theologico-political treatise p2(神学与政治专题研究2)-第23节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
to the Pharisees； for all but the most ignorant admit that they have been
added by some trifler： in fact； I think； someone must have made such
additions with a view to casting ridicule on all the traditions of the sect。
（60） Perhaps these four books were written out and published at the
time I have mentioned with a view to showing the people that the
prophecies of Daniel had been fulfilled； and thus kindling their piety； and
awakening a hope of future deliverance in the midst of their misfortunes。
（61） In spite of their recent origin； the books before us contain many errors；
due； I suppose； to the haste with which they were written。 （62） Marginal
readings； such as I have mentioned in the last chapter； are found here as
elsewhere； and in even greater abundance； there are； moreover； certain
72
… Page 73…
A Theologico…Political Treatise Part 2
passages which can only be accounted for by supposing some such cause
as hurry。
（63） However； before calling attention to the marginal readings； I will
remark that； if the Pharisees are right in supposing them to have been
ancient； and the work of the original scribes； we must perforce admit that
these scribes （if there were more than one） set them down because they
found that the text from which they were copying was inaccurate； and did
yet not venture to alter what was written by their predecessors and
superiors。 （64） I need not again go into the subject at length； and will；
therefore； proceed to mention some discrepancies not noticed in the
margin。
（65） I。 Some error has crept into the text of the second chapter of Ezra；
for in verse 64 we are told that the total of all those mentioned in the rest
of the chapter amounts to 42；360； but； when we come to add up the several
items we get as result only 29；818。 （66） There must； therefore； be an error；
either in the total； or in the details。 （67） The total is probably correct； for it
would most likely be well known to all as a noteworthy thing； but with the
details； the case would be different。 （68） If； then； any error had crept into
the total； it would at once have been remarked； and easily corrected。 （69）
This view is confirmed by Nehemiah vii。； where this chapter of Ezra is
mentioned； and a total is given in plain correspondence thereto； but the
details are altogether different … some are larger； and some less； than those
in Ezra； and altogether they amount to 31；089。 （70） We may； therefore；
conclude that both in Ezra and in Nehemiah the details are erroneously
given。 （71） The commentators who attempt to harmonize these evident
contradictions draw on their imagination； each to the best of his ability；
and while professing adoration for each letter and word of Scripture； only
succeed in holding up the sacred writers to ridicule； as though they knew
not how to write or relate a plain narrative。 （72） Such persons effect
nothing but to render the clearness of Scripture obscure。 （73） If the Bible
could everywhere be interpreted after their fashion； there would be no
such thing as a rational statement of which the meaning could be relied on。
（74） However； there is no need to dwell on the subject； only I am
convinced that if any historian were to attempt to imitate the proceedings
73
… Page 74…
A Theologico…Political Treatise Part 2
freely attributed to the writers of the Bible； the commentators would cover
him with contempt。 （75） If it be blasphemy to assert that there are any
errors in Scripture； what name shall we apply to those who foist into it
their own fancies； who degrade the sacred writers till they seem to write
confused nonsense； and who deny the plainest and most evident meanings？
（76） What in the whole Bible can be plainer than the fact that Ezra and his
companions； in the second chapter of the book attributed to him； have
given in detail the reckoning of all the Hebrews who set out with them for
Jerusalem？ （77） This is proved by the reckoning being given； not only of
those who told their lineage； but also of those who were unable to do so。
（78） Is it not equally clear from Nehemiah vii：5； that the writer merely
there copies the list given in Ezra？ （79） Those； therefore； who explain
these pas sages otherwise； deny the plain meaning of Scripture … nay； they
deny Scripture itself。 （80） They think it pious to reconcile one passage of
Scripture with another … a pretty piety； forsooth； which accommodates the
clear passages to the obscure； the correct to the faulty； the sound to the
corrupt。
（81） Far be it from me to call such commentators blasphemers； if their
motives be pure： for to err is human。 But I return to my subject。
（82） Besides these errors in numerical details； there are others in the
genealogies； in the history； and； I fear also in the prophecies。 （83） The
prophecy of Jeremiah （chap。 xxii。）； concerning Jechoniah； evidently does
not agree with his history； as given in I Chronicles iii：17…19； and especially
with the last words of the chapter； nor do I see how the prophecy； 〃thou
shalt die in peace；〃 can be applied to Zedekiah； whose eyes were dug out
after his sons had been slain before him。 （84） If prophecies are to be
interpreted by their issue； we must make a change of name； and read
Jechoniah for Zedekiah； and vice versa （85） This； however； would be too
paradoxical a proceeding； so I prefer to leave the matter unexplained；
especially as the error； if error there be； must be set down to the historian；
and not to any fault in the authorities。
（86） Other difficulties I will not touch upon； as I should only weary the
reader； and； moreover； be repeating the remarks of other writers。 （87） For
R。 Selomo； in face of the manifest contradiction in the above…mentioned
74
… Page 75…
A Theologico…Political Treatise Part 2
genealogies； is compelled to break forth into these words （see his
commentary on 1 Chron。 viii。）： 〃Ezra （whom he supposes to be the author
of the book of Chronicles） gives different names and a different genealogy
to the sons of Benjamin from those which we find in Genesis； and
describes most of the Levites differently from Joshua； because he found
original discrepancies。〃 （88） And； again； a little later： 〃The genealogy of
Gibeon and others is described twice in different ways； from different
tables of each genealogy； and in writing them down Ezra adopted the
version given in the majority of the texts； and when the authority was
equal he gave both。〃 （89） Thus granting that these books were compiled
from sources originally incorrect and uncertain。
（90） In fact the commentators； in seeking to harmonize difficulties；
generally do no more than indicate their causes： for I suppose no sane
person supposes that the sacred historians deliberately wrote with the
object of appearing to contradict themselves freely。 （91） Perhaps I shall be
told that I am overthrowing the authority of Scripture； for that； according
to me； anyone may suspect it of error in any passage； but； on the contrary；
I have shown that my object has been to prevent the clear and uncorrupted
passages being accommodated to and corrupted by the faulty ones； neither
does the fact that some passages are corrupt warrant us in suspecting all。
（92） No book ever was completely free from faults； yet I would ask； who
suspects all books to be everywhere faulty？ （93） Surely no one； especially
when the phraseology is clear and the intention of the author plain。
（94） I have now finished the task I set myself with respect to the books
of the Old Testament。 （95） We may easily conclude from what has been
said； that before the time of the Maccabees there w
