CONTENTS. The Interpretation and Accomplishment of the Predictions posterior to the term of sixty two The Interpretation and Accomplishment of the Prediction concerning the supplemental Week, A DISSERTATION ON THE SEVENTY WEEKS OF DANIEL. CHAPTER I. Of the true Reading of the Hebrew Text. THE extent of four verses should seem to afford but a very narrow space for the exercise of critical sagacity in the detection of textual errors and the substitution of new readings; yet no less than twelve emendations or alterations are proposed and introduced by the authors of the last two treatises, that have been published in this country, expressly on the subject of the seventy weeks, exclusively of those recommended by others, within this short portion of holy writ; which, to save the reader the trouble of reference, is here transcribed from the edition of Van der Hooght. B שבעים שבעים נחתך על עמך ועל עיר קדשך לכלא הפשע ולחתם חטאות ולכפר עון ולהביא צדק עלמים ולחתם חזון ונביא ולמשח קדש קדשים: ותדע ותשכל מן מצא דבר להשיב ולבנות ירושלם עד משיח נגיד שבעים שבעה ושבעים ששים ושנים תשוב ונבנתה רחוב וחרוץ ובצוק העתים: ואחרי השבעים ששים ושנים יכרת משיח ואין לו והעיר והקדש ישחית עם נגיד הבא וקצו בשטף ועד קץ מלחמה נחרצת שממות : והגביר ברית לרבים שבוע אחד וחצי השבוע ישבית זבח ומנחה ועל כנף שקוצים משמם ועד כלה ונחרצה תתך על שומם : In these few sentences the following alterations are proposed or adopted and received in the dissertations of Dr. Blaney and Mr. Faber. I. Dr. .II .שבועים reads שבעים Blaney, in verse 24, for לחתם III. For .לכלה reads לכלא Mr. Faber for IV. In .להתם both those learned writers read ; ששים before ו verse 25 the Doctor adds the letter שנים after שנה and V. the word VI. In verse .VII .העתים he adds the word אחרי after 26 VIII. He adds the .שבע he adds השבעים After Mr. Faber השבעים IX. After .ששים before ו letter .שבעה והשבעים adds two words .שיקוץ read שקוצים Blaney and Mr. Faber for X. Both Dr. The alterations above stated, as proposed or adopted by Mr. Faber, he enumerates and defends in his dissertation, p. 230, 231; but in his translation of the 26th verse he makes two other additions, of which he gives no notice, adding, ישחית before כי .and, XII לו after עוד .XI Of the portentous list of alterations here exhibited a few rest on respectable authority, and, if received into the text, would produce little change in its appearance and little effect on its meaning. But of the rest the far greater part are not less important in their consequences than formidable for their number and magnitude. It is however to be observed, that as they are brought forward by the two learned critics severally, so they are at widest variance, yea absolutely inconsistent with each other. It is impossible to make Mr. Faber's insertion, No. 9, agree with Dr. Blaney's, Nos. 6, 7, 8. Since then the two sets of various readings do not act with combined force, there is none of that prejudice against the printed Hebrew text, which would arise from the concurrence of separate and unconcerted criticisms. A farther examination being admitted may be followed by various results: it may confirm the present text, or accredit one of the new sets of readings; or lastly, it may go to shake the authority of the text without overturning it or substituting either of the new sets of readings in its place. Should the last unhappily be the effect, it would cut up by the very roots all means of ascertaining what the prophet has written, and of course must destroy all hope of acquiring a satisfactory interpretation of the prophecy. If again those alterations depend on |