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caused to be religiously guarded and preserved。 （67） In the first covenant
he had only bound over those who were present； but in the second
covenant he bound over all their descendants also （Dent。 xxix：14）； and
therefore ordered this covenant with future ages to be religiously
preserved； together with the Song； which was especially addressed to
posterity： as； then； we have no proof that Moses wrote any book save this
of the covenant； and as he committed no other to the care of posterity； and；
lastly； as there are many passages in the Pentateuch which Moses could
not have written； it follows that the belief that Moses was the author of the
Pentateuch is ungrounded and even irrational。 （68） Someone will perhaps
ask whether Moses did not also write down other laws when they were
first revealed to him … in other words； whether； during the course of forty
years； he did not write down any of the laws which he promulgated； save
only those few which I have stated to be contained in the book of the first
covenant。 （69） To this I would answer； that although it seems reasonable to
suppose that Moses wrote down the laws at the time when he wished to
communicate them to the people； yet we are not warranted to take it as
proved； for I have shown above that we must make no assertions in such
matters which we do not gather from Scripture； or which do not flow as
legitimate consequences from its fundamental principles。 （70） We must
not accept whatever is reasonably probable。 （71） However even reason in
this case would not force such a conclusion upon us： for it may be that the
assembly of elders wrote down the decrees of Moses and communicated
them to the people； and the historian collected them； and duly set them
forth in his narrative of the life of Moses。 （72） So much for the five books
of Moses： it is now time for us to turn to the other sacred writings。
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（73） The book of Joshua may be proved not to be an autograph by
reasons similar to those we have just employed： for it must be some other
than Joshua who testifies that the fame of Joshua was spread over the
whole world； that he omitted nothing of what Moses had taught （Josh。
vi：27； viii。 last verse； xi：15）； that he grew old and summoned an assembly
of the whole people； and finally that he departed this life。 （74）
Furthermore； events are related which took place after Joshua's death。 （75）
For instance； that the Israelites worshipped God； after his death； so long as
there were any old men alive who remembered him； and in chap。 xvi：10；
we read that 〃Ephraim and Manasseh did not drive out the Canaanites
which dwelt in Gezer； but the Canaanite dwelt in the land of Ephraim unto
this day； and was tributary to him。〃 （76） This is the same statement as that
in Judges； chap。 i。； and the phrase 〃unto this day〃 shows that the writer
was speaking of ancient times。 （77） With these texts we may compare the
last verse of chap。 xv。； concerning the sons of Judah； and also the history
of Caleb in the same chap。 v：14。 （78） Further； the building of an altar
beyond Jordan by the two tribes and a half； chap。 xxii：10； sqq。； seems to
have taken place after the death of Joshua； for in the whole narrative his
name is never mentioned； but the people alone held council as to waging
war； sent out legates； waited for their return； and finally approved of their
answer。
（79） Lastly； from chap。 x：14； it is clear that the book was written many
generations after the death of Joshua； for it bears witness ；there was never
any； day like unto； that day； either before or after； that the Lord hearkened
to the voice of a man；〃 &c。 （80） If； therefore； Joshua wrote any book at all；
it was that which is quoted in the work now before us； chap。 x：13。
（81） With regard to the book of Judges； I suppose no rational person
persuades himself that it was written by the actual Judges。 （82） For the
conclusion of the whole history contained in chap。 ii。 clearly shows that it
is all the work … of a single historian。 （83） Further； inasmuch as the writer
frequently tells us that there was then no king in Israel； it is evident that
the book was written after the establishment of the monarchy。
（84） The books of Samuel need not detain us long； inasmuch as the
narrative in them is continued long after Samuel's death； but I should like
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to draw attention to the fact that it was written many generations after
Samuel's death。 （85） For in book i。 chap。 ix：9； the historian remarks in a；
parenthesis； 〃Beforetime； in Israel； when a man went to inquire of God；
thus he spake： Come； and let us go to the seer； for he that is now called a
prophet was beforetime called a seer。〃
（86） Lastly； the books of Kings； as we gather from internal evidence；
were compiled from the books of King Solomon （I Kings xi：41）； from the
chronicles of the kings of Judah （1 Kings xiv：19； 29）； and the chronicles of
the kings of Israel。
（87） We may； therefore； conclude that all the books we have
considered hitherto are compilations； and that the events therein are
recorded as having happened in old time。 （88） Now； if we turn our
attention to the connection and argument of all these books； we shall
easily see that they were all written by a single historian； who wished to
relate the antiquities of the Jews from their first beginning down to the
first destruction of the city。 （89） The way in which the several books are
connected one with the other is alone enough to show us that they form the
narrative of one and the same writer。 （90） For as soon as he has related the
life of Moses； the historian thus passes on to the story of Joshua： 〃And it
came to pass after that Moses the servant of the Lord was dead； that God
spake unto Joshua；〃 &c。； so in the same way； after the death of Joshua was
concluded； he passes with identically the same transition and connection
to the history of the Judges： 〃And it came to pass after that Joshua was
dead； that the children of Israel sought from God；〃 &c。 （91） To the book of
Judges he adds the story of Ruth； as a sort of appendix； in these words：
〃Now it came to pass in the days that the judges ruled； that there was a
famine in the land。〃
（92） The first book of Samuel is introduced with a similar phrase； and
so is the second book of Samuel。 （93） Then； before the history of David is
concluded； the historian passes in the same way to the first book of Kings；
and； after David's death； to the Second book of Kings。
（94） The putting together； and the order of the narratives； show that
they are all the work of one man； writing with a create aim； for the
historian begins with relating the first origin of the Hebrew nation； and
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then sets forth in order the times and the occasions in which Moses put
forth his laws； and made his predictions。 （95） He then proceeds to relate
how the Israelites invaded the promised land in accordance with Moses'
prophecy （Deut。 vii。）； and how； when the land was subdued； they turned
their backs on their laws； and thereby incurred many misfortunes （Deut。
xxxi：16； 17）。 （96） He tells how they wished to elect rulers； and how；
according as these rulers observed the law； the people flourished or
suffered （Deut。 xxviii：36）； finally； how destruction came upon the nation；
even as Moses had foretold。 （97） In regard to other matters； which do not
serve to confirm the law； the writer either passes over them in silence； or
refers the reader to other books for information。 （98） All that is set down
in the books we have conduces to the sole object of setting forth the words
and laws of Moses； and proving them by subsequent events。（99） When we
put together these three considerations； namely； the unity of the subject of
all the boo