ria; the planters fhall plant, and shall eat (the fruit) as common.'

Before we proceed, it is neceffary to obferve, that D does not denote watchmen, as tranflated in the Bibles, (verse 6th.) and understood by the Commentators; but defolators, deftroyers, &c. being derived from the Radix as fhewn in Lingua Sacra, under that root. And these destroyers are the Ro`mans, who were the defcendants of Edom as already mentioned in the course of this work. See Vol. Ift. page 217. &c. And they were called deftroyers, on account of the war and defolation, which they spread over the greatest part of the world. And thus, the Prophet calls them, in another place; (Chap. iv. 16.) for in the former part of that Chapter, he speaks of the destruction of the firft temple; but in verfe 16th, he speaks of the deftruction of the se

השמיעו על ירושלים,cond temple: and fays נצרים באים מארץ המרחק Publife ye concerning

Jerufalem, that deftroyers are coming from afar country. These denote the Romans that came with Vefpafian and Titus: and who came from a far country: but Babylon could not properly be called a far country, in re

gard

gard to Jerufalem. And Mofes in his denunciations, (Deut. xxviii. 49.) fays, "The LORD fhall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth." This, all the Hebrew Commentators understand, to denote the Romans. (See R. Levi Ben. Gerfhom, Abarbanal &c.) and whom they to this day call, 3 Nazarenes. And of them, the Prophet Jeremiah fays, (Ibid.) "And they fhall lift up their voice against the cities of Judah." Because Vefpafion and Titus, firft conquered the cities of Judah; and afterwards took Jerufalem, of whom the Prophet fays in verse 17th. "Like keepers of fields are they round about her, because she hath rebelled against me faith the LORD.' And, as he had prophefied concerning both the first, and second deftruction of Jerufalem; he fays verse 18th. "Thy way and thy doings have done thefe (things) unto thee;" By the plural pronoun* thefe, the Prophet

plainly

*Thus reads all the printed copies; thus alfo is it read, and understood by all the Hebrew commentators; by the Chaldee Paraphraft Jonathan Ben Uzziel; and thus alfo the tranflators of the Bible understood it; yet, Dr. Blaney, in defiance of all thefe great-authorities; and without any reafon

afligned,

plainly pointed to the destruction of the first, and fecond temples. And, as the latter was most grievous, and went near to extirpate us; he obferves in the latter member of the verfe, "Such is thy calamity, for it is bitter; because it reacheth unto thy heart." For this great calamity, he complains verfe 18th.

My bowels, my bowels, I am pained; (even) the walls * of my heart; my heart is troubled within me; I cannot be filent; because thou hast heard, O my foul, the found of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruc

T T

affigned, renders it "a curfe;" What it was that led him to it, I cannot divine: unlefs, that defpifing the points, (as the generality of Chriftians do; not one of whom, was ever able to enter into the fpirit, the idiom, and phrafaology of the Language) he read a curse, instead of these. Thus also I suppose he read y a plague, for y reacheth. These are but small flips, compared with fome, that I have mentioned, in my remarks on the neceffity of the points; (See Lingua Sacra. Vol. Ift. page 25.-27. &c.) and as I fhall fhew more at large, when confidering the scheme of correcting the prefent Printed Text, by manuscripts: as already noticed in this work.

*The walls of the heart, undoubtedly denotes the pericardium; a thin membrane of a conick figure, that refembles a purfe, and contains the heart in its cavity: so that it may well be called the walls of the heart; as it surrounds and guards it like a wall.

tion upon deftruction is proclaimed;" Now, what are we to underftand by "destruction upon deftruction" but the

deftruction of the

All which, is a the deflroyers de

pro

firft, and fecond temples. manifeft proof, that D notes the Romans; and of whom the phet, in the prophecy we are treating of, fays, verfe 6th. "For there is yet a day unto the LORD our God, that the deftroyers upon mount Ephraim fhall cry, Arife, and let us go up to Zion." For, as the Prophet had in the preceding verfes, fpoken of the establishment, and tranquillity of the nation; he informs us when that will be; and therefore fays, there is a certain time appointed by God; (for that is what is properly meant by the term, "to the LORD our God:") that the Nazarenes, or deftroyers, fhall cry to each other upon mount Ephraim, Arise, and let us go up to Zion, in order to conquer Jerufalem, and the holy land of Ifrael. But, when that day fhall come, then Ifrael will rejoice; for then they will know that their falvation is near: and therefore, he fays, verfe 7th. Sing with joy for Jacob, and cry aloud at the head of the nations: publish ye, praife ye, and fay, O LORD, fave thy people,

the

1

the remnant of Ifrael." For as there willthen be a time of diftrefs to Jacob; but from which he will be faved, by his prayer; he therefore commands them to fhout and pray, and fay, O LORD, fave thy people: and then the LORD will fave them: as the Prophet Daniel fays, (xii. 1.) "And there fhall be a time of trouble, fuch as never was fince there was a nation, (even) to that fame time: and at that time thy people fhall be delivered." He therefore affures them, that immediately after this, God will bring the ten tribes from the north country, and the other parts were they were scattered: as in ver. 8. &9. "Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and will gather them from the extremities of the earth: among them the blind and the lame, the woman with child, and the that travaileth together: a great company fhall they return together. With weeping fhall they come, and amidft fupplications will I lead them: I will conduct them to ftreams of water, in a straight wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Ifrael, and Ephraim is my first born."

way,

By