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twenty…two years old at most； taking as basis of calculation his own
history just narrated。 （5） It follows； indeed； from the last verse of Gen。
xxx。； that Judah was born in the tenth of the years of Jacob's servitude to
Laban； and Joseph in the fourteenth。 （6） Now； as we know that Joseph was
seventeen years old when sold by his brethren； Judah was then not more
than twenty…one。 （7） Hence； those writers who assert that Judah's long
absence from his father's house took place before Joseph was sold； only
seek to delude themselves and to call in question the Scriptural authority
which they are anxious to protect。
Endnote 14。 （1） 〃Dinah was scarcely seven years old when she was
violated by Schechem。〃 （2） The opinion held by some that Jacob wandered
about eight or ten years between Mesopotamia and Bethel； savours of the
ridiculous； if respect for Aben Ezra； allows me to say so。 （3） For it is clear
that Jacob had two reasons for haste： first； the desire to see his old parents；
secondly； and chiefly to perform； the vow made when he fled from his
brother （Gen。 xxviii：10 and xxxi：13； and xxxv：1）。 （4） We read （Gen。
xxxi：3）； that God had commanded him to fulfill his vow； and promised
him help for returning to his country。 （5） If these considerations seem
conjectures rather than reasons； I will waive the point and admit that Jacob；
more unfortunate than Ulysses； spent eight or ten years or even longer； in
this short journey。 （6） At any rate it cannot be denied that Benjamin was
born in the last year of this wandering； that is by the reckoning of the
objectors； when Joseph was sixteen or seventeen years old； for Jacob left
Laban seven years after Joseph's birth。 （7） Now from the seventeenth year
of Joseph's age till the patriarch went into Egypt； not more than twenty…
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two years elapsed； as we have shown in this chapter。 （8） Consequently
Benjamin； at the time of the journey to Egypt； was twenty…three or twenty…
four at the most。 （9） He would therefore have been a grandfather in the
flower of his age （Gen。 xlvi：21； cf。 Numb。 xxvi：38； 40； and 1 Chron。
viii；1）； for it is certain that Bela； Benjamin's eldest son； had at that time；
two sons； Addai nd Naa…man。 （10） This is just as absurd as the statement
that Dinah was violated at the age of seven； not to mention other
impossibilities which would result from the truth of the narrative。 （11）
Thus we see that unskillful endeavours to solve difficulties； only raise
fresh ones； and make confusion worse confounded。
Endnote 15。 （1） 〃Othniel； son of Kenag； was judge for forty years。〃 （2）
Rabbi Levi Ben Gerson and others believe that these forty years which the
Bible says were passed in freedom； should be counted from the death of
Joshua； and consequently include the eight years during which the people
were subject to Kushan Rishathaim； while the following eighteen years
must be added on to the eighty years of Ehud's and Shamgar's judgeships。
（3） In this case it would be necessary to reckon the other years of
subjection among those said by the Bible to have been passed in freedom。
（4） But the Bible expressly notes the number of years of subjection； and
the number of years of freedom； and further declares （Judges ii：18） that
the Hebrew state was prosperous during the whole time of the judges。 （5）
Therefore it is evident that Levi Ben Gerson （certainly a very learned man）；
and those who follow him； correct rather than interpret the Scriptures。
（6） The same fault is committed by those who assert； that Scripture； by
this general calculation of years； only intended to mark the period of the
regular administration of the Hebrew state； leaving out the years of
anarchy and subjection as periods of misfortune and interregnum。 （7）
Scripture certainly passes over in silence periods of anarchy； but does not；
as they dream； refuse to reckon them or wipe them out of the country's
annals。 （8） It is clear that Ezra； in 1 Kings vi。； wished to reckon absolutely
all the years since the flight from Egypt。 （9） This is so plain； that no one
versed in the Scriptures can doubt it。 （10） For； without going back to the
precise words of the text； we may see that the genealogy of David given at
the end of the book of Ruth； and I Chron。 ii。； scarcely accounts for so great
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a number of years。 （11） For Nahshon； who was prince of the tribe of Judah
（Numb。 vii；11）； two years after the Exodus； died in the desert； and his son
Salmon passed the Jordan with Joshua。 （12） Now this Salmon； according
to the genealogy； was David's great…grandfather。 （13） Deducting； then；
from the total of 480 years； four years for Solomon's reign； seventy for
David's life； and forty for the time passed in the desert； we find that David
was born 366 years after the passage of the Jordan。 （14） Hence we must
believe that David's father； grandfather； great…grandfather； and great…
great…grandfather begat children when they were ninety years old。
Endnote 16。 （1） 〃Samson was judge for twenty years。〃 （2） Samson was
born after the Hebrews had fallen under the dominion of the Philistines。
Endnote 17。 （1） Otherwise； they rather correct than explain Scripture。
Endnote 18。 （1） 〃Kirjath…jearim。〃 Kirjath…jearim is also called Baale of
Judah。 （2） Hence Kimchi and others think that the words Baale Judah；
which I have translated 〃the people of Judah；〃 are the name of a town。 （3）
But this is not so； for the word Baale is in the plural。 （4） Moreover；
comparing this text in Samuel with I Chron。 Xiii：5； we find that David did
not rise up and go forth out of Baale； but that he went thither。 （5） If the
author of the book of Samuel had meant to name the place whence David
took the ark； he would； if he spoke Hebrew correctly； have said； 〃David
rose up； and set forth from Baale Judah； and took the ark from thence。〃
CHAPTER X。
Endnote 19。 （1） 〃After the restoration of the Temple by Judas
Maccaboeus。〃 （2） This conjecture； if such it be； is founded on the
genealogy of King Jeconiah； given in 1 Chron。 iii。； which finishes at the
sons of Elioenai； the thirteenth in direct descent from him： whereon we
must observe that Jeconiah； before his captivity； had no children； but it is
probable that he had two while he was in prison； if we may draw any
inference from the names he gave them。 （3） As to his grandchildren； it is
evident that they were born after his deliverance； if the names be any
guide； for his grandson； Pedaiah （a name meaning God hath delivered me）；
who； according to this chapter； was the father of Zerubbabel； was born in
the thirty…seventh or thirty…eighth year of Jeconiah's life； that is thirty…three
years before the restoration of liberty to the Jews by Cyrus。 （4） Therefore
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Zerubbabel； to whom Cyrus gave the principality of Judaea； was thirteen
or fourteen years old。 （5） But we need not carry the inquiry so far： we need
only read attentively the chapter of 1 Chron。； already quoted； where （v。 17；
sqq。） mention is made of all the posterity of Jeconiah； and compare it with
the Septuagint version to see clearly that these books were not published；
till after Maccabaeus had restored the Temple； the sceptre no longer
belonging to the house of Jeconiah。
Endnote 20。 （1） 〃Zedekiah should be taken to Babylon。〃 （2） No one
could then have suspected that the prophecy of Ezekiel contradicted that
of Jeremiah； but the suspicion occurs to everyone who reads the narrative
of Josephus。 （3） The event proved that both prophets were in the right。
Endnote 21。 （1） 〃And who wrote Nehemiah。〃 （2） That the greater part
of the book of Nehemiah was taken from the work composed by the
prophet Nehemiah
