theologico-political treatise p2(神学与政治专题研究2)-第18章
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prophecy without any regard to dates； until at last； in chap。 xxxviii。 （as if
the intervening chapters had been a parenthesis）； he takes up the thread
dropped in。 chap。 xxi。
（19） In fact； the conjunction with which chap。 xxxviii。 begins； refers to
the 8th； 9th； and 10th verses of chap。 xxi。 Jeremiah's last arrest is then very
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differently described； and a totally separate cause is given for his daily
retention in the court of the prison。
（20） We may thus clearly see that these portions of the book have been
compiled from various sources； and are only from this point of view
comprehensible。 （21） The prophecies contained in the remaining chapters；
where Jeremiah speaks in the first person； seem to be taken from a book
written by Baruch； at Jeremiah's dictation。 （22） These； however； only
comprise （as appears from chap。 xxxvi：2） the prophecies revealed to the
prophet from the time of Josiah to the fourth year of Jehoiakim； at which
period the book begins。 （23） The contents of chap。 xlv：2； on to chap。 li：59；
seem taken from the same volume。
（24） That the book of Ezekiel is only a fragment； is clearly indicated
by the first verse。 （25） For anyone may see that the conjunction with
which it begins； refers to something already said； and connects what
follows therewith。 （26） However； not only this conjunction； but the whole
text of the discourse implies other writings。 （27） The fact of the present
work beginning the thirtieth year shows that the prophet is continuing； not
commencing a discourse； and this is confirmed by the writer； who
parenthetically states in verse 3； 〃The word of the Lord came often unto
Ezekiel the priest； the son of Buzi； in the land of the Chaldeans；〃 as if to
say that the prophecies which he is about to relate are the sequel to
revelations formerly received by Ezekiel from God。 （28） Furthermore；
Josephus； 11 Antiq。〃 x：9； says that Ezekiel prophesied that Zedekiah
should not see Babylon； whereas the book we now have not only contains
no such statement； but contrariwise asserts in chap。 xvii。 that he should be
taken to Babylon as a captive； ＇Endnote 20＇。
（29） Of Hosea I cannot positively state that he wrote more than is now
extant in the book bearing his name； but I am astonished at the smallness
of the quantity； we possess； for the sacred writer asserts that the prophet
prophesied for more than eighty years。
（30） We may assert； speaking generally； that the compiler of the
prophetic books neither collected all the prophets； nor all the writings of
those we have； for of the prophets who are said to have prophesied in the
reign of Manasseh and of whom general mention is made in 2 Chron。
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xxxiii：10； 18； we have； evidently； no prophecies extant； neither have we all
the prophecies of the twelve who give their names to books。 （31） Of Jonah
we have only； the prophecy concerning the Ninevites； though he also
prophesied to the children of Israel； as we learn in 2 Kings xiv：25。
（32） The book and the personality of Job have caused much
controversy。 （33） Some think that the book is the work of Moses； and the
whole narrative merely allegorical。 （34） Such is the opinion of the Rabbins
recorded in the Talmud； and they are supported by； Maimonides in his
〃More Nebuchim。〃 （35） Others believe it to be a true history； and some
suppose that Job lived in the time of Jacob； and was married to his
daughter Dinah。 （36） Aben Ezra； however； as I have already stated； affirms；
in his commentaries； that the work is a translation into Hebrew from some
other language： I could wish that he could advance more cogent arguments
than he does； for we might then conclude that the Gentiles also had sacred
books。 （37） I myself leave the matter undecided； but I conjecture Job to
have been a Gentile； and a man of very stable character； who at first
prospered； then was assailed with terrible calamities； and finally； was
restored to great happiness。 （38） （He is thus named； among others； by
Ezekiel； xiv：12。） （39） I take it that the constancy of his mind amid the
vicissitudes of his fortune occasioned many men to dispute about God's
providence； or at least caused the writer of the book in question to
compose his dialogues； for the contents； and also the style； seem to
emanate far less from a man wretchedly ill and lying among ashes； than
from one reflecting at ease in his study。 （40） I should also be inclined to
agree with Aben Ezra that the book is a translation； for its poetry seems
akin to that of the Gentiles； thus the Father of Gods summons a council；
and Momus； here called Satan； criticizes the Divine decrees with the
utmost freedom。 （41） But these are mere conjectures without any solid
foundation。
（42） I pass on to the book of Daniel； which； from chap。 viii。 onwards；
undoubtedly contains the writing of Daniel himself。 （43） Whence the first
seven chapters are derived I cannot say； we may； however； conjecture that；
as they were first written in Chaldean； they are taken from Chaldean
chronicles。 （44） If this could be proved； it would form a very striking
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proof of the fact that the sacredness of Scripture depends on our
understanding of the doctrines therein signified； and not on the words； the
language； and the phrases in which these doctrines are conveyed to us； and
it would further show us that books which teach and speak of whatever is
highest and best are equally sacred； whatever be the tongue in which they
are written； or the nation to which they belong。
（45） We can； however； in this case only remark that the chapters in
question were written in Chaldee； and yet are as sacred as the rest of the
Bible。
（46） The first book of Ezra is so intimately connected with the book of
Daniel that both are plainly recognizable as the work of the same author；
writing of Jewish history from the time of the first captivity onwards。 （47）
I have no hesitation in joining to this the book of Esther； for the
conjunction with which it begins can refer to nothing else。 （48） It cannot
be the same work as that written by Mordecai； for； in chap。 ix：20…22；
another person relates that Mordecai wrote letters； and tells us their
contents； further； that Queen Esther confirmed the days of Purim in their
times appointed； and that the decree was written in the book that is （by a
Hebraism）； in a book known to all then living； which； as Aben Ezra and
the rest confess； has now perished。 （49） Lastly； for the rest of the acts of
Mordecai； the historian refers us to the chronicles of the kings of Persia。
（50） Thus there is no doubt that this book was written by the same person
as he who recounted the history of Daniel and Ezra； and who wrote
Nehemiah； ＇Endnote 21＇； sometimes called the second book of Ezra。 （51）
We may； then； affirm that all these books are from one hand； but we /have
no clue whatever to the personality of the author。 （52） However； in order
to determine whence he； whoever he was； had gained a knowledge of the
histories which he had； perchance； in great measure himself written； we
may remark that the governors or chiefs of the Jews； after the restoration
of the Temple； kept scribes or historiographers； who wrote annals or
chronicles of them。 （53） The chronicles of the kings are often quoted in the
books of Kings； but the chronicles of the chiefs and priests are quoted for
the first time in Nehemiah xii：23； and again in 1 Macc。 xvi：24。 （54） This is
undoubtedly the book referred to as containing the decree of Esther and
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the acts of Mordecai； and which； as we said with Aben Ezra； is now lost。
（55） From it were taken the whole contents of these four books； for no
other authority is quoted by their writer； or is known to us。
（56） That these books were not written by either Ezra or Nehemiah is
plain from Nehemiah xii：9； where the descendants of the high priest；
Joshua are traced down to Jaddua； the sixth high priest； who went to meet
Alexander the Great； when the Persian empire was almost subdued
（Josephus； 〃Ant。〃 ii。 108）； or who； according to Philo…Judaeus； was the
sixth and last high priest under the Persians。 （57） In the same chapter of
Nehemiah； verse 22； this point is clearly brought out： 〃The Levites in the
days of Eliashib； Joiada； and Johanan； and Jaddua； were recorded chief of
the fathers： also the priests； to the reign of Darius the Persian〃 … that is to
say； in the chronicles； and； I suppose； no one thinks； ＇Endnote 22＇； that
the lives of Nehemiah and Ezra were so prolonged that they outlived
fourteen kings of Persia。 （58） Cyrus was the first who granted the Jews
permission to rebuild their Temple： the period between his time and Darius；
fourteenth and last king of Persia； extends over 230 years。 （59） I have；
therefore； no doubt that these books were written after Judas Maccabaeus
had restored the worship in the Temple； for at that time false books of
Daniel； Ezra； and Esther were published by evil…disposed persons； who
were almost certainly Sadducees； for the writings were never recognized
by the Pharisees； so far as I am aware； and； although certain myths in the
fourth book of Ezra are repeated in the Talmud； they must not be set down
