eurouxor• ayɣeños de Kugy, in Alex. and several other ancient MSS. and in Jerome; but probably added from ch. x. 44. or xi. 15.

Mill. et Griefb. in loc.

760. III. Other falfe readings are produced by tranfpofition; and often create difficulties, which can be removed only by correcting them.

761. 1. The tranfpofition of letters in a word, often changes its fenfe, or deprives it of all meaning, and, in proper names, occafions an appearance of contradiction.

The Mafora admits the tranfpofition of letters in 62 words, but it is more frequent.

In the Bible, nhw occurs 16 times; and bnw, 27 times, "garment; " the latter is the right reading. Sam. MSS. from bow, (Arab.) "veftivit."

Ifa. i. 25. 22; perhaps it fhould be 2," in a furnace." Mic. iii. 3. ¬WNɔ, “ as which. ", " as morfels. " 70. Chald. Eng.

Lowth.

"He 70. Jer. xii. 4." He fhall not fee (2x) our last end.

has," our ways,'
have been tranfpofed, and

Ken. Diff. 1. p. 512.

; this 19 preferable. changed into

and

Chap. xxviii. 13. noin and nion, “yokes; "the former is wrong, but right in 20 MSS. non is found in 16 MSS. in the former place, and in 15 in the latter.

in 2 MSS.

Ken. in loc. and Diff. Gen. § 167.

is found מטת

Ch. xxxii. 23. "Neither walked, ", a barbarous word; ," in thy law," Keri. above 30 MSS.

Jid.

Zech.

Zech. xii. 10. " they have pierced," p7, right; but 17p7, "they have infulted, " in 1 MS. 70. in moft copies.

I

Ken. in loc. Diff. Gen. 70.

Josh. xxiv. 30. "Timnath-ferah," no, right;-but Judg. ii. 9. Dân “heras;" but no is found in 6 MSS. Vulg. Syr. Arab.

Ken. ib. and Diff. Gen.
Jehoram's only fon is called

167.

N, « Ahaz-ihu" 18 times; right ;—but 1787 "Ihu-ahaz " thrice, and N, “ Ahaziah," 5 times.

1 Kings x. 11, 12. ap—but 2 Chron. ix. 10, 11. nabæ.

762. 2. There are tranfpofitions of words, which produce confusion, obscurity, or absurdity.

* כל מכון .5 .Ifa. iv

99 ftation. every wrong. for Zion was the only ftation; it is wanting in 4 MSS, but added before р in above 30 MSS.-" all her affemblies," in one ancient MS. and 70. right; it has thus changed its place. 2, "the glory over

1-5, "all the glory."wrong.

all." Zech. ii. v.

Ken. et Lowth in loc.

763. 3. There are likewife tranfpofitions of whole claufes, fentences, or periods; which occafion difficulties of various kinds.

Exod. xxx. 1-10. This paffage, concerning the altar of incenfe, is improperly inferted here; it is wanting in the Sam. it has been taken from the end of ch. xxvi, where it is want. ing in the Heb. but retained in the Sam, and is properly introduced there, according to ch. xxxi. 6—11. xxxv. 12—16. xxxvii. 1. xxxviii. 8. xxxix. 35–39. xl. 3—7. v. 21—30.

Ken. in loc. and Diff. Gen. § 22, 24.

Job xl. 1-14. These verfes improperly interrupt the defcription; v. 15. connects properly with ch. xxxix. 30. They

have originally followed ch. xlii. 6. where they are proper, forming a ftriking conclufion of the poem, and connected with v. 7. "after the Lord had spoken these words unto Job," &c. but, at prefent, Job concludes the poem, which occafions great confufion.

Ken. Diff. Gen. § 23, 165. and Remarks on felect paf fages. Heath in loc.

Ifa. vii. 8, 9. fhould ftand thus, "head of Syria-of Damafcus of Ephraim of Samaria-and within threefcore and five

Ifa. xxxviii. 21, 22. These two verses are no part of the song, and are improper here: v. 22. fhould follow v. 6. and v. 21. after v. 8. So they ftand 2 Kings xx. 7, 8.

Lowth in loc. Ken. Difs. Gen. § 23.

Ifa. xli. 6. 7. These two verfes are unconnected; they have probably followed ch, xl. 20, where they are proper, and prevent abruptness.

Houbig. in loc. Ken. Diff. Gen. § 23,

764. IV. Finally, there are many false readings productive of difficulty or error, which confift in change or alteration,

765. 1. Not only fimilar letters, but others also, have been confounded and interchanged by tranfcribers; and important alterations in the fense have thence arifen.

The name of Nebuchadnezzar is written in

7 different

ways.

2 Sam. xviii. 12. nw, "beware who of Abfalom;” but ,"preferve to me," in 2 MSS, Chald. 70. Syr,

Ken. in loc. and Diff. Gen. § 116,

Ifa, i, 29. way, "they;" but wan, "ye fhall be afhamed, "

in

in 2 MSS. one Edit. Chald. Vulg. The connexion requires this.

Lowth and Ken. in loc.

Ch, vi, 9., but N in 13 MSS.; regular.

Jid.

Ch. viii. 9. 7, "affociate," but , "know," in 70. which
is better; being fynonymous with "give ear," in the next
line. V. 11. pn, "with a fireng hand;
"as taking me by the hand," in 11 MSS. Syr. Vulg. Sym.

Jid.

Ch. xiii. 22.

בחזקת but •

bx. but wanna, in 1 MS.; right. Ch. xxii. 19. 70,"be fhall pull thee," but 70778, "I will," in Syr. Vulg.; the connexion requires this.

766.

Jid.

2. Tranfcribers have often made a falfe reading, by putting one word instead of another.

Judg. 1. 22. 2, "the houfe of Jofeph," but 2, "the fons," in 8 MSS. 70. Arab.

Ken. in loc.

2 Chron. xxi. 2. xw, but in above 20 MSS. 70. Vulg. The fenfe requires this.

Ken. in loc. and Difs. Gen. p. 83. n.

Pfal. xii. 11. raw, but now, "we have heard," in 10
MSS. Arab.; this is preferable,

Jd. ib. and Diss. Gen. cod. 255.

Prov. xv. 20. "A foolish man N, but a fon,

" in 6 MSS.

70. Syr. Chald.; this makes a proper antithefts to " wife fen.

Jd. ib. Difs. 2. p. 188. Difs. Gen. § 25. and cod. 92. Ifa. ix. 11. 3, “the enemies," but "w, "the princes of Rezin," in 21 MSS.

Lowth and Ken. in loc.

$ 4

Ch.

Ch. xxxv. 2. “It shall rejoice with p✈ rib'a joy and finging.” nha, in 4 MSS. and 177, “ Jordan," in 70. Syr. mss. “the well-watered plain of Jordan fhall rejoice," on account of Chrift's baptism there; it is thus a prediction of it. It has perhaps been defignedly altered. ,"to it," but ", "to thee," in 9 MSS.

Ken. Lowth and Houbig. in loc.

Ken. Difs. Gen. § 81,

176. Lowth, Sacr. Poes. præl, 20. n.

767. 3. There have fometimes been fubftitutions of whole clauses or fentences, in place of others, totally different.

Prov. x. 10.-" but a prating fool fhall fall;" there is here, neither connexion nor antithefis; it has been taken from v. 8. where it is proper.-" but he that freely reproveth, worketh fafety," in Syr. Arab. 70.; it thus makes a proper antithefis; falfe and true friendship.

Ken. Diss. 1. p. 506. Difs. Gen. § 165.

SECT. IV.

Rules of judging concerning various Readings.

768. From the feveral particular obfervations concerning the various readings of Scripture, which have been hitherto made, may be deduced fuch general principles as will ferve for determining which are fpurious, and which genuine.