples of faith,
fhould be thought to have eftablifhed the truth, or
approved the examples of this hiftory, he by no
means bears teftimony to the infpiration of its author
[cj ; or eftablifbes its general authority in point of
dodrine. The apoftles configned for the diredion
ofthe chriftian church, the produdions of only thofe
[b] Bellamy, de Purgat. Lib. II. c. iii. Some think that
Judas is commended for having prayed, not for the dead, but
that the guilt of the dead might not be imputed to the living ;
but though the Greek be lefs favourable to the dodtrine of the
Romifh church than the Vulgate, it muft be confaffed that the
pafTage will not admit of that conftrudlion. Judas, probably,
did not dream of purgatory : but he 'is certainly reprefented to
hive prayed for the dead ; and in the Greek, as well as in the
Latin, the reconciliation is faid to have been made for the purpofe
of delivering the dead from' fin.
[c] It is faid in the nineteenth verfe of the fixth chapter,
that Eleazar, avQuiptlus mi to rv^/.ira.voii ttfoariytv. And St. Paul,
fpeaking of martyrs who had fuffered in hopes of a refurrec-
tion, fays, aM°> k t\vy.-ira.ne-liiicrav, from which expreffion fome
conceive that the apoftle alludes to the death of Eleazar, fup
pofing Tvpira.ni to fignify fome fpecific engine of torture. If
the apoftle did refer to the account of this book, v\ hich is a
point much controverted, it will only prove that the relation is
true. T t " holy

642 SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES.
<f holy men who were moved by the Holy Ghoft."
St. Auftin juftly remarked, in anfwer to the Circumr
cellion Donatifts [d], who had urged the defperate
attempt of Razis f ej, in defence of fuicide : that
they muft have been hard preffed for examples, to
have recourfe to the book of Maccabees ; for that
this book was of fubordinate authority, as not efta^.
blifhed on the teftimony of the Jewifh church, or on
that of Chrift; and as received by the Chriftian
qhurch only to be difcreetly read ; and that Razis,
however diftinguifhed for valour, was not to be pro
pofed as an example to juftify felf-murder [f]. The.
fathers in general, indeed, cite the book as an ufe
ful hiftory [gJ; but not as of authority in point of
cjodrine. There are two other books entitled the Third
and Fourth Books of Maccabees, which were never
received by any church. That which is improperly
ftiled the third ; and which in point of time fhould
be confidered as the firft : defcribes the perfecution
of Ptolemy Philopator againft the Jews in Egypt,
about A. M. 3789 : and the miraculous delivery of
thofe who were expofed in the Hypodrome of Alex-
[d 1 Thefe were a party of confederated ruffians vof the
fourth century, who practifed and defended affaffinations, and
who recommended fuicide when it could refcue them from
public punifhment. Vid. Mofheim. Ecclef Hift. Cent. IV.
Part II.
[e] Chap, xiv, 41.
[f] Auguft. Epift. 61. ad Dulcit, Cofin's Scholaft. Hift.
•381. [g] Cyprian. Exhort. Martyr. § u. Teftim. L. III. § 4.
andria,

SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES. 643
andria to the fury of elephants. This is a work en
titled to much -refped; it is in the moft ancient
manufcript copies of the Septuagint [n1, and is cited
by the fathers [ij, but never having been found in
the Vulgate, which verfion was univerfally ufed in
the Weftern church, and from which our tranflations
were made, it never was admitted into our Bibles.
Grotius fuppofes it to, have been written foon after
the book of Ecclefiafticus, The hiftory is not noticed
by Jofephus ; though in the ancient verfion of his fe
cond book againft Apion by Rufinus, there are fome
particulars that feem to allude to it.
The book, which is ufually called the Fourth
Book of the Maccabees, and which contains an hif
tory of the pontificate of John Hyrcanus, was firft
publifhed in the Paris Polyglot as an Arabic hiftory
of the Maccabees. It is fuppofed to have been a
tranflation of the work feen by Sixtus Senenfis [k]
in a Greek manufcript at Lyons, and which was
afterwards burnt [l] ; though according to Calmet's
account [mJ, it fhould feem to have been a different
work from that mentioned by early writers as a
[h] It is in the Alexandrian manufcript at St. James's, and
in the Vatican manufcript at Rome.
[1] Eufeb. Chron. An. 1800. Theod. in Dan. xi. 7. Canon.
Apoft. 85. Athan. Synop. Niceph. vid. Arab. Ver. Paris
Polyglot. [k] Sixt. Senen. Biblot. L. I. k Bib. Maxim, a Fran., de la
Have.. [l] Selden. de Succeff, in Pontif.
[m] Calmet. Preface fur le Qjjat. Livre des Maccab.
Q fourth

&J4 SECOND BOOK OF THE MACCABEES.'
fourth 'Book of the Maccabees [n j*. It feems to have
been originally written in Hebrew ; and the Arabic,
or the Greek tranflator, from whofe work the Arabic
was made, lived after the deftrudion of the fecond
temple by the Romans, as appears from fome particu
lars. The book differs in many refpeds from the
relations of Jofephus. Calmet thinks, that the dif
courfe on the power of reafon, before mentioned as
the work of Jofephus, was the original fourth book
of Maccabees, which in many Greek manufcripts is
placed with the other three [oj.
It may be added, that in two ancient Hebrew
manufcripts in the Bodleian library, as alfo in one at
Leipfic, there follows after Efther, as a book of the
Bible, without any title or introdudion, an hiftory of
the Maccabees written in Chaldee, which differs
widely from our apocryphal books. It appears to
have been originally written in Chaldee, and to have
been tranflated into Hebrew. It is probably a very
ancient produdion, and contains many remarkable
particulars [pJ. . '
[n] Athan. Synop. Syncell. Philaftr. Vid. Coteler. Not. in
Can. Apoft. p. 117, 138.
[o] Not. Cambefis in Jofeph. Lib. de Imper. Ration. Cotel.
Not. in Can. Apoft, p. 339.
[pJ The Hebrew copy has been publifhed in a very corrupt
ftate by Bartoloccius. Vid. Kennicott, N°-i8, Pentat. Pfal.
Megill. 80, p. 55, 56. on Hebrew and Samaritan manufcript,
P- 534-
F.' I N IS,

\