Page:Webster's Revision Bible.djvu/17

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INTRODUCTION.
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cept in a few passages, -where the word Je fying to bear or carry, from which is derived hovah seems to be important; as in Isaiah the sense of speaking, of which Jcro is an in 51. 22, where " thy Lord, the Lord," seem to stance: Fertur, it is said. So from porta we be at least awkward, if not unintelligible, to have report. I would suggest that, in like man an illiterate reader. See also Jer. 32. 18, ner, the Hebrew word rendered burden, may where there is a peculiar propriety in express be rendered report or message ; which, if cor ing the true name of the Supreme Being. See rect, would be belter understood. I have re tained burden in the text, but have suggested also Jer. 23. 6, and 33. 16. Ezekiel 38. 5. I have followed the Hebrew this amendment in the margin. Oodunim. Gen. 10. 4. I have retained this in the names Cush and Phut. Matt. 27. 66. I have transposed the words, name in the text, although I am well satisfied in order to place the expression of security di it ought to be Bodanim. My reasons are these. rectly before the means, that is, the watch or 1. The Hebrew Bcsh is easily mistaken for guard. This is in accordance with the sense a Palcth, as the letters have a near resem of verse 65. The word sure is not the proper blance. 2. The most ancient versions of the Penta word to be used, but secure. In 1 Thes. I. 4, 1 have introduced the mar teuch have Rodauim, particularly the Septuaginal construction into the text, in accordance gint and Syriac. with Mackuight, and with the punctuation of 3. It is not easy to give any probable account Griesbaeh. See 2 Thess. 2. 13. of Dodanim. The name is evidently diflerent On, upon, for in. into. In the present ver from Oedan. sion, in is often used in the Latin sense, forim, 4. The sacred penman places this name or upon: so also into ; as in the earth ; into a among the sons of Javan, (Ionia, Dan. 11. 2,) mountain. Gen. 1. 22; 19. 30. This is not which shows that the name belongs to Greece good English, according to present usage. or Europe, not to Africa ; and the other names Against for Ay. 1 Cor. 4. 4. By in this verse Elishah, Tarshish and Kittim belong to the must signify against, or the translation is erro south of Europe; Elishah being probably Hel neous. But by has not that signification in las, or interior Greece ; Kittim, certain isles in present usage ; I have therefore substituted the Levant ; and Tarshish, being Tartessus in against. Spain. I therefore infer that Bodanim is HuThere are many passages in which the trans dan, [Rhodanus] the original name of the lators have inserted and improperly, between Bhone, with the termination of Hebrew plural clauses which are in apposition, and ought not nouns. If so, Bodanim signifies the inhabit to be made distinct. In 1 Cor. 4. 13, the words ants of the Rhone or of Gaul, now France. and. are appear to give a sense not intended by The translation of the tenth chapter of Gen the apostle. " We are made as the til(h of the esis, by the use of the word sons, instead of de world, the oflscouiing of all things." Soslands scendants, has, in many instances, led to a mis the original ; but by the insertion of and arc, understanding of several parts of the chapter. the apostle is made to say not only that we are Many of the names of those called sons are in estimation made as the filth of the world, plural, and represent nations, or tribes, not in but that we actually are the olfscouring of all dividuals. thinss. On the east side of. Jordan. Dent. I. 1. 4 ; Testimony is substituted for record, the lat 4. 46. The translations of the scriptures differ ter, in this sense, being entirely obsolete. in the rendering of the Hebrew word for over, Testimony is often substituted for witness, as beyond, on the other side. In the Septuagint modern usage inclines to limit the application and Vulgate, this word, in the passages under of witness to the person testifying. consideration, is rendered beyond, [peran, Ye have heard that it was said to them of old trans.] In the English and several other mod time. Malt. 5. 21, 27, 33. In our version the ern translations, the word is rendered on Otis passage is, " was said by them." Dr. Camp side ; the translations being thus contradicto bell remarks that all the older versions have ry. This difference has proceeded from the to; as the Vulgate, Montanus, Erasmus, Cas- supposed place of the writer of the book of talio, Calvin, Luther and others ; and I may Deuteronomy ; the early translators supposing add, this is the rendering in, the Italian of Dio- the writer of the passages cited to have been dali, and in the French version published by on the west side of the Jordan ; and the modern the American Bible Society. That to is the translators supposing the writer to have been true rendering, seems to be probable, from the on the east side of that river. With regard to fact, that when the original is clearly intended the author of the book in general, there can be to express the sense ol by, the Greek words are no question. But it is most obvious that the a preposition followed by a noun in the geni first five verses of the first chapter, and the last tive; whereas in the passages under conside six verses of the fourth, were written by the ration, the nonn appears to be in the dative, compiler; those in the first chapter serving as like other nouns after a verb, signifying to say an introduction to the narrative of Moses, or spcal,-. Examples in the same Evangelist which begins at the sixth verse. That Moses mav be seen in Matt. 2. 15, 17, 23 ; 3. 3 ; 4. 14 ; was on the east side of Jordan is certain ; but 8. 17 ; 12. 17; 13. 35 ; 21. 4 ; 27. 9 ; 22. 31. is it not a strange supposition that Moses, ad The affirmation however must be true, with dressing the Israelites should tell them repeat either rendering ; for what was said by one edly on which side of the river he was ? In person, must have been said to another. the 47th and 49th verses of chapter fourth, we Burden. Isaiah 13. 1. The verb from which are informed that the place was on the side ol" the Hebrew word is formed, signifies to bear, Jordan, eastward, tencards the sun-rising. As and the noun, that which is borne or conveyed. there is no question with respect to the fact, But in Laun we find examples of words signi and as the different translations mean the same