The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-10-18

translation sprang. IL originated with a
young German scholar, now professor OF
| Semitic languages and literature at johns
| Hopkins University, Prof. Paul Haupt.
| Six years or more ago the work began
| TO take definite shape. Sufficient funds
| for the undertaking were found and
| Prof Haupt was made general editor
| He was thoroughly acquainted with the
| special studies Of Biblical students. and
! to him, who had given particular atten-
| ton to a particular book, that book was
| assigned. Very often the new translation
| Will represent the life work of the trans
| lator. The best scholars Of the world
| have been engaged in the work-mep
varying widely in their beliefs. The book
| of Leviticus Is In charge Of Profs. Driver
and White OF oxford. Prof. Smith. of
Glasgow has taken Deuteronomy; Budde.
of Strasburg. Samuel: Stadc. of Giessen.
Kings: &. j. Ball. Of London. Genesis.
RvIe of Cambridge. Exodus: Patterson.
OF Edinburgh, Numbers; Bennett. of Lon
don Joshua: Taylor OF Winchcombe-
Amos: Andrew Harper, Of Melbourne.
Australia. Obadiah: Jeremi0s. of Leipsic.
Nahum: Russell Martineau of London.
Psalms: Muller and KaupzsCh Of Halle.
Proverbs. Kamphasen. OF Bonn. Daniel.
Chcyne. Of oxford ,lsidh. Cornill, Of
Koniesberg jeremiah, Frederic y.
Litzsch. OF Bresau. Jonah. Wcilhauson.
Of Gottingen. Psalms; Sicgfried. Of Jena.
Job. and Kittel. Of Breslau, Chronicles.
Among the American scholars engaged
with the books they VIII edit. are: Presi-
dent Harper OF Chicago. Zachariah.
Prof. Charles A. Briggs. of New York.
Ruth: Prof. Toy. Of Harvard. Ezekiel.
Francis Brown Of New York. Joel: Nc
Curdy. of Toronto. Micah. and w H.
Ward. Of New York Ilabbakuk. Prof
Haupt himself undertakes the transla-
lions Of the Book of Ecclesiastes I'm addi-
ton to editing all the books done by
other hands.
The plan OF publication IS novel The
attempt will be made 10 show az a glance
the net result Of modern criticism upon
every line Of every book Of the Old Tesla
mcnt. This will be done by printing the
text I'm different colored backgrounds.
Thus what is believed 70 be the original
text Of each chapter. rs near as can be
ascertained. will be printed on an ordin-
arv white background. and the intorpola-
lions. additions. notes and comments and
various changes that are believed 20 have
been made subsequently, will each be
printed upon q background Of a different
color. II is from this that the new trans
laf.on gains its name Of the POlychromc
Bible
The aim has been 70 secure n perfect
text. All the existing collections Of
manuscripts I'm the world practically.
have been brought into service and every
possible scrap of information utilized IN
a general way the Masorotic text has
been preserved i'm its integrity, though
where il has been deemed best TO do 50
passages have been taken out Of their
nj or cd q 4n
pendices. Where changes have been
made or cancellations have been consid-
cred necessary, these are indicated by
special diacritlcal signs. The reasons for
all such changes are given In the notes
Of which. for the English edition, En-
glish translation have been made.
4 particular example will make clear
the general method that has Deen fol-
lowed. The book Of Leviticus is now re-
carded by biblical scholars as made up
from three distinct sources. The basis
Of the book they call the Priestly Code.
and this printed on tho usual white back
ground This part OF the book Is sup
posed 10 have been written about 900
years b. {. Such additions as seem TO
have been made later appear upon q
brown background. The third source.
used BY the final editor of Leviticus. was
phasizes the requirements 81 ceremOniais.
Passages traceable TO ;his source arc
printed unon a yellow background. The
arguments for these distinctions viii hc
prefaccd to the notes Of the English
translation. Thus al glance the reader
has before his eyes the conclusions Of
the highest authorities upon this particu-
lar book.
Undoubtedly the changes made i'm fami-
liar passages will be regarded as many
and not infrcqucntly startling. one no
table instance is TO be found in the trans
lation Of the Jewish smybol for God.
Jbvh. Throughout the Bible this symbol
has been translated i'm the King James
version I'm many ways. Jehovah. God.
Lord" etc. IN the new translation the
Hebrew form will Boz retained. the pro-
nor pronunciation being Jahve or Yah
way The Hebrew w0rd generally trans
lated tabernacle" will appear in the now
version as "Tent OF meeting a render
ing more nearly correct.
The familiar division known os the
Pentatcuch will be done away with. since
biblical students nowadays regard the
Book Of Joshua as belonging 10 the same
compilation. Hence this division is now
called the Hexateuch. These books are
REGARDED as a sort Of blend OF the Judaic
documents composed in the Southern
kingdom. and the Ephraimitic. written ia
tho Northern kingdom about century
later. and hence this blend will be indi-
Gated I'm the printing by a purple back
ground. Where the source is plainly IN
dicated the fact will Dee disclosed by 2
BACKGROUND OF red or blue as the cas-.
requires. and different strata OF the docu-
ments will be similarly indicated In vary
ing shades. In short in the printing
these books will appear as a sort Of
series of mosaics which IS exactly the
light i'm which they are regarded by
scholars
The book Of Jeremiah offers a fair ex-
annie Of the treatment of tho pronhcu-
cal works. The color device Is not used
here but the matter g. ARRANGED chrome
logically. The discourses delivered dur
ing tho first twenty-three years Of the
prophets ministry appear In the first sec
ton. while the second section contains
tho discourges delivered later. and after
tho destruction Of Jerusalem. July $50.
The second part of the book contains
charters concerning Jeremiah's life writ
ten after his death. an dthen comes sec
tious written hv neither Jeremiah nor his
bloeraphor The other books of the pro-
phets are handled in a similar way. Much
especially. is expected Of Prof. Cheyne's
isaiah" upon which he has spent q life
time.
The only translation which is at pres
ent accessible is that Of Ecclesiastes. bv
Prof. Haupt. The following passage will
indicate how widely the new translation
varies from the old The authorized ver-
sion