The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-05-28

vine law to Israel. The PRONUNCIATION of the
Ton Words was soon followed by the giving Of
the Book of the Covenant. upon which all sub
sequent Hebrew law was built. The Book Of
the Covenant appears in one form In the Ju-
daic narrative. in another in the Ephraimitic
narrative and has. also. been taken up into the
Deuteronomic code. There is now but little
doubt among Biblical scholars that the origi-
nal book Of the Covenant contained only the
brief Ten Words. and that the other types Of
Hebrew law. such as statutes. judgments and
commands contained In the greater Book of
the Covenant. and in the Deuteronomic code.
were later additions from varied sources
In the development of Hebrew law in
the Northern and Southern Kingdoms.
There is no evidence Of any canonical
advance until the reign OF Josiah. when
the Deuteronomic code was brought to
light and received canonical recognition. 1t Is
agreed among scholars that the first layer Of
the present Hebrew canon. the Law tem-
bracing the five books. Genesis to Deuter-
onomyl was constituted and officially adopted
through the influence OF Ezra and Nehemiah.
and that In their time the nation was solemnly
engaged by covenant and by oath to obey it.
The books contained in the second layer OF the
Hebrew canon bear collectively the name Of
Prophets. In the earliest Hebrew list known
they are arranged as follows: Joshua. Judges.
Samuel. Kings. jeremiah. Ezekiel. Isaiah. and
the Twelve Cninor prophets). This list did not
embrace the Book Of Daniel. and. therefore,
must have been fixed before Daniel gained
canonical recognition. 1t included the prophecy
Isaiah. xiv. XVI. which probably belongs to
the time Of Alexanderthe Great. Therefore. this
canon cannot have been earlier than the Greek
period subsequent to Alexander in the third
century b. c.. The third LAYER OF the Hebrew
canon is composed OF the so-called Writings:
those in the oldest lists are Ruth. Psalms. Job.
Proverbs. Ecclesiastes. Song Of Songs. Lamen-
~tations. Daniel. Esther. Ezra, and Chronicles.
The Greek version. known as the SeptuaGint.
gives a much larger collection OF "Writings."
The story prevailed for many centuries in the
Eastern and Western churches that this trans
latlon was made by seventy-two accomplished
scholars. chosen from the twelve tribes Of
Israel. with the cooperation Of Ptolemy Phila-
delphus. King OF Egypt. and the Jewish High
Priest OF Jerusalem. and that they were in
spired to do their work by the divine spirit.
This story has been traced to n simpler form in
Josephus and Philo. and. back Of these. to an
original letter Of Aristeas. but that has been
proved to be a forgery. and its statements have
been shown to be wide OF the truth. An in
ternal examination Of the Septuagint YER
sion proves 1t to have been made by different
men on different principles and at differ
ent times. The third layer Of the canon
OF tho Old Testament. that compris-
ing the so-called Writings" was not definitely
limited among the Jews until the close of the
hrst Christian century. After the destruction
OF Jerusalem. In a A. D.. the Jewish rabbis
established themselves ut Jamnia. Two as
semblies seem to have been held there. one
about 80 A. d.. another in 11S A. ID. Al these
assemblies, under the Presidency OF EleaZar
ben Azariah. the canonicity of the Song OF
Songs and of Ecclesiastes was discussed. Those
two compositions were finally decided to be
canonical. and so. for the Hebrews. the third
canon OF the Old Testament was closed.
1t should here be noted that the New
Testament does not profess to deter
mine the extent and limits OF the canon
OF the Old Testament. Jesus gives his
authority to the Law aud to the Prophets. but
among the so-callrd Writings To- the Psalms
alone. There are no sufficient reasons for con-
Guiding that by the Psalms he meant all the
other books besides the Law and the Prophets.
1t Is. indeed, To be observed that the New Tes-
lament abstains from using most o. the Writ
ings disputed among the Jews. 1t does not
quote at MI Ecclcsiastcs. tho Song Of Songs.
Esther. Ezra. or Nehemiah. and i: only quotes
incidentally Ezekiel and Chronicles. On the
other hand, the Book Of Jude cites the Apoca-
lypse Of Enoch and the Assumption Of Moses,
which did not receive recognition in the He
brew canon.