Treatise on the Patriarchal, Levitical, and Christian Dispensations. Lond. 1823. 2 vols. 8vo.

This Treatise exhibits all the strong masculine sense, and extensive classical erudition that distinguish the author, but from its greater license of hypothesis in particular parts is perhaps generally less esteemed than the 'Hora Mosaicæ' mentioned above. The attentive reader, however, cannot but derive from it many very important ideas on the subject of sacred antiquity. His refutation of some of Warburton's bold positions is eminently successful.

OUTRAM'S (WM.) Two Dissertations on Sacrifices; translated by Allen, Lond. 1817. 8vo.

A standard work on the subject of which it treats.

MICHAELIS' (J. D.) Commentaries on the Laws of Moses; translated by Smith. Lond. 1814. 4 vols. 8vo.

The value of this, the main work of its author, depends upon the degree to which it is imbued with the genius of Orientalism, and the sagacity discovered in tracing the connexion between the institutions of Moses and the various influences of climate, manners, hereditary usages, and other national characteristics which may be supposed to have governed their adoption. Its great fault is its treating the Mosaic jurisprudence and ritual as if it originated with Moses rather than with God. It is also occasionally disfigured with a levity and grossness very unsuited to its subject. Yet it throws too much light on the wisdom and design of the Levitical code not to be on the whole a very valuable, as well as very interesting work.

ROBINSON'S (Prof. E.) Biblical Researches in Palestine, Mount Sinai, and Arabia Petræa. A Journal of Travels in the year 1838, by E. Robinson, and E. Smith; undertaken in reference to Biblical Geography; with new Maps and Plans. New York, 1841. 3 vols. 8vo.

From no source have I experienced greater regret in looking back upon the execution of my task, than in not having been able, from the late date of its publication, to avail myself of the rich topographical treasures contained in this work. In all that relates to the geography of the land of Goshen, the region of the Israelites' sojourn in Egypt; to the route from thence to the Red Sea; to the passage of that sea; to the wilderness of Sin; and to the interesting localities of the Sinai tract, the researches of the American travellers have settled a multitude of disputed points, and in fact opened a new era in the progress of Biblical geography. The very maps themselves are sufficient to have produced this result, even had the matter of the journal been wanting. Both together form a noble contribution to the cause of sacred science, of which the age and the country that have given birth to it may well be proud. The portion of the work which treats of Palestine I have not yet seen, though I am assured by the author that it contains more of discovery than any other.

1

Now

THE BOOK OF EXODUS.

CHAPTER I.

a these are the names of the children of Israel, which a Gen. 46, 8.-ch. 6. 14.

CHAPTER I.

came into Egypt; every man and
his household came with Jacob.
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

portance to confirm faith than to gratify curiosity.

1. Now these are the names. Heb.

are the names. The use of the Hebrew copulative 7 and is peculiar. Though its ordinary office in a continuous narrative is that of a connective, yet it frequently occurs at the beginning of a book where it can have no reference to any thing preceding, as Est. 1. 1, 'Now it came to pass.' Heb. And it came to pass. Compare Ruth 1. 1, Ezek. 1. 1. Here, however, as well as in the commencement of the two following books, it is probably to be taken in its connective sense, indicating the continuation of the foregoing narrative. The books of Moses appear not to have been orginally divided, as at present, into five separate portions, but to have constituted one unbroken volume. This is inferred from the manner in which the writings of Moses are quoted in the New Testament, where no such distinction is recognized.. See Luke 16. 31.

The prominent subject of the book upon which we now enter, as intimated by its title, is the wonderful deliverance ve-elleh shemoth, and these of the nation of Israel from their bondage in Egypt. But as this and all the great events in the history of that people were matters of express prediction and promise on the part of God; the sacred writer commences his narrative with a virtual commentary on the promise made to Abraham, Gen. 15. 5, that his seed should from small beginnings eventually become as numerous as the stars of heaven and as the sands on the sea shore. Though the migration of Jacob's family from Canaan to Egypt, and the oppression to which they were subjected, would seem to have threatened the complete frustration of the divine purposes in regard to the increase of Abraham's seed, yet the writer shows that notwithstanding it was but a mere handful of that seed that was sown in the adverse soil of Egypt, yet the harvest which sprung from it was vast beyond conception, and such as to illustrate the divine veracity in the most glorious manner. Many interesting incidents had no doubt occurred between the death of Joseph and the incipient bondage of Israel; but these are passed over in silence because they did not bear particularly upon the fulfilment of any special prediction. But God would have nothing lost that was essential to the proof of his faithfulness in his covenant relations. He deems it of more im

הבאים

T Which came. Heb. Da habbaim, which (were) coming. See Note on Gen. 46. 8.————¶ Every man and his household. Heb. ish u-betho,

every one and his house. Chal. 'Every one and the men of his household.' On this frequent sense of the term 'house' see Note on v. 21. Gr. ɛкajtos Tavviki, each with his whole household.

2-4. Reuben, Simeon, &c. In this enumeration the sons of the handmaids are reckoned last, which accounts for

4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and souls: for Joseph was in Egypt Asher. already.

5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were b seventy b. Gen. 46. 26, 27.-ver 20. Deut. 10. 22.

Benjamin's occupying the seventh place instead of the eleventh. The frequent mention of the names of the twelve patriarchs in the sacred history lays a foundation for the numerous allusions in the sacred writings to this as a mystical number applied to the church of the New Testament. Thus in Rev. 7. 5-8, mention is made of the twelve tribes of Israel, and of twelve thousand sealed out of every tribe; ch. 12. 1, of the twelve stars upon the woman's crown; ch. 21. 12-14, of the twelve gates, and twelve foundations of the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem; where it may be observed that the jasper foundation, the precious stone in the breast-plate in which Benjamin's name was written, Ex. 28. 20, is the first in order. Moses also in Deut. 33. 12, assigns Benjamin his blessing before his elder brother Joseph.

6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

c Gen. 50. 26. Acts. 7. 15.

7. 14. For an explanation of this apparent discrepancy, see Note on Gen. 46. 27.-¶ For Joseph was in Egypt already; and therefore is to be excepted from the number that came into Egypt, though not from the number of Jacob's descendants. Chal.' With Joseph, who was in Egypt.'

6. And Joseph died, &c. After attaining to the age of 110 years, during 80 of which he was a ruler in Egypt. Of his sepulture nothing is here said; but we learn elsewhere that his remains, as well as those of his brethren, were carried out of Egypt and buried in Sychem in the land of Canaan, Exod. 13. 19. Acts, 7. 16.-T All that generation. Not only the whole generation of Joseph's kindred, but all the men of that age, Egyptians as well as Israelites. Compare Gen. 6. 9. Generations are mortal as well as individuals,

5. All the souls that came out of the nor can the nearest relations keep each loins of Jacob. Heb.

other alive. The term of their existence, as well as the bounds of their habitation, is set by God himself. A very considerable lapse of time however is implied in this expression, as Levi lived to the age of 137, and con

The passage forms a natural introduction to the ensuing history of the great change that occurred in the condition of the Israelites under the next reign. During the long period of the sojourn

apy kol nephesh yotzeë yerek Yaakob, all the soul (collect. sing.) of the pro- | ceeders-out-of the thigh of Jacob; the usual idiom for expressing physical generation.-T Seventy souls. That is, persons. See Note on Gen. 14. 21.sequently survived Joseph by 27 years. By comparing this passage with Gen. 46. 27, it appears that the whole number, exclusive of Jacob himself, amounted to 66; including him to 67; so that Joseph with his two sons are necessary to make up the complement. If it being of Joseph and his brethren in Egypt objected that this mode of enumeration represents Jacob as coming out of his own thigh, we refer in reply to the Note on a similar phraseology, Gen. 35. 22, 26. The Sept. version, which transfers the final clause of this verse to the beginning of it, states the number at 75, which is followed by Stephen, Acts

nothing transpired to mar the peace and prosperity which they there enjoyed, or to prevent the men of that gene|ration passing off the stage in silent succession, till a new race had imperceptibly sprung up to occupy their places. Eccl. 1. 4, One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh."

7 ¶d And the children of Israel | exceeding mighty; and the land were fruitful, and increased abun- was filled with them. dantly, and multiplied, and waxed

dGen. 46. 3. Deut. 26. 5. Ps. 105. 24. Acts 7.17.

κατισχύον,

8 Now there earose up a new

e Acts 7. 18.

καινος,

7. Were fruitful. Heb. 15 paru, a other, but kaivos, new. It probably im| of a differterm often applied to the vigorous fructi- plies a king of another race, fication of trees and plants, and implying ent dynasty, one who came to the here that none of the Israelitish women throne, not by regular succession, but were barren; they began early and con- in consequence of intestine revolution tinued long in bearing, and not unfre- or foreign conquest. This interpretaquently perhaps brought forth more tion seems to be warranted by the analthan one at a birth. Gr. nvšn@noav, were ogous usage of the word 'new' in the augmented.¶ Increased abundantly. following and numerous other passages; Heb. yishretzu, bred swiftly, Deut. 32. 17, 'They sacrificed unto like fishes, or reptiles. See Note on devils, not to God; to gods whom they Gen. 1. 20. Gr. εñλŋ0νvðŋσav, were mul- knew not, to new gods that came newly tiplied. Vulg. 'Quasi germinantes mul- up;' i. e. to strange gods, to exotic tiplicati sunt,' as it were springing up deities. Judg. 5. 8, 'They chose new were multiplied.- —T Multiplied. Heb. gods;' i. e. other or strange gods, the yirbu, became numerous. Gr. gods of the heathen. So Mark, 16. 17, Xvdaloi εyεvovтo, became diffusely abund-They shall speak with new tongues ;' ant. T Waxed exceeding mighty. i. e. with foreign tongues, the languages Heb. 1 yaatzmu, became strong. of other people. The informations of Gr. Katιoxvov, prevailed. The accumu- profane history on this point are exlation of these nearly synonimous terms ceedingly vague and meagre, but it is gives the utmost intensity to the wri- contended by some writers, that it was ter's meaning, and conveys the idea of about this time that Egypt was invaded amazing and unparalleled increase. and occupied by a powerful Asiatic This is elsewhere abundantly confirm- people, whose rulers formed the dyed. It was 430 years from the call of nasty of shepherd-kings, of whom so Abraham to the deliverance from Egypt, much is said in Manetho, Herodotus, during the first 215 of which the pro- and others. Josephus also (Ant. L. II. mised seed increased to but 70 souls, c. 9. § 1.) expressly affirms that the but during the latter half of the same Israelites were oppressed by the Egypperiod these 70 were multiplied, Num. tians after the death of Joseph, the 1. 46, to 600,000 fighting men; and if government having been transferred to to these we add the women, the child- another family.' But even were this ren, and the aged, the whole number point involved in far less obscurity than probably amounted to upwards of two it is, it would comport but little with millions! Well then does the psalmist our plan to enter into its discussion. say, Ps. 105. 24, that 'he increased his Matters of mere historical interest, of people greatly, and made them stronger which the Scriptures say nothing, come than their enemies.' See also Deut. rather within the province of the anti26.5. quarian than of the commentator.——— ¶ Which knew not Joseph. That is, who regarded not, who appreciated not. A like phraseology occurs Judg. 2. 10, And there arose another generation which knew not the Lard, neither the

8. There arose up a new king over Egypt. Gr. avεorn Basiλevs έrepos, there arose up another king. This rendering is somewhat remarkable, as the literal translation of is not repos, an