THE PICTORIAL BIBLE BEING THE Old and New Testaments ACCORDING TO THE AUTHORISED VERSION ILLUSTRATED WITH STEEL ENGRAVINGS AND MANY HUNDRED WOOD-CUTS REPRESENTING LANDSCAPE SCENES, AND SUBJECTS OF NATURAL HISTORY, COSTUME AND ANTIQUITIES WITH ORIGINAL NOTES EXPLANATORY OF PASSAGES CONNECTED WITH THE HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, NATURAL HISTORY, LITERATURE BY JOHN KITTO D. D. F. S. A. A New Edition WITH ADDITIONAL NOTES, BASED ON THE DISCOVERIES OF RECENT TRAVELLERS IN FOUR VOLUMES VOL. I LONDON W. AND R. CHAMBERS 47 PATERNOSTER ROW AND HIGH STREET EDINBURGH MDCCCLV HE Authorised Version of the SACRED SCRIPTURES, translated from the Original tongues, and first printed in 1611, by order of JAMES I., has, as is well known, been frequently issued with doctrinal and other expositions, according to the views of different denominations of Christians. The present work, comprising the entire Authorised Version of the BIBLE, was issued some years ago on a plan more generally acceptable than had hitherto been attempted. Abstaining in a great measure from such doctrinal exposition as was already provided for in the Commentaries of HENRY, CLARKE, SCOTT, and others, it aimed at laying before the general reader, as well as the scholar, an Annotated Edition of the BIBLE-designed for no particular denomination, but for ALL. The Notes, copiously interspersed, were furnished by the late lamented Dr JOHN KITTO; and besides illustrating the History, Geography, Zoology, Botany, Ethnography, and miscellaneous subjects of interest referred to in HOLY WRIT, presented such critical remarks as tended to develop the meaning of the SACRED WRITERS. Illustration through the agency of Pictorial Art was at the same time afforded in a style which may safely be said to have had no precedent, for besides the mere fancy designs of the Ancient Masters, there were here veritable representations of an immense variety of objects, Scenic or Local, Historical or Antiquarian, and connected with Zoology and Botany, such as had but little attention in previous editions of the BIBLE. With these recommendations, it may be said that no Annotated or Illustrated Edition of the SACRED SCRIPTURES ever attained such universal popularity-ever was so acceptable to the hearts and the homes of the People of this Country. The copyright and stereotype plates of the work having passed into the hands of the present Publishers, it became with them a matter of consideration how they might best sustain its high character. The course they ultimately determined on, was governed in some measure by the fact of the decayed health of the original Editor. They deemed it best to leave his Notes in their integrity, and merely to add, in an Appendix to each volume, such others as were called for in consequence of the researches of LAYARD, LEPSIUS, and other travellers and investigators in the Lands of the BIBLE. They at the same time gave such directions as have insured a high degree of excellence in the Typography-the impressions of the Wood-engravings, in particular, being executed with a delicacy which may well challenge a preference for this Edition over any that have gone before it. |