The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-04-09

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conclusive proof that he, at least, hat
never met with this erroneous translation
In fact, as the Hebrew word "shaap j.
rendered ''demonde," in French, there was
no possibility for Voltaire to know of thi.
purely English error.
The mistake made iu translating 'shaal'
into the English word "borrow," was follow
cd by another aud kindred error, in render
ing the word "natsal," "spoil." They, the
Israelites, arc thus said to have "spoiled the
Egyptians" But spoil has meaning quite
different from what implied b. the Hebrew
natsal. To spoil or despoil means to take
by rapine or violence, while "natsal' means
"extricated, liberated" "regained," )" "re-
covered" The Israolites did no wrong or
injury to the Egyptaius. They only "de-
mandcd" of them small rcpara,ion or re.
storation for the immense and iucalculable
wrongs, tyrannies aud exac:ious which for
four hundred years these cruel task masters
had imposed upon them. Had a fair set
Element been made between the Israelites
and the Egyptians, all the wealth of Egypt
could not have met the demand.
But it was not the intention Of our Divine
Father to burden his people with wealth
He had higher and nobler mission for them.
They were to be the trustees of a fund far
exceeding in value all the riches of Egypt.
They were selected to be the custodans of
His Holy Law! But He permitted them
to demand from their terrified prosecutors
some compensation for valuable services.
Who had established tho land-.ax by which
the royal house of Egypt became the owner
of the whole country? Joseph a son of
Israel. Who built their cities7 Who had
labored in their public works without any
compensation I? Who had enriched Egypt?
The lsraelitcs. Aud what had they receiv-
cd in return for all their labors Hatred,
persecution, the task master, the lash; and
finally, the abominable plot to exterminate
them, root and branch, by drowning all the
male children
For all these Injuries God permitted His
people make small reprisal. 1t is
enough to know that He permitted it, to
know that it was right. For the God Of
Justice and Truth never could and never
did sanction wrong or falsehood.
In fact, the entire history Of the chosen
people shows that their conduct was manly
aud honorable. The conduct of Abram
towards the King of Sodom, and his trausac-
ton with the sons of Heth I; the generosity
of Joseph the story of Elisha and Namau !;
the refusal of the Israeltes to lay hands
upon the property Of their enemies in the
days of Esther; David's lberality in pur-
chasing ground for the Temple; all those
and many other examples show that our
fathers scorned to do anything mean aud
dishonorable. Much less would they have
attempted so shameful deception as to
have pretended to borrow from the Esyp-
tians, when they knew that they would
never see their faces again. How weak and
foolish then is the thought, that the Just
and OmnipotentGod could have justified His
people in perpetrating SO base and glaring
. fraud.
1t is matter Of ongratuation that the
New or Revised Version of the Old Testa
ment uses the expression ask instead ol
borrow But the reAisers have not rise n
to the height of truth aud justice. The
Israelites neither borrowed nor asked
anything from the Egyptians Neither did
they 'spoip or 'despoip the land of Egypt
They demanded partial payment of the
incalculable debt due to them; and the
power of God, whose fear rested upon the
striken people of Egypt, enabled them tc
recover or regain that which they right.
fully demanded.
In future articles, will endeavor to show
that the Old Testament does not sanction
either Of those things which the Mort herr
people used to call the twin denominations,
slavery and polygamy.'-Centenary
FANNY DAVENPORT MAKES A MASH.
"A funny remark by man in tho audi
ence once created great merriment at tn,