theologico-political treatise p2(神学与政治专题研究2)-第15章
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But to these must be added the years during which the Hebrew republic
flourished after the death of Joshua； until it was conquered by Cushan
Rishathaim； which I take to be very numerous； for I cannot bring myself to
believe that immediately after the death of Joshua all those who had
witnessed his miracles died simultaneously； nor that their successors at
one stroke bid farewell to their laws； and plunged from the highest virtue
into the depth of wickedness and obstinacy。
（32） Nor； lastly； that Cushan Rishathaim subdued them on the instant；
each one of these circumstances requires almost a generation； and there is
no doubt that Judges ii：7； 9； 10； comprehends a great many years which it
passes over in silence。 （33） We must also add the years during which
Samuel was judge； the number of which is not stated in Scripture； and also
the years during which Saul reigned； which are not clearly shown from his
history。 （34） It is； indeed； stated in 1 Sam。 xiii：1； that he reigned two years；
but the text in that passage is mutilated； and the records of his reign lead
us to suppose a longer period。 （35） That the text is mutilated I suppose no
one will doubt who has ever advanced so far as the threshold of the
Hebrew language； for it runs as follows： 〃Saul was in his year； when he
began to reign； and he reigned two years over Israel。〃 （36） Who； I say；
does not see that the number of the years of Saul's age when he began to
reign has been omitted？ （37） That the record of the reign presupposes a
greater number of years is equally beyond doubt； for in the same book；
chap。 xxvii：7； it is stated that David sojourned among the Philistines； to
whom he had fled on account of Saul； a year and four months； thus the rest
of the reign must have been comprised in a space of eight months； which I
think no one will credit。 （38） Josephus； at the end of the sixth book of his
antiquities； thus corrects the text： Saul reigned eighteen years while
Samuel was alive； and two years after his death。 （39） However； all the
narrative in chap。 Xiii。 is in complete disagreement with what goes before。
（40） At the end of chap。 vii。 it is narrated that the Philistines were so
crushed by the Hebrews that they did not venture； during Samuel's life； to
invade the borders of Israel； but in chap。 xiii。 we are told that the Hebrews
were invaded during the life of Samuel by the Philistines； and reduced by
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them to such a state of wretchedness and poverty that they were deprived
not only of weapons with which to defend themselves； but also of the
means of making more。 （41） I should be at pains enough if I were to try
and harmonize all the narratives contained in this first book of Samuel so
that they should seem to be all written and arranged by a single historian。
（42） But I return to my object。 （43） The years； then； during which Saul
reigned must be added to the above computation； and； lastly； I have not
counted the years of the Hebrew anarchy； for I cannot from Scripture
gather their number。 （44） I cannot； I say； be certain as to the period
occupied by the events related in Judges chap。 xvii。 on till the end of the
book。
（45） It is thus abundantly evident that we cannot arrive at a true
computation of years from the histories； and； further； that the histories are
inconsistent themselves on the subject。 （46） We are compelled to confess
that these histories were compiled from various writers without previous
arrangement and examination。 （47） Not less discrepancy is found between
the dates given in the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah； and those in the
Chronicles of the Kings of Israel； in the latter； it is stated that Jehoram； the
son of Ahab； began to reign in the second year of the reign of Jehoram； the
son of Jehoshaphat （2 Kings i：17）； but in the former we read that Jehoram；
the son of Jehoshaphat； began to reign in the fifth year of Jehoram； the son
of Ahab （2 Kings viii：16）。 （48） Anyone who compares the narratives in
Chronicles with the narratives in the books of Kings； will find many
similar discrepancies。 （49） These there is no need for me to examine here；
and still less am I called upon to treat of the commentaries of those who
endeavour to harmonize them。 （50） The Rabbis evidently let their fancy
run wild。 （51） Such commentators as I have； read； dream； invent； and as a
last resort； play fast and loose with the language。 （52） For instance； when
it is said in 2 Chronicles； that Ahab was forty…two years old when he
began to reign； they pretend that these years are computed from the reign
of Omri； not from the birth of Ahab。 If this can be shown to be the real
meaning of the writer of the book of Chronicles； all I can say is； that he
did not know how to state a fact。 （53） The commentators make many other
assertions of this kind； which if true； would prove that the ancient
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Hebrews were ignorant both of their own language； and of the way to
relate a plain narrative。 （54） I should in such case recognize no rule or
reason in interpreting Scripture； but it would be permissible to hypothesize
to one's heart's content。
（55） If anyone thinks that I am speaking too generally； and without
sufficient warrant； I would ask him to set himself to showing us some
fixed plan in these histories which might be followed without blame by
other writers of chronicles； and in his efforts at harmonizing and
interpretation； so strictly to observe and explain the phrases and
expressions； the order and the connections； that we may be able to imitate
these also in our writings； ＇Endnote 17＇。 （56） If he succeeds； I will at once
give him my hand； and he shall be to me as great Apollo； for I confess that
after long endeavours I have been unable to discover anything of the kind。
（57） I may add that I set down nothing here which I have not long
reflected upon； and that； though I was imbued from my boyhood up with
the ordinary opinions about the Scriptures； I have been unable to withstand
the force of what I have urged。
（58） However； there is no need to detain the reader with this question；
and drive him to attempt an impossible task； I merely mentioned the fact
in order to throw light on my intention。
（59） I now pass on to other points concerning the treatment of these
books。 （60） For we must remark； in addition to what has been shown； that
these books were not guarded by posterity with such care that no faults
crept in。 （61） The ancient scribes draw attention to many doubtful readings；
and some mutilated passages； but not to all that exist： whether the
commentaries of those who endeavour to harmonize them。 （62） The
Rabbis evidently let their fancy run wild。 （63） Such commentators as I
have； read； dream； invent； and as a last resort； play fast and loose with the
language。 （64） For instance； when it is said in 2 Chronicles； that Ahab was
forty…two years old when he began to reign； they pretend that these years
are computed from the reign of Omri； not from the birth of Ahab。 （65） If
this can be shown to be the real meaning of the writer of the book of
Chronicles； all I can say is； that he did not know how to state a fact。 （66）
The commentators make many other assertions of this kind； which if true；
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would prove that the ancient Hebrews were ignorant both of their own
language； and of the way to relate a plain narrative。 （67） I should in such
case recognize no rule or reason in interpreting Scripture； but it would be
permissible to hypothesize to one's heart's content。
（68） If anyone thinks that I am speaking too generally； and without
sufficient warrant； I would ask him to set himself to showing us some
fixed plan in these histories which might be followed without blame by
other writers of chronicles； and in his efforts at harmonizing and
interpretation； so strictly to observe and explain the phrases and
expressions； the order and the connections； that we may be able to imitate
these also in our writings （17）。 （69） If he succeeds； I will at once give him
my hand； and he shall be to me as great Apollo； for I confess that after
long endeavours I have been unable to discover anything of the kind。 （70）
I may add that I set down nothing here which I have not long reflected
upon； and that； though I was imbued from my boyhood up with the
ordinary opinions about the Scriptures； I have been unable to withstand the
force of what I have urged。
（71） However； there is no need to detain the reader with this question；
and drive him to attempt an impossible task； I merely mentioned the fact
in order to throw light on my intention。
（72） I now pass on to other points concerning the treatment of these
books。 （73） For we must remark； in addition to what has been shown； that
these books were not guarded by posterity with such care that no faults
crept in。 （74） The ancient scribes draw attention to many doubtful readings；
and some mutilated passages； but not to all that exist： whether the faults
are of sufficient importance to greatly； embarrass the reader I will not now
discuss。 （75） I am inclined to think that they are of minor moment to those；
at any rate； who read the Scriptures with enlightenment： and I can
positively； affirm that I have not noticed any fault or various reading in
doctrinal passages sufficient to render them obscure or doubtful。
