do not say that Dr. Stanley is absolutely wrong in his conclusion, but the mention of the feast of tabernacles seems to be an opportunity for that critical research which he has been so unwilling to undertake. In a note to a passage at p. 133, where the author says, "The books of Moses are so called (as afterwards the books of Samuel), in all probability, from his being the chief subject of them," etc., he remarks, "even as applied to tessellated," "there is some probability that the expression is derived from the variegated pavement of the later temple, which had then become the representative of the religion of Moses." We cannot refer to the essay of Redslob, to which reference is made, but we really cannot understand how Canon Stanley could adopt such an etymology. Far more likely seems to us the derivation from the word Damascus, or damask, a word still used of certain ornamented or variegated objects, and which a comparatively ignorant and careless age might distort into Mosaic. There is a graphic account of Balaam, in the course of which (p. 193) we have another of the passages which we have already complained of. "It has been often debated, and no evidence now remains to prove at what precise time this grandest of all its episodes was introduced into the Mosaic narrative. But, however this may be determined, the magnificence of the vision remains untouched; and it stands in the sacred record, the first example of the prophetic utterances respecting the world at large; founded, like all such utterances, on the objects immediately in the range of the vision of the seer, but including within their sweep a vast prospect beyond." Again, p. 194, "We need not here discuss the vexed question of the precise time when the book of Deuteronomy assumed its present form." It is but fair to add, that here the author refers, in a note, to the opinion that Moses wrote the account of his own death and burial, as an example of interpretation now entirely superseded. He also observes in the text that parts at least of Deuteronomy have every appearance of belonging to that stage of the history and to no other. Occasionally we have examples of what has been called the "art of sinking." Such, we think, is the description of Sinai at the giving of the law (p. 148, 149, and note 2). Such seems to be the following sentence (p. 214), "The Ammonites carried off as their trophy the 'iron bedstead' (perhaps the basaltic coffin, like that of Esmanazar recently found at Sidon) of the gigantic Og." Another unsatisfactory passage occurs at p. 215, where we read, "Whether the settlement of the eastern territory of Pales tine was accomplished, as the book of Numbers would lead us to infer, within a few months, or, as the books of Joshua and Judges would imply, in a period extending over many years, must be left uncertain." Now if there is so great a discrepancy on the surface of the inspired record, why not try and investigate it? The account of the fall of Jericho will fail to please many, but we must simply refer to it (pp. 233, 234). At page 241 the Book of Jasher is called "one of the lost books of the original canon of the Jewish church.” The standing still of the sun in Joshua is discussed (pp. 245-249), but in too vague and shadowy a manner. The author seems to believe that the language employed in the Book of Joshua is poetical and figurative. Our taste may be rather peculiar, and we may be over fastidious, but we very decidedly like plain speaking, and this is why we so often object to the phraseology of the eloquent Regius Professor. Upon the page where the remarks upon the sun miracle are introduced we have this sentence concerning the same period, "It is probable, indeed, from what follows, either that the subjugation and destruction were less complete than this narrative would imply, or that the deeds of Joshua's companious and successors are here ascribed to himself and to this time." Here we have language which is plain enough, but is it consistent with thoroughness to suggest historical inaccuracy, and not try to prove it as well? The little note at the foot of the page does not answer our question. If we speak out our mind, we wish to do it respectfully, and because we regard it as a duty, and because, in the noble words of Kepler which Dr. Stanley quotes, where after naming many whom he calls "sacred," he adds, "To me more sacred than all these is truth." We are only truthful when we say that where difficulties of a certain kind occur in the volume before us, we are seldom satisfied with the treatment of them. We are no less truthful in saying, that although we have not cited anything like all the passages we do not approve, we have been instructed and delighted with the mass of the book. It has been a real treat to us, and a relief after the heavy and ponderous style of some authors whom we have lately read. Where there is so much to approve it seems hardly right, perhaps, to confine our notes to objections, almost altogether; but in these days of sharp and earnest criticism, it seemed as well that a friendly hand should do this through an organ which is less theological than critical, and which speaks to such as can estimate the value of what is said. ISAIAH XVIII., TRANSLATION AND NOTES. THE eighteenth chapter of Isaiah has long been a crux interpretum, and has exercised to very little purpose the wits of a host of commentators. The general bias has been towards a mystic interpretation. Either disdaining the letter, as beneath the notice of a spiritual man, or despairing the discovery of any satisfactory literal sense, writers of this class have thrown all into the regions of fancy, and wasted their time and the patience of their readers in speculations on the object of the passage as a yet unfulfilled prophecy. Yet there are not wanting a few traces, even among the fathers, of a common-sense view of the matter; and building on these as a foundation, we propose to shew that the prophecy long since received its full literal accomplishment. And indeed we very much doubt whether we are justified in looking for any other. Certain it is, that we shall be groping in the dark, if we speculate on any secondary interpretation before we have first firmly established the primary. At the head of the mystical interpreters stand Eusebius (315) and Jerome (390). For though these fathers do seem to have acknowledged some little literal reference (and this they take to be to Egypt), yet they go off on their favourite hobby, and make us either smile or sigh at their mysticism. Jerome inconsistently blames Eusebius for this. But he himself tells us that the winged cymbal, as he translates tsiltsal kenaphaïm, is the heresies of the Christian Church, no better than a tinkling cymbal (1 Cor. xiii. 1). Beyond the rivers of Ethiopia means, surpassing all men in impiety. The boats of the heretics are paper boats, and of equal durability. And so on through the whole chapter. Ashamed of such rubbish, modern commentators of this school have generally taken refuge in generalities, and been content with telling us that the whole chapter relates to "Antichrist." If they go no further than this they are tolerably safe from refutation: now and then, however, a bolder spirit will venture on a more definite application, only to suffer a total discomfiture. About the end of the last century, Edward King, a man of some repute for learning and piety, and for some years President of the Society of Antiquaries, shocked at the enormities of the French Revolution, published two tracts," in which he referred many prophecies to the events then passing; and, Our copy is entitled, Remarks on the Signs of the Times. Second Edition. London: 1798. 4to. It was followed by A Supplement to the Remarks on the Signs of the Times, with many additional remarks. London: Feb., 1799. 4to. NEW SERIES. -VOL. III., NO. VI. T among others, our present chapter. This particular reference drew forth an answer from Samuel Horsley, Bishop of Rochester, who, in a tract' of no great critical learning, but some common sense, shewed the impossibility that France should be "the land overshadowing with wings," as held by King. It was only natural that Horsley, with his well-known bias, while he condemned King's vagaries, should continue to refer the whole to "Antichrist." Blinded by this prejudice, he has not taken much pains to develope the literal interpretation of the passage. In our own day, and under somewhat similar circumstances of excitement from passing events, one or two persons have maintained that "the land overshadowing with wings," in this prophecy, is no other than our own country! The marvellous absurdity of placing England "beyond the rivers of Cush," and of crossing the Straits of Dover in "vessels of bulrushes," seems to be no obstacle to these gentlemen. Their notions are not worth the trouble of a serious refutation; and we shall waste no time upon them, but proceed to shew that there always was a more sane view of the meaning of the chapter. I. Jerome (390), before he goes off into the mystical nonsense above mentioned, gives his ideas of the literal meaning. The land, he says, is Egypt, which sends ambassadors in boats of papyrus to the Jews, the people scattered and peeled, promising them help against Nebuchadnezzar (?); but in vain, for a great destruction (ver. 5, 6) shall fall upon Egypt, terrified by which, Israel shall henceforth trust in the Lord only (ver. 7). This opinion has been adopted by many, both ancient and modern commentators. But it is sufficient refutation to say that Egypt was not beyond the rivers of Ethiopia, and that boats of papyrus could never have made the voyage to any part of Palestine, even supposing the ordinary communication to have been by sea, which it certainly was not. II. Procopius of Gaza (520), in his Commentary on Isaiah, gives the preceding as the view of some who had gone before him, except that he makes the Egyptians the nation scattered and peeled. But he has mixed up with this another reference, which made the Assyrians under Sennacherib the sufferers at the great disaster indicated in ver. 5, 6. He had perhaps borrowed this from Theodoret (425), who held that the people trodden down were the Israelites; the wasting rivers, the Assy Horsley's tract is entitled, Critical Disquisitions on the Eighteenth Chapter of Isaiah. In a letter to Edward King, Esq. London: 1799. 4to. • Walter Chamberlain. Isaiah's Call to England, being an Exposition of Isaiah xviii. London: 1860. 8vo. Another writer to whom we may refer is Dr. Cumming. d Op., t. ii., p. 70. Lut. Par. 1639. rians, whose destruction is foretold in ver. 5, 6; and the consequent rejoicing of Israel in ver. 7. This view has with some modifications been adopted by most modern commentators who have taken the trouble to inquire into the literal sense of the passage. Vitringa thinks that even the wilfully blind cannot help seeing in ver. 5, 6, the destruction of Sennacherib's army. So also Lowth, with whose views we substantially agree, though we differ from him in some minor points, and hope we have thrown light on one or two matters which he was compelled to leave in doubt. These will be fully set forth in the notes to our translation. The authorized English version is as follows:Woe to the land shadowing with wings, which is beyond the rivers of Ethiopia: That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, saying, Go, ye swift messengers, to a nation scattered and peeled, to a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled! All ye inhabitants of the world, and dwellers on the earth, see ye, when he lifteth up an ensign on the mountains; and when he bloweth a trumpet, hear ye. For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will consider in my dwelling place like a clear heat upon herbs, and like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest. For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect, and the sour grape is ripening in the flower, he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks, and take away and cut down the branches. They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains, and to the beasts of the earth: and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them. In that time shall the present be brought unto the LORD of hosts of a people scattered and peeled, and from a people terrible from their beginning hitherto; a nation meted out and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of hosts, the mount Zion. New Translation. Alas! for the land of the winged Tsiltsal! Despatch thou ambassadors on the sea, And in boats of papyrus on the face of the waters : e Campegius Vitringa. Commentarius in Jesaiam, vol. i., p. 213. |