Page:The Song of Songs (1857).djvu/15

received it from the mouth of the seventy-two elders, at the time when R. Eliezer b. Azzaria was appointed Elder, that the Song of Songs and Ecclesiastes are canonical.^[1] We have here positive evidence that this book existed in the canon in the Apostolic age; and that it was comprised in the sacred books, which our Lord calls (Greek characters), the Scriptures, Matt. xxii. 29. It has, therefore, been transmitted to us both by the Jewish and Christian churches as canonical. It was translated into Greek, between the years 90 and 130, by Aquila, who was anxious to furnish his Jewish brethren with a faithful version of the sacred books; and also by Symmachus and Theodotion, before the end of the second century. It is contained in the catalogue given in the Talmud;^[2] and in the catalogue of Melito, Bishop of Sardis (fl. 170, A.D.), which he brought from Palestine, whither this learned and pious prelate expressly travelled toAs the phrase [HE: mTm' 'H hydym/], polluting the hands, has recently been quoted by Dr. Davidson (The Text of the Old Testament, &c. p. 796), in direct contrariety to its meaning, we shall here give an explanation of it. Let it be observed, that in the Mishna, whence the above passage is quoted, the phrase is applied to all the Holy Scriptures ((Hebrew characters)). The reason of this is given in the Talmud, (Sabbath, 14 a,) where the question is asked, why Holy Writ is reckoned among the eighteen subjects which are decreed as polluting the hands? The answer there given is, because the Theruma-food and the Thorah, both being regarded as holy, used to be placed near each other. When it was afterwards discovered that the sacred books were thereby exposed to danger (damage by mice), the Rabbins decreed that they should henceforth be regarded as unclean, in order to prohibit them from coming in contact with those sacred eatables. Hence the decree (Hebrew characters), all Holy Scripture pollutes the hands, which exclusively applies to holy, i.e. inspired books. Wherever, therefore, it is said that a book is (Hebrew characters), polluting the hands, it affirms that it is canonical; and when it is said (Hebrew characters), it does not pollute the hands, it means that the book is not canonical. Thus we are told (Hebrew characters), "the Song of Songs pollutes the hands because it is inspired." And of the non-canonical (Hebrew characters), "The book of the Son of Sirach, and all the books written from that time and afterwards, do not pollute the hands."]

1. (Hebrew characters)
2. Baba Bathra, 14.