The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-08
PROF. DELITZSCH'S LECTURE.
THE DISCOURSE THAT HAS MADE
"A SENSATION ~ THEOLOGf-
CAL AVID POLTTTCAL CIR
CLES or GERMANY.

The Inspiration OF the Bible Denied Dc
fore the Kaiser - In the Second
..I,s.,eI und Bibcl" Discourse the A.
syrioiosist Tears the Decaiegue IA
8" P,eces-Praises the Babyt0uiaD Law
or Ham narubi Found at susa-At-
,u,rns thv s.hicai MUnotheism Of inc
Irws-Takes n Logical stand fer the
g. "IIixher Crit cism'--Rev citation Dis
apprars I'm the Light OF Recent
- Babyicnian and Assyr1an DircSvertes.
he lecture delivered by Prof. Friedrich
..litzech before Kaiser Wilhelm and the
EMPRESS last Christmas has raieed tre-
mendous row in Germany. Prof. De-
litzFch is the Leading Assyriologist In Ger
many, IL not in the world. He has been
assaiied bitterly by not only orthodox
theoiopfars, as was 20 b. expected, but
also by other Assyriologiste. who assert
that his statements are too sweeping and
not wholly backed up by the discoveries
made. Among these Is Prof Hilprecht
81 Philadelphia. who has been the director
Of the American excavations In the Orient
for some wears. and has been uphold
ing the orthodox views against Prof, De-
litzsch in recent lectures in Berlin.
-, A queer outcome OF the controversy tn
the taking up nv the anti-Semites OF tha
VIEW that the Bible is not inspired as a
reason for attacking the jewish race. Prof.
Delft zsch IL naturally amazed at this turn
Of the controversy and denies emphstically
in a note to his lecture that any such idea
was in his mind. German interest in Prof.
nelitzsch's views has been increased nv the
extraordinary letter which Kaiser Wilhelm
wrote 10 Admiral Holman to quiet the
storm of popular criticism, raised by the
fact that the heed Of the nation and OF the
Prrssian State Church had seemed. by his
silence to approve the Telityscli views This
letter will be found Immediately after the
translation Of the lecture. The Emperor
eiise improves OF the sweeping inferences
drawn by Prof. Dclitzsch. and upholds tho
Mcssianic revelation in the Old Testament.
Tn the confession Of faith with which II CON-
chIdes, however. apparently the Emperor
substantially accepts Prof. Delitzsch's
roint Of view and looks complacently on
what diminution ~ the Jewish races glories
the new invest igations may bring about.
Prof Deltzsch is 81 years OF age and has
been professor Of Semitic languages and
Assyriologv for twentv-si0 years. frst at
Jeipzig, then at Breslau and since 1899 at
the University Of Berlin. He Is the son OF
Franz Deitzsch. the celebrated theologian
and Hebraist Of Leipzig University. who
died dozen wears ago. He is Lutheran,
and can point back to long line 81 ances-
tors, all Lutheran theologians He deliv-
cred lecture a year ago under the same
title, Babel und Bibal,' which aroused a
good deal OF opposition.
A translation Of the lecture, In which he
takes the attitude that belongs in his judg-
ment, tn the higher criticism, 80 far as
Assyriology IA concerned, follows. The
only omissions are Of some passages. dem.
onstrating purely archaeological points,
Of secondary interest The lecture here
follows:
II Is a pity that 40 many people allow a
biased regard for doFmatic questions to
embitter the jov over the rich spoils which
BABYLON as an interpreter and illustrator
~ the Bible il steadily Welding 10 us, to
the poin. that they completely ignore their
value. And yet how thankful must all
readers and expounders OF the Bible be for
the now information which the labortous
excavations among Babylonian and Assy-
rian ruins have procured for us and con-
tinuousy procure for us.
I, too. avoid. IA matter Of principle.
talking continuously about the 'confrma-
ton" Of the Bible. For really. the Old
Testament as n source ~ ancient history
would be in evil case IL II everywhere needed
confirmation from the cuueiform monu-
ments. But when the Biblical Book 81
Kings tolls us that the inhabitants OF
town OF Kutha, who were settled In Sa-
maria honored the god Nereal, and we
now not only know that this Babylonian
town Ku'ha lies buried under the ruin
mound Ten Ibrahir. seven hours north
west 81 Babylon, but a c,ineiform text eN-
pressly says that the city god Of kutha
was called Nergal. that Is something for
which We should he thankful. Here Prof
Deli lsoh explains how Chalach and other
places have becn iden,ifed.
Down to recent times the conquest and
plunderng Of Egyptian Thebes mentioned
nv the Prophet Nahum was a puzzle, 30
tina, nobody could say IA what the words
Of the prophet referred. Nahum. ILL.,. q.
sArt thou INinevehl bstter than populous
No NO Anon l. Thebesl that vas situate
among the rivers. that had the waters
round about " and 10: Yet was
sl~carried awe y she went into captivity her
ycung children al.o were dashed IN pleoes
~ the top ~ all the streets and they cast
bots for her honorable men. and all her
urea, men xer. hound In chains Then
the magnificent ten sided clay prssm ~
Asurl,anipal was discovered ~ Nineyeh,
vhch tell. No on its s4sond column that u
sss Asurbanipal WHO. following from
nsusphi. the fgypiian king Vrdsnans,
s1ns " Theps' conquered n and 'ooh
sway s'itrr, gold, precious stones, all tho
palace ifeaslrss. ths inhaliliants, man and
ssaaR. q goa. msasufsls-s booiy from