按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
put together these three considerations； namely； the unity of the subject of
all the books； the connection between them； and the fact that they are
compilations made many generations after the events they relate had taken
place； we come to the conclusion； as I have just stated； that they are all the
work of a single historian。 （100） Who this historian was； it is not so easy
to show； but I suspect that he was Ezra； and there are several strong
reasons for adopting this hypothesis。
（101） The historian whom we already know to be but one individual
brings his history down to the liberation of Jehoiakim； and adds that he
himself sat at the king's table all his life … that is； at the table either of
Jehoiakim； or of the son of Nebuchadnezzar； for the sense of the passage is
ambiguous： hence it follows that he did not live before the time of Ezra。
（102） But Scripture does not testify of any except of Ezra （Ezra vii：10）；
that he 〃prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord； and to set it forth；
and further that he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses。〃 （103）
Therefore； I can not find anyone； save Ezra； to whom to attribute the
sacred books。
（104） Further； from this testimony concerning Ezra； we see that he
prepared his heart； not only to seek the law of the Lord； but also to set it
forth； and； in Nehemiah viii：8； we read that 〃they read in the book of the
law of God distinctly； and gave the sense； and caused them to understand
50
… Page 51…
A Theologico…Political Treatise Part 2
the reading。〃
（105） As； then； in Deuteronomy； we find not only the book of the law
of Moses； or the greater part of it； but also many things inserted for its
better explanation； I conjecture that this Deuteronomy is the book of the
law of God； written； set forth； and explained by Ezra； which is referred to
in the text above quoted。 （106） Two examples of the way matters were
inserted parenthetically in the text of Deuteronomy； with a view to its
fuller explanation； we have already given； in speaking of Aben Ezra's
opinion。 （107） Many others are found in the course of the work： for
instance； in chap。 ii：12： 〃The Horims dwelt also in Seir beforetime； but the
children of Esau succeeded them； when they had destroyed them from
before them； and dwelt in their stead； as Israel did unto the land of his
possession； which the Lord gave unto them。〃 （108） This explains verses 3
and 4 of the same chapter； where it is stated that Mount Seir； which had
come to the children of Esau for a possession； did not fall into their hands
uninhabited； but that they invaded it； and turned out and destroyed the
Horims； who formerly dwelt therein； even as the children of Israel had
done unto the Canaanites after the death of Moses。
（109） So； also； verses 6； 7； 8； 9； of the tenth chapter are inserted
parenthetically among the words of Moses。 Everyone must see that verse 8；
which begins； 〃At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi；〃
necessarily refers to verse 5； and not to the death of Aaron； which is only
mentioned here by Ezra because Moses； in telling of the golden calf
worshipped by the people； stated that he had prayed for Aaron。
（110） He then explains that at the time at which Moses spoke； God had
chosen for Himself the tribe of Levi in order that He may point out the
reason for their election； and for the fact of their not sharing in the
inheritance； after this digression； he resumes the thread of Moses' speech。
（111） To these parentheses we must add the preface to the book； and all the
passages in which Moses is spoken of in the third person； besides many
which we cannot now distinguish； though； doubtless； they would have
been plainly recognized by the writer's contemporaries。
（112） If； I say； we were in possession of the book of the law as Moses
wrote it； I do not doubt that we should find a great difference in the words
51
… Page 52…
A Theologico…Political Treatise Part 2
of the precepts； the order in which they are given； and the reasons by
which they are supported。
（113） A comparison of the decalogue in Deuteronomy with the
decalogue in Exodus； where its history is explicitly set forth； will be
sufficient to show us a wide discrepancy in all these three particulars； for
the fourth commandment is given not only in a different form； but at much
greater length； while the reason for its observance differs wholly from that
stated in Exodus。 （114） Again； the order in which the tenth commandment
is explained differs in the two versions。 （115） I think that the differences
here as elsewhere are the work of Ezra； who explained the law of God to
his contemporaries； and who wrote this book of the law of God； before
anything else； this I gather from the fact that it contains the laws of the
country； of which the people stood in most need； and also because it is not
joined to the book which precedes it by any connecting phrase； but begins
with the independent statement； 〃these are the words of Moses。〃 （116）
After this task was completed； I think Ezra set himself to give a complete
account of the history of the Hebrew nation from the creation of the world
to the entire destruction of the city； and in this account he inserted the
book of Deuteronomy； and； possibly； he called the first five books by the
name of Moses； because his life is chiefly contained therein； and forms
their principal subject； for the same reason he called the sixth Joshua； the
seventh Judges； the eighth Ruth； the ninth； and perhaps the tenth； Samuel；
and； lastly； the eleventh and twelfth Kings。 （117） Whether Ezra put the
finishing touches to this work and finished it as he intended； we will
discuss in the next chapter。
52
… Page 53…
A Theologico…Political Treatise Part 2
CHAPTER IX
OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE SAME BOOKS：
NAMELY； WHETHER THEY WERE COMPLETELY FINISHED BY
EZRA； AND； FURTHER； WHETHER THE MARGINAL NOTES
WHICH ARE FOUND IN THE HEBREW TEXTS WERE VARIOUS
READINGS。
（1） How greatly the inquiry we have just made concerning the real
writer of the twelve books aids us in attaining a complete understanding of
them； may be easily gathered solely from the passages which we have
adduced in confirmation of our opinion； and which would be most obscure
without it。 （2） But besides the question of the writer； there are other points
to notice which common superstition forbids the multitude to apprehend。
（3） Of these the chief is； that Ezra （whom I will take to be the author of the
aforesaid books until some more likely person be suggested） did not put
the finishing touches to the narrative contained therein； but merely
collected the histories from various writers； and sometimes simply set
them down； leaving their examination and arrangement to posterity。
（4） The cause （if it were not untimely death） which prevented him
from completing his work in all its portions； I cannot conjecture； but the
fact remains most clear； although we have lost the writings of the ancient
Hebrew historians； and can only judge from the few fragments which are
still extant。 （5） For the history of Hezekiah （2 Kings xviii：17）； as written in
the vision of Isaiah； is related as it is found in the chronicles of the kings
of Judah。 （6） We read the same story； told with few exceptions； ＇Endnote
11＇； in the same words； in the book of Isaiah which was contained in the
chronicles of the kings of Judah （2 Chron。 xxxii：32）。 （7） From this we
must conclude that there were various versions of this narrative of Isaiah's；
unless； indeed； anyone would dream that