Butbesidesthequestionofthewriter，thereareotherpointstonoticewhichcommonsuperstitionforbidsthemultitudetoapprehend。(3)Ofthesethechiefis，thatEzra(whomIwilltaketobetheauthoroftheaforesaidbooksuntilsomemorelikelypersonbesuggested)didnotputthefinishingtouchestothenarrativecontainedtherein，butmerelycollectedthehistoriesfromvariouswriters，andsometimessimplysetthemdown，leavingtheirexaminationandarrangementtoposterity。
(4)Thecause(ifitwerenotuntimelydeath)whichpreventedhimfromcompletinghisworkinallitsportions，Icannotconjecture，butthefactremainsmostclear，althoughwehavelostthewritingsoftheancientHebrewhistorians，andcanonlyjudgefromthefewfragmentswhicharestillextant。(5)ForthehistoryofHezekiah(2Kingsxviii:17)
aswritteninthevisionofIsaiah，isrelatedasitisfoundinthechroniclesofthekingsofJudah。(6)Wereadthesamestory，toldwithfewexceptions，[Endnote11]，inthesamewords，inthebookofIsaiahwhichwascontainedinthechroniclesofthekingsofJudah(2Chron。xxxii:32)。(7)FromthiswemustconcludethattherewerevariousversionsofthisnarrativeofIsaiah\'s，unless，indeed，anyonewoulddreamthatinthis，too，therelurksamystery。(8)Further，thelastchapterof2Kings27-30isrepeatedinthelastchapterofJeremiah，v。31-34。
(9)Again，wefind2Sam。vii。repeatedinIChron。xvii。，buttheexpressionsinthetwopassagesaresocuriouslyvaried[Endnote12]，thatwecanveryeasilyseethatthesetwochaptersweretakenfromtwodifferentversionsofthehistoryofNathan。
(10)Lastly，thegenealogyofthekingsofIdumaeacontainedinGenesisxxxvi:31，isrepeatedinthesamewordsin1Chron。i。，thoughweknowthattheauthorofthelatterworktookhismaterialsfromotherhistorians，notfromthetwelvebookswehaveascribedtoEzra。(10)Wemaythereforebesurethatifwestillpossessedthewritingsofthehistorians，thematterwouldbemadeclear；however，aswehavelostthem，wecanonlyexaminethewritingsstillextant，andfromtheirorderandconnection，theirvariousrepetitions，and，lastly，thecontradictionsindateswhichtheycontain，judgeoftherest。
(11)These，then，orthechiefofthem，wewillnowgothrough。(12)First，inthestoryofJudahandTamar(Gen。xxxviii。)thehistorianthusbegins:
\"AnditcametopassatthattimethatJudahwentdownfromhisbrethren。\"
(13)Thistimecannotrefertowhatimmediatelyprecedes[Endnote13]，butmustnecessarilyrefertosomethingelse，forfromthetimewhenJosephwassoldintoEgypttothetimewhenthepatriarchJacob，withallhisfamily，setoutthither，cannotbereckonedasmorethantwenty-twoyears，forJoseph，whenhewassoldbyhisbrethren，wasseventeenyearsold，andwhenhewassummonedbyPharaohfromprisonwasthirty；iftothisweaddthesevenyearsofplentyandtwooffamine，thetotalamountstotwenty-twoyears。(14)Now，insoshortaperiod，noonecansupposethatsomanythingshappenedasaredescribed；thatJudahhadthreechildren，oneaftertheother，fromonewife，whomhemarriedatthebeginningoftheperiod；
thattheeldestofthese，whenhewasoldenough，marriedTamar，andthatafterhediedhisnextbrothersucceededtoher；that，afterallthis，Judah，withoutknowingit，hadintercoursewithhisdaughter-in-law，andthatsheborehimtwins，and，finally，thattheeldestofthesetwinsbecameafatherwithintheaforesaidperiod。(15)AsalltheseeventscannothavetakenplacewithintheperiodmentionedinGenesis，thereferencemustnecessarilybetosomethingtreatedofinanotherbook:andEzrainthisinstancesimplyrelatedthestory，andinserteditwithoutexaminationamonghisotherwritings。
(16)However，notonlythischapterbutthewholenarrativeofJosephandJacobiscollectedandsetforthfromvarioushistories，inasmuchasitisquiteinconsistentwithitself。(17)ForinGen。xlvii。wearetoldthatJacob，whenhecameatJoseph\'sbiddingtosalutePharaoh，was130yearsold。(18)Iffromthiswedeductthetwenty-twoyearswhichhepassedsorrowingfortheabsenceofJosephandtheseventeenyearsformingJoseph\'sagewhenhewassold，and，lastly，thesevenyearsforwhichJacobservedforRachel，wefindthathewasveryadvancedinlife，namely，eightyfour，whenhetookLeahtowife，whereasDinahwasscarcelysevenyearsoldwhenshewasviolatedbyShechem，[Endnote14]。(19)SimeonandLeviwereagedrespectivelyelevenandtwelvewhentheyspoiledthecityandslewallthemalesthereinwiththesword。
(20)ThereisnoneedthatIshouldgothroughthewholePentateuch。(21)Ifanyonepaysattentiontothewayinwhichallthehistoriesandpreceptsinthesefivebooksaresetdownpromiscuouslyandwithoutorder，withnoregardfordates；andfurther，howthesamestoryisoftenrepeated，sometimesinadifferentversion，hewilleasily，Isay，discernthatallthematerialswerepromiscuouslycollectedandheapedtogether，inorderthattheymightatsomesubsequenttimebemorereadilyexaminedandreducedtoorder。(22)Notonlythesefivebooks，butalsothenarrativescontainedintheremainingseven，goingdowntothedestructionofthecity，arecompiledinthesameway。(23)ForwhodoesnotseethatinJudgesii:6anewhistorianisbeingquoted，whohadalsowrittenofthedeedsofJoshua，andthathiswordsaresimplycopied?(24)ForafterourhistorianhasstatedinthelastchapterofthebookofJoshuathatJoshuadiedandwasburied，andhaspromised，inthefirstchapterofJudges，torelatewhathappenedafterhisdeath，inwhatway，ifhewishedtocontinuethethreadofhishistory，couldheconnectthestatementheremadeaboutJoshuawithwhathadgonebefore?
(25)So，too，1Sam。17，18，aretakenfromanotherhistorian，whoassignsacauseforDavid\'sfirstfrequentingSaul\'scourtverydifferentfromthatgiveninchap。xvi。ofthesamebook。(26)ForhedidnotthinkthatDavidcametoSaulinconsequenceoftheadviceofSaul\'sservants，asisnarratedinchap。xvi。，butthatbeingsentbychancetothecampbyhisfatheronamessagetohisbrothers，hewasforthefirsttimeremarkedbySaulontheoccasionofhisvictory，overGoliaththePhilistine，andwasretainedathiscourt。
(27)Isuspectthesamethinghastakenplaceinchap。xxvi。ofthesamebook，forthehistorianthereseemstorepeatthenarrativegiveninchap。
xxiv。accordingtoanotherman\'sversion。(28)ButIpassoverthis，andgoontothecomputationofdates。
(29)InIKings，chap。vi。，itissaidthatSolomonbuilttheTempleinthefourhundredandeightiethyearaftertheexodusfromEgypt；butfromthehistoriansthemselveswegetamuchlongerperiod，for:
Years。
Mosesgovernedthepeopleinthedesert……40
Joshua，wholived110years，didnot，accordingtoJosephusandothers\'opinionrulemorethan……26
CusbanRishathaimheldthepeopleinsubjection……8
Othniel，sonofKenag，wasjudgefor……[Endnote15]40
Eglon，KingofMoab，governedthepeople……18
EhuclandShamgarwerejudges……80
Jachin，KingofCanaan，heldthepeopleinsubjection……20
Thepeoplewasatpeacesubsequentlyfor……40
ItwasundersubjectiontoMedian……7
ItobtainedfreedomunderGideonfor……40
ItfellundertheruleofAbimelech……3
Tola，sonofPuah，wasjudge……23
Jairwasjudge……22
ThepeoplewasinsubjectiontothePhilistinesandAmmonites……18
Jephthahwasjudge……6
Ibzan，theBethlehemite，wasjudge……7
Elon，theZabulonite……10
Abclon，thePirathonite……8
ThepeoplewasagainsubjecttothePhilistines……40
Samsonwasjudge……[Endnote16]20
Eliwasjudge……40
ThepeopleagainfellintosubjectiontothePhilistines，tilltheyweredeliveredbySamuel……20
Davidreigned……40
Solomonreignedbeforehebuiltthetemple……4
(30)Alltheseperiodsaddedtogethermakeatotalof580years。(31)ButtothesemustbeaddedtheyearsduringwhichtheHebrewrepublicflourishedafterthedeathofJoshua，untilitwasconqueredbyCushanRishathaim，whichItaketobeverynumerous，forIcannotbringmyselftobelievethatimmediatelyafterthedeathofJoshuaallthosewhohadwitnessedhismiraclesdiedsimultaneously，northattheirsuccessorsatonestrokebidfarewelltotheirlaws，andplungedfromthehighestvirtueintothedepthofwickednessandobstinacy。
(32)Nor，lastly，thatCushanRishathaimsubduedthemontheinstant；eachoneofthesecircumstancesrequiresalmostageneration，andthereisnodoubtthatJudgesii:7，9，10，comprehendsagreatmanyyearswhichitpassesoverinsilence。(33)WemustalsoaddtheyearsduringwhichSamuelwasjudge，thenumberofwhichisnotstatedinScripture，andalsotheyearsduringwhichSaulreigned，whicharenotclearlyshownfromhishistory。(34)Itis，indeed，statedin1Sam。xiii:1，thathereignedtwoyears，butthetextinthatpassageismutilated，andtherecordsofhisreignleadustosupposealongerperiod。(35)ThatthetextismutilatedI
supposenoonewilldoubtwhohaseveradvancedsofarasthethresholdoftheHebrewlanguage，foritrunsasfollows:\"Saulwasinhis——year，whenhebegantoreign，andhereignedtwoyearsoverIsrael。\"(36)Who，Isay，doesnotseethatthenumberoftheyearsofSaul\'sagewhenhebegantoreignhasbeenomitted?(37)Thattherecordofthereignpresupposesagreaternumberofyearsisequallybeyonddoubt，forinthesamebook，chap。
xxvii:7，itisstatedthatDavidsojournedamongthePhilistines，towhomhehadfledonaccountofSaul，ayearandfourmonths；thustherestofthereignmusthavebeencomprisedinaspaceofeightmonths，whichIthinknoonewillcredit。(38)Josephus，attheendofthesixthbookofhisantiquities，thuscorrectsthetext:SaulreignedeighteenyearswhileSamuelwasalive，andtwoyearsafterhisdeath。(39)However，allthenarrativeinchap。Xiii。isincompletedisagreementwithwhatgoesbefore。
(40)Attheendofchap。vii。itisnarratedthatthePhilistinesweresocrushedbytheHebrewsthattheydidnotventure，duringSamuel\'slife，toinvadethebordersofIsrael；butinchap。xiii。wearetoldthattheHebrewswereinvadedduringthelifeofSamuelbythePhilistines，andreducedbythemtosuchastateofwretchednessandpovertythattheyweredeprivednotonlyofweaponswithwhichtodefendthemselves，butalsoofthemeansofmakingmore。(41)IshouldbeatpainsenoughifIweretotryandharmonizeallthenarrativescontainedinthisfirstbookofSamuelsothattheyshouldseemtobeallwrittenandarrangedbyasinglehistorian。
(42)ButIreturntomyobject。(43)Theyears，then，duringwhichSaulreignedmustbeaddedtotheabovecomputation；and，lastly，IhavenotcountedtheyearsoftheHebrewanarchy，forIcannotfromScripturegathertheirnumber。(44)Icannot，Isay，becertainastotheperiodoccupiedbytheeventsrelatedinJudgeschap。xvii。ontilltheendofthebook。
(45)Itisthusabundantlyevidentthatwecannotarriveatatruecomputationofyearsfromthehistories，and，further，thatthehistoriesareinconsistentthemselvesonthesubject。(46)Wearecompelledtoconfessthatthesehistorieswerecompiledfromvariouswriterswithoutpreviousarrangementandexamination。(47)NotlessdiscrepancyisfoundbetweenthedatesgivenintheChroniclesoftheKingsofJudah，andthoseintheChroniclesoftheKingsofIsrael；inthelatter，itisstatedthatJehoram，thesonofAhab，begantoreigninthesecondyearofthereignofJehoram，thesonofJehoshaphat(2Kingsi:17)，butintheformerwereadthatJehoram，thesonofJehoshaphat，begantoreigninthefifthyearofJehoram，thesonofAhab(2Kingsviii:16)。(48)AnyonewhocomparesthenarrativesinChronicleswiththenarrativesinthebooksofKings，willfindmanysimilardiscrepancies。(49)Thesethereisnoneedformetoexaminehere，andstilllessamIcalledupontotreatofthecommentariesofthosewhoendeavourtoharmonizethem。(50)TheRabbisevidentlylettheirfancyrunwild。(51)SuchcommentatorsasIhave，read，dream，invent，andasalastresort，playfastandloosewiththelanguage。(52)Forinstance，whenitissaidin2Chronicles，thatAhabwasforty-twoyearsoldwhenhebegantoreign，theypretendthattheseyearsarecomputedfromthereignofOmri，notfromthebirthofAhab。IfthiscanbeshowntobetherealmeaningofthewriterofthebookofChronicles，allIcansayis，thathedidnotknowhowtostateafact。(53)Thecommentatorsmakemanyotherassertionsofthiskind，whichiftrue，wouldprovethattheancientHebrewswereignorantbothoftheirownlanguage，andofthewaytorelateaplainnarrative。(54)IshouldinsuchcaserecognizenoruleorreasonininterpretingScripture，butitwouldbepermissibletohypothesizetoone\'sheart\'scontent。
(55)IfanyonethinksthatIamspeakingtoogenerally，andwithoutsufficientwarrant，Iwouldaskhimtosethimselftoshowingussomefixedplaninthesehistorieswhichmightbefollowedwithoutblamebyotherwritersofchronicles，andinhiseffortsatharmonizingandinterpretation，sostrictlytoobserveandexplainthephrasesandexpressions，theorderandtheconnections，thatwemaybeabletoimitatethesealsoinourwritings，[Endnote17]。(56)Ifhesucceeds，Iwillatoncegivehimmyhand，andheshallbetomeasgreatApollo；forIconfessthatafterlongendeavoursIhavebeenunabletodiscoveranythingofthekind。(57)ImayaddthatIsetdownnothingherewhichIhavenotlongreflectedupon，andthat，thoughIwasimbuedfrommyboyhoodupwiththeordinaryopinionsabouttheScriptures，IhavebeenunabletowithstandtheforceofwhatIhaveurged。
(58)However，thereisnoneedtodetainthereaderwiththisquestion，anddrivehimtoattemptanimpossibletask；Imerelymentionedthefactinordertothrowlightonmyintention。
(59)Inowpassontootherpointsconcerningthetreatmentofthesebooks。
(60)Forwemustremark，inadditiontowhathasbeenshown，thatthesebookswerenotguardedbyposteritywithsuchcarethatnofaultscreptin。
(61)Theancientscribesdrawattentiontomanydoubtfulreadings，andsomemutilatedpassages，butnottoallthatexist:whetherthecommentariesofthosewhoendeavourtoharmonizethem。(62)TheRabbisevidentlylettheirfancyrunwild。(63)SuchcommentatorsasIhave，read，dream，invent，andasalastresort，playfastandloosewiththelanguage。(64)Forinstance，whenitissaidin2Chronicles，thatAhabwasforty-twoyearsoldwhenhebegantoreign，theypretendthattheseyearsarecomputedfromthereignofOmri，notfromthebirthofAhab。(65)Ifthiscanbeshowntobetherealmeaningofthe
(68)IfanyonethinksthatIamspeakingtoogenerally，andwithoutsufficientwarrant，Iwouldaskhimtosethimselftoshowingussomefixedplaninthesehistorieswhichmightbefollowedwithoutblamebyotherwritersofchronicles，andinhiseffortsatharmonizingandinterpretation，sostrictlytoobserveandexplainthephrasesandexpressions，theorderandtheconnections，thatwemaybeabletoimitatethesealsoinourwritings(17)。(69)Ifhesucceeds，Iwillatoncegivehimmyhand，andheshallbetomeasgreatApollo；forIconfessthatafterlongendeavoursI
havebeenunabletodiscoveranythingofthekind。(70)ImayaddthatIsetdownnothingherewhichIhavenotlongreflectedupon，andthat，thoughI
wasimbuedfrommyboyhoodupwiththeordinaryopinionsabouttheScriptures，IhavebeenunabletowithstandtheforceofwhatIhaveurged。
(71)However，thereisnoneedtodetainthereaderwiththisquestion，anddrivehimtoattemptanimpossibletask；Imerelymentionedthefactinordertothrowlightonmyintention。
(72)Inowpassontootherpointsconcerningthetreatmentofthesebooks。
(73)Forwemustremark，inadditiontowhathasbeenshown，thatthesebookswerenotguardedbyposteritywithsuchcarethatnofaultscreptin。
(74)Theancientscribesdrawattentiontomanydoubtfulreadings，andsomemutilatedpassages，butnottoallthatexist:whetherthefaultsareofsufficientimportancetogreatly，embarrassthereaderIwillnotnowdiscuss。(75)Iaminclinedtothinkthattheyareofminormomenttothose，atanyrate，whoreadtheScriptureswithenlightenment:andIcanpositively，affirmthatIhavenotnoticedanyfaultorvariousreadingindoctrinalpassagessufficienttorenderthemobscureordoubtful。
(76)Therearesomepeople，however，whowillnotadmitthatthereisanycorruption，eveninotherpassages，butmaintainthatbysomeuniqueexerciseofprovidenceGodhaspreservedfromcorruptioneverywordintheBible:theysaythatthevariousreadingsarethesymbolsofprofoundestmysteries，andthatmightysecretsliehidinthetwenty-eighthiatuswhichoccur，nay，evenintheveryformoftheletters。
(77)Whethertheyareactuatedbyfollyandaniledevotion，orwhetherbyarroganceandmalicesothattheyalonemaybeheldtopossessthesecretsofGod，Iknownot:thismuchIdoknow，thatIfindintheirwritingsnothingwhichhastheairofaDivinesecret，butonlychildishlucubrations。(78)IhavereadandknowncertainKabbalistictriflers，whoseinsanityprovokesmyunceasingasastonishment。(79)Thatfaultshavecreptinwill，Ithink，bedeniedbynosensiblepersonwhoreadsthepassageaboutSaul，abovequoted(1Sam。xiii:1)andalso2Sam。vi:2:\"AndDavidaroseandwentwithallthepeoplethatwerewithhimfromJudah，tobringupfromthencethearkofGod。\"
(80)Noonecanfailtoremarkthatthenameoftheirdestination，viz。，Kirjath-jearim[Endnotee18]，hasbeenomitted:norcanwedenythat2Sam。xiii:37，hasbeentamperedwithandmutilated。\"AndAbsalomfled，andwenttoTalmai，thesonofAmmihud，kingofGeshur。(81)Andhemournedforhissoneveryday。SoAbsalomfled，andwenttoGeshur，andwastherethreeyears。\"(82)IknowthatIhaveremarkedotherpassagesofthesamekind，butIcannotrecallthematthemoment。
(83)ThatthemarginalnoteswhicharefoundcontinuallyintheHebrewCodicesaredoubtfulreadingswill，Ithink，beevidenttoeveryonewhohasnoticedthattheyoftenarisefromthegreatsimilarity，ofsomeoftheHebrewletters，suchforinstance，asthesimilaritybetweenKaphandBeth，JodandVan，DalethandReth，&c。(84)Forexample，thetextin2Sam。v:24，runs\"inthetimewhenthouhearest，\"andsimilarlyinJudgesxxi:22，\"Anditshallbewhentheirfathersortheirbrotherscomeuntousoften，\"themarginalversionis\"comeuntoustocomplain。\"
(85)Soalsomanyvariousreadingshavearisenfromtheuseofthelettersnamedmutes，whicharegenerallynotsoundedinpronunciation，andaretakenpromiscuously，onefortheother。(86)Forexample，inLevit。xxv:29，itiswritten，\"Thehouseshallbeestablishedwhichisnotinthewalledcity，\"
butthemarginhasit，\"whichisinawalledcity。\"
(87)Thoughthesemattersareself-evident，[Endnore6]，itisnecessary，toanswerthereasoningsofcertainPharisees，bywhichtheyendeavourtoconvinceusthatthemarginalnotesservetoindicatesomemystery，andwereaddedorpointedoutbythewritersofthesacredbooks。(88)Thefirstofthesereasons，which，inmy，opinion，carrieslittleweight，istakenfromthepracticeofreadingtheScripturesaloud。
(89)If，itisurged，thesenoteswereaddedtoshowvariousreadingswhichcouldnotbedecideduponbyposterity，whyhascustomprevailedthatthemarginalreadingsshouldalwaysberetained?(90)Whyhasthemeaningwhichispreferredbeensetdowninthemarginwhenitoughttohavebeenincorporatedinthetext，andnotrelegatedtoasidenote?
(91)Thesecondreasonismorespecious，andistakenfromthenatureofthecase。(92)Itisadmittedthatfaultshavecreptintothesacredwritingsbychanceandnotbydesign；buttheysaythatinthefivebooksthewordforagirlis，withoneexception，writtenwithouttheletter\"he，\"contrarytoallgrammaticalrules，whereasinthemarginitiswrittencorrectlyaccordingtotheuniversalruleofgrammar。(93)Canthishavehappenedbymistake?Isitpossibletoimagineaclericalerrortohavebeencommittedevery，timethewordoccurs?(94)Moreover，itwouldhavebeeneasy，tosupplytheemendation。(95)Hence，whenthesereadingsarenotaccidentalorcorrectionsofmanifestmistakes，itissupposedthattheymusthavebeensetdownonpurposebytheoriginalwriters，andhaveameaning。(96)
However，itiseasytoanswersucharguments；astothequestionofcustomhavingprevailedinthereadingofthemarginalversions，Iwillnotsparemuchtimeforitsconsideration:Iknownotthepromptingsofsuperstition，andperhapsthepracticemayhavearisenfromtheideathatbothreadingsweredeemedequallygoodortolerable，andtherefore，lesteithershouldbeneglected，onewasappointedtobewritten，andtheothertoberead。(97)
Theyfearedtopronouncejudgmentinsoweightyamatterlesttheyshouldmistakethefalseforthetrue，andthereforetheywouldgivepreferencetoneither，astheymustnecessarilyhavedoneiftheyhadcommandedoneonlytobebothreadandwritten。(98)Thiswouldbeespeciallythecasewherethemarginalreadingswerenotwrittendowninthesacredbooks:orthecustommayhaveoriginatedbecausesomethingsthoughrightlywrittendownweredesiredtobereadotherwiseaccordingtothemarginalversion，andthereforethegeneralrulewasmadethatthemarginalversionshouldbefollowedinreadingtheScriptures。(99)Thecausewhichinducedthescribestoexpresslyprescribecertainpassagestobereadinthemarginalversion，Iwillnowtouchon，fornotallthemarginalnotesarevariousreadings，butsomemarkexpressionswhichhavepassedoutofcommonuse，obsoletewordsandtermswhichcurrentdecencydidnotallowtobereadinapublicassembly。(100)Theancientwriters，withoutanyevilintention，employednocourtlyparaphrase，butcalledthingsbytheirplainnames。(101)
Afterwards，throughthespreadofevilthoughtsandluxury，wordswhichcouldbeusedbytheancientswithoutoffence，cametobeconsideredobscene。(102)TherewasnoneedforthiscausetochangethetextofScripture。(103)Still，asaconcessiontothepopularweakness，itbecamethecustomtosubstitutemoredecenttermsforwordsdenotingsexualintercourse，exereta，&c。，andtoreadthemastheyweregiveninthemargin。
(104)Atanyrate，whatevermayhavebeentheoriginofthepracticeofreadingScriptureaccordingtothemarginalversion，itwasnotthatthetrueinterpretationiscontainedtherein。(105)Forbesidesthat，theRabbinsintheTalmudoftendifferfromtheMassoretes，andgiveotherreadingswhichtheyapproveof，asIwillshortlyshow，certainthingsarefoundinthemarginwhichappearlesswarrantedbytheusesoftheHebrewlanguage。(106)Forexample，in2Samuelxiv:22，weread，\"Inthatthekinghathfulfilledtherequestofhisservant，\"aconstructionplainlyregular，andagreeingwiththatinchap。xvi。(107)Butthemarginhasit\"ofthyservant，\"whichdoesnotagreewiththepersonoftheverb。(108)
So，too，chap。xvi:25ofthesamebook，wefind，\"AsifonehadinquiredattheoracleofGod，\"themarginadding\"someone\"tostandasanominativetotheverb。(109)Butthecorrectionisnotapparentlywarranted，foritisacommonpractice，wellknowntogrammariansintheHebrewlanguage，tousethethirdpersonsingularoftheactiveverbimpersonally。
(110)ThesecondargumentadvancedbythePhariseesiseasilyansweredfromwhathasjustbeensaid，namely，thatthescribesbesidesthevariousreadingscalledattentiontoobsoletewords。(111)ForthereisnodoubtthatinHebrewasinotherlanguages，changesofusemademanywordsobsoleteandantiquated，andsuchwerefoundbythelaterscribesinthesacredbooksandnotedbythemwithaviewtothebooksbeingpubliclyreadaccordingtocustom。(112)Forthisreasonthewordnahgarisalwaysfoundmarkedbecauseitsgenderwasoriginallycommon，andithadthesamemeaningastheLatinjuvenis(ayoungperson)。(113)SoalsotheHebrewcapitalwasancientlycalledJerusalem，notJerusalaim。(114)Astothepronounshimselfandherself，Ithinkthatthelaterscribeschangedvauintojod(averyfrequentchangeinHebrew)whentheywishedtoexpressthefemininegender，butthattheancientsonlydistinguishedthetwogendersbyachangeofvowels。(115)Imayalsoremarkthattheirregulartensesofcertainverbsdifferintheancientandmodernforms，itbeingformerlyconsideredamarkofelegancetoemploycertainlettersagreeabletotheear。
(116)Inaword，IcouldeasilymultiplyproofsofthiskindifIwerenotafraidofabusingthepatienceofthereader。(117)PerhapsIshallbeaskedhowIbecameacquaintedwiththefactthatalltheseexpressionsareobsolete。(118)IreplythatIhavefoundtheminthemostancientHebrewwritersintheBibleitself，andthattheyhavenotbeenimitatedbysubsequentauthors，andthustheyarerecognizedasantiquated，thoughthelanguageinwhichtheyoccurisdead。(119)Butperhapssomeonemaypressthequestionwhy，ifitbetrue，asIsay，thatthemarginalnotesoftheBiblegenerallymarkvariousreadings，therearenevermorethantworeadingsofapassage，thatinthetextandthatinthemargin，insteadofthreeormore；andfurther，howthescribescanhavehesitatedbetweentworeadings，oneofwhichisevidentlycontrarytogrammar，andtheotheraplaincorrection。
(120)Theanswertothesequestionsalsoiseasy:Iwillpremisethatitisalmostcertainthatthereonceweremorevariousreadingsthanthosenowrecorded。(121)Forinstance，onefindsmanyintheTalmudwhichtheMassoreteshaveneglected，andaresodifferentonefromtheotherthateventhesuperstitiouseditoroftheBombergBibleconfessesthathecannotharmonizethem。(122)\"Wecannotsayanything，\"hewrites，\"exceptwhatwehavesaidabove，namely，thattheTalmudisgenerallyincontradictiontotheMassorete。\"(123)Sothatwearenorboundtoholdthatthereneverweremorethantworeadingsofanypassage，yetIamwillingtoadmit，andindeedIbelievethatmorethantworeadingsareneverfound:andforthefollowingreasons:-(124)(I。)Thecauseofthedifferencesofreadingonlyadmitsoftwo，beinggenerallythesimilarityofcertainletters，sothatthequestionresolveditselfintowhichshouldbewrittenBeth，orKaf，JodorVau，DalethorReth:caseswhichareconstantlyoccurring，andfrequentlyyieldingafairlygoodmeaningwhicheveralternativebeadopted。
(125)Sometimes，too，itisaquestionwhetherasyllablebelongorshort，quantitybeingdeterminedbytheletterscalledmutes。(126)Moreover，weneverassertedthatallthemarginalversions，withoutexception，markedvariousreadings；onthecontrary，wehavestatedthatmanywereduetomotivesofdecencyoradesiretoexplainobsoletewords。(127)(II。)Iaminclinedtoattributethefactthatmorethantworeadingsareneverfoundtothepaucityofexemplars，perhapsnotmorethantwoorthree，foundbythescribes。(128)Inthetreatiseofthescribes，chap。vi。，mentionismadeofthreeonly，pretendedtohavebeenfoundinthetimeofEzra，inorderthatthemarginalversionsmightbeattributedtohim。
(129)Howeverthatmaybe，ifthescribesonlyhadthreecodiceswemayeasilyimaginethatinagivenpassagetwoofthemwouldbeinaccord，foritwouldbeextraordinaryifeachoneofthethreegaveadifferentreadingofthesametext。
(130)ThedearthofcopiesafterthetimeofEzrawillsurprisenoonewhohasreadthe1stchapterofMaccabees，orJosephus\'s\"Antiquities，\"Bk。12，chap。5。(131)Nay，itappearswonderfulconsideringthefierceanddailypersecution，thateventhesefewshouldhavebeenpreserved。(132)Thiswill，Ithink，beplaintoevenacursoryreaderofthehistoryofthosetimes。
(133)WehavethusdiscoveredthereasonswhytherearenevermorethantworeadingsofapassageintheBible，butthisisalongwayfromsupposingthatwemaythereforeconcludethattheBiblewaspurposelywrittenincorrectlyinsuchpassagesinordertosignifysomemystery。(134)Astothesecondargument，thatsomepassagesaresofaultilywrittenthattheyareatplainvariancewithallgrammar，andshouldhavebeencorrectedinthetextandnotinthemargin，Iattachlittleweighttoit，forIamnotconcernedtosaywhatreligiousmotivethescribesmayhavehadforactingastheydid:possiblytheydidsofromcandour，wishingtotransmitthefewexemplarsoftheBiblewhichtheyhadfoundexactlyintheiroriginalstate，markingthedifferencestheydiscoveredinthemargin，notasdoubtfulreadings，butassimplevariants。(135)Ihavemyselfcalledthemdoubtfulreadings，becauseitwouldbegenerallyimpossibletosaywhichofthetwoversionsispreferable。
(136)Lastly，besidesthesedoubtfulreadingsthescribeshave(byleavingahiatusinthemiddleofaparagraph)markedseveralpassagesasmutilated。
(137)TheMassoreteshavecountedupsuchinstances，andtheyamounttoeight-and-twenty。(138)Idonotknowwhetheranymysteryisthoughttolurkinthenumber，atanyratethePhariseesreligiouslypreserveacertainamountofemptyspace。
(139)Oneofsuchhiatusoccurs(togiveaninstance)inGen。iv:8，whereitiswritten，\"AndCainsaidtohisbrother……anditcametopasswhiletheywereinthefield，&c。，\"aspacebeingleftinwhichweshouldexpecttohearwhatitwasthatCainsaid。
(140)Similarlythereare(besidesthosepointswehavenoticed)eight-and-
twentyhiatusleftbythescribes。(141)Manyofthesewouldnotberecognizedasmutilatedifitwerenotfortheemptyspaceleft。ButIhavesaidenoughonthissubject。
CHAPTERX-ANEXAMINATIONOFTHEREMAININGBOOKSOF
THEOLDTESTAMENTACCORDINGTOTHEPRECEDINGMETHOD。
(1)InowpassontotheremainingbooksoftheOldTestament。(2)
ConcerningthetwobooksofChroniclesIhavenothingparticularorimportanttoremark，exceptthattheywerecertainlywrittenafterthetimeofEzra，andpossiblyaftertherestorationoftheTemplebyJudasMaccabaeus[Endnote19]。(2)Forinchap。ix。ofthefirstbookwefindareckoningofthefamilieswhowerethefirsttoliveinJerusalem，andinverse17thenamesoftheporters，ofwhichtworecurinNehemiah。(3)Thisshowsthatthebookswerecertainlycompiledaftertherebuildingofthecity。(4)Astotheiractualwriter，theirauthority，utility，anddoctrine，Icometonoconclusion。(5)IhavealwaysbeenastonishedthattheyhavebeenincludedintheBiblebymenwhoshutoutfromthecanonthebooksofWisdom，Tobit，andtheothersstyledapocryphal。(6)Idonotaimatdisparagingtheirauthority，butastheyareuniversallyreceivedIwillleavethemastheyare。
(7)ThePsalmswerecollectedanddividedintofivebooksinthetimeofthesecondtemple，forPs。lxxxviii。waspublished，accordingtoPhilo-Judaeus，whilekingJehoiachinwasstillaprisonerinBabylon；andPs。lxxxix。whenthesamekingobtainedhisliberty:IdonotthinkPhilowouldhavemadethestatementunlesseitherithadbeenthereceivedopinioninhistime，orelsehadbeentoldhimbytrustworthypersons。
(8)TheProverbsofSolomonwere，Ibelieve，collectedatthesametime，oratleastinthetimeofKingJosiah；forinchap。xxv:1，itiswritten，\"ThesearealsoproverbsofSolomonwhichthemenofHezekiah，kingofJudah，copiedout。\"(9)IcannotherepassoverinsilencetheaudacityoftheRabbiswhowishedtoexcludefromthesacredcanonboththeProverbsandEcclesiastes，andtoputthembothintheApocrypha。(10)Infact，theywouldactuallyhavedoneso，iftheyhadnotlightedoncertainpassagesinwhichthelawofMosesisextolled。(11)Itis，indeed，grievoustothinkthatthesettlingofthesacredcanonlayinthehandsofsuchmen；however，Icongratulatethem，inthisinstance，ontheirsufferingustoseethesebooksinquestion，thoughIcannotrefrainfromdoubtingwhethertheyhavetransmittedtheminabsolutegoodfaith；butIwillnotnowlingeronthispoint。
(10)Ipasson，then，tothepropheticbooks。(11)Anexaminationoftheseassuresmethatthepropheciesthereincontainedhavebeencompiledfromotherbooks，andarenotalwayssetdownintheexactorderinwhichtheywerespokenorwrittenbytheprophets，butareonlysuchaswerecollectedhereandthere，sothattheyarebutfragmentary。
(12)IsaiahbegantoprophecyinthereignofUzziah，asthewriterhimselftestifiesinthefirstverse。(13)Henotonlyprophesiedatthattime，butfurthermorewrotethehistoryofthatking(see2Chron。xxvi:22)inavolumenowlost。(13)Thatwhichwepossess，wehaveshowntohavebeentakenfromthechroniclesofthekingsofJudahandIsrael。
(14)WemayaddthattheRabbisassertthatthisprophetprophesiedinthereignofManasseh，bywhomhewaseventuallyputtodeath，and，althoughthisseemstobeamyth，ityetshowsthattheydidnotthinkthatallIsaiah\'spropheciesareextant。
(15)ThepropheciesofJeremiah，whicharerelatedhistoricallyarealsotakenfromvariouschronicles；fornotonlyaretheyheapedtogetherconfusedly，withoutanyaccountbeingtakenofdates，butalsothesamestoryistoldinthemdifferentlyindifferentpassages。(16)Forinstance，inchap。xxi。wearetoldthatthecauseofJeremiah\'sarrestwasthathehadprophesiedthedestructionofthecitytoZedekiahwhoconsultedhim。
(17)Thisnarrativesuddenlypasses，inchapxxii。，totheprophet\'sremonstrancestoJehoiakim(Zedekiah\'spredecessor)，andthepredictionhemadeofthatking\'scaptivity；then，inchap。xxv。，cometherevelationsgrantedtotheprophetpreviously，thatisinthefourthyearofJehoiakim，and，furtheronstill，therevelationsreceivedinthefirstyearofthesamereign。(18)ThecontinuatorofJeremiahgoesonheapingprophecyuponprophecywithoutanyregardtodates，untilatlast，inchap。xxxviii。
(asiftheinterveningchaptershadbeenaparenthesis)，hetakesupthethreaddroppedin。chap。xxi。
(19)Infact，theconjunctionwithwhichchap。xxxviii。begins，referstothe8th，9th，and10thversesofchap。xxi。Jeremiah\'slastarrestisthenverydifferentlydescribed，andatotallyseparatecauseisgivenforhisdailyretentioninthecourtoftheprison。
