theologico-political treatise p2(神学与政治专题研究2)-第14章
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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 in this； too； there lurks a mystery。
（8） Further； the last chapter of 2 Kings 27…30 is repeated in the last chapter
of Jeremiah； v。31…34。
（9） Again； we find 2 Sam。 vii。 repeated in I Chron。 xvii。； but the
expressions in the two passages are so curiously varied ＇Endnote 12＇； that
we can very easily see that these two chapters were taken from two
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different versions of the history of Nathan。
（10） Lastly； the genealogy of the kings of Idumaea contained in
Genesis xxxvi：31； is repeated in the same words in 1 Chron。 i。； though we
know that the author of the latter work took his materials from other
historians； not from the twelve books we have ascribed to Ezra。 （10） We
may therefore be sure that if we still possessed the writings of the
historians； the matter would be made clear； however； as we have lost them；
we can only examine the writings still extant； and from their order and
connection； their various repetitions； and； lastly； the contradictions in dates
which they contain； judge of the rest。
（11） These； then； or the chief of them； we will now go through。 （12）
First； in the story of Judah and Tamar （Gen。 xxxviii。） the historian thus
begins： 〃And it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his
brethren。〃 （13） This time cannot refer to what immediately precedes
＇Endnote 13＇； but must necessarily refer to something else； for from the
time when Joseph was sold into Egypt to the time when the patriarch
Jacob； with all his family； set out thither； cannot be reckoned as more than
twenty…two years； for Joseph； when he was sold by his brethren； was
seventeen years old； and when he was summoned by Pharaoh from prison
was thirty； if to this we add the seven years of plenty and two of famine；
the total amounts to twenty…two years。 （14） Now； in so short a period； no
one can suppose that so many things happened as are described； that Judah
had three children； one after the other； from one wife； whom he married at
the beginning of the period； that the eldest of these； when he was old
enough； married Tamar； and that after he died his next brother succeeded
to her； that； after all this； Judah； without knowing it； had intercourse with
his daughter…in…law； and that she bore him twins； and； finally； that the
eldest of these twins became a father within the aforesaid period。 （15） As
all these events cannot have taken place within the period mentioned in
Genesis； the reference must necessarily be to something treated of in
another book： and Ezra in this instance simply related the story； and
inserted it without examination among his other writings。
（16） However； not only this chapter but the whole narrative of Joseph
and Jacob is collected and set forth from various histories； inasmuch as it
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is quite inconsistent with itself。 （17） For in Gen。 xlvii。 we are told that
Jacob； when he came at Joseph's bidding to salute Pharaoh； was 130 years
old。 （18） If from this we deduct the twenty…two years which he passed
sorrowing for the absence of Joseph and the seventeen years forming
Joseph's age when he was sold； and； lastly； the seven years for which
Jacob served for Rachel； we find that he was very advanced in life； namely；
eighty four； when he took Leah to wife； whereas Dinah was scarcely seven
years old when she was violated by Shechem； ＇Endnote 14＇。 （19） Simeon
and Levi were aged respectively eleven and twelve when they spoiled the
city and slew all the males therein with the sword。
（20） There is no need that I should go through the whole Pentateuch。
（21） If anyone pays attention to the way in which all the histories and
precepts in these five books are set down promiscuously and without order；
with no regard for dates； and further； how the same story is often repeated；
sometimes in a different version； he will easily； I say； discern that all the
materials were promiscuously collected and heaped together； in order that
they might at some subsequent time be more readily examined and
reduced to order。 （22） Not only these five books； but also the narratives
contained in the remaining seven； going down to the destruction of the city；
are compiled in the same way。 （23） For who does not see that in Judges
ii：6 a new historian is being quoted； who had also written of the deeds of
Joshua； and that his words are simply copied？ （24） For after our historian
has stated in the last chapter of the book of Joshua that Joshua died and
was buried； and has promised； in the first chapter of Judges； to relate what
happened after his death； in what way； if he wished to continue the thread
of his history； could he connect the statement here made about Joshua with
what had gone before？
（25） So； too； 1 Sam。 17； 18； are taken from another historian； who
assigns a cause for David's first frequenting Saul's court very different
from that given in chap。 xvi。 of the same book。 （26） For he did not think
that David came to Saul in consequence of the advice of Saul's servants； as
is narrated in chap。 xvi。； but that being sent by chance to the camp by his
father on a message to his brothers； he was for the first time remarked by
Saul on the occasion of his victory； over Goliath the Philistine； and was
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retained at his court。
（27） I suspect the same thing has taken place in chap。 xxvi。 of the same
book； for the historian there seems to repeat the narrative given in chap。
xxiv。 according to another man's version。 （28） But I pass over this； and go
on to the computation of dates。
（29） In I Kings； chap。 vi。； it is said that Solomon built the Temple in
the four hundred and eightieth year after the exodus from Egypt； but from
the historians themselves we get a much longer period； for：
Years。 Moses governed the people in the desert 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40
Joshua； who lived 110 years； did not； according to Josephus and
others' opinion rule more than 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 26 Cusban
Rishathaim held the people in subjection 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 8 Othniel； son
of Kenag； was judge for 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 ＇Endnote 15＇ 40 Eglon； King of
Moab； governed the people 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 18 Ehucl and Shamgar
were judges 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 80 Jachin； King of Canaan； held the
people in subjection 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 20 The people was at peace subsequently
for 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40 It was under subjection to
Median 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 7 It obtained freedom under Gideon
for 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40 It fell under the rule of
Abimelech 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3 Tola； son of Puah； was
judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 23 Jair was
judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 22 The people was in subjection
to the Philistines and Ammonites 。 。 。 。 。 18 Jephthah was
judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 6 Ibzan； the Bethlehemite； was
judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 7 Elon； the
Zabulonite 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 10 Abclon； the
Pirathonite 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 8 The people was again subject
to the Philistines 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40 Samson was
judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 ＇Endnote 16＇ 20 Eli was
judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40 The people again fell into
subjection to the Philistines； till they were delivered by
Samuel 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 20 David
reigned 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40 Solomon reigned before he
built the temple 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 4
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（30） All these periods added together make a total of 580 years。 （31）
But to these must be added the years during which the Hebrew republic
flourished after the death
