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ing the text of that part of Scripture in a very great degree correct.

Walton, Prol. 6. § 1.

60. But an opinion, however ill-founded, has been generally received, the few who ventured to oppose it having been till lately discountenanced and borne down, that the Old Testament, as printed in Hebrew, is abfolutely correct; and the prevalence of this opinion has prevented many from employing any care in examining the text of the Old Teftament.

Walton, Prol. 7.

61. In fupport of that opinion, is urged the great care and accuracy of the Jews, in tranfcribing their Scriptures. But, as no care is fufficient, without a perpetual miracle, for preventing every mistake in tranfcribing, fo, by every kind of evidence of which the matter is capable, it appears that they have actually committed mistakes very often in their copies of the Old Teftament.

Ken. Diff. 1. p. 235, 379, 351, 371, 411. Diff. 2. p. 315, 404, 441, &c. 260, 273, 274, 278. Diff. Gen. § 23.

62. It is, however, infifted, that, when tranfcribers made any small mistake, it was immediately corrected by the Jewish Doctors, fo that no mistakes now remain in any of the copies. But, though thefe Doctors did feveral times review and correct the copies of the Old Testament, this could not be effectual for removing every mistake; nor did one review, even in

their own judgment, render other reviews unneceffary.

Ken. Diff. 2. p. 444. Diff. Gen. § 32-43. 51-58. Houbig. Prol. c. 1. a. 2. Walton, Prol. 8. § 18-29.

63. But it is urged, that the Mafora corrected all the mistakes which had crept in prior to it, and gave the means of detecting every fubfequent mistake. From the very nature of the Mafora, however, it is clear, that it could not poffibly answer either of these purposes; and it is, in fact, very faulty and defective, and formed on late MSS.

Simon, V. T. 1. 1. c. 24, 25, 26. Houbig. Prol. c. 1. a. 3.
Ken. Diff. 2. p. 262-291. Walton, Prol. 8. § 1-16.

64. After the reception of the Mafora, the Jews were very careful to correct their MSS. according to it; but, it being faulty and inadequate to the purpose, this was far from being fufficient for rendering them free from errors; and, in fact, there are readings in the text, as corrected by it, and printed, which are evidently wrong.

Houbig. Prol. c. 2. a. 2. Ken. Diff. 1. p. 97, 343, 438, 446, 472, 528, 535. Diff. 2. p. 314, 356.

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Deut. x. 6. "Aaron died in Mofera. Contradicted by
Num. xx. 22. xxxiii. 38. "in Hor. " Samaritan.

Ken. in loc. Diff. 2. p. 314. Diff. Gen. § 18, 165.
2 Sam. xxiv. 13. "Seven years of famine;" inconsistent with
1 Chron. xxi. 12. "Three years; " which is probably right.
Uniformity. 70. for .

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2 Chron. xxii. 2. " Forty and two years old was Ahaziah;" contradicted by 2 Kings viii. 26. "Two and twenty;" and

by

by 2 Chron. xxi. 20. his father Jehoram only forty. Vers. n for ".

Ken. Diff. 1. p. 97, 528, 535. Diff. 2. p. 356.

Jofh. xxi. 36, 37. omitted, yet genuine.

MSS. Edit.

Simon, V. T. 1. 1. c. 22.

Diff. 1. p. 440, 552.

464, 485, 487, 571.

Context. vers. 126

Houbig. in loc. Ken. in loc.

Diff. 2. p. 285, 330, 390, 459,

Diff. Gen. § 25, 43, 55, 56, 60,

61, 80, 98, 123, 125, 179.

65. The practice of correcting MSS. according to the Mafora, produced a very great degree of uniformity; it was confidently afferted that the uniformity was perfect; and, for a long time, by reafon of the want of access to a variety of ancient MSS., the affertion could not be directly difproved, and was very generally believed. But, fince MSS. were examined, it appears with the fullest evidence, that they actually do contain very many variations from the Maforetic text; the oldest MSS. moft; but even late ones feveral; and thefe often preferable to the received readings; and often unquestionably the genuine readings.

Houbigant, Prol. c. 1. a. 2. Ken. Diff. 1. p. 290, 297. et paffim. Diff. 2. p. 286, 445, 459. Gen. xliv. 24. "We came up unto my father; "our father. " 2 MSS. Sam. Vers.

Ken. in loc. Diff. Gen. § 48.

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I Sam. xvii. 34. "A lion and a bear took (†) him out of the

flock."

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lamb. a

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Ken. ibid. and § 39.

Keri. All MSS. Vers.

אמרת

Ifa. xxxvi. 5. "I fay, I have counfel", abfurd. "thou fayeft. "" 16 MSS. Syr. 2 Kings, xviii. 20. Eng. fupplies it, but improperly retaining alfo the other reading.

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Lowth et Ken. in loc.

66. The printed editions of the Hebrew text of the Old Teftament, and thofe of the Greek of the New Testament are, therefore, precifely on the fame footing; and the following principles may be juftly held with refpect to both.

Walton, Prol. 6.

67. There has not hitherto been fo great care employed on any edition of the Scriptures, as to render the readings facred which are adopted in it, or to fuperfede the neceffity of examining them by MSS.

68. A reading is not rendered even fufpicious, merely on account of its not being found in the common editions of the Bible.

69. A reading ought not to be rejected as false, for its not being found in any printed edition of the Bible.

70. So far is there from being reason for adhering tenaciously to the printed text, that it ought to be departed from without fcruple, whenever another reading found in MSS. is clearly preferable.

71. A much more correct edition of the Scriptures than any extant, may be obtained, and would be very defirable.

SECT

SECT. V.

The Samaritan Pentateuch.

72. FOR afcertaining the true reading in the books of Mofes, we have a peculiar inftrument, the Samaritan Pentateuch, which was little known by Chriftians till the 17th century; which was then printed from one MS.; but of which feveral MSS. have been fince examined by learned men.

Walton, Prol. 1. § 10. Simon, V. T. gant, Prol. c. 3. Ken. Diff. 2. c. I. 66. Brett, Diff. on ancient versions.

1. i. c. 12. HoubiDiff. Gen. cod. 61-

73. It is not a version, but the original law itself, written in a character different from the Hebrew.

Jid.

74. It was not tranflated from the Greek verfion, nor copied from Hebrew books after the time of Ezra ; but was among the ten tribes when they feparated from Judah; and, from the copies then among them, it has been fucceffively transcribed.

Houbigant, ibid. a. 1. § 1. Ken. Diff. 2. p. 110, 130, &c.
Walton, Prol. 11. § 11, 12.

75. The Samaritan, and the Hebrew, are two independent copies of the original text, preserved by nations who hated one another, and held no intercourse together; yet they agree in general. This is a strong

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