or "Matres Lectionis," usually supposed to form part of the Sacred Text, are in reality insertions of a later age, made by the Jewish priests and scribes of the second century after Christ, with a view not only of determining the pronunciation and meaning of its words, but of so determining them as to differ as much as possible from the Septuagint Translation, which they disliked, as favouring in their judgment the cause of Christianity. Should this theory recommend itself as sound to persons well versed in the Hebrew language (among whom I am not to be numbered), after due examination of the arguments brought forward in support of it by the learned Vice-Provost, it will be seen that a great accession of authority would be given to the LXX. in a variety of instances; and the student would feel, that where discrepancies occur, they will often be, not between the Greek Translation and the original Hebrew, but between it and the Hebrew as explained by a set of men who wrote some centuries afterwards, and were actuated by a desire to do what in them lay to diminish its credit. The work, entitled Proofs of the Interpolation of the Vowel Letters in the Text of the Hebrew Bible, has certainly raised a question well deserving the attention of the learned; and I shall look with anxiety for any remarks which may be made upon it by those who are qualified to speak with authority on such a subject. H. HOWARD. LICHFIELD DEANERY, October, 1857. NUMBERS. FROM THE GREEK OF THE LXX. CHAPTER I. 1. AND the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness, (in) Sinai, in the tabernacle of the testimony, on the first of the second month of the second year, when they had come forth out of (the) land of Egypt, saying, 2. Take ye (the) sum of all (the) assembly of Israel, according to families, according to their houses of lineages, according to their number by name, according to their poll: every male, 3. From twenty years old and upwards, every one that goeth forth in (the) host of Israel, muster ye them with their host, thou and Aaron muster ye them. 4. And with you shall be each of (the) rulers according to the tribe of each, according to houses of lineages they shall be. 5. And these (are) the names of the men, who shall assist with you: of the (sons) of Ruben, Elisur son of Sediur: 6. Of the (sons) of Symeon, 7. Of the (sons) of Juda, Salamiel son of Surisadai. NUMB. 30 1 son of Gadeoni. 12. Of the (sons) of Dan, Achiezer son of Amisadai: 13. Of the (sons) of Aser, Phagaiel son of Echran: 14. Of the (sons) of Gad, Elisaph son of Raguel: 15. Of the (sons) of Nephthali, Achire son of Enan. 16. These are men nominated (out) of the assembly, rulers of the tribes according to their lineages, captains of thousands of Israel. 17. And Moses took, Aaron also, these men, who had been called by name. 18. And they assembled all the assembly on the first (day) of the second month of (the) year, and enrolled (them) according to their generations, according to their lineages, according to (the) number of their names, from twenty years old and upwards, every male according to their poll; 19. Even as the Lord appointed to Moses; and they were mustered in the wilderness of Sinai. 20. And the sons of Ruben, Israel's firstborn, were, according to their families, according to their septs, according to their houses of lineages, according to their number of names, according to their poll, all (the) males from twenty years old and upwards, every one that goeth forth in the host, 21. Their muster, of the tribe of Ruben, six and forty thousand, and five hundred. 22. To the sons of Symeon, according to their families, according to their septs, according to their houses of lineages, according to their number of names, according to their poll, all the males from twenty years old and upwards, every one that goeth forth in the host, 23. Their muster, of the tribe of Symeon, (was) |