Heb. i. 6. whence quoted? Matth. ii. 23. " called a Nazarene," from some book lost, Chrys.-or, from interpreters of the prophets,-or, refers to Nazarites, (Eras. Zeger. Grot.) and intimates that he should be "the holy One."-or, to the prediction of 33, "a branch," Isa. xi. 1. Bez. Maldon. Ham.-or, to predictions of his being despised. Macknight. Campb. John xix. 36, 37. Kennie. Diss. Gen. 1145. Sometimes, there is difficulty in a quotation, both with respect to the words, and with respect to the application of it; and difficulties of each sort sometimes arise from several of the causes together, which have been mentioned; but they may be all removed by the means already pointed out. Zech. xi. 12, 13. with Matth. xxvii. 9, 10. SECT. II. Seeming Contradictions in Historical Passages. 1146. THERE are appearances of contradiction-in the circumstances of events, as they are related in one passage of Scripture,-in different relations of the same events, by different sacred writers,—and in the relation of events in one passage, and references to them in another. 1147. 1. Appearances of contradiction, in any one relation of an event, arise either from false readings; or, from obscurity, or ambiguity in some of the expressions; or, from transpositions in the order of relating; and, sometimes, from more than one of these causes. Gen. xxix. 1.-8. A dialogue, yet none mentioned but Jacob and three flocks of sheep, which converse, and roll the stone, and water the sheep.-from changing Oy, "shepherds," inton, in v. 2. and 8. "flocks" Sam. Arab 70.— from v. 3. expressing what customarily happened, not what had then actually happened. Vulg. Ken. Diss. 2. p. 418, &c. 554, &c. 575. 1148. 2. When the same events are related in different places, there is sometimes an appearance of contradiction with respect-either to the facts themselves, and their circumstances, or, to the order of them. 1149. Seeming contradictions in the facts themselves, and their circumstances, are of different kinds, and arise from different causes. 1150. There are many differences in proper names, most of which arise from false readings, and must be reconciled by correcting these. Hadadezar, Sam.-Hadarezar, Chron. Abimelech, Chron.Ahimelech, Sam.-Bathshebah the daughter of Eliam, Sam. -Bathshuah the daughter of Amiel, Chron.-Nebuchadnezzar-Nebuchadrezzar. 1151. The true name may be distinguished from the corrupted one, by the usage of Scripture in other places, by that of the Samaritan Pentateuch, of the ancient versions, and of Josephus. 1152. There are many differences in numbers, and these also generally arise from a false reading. 1153. Sometimes the corruption is occasioned by a similitude in the names of the numbers. 1 Chron. xi. 11, 15, 29. compared with 2 Sam. xxiii. 8, 15, 18. Ken. Diss. 1. 1154. Sometimes, it is occasioned by a similitude between the numeral letters. Numb. iii. 22, 28. 34, 39. Ken. Diss, 1, p. 99. Ib. p. 529. 1 Kings ix. 28. with 2 Chron. viii. 10. Ib. p. 462. Ib. p. 463. 1155. Sometimes the corruption seems to have been occasioned by a similitude in figures, by which numbers were expressed. 2 Sam. vi. 19. 50,070-but 5,070. Syr. Arab. Ken. Diss. 1. p. 532. Diss. 2. p. 208.—70 Ken. Rem. in l. 1 Kings iv. 26. 40,000. with 2 Chron. ix. 25. 4,000. Ib. Diss. 1. 2 Chron. xiii. 3, 17. 400,000. 800,000. 500,000.-Old Vulgate, 40,000. 80,000. 50,000. Ib. and Diss. 2. p. 196. 2 Kings xxiv. 8. with 2 Chron. xxxvi. 9. Ib. Diss. 2. p. 216. 2 Chron. xvii. 13-19. Ib. p. 218. 2 Sam. xxiii. 8. with 1 Chron. XI. 11. Iid. Diss. 1. p. 95. 1156. But differences in numbers sometimes arise only from the writers using different methods of reckoning. Mark xv. 25. putation Jesus crucified at the third hour. Jewish comJohn xix. 14. brought forth at the sixth hour. Roman computation; or, a different manner of reckoning among the Jews. Campbell. 1157. Facts, or even a series of facts, in one historian, seem to be the same with those related by another historian, yet to be totally repugnant to them in many of their circumstances; but, are not repugnant, because they are really different facts. Matth. i. 1, &c. Christ's genealogy by Joseph. Luke iii. 23, &c. His genealogy by Mary. 1158. When what was spoken is differently related by different historians, it sometimes proceeds from their intending to give, not the very words, but only the sense; sometimes, from their recording different parts of what was said; and, sometimes, from both together. Words of the institution of the Supper. Title on the cross. Matth. xix. 3, &c. with Mark x. 2, &c. Macknight. 1159. When there appears to be a contrariety in different relations of what was spoken, it may be often removed by limiting and restraining the general or ambiguous expressions, or explaining the obscure ones, from which it arises. Matth. x. 10. "Neither shoes-nor a staff" Mark vi. 8. "nothing save a staff-but shod with sandals." Calv. Munst. Lamy. Macknight. 1160. A seeming contradiction between different relations of what was done, sometimes arises from the same causes, and is removed by the same means. Matth. iii. 13, 14. "Comest thou to me"-but John i 33. "I knew him not," i. e. had not known him. Mark v. 23. "My daughter is at the point of death;" but, Matth. ix. 18. "is dead," i. e. almost dead. 1161. A seeming contradiction sometimes arises, from different historians relating different circumstances, or one of them, more or fewer than the other. Matth ii. with Luke ii. i-39. Acts ix. 7. with ch. xxii. 9. xxvi. 14. 1162. There are seeming contradictions, likewise, in the order of facts, as related by different historians. They sometimes introduce events by anticipation, and and sometimes by ὑστερωσις. Gen. i. 27. The creation of man briefly hinted. Ch. ii. 7. after several other things, the creation of Adam particularly; and v. 21. after some other things, that of Eve. Matth. xxvi. 21. and Mark xiv. 18. intimation who should betray him, while eating the passover-but, Luke xxii. 21. after the institution of the supper; this last the true order, for occasioned by the cup, and suitable to John, that Judas instantly went out. |