Scriptures that is more incorrect and defective than the Septuagint Probably there is no version from which, as a whole, a more correct idea would not be derived of the real meaning of the sacred Scriptures, and this is true in a special manner of Isaiah. It is valuable as the oldest version; as having been regarded with so much respect in former times; and as, notwithstanding its faults, and the imperfection of the text, throwing much light on various parts of the Old Testament. But as an authority for correcting the Hebrew text, it is of little or no value. The history of the Septuagint may be seen in Hody, de Biblior. Textibus orig. Ox. 1705; Horae's Intro. vol. ii. 163, seq.; Prideaux's Connexions; Walton's Proleg. c. ix. § 3-10; Isaac Vossius de LXX. Inter. Hag. Com. 1661; and Brett, Diss. on the Septuagint, in Watson's Theo. Tracts, vol. iii. p. 18, seq.

(2.) The Latin Vulgate-the authorized version of the Papal com munion. When Christianity had extended itself to the West, where the Latin language was spoken, a version of the Scriptures into that language became necessary. In the time of Augustine there were several of these, but only one of them was adopted by the church. This was called common, vulgata, because it was made from the common Greek version, zon. In modern times this version is often called Itala, or the Italic version. This version, in the Old Testament, was made literally from the Septuagint, and copied all its mistakes. To remedy the evils of this, and to give a correct translation of the Scriptures, Jerome undertook a translation directly from the Hebrew. He went to Palestine and enjoyed the oral instructions of a learned Jew. He availed himself of all the labours of his predecessors, and furnished a translation which surpassed all that preceded his in usefulness. In the seventh century this version had supplanted all the old ones. It was the first book ever printed. By the Council of Trent, it was declared to be "authentic"-and is the authorized, or standard version of the Papists; and is regarded by them as of equal authority with the original Scriptures. This version is allowed generally to be a very faithful translation; and it undoubtedly gives a much more correct view of the original than the Septuagint.

(3.) The Syriac versions. Of these there are two, both of which are of Christian origin; having been made by Christians of the Syrian church who dwelt in Mesopotamia. The earliest, and most celebrated of these is the Peshito; i. e. the clear, or the literal. It is the authorized version of the Syrian church, and is supposed by them to have been made in the time of Solomon. It was probably made in the first century. It follows, in general, the Hebrew literally; and is VERY VALUABLE as an aid in ascertaining the meaning of the Hebrew Scriptures. The other Syriac version was made from the Septuagint about the year 616, for the use of the Monophysites. It is of value, therefore, only for the interpretation of the Septuagint. It is the former of these which is printed in the Polyglotts. Of the latter no portion has been printed except Jeremiah and Ezekiel, 1787, and Daniel, 1788. Calmet.

(4.) The Arabic versions. The Scriptures have been at various times translated into Arabic. After the time of Mohammed, the Ar».

bic became the common language of many of the Jews, and of numerous bodies of Christians in the East. Sometimes the translations were made from the Hebrew, sometimes from the Septuagint, from the Peshito, or the Vulgate. The version of R. Saadias Gaon, director of the Jewish Academy at Babylon, was made in the tenth century. It comprised originally the Old Testament; but there have been printed only the Pentateuch, and Isaiah. The Pentateuch is found in the Polyglotts. Isaiah was published by Paulus in 1791. The Mauritanian version was made in the thirteenth century, by an Arabian Jew. and was published by Erpenius in 1629. The Arabic version in the Polyglotts was made by a Christian of Alexandria, and was made from the Septuagint. Robinson. Of course these are of little value in illustrating the Hebrew text. The chief and great value of the Arabic consists in the light which is thrown upon the meaning of Hebrew words, phrases, and customs, from the Arabic language, manners, and literature.

All these are the works

(5.) The Targums or Chaldee versions. of Jews living in Palestine and Babylon, from a century before Christ, to the eighth, or ninth century after. They bear the name Targum, i. e. translation. They comprise the Targum of Onkelos on the Pentateuch; of Jonathan Ben Uzziel on the historical books, and the prophets; of Jerusalem on the Pentateuch; and of smaller and separate Targums on the books of Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah. That of Jonathan Ben Uzziel, which was made about the time of the Saviour and which includes Isaiah, is far inferior to that of Onkelos. It often wanders from the text in a wordy, allegorical explanation; admits many explanations which are arbitrary, and especially such as honour the Pharisees; and often gives a commentary instead of a translation. See Gesenius, Comm. über den Isa. Einl. § 11. It is valuable, as it often gives a literal translation of the Hebrew, and adheres to it closely, and as it gives a statement of what was the prevailing interpretation of the sacred writings in the time when it was made. It may, therefore, be used in an argument with the modern Jews, to show that many of the passages which they refuse to refer to the Messiah were regarded by their fathers as having a relation to him.

The more modern versions of the Scriptures are evidently of little or no use in interpreting the Bible, and of no authority in attempting to furnish a correct text. On the general character of the versions above referred to, the reader may consult Horne's Intro. vol. ii. 156, seq.; Gesenius, Einl. § 10-20.

II. COMMENTARIES. The following are among the principal, which may be referred to in illustration of Isaiah:

(1.) Commentarius in Librum Prophetiarum Isaiae, Cura et Studio Campegii Vitringa, 2 vol. fol. 1714, 1720, 1724. This great work on Isaiah first appeared at Leuwarden in 1714. It has been several times reprinted. Vitringa was professor of theology at Franecker, and died in 1722. In this great work, Vitringa surpassed all who went before him in the illustration of Isaiah; and none of the subsequent efforts which have been made to explain this prophet have superseded this, or rendered it valueless. It is now indeed indispensable to a correct

understanding of this prophet. He is the fountain from which most subsequent writers on Isaiah have copiously drawn. His excellencies are, great learning; copious investigation; vast research; judicious exposition; an excellent spirit, and great acuteness. His faults-fot faults abound in his work-are (1.) Great diffuseness of style. (2.) A leaning to the allegorical mode of interpretation. (3.) A minute, and anxious, and often fanciful effort to find something in history that accords with his view of each prediction. Often these parts of his work are forced and fanciful; and though they evince great research and historical knowledge, yet his application of many of the prophecies must be regarded as wholly arbitrary and unsatisfactory. (4.) He did not seem to be fully acquainted with the poetic and figurative character of the prophetic style. Hence he is often forced to seek for fulfillment of particular expressions when a more complete acquaintance with the character of that style would have led him to seek for no such minute fulfillment. Yet no one can regard himself as furnished for a correct and full examination of Isaiah, who is not in possession of this elaborate work.

(2.) The collection of commentaries in the Critici Sacri, nine vols. fol. This great work contains a collection of the best commentaries which were known at the time in which it was made. Valuable critical notes will be found in the commentary of Drusius, and occasional remarks of great value in the brief commentary of Grotius. Grotius is the father of commentators; and especially on the New Testament, he has furnished more materials which have been worked up into the recent commentaries, than all other expositors united. He is especially valuable for the vast amount of classical learning which he has brought to illustrate the Scriptures. His main faults are, a want of spirituality, and a laxness of opinions; but no man who wishes to gain a large and liberal view of the sacred writings, will deem his library complete who has not the commentary of this great man. His notes, however, on Isaiah and the Old Testament generally, are very brief.

(3.) The same work abridged and arranged by Pool, in 5 vols. fol. This work has often been reprinted, and is well known as Pool's Synopsis. It is a work of great labour. It consists in arranging in one continuous form the different expositions contained in the work last mentioned. With all the learning and labour expended on it, it is, like most other abridgments, a work which will make him who consults it regret that an abridgment had been attempted, and sigh for the original work. It is an arrangement of opinions without any reasons for those opinions as they existed in the minds of the original authors. To a man disposed to collect opinions merely, this work is invaluable; to a man who wishes to know on what opinions are based, and what is their true value, it will be regarded generally as of comparatively little use. The original work-the Critici Sacri-is of infinitely more value than this Synopsis by Pool.

(4.) The commentary of Calvin. This may be found in his works printed at Amsterdam in 1667. This commentary on Isaiah was originated in discourses which were delivered by him in his public minisiry, and which were committed to writing by another hand, and after

wards revised by himself. The critical knowledge of Calvin was not great; nor does he enter minutely into criticisms, or philology. He aims at giving the sense of Isaiah, often somewhat in the form of a paraphrase. There is little criticism of words and phrases; little attempt to describe customs, or to illustrate the geography of the places referred to; and there is often in the writings of this great man a want of vivacity and of point. But he is judicious and sound. His practical remarks are useful; and his knowledge of the human heart, and his good sense, enabled him to furnish a commentary that is highly valuable.

(5.) Rosenmüller on Isaiah. This distinguished and very valuable work was first published in 1793, in three parts, and afterwards in a completely revised edition in 1810, in three volumes. The merit of Rosenmüller consists in his great learning; in his cautious and careful collection of all the materials which existed to throw light on the prophet; and in his clear and simple arrangement and statement. The basis of this work is indeed Vitringa; but Rosenmüller is by no means confined to him. He has gathered from all sources what he regarded as necessary to an explanation of the prophet. He is judicious in his criticisms; and not rash and reckless in attempting to modify and amend the text. He does not resemble Grotius, who is said to have "found Christ nowhere;" but he is almost always, particularly in the first part, an advocate for the Messianic interpretation. There can be found nowhere a more valuable collection of materials for an understanding of Isaiah than in Rosenmüller.

(6.) Philologisch-Kritischer und Historischer Commentar über den Isaiah, von W. Gesenius, 3 Th. Leipzig, 1821. "The commentary of Gesenius has not rendered superfluous the work of Rosenmüller. Gesenius has certainly been more independent in ascertaining the meaning of words, and in this respect has rendered a great service to the prophet. His diligence has considerably increased the materials of exegesis by collecting a number of striking parallel passages, especially from Arabian and Syrian writers, which though not numerous, have been very accurately read. His historical illustrations, especially of the prophecies relating to foreign nations, are for the most part very valuable; and his acuteness has made new discoveries." Hengstenberg. The great value of Gesenius consists in his explanation of words and phrases; in his bringing to bear his vast learning in the Hebrew, and the cognate languages, to an explanation of the prophet; in his acuteness and skill in philological investigations; and in his use of illustrations of customs, geography, &c., from modern travellers. A favourable specimen of his manner of exposition may be seen in his commentary on the prophecy respecting Moab, chs. xv. xvi. This is translated in the Biblical Repository for January, 1836. See also a translation of ch. xvii. 12-14. xviii. 1-7, in the Biblical Repository for July, 1836. Of this exposition, Prof. Stuart says, "I consider it the only successful effort which has been made, to unravel the very difficult passage of which it treats. I consider it a kind of chef d' aware among the philological efforts of this distinguished writer." Bib. Rep. July, 1836, p. 220. For the general merits of Gesenius, see the articl

"Hebrew Lexico graphy," by Prof. Stuart, in Bib. Repository, 1836 p. 468 seq.

(7.) Isaiah; a New Translation with a Preliminary Dissertation, and Notes, Critical, Philological, and Explanatory. By Robert Lowth, D. D.. Lord Bishop of London. This very beautiful translation of Isaiah, was first published in London, in quarto, in 1778, and has been several times reprinted. A German translation was published by M. Koppe, with notes and additions, at Göttingen, 1799, 1781, in 4 vols. 8vo. It is the only work in English, with which I am acquainted, of any very great value on Isaiah; and it will doubless continue to hold its rank as a standard work in sacred literature. Of all the interpreters of Isaiah, Lowth has probably most clearly discerned the true nature of the prophetic visions; has been enabled most clearly to apprehend and express the sense of the prophet; and has presented a translation which has been universally admired for its beauty. The faults of the work are, that his translation is often too paraphrastic; that he indulges in great caprice of criticism; that he often changes the Hebrew text on very slight authority; and that there is a want of copiousness in the notes for the purpose of those who would obtain a full and accurate view of Isaiah. Lowth made good use of the aids which in his time might be derived from the researches of Oriental travellers. But since his time, this department of literature has been greatly enlarged, and important light has been thrown upon many passages which in his time were obscure.

(8.) A new translation of the Hebrew Prophets, arranged in chronological order. By George Noyes, Boston, 1833. This work professes to be simply a literal translation of the prophets, without an extended commentary. A very few notes are appended. The translation is executed with great skill and fidelity, and gives in general very correctly the meaning of the original. The translator has availed himself of the labours of Gesenius, and of the other modern critics. For a further view of this work, see North American Review for January, 1838.

(9.) Esaias ex recensione Textus Hebraei, ad fidem Codd. et verss. Latine, vertit, et Notas subjecit, J. C. Doederlin. Altdorf, 8vo. 1780. Norimbergæ, 1789.

(10.) The Book of the Prophet Isaiah, in Hebrew and English. The Hebrew text metrically arranged, the translation altered from that of Bishop Lowth. By the Right Rev. Joseph Stock, D. D., Bishop of Killala, 1804, 4to. "There is a variety of notes, critical and explanatory, supplied partly by the translator, and partly by others Many of these are uncommonly valuable for their depth and acuteness, and tend to elucidate in a high degree, the subject matter of these prophecies." British Critic, vol. xxviii. p. 466.

(11.) Lectures on the Prophecies of Isaiah, by Robert Macculoch. London, 1791, 4 vols. 8vo.

(12.) Hierozoicon, Sive de animalibus Sacræ Scripturæ. Auctore Samuele Bocharto. Folio, Lond. 1663. This great work has been several times reprinted. It is a work of immense research and learn. 'ng; and is invaluable to all who desire to obtain a knowledge of the