On this page
-
Text (1)
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
translation he has adopted . Eve said , " I have acquired a man . from ( or through ) Jehovah ; " she therefore called his name Cain ( acquisition ) . It was quite natural for her thus to express her joy at receiving what she could not but regard as a great comfort and blessing , and there is no reason for seeking any mystery in the words , or for supposing that whatever hopes they may be thought to imply related to the approaching fulfillment of any divine promises . We pass to < Sect . viii . 2 Sam . xxiii . 1—7 . The passage contains what is believed to be the latest written of the poems of David . It apparently relates to his confidence in the fulfilment of God ' s promises respecting the future glory of his family , but is thought by many to be prophetic of the reign of the Messiah , in which view it is brought forward by our author . Its interpretation is attended with great difficulty , owing probably to the corrupt state of the text , and we cannot but think the sense at present too uncertain for it to be appealed to as of any importance in the support of a controverted doctrine . As , however , Dr . Smith finds in it the direct application of the name Jehovah to the Messiah , we shall just lay before our readers the true state of the fact . 2 Sam . xxiii ; 4 , the Authorized Version gives , " And he shall be as the light of the morning , when the sun riseth , even a morning without clouds ; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain . " Dr . Smith , inserting the word Jeho ~ vah on the authority of a single Hebrew MS ., ( a valuable one certainly , yet only one , ) doubtfully supported by the ancient Greek Version , translates thus :
Ver . 3 , " Ruling over man is a Righteous one Ruling in the fear of God : Ver . 4 . Even as the light of the morning shall be arise , Jehovah the sun , A morning without clouds for brightness , ( As ) after rain the herbage from the earth . " Dr . Kennicott , who first brought to light the various reading , thus renders the words : Ver . 3 . t € The Just one ruleth among men , He ruleth by the fear of God ! Ver , 4 . As the light of the morning ariseth Jehovah A sun , without clouds , for brightness ; And as the grass from the earth after rain . Ver . 5 . Verily thus is my house with God , " &c .
Though no considerate man would build much on a passage so doubtful , we allow that the authority for inserting the word Jehovah is important , and we think that Dr . K . ' s version ( which we much prefer to our author ' s ) gives a much clearer sense than we have seen derived from the common text ; but admitting this version , and admitting what is more doubtful , though we would not pretend positively to deny it , that the words are prophetic of the
kingdom of the Messiah , the obvious and natural interpretation would be , not to regard Jehovah as a name given to the Messiah , but to consider the great events contemplated as the bright and glorious manifestation of his presence , the proofs of his fidelity to his covenant with David . It is found , then , that the passage is altogether very obscure ; that its application to the subject of the Messiah is not a little doubtful ; that its whole point in the controversy respecting the person of Christ , depends on an uncertain emenda tion of the text ; and that , admitting this , ( which , as it is plausible , and seems
Untitled Article
Dr . J . /\ Smith ' * Scripture Testimony to the Messiah . 109
-
-
Citation
-
Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1831, page 109, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2594/page/37/
-