Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-07-18
MORE SCRIPTURE,

The New York world a few days ago
contained an account OF recently
fonpd Hebrew manuscript DR.. Moses
Caster. chief Rabbi Of the Spanish ana
Portuguese Jews In England, is tho
alscoverer OF this manuscript winch ls
said TO be a Samaritan version of inc
BOOK of Joshua DR.. Caster believes
the manuscript dates from the year @Vv
n. C.. If this surmise is correct "
wonld be one Of the most ancient BID
heal manuscripts IN existence The
most famous, such as the Vatican ana
sinai goddess, are no older than the
fourth century of our era
The manuscript referred 10 is said
10 contain some important variations
from the commonly known text. II
places the date of the death Of Moses
at the year 279l after the creation
This differs from the chronologies of
Usher, and Hales and also from the
Hebrew chronology.
The account of the transgression OF
Aohan is said to be somewhat differ
emf from that given in the commonly
known Book OF Joshua. According TO
the latter. Achan took as loot - good
ly BabyloniFh garment and TWO nun
dred shekels OF silver, and wedge
OF gold of Atty shekels weight Ac-
cording to the Samaritan version now
found, the loot was golden idol. The
Bible relates that Joshua discovered
the guilty man by drawing lots among
the tribes. and Judah was taken; by
lots among the families of Judah ana
the Znrhites We're taken: by lots among
Tho households and that of Iabdi was
tnken. by lots among the individuals
Of this family and Achan was taken.
How the lot was cast the Bible
does not state. but the Samaritan YER
sion has II that the names of the tribes,
families and so on. were pronounced
one after the other and that when tho
Fight one was named the stones In the
breastplate of the high. priest grew
dim. This may shed new light upon
the use ancently of the Urim and
Thummini, subject concerning which
there Is a difference OF opinion among
scholars outside the Church of Jesus
Christ of Latter-day Saints
The trim and Thummlm undoubted-
Iy were two stones signifying lights
and ''perfcctions.' or revelation and
Ytrnth9 placed in the pocket formed
by tho folds Of The breastplate which
the presiding High Priest wore as part
OF llis gorgeous uniform They were
not identical with the gems of the
breastplate. That is cloar from the
scriptural account. The use of these
sacred stones is indicated. Through
them revelations were obtained. 1t
was mark Of divine displeasuro whom
the Lord did not answer Saul, neither
by dreams. nor by Trim, nor by
prophets. But how did the revelations
come by Trim? Tho Samaritan YER
sion. IL Is claimed states that the
stones grew dim," thereby indicat-
ing The answer to the question asked.
The last time the Trim and Thum-
MIN are mentioned IN Bible history Is
after the return from the captivity,
when the Tirshatha," or governor
decreed that certain persons whose
genealogy could not he found, should
wait for the privileges of the holy
Priesthood. ''till there stood up priest
with Trim and Thummlm,' by whom
their claim might be decided ezra :!
63)
The next time we hear of the Urim
and Thummlm is when the Lord caus-
es that Instrument to be delivered tc
the Prophet Joseph. in order that he
might be enabled to open up the new
disponsatlon and proclaim the ever
lasting gospel to all the world