The Press.
London, England, 1855-09-22 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

the Gothic ; and grammatical periods are in
dicated by the manner in which the transla-
tions are executed. It is remarkable that this
translation is the earliest known version of the
Scriptures in any vernacular or unclassical
language. In the same manner the Castilian
language first became determined into set forms,
with grammatical laws, by the translation which
Alfonso the Wise caused to be executed. The
Limousin Bible, which would have raised the
Provençal into a similar position, was more
unfortunate, as it was, in 1233, forbidden by
James the Conqueror. A Catalan Bible was
likewise unsuccessful. Bonifacio Ferrer (obiit
1477) translated it, and it was published at
Valencia the year after his death, in folio, but
the Inquisition (then recently invigorated) put
it down and destroyed it: thus the language
was also degraded and obscured.
In our own tongue, the same process of
translation preserved the vigour and man-
liness of the Saxon, and, commingling it with
the grace of the Norman, made for us the
noble and rich English language we ourselves
inherit. Watch the progressive English in
Alfred, in Wycliffe (1382-4-8), Coverdale
(1535), Tyndale (1537), Cranmer (1540), the
version of Geneva (1560 and 1583), Bishop's
Bible (1568), and King James's version (1611),
and it will be immediately perceived how deep
a debt we owe to them all. But the attain-
ment of superior knowledge as to the collateral
subjects mentioned in the Scriptures de-
manded equal progression in other respects ;
and thus numerous attempts were made to
give a better version more in accordance with
the spirit as well as the letter of the language
under consideration. Criticism, according to
various canons, began to examine the structure
of the Hebrew language ; Lanci at Rome, and
Cahen at Paris, put forth arguments, com-
ments, and translations. Ewald and De
Wette, Gesenius and Von Bohlen, in Germany,
determined the philological difficulties of the
language, but, commencing with certain fixed
theories, their discoveries were not, always sus-
ceptible of universal application, and the real
sterling worth of their linguistic researches
was, to some extent, unrecognised in conse-
quence of their stern adherence to certain
general principles of criticism, which did not
and do not meet with the approbation of the
majority.
The labours of Walton, Kennicott, New-
combe, Lowth, and Doddridge, and the re
monstrances they addressed to the public
with reference to King James's translation,
and its inaccuracy have given rise to a
desire on all hands for some better version,
and the Germans, French, and Americans
have led the way to the realisation of this ad-
mirable project. In Philadelphia, Mr. Glidden
has commented ably upon the inaccuracies of
the King James' version (" Types of Man-
kind," Part III,) ; and at Paris, Cahen,
after labours extending over many years, has
produced a translation of the Old Testament
with the Hebrew text on the opposite page,
and until the commencement of Dr. Kahsch's
design this translation was the only one that
could be denominated original and direct,
the translations of Benisch and Wellbeloved
never having been completed. For the
New Testament Alford has done all that
can be done for the text ; and Mr. Sharpe,
again, has put forth what in many respects
may be regarded as the best English version.
Still there was no English translation of the
Old Testament in existence which, while as
much as possible adhering to the sterling
English character of King James's version,
could be esteemed as sufficiently representa-
tive of the high state of our present biblical
knowledge. This, however, is proposed to be
done in America by Professor Conant, of
Rochester, U.S., specimens highly satisfactory,
so far as they go, having reached London, and
the complete work will soon follow.
In England, however, we perceive an agita-
tion commenzing on this momentous sulkject
in two quarters. Mr. Heywood, the member
for North Lancashire, and editor of Von
Bohien's " Introduction to the Book of Ge-
nesis," has given notice of an intention to
move, early next session, for " an Address to
" her Majesty praying that her Majesty will
" be graciously pleased to appoint a Commis-
" 0041 to inquire into the eta° gI the autto.

SATURDAY,

" rised version of the Bible, and to prepare a
" plan for the further revibion of that trans-
" lation." It is premature to speculate on
the fate of such a motion, but it is cer-
tain that a hard fight will have to be
fought ere such a commission will be
allowed. We shall only advise that the re-
searches of Walton and the laborious varies
lectiones of Kennicott be employed for the
purpose of giving a correct TEXT, as the basis
for the labours of Mr. Hey wood's proposed
commission. It is, therefore, with feelings of
sincere pleasure that we find so deep a
scholar and so exact a translator as Dr. Kalisch
entering courageously upon the labour that in
England everyone has hitherto shunned.
Thoroughly impartial in doctrinal points, the
translator, if his object is consistently carried
out, will produce one of the most important
and valuable works of modern day.

In his introduction Dr. Kaliscli dilates upon
the improved state, philological and archae-
ological, of our knowledge respecting the
Hebrews at the present day : he contends that
practical illustration of the biblical text will have
a more religious effect upon the mind thau mere
doctrinal comment or pious germanising. To
recognise the truth of the Bible and its mission
(continues he) it is only necessary to examine
the book itself; its value to humanity and the
mysterious mode of its production are suffi-
cient, without comment, to tell the story of
disobedience and forgiveness, and inculcate
the principles of mercy and progress. While
avoiding the temerity of some modern criti-
cism, Dr. Kalisch proposes to call in the aid of
the earliest Jewish commentators, and admit
their evidences as to the condition and signi-
fication of the text. Let us allow him to
speak in his own words :

The treasures of the old, especially the Jewish, commen•
tators were neglected [by the modern schocl of criticism,
with the exception, however, of Caben] ; the positive
basis was deserted; every traditional conception was
rejected as a prejudice and an illusion. The sacred records
were dismembered, transposed, falsified ; the most si•risl
conjectures were framed ; and the palm was awarded to
those who excelled the rest in boldness and fanciful
theories lt has been our careful
endeavour to avoid these extremes; we have disregarded
none of the more important ancient commentators; we
have tried to produce an equilibrium between the faith of
former ages and the science of our century; we have
examined without prepossession, and have preserved what-
ever seemed lit to contribute to the true elucidation of the

Sacred Word. Hence follows a third feature of our com-
mentary. As truth is its only aim, and impartiality its
only guide, it is perfectly unsectarian; it does not labour
to defend the doctrines of any particular creed : the holy
text is its exclusive basis, and the most probable meaning
of its contents its sole object. Tne author has striven, to
the utmost of his power, to keep himself above the parties,
impressed with the conviction that this is the only safe
method of gradually reconciling the conflicting opinions
and of promoting harmony and true brotherly love among
the different sects of society. He trusts to have excluded
no class of readers. Clergymen and laymen, students of
history and pious readers, he hopes, will consult the book,
not without interest and advantage Jivery-
body willingly acknowledges the excellences of the autho-
rised English version, but so vast is the progress of Hebrew
philology sinoe the time of its preparation, that a thorough
revision has become almost indispensable; and so deeply
felt is this requirement, that societies have been formed to
meet it. We hive, ►herefore, deemed it necessary to add
to our commentary a new translation, which embodies the
results of our inquiries, and upon which we have bestowed
a due share of attention. Those renderings of the
English version which we consider as erroneous concep-
tions have been noted at the foot of our translation. Bat
it is admitted, with equal unanimity, that the language of
the English version is frequently obsolete, and not seldom
obscure and unintelligible : we have altered such passages,
without, however, destroying the old, venerable hue;
we have designedly preserved a coloring of antiquity.

Dr. Kalisch discusses at some length,
under the various heads of " Importance,
Name, Contents, Division, and Unity of
Exodus," " The Chronology of Exodus," " The
Ancient Profane Writers on the Exodus,"
the preliminary matter connected with the
elucidation of the inmost spirit of the book. Re-
garding Exodus as the keystone of the frame-
work of Hebrew history, the skeleton of its
code of law, the epic and heroic, though not on
that account the least veracious, part of the
history of Israel—the point of culmination,
where the divided worship of Egypt was ex-
changed for the establishment of a national
adoration of the one God—he has deemed it
advisable to allow the second portion of the
Pentateuch to precede in order of publication
the first and more remote patriarchal history
of Genesis. The unity of the book of Exodus
he eoneideve irrofragai*, #ie ea" "WI) WO

41

&pt. ni 1855.

"the completest harinony in all parts of 11
" Exodus ; we consider it as a perfect whole,
" pervaded throughout by one spirit and the
"same leading ideas." And although it is
almost impossible to expect, as we think, that
the book is wholly free from interpolations,
especially when the numerous differences
which exist between the Hebrew text and the
Samaritan version be taken into account,
it is most probable that Exodus is in a more
perfect state than the other books of the
Pentateuch. From the very nature of the
narrative we can perceive why it must be so,
even if we give credence to some of the hyper-
criticism which has been exercised upon the
book, for there is not so much need of the ex-
planatory sentences which are found strewn
here and there over the surface of the Bible,
but which neither effect the authority, nor take
away ftom the divine comfort to be found in
the Scriptures. It is, indeed, far more likely
that in many places passages have been mis-
placed, as, for instance, the two verses x., 28
and 29, which, according to Houbigant and
Townsend, should follow xi. 8. The account
of the journey of the Israelites, one of the
most instructive parts of the work, is, on the
other hand, an instance where there might be
a little uncertainty, although the record is
perhaps as minute and exact as any remi-
niscences of passing events could be. We must
recollect that though Moses may be regarded
as the author of the Pentateuch generally,
he is not to be always considered respon
Bible. Later editors (Shaphan and Hilkiah)
in the reign of Josiah, as many pas-
sages of the Book of Kings prove, com-
pacted and revised the books ; and it is from
that time that the Pentateuch must be re-
garded as a whole, and together with it must be
taken the Books of Joshua and Judges, which
complete the history of the children of Israel
before the foundation of the monarchy, and
close the record of the pure theocracy. Be-
ginning with the miseries of the children of
Israel and the recital of the tyranny of the
Pharaoh " who knew not Joseph," passing
through the stormy interviews between the
wise and wary Moses and the proud, inaccessi-
ble, but cowardly King, onward from desolated
Egypt, through the famines and terrors of the
Wilderness to the confirmation of the worship
of the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob,
and the promulgation of his law, and ending,
after continued rebellion and ingratitude, in
the final triumph of God and the erection of
the Tabernacle, one spirit breathes through all
the history. Perhaps the most solemn scene
of sacred history is that exode of the oppressed
Israelites as simply, grandly, and forcibly told
In the inspired page ; and of all the events
which crowd thickly on the fancy as we read
the book in the calm of retrospection, none are
so terrible as the judgments of Jehovah upon
the Egyptian oppressors :
The picture which the inspired writer draws of the
plagues of Egypt, and which he executes with uncommon
Care and exactness, is deeply interesting in more than one
point of view. It represents the grand and imposing
struggle between the boundless power of the Omnipotent
and the refractory pride of a demented prince—between
the wisdom of the Fountain of Knowledge and the boasting
vanity, of the frail human intellect—between the Lord of
the Universe and the idols of a heathen country—in a
word, it depicts the eternal struggle of Truth against
Error, of Monotheism against Paganism. That in this
unequal combat Divine omnipotence gained an easy victory
over mortal impotence, and that Truth triumphed over
Fallacy, is as natural and obvious as the fact that Moses,
the humble agent and instrument of the Lord, although as
a mere medium he disappears almost in the narrative, ob-
tains in the reader's mind the superiority over the haughty
magicians and their presumptuous conceit. But that God
indicted ten successive plagues to break the king's contu-
macy, whilst he might have annihilated him with one
mighty stroke, shows that God mercifully tried to convince
and move the tyrant by less dangerous visitations, calm-
lated merely to impress him with some idea of the unli-
mited means at His command; and only when Pharoah's
obstinacy grew more and more inveterate, the number and
formidable character of the plagues were increased. And
as in the hand of Providence erery event becomes a means
to a higher aim, the miseries which betel Pharoah in con-
sequence of his own obduracy ',were at the same time in-
tended by God to manifest to all the nations of the earth
His supreme power, and to induce them to abandon their
idolatrous worship, and to acknowledge His exclusive sove-
reignty.
does . . . any proof that the ancient Jews had no scruples
as to the question of fair-dealing with Pharoah—that the
latter ean only be viewed as an anvil fur the strokes of the
Divine hammer—and that we are not to look for a high
outer of ethics in the biblical times. Such deductions are
Q pplY(,)141)19 result of a Th.= of tuterretapon ba

THE PRESS.

which superficial declamation and inveterate prejudice take
the place of patient research and unbiassed examination.
Now, if we analyse the nature of the plagues as narrated
in our text, we can but acknowledge the miraculous cha-
racter with which all, without exception, are stamped. . . .
It is not always feasible to form an exact judgment on the
nature and value of the facts and ideas communicated—a
task which the commentator may with propriety leave to
every reader individually, after having put him in posses-
sion of all materials necessary to arrive at a well-established
opinion. However, it is, on the other hand, easily discer-
nible that all these plagues are based upon natural circum-
stances or phenomena of Egypt; we know that the Nile
indeed assumes annually a red colour at a certain season,
that the air is filled with swarms of tormenting insects, and
after the same analogy in all other plagues ln fact,
the whole force of the . . . narrative will be lost to those
who read it without reference to the natural condition of
Egypt ; whereas a careful regard to this point will inte-
restingly illustrate both the admirable climax of the punish-
ments of l'haroah, and the truthfulness and authenticity of
the descriptions. But the miraculous character of those
phenomena is unmistakeably observable in the following
points:-1. They take place at a time contrary to their
usual occurrence ; 2. They happen within a space of a few
months in rapid succession, whilst . . . some of them are
of very rare occurrence ; 3. Their injurious character is
infinitely aggravated—as, for instance, by the first plague
not only the water of the Nile is converted into blood, but
also its numerous fishes die ; 4. They occur at the time
predicted by Moses, and at his command ; 5. They gene-
rally cease at his prayer; and O. The Egyptians only are
afflicted by them, whilst the Israelites are exempted from
their calamitous effects. Now, the number even of the
plagues is not insignificant, as ten in the Old Testament
is the number of petite lion ; and the ten plagues which
Reed Israel ftom the yoke of Egypt's king may be con-
trasted with the ten commandments, by which Israel ac-
cepted the sovereignty of God. (pp. 117, 118.)

In the chapters relating to these plagues,
important service has been rendered by the
more exact translation of some passages. The
word kinnom 12, lB)—the signification of
which has been a matter of much controversy—
Luther and the forty-seven Englishmen, follow-
ing the Rabbins, translate lice; the Septuagint
has ertvivid; Onkelos explains pediculus ; Bohlen
and Wellbeloved read properly marsh-gnats
or mosquitoes ; while Cahen has vermine.
But the arguments of Bohlen and Kalisch
determine the question. The word ngharob
(Sept. xvvopcuia, dog-fly, English version flies,
Luther unyeziefer, NVellbeloved beetles, Cahen un
melange d'insectes, from the verb), which occurs
immediately afterwards, and again together
with kinnom in Ps. lxxviii. 45, and cv. 81, Kalisch
has demonstrated to signify beetles, and the
meaning is now fixed. This is but a spe-
cimen of the care and exactitude which
characterises this version. The very first
verse of the translation is marked by a va-
riation, and with great justice. The greater
the simplicity in translating Hebrew or any
Oriental language, of course, the better. It is
unfortunate that, in many instances, a strict
adherence to a modern superaddition, such as
the masoretic points, which were first em
ployed by the Rabbins in the fourth century,
should have led to a misunderstanding of the
text. The particle aeth, translated by the Sep-
tuagint awe, together with, clearly applies, as
Dr. Kalisch, following Cahen and Luther,
translates it, to the first part of the sentence,
although the superadded tonic accents, aeth '
yitkov point to a connection with the following
words : the Targums translate aeth in the same
manner, see Genesis 1. 1, where it is simply
the sign of the accusative case
While fully recognising and esteeming the
care and sagacity of Dr. Kalisch, we must still
remind him, in the best feeling, that alteration
is not necessarily correctness. We have to
regret some needless alterations from our fine
old, we might say national, translation, with
out increasing the exactitude of his version.
For instance, Exodus i. 7, " grew exceedingly
" strong," is feeble compared with the "waxed
" exceeding mighty" of the authorised trans-
lation. So also, in verse 9, " more numerous
" and stronger," in place of " more and
" mightier."
On the other hand, what we have to find
fault with in several versions of the Bible does
not apply to Dr. Kalisch. The very frequent
use of the preposition was (and), as in kasha.
mayim veaeth haeretz, " the heavens and
the earth" (Genesis i. 1), has led many
translators to disregard it and to omit it in
the translation. This is done by Conant, but
Dr. Kalisch does not do so. Wherever it
occurs, as it does in countless instances, the
ancient simplicity of the language is trans-
fused into English by the care of the
translatoT.

Space will not permit us to say more than
that Dr. Kalisch has exhaust ed all the sources
of information, from the remotest Rabbinical
authorities, and the obscurest lucubrations of
the Patristic writers, down to the latest re-
searches at
Nineveh under Loftus and Raw-
linson, and in Egypt by Mariette and Green;
his corrections of the authorised version
amount to upwards of three hundred in the
course of the book ; and we hope that
such efforts, and such accumulative in-
dustry, may reap in a present and lasting
reputation the rewards of scholarship they so
pre-eminently deserve. But, ere we close, we
may be permitted to say something of the
moral and religious, as well as intellectual,
influence of endeavours like the present.
It is evident, we think, that much of the
unhappy contention which has arisen in the
theological world with reference to the inter.
pretation and authority of the Holy Scriptures,
is the result of unequal education. Experience
has taught us the evils of finality ; and when a
translation is made
.final, any appeal from it to
the Hebrew text is either unintelligible to
those most concerned in expounding the
meaning of the Word of God, or is too hasty
and self-assertative for the present position of
parties not to bo immediately interdicted.
One most important way of giving an impetus
to exegetical research is to encourage—nay, to
enforce—the study of the Hebrew tongue upon
all persons desiring to enter Holy Orders. The
beneficial effects would immediately be visible.
Instead of many persons entering the Church,
as they do unfortunately now, simply with an
eye to temporal advantage—instead of the
Church being made, as we fear it has been
too often made, a refuge for the inefficient and
the indolent—we should then have men,
whose end and aim would not differ a whit from
the end and aim of the present clergy, but who
would be far better provided against the as-
saults of scepticism by an intimate know-
ledge of the Hebrew language, and by an
acquaintance with the outward relations of
Oriental life. Works, therefore, like those
of Cahen, De Wette, and Kalisch, have
their definite and beneficial aim, and
that aim is to comfort and enlighten ; and
we are not so uncharitable as to suppose
the Rationalistic school of criticism to bo
wanting in a desire to help the wandering
mind to some firm and stable faith. Free dis-
cussion and equal knowledge are demanded
for all subjects ; and the clergy will find, in
placing themselves on a par in Hebraic
learning with their lay antagonists, the surest
way to the conversion of infidels, and the
triumph of the Christian Church.

The Poems of William Shakapeare. Edited by
Robert Bell. "Annotated Edition of tho
English Poets." London : J. W. Parker and

Son.
IN bringing out this edition of the English
poets, Mr. Bell has judged wisely in not fol-
lowing a chronological order. If he had
adopted a more strictly historical method, the
readers of the edition would not have the
variety of his matter put before them so
quickly. We felt rather curious to know how
lie would manage with the most illustrious
name of all, and whether he would give us a
copious life of Shakspeare prefacing his dra-
matic works. _ _

...
The volume before us is called "The Poems
of William Shakspeare," and it contains
" Venus and Adonis," " The Rape of Luerece,'
the "Sonnets," and "The Passionate Pilgrim."
We should have preferred that the word
" occasional," or " minor," had been placed
before " poems" on the titliyage, as it is
plain that the contents do not support the
title ; and Mr. Bell does not ssy what method
he will follow in dealing with the dramatic
works of Shakapeare. To this volume he has
prefixed thirty pages of a neatly penned dis-
sertation on the life of the poet. It is close in
matter, and there is calm strength in its tone.
He judiciously avoids that rapturous eestaey
and utter prostration of the understanding
with which some of our purely insular entice
have grovelled on approaching even the con-
fines of Stratford.on•Avon. Our immortal
bard stands in no need or a Juggernaut wort