critics, they were as much surprised as any of their readers can be. We do not wish to be understood as disclaiming critical views, but we are not conscious of having made this work a vehicle for the expression of those views.

At the head of each chapter have been placed, for purposes of reference, the Bible chapters from which that chapter has been composed. It is also our intention to place at the end of the second volume an index of all chapters of the Old Testament used in this work. The chronology of the Old Testament is at present under discussion. We have not, therefore, considered it advisable to adopt any system, but have appended to this preface a brief list of dates which seem to have been securely established. We have also added a partial list of weights and measures.

In Part I. of this volume, which contains the traditions and history of the Israelites from the Creation to the reign of Saul, some will, perhaps, expect to find the great bulk of the legal portions of the Pentateuch. According to our original plan the Law should have formed a fifth part in the present volume, but space does not permit. It will be found treated separately in the second volume, under the title Hebrew Laws and Customs.

Part II. contains the history of Israel from Saul to Rehoboam. In those chapters which deal with the history of David we have embodied, as illustrative of the great king's life and genius, a few of the Psalms which most critics consider Davidic. Similarly we have selected from the book of Proverbs a few proverbs and riddles to illustrate the peculiar manner of wisdom for which Solomon was so famous.

PREFACE.

In Part III. we have brought together in one continuous narrative the scattered notices of the history of Israel or Samaria contained in the books of Kings and Chronicles. We have also woven into this section the greater part of the prophecies of Amos and Hosea. Portions of the stories of Elijah and Elisha, which will be missed here, have been reserved for treatment in the second volume.

Part IV. follows the history of Judah down to the Captivity. Kings and Chronicles have been treated as in Part III., their narrative being supplemented by the Prophets, especially Isaiah and Jeremiah. In narrating the reforms of King Josiah, moreover, those portions of Deuteronomy, the knowledge of which is necessary to a comprehension of the reforms, have been incorporated in the story. This general plan of bringing together all the passages of Scripture relating to one event is doubtless familiar to many through the system of the International Sunday-School Lessons, and needs no further elucidation.

The second volume will deal with Jewish history from the Captivity to the time of Christ, Hebrew Laws and Customs, and Hebrew Literature. It is also intended to give, in an appendix, translations of important inscriptions bearing on Hebrew history. It was our original. purpose to add this appendix to the present volume; but lack of room has caused a change of plan. The third volume will contain selections from the New Testament. The object of this work is to serve as an introduction to the study of the Bible. We hope, by rearrangement and condensation, to furnish a sufficient clue for the guidance of the ordinary Bible reader and student; and that, by the adoption of this method, many difficulties

may be cleared away without need of extended comment or explanation. The work is not intended exclusively for young readers; but they are the class whose needs and difficulties have been especially before our minds. EDWARD T. BARTLETT.

P. E. Divinity School, Philadelphia,

February 25, 1886.

JOHN P. PETERS.

A FEW DATES FIXED BY COMPARISON WITH THE

ASSYRIAN-BABYLONIAN MONUMENTS.

733-732 724-722 (?) 712-11 (?)

Battle of Karkar. Ahab king of Israel.

Jehu pays tribute to Shalmaneser II. of Assyria.
Approximate death-year of King Uzziah.
Menahem pays tribute to Tiglath-pileser.

The shekel, during the period covered by this volume, is a weight, not a coin. In weighing gold and silver 50 shekels = 1 maneh ; 60 maneh = I talent. In weighing other articles 60 shekels = I manch. The weight of the ordinary Hebrew shekel was about 247 grains; that of the shekel "royal weight" perhaps about 260 grains; while the coined silver shekel of later times weighed only about 224.5 grains.

Cubit 19 inches.

LINEAR MEASURE.

Handbreadth = of a cubit.

I cubit = 2 spans; I span = 3 handbreadths; I handbreadth = 4 fingers. Later the cubit was reckoned at 7 handbreadths.

MEASURES OF CAPACITY.

Kab (dry) = 1.+ quarts.
Measure (dry) = 6 quarts.
Bath (liquid) = 20 quarts.
Kor (dry or liquid) :

=200 quarts.

These measures must not be accepted as certain. The omer has been variously estimated at from 2 to 4 quarts (2.012 liter to 3.939 liter). It may have differed at different periods. 1. ephah (dry) or bath (liquid) = 10 omer, or 6 hin (liquid); 1 kor or homer (dry) = 10 bath or ephah. I ephah: 3 seah or measures; I seah = 6 kab.

=