The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-25


cation Of the Hebrews with tho "Apuriu mem
toned In Egyptian records. as we'll as Of Moses
with an Egyptian scribe named Messu. have
been substantially abandoned. and that nothing
has been gained from decipherlngs OF the HE
ratio writing in favor Of tho Hebrew nara
tlves. except that the Egyptian colOrinR OF the
latter is excellent As we have snid, Mr.. He'll
prin is disposed to agree with Kuenen. that
while Moses was probably a real person. none
OF the laws ascribed to him. except. perhaps.
the ten commandments. were OF Mosaic origin.
In regard 10 the episode Of Balak and Balaam
contained in the Book Of Numbers. Mr.. He'll
prin thinks that these three chapters are I'M
surpassed In literary correctness and finish by
anything within the whole range OF the Scrip
lures. and must have been the product Of a
most 1ourishing period. In his judgment. this
little work was composed. not. as Kallsch be-
lieves. In the time OF David. but at the epoch OF
the successful Assyrian invasion. This brings
us to one OF the capital points sought to be es-
tablished by our author namely that the Davido
era was by no means tho golden age OF Hebrew
poetry and he 10 even led to the conclusion that
there are no Davidic Psalms whose authenticity
is established by sufficient intrinsic evidence.
and that whatever else is ascribed 10 David Is
equally open to question. But before marking
some OF his arguments on this head. let US
glance briefly at tho interesting analysis Of the
Samson myth.
Tho striking resemblance which the career
and character Of the Hebrew hero. notwith-
standing the thin Israelitish varnish laid upon
them bear to the life and exploits OF the Grecian
Hercules has been repeatedly noticed. Mr. He'll
prin draws attention to the closenese Of tho par
allel in minute details. and considers tho COM
mon origin OF the Hebrew and Grecian legends
and their connection with older sun myths al
most completely established. He finds in the
Syrian Baa- Melkart the prototype Of Samson
as well as OF Hercules. We are told that ms Da-
gon Is the name OF the lsh god from dag thsh)
so Shimshon Is the name OF the sun god. In
his character OF sun god Samson goes alone
through his adventures and begins his deeds
with the killing Of n lion who is not real beast
but that constellation of the Zodiac which the
sun enters in the hottest time Of the year. This
Is the most favorable season for bees when
honey comes from the devourer and sweetness
from the strong. n saying which has no signin-
cameo except upon the hypothesis Of symbolic
lion. Again Samson has his strength in his
hair rs the sun evnccs it's strength in lts rays.
Dclah. whose namc signifies the dropping"
tho feeble cuts on his hair for Mt the decline OF
tho year the sun loses its power. The shorn hair
returns. however. in a new growth and with IL
the old strength Just rs the solar ray acquires
intonser heat with the opening u spring. Even
the story Of the foxes. 10 whose tails flrebrands
were tied. almost compels n symbolic interprc-
tation. when wo learn that in Rome also. at tho
festival OF Ceres. II was tho custom from primi-
tive times 10 hold fox hunt In the circus on
which occasion burning torches were affixed 20
the foxes tails. This festival. il appears, was
celebrated shortly before the harvest. when tho
crops could stl be injured by the solar ilro
conceived rs n red fox running through tho
fields. In the later monotheistic aga Of Jewish
history. the original meaning Of Samson was
naturally misunderstood. and people knew no
longer what the locks oi the Israelitish Phnbus
Apollo signined. Mr.. Hellprin adds that Sam
sons career begins in the close vicinity OF
Beth -shemesh. whose name indicates that n
temple Of the sun existed there in Canaanltsh
or Philstne times. In tho ballads sung Ia Gath
and In the streets OF Ashkelon the Syrian Her
culcs may have been transformed into Phil
istino Goliath the latter appellation indeed
means shining'). who carried the torch OF
death into the camps Of Dan. and Samson may
have boon a Hebrew offset 10 the songs Of the
daughters Of the Phnistinos.
When we pass from tho legendary figures OF
the Book OF Judges to tho narrative ascribed TO
Samuel We como upon persons whose reality
there is no reason 10 doubt Anachronisms.
ity or design In presenting facts. are not want
ing but the supernatural appears only in occa-
sional incidents. and the truth Of history pierces
through the fiction. The Psalm 0scribed to
Hannah Is shown by intrinsic marks to DO tho
insertion Of "A late hand. and some poetical
fragments like the story OF the determination
OF Amalck are interviewer with tho prose
narrative That tho Amalekites were not
rooted out is plain enough from the
fact that many years after Saul's war
we find that tribe again occupying the
land to the south OF Judah Mr.. Hcilprin points
out also the improbability OF companies Of
women going out from tie cities TO meet their
victorious King and in concert singing n song
calculated 10 humble him. and based. too. on a
fiction. for Sauls army indeed struck down its
thousands, whereas David smote not his tens
| OF thousands. but only one man. There is no
| doubt that Saul's heroism delivered his people
! from the yoke OF the Phlistines. and
! triumphed over other enemies on the
south and east and that his throne may
be said to have established religious unity and
national integrity. Our author calls attention
10 the very different accounts OF the final battle
with the Philistnes. In which Saul lost his life
one OF which seems To have been current
among those tribes Of Israel that adhered 10 the
house OF the fallen King. while the other and
| spurious version contained In the second book
Of Samuel was. in the opinion Of Mr. Hellprin
invented by the friends Of Davids family.
Mr.. Heilprin dissects most carefully the mann
discrepancies in the accounts Of David. and hii
estimate Of tho man regarded AS an historical
parsonage. though disoriminative. Ia quite high
He does not doubt that during his free
bootIng career. It was his intention L
fight against his countrymen on Noun
Gilboa; this. indeed. he could not hav,
avoided but for an accident. without tia,
Grossest treachery to his Philistino protector
But tho two worst taints upon the name OF tn,
Hebrew hero king ara. in his opinion. undo
served. One of these is the Injunction said I,
have been laid on Solomon. 10 put TO death Shi
mel. Saul's kinsman. whose life David ha,
sworn to spare Certainly it IL hard 10 bclicv
that the same man who said Leave him alone
lot him curse. for jehovah has hidden him :
and again, Shall any man be put to death thi
day that l know that am King over Israel /?
could have beaueathed with. his dying breath
legacy Of vindictiyeness and perjury. Our au
thor protects David's reputation by reminding
us Of SolOmoA's. Tho latter is the solo author
ity for the words. and related them when h,
| sent his eNeeutfOner to dae match Shinnei ina