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viour's ascension, we have every reason to believe that the appellation of Pentateuch was prefixed to the Septuagint version by the Alexandrian translators.

SECTION 1.- On the Book of Genesis.

The first book of the Pentateuch, which is called GENESIS (TENEZIE), derives its appellation from the title it bears in the Greek Septuagint Version, BIBAOE FENEZENE (Biblos Geneseos); which signifies the Book of the Generation or Production, because it commences with the history of the generation or production of all things. Different opinions have been entertained concerning the time when Moses wrote it (for it is indisputably his production): but the most probable conjecture is that, which places it after the departure of the Israelites from Egypt, and the promulgation of the law. It comprises the history of about 2369 years according to the vulgar computation of time, or of 3619 years ac cording to the larger computation of Dr. Hales; and may be divided into four parts, viz.

PART I. The Origin of the World. (ch. i. ii.)

PART II. The History of the former World. (ch. iii-vii.)

PART III. The General History of Mankind after the Deluge. (ch. viii-xi.)

PART IV. The particular History of the Patriarchs. (ch. xii-1.)

SECTION II.- On the Book of Exodus.

The title of this book is derived from the Septuagint version, and is significant of the principal transaction which it records, namely, the EEOAO (Exodos), Ex

R

ODUS, or departure of the Israelites from Egypt. It comprises a history of the events that took place during the period of 145 years, from the year of the world 2369 to 2514 inclusive, from the death of Joseph to the erection of the tabernacle. Though the time when it was written by Moses cannot be precisely determined, yet, since it is a history of matters of fact, it must have been written after the giving of the law and the erection of the tabernacle. This book shows the accomplishment of the divine promises made to Abraham, of the increase of his posterity, and their departure from Egypt after suffering great affliction, It

contains

I. An Account of the Oppression of the Israelites, and the transactions previously to their departure out of Egypt. (ch. i-xi.)

II. The Narrative of the Exodus or Departure of the Israelites. (ch. xii, xiii.)

III. Transactions subsequent to their Exodus. (ch, xiv-xviii.)

IV. The Promulgation of the Law on Mount Sinai. (ch. xix-xl.)

In ch. xxxii-xxxiv. are related the idolatry of the Israelites, the breaking of the two tables of the law, the divine chastisement of the Hebrews, and the renewal of the tables of the covenant.

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LEVITICUS (by the Septuagint styled AETITIKON, Levitikon,) derives its name from the circumstance of its containing the Laws concerning the religion of the Israelites. It is cited as the production of Moses in several books of Scripture; and is of great use in explain

ing many passages of the New Testament, especially the Epistle to the Hebrews, which would otherwise be inexplicable. The enactments it contains may be referred to the four following heads, viz.

I. The Laws concerning Sacrifices, in which the different kinds of sacrifices are enumerated, together with their concomitant rites. (ch. i-vii.)

II. The Institution of the Priesthood, in which the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the sacred office is related, together with the punishment of Nadab and Abihu. (ch. viii-x.)

III. The Laws concerning Purifications both of the people and the priests. (ch. xi-xxii.)

IV. The Laws concerning the sacred Festivals, Vows, Things devoted, and Tithes.

Chap. xxvi. contains various prophetic promises and threatenings which have signally been fulfilled among the Jews. (Compare v. 22. with Numb. xxi. 6. 2 Kings ii. 24. and xvii. 25. with Ezek. v. 17.) The preservation of the Jews to this day as a distinct people is a living comment on v. 44.

SECTION IV. On the Book of Numbers.

This fourth book of Moses was entitled API MOI (Arithmoi), and by the Latin translators it was termed Numeri, Numbers, whence our English title is derived ; because it contains an account of the numbering of the children of Israel (related in chapters i-iii. and xxvi.) It appears from xxxvi. 13. to have been written by Moses in the plains of Moab. Besides the numeration and marshalling of the Israelites for their journey, several laws, in addition to those delivered in Exodus and Leviticus, and likewise several remarkable events, are recorded in this book. It contains a history of the Israelites, from the beginning

of the second month of the second year after their departure from Egypt to the beginning of the eleventh month of the fortieth year of their journeyings that is, a period of thirty-eight years and nine or ten months. (Compare Numb. i. 1. and xxxvi. 13. with Deut. i. 3.) Most of the transactions here recorded took place in the second and thirty-eighth years: "the dates of the facts related in the middle of the book cannot be precisely ascertained." This book may be divided into four parts; viz.

PART I. The Census of the Israelites, and the marshalling of them into a regular camp, "each tribe by itself under its own captain or chief, distinguished by his own peculiar standard, and occupying an assigned place with reference to the tabernacle." (Numb. i. ii.) The sacred census of the Levites, the designation of them to the sacred office, and the appointment of them to various services in the tabernacle, are related in Numb. iii. and iv.

PART II. The Institution of various Legal Ceremonies. (ch. v-x.)

PART III. The History of their Journey from Mount Sinai to the Land of Moab, which may be described and distinguished by their eight remarkable murmurings in the way; every one of which was visited with severe chastisement. (ch. xi-xxi.)

PART IV. A History of the Transactions which took place in the plains of Moab. (ch. xxii-xxxvi.)

SECTION V. On the Book of Deuteronomy.

This fifth book of Moses derives its name from the title (AETTEPONOMION, Deuteronomion) prefixed to it by the translators of the Septuagint version, which is a compound term, signifying the second

law, or the law repeated; because it contains a repetition of the law of God, given by Moses to the Israelites. From a comparison of Deut. i. 5. with xxiv. 1. it appears to have been written by Moses in the plains of Moab, a short time before his death: and this circumstance will account for that affectionate earnestness with which he addresses the Israelites. The period of time comprised in this book is five lunar weeks, or, according to some chronologers, about two months, viz. from the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year, after the exodus of Israel from Egypt, to the eleventh day of the twelfth month of the same year, A. M. 2553. B. c. 1451. This book comprises four parts; viz.

PART I. A Repetition of the History related in the preceding Books. (ch. i-iv.)

PART II. A Repetition of the Moral, Ceremonial, and Judicial Law. (ch. v-xxvi.)

PART III. The Confirmation of the Law. (ch. xxvii -xxx.)

PART IV. The Personal History of Moses. (ch. xxxi -xxxiii.)

The thirty-fourth chapter (which relates the death of Moses) has most probably been detached from the Book of Joshua: for Moses could not record his own death.

CHAPTER II.

ON THE HISTORICAL BOOKS.

THIS division of the sacred writings comprises twelve books, viz. from Joshua to Esther inclusive: the first seven of these books are, by the Jews, called the former prophets, probably because they treat of the more antient periods of Jewish history, and because they

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