122Ihavebrieflyshownthatsuchknowledgeisnecessary，butIpassedovercertainconsiderationswhichIwillnowdrawattentionto。
123Ifwereadabookwhichcontainsincredibleorimpossiblenarratives，oriswritteninaveryobscurestyle，andifweknownothingofitsauthor，norofthetimeoroccasionofitsbeingwritten，weshallvainlyendeavourtogainanycertainknowledgeofitstruemeaning。124Forbeinginignoranceonthesepointswecannotpossiblyknowtheaimorintendedaimoftheauthor；ifwearefullyinformed，wesoorderourthoughtsasnottobeinanywayprejudicedeitherinascribingtotheauthororhimforwhomtheauthorwroteeithermoreorlessthanhismeaning，andweonlytakeintoconsiderationwhattheauthormayhavehadinhismind，orwhatthetimeandoccasiondemanded。125Ithinkthismustbetolerablyevidenttoall。
126Itoftenhappensthatindifferentbookswereadhistoriesinthemselvessimilar，butwhichwejudgeverydifferently，accordingtotheopinionswehaveformedoftheauthors。127IrememberoncetohavereadinsomebookthatamannamedOrlandoFuriosousedtodriveakindofwingedmonsterthroughtheair，flyoveranycountriesheliked，killunaidedvastnumbersofmenandgiants，andsuchlikefancies，whichfromthepointofviewofreasonareobviouslyabsurd。128AverysimilarstoryIreadinOvidofPerseus，andalsointhebooksofJudgesandKingsofSamson，whoaloneandunarmedkilledthousandsofmen，andofElijah，whoflewthroughtheair，saidatlastwentuptoheaveninachariotoffire，withhorsesoffire。129Allthesestoriesareobviouslyalike，butwejudgethemverydifferently。130Thefirstonlysoughttoamuse，thesecondhadapoliticalobject，thethirdareligiousobject。131Wegatherthissimplyfromtheopinionswehadpreviouslyformedoftheauthors。132Thusitisevidentlynecessarytoknowsomethingoftheauthorsofwritingswhichareobscureorunintelligible，ifwewouldinterprettheirmeaning；andforthesamereason，inordertochoosetheproperreadingfromamongagreatvariety，weoughttohaveinformationastotheversionsinwhichthedifferencesarefound，andastothepossibilityofotherreadingshavingbeendiscoveredbypersonsofgreaterauthority。
133AfurtherdifficultyattendsthismethodinthecaseofsomeofthebooksofScripture，namely，thattheyarenolongerextantintheiroriginallanguage。133TheGospelaccordingtoMatthew，andcertainlytheEpistletotheHebrews，werewritten，itisthought，inHebrew，thoughtheynolongerexistinthatform。134AbenEzraaffirmsinhiscommentariesthatthebookofJobwastranslatedintoHebrewoutofanotherlanguage，andthatitsobscurityarisesfromthisfact。135Isaynothingoftheapocryphalbooks，fortheirauthoritystandsonveryinferiorground。
136TheforegoingdifficultiesinthismethodofinterpretingScripturefromitsownhistory，IconceivetobesogreatthatIdonothesitatetosaythatthetruemeaningofScriptureisinmanyplacesinexplicable，oratbestmeresubjectforguesswork；butImustagainpointout，ontheotherhand，thatsuchdifficultiesonlyarisewhenweendeavourtofollowthemeaningofaprophetinmatterswhichcannotbeperceived，butonlyimagined，notinthings，whereoftheunderstandingcangiveaclearidea，andwhichareconceivablethroughthemselves:，[Endnote8]，matterswhichbytheirnatureareeasilyperceivedcannotbeexpressedsoobscurelyastobeunintelligible；astheproverbsays，"awordisenoughtothewise。"137
Euclid，whoonlywroteofmattersverysimpleandeasilyunderstood，caneasilybecomprehendedbyanyoneinanylanguage；wecanfollowhisintentionperfectly，，andbecertainofhistruemeaning，withouthavingathoroughknowledgeofthelanguageinwhichhewrote；infact，aquiterudimentaryacquaintanceissufficient。138Weneedmakenoresearchesconcerningthelife，thepursuits，orthehabitsoftheauthor；norneedweinquireinwhatlanguage，norwhenhewrote，northevicissitudesofhisbook，noritsvariousreadings，norhow，norbywhoseadviceithasbeenreceived。
139WhatweheresayofEuclidmightequallybesaidofanybookwhichtreatsofthingsbytheirnatureperceptible:thusweconcludethatwecaneasilyfollowtheintentionofScriptureinmoralquestions，fromthehistorywepossessofit，andwecanbesureofitstruemeaning。
140Thepreceptsoftruepietyareexpressedinveryordinarylanguage，andareequallysimpleandeasilyunderstood。141Further，astruesalvationandblessednessconsistinatrueassentofthesoul-andwetrulyassentonlytowhatweclearlyunderstand-itismostplainthatwecanfollowwithcertaintytheintentionofScriptureinmattersrelatingtosalvationandnecessarytoblessedness；therefore，weneednotbemuchtroubledaboutwhatremains:suchmatters，inasmuchaswegenerallycannotgraspthemwithourreasonandunderstanding，aremorecuriousthanprofitable。
142IthinkIhavenowsetforththetruemethodofScripturalinterpretation，andhavesufficientlyexplainedmyownopinionthereon。
143Besides，Idonotdoubtthateveryonewillseethatsuchamethodonlyrequirestheaidofnaturalreason。144Thenatureandefficacyofthenaturalreasonconsistsindeducingandprovingtheunknownfromtheknown，orincarryingpremisestotheirlegitimateconclusions；andthesearetheveryprocesseswhichourmethoddesiderates。145ThoughwemustadmitthatitdoesnotsufficetoexplaineverythingintheBible，suchimperfectiondoesnotspringfromitsownnature，butfromthefactthatthepathwhichitteachesus，asthetrueone，hasneverbeentendedortroddenbymen，andhasthus，bythelapseoftime，becomeverydifficult，andalmostimpassable，as，indeed，IhaveshowninthedifficultiesIdrawattentionto。
146Thereonlyremainstoexaminetheopinionsofthosewhodifferfromme。147Thefirstwhichcomesunderournoticeis，thatthelightofnaturehasnopowertointerpretScripture，butthatasupernaturalfacultyisrequiredforthetask。148WhatismeantbythissupernaturalfacultyI
willleavetoitspropounderstoexplain。149Personally，IcanonlysupposethattheyhaveadoptedaveryobscurewayofstatingtheircompleteuncertaintyaboutthetruemeaningofScripture。150Ifwelookattheirinterpretations，theycontainnothingsupernatural，atleastnothingbutthemerestconjectures。
151Letthembeplacedsidebysidewiththeinterpretationsofthosewhofranklyconfessthattheyhavenofacultybeyondtheirnaturalones；weshallseethatthetwoarejustalike-bothhuman，bothlongponderedover，bothlaboriouslyinvented。152Tosaythatthenaturalreasonisinsufficientforsuchresultsisplainlyuntrue，firstly，forthereasonsabovestated，namely，thatthedifficultyofinterpretingScripturearisesfromnodefectinhumanreason，butsimplyfromthecarelessnessnottosaymaliceofmenwhoneglectedthehistoryoftheBiblewhiletherewerestillmaterialsforinquiry；secondly，fromthefactadmitted，Ithink，byall
thatthesupernaturalfacultyisaDivinegiftgrantedonlytothefaithful。
153Buttheprophetsandapostlesdidnotpreachtothefaithfulonly，butchieflytotheunfaithfulandwicked。154Suchpersons，therefore，wereabletounderstandtheintentionoftheprophetsandapostles，otherwisetheprophetsandapostleswouldhaveseemedtobepreachingtolittleboysandinfants，nottomenendowedwithreason。155Moses，too，wouldhavegivenhislawsinvain，iftheycouldonlybecomprehendedbythefaithful，whoneednolaw。156Indeed，thosewhodemandsupernaturalfacultiesforcomprehendingthemeaningoftheprophetsandapostlesseemtrulylackinginnaturalfaculties，sothatweshouldhardlysupposesuchpersonsthepossessorsofaDivinesupernaturalgift。
157TheopinionofMaimonideswaswidelydifferent。158HeassertedthateachpassageinScriptureadmitsofvarious，nay，contrary，meanings；butthatwecouldneverbecertainofanyparticularonetillweknewthatthepassage，asweinterpretedit，containednothingcontraryorrepugnanttoreason。159Iftheliteralmeaningclasheswithreason，thoughthepassageseemsinitselfperfectlyclear，itmustbeinterpretedinsomemetaphoricalsense。160Thisdoctrinehelaysdownveryplainlyinchap。xxv。partii。ofhisbook，"MoreNebuchim，"forhesays:"Knowthatweshrinknotfromaffirmingthattheworldhathexistedfrometernity，becauseofwhatScripturesaithconcerningtheworld'screation。161ForthetextswhichteachthattheworldwascreatedarenotmoreinnumberthanthosewhichteachthatGodhathabody；neitheraretheapproachesinthismatteroftheworld'screationclosed，orevenmadehardtous:sothatweshouldnotbeabletoexplainwhatiswritten，aswedidwhenweshowedthatGodhathnobody，nay，peradventure，wecouldexplainandmakefastthedoctrineoftheworld'seternitymoreeasilythanwedidawaywiththedoctrinesthatGodhathabeatifiedbody。162YettwothingshindermefromdoingasIhavesaid，andbelievingthattheworldiseternal。
163AsithathbeenclearlyshownthatGodhathnotabody，wemustperforceexplainallthosepassageswhereoftheliteralsenseagreethnotwiththedemonstration，forsureitisthattheycanbesoexplained。164
Buttheeternityoftheworldhathnotbeensodemonstrated，thereforeitisnotnecessarytodoviolencetoScriptureinsupportofsomecommonopinion，whereofwemight，atthebiddingofreason，embracethecontrary。"
165SucharethewordsofMaimonides，andtheyareevidentlysufficienttoestablishourpoint:forifhehadbeenconvincedbyreasonthattheworldiseternal，hewouldnothavehesitatedtotwistandexplainawaythewordsofScripturetillhemadethemappeartoteachthisdoctrine。166HewouldhavefeltquitesurethatScripture，thougheverywhereplainlydenyingtheeternityoftheworld，reallyintendstoteachit。167Sothat，howeverclearthemeaningofScripturemaybe，hewouldnotfeelcertainofhavinggraspedit，solongasheremaineddoubtfulofthetruthofwhat，waswritten。168Forweareindoubtwhetherathingisinconformitywithreason，orcontrarythereto，solongasweareuncertainofitstruth，and，consequently，wecannotbesurewhethertheliteralmeaningofapassagebetrueorfalse。
169Ifsuchatheoryasthisweresound，IwouldcertainlygrantthatsomefacultybeyondthenaturalreasonisrequiredforinterpretingScripture。
170FornearlyallthingsthatwefindinScripturecannotbeinferredfromknownprinciplesofthenaturalreason，and，therefore，weshouldbeunabletocometoanyconclusionabouttheirtruth，orabouttherealmeaningandintentionofScripture，butshouldstandinneedofsomefurtherassistance。
171Further，thetruthofthistheorywouldinvolvethatthemasses，havinggenerallynocomprehensionof，norleisurefor，detailedproofs，wouldbereducedtoreceivingalltheirknowledgeofScriptureontheauthorityandtestimonyofphilosophers，and，consequently，wouldbecompelledtosupposethattheinterpretationsgivenbyphilosopherswereinfallible。
172Trulythiswouldbeanewformofecclesiasticalauthority，andanewsortofpriestsorpontiffs，morelikelytoexcitemen'sridiculethantheirveneration。173CertainlyourmethoddemandsaknowledgeofHebrewforwhichthemasseshavenoleisure；butnosuchobjectionastheforegoingcanbebroughtagainstus。174FortheordinaryJewsorGentiles，towhomtheprophetsandapostlespreachedandwrote，understoodthelanguage，and，consequently，theintentionoftheprophetorapostleaddressingthem；buttheydidnotgrasptheintrinsicreasonofwhatwaspreached，which，accordingtoMaimonides，wouldbenecessaryforanunderstandingofit。
175Thereisnothing，then，inourmethodwhichrendersitnecessarythatthemassesshouldfollowthetestimonyofcommentators，forIpointtoasetofunlearnedpeoplewhounderstoodthelanguageoftheprophetsandapostles；whereasMaimonidescouldnotpointtoanysuchwhocouldarriveatthepropheticorapostolicmeaningthroughtheirknowledgeofthecausesofthings。
176Astothemultitudeofourowntime，wehaveshownthatwhatsoeverisnecessarytosalvation，thoughitsreasonsmaybeunknown，caneasilybeunderstoodinanylanguage，becauseitisthoroughlyordinaryandusual；itisinsuchunderstandingasthisthatthemassesacquiesce，notinthetestimonyofcommentators；withregardtootherquestions，theignorantandthelearnedfarealike。
177ButletusreturntotheopinionofMaimonides，andexamineitmoreclosely。Inthefirstplace，hesupposesthattheprophetswereinentireagreementonewithanother，andthattheywereconsummatephilosophersandtheologians；forhewouldhavethemtohavebasedtheirconclusionsontheabsolutetruth。178Further，hesupposesthatthesenseofScripturecannotbemadeplainfromScriptureitself，forthetruthofthingsisnotmadeplainthereininthatitdoesnotproveanything，norteachthemattersofwhichitspeaksthroughtheirdefinitionsandfirstcauses，therefore，accordingtoMaimonides，thetruesenseofScripturecannotbemadeplainfromitself，andmustnotbetheresought。
179Thefalsityofsuchadoctrineisshowninthisverychapter，forwehaveshownbothbyreasonandexamplesthatthemeaningofScriptureisonlymadeplainthroughScriptureitself，andeveninquestionsdeduciblefromordinaryknowledgeshouldbelookedforfromnoothersource。
180Lastly，suchatheorysupposesthatwemayexplainthewordsofScriptureaccordingtoourpreconceivedopinions，twistingthemabout，andreversingorcompletelychangingtheliteralsense，howeverplainitmaybe。
181Suchlicenceisutterlyopposedtotheteachingofthisandtheprecedingchapters，and，moreover，willbeevidenttoeveryoneasrashandexcessive。
182Butifwegrantallthislicence，whatcaniteffectafterall?
Absolutelynothing。183Thosethingswhichcannotbedemonstrated，andwhichmakeupthegreaterpartofScripture，cannotbeexaminedbyreason，andcannotthereforebeexplainedorinterpretedbythisrule；whereas，onthecontrary，byfollowingourownmethod，wecanexplainmanyquestionsofthisnature，anddiscussthemonasurebasis，aswehavealreadyshown，byreasonandexample。184Thosematterswhicharebytheirnaturecomprehensiblewecaneasilyexplain，ashasbeenpointedout，simplybymeansofthecontext。
185Therefore，themethodofMaimonidesisclearlyuseless:towhichwemayadd，thatitdoesawaywithallthecertaintywhichthemassesacquirebycandidreading，orwhichisgainedbyanyotherpersonsinanyotherway。
186Inconclusion，then，wedismissMaimonides'theoryasharmful，useless，andabsurd。
187AstothetraditionofthePharisees，wehavealreadyshownthatitisnotconsistent，whiletheauthorityofthepopesofRomestandsinneedofmorecredibleevidence；thelatter，indeed，Irejectsimplyonthisground，forifthepopescouldpointouttousthemeaningofScriptureassurelyasdidthehighpriestsoftheJews，IshouldnotbedeterredbythefactthattherehavebeenhereticandimpiousRomanpontiffs；foramongtheHebrewhigh-priestsofoldtherewerealsohereticsandimpiousmenwhogainedthehigh-priesthoodbyimpropermeans，butwho，nevertheless，hadScripturalsanctionfortheirsupremepowerofinterpretingthelaw。SeeDeut。xvii:11，12，andxxxiii:10，alsoMalachiii:8。
188However，asthepopescanshownosuchsanction，theirauthorityremainsopentoverygravedoubt，norshouldanyonebedeceivedbytheexampleoftheJewishhigh-priestsandthinkthattheCatholicreligionalsostandsinneedofapontiff；heshouldbearinmindthatthelawsofMosesbeingalsotheordinarylawsofthecountry，necessarilyrequiredsomepublicauthoritytoinsuretheirobservance；for，ifeveryonewerefreetointerpretthelawsofhiscountryashepleased，nostatecouldstand，butwouldforthatveryreasonbedissolvedatonce，andpublicrightswouldbecomeprivaterights。
189Withreligionthecaseiswidelydifferent。Inasmuchasitconsistsnotsomuchinoutwardactionsasinsimplicityandtruthofcharacter，itstandsoutsidethesphereoflawandpublicauthority。190Simplicityandtruthofcharacterarenotproducedbytheconstraintoflaws，norbytheauthorityofthestate，noonethewholeworldovercanbeforcedorlegislatedintoastateofblessedness；themeansrequiredforsuchaconsummationarefaithfulandbrotherlyadmonition，soundeducation，and，aboveall，freeuseoftheindividualjudgment。
191Therefore，asthesupremerightoffreethinking，evenonreligion，isineveryman'spower，andasitisinconceivablethatsuchpowercouldbealienated，itisalsoineveryman'spowertowieldthesupremerightandauthorityoffreejudgmentinthisbehalf，andtoexplainandinterpretreligionforhimself。192Theonlyreasonforvestingthesupremeauthorityintheinterpretationoflaw，andjudgmentonpublicaffairsinthehandsofthemagistrates，isthatitconcernsquestionsofpublicright。
193Similarlythesupremeauthorityinexplainingreligion，andinpassingjudgmentthereon，islodgedwiththeindividualbecauseitconcernsquestionsofindividualright。194Sofar，then，fromtheauthorityoftheHebrewhigh-prieststellinginconfirmationoftheauthorityoftheRomanpontiffstointerpretreligion，itwouldrathertendtoestablishindividualfreedomofjudgment。195Thusinthiswayalso，wehaveshownthatourmethodofinterpretingScriptureisthebest。196ForasthehighestpowerofScripturalinterpretationbelongstoeveryman，theruleforsuchinterpretationshouldbenothingbutthenaturallightofreasonwhichiscommontoall-notanysupernaturallightnoranyexternalauthority；
moreover，sucharuleoughtnottobesodifficultthatitcanonlybeappliedbyveryskilfulphilosophers，butshouldbeadaptedtothenaturalandordinaryfacultiesandcapacityofmankind。197AndsuchIhaveshownourmethodtobe，forsuchdifficultiesasithasarisefrommen'scarelessness，andarenopartofitsnature。
CHAPTERVIII-OFTHEAUTHORSHIPOFTHEPENTATEUCHANDTHEOTHER
HISTORICALBOOKSOFTHEOLDTESTAMENT
1IntheformerchapterwetreatedofthefoundationsandprinciplesofScripturalknowledge，andshowedthatitconsistssolelyinatrustworthyhistoryofthesacredwritings；suchahistory，inspiteofitsindispensability，theancientsneglected，oratanyrate，whatevertheymayhavewrittenorhandeddownhasperishedinthelapseoftime，consequentlythegroundworkforsuchaninvestigationistoagreatextent，cutfromunderus。2Thismightbeputupwithifsucceedinggenerationshadconfinedthemselveswithinthelimitsoftruth，andhadhandeddownconscientiouslywhatfewparticularstheyhadreceivedordiscoveredwithoutanyadditionsfromtheirownbrains:asitis，thehistoryoftheBibleisnotsomuchimperfectasuntrustworthy:thefoundationsarenotonlytooscantyforbuildingupon，butarealsounsound。3Itispartofmypurposetoremedythesedefects，andtoremovecommontheologicalprejudices。4
ButIfearthatIamattemptingmytasktoolate，formenhavearrivedatthepitchofnotsufferingcontradiction，butdefendingobstinatelywhatevertheyhaveadoptedunderthenameofreligion。5Sowidelyhavetheseprejudicestakenpossessionofmen'sminds，thatveryfew，comparativelyspeaking，willlistentoreason。6However，Iwillmaketheattempt，andsparenoefforts，forthereisnopositivereasonfordespairingofsuccess。
7Inordertotreatthesubjectmethodically，Iwillbeginwiththereceivedopinionsconcerningthetrueauthorsofthesacredbooks，andinthefirstplace，speakoftheauthorofthePentateuch，whoisalmostuniversallysupposedtohavebeenMoses。8ThePhariseesaresofirmlyconvincedofhisidentity，thattheyaccountasahereticanyonewhodiffersfromthemonthesubject。9Wherefore，AbenEzra，amanofenlightenedintelligence，andnosmalllearning，whowasthefirst，sofarasIknow，totreatofthisopinion，darednotexpresshismeaningopenly，butconfinedhimselftodarkhintswhichIshallnotscrupletoelucidate，thusthrowing，fulllightonthesubject。
10ThewordsofAbenEzrawhichoccurinhiscommentaryonDeuteronomyareasfollows:"BeyondJordan，&c……Ifsobethatthouunderstandestthemysteryofthetwelve……moreoverMoseswrotethelaw……TheCanaanitewasthenintheland……itshallberevealedonthemountofGod……thenalsobeholdhisbed，hisironbed，thenshaltthouknowthetruth。"11Inthesefewwordshehints，andalsoshowsthatitwasnotMoseswhowrotethePentateuch，butsomeonewholivedlongafterhim，andfurther，thatthebookwhichMoseswrotewassomethingdifferentfromanynowextant。
12Toprovethis，Isay，hedrawsattentiontothefacts:
131。ThattheprefacetoDeuteronomycouldnothavebeenwrittenbyMoses，inasmuchasheadnevercrossedtheJordan。
14II。ThatthewholebookofMoseswaswrittenatfulllengthonthecircumferenceofasinglealtarDeut。xxvii，andJosh。viii:37，whichaltar，accordingtotheRabbis，consistedofonlytwelvestones:thereforethebookofMosesmusthavebeenoffarlessextentthanthePentateuch。
15Thisiswhatourauthormeans，Ithink，bythemysteryofthetwelve，unlessheisreferringtothetwelvecursescontainedinthechapterofDeuteronomyabovecited，whichhethoughtcouldnothavebeencontainedinthelaw，becauseMosesbadetheLevitesreadthemaftertherecitalofthelaw，andsobindthepeopletoitsobservance。16Oragain，hemayhavehadinhismindthelastchapterofDeuteronomywhichtreatsofthedeathofMoses，andwhichcontainstwelveverses。17Butthereisnoneedtodwellfurtherontheseandsimilarconjectures。
18III。ThatinDeut。xxxi:9，theexpressionoccurs，"andMoseswrotethelaw:"wordsthatcannotbeascribedtoMoses，butmustbethoseofsomeotherwriternarratingthedeedsandwritingsofMoses。
19IV。ThatinGenesisxii:6，thehistorian，afternarratingthatAbrahamjourneyedthroughtheandofCanaan，adds，"andtheCanaanitewasthenintheland，"thusclearlyexcludingthetimeatwhichhewrote。20SothatthispassagemusthavebeenwrittenafterthedeathofMoses，whentheCanaaniteshadbeendrivenout，andnolongerpossessedtheland。
21AbenEzra，inhiscommentaryonthepassage，alludestothedifficultyasfollows:-"AndtheCanaanitewasthenintheland:itappearsthatCanaan，thegrandsonofNoah，tookfromanotherthelandwhichbearshisname；ifthisbenotthetruemeaning，therelurkssomemysteryinthepassage，andlethimwhounderstandsitkeepsilence。"22Thatis，ifCanaaninvadedthoseregions，thesensewillbe，theCanaanitewasthenintheland，incontradistinctiontothetimewhenithadbeenheldbyanother:
butif，asfollowsfromGen。chap。x。Canaanwasthefirsttoinhabittheland，thetextmustmeantoexcludethetimepresent，thatisthetimeatwhichitwaswritten；thereforeitcannotbetheworkofMoses，inwhosetimetheCanaanitesstillpossessedthoseterritories:thisisthemysteryconcerningwhichsilenceisrecommended。
23V。ThatinGenesisxxii:14MountMoriahiscalledthemountofGod，[Endnote9]，anamewhichitdidnotacquiretillafterthebuildingoftheTemple；thechoiceofthemountainwasnotmadeinthetimeofMoses，forMosesdoesnotpointoutanyspotaschosenbyGod；onthecontrary，heforetellsthatGodwillatsomefuturetimechooseaspottowhichthisnamewillbegiven。
24VI。Lastly，thatinDeut。chap。iii。，inthepassagerelatingtoOg，kingofBashan，thesewordsareinserted:"ForonlyOgkingofBashanremainedoftheremnantofgiants:behold，hisbedsteadwasabedsteadofiron:isitnotinRabbathofthechildrenofAmmon?ninecubitswasthelengththereof，andfourcubitsthebreadthofit，afterthecubitofaman。"25ThisparenthesismostplainlyshowsthatitswriterlivedlongafterMoses；forthismodeofspeakingisonlyemployedbyonetreatingofthingslongpast，andpointingtorelicsforthesakeofgainingcredence:
moreover，thisbedwasalmostcertainlyfirstdiscoveredbyDavid，whoconqueredthecityofRabbath2Sam。xii:30。26Again，thehistorianalittlefurtheroninsertsafterthewordsofMoses，"Jair，thesonofManasseh，tookallthecountryofArgobuntothecoastsofGeshuriandMaachathi；andcalledthemafterhisownname，Bashan-havoth-jair，untothisday。"27Thispassage，Isay，isinsertedtoexplainthewordsofMoseswhichprecedeit。28"AndtherestofGilead，andallBashan，beingthekingdomofOg，gaveIuntothehalftribeofManasseh；alltheregionofArgob，withallBashan，whichiscalledthelandofthegiants。"29TheHebrewsinthetimeofthewriterindisputablyknewwhatterritoriesbelongedtothetribeofJudah，butdidnotknowthemunderthenameofthejurisdictionofArgob，orthelandofthegiants。30Thereforethewriteriscompelledtoexplainwhattheseplaceswerewhichwereancientlysostyled，andatthesametimetopointoutwhytheywereatthetimeofhiswritingknownbythenameofJair，whowasofthetribeofManasseh，notofJudah。31WehavethusmadeclearthemeaningofAbenEzraandalsothepassagesofthePentateuchwhichhecitesinproofofhiscontention。32
However，AbenEzradoesnotcallattentiontoeveryinstance，oreventhechiefones；thereremainmanyofgreaterimportance，whichmaybecited。
33NamelyI。，thatthewriterofthebooksinquestionnotonlyspeaksofMosesinthethirdperson，butalsobearswitnesstomanydetailsconcerninghim；forinstance，"MosestalkedwithGod；""TheLordspokewithMosesfacetoface；""Moseswasthemeekestofmen"Numb。xii:3；"Moseswaswrathwiththecaptainsofthehost；"Moses，themanofGod，"Moses，theservantoftheLord，died；""TherewasneveraprophetinIsraellikeuntoMoses，"&c。34Ontheotherhand，inDeuteronomy，wherethelawwhichMoseshadexpoundedtothepeopleandwrittenissetforth，Mosesspeaksanddeclareswhathehasdoneinthefirstperson:"Godspakewithme"Deut。
ii:1，17，&c。，"IprayedtotheLord，"&c。35Exceptattheendofthebook，whenthehistorian，afterrelatingthewordsofMoses，beginsagaintospeakinthethirdperson，andtotellhowMoseshandedoverthelawwhichhehadexpoundedtothepeopleinwriting，againadmonishingthem，andfurther，howMosesendedhislife。36Allthesedetails，themannerofnarration，thetestimony，andthecontextofthewholestoryleadtotheplainconclusionthatthesebookswerewrittenbyanother，andnotbyMosesinperson。
37III。WemustalsoremarkthatthehistoryrelatesnotonlythemannerofMoses'deathandburial，andthethirtydays'mourningoftheHebrews，butfurthercompareshimwithalltheprophetswhocameafterhim，andstatesthathesurpassedthemall。38"TherewasneveraprophetinIsraellikeuntoMoses，whomtheLordknewfacetoface。"39SuchtestimonycannothavebeengivenofMosesby，himself，norbyanywhoimmediatelysucceededhim，butitmustcomefromsomeonewholivedcenturiesafterwards，especially，asthehistorianspeaksofpasttimes。40"Therewasneveraprophet，"&c。41Andoftheplaceofburial，"Nooneknowsittothisday。"
42III。WemustnotethatsomeplacesarenotstyledbythenamestheyboreduringMoses'lifetime，butbyotherswhichtheyobtainedsubsequently。
43Forinstance，AbrahamissaidtohavepursuedhisenemiesevenuntoDan，anamenotbestowedonthecitytilllongafterthedeathofJoshuaGen。xiv；14，Judgesxviii；29。
44IV。ThenarrativeisprolongedafterthedeathofMoses，forinExodusxvi:34wereadthat"thechildrenofIsraeldideatmannafortyyearsuntiltheycametoalandinhabited，untiltheycameuntothebordersofthelandofCanaan。"45Inotherwords，untilthetimealludedtoinJoshuavi:12。
46So，too，inGenesisxxxvi:31itisstated，"ThesearethekingsthatreignedinEdombeforetherereignedanykingoverthechildrenofIsrael。"
47Thehistorian，doubtless，hererelatesthekingsofIdumaeabeforethatterritorywasconqueredbyDavid[Endnote10]andgarrisoned，aswereadin2Sam。viii:14。48Fromwhathasbeensaid，itisthusclearerthanthesunatnoondaythatthePentateuchwasnotwrittenbyMoses，butbysomeonewholivedlongafterMoses。49LetusnowturnourattentiontothebookswhichMosesactuallydidwrite，andwhicharecitedinthePentateuch；thus，also，shallweseethattheyweredifferentfromthePentateuch。50
Firstly，itappearsfromExodusxvii:14thatMoses，bythecommandofGod，wroteanaccountofthewaragainstAmalek。51Thebookinwhichhedidsoisnotnamedinthechapterjustquoted，butinNumb。xxi:12abookisreferredtounderthetitleofthewarsofGod，anddoubtlessthiswaragainstAmalekandthecastrametationssaidinNumb。xxxiii:2tohavebeenwrittenbyMosesarethereindescribed。52WehearalsoinExod。xxiv:4ofanotherbookcalledtheBookoftheCovenant，whichMosesreadbeforetheIsraeliteswhentheyfirstmadeacovenantwithGod。53Butthisbookorthiswritingcontainedverylittle，namely，thelawsorcommandmentsofGodwhichwefindinExodusxx:22totheendofchap。xxiv。，andthisnoonewilldenywhoreadstheaforesaidchapterrationallyandimpartially。54
ItistherestatedthatassoonasMoseshadlearntthefeelingofthepeopleonthesubjectofmakingacovenantwithGod，heimmediatelywrotedownGod'slawsandutterances，andinthemorning，aftersomeceremonieshadbeenperformed，readouttheconditionsofthecovenanttoanassemblyofthewholepeople。55Whenthesehadbeengonethrough，anddoubtlessunderstoodbyall，thewholepeoplegavetheirassent。
56Nowfromtheshortnessofthetimetakeninitsperusalandalsofromitsnatureasacompact，thisdocumentevidentlycontainednothingmorethanthatwhichwehavejustdescribed。57Further，itisclearthatMosesexplainedallthelawswhichhehadreceivedinthefortiethyearaftertheexodusfromEgypt；alsothatheboundoverthepeopleasecondtimetoobservethem，andthatfinallyhecommittedthemtowritingDeut。i:5；
xxix:14；xxxi:9，inabookwhichcontainedtheselawsexplained，andthenewcovenant，andthisbookwasthereforecalledthebookofthelawofGod:
thesamewhichwasafterwardsaddedtobyJoshuawhenhesetforththefreshcovenantwithwhichheboundoverthepeopleandwhichheenteredintowithGodJosh。xxiv:25，26。
58Now，aswehaveextentnobookcontainingthiscovenantofMosesandalsothecovenantofJoshua，wemustperforceconcludethatithasperished，unless，indeed，weadoptthewildconjectureoftheChaldeanparaphrastJonathan，andtwistaboutthewordsofScripturetoourheart'scontent。
59Thiscommentator，inthefaceofourpresentdifficulty，preferredcorruptingthesacredtexttoconfessinghisownignorance。60ThepassageinthebookofJoshuawhichruns，"andJoshuawrotethesewordsinthebookofthelawofGod，"hechangesinto"andJoshuawrotethesewordsandkeptthemwiththebookofthelawofGod。"61Whatistobedonewithpersonswhowillonlyseewhatpleasesthem?62WhatissuchaproceedingifitisnotdenyingScripture，andinventinganotherBibleoutofourownheads?63WemaythereforeconcludethatthebookofthelawofGodwhichMoseswrotewasnotthePentateuch，butsomethingquitedifferent，whichtheauthorofthePentateuchdulyinsertedintohisbook。64SomuchisabundantlyplainbothfromwhatIhavesaidandfromwhatIamabouttoadd。
65ForinthepassageofDeuteronomyabovequoted，whereitisrelatedthatMoseswrotethebookofthelaw，thehistorianaddsthathehandeditovertothepriestsandbadethemreaditoutatastatedtimetothewholepeople。66ThisshowsthattheworkwasofmuchlesslengththanthePentateuch，inasmuchasitcouldbereadthroughatonesittingsoastobeunderstoodbyall；further，wemustnotomittonoticethatoutofallthebookswhichMoseswrote，thisonebookofthesecondcovenantandthesongwhichlatterhewroteafterwardssothatallthepeoplemightlearnit，wastheonlyonewhichhecausedtobereligiouslyguardedandpreserved。
67Inthefirstcovenanthehadonlyboundoverthosewhowerepresent，butinthesecondcovenantheboundoveralltheirdescendantsalsoDent。
xxix:14，andthereforeorderedthiscovenantwithfutureagestobereligiouslypreserved，togetherwiththeSong，whichwasespeciallyaddressedtoposterity:as，then，wehavenoproofthatMoseswroteanybooksavethisofthecovenant，andashecommittednoothertothecareofposterity；and，lastly，astherearemanypassagesinthePentateuchwhichMosescouldnothavewritten，itfollowsthatthebeliefthatMoseswastheauthorofthePentateuchisungroundedandevenirrational。68SomeonewillperhapsaskwhetherMosesdidnotalsowritedownotherlawswhentheywerefirstrevealedtohim-inotherwords，whether，duringthecourseoffortyyears，hedidnotwritedownanyofthelawswhichhepromulgated，saveonlythosefewwhichIhavestatedtobecontainedinthebookofthefirstcovenant。69TothisIwouldanswer，thatalthoughitseemsreasonabletosupposethatMoseswrotedownthelawsatthetimewhenhewishedtocommunicatethemtothepeople，yetwearenotwarrantedtotakeitasproved，forIhaveshownabovethatwemustmakenoassertionsinsuchmatterswhichwedonotgatherfromScripture，orwhichdonotflowaslegitimateconsequencesfromitsfundamentalprinciples。70Wemustnotacceptwhateverisreasonablyprobable。71Howeverevenreasoninthiscasewouldnotforcesuchaconclusionuponus:foritmaybethattheassemblyofelderswrotedownthedecreesofMosesandcommunicatedthemtothepeople，andthehistoriancollectedthem，anddulysetthemforthinhisnarrativeofthelifeofMoses。72SomuchforthefivebooksofMoses:itisnowtimeforustoturntotheothersacredwritings。
73ThebookofJoshuamaybeprovednottobeanautographbyreasonssimilartothosewehavejustemployed:foritmustbesomeotherthanJoshuawhotestifiesthatthefameofJoshuawasspreadoverthewholeworld；thatheomittednothingofwhatMoseshadtaughtJosh。vi:27；viii。
lastverse；xi:15；thathegrewoldandsummonedanassemblyofthewholepeople，andfinallythathedepartedthislife。74Furthermore，eventsarerelatedwhichtookplaceafterJoshua'sdeath。75Forinstance，thattheIsraelitesworshippedGod，afterhisdeath，solongastherewereanyoldmenalivewhorememberedhim；andinchap。xvi:10，wereadthat"EphraimandManassehdidnotdriveouttheCanaaniteswhichdweltinGezer，buttheCanaanitedweltinthelandofEphraimuntothisday，andwastributarytohim。"76ThisisthesamestatementasthatinJudges，chap。i。，andthephrase"untothisday"showsthatthewriterwasspeakingofancienttimes。
77Withthesetextswemaycomparethelastverseofchap。xv。，concerningthesonsofJudah，andalsothehistoryofCalebinthesamechap。v:14。
78Further，thebuildingofanaltarbeyondJordanbythetwotribesandahalf，chap。xxii:10，sqq。，seemstohavetakenplaceafterthedeathofJoshua，forinthewholenarrativehisnameisnevermentioned，butthepeoplealoneheldcouncilastowagingwar，sentoutlegates，waitedfortheirreturn，andfinallyapprovedoftheiranswer。
79Lastly，fromchap。x:14，itisclearthatthebookwaswrittenmanygenerationsafterthedeathofJoshua，foritbearswitness，therewasneverany，daylikeunto，thatday，eitherbeforeorafter，thattheLordhearkenedtothevoiceofaman，"&c。80If，therefore，Joshuawroteanybookatall，itwasthatwhichisquotedintheworknowbeforeus，chap。x:13。
81WithregardtothebookofJudges，IsupposenorationalpersonpersuadeshimselfthatitwaswrittenbytheactualJudges。82Fortheconclusionofthewholehistorycontainedinchap。ii。clearlyshowsthatitisallthework-ofasinglehistorian。83Further，inasmuchasthewriterfrequentlytellsusthattherewasthennokinginIsrael，itisevidentthatthebookwaswrittenaftertheestablishmentofthemonarchy。
84ThebooksofSamuelneednotdetainuslong，inasmuchasthenarrativeinthemiscontinuedlongafterSamuel'sdeath；butIshouldliketodrawattentiontothefactthatitwaswrittenmanygenerationsafterSamuel'sdeath。85Forinbooki。chap。ix:9，thehistorianremarksina，parenthesis，"Beforetime，inIsrael，whenamanwenttoinquireofGod，thushespake:Come，andletusgototheseer；forhethatisnowcalledaprophetwasbeforetimecalledaseer。"
86Lastly，thebooksofKings，aswegatherfrominternalevidence，werecompiledfromthebooksofKingSolomonIKingsxi:41，fromthechroniclesofthekingsofJudah1Kingsxiv:19，29，andthechroniclesofthekingsofIsrael。
87Wemay，therefore，concludethatallthebookswehaveconsideredhithertoarecompilations，andthattheeventsthereinarerecordedashavinghappenedinoldtime。88Now，ifweturnourattentiontotheconnectionandargumentofallthesebooks，weshalleasilyseethattheywereallwrittenbyasinglehistorian，whowishedtorelatetheantiquitiesoftheJewsfromtheirfirstbeginningdowntothefirstdestructionofthecity。89Thewayinwhichtheseveralbooksareconnectedonewiththeotherisaloneenoughtoshowusthattheyformthenarrativeofoneandthesamewriter。90ForassoonashehasrelatedthelifeofMoses，thehistorianthuspassesontothestoryofJoshua:"AnditcametopassafterthatMosestheservantoftheLordwasdead，thatGodspakeuntoJoshua，"
&c。，sointhesameway，afterthedeathofJoshuawasconcluded，hepasseswithidenticallythesametransitionandconnectiontothehistoryoftheJudges:"AnditcametopassafterthatJoshuawasdead，thatthechildrenofIsraelsoughtfromGod，"&c。91TothebookofJudgesheaddsthestoryofRuth，asasortofappendix，inthesewords:"Nowitcametopassinthedaysthatthejudgesruled，thattherewasafamineintheland。"
92ThefirstbookofSamuelisintroducedwithasimilarphrase；andsoisthesecondbookofSamuel。93Then，beforethehistoryofDavidisconcluded，thehistorianpassesinthesamewaytothefirstbookofKings，and，afterDavid'sdeath，totheSecondbookofKings。
94Theputtingtogether，andtheorderofthenarratives，showthattheyarealltheworkofoneman，writingwithacreateaim；forthehistorianbeginswithrelatingthefirstoriginoftheHebrewnation，andthensetsforthinorderthetimesandtheoccasionsinwhichMosesputforthhislaws，andmadehispredictions。95HethenproceedstorelatehowtheIsraelitesinvadedthepromisedlandinaccordancewithMoses'prophecyDeut。vii。；andhow，whenthelandwassubdued，theyturnedtheirbacksontheirlaws，andtherebyincurredmanymisfortunesDeut。xxxi:16，17。96
Hetellshowtheywishedtoelectrulers，andhow，accordingastheserulersobservedthelaw，thepeopleflourishedorsufferedDeut。xxviii:36；
finally，howdestructioncameuponthenation，evenasMoseshadforetold。
97Inregardtoothermatters，whichdonotservetoconfirmthelaw，thewritereitherpassesovertheminsilence，orrefersthereadertootherbooksforinformation。98AllthatissetdowninthebookswehaveconducestothesoleobjectofsettingforththewordsandlawsofMoses，andprovingthembysubsequentevents。99Whenweputtogetherthesethreeconsiderations，namely，theunityofthesubjectofallthebooks，theconnectionbetweenthem，andthefactthattheyarecompilationsmademanygenerationsaftertheeventstheyrelatehadtakenplace，wecometotheconclusion，asIhavejuststated，thattheyarealltheworkofasinglehistorian。100Whothishistorianwas，itisnotsoeasytoshow；butI
suspectthathewasEzra，andthereareseveralstrongreasonsforadoptingthishypothesis。
101ThehistorianwhomwealreadyknowtobebutoneindividualbringshishistorydowntotheliberationofJehoiakim，andaddsthathehimselfsatattheking'stableallhislife-thatis，atthetableeitherofJehoiakim，orofthesonofNebuchadnezzar，forthesenseofthepassageisambiguous:
henceitfollowsthathedidnotlivebeforethetimeofEzra。102ButScripturedoesnottestifyofanyexceptofEzraEzravii:10，thathe"preparedhishearttoseekthelawoftheLord，andtosetitforth，andfurtherthathewasareadyscribeinthelawofMoses。"103Therefore，I
cannotfindanyone，saveEzra，towhomtoattributethesacredbooks。
104Further，fromthistestimonyconcerningEzra，weseethathepreparedhisheart，notonlytoseekthelawoftheLord，butalsotosetitforth；
and，inNehemiahviii:8，wereadthat"theyreadinthebookofthelawofGoddistinctly，andgavethesense，andcausedthemtounderstandthereading。"
105As，then，inDeuteronomy，wefindnotonlythebookofthelawofMoses，orthegreaterpartofit，butalsomanythingsinsertedforitsbetterexplanation，IconjecturethatthisDeuteronomyisthebookofthelawofGod，written，setforth，andexplainedbyEzra，whichisreferredtointhetextabovequoted。106TwoexamplesofthewaymatterswereinsertedparentheticallyinthetextofDeuteronomy，withaviewtoitsfullerexplanation，wehavealreadygiven，inspeakingofAbenEzra'sopinion。107Manyothersarefoundinthecourseofthework:forinstance，inchap。ii:12:"TheHorimsdweltalsoinSeirbeforetime；butthechildrenofEsausucceededthem，whentheyhaddestroyedthemfrombeforethem，anddweltintheirstead；asIsraeldiduntothelandofhispossession，whichtheLordgaveuntothem。"108Thisexplainsverses3and4ofthesamechapter，whereitisstatedthatMountSeir，whichhadcometothechildrenofEsauforapossession，didnotfallintotheirhandsuninhabited；butthattheyinvadedit，andturnedoutanddestroyedtheHorims，whoformerlydwelttherein，evenasthechildrenofIsraelhaddoneuntotheCanaanitesafterthedeathofMoses。
109So，also，verses6，7，8，9，ofthetenthchapterareinsertedparentheticallyamongthewordsofMoses。Everyonemustseethatverse8，whichbegins，"AtthattimetheLordseparatedthetribeofLevi，"
necessarilyreferstoverse5，andnottothedeathofAaron，whichisonlymentionedherebyEzrabecauseMoses，intellingofthegoldencalfworshippedbythepeople，statedthathehadprayedforAaron。
110HethenexplainsthatatthetimeatwhichMosesspoke，GodhadchosenforHimselfthetribeofLeviinorderthatHemaypointoutthereasonfortheirelection，andforthefactoftheirnotsharingintheinheritance；
afterthisdigression，heresumesthethreadofMoses'speech。111Totheseparentheseswemustaddtheprefacetothebook，andallthepassagesinwhichMosesisspokenofinthethirdperson，besidesmanywhichwecannotnowdistinguish，though，doubtless，theywouldhavebeenplainlyrecognizedbythewriter'scontemporaries。
112If，Isay，wewereinpossessionofthebookofthelawasMoseswroteit，Idonotdoubtthatweshouldfindagreatdifferenceinthewordsoftheprecepts，theorderinwhichtheyaregiven，andthereasonsbywhichtheyaresupported。
113AcomparisonofthedecalogueinDeuteronomywiththedecalogueinExodus，whereitshistoryisexplicitlysetforth，willbesufficienttoshowusawidediscrepancyinallthesethreeparticulars，forthefourthcommandmentisgivennotonlyinadifferentform，butatmuchgreaterlength，whilethereasonforitsobservancedifferswhollyfromthatstatedinExodus。114Again，theorderinwhichthetenthcommandmentisexplaineddiffersinthetwoversions。115IthinkthatthedifferenceshereaselsewherearetheworkofEzra，whoexplainedthelawofGodtohiscontemporaries，andwhowrotethisbookofthelawofGod，beforeanythingelse；thisIgatherfromthefactthatitcontainsthelawsofthecountry，ofwhichthepeoplestoodinmostneed，andalsobecauseitisnotjoinedtothebookwhichprecedesitbyanyconnectingphrase，butbeginswiththeindependentstatement，"thesearethewordsofMoses。"116Afterthistaskwascompleted，IthinkEzrasethimselftogiveacompleteaccountofthehistoryoftheHebrewnationfromthecreationoftheworldtotheentiredestructionofthecity，andinthisaccountheinsertedthebookofDeuteronomy，and，possibly，hecalledthefirstfivebooksbythenameofMoses，becausehislifeischieflycontainedtherein，andformstheirprincipalsubject；forthesamereasonhecalledthesixthJoshua，theseventhJudges，theeighthRuth，theninth，andperhapsthetenth，Samuel，and，lastly，theeleventhandtwelfthKings。117WhetherEzraputthefinishingtouchestothisworkandfinisheditasheintended，wewilldiscussinthenextchapter。
CHAPTERIX-OTHERQUESTIONSCONCERNINGTHESAMEBOOKS:NAMELY，WHETHERTHEYWERECOMPLETELY
FINISHEDBYEZRA，AND，FURTHER，WHETHERTHEMARGINAL
NOTESWHICHAREFOUNDINTHEHEBREWTEXTSWEREVARIOUSREADINGS。
1Howgreatlytheinquirywehavejustmadeconcerningtherealwriterofthetwelvebooksaidsusinattainingacompleteunderstandingofthem，maybeeasilygatheredsolelyfromthepassageswhichwehaveadducedinconfirmationofouropinion，andwhichwouldbemostobscurewithoutit。2