The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-25
SOME NEIy BOOKS.
A Scotch Divine on the Hebrew Prophets.


In Edinburgh by DR.. W. RoBEETsos SMITH Is
nov reprinted in book form by the Arpetons.
under tho tito OF The PROPHETS Of Israel and
their Place IN History We scarcely need remind
the reader That the author lost his place OF in
Btructor in the University IF Aberdeen in con-
sequence OF publishing certain views which he
believed we're in accordance with the ripest con-
illusions OF Biblical criticism. but which were
deemed inconsistent with the received opin-
Ions Of Calvnistic theologians. strong mi
nority in the Free Church disapproved Of the
action taken against DR.. Smith, and he was in
vitod to discuss the history Of the Hebrew
ligon in course of lectures which were some
time ago published in this country. We are
now offered second contribution to the popu-
larizaton OF modern Biblical science.
The period with which the present volume
deals is that OF the earliest prophetic literature
and presents the prophetic IDEAS In
their least complex form. The authors
main purpose is TO demonstrate that tho ole
ments Of prophetic religion among the Jews.
down to the beginning of the eighth century
b. O., are indeed marvellously simple in COM
parson with the range Of conceptions with
which the modern theoiogian is accustomed TO
operate. and which are often mistakenly traced
back TO the earliest Old Testament times The
notion which has proved most fatal to u right
understanding OF the prophets is the doctrine
propounded by the later jews. that all the
prophets are Interpreters OF the Pentateuch
which was assumed to be. either as a whole
or at least in its most essential parts older
than the oldest prophetcal books. DIR. Smith
rejects this notion and accepts the main re-
suits of that reconstruction OF tho history of
the Pentateuch which has been worked out
and established by Kucncn in Holland and
Wellhausen in Germany. II may be well to
point out the fundamental facts affirmed by
these critics in relation to the Pentateuch be-
fore CHANGING at Dr. Smiths lectures in detail
Modern Biblical science finds distinguishable
In the Pentateuch three chief masses OF legisla-
tion. These are. first, the book Of tho Covenant
H. it is generally called. which is set forth in
chapters xxi.-xxiii. OF Exodus. Here We have
primitive legislation. designed for a very sim
pile state of agricultural society. and CORE
spending in its precepts with the traces of the
actual usage and law of Israel found in the
history OF the age of the Judges and the earlier
monarchy On the other hand. in the Deuter-
onomc Code Deut. Xii.-xXv) the laws OF tho
Book Of the Covenant are rccast with special
reference to the limitation of ritual worship to
single sanctuary. This Limitation was intro
duced as u new thing, and was not formally &C
ceptod as law until the Deutoronomic Code was
promulgated US binding in the great reforma-
ton Of the reign Of Josiah. The code must,
therefore, have been written between this
latter date (B. c. 622l and the reforms
which Hezekiah adopted after the retreat of
Sennacherib in b. c. FOL We encounter third
ly. in the five so-called Mosaic books the
priestly or Levitical legislation which is gene
rally. though not yet universally, believed by
Biblical scholars TO have been composed after
the book Of Ezekiel. and adopted as the law Of
the New Jerusalem under Ezra. B. c. AS So
much for the reconstruction Of the Pentateuch
nv tha nnOIprn oil criti ~ unll
and Germany. We should add that in the
period covered by the present volume (which
ends with the close of the eighth century d. c.
We are concerned merely with the primitive
legislation laid down in the Book OF the Cove
nant for people. some Of whom still retained
their nomad habits whilo the rest were ex-
clusively tilcrs of the soil. trade. and industry
being concentrated in the hands OF the original
Canaanite inhabitants of the country.
The prophets whose place in history is cx-
amined in these lectures are Elijah. Elisha.
Amos. Hosea. Isaiah. and Micah But before
the time of Amos. the father of written prophe-
cy. the record OF Israels religious life is too
fragmeDtary to allow DR.. Smith to follow II in
detail. OF the history of religion between
Solomon and Ahab we know next to nothing
In the greater Israel OF the north THE king
dom OF the ten tribes). which in these ages was
the chief seat of national life. q constant sue
cesston OF revolutions and civil wars obscures
all details OF internal development. The ac-
cession. however. Of the powerful dynasty OF
Omri. which regained in successful war good
part OF the conquests of Davd-t was Omri.
for instance. who reduced Moab 10 tributary
condition-rcstored the northern kingdom to
fresh vigor. and it is characteristic of the close
union between national life and the tribal re-
ligion of Jehovah which was involved in tho
very principles Of the Hebrew commonwealth,
that the political revival was the pre-
Jude to a great religious movement.
Thus, although in building and endow-
ing temple OF Baal for his wife, Tyrian
Princess. Ahab did no more than Solomon had
DONE yet there were now men in Israel to
whom every act of homage 10 Baal appeared an
act Of disloyalty to Jehovah, and Elijah openly
raised the question whether Jehovah or Baal
was God.
But hitherto the enemies of Jehovah had
been the gods of hostile nations, whereas
the Tyrian Baal was the god of u friendly and
allied State. Tho question raised by Elijah
was fraught with tremendous practical issues
1t really involved the political isolation Of the
1sraelite nation; for as things then stood it
was impossible to have friendship and alliance
with other people if their gods were pro
scribed In Israel's land. 1t is not strange that
hhab, who was manilcstly statesman OF fore
sight and ability, should contend with all his
might against such IA view, for it obviously
contained the germ of that antasonism be.
tween Israel and all the rest OF mankind
which made the Jews appear to the Roman
historian rs the enemies OF the human race
and has brought upon them an unbroken sue
cesson OF political misforunes and the uiti-
mate loss OF all place among the nations
Judged from merely political point Of view.
EJahs work in preaching against Ahabs sys-