Butbesidesthequestionofthewriter，thereareotherpointstonoticewhichcommonsuperstitionforbidsthemultitudetoapprehend。3Ofthesethechiefis，thatEzrawhomIwilltaketobetheauthoroftheaforesaidbooksuntilsomemorelikelypersonbesuggesteddidnotputthefinishingtouchestothenarrativecontainedtherein，butmerelycollectedthehistoriesfromvariouswriters，andsometimessimplysetthemdown，leavingtheirexaminationandarrangementtoposterity。
4Thecauseifitwerenotuntimelydeathwhichpreventedhimfromcompletinghisworkinallitsportions，Icannotconjecture，butthefactremainsmostclear，althoughwehavelostthewritingsoftheancientHebrewhistorians，andcanonlyjudgefromthefewfragmentswhicharestillextant。5ForthehistoryofHezekiah2Kingsxviii:17
aswritteninthevisionofIsaiah，isrelatedasitisfoundinthechroniclesofthekingsofJudah。6Wereadthesamestory，toldwithfewexceptions，[Endnote11]，inthesamewords，inthebookofIsaiahwhichwascontainedinthechroniclesofthekingsofJudah2Chron。xxxii:32。7FromthiswemustconcludethattherewerevariousversionsofthisnarrativeofIsaiah\'s，unless，indeed，anyonewoulddreamthatinthis，too，therelurksamystery。8Further，thelastchapterof2Kings27-30isrepeatedinthelastchapterofJeremiah，v。31-34。
9Again，wefind2Sam。vii。repeatedinIChron。xvii。，buttheexpressionsinthetwopassagesaresocuriouslyvaried[Endnote12]，thatwecanveryeasilyseethatthesetwochaptersweretakenfromtwodifferentversionsofthehistoryofNathan。
10Lastly，thegenealogyofthekingsofIdumaeacontainedinGenesisxxxvi:31，isrepeatedinthesamewordsin1Chron。i。，thoughweknowthattheauthorofthelatterworktookhismaterialsfromotherhistorians，notfromthetwelvebookswehaveascribedtoEzra。10Wemaythereforebesurethatifwestillpossessedthewritingsofthehistorians，thematterwouldbemadeclear；however，aswehavelostthem，wecanonlyexaminethewritingsstillextant，andfromtheirorderandconnection，theirvariousrepetitions，and，lastly，thecontradictionsindateswhichtheycontain，judgeoftherest。
11These，then，orthechiefofthem，wewillnowgothrough。12First，inthestoryofJudahandTamarGen。xxxviii。thehistorianthusbegins:
\"AnditcametopassatthattimethatJudahwentdownfromhisbrethren。\"
13Thistimecannotrefertowhatimmediatelyprecedes[Endnote13]，butmustnecessarilyrefertosomethingelse，forfromthetimewhenJosephwassoldintoEgypttothetimewhenthepatriarchJacob，withallhisfamily，setoutthither，cannotbereckonedasmorethantwenty-twoyears，forJoseph，whenhewassoldbyhisbrethren，wasseventeenyearsold，andwhenhewassummonedbyPharaohfromprisonwasthirty；iftothisweaddthesevenyearsofplentyandtwooffamine，thetotalamountstotwenty-twoyears。14Now，insoshortaperiod，noonecansupposethatsomanythingshappenedasaredescribed；thatJudahhadthreechildren，oneaftertheother，fromonewife，whomhemarriedatthebeginningoftheperiod；
thattheeldestofthese，whenhewasoldenough，marriedTamar，andthatafterhediedhisnextbrothersucceededtoher；that，afterallthis，Judah，withoutknowingit，hadintercoursewithhisdaughter-in-law，andthatsheborehimtwins，and，finally，thattheeldestofthesetwinsbecameafatherwithintheaforesaidperiod。15AsalltheseeventscannothavetakenplacewithintheperiodmentionedinGenesis，thereferencemustnecessarilybetosomethingtreatedofinanotherbook:andEzrainthisinstancesimplyrelatedthestory，andinserteditwithoutexaminationamonghisotherwritings。
16However，notonlythischapterbutthewholenarrativeofJosephandJacobiscollectedandsetforthfromvarioushistories，inasmuchasitisquiteinconsistentwithitself。17ForinGen。xlvii。wearetoldthatJacob，whenhecameatJoseph\'sbiddingtosalutePharaoh，was130yearsold。18Iffromthiswedeductthetwenty-twoyearswhichhepassedsorrowingfortheabsenceofJosephandtheseventeenyearsformingJoseph\'sagewhenhewassold，and，lastly，thesevenyearsforwhichJacobservedforRachel，wefindthathewasveryadvancedinlife，namely，eightyfour，whenhetookLeahtowife，whereasDinahwasscarcelysevenyearsoldwhenshewasviolatedbyShechem，[Endnote14]。19SimeonandLeviwereagedrespectivelyelevenandtwelvewhentheyspoiledthecityandslewallthemalesthereinwiththesword。
20ThereisnoneedthatIshouldgothroughthewholePentateuch。21Ifanyonepaysattentiontothewayinwhichallthehistoriesandpreceptsinthesefivebooksaresetdownpromiscuouslyandwithoutorder，withnoregardfordates；andfurther，howthesamestoryisoftenrepeated，sometimesinadifferentversion，hewilleasily，Isay，discernthatallthematerialswerepromiscuouslycollectedandheapedtogether，inorderthattheymightatsomesubsequenttimebemorereadilyexaminedandreducedtoorder。22Notonlythesefivebooks，butalsothenarrativescontainedintheremainingseven，goingdowntothedestructionofthecity，arecompiledinthesameway。23ForwhodoesnotseethatinJudgesii:6anewhistorianisbeingquoted，whohadalsowrittenofthedeedsofJoshua，andthathiswordsaresimplycopied?24ForafterourhistorianhasstatedinthelastchapterofthebookofJoshuathatJoshuadiedandwasburied，andhaspromised，inthefirstchapterofJudges，torelatewhathappenedafterhisdeath，inwhatway，ifhewishedtocontinuethethreadofhishistory，couldheconnectthestatementheremadeaboutJoshuawithwhathadgonebefore?
25So，too，1Sam。17，18，aretakenfromanotherhistorian，whoassignsacauseforDavid\'sfirstfrequentingSaul\'scourtverydifferentfromthatgiveninchap。xvi。ofthesamebook。26ForhedidnotthinkthatDavidcametoSaulinconsequenceoftheadviceofSaul\'sservants，asisnarratedinchap。xvi。，butthatbeingsentbychancetothecampbyhisfatheronamessagetohisbrothers，hewasforthefirsttimeremarkedbySaulontheoccasionofhisvictory，overGoliaththePhilistine，andwasretainedathiscourt。
27Isuspectthesamethinghastakenplaceinchap。xxvi。ofthesamebook，forthehistorianthereseemstorepeatthenarrativegiveninchap。
xxiv。accordingtoanotherman\'sversion。28ButIpassoverthis，andgoontothecomputationofdates。
29InIKings，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
30Alltheseperiodsaddedtogethermakeatotalof580years。31ButtothesemustbeaddedtheyearsduringwhichtheHebrewrepublicflourishedafterthedeathofJoshua，untilitwasconqueredbyCushanRishathaim，whichItaketobeverynumerous，forIcannotbringmyselftobelievethatimmediatelyafterthedeathofJoshuaallthosewhohadwitnessedhismiraclesdiedsimultaneously，northattheirsuccessorsatonestrokebidfarewelltotheirlaws，andplungedfromthehighestvirtueintothedepthofwickednessandobstinacy。
32Nor，lastly，thatCushanRishathaimsubduedthemontheinstant；eachoneofthesecircumstancesrequiresalmostageneration，andthereisnodoubtthatJudgesii:7，9，10，comprehendsagreatmanyyearswhichitpassesoverinsilence。33WemustalsoaddtheyearsduringwhichSamuelwasjudge，thenumberofwhichisnotstatedinScripture，andalsotheyearsduringwhichSaulreigned，whicharenotclearlyshownfromhishistory。34Itis，indeed，statedin1Sam。xiii:1，thathereignedtwoyears，butthetextinthatpassageismutilated，andtherecordsofhisreignleadustosupposealongerperiod。35ThatthetextismutilatedI
supposenoonewilldoubtwhohaseveradvancedsofarasthethresholdoftheHebrewlanguage，foritrunsasfollows:\"Saulwasinhis——year，whenhebegantoreign，andhereignedtwoyearsoverIsrael。\"36Who，Isay，doesnotseethatthenumberoftheyearsofSaul\'sagewhenhebegantoreignhasbeenomitted?37Thattherecordofthereignpresupposesagreaternumberofyearsisequallybeyonddoubt，forinthesamebook，chap。
xxvii:7，itisstatedthatDavidsojournedamongthePhilistines，towhomhehadfledonaccountofSaul，ayearandfourmonths；thustherestofthereignmusthavebeencomprisedinaspaceofeightmonths，whichIthinknoonewillcredit。38Josephus，attheendofthesixthbookofhisantiquities，thuscorrectsthetext:SaulreignedeighteenyearswhileSamuelwasalive，andtwoyearsafterhisdeath。39However，allthenarrativeinchap。Xiii。isincompletedisagreementwithwhatgoesbefore。
40Attheendofchap。vii。itisnarratedthatthePhilistinesweresocrushedbytheHebrewsthattheydidnotventure，duringSamuel\'slife，toinvadethebordersofIsrael；butinchap。xiii。wearetoldthattheHebrewswereinvadedduringthelifeofSamuelbythePhilistines，andreducedbythemtosuchastateofwretchednessandpovertythattheyweredeprivednotonlyofweaponswithwhichtodefendthemselves，butalsoofthemeansofmakingmore。41IshouldbeatpainsenoughifIweretotryandharmonizeallthenarrativescontainedinthisfirstbookofSamuelsothattheyshouldseemtobeallwrittenandarrangedbyasinglehistorian。
42ButIreturntomyobject。43Theyears，then，duringwhichSaulreignedmustbeaddedtotheabovecomputation；and，lastly，IhavenotcountedtheyearsoftheHebrewanarchy，forIcannotfromScripturegathertheirnumber。44Icannot，Isay，becertainastotheperiodoccupiedbytheeventsrelatedinJudgeschap。xvii。ontilltheendofthebook。
45Itisthusabundantlyevidentthatwecannotarriveatatruecomputationofyearsfromthehistories，and，further，thatthehistoriesareinconsistentthemselvesonthesubject。46Wearecompelledtoconfessthatthesehistorieswerecompiledfromvariouswriterswithoutpreviousarrangementandexamination。47NotlessdiscrepancyisfoundbetweenthedatesgivenintheChroniclesoftheKingsofJudah，andthoseintheChroniclesoftheKingsofIsrael；inthelatter，itisstatedthatJehoram，thesonofAhab，begantoreigninthesecondyearofthereignofJehoram，thesonofJehoshaphat2Kingsi:17，butintheformerwereadthatJehoram，thesonofJehoshaphat，begantoreigninthefifthyearofJehoram，thesonofAhab2Kingsviii:16。48AnyonewhocomparesthenarrativesinChronicleswiththenarrativesinthebooksofKings，willfindmanysimilardiscrepancies。49Thesethereisnoneedformetoexaminehere，andstilllessamIcalledupontotreatofthecommentariesofthosewhoendeavourtoharmonizethem。50TheRabbisevidentlylettheirfancyrunwild。51SuchcommentatorsasIhave，read，dream，invent，andasalastresort，playfastandloosewiththelanguage。52Forinstance，whenitissaidin2Chronicles，thatAhabwasforty-twoyearsoldwhenhebegantoreign，theypretendthattheseyearsarecomputedfromthereignofOmri，notfromthebirthofAhab。IfthiscanbeshowntobetherealmeaningofthewriterofthebookofChronicles，allIcansayis，thathedidnotknowhowtostateafact。53Thecommentatorsmakemanyotherassertionsofthiskind，whichiftrue，wouldprovethattheancientHebrewswereignorantbothoftheirownlanguage，andofthewaytorelateaplainnarrative。54IshouldinsuchcaserecognizenoruleorreasonininterpretingScripture，butitwouldbepermissibletohypothesizetoone\'sheart\'scontent。
55IfanyonethinksthatIamspeakingtoogenerally，andwithoutsufficientwarrant，Iwouldaskhimtosethimselftoshowingussomefixedplaninthesehistorieswhichmightbefollowedwithoutblamebyotherwritersofchronicles，andinhiseffortsatharmonizingandinterpretation，sostrictlytoobserveandexplainthephrasesandexpressions，theorderandtheconnections，thatwemaybeabletoimitatethesealsoinourwritings，[Endnote17]。56Ifhesucceeds，Iwillatoncegivehimmyhand，andheshallbetomeasgreatApollo；forIconfessthatafterlongendeavoursIhavebeenunabletodiscoveranythingofthekind。57ImayaddthatIsetdownnothingherewhichIhavenotlongreflectedupon，andthat，thoughIwasimbuedfrommyboyhoodupwiththeordinaryopinionsabouttheScriptures，IhavebeenunabletowithstandtheforceofwhatIhaveurged。
58However，thereisnoneedtodetainthereaderwiththisquestion，anddrivehimtoattemptanimpossibletask；Imerelymentionedthefactinordertothrowlightonmyintention。
59Inowpassontootherpointsconcerningthetreatmentofthesebooks。
60Forwemustremark，inadditiontowhathasbeenshown，thatthesebookswerenotguardedbyposteritywithsuchcarethatnofaultscreptin。
61Theancientscribesdrawattentiontomanydoubtfulreadings，andsomemutilatedpassages，butnottoallthatexist:whetherthecommentariesofthosewhoendeavourtoharmonizethem。62TheRabbisevidentlylettheirfancyrunwild。63SuchcommentatorsasIhave，read，dream，invent，andasalastresort，playfastandloosewiththelanguage。64Forinstance，whenitissaidin2Chronicles，thatAhabwasforty-twoyearsoldwhenhebegantoreign，theypretendthattheseyearsarecomputedfromthereignofOmri，notfromthebirthofAhab。65Ifthiscanbeshowntobetherealmeaningofthe
68IfanyonethinksthatIamspeakingtoogenerally，andwithoutsufficientwarrant，Iwouldaskhimtosethimselftoshowingussomefixedplaninthesehistorieswhichmightbefollowedwithoutblamebyotherwritersofchronicles，andinhiseffortsatharmonizingandinterpretation，sostrictlytoobserveandexplainthephrasesandexpressions，theorderandtheconnections，thatwemaybeabletoimitatethesealsoinourwritings17。69Ifhesucceeds，Iwillatoncegivehimmyhand，andheshallbetomeasgreatApollo；forIconfessthatafterlongendeavoursI
havebeenunabletodiscoveranythingofthekind。70ImayaddthatIsetdownnothingherewhichIhavenotlongreflectedupon，andthat，thoughI
wasimbuedfrommyboyhoodupwiththeordinaryopinionsabouttheScriptures，IhavebeenunabletowithstandtheforceofwhatIhaveurged。
71However，thereisnoneedtodetainthereaderwiththisquestion，anddrivehimtoattemptanimpossibletask；Imerelymentionedthefactinordertothrowlightonmyintention。
72Inowpassontootherpointsconcerningthetreatmentofthesebooks。
73Forwemustremark，inadditiontowhathasbeenshown，thatthesebookswerenotguardedbyposteritywithsuchcarethatnofaultscreptin。
74Theancientscribesdrawattentiontomanydoubtfulreadings，andsomemutilatedpassages，butnottoallthatexist:whetherthefaultsareofsufficientimportancetogreatly，embarrassthereaderIwillnotnowdiscuss。75Iaminclinedtothinkthattheyareofminormomenttothose，atanyrate，whoreadtheScriptureswithenlightenment:andIcanpositively，affirmthatIhavenotnoticedanyfaultorvariousreadingindoctrinalpassagessufficienttorenderthemobscureordoubtful。
76Therearesomepeople，however，whowillnotadmitthatthereisanycorruption，eveninotherpassages，butmaintainthatbysomeuniqueexerciseofprovidenceGodhaspreservedfromcorruptioneverywordintheBible:theysaythatthevariousreadingsarethesymbolsofprofoundestmysteries，andthatmightysecretsliehidinthetwenty-eighthiatuswhichoccur，nay，evenintheveryformoftheletters。
77Whethertheyareactuatedbyfollyandaniledevotion，orwhetherbyarroganceandmalicesothattheyalonemaybeheldtopossessthesecretsofGod，Iknownot:thismuchIdoknow，thatIfindintheirwritingsnothingwhichhastheairofaDivinesecret，butonlychildishlucubrations。78IhavereadandknowncertainKabbalistictriflers，whoseinsanityprovokesmyunceasingasastonishment。79Thatfaultshavecreptinwill，Ithink，bedeniedbynosensiblepersonwhoreadsthepassageaboutSaul，abovequoted1Sam。xiii:1andalso2Sam。vi:2:\"AndDavidaroseandwentwithallthepeoplethatwerewithhimfromJudah，tobringupfromthencethearkofGod。\"
80Noonecanfailtoremarkthatthenameoftheirdestination，viz。，Kirjath-jearim[Endnotee18]，hasbeenomitted:norcanwedenythat2Sam。xiii:37，hasbeentamperedwithandmutilated。\"AndAbsalomfled，andwenttoTalmai，thesonofAmmihud，kingofGeshur。81Andhemournedforhissoneveryday。SoAbsalomfled，andwenttoGeshur，andwastherethreeyears。\"82IknowthatIhaveremarkedotherpassagesofthesamekind，butIcannotrecallthematthemoment。
83ThatthemarginalnoteswhicharefoundcontinuallyintheHebrewCodicesaredoubtfulreadingswill，Ithink，beevidenttoeveryonewhohasnoticedthattheyoftenarisefromthegreatsimilarity，ofsomeoftheHebrewletters，suchforinstance，asthesimilaritybetweenKaphandBeth，JodandVan，DalethandReth，&c。84Forexample，thetextin2Sam。v:24，runs\"inthetimewhenthouhearest，\"andsimilarlyinJudgesxxi:22，\"Anditshallbewhentheirfathersortheirbrotherscomeuntousoften，\"themarginalversionis\"comeuntoustocomplain。\"
85Soalsomanyvariousreadingshavearisenfromtheuseofthelettersnamedmutes，whicharegenerallynotsoundedinpronunciation，andaretakenpromiscuously，onefortheother。86Forexample，inLevit。xxv:29，itiswritten，\"Thehouseshallbeestablishedwhichisnotinthewalledcity，\"
butthemarginhasit，\"whichisinawalledcity。\"
87Thoughthesemattersareself-evident，[Endnore6]，itisnecessary，toanswerthereasoningsofcertainPharisees，bywhichtheyendeavourtoconvinceusthatthemarginalnotesservetoindicatesomemystery，andwereaddedorpointedoutbythewritersofthesacredbooks。88Thefirstofthesereasons，which，inmy，opinion，carrieslittleweight，istakenfromthepracticeofreadingtheScripturesaloud。
89If，itisurged，thesenoteswereaddedtoshowvariousreadingswhichcouldnotbedecideduponbyposterity，whyhascustomprevailedthatthemarginalreadingsshouldalwaysberetained?90Whyhasthemeaningwhichispreferredbeensetdowninthemarginwhenitoughttohavebeenincorporatedinthetext，andnotrelegatedtoasidenote?
91Thesecondreasonismorespecious，andistakenfromthenatureofthecase。92Itisadmittedthatfaultshavecreptintothesacredwritingsbychanceandnotbydesign；buttheysaythatinthefivebooksthewordforagirlis，withoneexception，writtenwithouttheletter\"he，\"contrarytoallgrammaticalrules，whereasinthemarginitiswrittencorrectlyaccordingtotheuniversalruleofgrammar。93Canthishavehappenedbymistake?Isitpossibletoimagineaclericalerrortohavebeencommittedevery，timethewordoccurs?94Moreover，itwouldhavebeeneasy，tosupplytheemendation。95Hence，whenthesereadingsarenotaccidentalorcorrectionsofmanifestmistakes，itissupposedthattheymusthavebeensetdownonpurposebytheoriginalwriters，andhaveameaning。96
However，itiseasytoanswersucharguments；astothequestionofcustomhavingprevailedinthereadingofthemarginalversions，Iwillnotsparemuchtimeforitsconsideration:Iknownotthepromptingsofsuperstition，andperhapsthepracticemayhavearisenfromtheideathatbothreadingsweredeemedequallygoodortolerable，andtherefore，lesteithershouldbeneglected，onewasappointedtobewritten，andtheothertoberead。97
Theyfearedtopronouncejudgmentinsoweightyamatterlesttheyshouldmistakethefalseforthetrue，andthereforetheywouldgivepreferencetoneither，astheymustnecessarilyhavedoneiftheyhadcommandedoneonlytobebothreadandwritten。98Thiswouldbeespeciallythecasewherethemarginalreadingswerenotwrittendowninthesacredbooks:orthecustommayhaveoriginatedbecausesomethingsthoughrightlywrittendownweredesiredtobereadotherwiseaccordingtothemarginalversion，andthereforethegeneralrulewasmadethatthemarginalversionshouldbefollowedinreadingtheScriptures。99Thecausewhichinducedthescribestoexpresslyprescribecertainpassagestobereadinthemarginalversion，Iwillnowtouchon，fornotallthemarginalnotesarevariousreadings，butsomemarkexpressionswhichhavepassedoutofcommonuse，obsoletewordsandtermswhichcurrentdecencydidnotallowtobereadinapublicassembly。100Theancientwriters，withoutanyevilintention，employednocourtlyparaphrase，butcalledthingsbytheirplainnames。101
Afterwards，throughthespreadofevilthoughtsandluxury，wordswhichcouldbeusedbytheancientswithoutoffence，cametobeconsideredobscene。102TherewasnoneedforthiscausetochangethetextofScripture。103Still，asaconcessiontothepopularweakness，itbecamethecustomtosubstitutemoredecenttermsforwordsdenotingsexualintercourse，exereta，&c。，andtoreadthemastheyweregiveninthemargin。
104Atanyrate，whatevermayhavebeentheoriginofthepracticeofreadingScriptureaccordingtothemarginalversion，itwasnotthatthetrueinterpretationiscontainedtherein。105Forbesidesthat，theRabbinsintheTalmudoftendifferfromtheMassoretes，andgiveotherreadingswhichtheyapproveof，asIwillshortlyshow，certainthingsarefoundinthemarginwhichappearlesswarrantedbytheusesoftheHebrewlanguage。106Forexample，in2Samuelxiv:22，weread，\"Inthatthekinghathfulfilledtherequestofhisservant，\"aconstructionplainlyregular，andagreeingwiththatinchap。xvi。107Butthemarginhasit\"ofthyservant，\"whichdoesnotagreewiththepersonoftheverb。108
So，too，chap。xvi:25ofthesamebook，wefind，\"AsifonehadinquiredattheoracleofGod，\"themarginadding\"someone\"tostandasanominativetotheverb。109Butthecorrectionisnotapparentlywarranted，foritisacommonpractice，wellknowntogrammariansintheHebrewlanguage，tousethethirdpersonsingularoftheactiveverbimpersonally。
110ThesecondargumentadvancedbythePhariseesiseasilyansweredfromwhathasjustbeensaid，namely，thatthescribesbesidesthevariousreadingscalledattentiontoobsoletewords。111ForthereisnodoubtthatinHebrewasinotherlanguages，changesofusemademanywordsobsoleteandantiquated，andsuchwerefoundbythelaterscribesinthesacredbooksandnotedbythemwithaviewtothebooksbeingpubliclyreadaccordingtocustom。112Forthisreasonthewordnahgarisalwaysfoundmarkedbecauseitsgenderwasoriginallycommon，andithadthesamemeaningastheLatinjuvenisayoungperson。113SoalsotheHebrewcapitalwasancientlycalledJerusalem，notJerusalaim。114Astothepronounshimselfandherself，IthinkthatthelaterscribeschangedvauintojodaveryfrequentchangeinHebrewwhentheywishedtoexpressthefemininegender，butthattheancientsonlydistinguishedthetwogendersbyachangeofvowels。115Imayalsoremarkthattheirregulartensesofcertainverbsdifferintheancientandmodernforms，itbeingformerlyconsideredamarkofelegancetoemploycertainlettersagreeabletotheear。
116Inaword，IcouldeasilymultiplyproofsofthiskindifIwerenotafraidofabusingthepatienceofthereader。117PerhapsIshallbeaskedhowIbecameacquaintedwiththefactthatalltheseexpressionsareobsolete。118IreplythatIhavefoundtheminthemostancientHebrewwritersintheBibleitself，andthattheyhavenotbeenimitatedbysubsequentauthors，andthustheyarerecognizedasantiquated，thoughthelanguageinwhichtheyoccurisdead。119Butperhapssomeonemaypressthequestionwhy，ifitbetrue，asIsay，thatthemarginalnotesoftheBiblegenerallymarkvariousreadings，therearenevermorethantworeadingsofapassage，thatinthetextandthatinthemargin，insteadofthreeormore；andfurther，howthescribescanhavehesitatedbetweentworeadings，oneofwhichisevidentlycontrarytogrammar，andtheotheraplaincorrection。
120Theanswertothesequestionsalsoiseasy:Iwillpremisethatitisalmostcertainthatthereonceweremorevariousreadingsthanthosenowrecorded。121Forinstance，onefindsmanyintheTalmudwhichtheMassoreteshaveneglected，andaresodifferentonefromtheotherthateventhesuperstitiouseditoroftheBombergBibleconfessesthathecannotharmonizethem。122\"Wecannotsayanything，\"hewrites，\"exceptwhatwehavesaidabove，namely，thattheTalmudisgenerallyincontradictiontotheMassorete。\"123Sothatwearenorboundtoholdthatthereneverweremorethantworeadingsofanypassage，yetIamwillingtoadmit，andindeedIbelievethatmorethantworeadingsareneverfound:andforthefollowingreasons:-124I。Thecauseofthedifferencesofreadingonlyadmitsoftwo，beinggenerallythesimilarityofcertainletters，sothatthequestionresolveditselfintowhichshouldbewrittenBeth，orKaf，JodorVau，DalethorReth:caseswhichareconstantlyoccurring，andfrequentlyyieldingafairlygoodmeaningwhicheveralternativebeadopted。
125Sometimes，too，itisaquestionwhetherasyllablebelongorshort，quantitybeingdeterminedbytheletterscalledmutes。126Moreover，weneverassertedthatallthemarginalversions，withoutexception，markedvariousreadings；onthecontrary，wehavestatedthatmanywereduetomotivesofdecencyoradesiretoexplainobsoletewords。127II。Iaminclinedtoattributethefactthatmorethantworeadingsareneverfoundtothepaucityofexemplars，perhapsnotmorethantwoorthree，foundbythescribes。128Inthetreatiseofthescribes，chap。vi。，mentionismadeofthreeonly，pretendedtohavebeenfoundinthetimeofEzra，inorderthatthemarginalversionsmightbeattributedtohim。
129Howeverthatmaybe，ifthescribesonlyhadthreecodiceswemayeasilyimaginethatinagivenpassagetwoofthemwouldbeinaccord，foritwouldbeextraordinaryifeachoneofthethreegaveadifferentreadingofthesametext。
130ThedearthofcopiesafterthetimeofEzrawillsurprisenoonewhohasreadthe1stchapterofMaccabees，orJosephus\'s\"Antiquities，\"Bk。12，chap。5。131Nay，itappearswonderfulconsideringthefierceanddailypersecution，thateventhesefewshouldhavebeenpreserved。132Thiswill，Ithink，beplaintoevenacursoryreaderofthehistoryofthosetimes。
133WehavethusdiscoveredthereasonswhytherearenevermorethantworeadingsofapassageintheBible，butthisisalongwayfromsupposingthatwemaythereforeconcludethattheBiblewaspurposelywrittenincorrectlyinsuchpassagesinordertosignifysomemystery。134Astothesecondargument，thatsomepassagesaresofaultilywrittenthattheyareatplainvariancewithallgrammar，andshouldhavebeencorrectedinthetextandnotinthemargin，Iattachlittleweighttoit，forIamnotconcernedtosaywhatreligiousmotivethescribesmayhavehadforactingastheydid:possiblytheydidsofromcandour，wishingtotransmitthefewexemplarsoftheBiblewhichtheyhadfoundexactlyintheiroriginalstate，markingthedifferencestheydiscoveredinthemargin，notasdoubtfulreadings，butassimplevariants。135Ihavemyselfcalledthemdoubtfulreadings，becauseitwouldbegenerallyimpossibletosaywhichofthetwoversionsispreferable。
136Lastly，besidesthesedoubtfulreadingsthescribeshavebyleavingahiatusinthemiddleofaparagraphmarkedseveralpassagesasmutilated。
137TheMassoreteshavecountedupsuchinstances，andtheyamounttoeight-and-twenty。138Idonotknowwhetheranymysteryisthoughttolurkinthenumber，atanyratethePhariseesreligiouslypreserveacertainamountofemptyspace。
139OneofsuchhiatusoccurstogiveaninstanceinGen。iv:8，whereitiswritten，\"AndCainsaidtohisbrother……anditcametopasswhiletheywereinthefield，&c。，\"aspacebeingleftinwhichweshouldexpecttohearwhatitwasthatCainsaid。
140Similarlytherearebesidesthosepointswehavenoticedeight-and-
twentyhiatusleftbythescribes。141Manyofthesewouldnotberecognizedasmutilatedifitwerenotfortheemptyspaceleft。ButIhavesaidenoughonthissubject。
CHAPTERX-ANEXAMINATIONOFTHEREMAININGBOOKSOF
THEOLDTESTAMENTACCORDINGTOTHEPRECEDINGMETHOD。
1InowpassontotheremainingbooksoftheOldTestament。2
ConcerningthetwobooksofChroniclesIhavenothingparticularorimportanttoremark，exceptthattheywerecertainlywrittenafterthetimeofEzra，andpossiblyaftertherestorationoftheTemplebyJudasMaccabaeus[Endnote19]。2Forinchap。ix。ofthefirstbookwefindareckoningofthefamilieswhowerethefirsttoliveinJerusalem，andinverse17thenamesoftheporters，ofwhichtworecurinNehemiah。3Thisshowsthatthebookswerecertainlycompiledaftertherebuildingofthecity。4Astotheiractualwriter，theirauthority，utility，anddoctrine，Icometonoconclusion。5IhavealwaysbeenastonishedthattheyhavebeenincludedintheBiblebymenwhoshutoutfromthecanonthebooksofWisdom，Tobit，andtheothersstyledapocryphal。6Idonotaimatdisparagingtheirauthority，butastheyareuniversallyreceivedIwillleavethemastheyare。
7ThePsalmswerecollectedanddividedintofivebooksinthetimeofthesecondtemple，forPs。lxxxviii。waspublished，accordingtoPhilo-Judaeus，whilekingJehoiachinwasstillaprisonerinBabylon；andPs。lxxxix。whenthesamekingobtainedhisliberty:IdonotthinkPhilowouldhavemadethestatementunlesseitherithadbeenthereceivedopinioninhistime，orelsehadbeentoldhimbytrustworthypersons。
8TheProverbsofSolomonwere，Ibelieve，collectedatthesametime，oratleastinthetimeofKingJosiah；forinchap。xxv:1，itiswritten，\"ThesearealsoproverbsofSolomonwhichthemenofHezekiah，kingofJudah，copiedout。\"9IcannotherepassoverinsilencetheaudacityoftheRabbiswhowishedtoexcludefromthesacredcanonboththeProverbsandEcclesiastes，andtoputthembothintheApocrypha。10Infact，theywouldactuallyhavedoneso，iftheyhadnotlightedoncertainpassagesinwhichthelawofMosesisextolled。11Itis，indeed，grievoustothinkthatthesettlingofthesacredcanonlayinthehandsofsuchmen；however，Icongratulatethem，inthisinstance，ontheirsufferingustoseethesebooksinquestion，thoughIcannotrefrainfromdoubtingwhethertheyhavetransmittedtheminabsolutegoodfaith；butIwillnotnowlingeronthispoint。
10Ipasson，then，tothepropheticbooks。11Anexaminationoftheseassuresmethatthepropheciesthereincontainedhavebeencompiledfromotherbooks，andarenotalwayssetdownintheexactorderinwhichtheywerespokenorwrittenbytheprophets，butareonlysuchaswerecollectedhereandthere，sothattheyarebutfragmentary。
12IsaiahbegantoprophecyinthereignofUzziah，asthewriterhimselftestifiesinthefirstverse。13Henotonlyprophesiedatthattime，butfurthermorewrotethehistoryofthatkingsee2Chron。xxvi:22inavolumenowlost。13Thatwhichwepossess，wehaveshowntohavebeentakenfromthechroniclesofthekingsofJudahandIsrael。
14WemayaddthattheRabbisassertthatthisprophetprophesiedinthereignofManasseh，bywhomhewaseventuallyputtodeath，and，althoughthisseemstobeamyth，ityetshowsthattheydidnotthinkthatallIsaiah\'spropheciesareextant。
15ThepropheciesofJeremiah，whicharerelatedhistoricallyarealsotakenfromvariouschronicles；fornotonlyaretheyheapedtogetherconfusedly，withoutanyaccountbeingtakenofdates，butalsothesamestoryistoldinthemdifferentlyindifferentpassages。16Forinstance，inchap。xxi。wearetoldthatthecauseofJeremiah\'sarrestwasthathehadprophesiedthedestructionofthecitytoZedekiahwhoconsultedhim。
17Thisnarrativesuddenlypasses，inchapxxii。，totheprophet\'sremonstrancestoJehoiakimZedekiah\'spredecessor，andthepredictionhemadeofthatking\'scaptivity；then，inchap。xxv。，cometherevelationsgrantedtotheprophetpreviously，thatisinthefourthyearofJehoiakim，and，furtheronstill，therevelationsreceivedinthefirstyearofthesamereign。18ThecontinuatorofJeremiahgoesonheapingprophecyuponprophecywithoutanyregardtodates，untilatlast，inchap。xxxviii。
asiftheinterveningchaptershadbeenaparenthesis，hetakesupthethreaddroppedin。chap。xxi。
19Infact，theconjunctionwithwhichchap。xxxviii。begins，referstothe8th，9th，and10thversesofchap。xxi。Jeremiah\'slastarrestisthenverydifferentlydescribed，andatotallyseparatecauseisgivenforhisdailyretentioninthecourtoftheprison。