New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-09
ISRAELITISH LEGENDS.
PROFESSOR TOY ON RESULTS OF THE
HIGHER BIBLICAL CRITICISM.
SEPARATION OF HISTORICAL FACTS IN THE
OLD TESTAMENT FROM ALLEGED PROD
UCrs OF FANCY-rHE FIRST OF

UCTs OF FANCY-rHE FIRST OF
THREE LECTURES.
Professor Crawford Howell Toy, Of Harvard de-
livered last evening at the Lenox Avenue Unitarian
Church. One hundred-and-twenty frs-st. and Lenox-
ave, the first Of series Of three lectures on The
Latest Results OF the Higher Biblical Criticism"
The first lecture dealt with Israeitish history; the
second April l5 will treat Of Israelitish litera-
ure. and the third. April 20 Will discuss the New
Testament
Professor Toy has long been acknowledged an ex-
pert matters touching the history Of Biblical ma
tons. well upon the study OF theology. In
these matters his reputation Is international. The
professor has made exhaustive study Of the Ian
guages relative to Old Testament history. and Is
the author of d NUMBER Of books treating OF the re-
lations between Christianity. Judaism and the re-
ligions Of the Orient. He has been connected with
the Harvard faculty about twelve years.
Last evening, before audience OF good SIZE
Professor Toy devoted himself to outlining the ma
tona history Of the Jews and separating the MIS-
torca facts in the Old Testament from what ne
regards as products Of the Israeltish legendary
fancy. The professor spoke in part as follows:
Although Israelitish history solves no political
and great names 1t did not begin in Genesis The
story of the Flood and kindred tales form an inter
nevertheless with strong religious feeling Little
elmer be as nd Of
dim recollectons Of old tribal history or OF later
events. Abraham, Isaac ana JACOB are Dut inc
Incorporated forms Of the old tribes There are
several reasons why the account OF the ABODE IN
torcal facts and one OF them is the fact that IN
the Egyptian records that have thus FAR Deen ols-
covered there TO reference to these occurrences
SO that lhs portion OF the Old Testament must be
regarded reflection from a much later time
into the Book Of Exodus The tablets of Amarno
found nine years ago and inscribed about 1900 - e.;
Moses contains not word Of the Israelitish history
as found in the earlier books Of the Old Testament,
EARLY ACCOUNTS LEGENDARY.
Hence we have to dismiss these early accounts
as the legendary. imaginary pictures OF past Ire
reconstructed in the light of much later times The
first band OF union between the Israelitsh tribes
was the belief in Jehovah and the veritable history
OF the Israetes begins when, soon after this union
that there Israetish nation. In the book OF
Judges find no evidence OF any political union
but an imaginary picture. drawn In the sixth cen
tury. b. c. OF what was then believed to have been
the condition Of affairs eight centuries before FROM
The book OF Judges which has air OF verisimiii-
tude. learn that no such condition really existed.
In the history OF the Jews there are three perlods
first the chaotic: second the monarchical; third.
the period OF subjugation and foreign dominatio S
While the tribes more or less In chaos mere
arose sectional heroes like Gideon and IKE Jeph,
tina the freebooter q the border TINS psr bS sm n
the Ammont-s the Midianites. the Phistlh1s mo
e tnss Who Were peop- much military genius
held the tribes in subsection for about forty years
during whsn ps5Sd hs events Of R time gave
rise TO more interesting legendary heroes, among
whom rSs to WITH no sens. Of duty obga
ton who basked in the sun until vexed into SOM
followed by another period Of oa 81 more than ten
,r Ssy lm Mno surrounding him probably
n man OF some military ability lie uia VIA LII, ~
could against the rhstines. but finally ieI witH
Jonathan Then came David. the frst reai KING o
the Israel,esa man OF enormous m,ihb,,my - hs
executive capacity. 1t H. however, n9uos', ath.r
knlsa IN The latter part Of Samuel Yet he con-
omer.d The Jebustes. made Jerusalem capita;
hhm'i, a tabernacie brought the ark there. ana
bganrbt the PhstInes so low that for centuries
they Mere unable to raise their heads There wa,
81 an"r IN also have been a reflection from later
t'i mon,rarv 70 what has been thought. David was
:s,,,,oi man although a religious one. Not
a single psalm In psalter dli ne "rl.e anu nv.r
have none OF his poems except ms ,a,'r rsr. The
Jonathan. The psalms attriDuteu " "
work of a later period.
THE WORKS OF SOLOMON
..,.. hin, came Solomon whose special claim 10
,,a,,to, "a the fact that he built the Temple 'ne
external centre OF religious worship HIS reg" ""s
the end OF unity. The ten tribes III ''e a.r
discover which so much time has been ~as'e"' We"
a,,,a- united with Judah absorbed by me SUI
ronnina popuation Then followed the porous y,
provincial subjug~ton. the most mp. and m. re-
building OF the Temple. Many Of the Jews noMseIned
never went back TO their old country, U"e ,'r era
- h.c,m. an iruportant element in the clVilza,
lion Of Western Asia In this time me BOOKS Oh
Jus fs,sonment OF the law went preparing ne
way for the complete pentateueh ana ns stf Esther
49, ao me 81 The later historical books u,.
The Jews were at first idolaters but tney hn anGy
aeyeops sra Vas ,nonothcsm in Egypt and Greece
the Israelites Of all nations reacheu onpp,hetstic
S Sr.H This BELIEF they passed to Christianity
The Sacred Book Is the greatest GIT Vi '"e ' -
the civilized world