第9章

(20)Wemaythusclearlyseethattheseportionsofthebookhavebeencompiledfromvarioussources，andareonlyfromthispointofviewcomprehensible。(21)Thepropheciescontainedintheremainingchapters，whereJeremiahspeaksinthefirstperson，seemtobetakenfromabookwrittenbyBaruch，atJeremiah"sdictation。(22)These，however，onlycomprise(asappearsfromchap。xxxvi:2)thepropheciesrevealedtotheprophetfromthetimeofJosiahtothefourthyearofJehoiakim，atwhichperiodthebookbegins。(23)Thecontentsofchap。xlv:2，ontochap。

li:59，seemtakenfromthesamevolume。

(24)ThatthebookofEzekielisonlyafragment，isclearlyindicatedbythefirstverse。(25)Foranyonemayseethattheconjunctionwithwhichitbegins，referstosomethingalreadysaid，andconnectswhatfollowstherewith。(26)However，notonlythisconjunction，butthewholetextofthediscourseimpliesotherwritings。(27)Thefactofthepresentworkbeginningthethirtiethyearshowsthattheprophetiscontinuing，notcommencingadiscourse；andthisisconfirmedbythewriter，whoparentheticallystatesinverse3，"ThewordoftheLordcameoftenuntoEzekielthepriest，thesonofBuzi，inthelandoftheChaldeans，"asiftosaythattheprophecieswhichheisabouttorelatearethesequeltorevelationsformerlyreceivedbyEzekielfromGod。(28)Furthermore，Josephus，11Antiq。"x:9，saysthatEzekielprophesiedthatZedekiahshouldnotseeBabylon，whereasthebookwenowhavenotonlycontainsnosuchstatement，butcontrariwiseassertsinchap。xvii。thatheshouldbetakentoBabylonasacaptive，[Endnote20]。

(29)OfHoseaIcannotpositivelystatethathewrotemorethanisnowextantinthebookbearinghisname，butIamastonishedatthesmallnessofthequantity，wepossess，forthesacredwriterassertsthattheprophetprophesiedformorethaneightyyears。

(30)Wemayassert，speakinggenerally，thatthecompilerofthepropheticbooksneithercollectedalltheprophets，norallthewritingsofthosewehave；foroftheprophetswhoaresaidtohaveprophesiedinthereignofManassehandofwhomgeneralmentionismadein2Chron。xxxiii:10，18，wehave，evidently，nopropheciesextant；neitherhaveweallthepropheciesofthetwelvewhogivetheirnamestobooks。(31)OfJonahwehaveonly，theprophecyconcerningtheNinevites，thoughhealsoprophesiedtothechildrenofIsrael，aswelearnin2Kingsxiv:25。

(32)ThebookandthepersonalityofJobhavecausedmuchcontroversy。(33)

SomethinkthatthebookistheworkofMoses，andthewholenarrativemerelyallegorical。(34)SuchistheopinionoftheRabbinsrecordedintheTalmud，andtheyaresupportedby，Maimonidesinhis"MoreNebuchim。"(35)

Othersbelieveittobeatruehistory，andsomesupposethatJoblivedinthetimeofJacob，andwasmarriedtohisdaughterDinah。(36)AbenEzra，however，asIhavealreadystated，affirms，inhiscommentaries，thattheworkisatranslationintoHebrewfromsomeotherlanguage:Icouldwishthathecouldadvancemorecogentargumentsthanhedoes，forwemightthenconcludethattheGentilesalsohadsacredbooks。(37)Imyselfleavethematterundecided，butIconjectureJobtohavebeenaGentile，andamanofverystablecharacter，whoatfirstprospered，thenwasassailedwithterriblecalamities，andfinally，wasrestoredtogreathappiness。(38)(Heisthusnamed，amongothers，byEzekiel，xiv:12。)(39)ItakeitthattheconstancyofhismindamidthevicissitudesofhisfortuneoccasionedmanymentodisputeaboutGod"sprovidence，oratleastcausedthewriterofthebookinquestiontocomposehisdialogues；forthecontents，andalsothestyle，seemtoemanatefarlessfromamanwretchedlyillandlyingamongashes，thanfromonereflectingateaseinhisstudy。(40)IshouldalsobeinclinedtoagreewithAbenEzrathatthebookisatranslation，foritspoetryseemsakintothatoftheGentiles；thustheFatherofGodssummonsacouncil，andMomus，herecalledSatan，criticizestheDivinedecreeswiththeutmostfreedom。(41)Butthesearemereconjectureswithoutanysolidfoundation。

(42)IpassontothebookofDaniel，which，fromchap。viii。onwards，undoubtedlycontainsthewritingofDanielhimself。(43)WhencethefirstsevenchaptersarederivedIcannotsay；wemay，however，conjecturethat，astheywerefirstwritteninChaldean，theyaretakenfromChaldeanchronicles。(44)Ifthiscouldbeproved，itwouldformaverystrikingproofofthefactthatthesacrednessofScripturedependsonourunderstandingofthedoctrinesthereinsignified，andnotonthewords，thelanguage，andthephrasesinwhichthesedoctrinesareconveyedtous；

anditwouldfurthershowusthatbookswhichteachandspeakofwhateverishighestandbestareequallysacred，whateverbethetongueinwhichtheyarewritten，orthenationtowhichtheybelong。

(45)Wecan，however，inthiscaseonlyremarkthatthechaptersinquestionwerewritteninChaldee，andyetareassacredastherestoftheBible。

(46)ThefirstbookofEzraissointimatelyconnectedwiththebookofDanielthatbothareplainlyrecognizableastheworkofthesameauthor，writingofJewishhistoryfromthetimeofthefirstcaptivityonwards。(47)

IhavenohesitationinjoiningtothisthebookofEsther，fortheconjunctionwithwhichitbeginscanrefertonothingelse。(48)ItcannotbethesameworkasthatwrittenbyMordecai，for，inchap。ix:20-22，anotherpersonrelatesthatMordecaiwroteletters，andtellsustheircontents；further，thatQueenEstherconfirmedthedaysofPurimintheirtimesappointed，andthatthedecreewaswritteninthebookthatis(byaHebraism)，inabookknowntoallthenliving，which，asAbenEzraandtherestconfess，hasnowperished。(49)Lastly，fortherestoftheactsofMordecai，thehistorianrefersustothechroniclesofthekingsofPersia。(50)ThusthereisnodoubtthatthisbookwaswrittenbythesamepersonashewhorecountedthehistoryofDanielandEzra，andwhowroteNehemiah，[Endnote21]，sometimescalledthesecondbookofEzra。(51)Wemay，then，affirmthatallthesebooksarefromonehand；butwe/havenocluewhatevertothepersonalityoftheauthor。(52)However，inordertodeterminewhencehe，whoeverhewas，hadgainedaknowledgeofthehistorieswhichhehad，perchance，ingreatmeasurehimselfwritten，wemayremarkthatthegovernorsorchiefsoftheJews，aftertherestorationoftheTemple，keptscribesorhistoriographers，whowroteannalsorchroniclesofthem。(53)ThechroniclesofthekingsareoftenquotedinthebooksofKings，butthechroniclesofthechiefsandpriestsarequotedforthefirsttimeinNehemiahxii:23，andagainin1Macc。xvi:24。(54)ThisisundoubtedlythebookreferredtoascontainingthedecreeofEstherandtheactsofMordecai；andwhich，aswesaidwithAbenEzra，isnowlost。(55)

Fromitweretakenthewholecontentsofthesefourbooks，fornootherauthorityisquotedbytheirwriter，orisknowntous。

(56)ThatthesebookswerenotwrittenbyeitherEzraorNehemiahisplainfromNehemiahxii:9，wherethedescendantsofthehighpriest，JoshuaaretraceddowntoJaddua，thesixthhighpriest，whowenttomeetAlexandertheGreat，whenthePersianempirewasalmostsubdued(Josephus，"Ant。"ii。

108)，orwho，accordingtoPhilo-Judaeus，wasthesixthandlasthighpriestunderthePersians。(57)InthesamechapterofNehemiah，verse22，thispointisclearlybroughtout:"TheLevitesinthedaysofEliashib，Joiada，andJohanan，andJaddua，wererecordedchiefofthefathers:alsothepriests，tothereignofDariusthePersian"-thatistosay，inthechronicles；and，Isuppose，noonethinks，[Endnote22]，thatthelivesofNehemiahandEzraweresoprolongedthattheyoutlivedfourteenkingsofPersia。(58)CyruswasthefirstwhograntedtheJewspermissiontorebuildtheirTemple:theperiodbetweenhistimeandDarius，fourteenthandlastkingofPersia，extendsover230years。(59)Ihave，therefore，nodoubtthatthesebookswerewrittenafterJudasMaccabaeushadrestoredtheworshipintheTemple，foratthattimefalsebooksofDaniel，Ezra，andEstherwerepublishedbyevil-disposedpersons，whowerealmostcertainlySadducees，forthewritingswereneverrecognizedbythePharisees，sofarasIamaware；and，althoughcertainmythsinthefourthbookofEzraarerepeatedintheTalmud，theymustnotbesetdowntothePharisees，forallbutthemostignorantadmitthattheyhavebeenaddedbysometrifler:infact，Ithink，someonemusthavemadesuchadditionswithaviewtocastingridiculeonallthetraditionsofthesect。

(60)PerhapsthesefourbookswerewrittenoutandpublishedatthetimeI

havementionedwithaviewtoshowingthepeoplethatthepropheciesofDanielhadbeenfulfilled，andthuskindlingtheirpiety，andawakeningahopeoffuturedeliveranceinthemidstoftheirmisfortunes。(61)Inspiteoftheirrecentorigin，thebooksbeforeuscontainmanyerrors，due，Isuppose，tothehastewithwhichtheywerewritten。(62)Marginalreadings，suchasIhavementionedinthelastchapter，arefoundhereaselsewhere，andinevengreaterabundance；thereare，moreover，certainpassageswhichcanonlybeaccountedforbysupposingsomesuchcauseashurry。

(63)However，beforecallingattentiontothemarginalreadings，Iwillremarkthat，ifthePhariseesarerightinsupposingthemtohavebeenancient，andtheworkoftheoriginalscribes，wemustperforceadmitthatthesescribes(ifthereweremorethanone)setthemdownbecausetheyfoundthatthetextfromwhichtheywerecopyingwasinaccurate，anddidyetnotventuretoalterwhatwaswrittenbytheirpredecessorsandsuperiors。

(64)Ineednotagaingointothesubjectatlength，andwill，therefore，proceedtomentionsomediscrepanciesnotnoticedinthemargin。

(65)I。SomeerrorhascreptintothetextofthesecondchapterofEzra，forinverse64wearetoldthatthetotalofallthosementionedintherestofthechapteramountsto42，360；but，whenwecometoadduptheseveralitemswegetasresultonly29，818。(66)Theremust，therefore，beanerror，eitherinthetotal，orinthedetails。(67)Thetotalisprobablycorrect，foritwouldmostlikelybewellknowntoallasanoteworthything；butwiththedetails，thecasewouldbedifferent。(68)If，then，anyerrorhadcreptintothetotal，itwouldatoncehavebeenremarked，andeasilycorrected。(69)ThisviewisconfirmedbyNehemiahvii。，wherethischapterofEzraismentioned，andatotalisgiveninplaincorrespondencethereto；butthedetailsarealtogetherdifferent-somearelarger，andsomeless，thanthoseinEzra，andaltogethertheyamountto31，089。

(70)Wemay，therefore，concludethatbothinEzraandinNehemiahthedetailsareerroneouslygiven。(71)Thecommentatorswhoattempttoharmonizetheseevidentcontradictionsdrawontheirimagination，eachtothebestofhisability；andwhileprofessingadorationforeachletterandwordofScripture，onlysucceedinholdingupthesacredwriterstoridicule，asthoughtheyknewnothowtowriteorrelateaplainnarrative。

(72)SuchpersonseffectnothingbuttorendertheclearnessofScriptureobscure。(73)IftheBiblecouldeverywherebeinterpretedaftertheirfashion，therewouldbenosuchthingasarationalstatementofwhichthemeaningcouldbereliedon。(74)However，thereisnoneedtodwellonthesubject；onlyIamconvincedthatifanyhistorianweretoattempttoimitatetheproceedingsfreelyattributedtothewritersoftheBible，thecommentatorswouldcoverhimwithcontempt。(75)IfitbeblasphemytoassertthatthereareanyerrorsinScripture，whatnameshallweapplytothosewhofoistintoittheirownfancies，whodegradethesacredwriterstilltheyseemtowriteconfusednonsense，andwhodenytheplainestandmostevidentmeanings?(76)WhatinthewholeBiblecanbeplainerthanthefactthatEzraandhiscompanions，inthesecondchapterofthebookattributedtohim，havegivenindetailthereckoningofalltheHebrewswhosetoutwiththemforJerusalem?(77)Thisisprovedbythereckoningbeinggiven，notonlyofthosewhotoldtheirlineage，butalsoofthosewhowereunabletodoso。(78)IsitnotequallyclearfromNehemiahvii:5，thatthewritermerelytherecopiesthelistgiveninEzra?(79)Those，therefore，whoexplainthesepassagesotherwise，denytheplainmeaningofScripture-

nay，theydenyScriptureitself。(80)TheythinkitpioustoreconcileonepassageofScripturewithanother-aprettypiety，forsooth，whichaccommodatestheclearpassagestotheobscure，thecorrecttothefaulty，thesoundtothecorrupt。

(81)Farbeitfrommetocallsuchcommentatorsblasphemers，iftheirmotivesbepure:fortoerrishuman。ButIreturntomysubject。

(82)Besidestheseerrorsinnumericaldetails，thereareothersinthegenealogies，inthehistory，and，Ifearalsointheprophecies。(83)TheprophecyofJeremiah(chap。xxii。)，concerningJechoniah，evidentlydoesnotagreewithhishistory，asgiveninIChroniclesiii:17-19，andespeciallywiththelastwordsofthechapter，nordoIseehowtheprophecy，"thoushaltdieinpeace，"canbeappliedtoZedekiah，whoseeyesweredugoutafterhissonshadbeenslainbeforehim。(84)Ifpropheciesaretobeinterpretedbytheirissue，wemustmakeachangeofname，andreadJechoniahforZedekiah，andviceversa(85)This，however，wouldbetooparadoxicalaproceeding；soIprefertoleavethematterunexplained，especiallyastheerror，iferrortherebe，mustbesetdowntothehistorian，andnottoanyfaultintheauthorities。

(86)OtherdifficultiesIwillnottouchupon，asIshouldonlywearythereader，and，moreover，berepeatingtheremarksofotherwriters。(87)ForR。Selomo，infaceofthemanifestcontradictionintheabove-mentionedgenealogies，iscompelledtobreakforthintothesewords(seehiscommentaryon1Chron。viii。):"Ezra(whomhesupposestobetheauthorofthebookofChronicles)givesdifferentnamesandadifferentgenealogytothesonsofBenjaminfromthosewhichwefindinGenesis，anddescribesmostoftheLevitesdifferentlyfromJoshua，becausehefoundoriginaldiscrepancies。"(88)And，again，alittlelater:"ThegenealogyofGibeonandothersisdescribedtwiceindifferentways，fromdifferenttablesofeachgenealogy，andinwritingthemdownEzraadoptedtheversiongiveninthemajorityofthetexts，andwhentheauthoritywasequalhegaveboth。"

(89)Thusgrantingthatthesebookswerecompiledfromsourcesoriginallyincorrectanduncertain。

(90)Infactthecommentators，inseekingtoharmonizedifficulties，generallydonomorethanindicatetheircauses:forIsupposenosanepersonsupposesthatthesacredhistoriansdeliberatelywrotewiththeobjectofappearingtocontradictthemselvesfreely。(91)PerhapsI

shallbetoldthatIamoverthrowingtheauthorityofScripture，forthat，accordingtome，anyonemaysuspectitoferrorinanypassage；but，onthecontrary，Ihaveshownthatmyobjecthasbeentopreventtheclearanduncorruptedpassagesbeingaccommodatedtoandcorruptedbythefaultyones；

neitherdoesthefactthatsomepassagesarecorruptwarrantusinsuspectingall。(92)Nobookeverwascompletelyfreefromfaults，yetI

wouldask，whosuspectsallbookstobeeverywherefaulty?(93)Surelynoone，especiallywhenthephraseologyisclearandtheintentionoftheauthorplain。

(94)IhavenowfinishedthetaskIsetmyselfwithrespecttothebooksoftheOldTestament。(95)Wemayeasilyconcludefromwhathasbeensaid，thatbeforethetimeoftheMaccabeestherewasnocanonofsacredbooks，[Endnote23]，butthatthosewhichwenowpossesswereselectedfromamultitudeofothersattheperiodoftherestorationoftheTemplebythePharisees(whoalsoinstitutedthesetformofprayers)，whoarealoneresponsiblefortheiracceptance。(96)Those，therefore，whowoulddemonstratetheauthorityofHolyScripture，areboundtoshowtheauthorityofeachseparatebook；itisnotenoughtoprovetheDivineoriginofasinglebookinordertoinfertheDivineoriginoftherest。(97)InthatcaseweshouldhavetoassumethatthecouncilofPhariseeswas，initschoiceofbooks，infallible，andthiscouldneverbeproved。(98)IamledtoassertthatthePhariseesaloneselectedthebooksoftheOldTestament，andinsertedtheminthecanon，fromthefactthatinDanielii。isproclaimedthedoctrineoftheResurrection，whichtheSadduceesdenied；

and，furthermore，thePhariseesplainlyassertintheTalmudthattheysoselectedthem。(99)ForinthetreatiseofSabbathus，chapterii。，folio30，page2，itiswritten:R。Jehuda，surnamedRabbi，reportsthattheexpertswishedtoconcealthebookofEcclesiastesbecausetheyfoundthereinwordsopposedtothelaw(thatis，tothebookofthelawofMoses)。(100)Whydidtheynothideit?(101)Becauseitbeginsinaccordancewiththelaw，andendsaccordingtothelaw；"andalittlefurtheronweread:"TheysoughtalsotoconcealthebookofProverbs。"(102)Andinthefirstchapterofthesametreatise，fol。13，page2:"Verily，nameonemanforgood，evenhewhowascalledNeghunja，thesonofHezekiah:for，saveforhim，thebookofEzekielwouldbeenconcealed，becauseitagreednotwiththewordsofthelaw。"

(103)Itisthusabundantlyclearthatmenexpertinthelawsummonedacounciltodecidewhichbooksshouldbereceivedintothecanon，andwhichexcluded。(104)Ifanyman，therefore，wishestobecertifiedastotheauthorityofallthebooks，lethimcallafreshcouncil，andaskeverymemberhisreasons。

(105)ThetimehasnowcomeforexamininginthesamemannerthebooksintheNewTestament；butasIlearnthatthetaskhasbeenalreadyperformedbymenhighlyskilledinscienceandlanguages，andasIdonotmyselfpossessaknowledgeofGreeksufficientlyexactforthetask；lastly，aswehavelosttheoriginalsofthosebookswhichwerewritteninHebrew，I

prefertodeclinetheundertaking。(106)However，Iwilltouchonthosepointswhichhavemostbearingonmysubjectinthefollowingchapter。

EndofPart2。

AUTHOR"SENDNOTESTOTHETHEOLOGICO-POLITICALTREATISE

Part2-ChaptersVItoX

CHAPTERVI。

Endnote6。(1)WedoubtoftheexistenceofGod，andconsequentlyofallelse，solongaswehavenoclearanddistinctideaofGod，butonlyaconfusedone。(2)Forashewhoknowsnotrightlythenatureofatriangle，knowsnotthatitsthreeanglesareequaltotworightangles，sohewhoconceivestheDivinenatureconfusedly，doesnotseethatitpertainstothenatureofGodtoexist。(3)Now，toconceivethenatureofGodclearlyanddistinctly，itisnecessarytopayattentiontoacertainnumberofverysimplenotions，calledgeneralnotions，andbytheirhelptoassociatetheconceptionswhichweformoftheattributesoftheDivinenature。(4)Itthen，forthefirsttime，becomescleartous，thatGodexistsnecessarily，thatHeisomnipresent，andthatallourconceptionsinvolveinthemselvesthenatureofGodandareconceivedthroughit。(5)Lastly，weseethatallouradequateideasaretrue。(6)Compareonthispointtheprologomenatobook，"PrinciplesofDescartes"sphilosophysetforthgeometrically。"

CHAPTERVII。

Endnote7。(1)"ItisimpossibletofindamethodwhichwouldenableustogainacertainknowledgeofallthestatementsinScripture。"(2)Imeanimpossibleforuswhohavenotthehabitualuseofthelanguage，andhavelosttheprecisemeaningofitsphraseology。

Endnote8。(1)"Notinthingswhereoftheunderstandingcangainaclearanddistinctidea，andwhichareconceivablethroughthemselves。"(2)BythingsconceivableImeannotonlythosewhicharerigidlyproved，butalsothosewhereofwearemorallycertain，andarewonttohearwithoutwonder，thoughtheyareincapableofproof。(3)EveryonecanseethetruthofEuclid"spropositionsbeforetheyareproved。(4)Soalsothehistoriesofthingsbothfutureandpastwhichdonotsurpasshumancredence，laws，institutions，manners，Icallconceivableandclear，thoughtheycannotbeprovedmathematically。(5)ButhieroglyphicsandhistorieswhichseemtopasstheboundsofbeliefIcallinconceivable；yetevenamongtheselasttherearemanywhichourmethodenablesustoinvestigate，andtodiscoverthemeaningoftheirnarrator。

CHAPTERVIII。

Endnote9。(1)"MountMoriahiscalledthemountofGod。"(2)Thatisbythehistorian，notbyAbraham，forhesaysthattheplacenowcalled"InthemountoftheLorditshallberevealed，"wascalledbyAbraham，"theLordshallprovide。"

Endnote10。(1)"Beforethatterritory[Idumoea]wasconqueredbyDavid。"

(2)FromthistimetothereignofJehoramwhentheyagainseparatedfromtheJewishkingdom(2Kingsviii:20)，theIdumaeanshadnoking，princesappointedbytheJewssuppliedtheplaceofkings(1Kingsxxii:48)，infacttheprinceofIdumaeaiscalledaking(2Kingsiii:9)。

(3)ItmaybedoubtedwhetherthelastoftheIdumaeankingshadbeguntoreignbeforetheaccessionofSaul，orwhetherScriptureinthischapterofGenesiswishedtoenumerateonlysuchkingsaswereindependent。(4)ItisevidentlymeretriflingtowishtoenrolamongHebrewkingsthenameofMoses，whosetupadominionentirelydifferentfromamonarchy。

CHAPTERIX。

Endnote11。(1)"Withfewexceptions。"(2)Oneoftheseexceptionsisfoundin2Kingsxviii:20，whereweread，"Thousayest(buttheyarebutvainwords)，"thesecondpersonbeingused。(3)InIsaiahxxxvi:5，weread"I

say(buttheyarebutvainwords)Ihavecounselandstrengthforwar，"andinthetwenty-secondverseofthechapterinKingsitiswritten，"Butifyesay，"thepluralnumberbeingused，whereasIsaiahgivesthesingular。(4)

ThetextinIsaiahdoesnotcontainthewordsfoundin2Kingsxxxii:32。(5)

Thusthereareseveralcasesofvariousreadingswhereitisimpossibletodistinguishthebest。

Endnote12。(1)"Theexpressionsinthetwopassagesaresovaried。"(2)Forinstancewereadin2Sam。vii:6，"ButIhavewalkedinatentandinatabernacle。"(3)Whereasin1Chron。xvii:5，"buthavegonefromtenttotentandfromonetabernacletoanother。"(4)In2Sam。vii:10，weread，"toafflictthem，"whereasin1Chron。vii:9，wefindadifferentexpression。(5)

Icouldpointoutotherdifferencesstillgreater，butasinglereadingofthechaptersinquestionwillsufficetomakethemmanifesttoallwhoareneitherblindnordevoidofsense。

Endnote13。(1)"Thistimecannotrefertowhatimmediatelyprecedes。"(2)

ItisplainfromthecontextthatthispassagemustalludetothetimewhenJosephwassoldbyhisbrethren。(3)Butthisisnotall。(4)WemaydrawthesameconclusionfromtheageofJudah，whowasthantwenty-twoyearsoldatmost，takingasbasisofcalculationhisownhistoryjustnarrated。(5)

Itfollows，indeed，fromthelastverseofGen。xxx。，thatJudahwasborninthetenthoftheyearsofJacob"sservitudetoLaban，andJosephinthefourteenth。(6)Now，asweknowthatJosephwasseventeenyearsoldwhensoldbyhisbrethren，Judahwasthennotmorethantwenty-one。(7)Hence，thosewriterswhoassertthatJudah"slongabsencefromhisfather"shousetookplacebeforeJosephwassold，onlyseektodeludethemselvesandtocallinquestiontheScripturalauthoritywhichtheyareanxioustoprotect。

Endnote14。(1)"DinahwasscarcelysevenyearsoldwhenshewasviolatedbySchechem。"(2)TheopinionheldbysomethatJacobwanderedabouteightortenyearsbetweenMesopotamiaandBethel，savoursoftheridiculous；ifrespectforAbenEzra，allowsmetosayso。(3)ForitisclearthatJacobhadtworeasonsforhaste:first，thedesiretoseehisoldparents；

secondly，andchieflytoperform，thevowmadewhenhefledfromhisbrother(Gen。xxviii:10andxxxi:13，andxxxv:1)。(4)Weread(Gen。xxxi:3)，thatGodhadcommandedhimtofulfillhisvow，andpromisedhimhelpforreturningtohiscountry。(5)Iftheseconsiderationsseemconjecturesratherthanreasons，IwillwaivethepointandadmitthatJacob，moreunfortunatethanUlysses，spenteightortenyearsorevenlonger，inthisshortjourney。(6)AtanyrateitcannotbedeniedthatBenjaminwasborninthelastyearofthiswandering，thatisbythereckoningoftheobjectors，whenJosephwassixteenorseventeenyearsold，forJacobleftLabansevenyearsafterJoseph"sbirth。(7)NowfromtheseventeenthyearofJoseph"sagetillthepatriarchwentintoEgypt，notmorethantwenty-twoyearselapsed，aswehaveshowninthischapter。(8)ConsequentlyBenjamin，atthetimeofthejourneytoEgypt，wastwenty-threeortwenty-fouratthemost。

(9)Hewouldthereforehavebeenagrandfatherintheflowerofhisage(Gen。xlvi:21，cf。Numb。xxvi:38，40，and1Chron。viii；1)，foritiscertainthatBela，Benjamin"seldestson，hadatthattime，twosons，AddaindNaa-man。(10)ThisisjustasabsurdasthestatementthatDinahwasviolatedattheageofseven，nottomentionotherimpossibilitieswhichwouldresultfromthetruthofthenarrative。(11)Thusweseethatunskillfulendeavourstosolvedifficulties，onlyraisefreshones，andmakeconfusionworseconfounded。

Endnote15。(1)"Othniel，sonofKenag，wasjudgeforfortyyears。"(2)

RabbiLeviBenGersonandothersbelievethatthesefortyyearswhichtheBiblesayswerepassedinfreedom，shouldbecountedfromthedeathofJoshua，andconsequentlyincludetheeightyearsduringwhichthepeopleweresubjecttoKushanRishathaim，whilethefollowingeighteenyearsmustbeaddedontotheeightyyearsofEhud"sandShamgar"sjudgeships。(3)

InthiscaseitwouldbenecessarytoreckontheotheryearsofsubjectionamongthosesaidbytheBibletohavebeenpassedinfreedom。(4)ButtheBibleexpresslynotesthenumberofyearsofsubjection，andthenumberofyearsoffreedom，andfurtherdeclares(Judgesii:18)thattheHebrewstatewasprosperousduringthewholetimeofthejudges。(5)

ThereforeitisevidentthatLeviBenGerson(certainlyaverylearnedman)，andthosewhofollowhim，correctratherthaninterprettheScriptures。

(6)Thesamefaultiscommittedbythosewhoassert，thatScripture，bythisgeneralcalculationofyears，onlyintendedtomarktheperiodoftheregularadministrationoftheHebrewstate，leavingouttheyearsofanarchyandsubjectionasperiodsofmisfortuneandinterregnum。(7)Scripturecertainlypassesoverinsilenceperiodsofanarchy，butdoesnot，astheydream，refusetoreckonthemorwipethemoutofthecountry"sannals。(8)

ItisclearthatEzra，in1Kingsvi。，wishedtoreckonabsolutelyalltheyearssincetheflightfromEgypt。(9)Thisissoplain，thatnooneversedintheScripturescandoubtit。(10)For，withoutgoingbacktotheprecisewordsofthetext，wemayseethatthegenealogyofDavidgivenattheendofthebookofRuth，andIChron。ii。，scarcelyaccountsforsogreatanumberofyears。(11)ForNahshon，whowasprinceofthetribeofJudah(Numb。vii；11)，twoyearsaftertheExodus，diedinthedesert，andhissonSalmonpassedtheJordanwithJoshua。(12)NowthisSalmon，accordingtothegenealogy，wasDavid"sgreat-grandfather。(13)Deducting，then，fromthetotalof480years，fouryearsforSolomon"sreign，seventyforDavid"slife，andfortyforthetimepassedinthedesert，wefindthatDavidwasborn366yearsafterthepassageoftheJordan。(14)HencewemustbelievethatDavid"sfather，grandfather，great-grandfather，andgreat-

great-grandfatherbegatchildrenwhentheywereninetyyearsold。

Endnote16。(1)"Samsonwasjudgefortwentyyears。"(2)SamsonwasbornaftertheHebrewshadfallenunderthedominionofthePhilistines。

Endnote17。(1)Otherwise，theyrathercorrectthanexplainScripture。

Endnote18。(1)"Kirjath-jearim。"Kirjath-jearimisalsocalledBaaleofJudah。(2)HenceKimchiandothersthinkthatthewordsBaaleJudah，whichI

havetranslated"thepeopleofJudah，"arethenameofatown。(3)Butthisisnotso，forthewordBaaleisintheplural。(4)Moreover，comparingthistextinSamuelwithIChron。Xiii:5，wefindthatDaviddidnotriseupandgoforthoutofBaale，butthathewentthither。(5)IftheauthorofthebookofSamuelhadmeanttonametheplacewhenceDavidtooktheark，hewould，ifhespokeHebrewcorrectly，havesaid，"Davidroseup，andsetforthfromBaaleJudah，andtookthearkfromthence。"

CHAPTERX。

Endnote19。(1)"AftertherestorationoftheTemplebyJudasMaccaboeus。"

(2)Thisconjecture，ifsuchitbe，isfoundedonthegenealogyofKingJeconiah，givenin1Chron。iii。，whichfinishesatthesonsofElioenai，thethirteenthindirectdescentfromhim:whereonwemustobservethatJeconiah，beforehiscaptivity，hadnochildren；butitisprobablethathehadtwowhilehewasinprison，ifwemaydrawanyinferencefromthenameshegavethem。(3)Astohisgrandchildren，itisevidentthattheywerebornafterhisdeliverance，ifthenamesbeanyguide，forhisgrandson，Pedaiah(anamemeaningGodhathdeliveredme)，who，accordingtothischapter，wasthefatherofZerubbabel，wasborninthethirty-seventhorthirty-eighthyearofJeconiah"slife，thatisthirty-threeyearsbeforetherestorationoflibertytotheJewsbyCyrus。(4)ThereforeZerubbabel，towhomCyrusgavetheprincipalityofJudaea，wasthirteenorfourteenyearsold。(5)Butweneednotcarrytheinquirysofar:weneedonlyreadattentivelythechapterof1Chron。，alreadyquoted，where(v。17，sqq。)mentionismadeofalltheposterityofJeconiah，andcompareitwiththeSeptuagintversiontoseeclearlythatthesebookswerenotpublished，tillafterMaccabaeushadrestoredtheTemple，thesceptrenolongerbelongingtothehouseofJeconiah。

Endnote20。(1)"ZedekiahshouldbetakentoBabylon。"(2)NoonecouldthenhavesuspectedthattheprophecyofEzekielcontradictedthatofJeremiah，butthesuspicionoccurstoeveryonewhoreadsthenarrativeofJosephus。

(3)Theeventprovedthatbothprophetswereintheright。

Endnote21。(1)"AndwhowroteNehemiah。"(2)ThatthegreaterpartofthebookofNehemiahwastakenfromtheworkcomposedbytheprophetNehemiahhimself，followsfromthetestimonyofitsauthor。(Seechap。i。)。(3)Butitisobviousthatthewholeofthepassagecontainedbetweenchap。viii。

andchap。xii。verse26，togetherwiththetwolastversesofchap。xii。，whichformasortofparenthesistoNehemiah"swords，wereaddedbythehistorianhimself，whooutlivedNehemiah。

Endnote22。(1)"Isupposenoonethinks"thatEzrawastheuncleofthefirsthighpriest，namedJoshua(seeEzravii。，and1Chron。vi:14)，andwenttoJerusalemfromBabylonwithZerubbabel(seeNehemiahxii:1)。(2)Butitappearsthatwhenhesaw，thattheJewswereinastateofanarchy，hereturnedtoBabylon，asalsodidothers(Nehem。i；2)，andremainedtheretillthereignofArtaxerxes，whenhisrequestsweregrantedandhewentasecondtimtoJerusalem。(3)NehemiahalsowenttoJerusalemwithZerubbabelinthetimeofCyrus(Ezraii:2and63，cf。x:9，andNehemiahx:1)。(4)TheversiongivenoftheHebrewword，translated"ambassador，"isnotsupportedbyanyauthority，whileitiscertainthatfreshnamesweregiventothoseJewswhofrequentedthecourt。(5)ThusDanielwasnamedBalteshazzar，andZerubbabelSheshbazzar(Dan。i:7)。(6)NehemiahwascalledAtirsata，whileinvirtueofhisofficehewasstyledgovernor，orpresident。

(Nehem。v。24，xii:26。)

Endnote23。(1)"BeforethetimeoftheMaccabeestherewasnocanonofsacredbooks。"(2)Thesynagoguestyled"thegreat"didnotbeginbeforethesubjugationofAsiabytheMacedonians。(3)ThecontentionofMaimonides，RabbiAbraham，Ben-David，andothers，thatthepresidentsofthissynagoguewereEzra，Daniel，Nehemiah，Haggai，Zechariah，&c。，isapurefiction，restingonlyonrabbinicaltradition。(4)IndeedtheyassertthatthedominionofthePersiansonlylastedthirty-fouryears，andthisistheirchiefreasonformaintainingthatthedecreesofthe"greatsynagogue，"orsynod(rejectedbytheSadducees，butacceptedbythePharisees)wereratifiedbytheprophets，whoreceivedthemfromformerprophets，andsoindirectsuccessionfromMoses，whoreceivedthemfromGodHimself。(5)SuchisthedoctrinewhichthePhariseesmaintainwiththeirwontedobstinacy。

(6)Enlightenedpersons，however，whoknowthereasonsfortheconvokingofcouncils，orsynods，andarenostrangerstothedifferencesbetweenPhariseesandSadducees，caneasilydivinethecauseswhichledtotheassemblingofthisgreatsynagogue。(7)Itisverycertainthatnoprophetwastherepresent，andthatthedecreesofthePharisees，whichtheystyletheirtraditions，derivealltheirauthorityfromit。

EndofEndnotestoPartII-ChaptersVItoX。

EndofPartII

ATheologico-PoliticalTreatise[PartIII]

byBenedictdeSpinozaAlsoknownasBaruchSpinozaTranslatedbyR。H。M。ElwesPartIII-ChaptersXItoXV

TABLEOFCONTENTS:

CHAPTERXI-AnInquirywhethertheApostleswrotetheirEpistlesasApostlesandProphets，ormerelyasTeachers，andanExplanationofwhatismeantbyApostle。

Theepistlesnotinthepropheticstyle。

TheApostlesnotcommandedtowriteorpreachinparticularplaces。

DifferentmethodsofteachingadoptedbytheApostles。

CHAPTERXII-OfthetrueOriginaloftheDivineLaw，andwhereforeScriptureiscalledSacred，andtheWordofGod。

Howthat，insofarasitcontainstheWordofGod，ithascomedowntousuncorrupted。

CHAPTERXIII-Itisshown，thatScriptureteachesonlyverySimpleDoctrines，suchassufficeforrightconduct。

Errorinspeculativedoctrinenotimpious-norknowledgepious。

Pietyconsistsinobedience。

CHAPTERXIV-DefinitionsofFaith，theTrueFaith，andtheFoundationsofFaith，whichisonceforallseparatedfromPhilosophy。

Dangerresultingfromthevulgarideaoffaith。

Theonlytestoffaithobedienceandgoodworks。

Asdifferentmenaredisposedtoobediencebydifferentopinions，universalfaithcancontainonlythesimplestdoctrines。

Fundamentaldistinctionbetweenfaithandphilosophy-

thekey-stoneofthepresenttreatise。

CHAPTERXV-TheologyisshownnottobesubservienttoReason，norReasontoTheology:aDefinitionofthereasonwhichenablesustoaccepttheAuthorityoftheBible。

TheorythatScripturemustbeaccommodatedtoReason-

maintainedbyMaimonides-alreadyrefutedinChaptervii。

TheorythatReasonmustbeaccommodatedtoScripture-

maintainedbyAlpakhar-examined。

Andrefuted。

ScriptureandReasonindependentofoneanother。

Certainty，offundamentalfaithnotmathematicalbutmoral。

GreatutilityofRevelation。

AuthorsEndnotestotheTreatise。

CHAPTERXI-ANINQUIRYWHETHERTHEAPOSTLESWROTETHEIR

EPISTLESASAPOSTLESANDPROPHETS，ORMERELYASTEACHERS；

ANDANEXPLANATIONOFWHATISMEANTBYANAPOSTLE。

(1)NoreaderoftheNewTestamentcandoubtthattheApostleswereprophets；butasaprophetdoesnotalwaysspeakbyrevelation，butonly，atrareintervals，asweshowedattheendofChap。I。，wemayfairlyinquirewhethertheApostleswrotetheirEpistlesasprophets，byrevelationandexpressmandate，asMoses，Jeremiah，andothersdid，orwhetheronlyasprivateindividualsorteachers，especiallyasPaul，inCorinthiansxiv:6，mentionstwosortsofpreaching。

(2)IfweexaminethestyleoftheEpistles，weshallfindittotallydifferentfromthatemployedbytheprophets。

(3)TheprophetsarecontinuallyassertingthattheyspeakbythecommandofGod:"ThussaiththeLord，""TheLordofhostssaith，""ThecommandoftheLord，"&c。；andthiswastheirhabitnotonlyinassembliesoftheprophets，butalsointheirepistlescontainingrevelations，asappearsfromtheepistleofElijahtoJehoram，2Chron。xxi:12，whichbegins，"ThussaiththeLord。"

(4)IntheApostolicEpistleswefindnothingofthesort。(5)Contrariwise，inICor。vii:40Paulspeaksaccordingtohisownopinionandinmanypassageswecomeacrossdoubtfulandperplexedphrase；suchas，"Wethink，therefore，"Rom。iii:28；"NowIthink，"[Endnote24]，Rom。viii:18，andsoon。(6)Besidesthese，otherexpressionsaremetwithverydifferentfromthoseusedbytheprophets。(7)Forinstance，1Cor。vii:6，"ButIspeakthisbypermission，notbycommandment；""IgivemyjudgmentasonethathathobtainedmercyoftheLordtobefaithful"(1Cor。vii:25)，andsooninmanyotherpassages。(8)WemustalsoremarkthatintheaforesaidchaptertheApostlesaysthatwhenhestatesthathehasorhasnotthepreceptorcommandmentofGod，hedoesnotmeanthepreceptorcommandmentofGodrevealedtohimself，butonlythewordsutteredbyChristinHisSermonontheMount。(9)Furthermore，ifweexaminethemannerinwhichtheApostlesgiveoutevangelicaldoctrine，weshallseethatitdiffersmateriallyfromthemethodadoptedbytheprophets。(10)TheApostleseverywherereasonasiftheywerearguingratherthanprophesying；

theprophecies，ontheotherhand，containonlydogmasandcommands。(11)

Godisthereinintroducednotasspeakingtoreason，butasissuingdecreesbyHisabsolutefiat。(12)Theauthorityoftheprophetsdoesnotsubmittodiscussion，forwhosoeverwishestofindrationalgroundforhisarguments，bythatverywishsubmitsthemtoeveryone"sprivatejudgment。(13)ThisPaul，inasmuchasheusesreason，appearstohavedone，forhesaysin1

Cor。x:15，"Ispeakastowisemen，judgeyewhatIsay。"(14)Theprophets，asweshowedattheendofChapterI。，didnotperceivewhatwasrevealedbyvirtueoftheirnaturalreason，andthoughtherearecertainpassagesinthePentateuchwhichseemtobeappealstoinduction，theyturnout，onnearerexamination，tobenothingbutperemptorycommands。(15)Forinstance，whenMosessays，Deut。xxxi:27，"Behold，whileIamyetalivewithyou，thisdayyehavebeenrebelliousagainsttheLord；andhowmuchmoreaftermydeath，"wemustbynomeansconcludethatMoseswishedtoconvincetheIsraelitesbyreasonthattheywouldnecessarilyfallawayfromtheworshipoftheLordafterhisdeath；fortheargumentwouldhavebeenfalse，asScriptureitselfshows:theIsraelitescontinuedfaithfulduringthelivesofJoshuaandtheelders，andafterwardsduringthetimeofSamuel，David，andSolomon。(16)ThereforethewordsofMosesaremerelyamoralinjunction，inwhichhepredictsrhetoricallythefuturebackslidingofthepeoplesoastoimpressitvividlyontheirimagination。(17)IsaythatMosesspokeofhimselfinordertolendlikelihoodtohisprediction，andnotasaprophetbyrevelation，becauseinverse21ofthesamechapterwearetoldthatGodrevealedthesamethingtoMosesindifferentwords，andtherewasnoneedtomakeMosescertainbyargumentofGod"spredictionanddecree；itwasonlynecessarythatitshouldbevividlyimpressedonhisimagination，andthiscouldnotbebetteraccomplishedthanbyimaginingtheexistingcontumacyofthepeople，ofwhichhehadhadfrequentexperience，aslikelytoextendintothefuture。

(18)AlltheargumentsemployedbyMosesinthefivebooksaretobeunderstoodinasimilarmanner；theyarenotdrawnfromthearmouryofreason，butaremerely，modesofexpressioncalculatedtoinstilwithefficacy，andpresentvividlytotheimaginationthecommandsofGod。

(19)However，Idonotwishabsolutelytodenythattheprophetseverarguedfromrevelation；Ionlymaintainthattheprophetsmademorelegitimateuseofargumentinproportionastheirknowledgeapproachedmorenearlytoordinaryknowledge，andbythisweknowthattheypossessedaknowledgeabovetheordinary，inasmuchastheyproclaimedabsolutedogmas，decrees，orjudgments。(20)ThusMoses，thechiefoftheprophets，neverusedlegitimateargument，and，ontheotherhand，thelongdeductionsandargumentsofPaul，suchaswefindintheEpistletotheRomans，areinnowisewrittenfromsupernaturalrevelation。

(21)ThemodesofexpressionanddiscourseadoptedbytheApostlesintheEpistles，showveryclearlythatthelatterwerenotwrittenbyrevelationandDivinecommand，butmerelybythenaturalpowersandjudgmentoftheauthors。(22)Theyconsistinbrotherlyadmonitionsandcourteousexpressionssuchaswouldneverbeemployedinprophecy，asforinstance，Paul"sexcuseinRomansxv:15，"Ihavewrittenthemoreboldlyuntoyouinsomesort，mybrethren。"