a theologico-political treatise [part ii]-第14部分
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in the chronicles of the kings of Judah （2 Chron。 xxxii：32）。 （7） From this
we must conclude that there were various versions of this narrative of
Isaiah's； unless； indeed； anyone would dream that in this； too； there lurks
a mystery。 （8） Further； the last chapter of 2 Kings 27…30 is repeated in the
last chapter of Jeremiah； v。31…34。
（9） Again； we find 2 Sam。 vii。 repeated in I Chron。 xvii。； but the
expressions in the two passages are so curiously varied ＇Endnote 12＇； that
we can very easily see that these two chapters were taken from two different
versions of the history of Nathan。
（10） Lastly； the genealogy of the kings of Idumaea contained in Genesis
xxxvi：31； is repeated in the same words in 1 Chron。 i。； though we know that
the author of the latter work took his materials from other historians； not
from the twelve books we have ascribed to Ezra。 （10） We may therefore be
sure that if we still possessed the writings of the historians； the matter
would be made clear； however； as we have lost them； we can only examine the
writings still extant； and from their order and connection； their various
repetitions； and； lastly； the contradictions in dates which they contain；
judge of the rest。
（11） These； then； or the chief of them； we will now go through。 （12） First；
in the story of Judah and Tamar （Gen。 xxxviii。） the historian thus begins：
〃And it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brethren。〃
（13） This time cannot refer to what immediately precedes ＇Endnote 13＇； but
must necessarily refer to something else； for from the time when Joseph was
sold into Egypt to the time when the patriarch Jacob； with all his family；
set out thither； cannot be reckoned as more than twenty…two years； for
Joseph； when he was sold by his brethren； was seventeen years old； and when
he was summoned by Pharaoh from prison was thirty； if to this we add the
seven years of plenty and two of famine； the total amounts to twenty…two
years。 （14） Now； in so short a period； no one can suppose that so many
things happened as are described； that Judah had three children； one after
the other； from one wife； whom he married at the beginning of the period；
that the eldest of these； when he was old enough； married Tamar； and that
after he died his next brother succeeded to her； that； after all this；
Judah； without knowing it； had intercourse with his daughter…in…law； and
that she bore him twins； and； finally； that the eldest of these twins became
a father within the aforesaid period。 （15） As all these events cannot have
taken place within the period mentioned in Genesis； the reference must
necessarily be to something treated of in another book： and Ezra in this
instance simply related the story； and inserted it without examination among
his other writings。
（16） However； not only this chapter but the whole narrative of Joseph and
Jacob is collected and set forth from various histories； inasmuch as it is
quite inconsistent with itself。 （17） For in Gen。 xlvii。 we are told that
Jacob； when he came at Joseph's bidding to salute Pharaoh； was 130 years
old。 （18） If from this we deduct the twenty…two years which he passed
sorrowing for the absence of Joseph and the seventeen years forming Joseph's
age when he was sold； and； lastly； the seven years for which Jacob served
for Rachel； we find that he was very advanced in life； namely； eighty four；
when he took Leah to wife； whereas Dinah was scarcely seven years old when
she was violated by Shechem； ＇Endnote 14＇。 （19） Simeon and Levi were aged
respectively eleven and twelve when they spoiled the city and slew all the
males therein with the sword。
（20） There is no need that I should go through the whole Pentateuch。 （21） If
anyone pays attention to the way in which all the histories and precepts in
these five books are set down promiscuously and without order； with no
regard for dates； and further； how the same story is often repeated；
sometimes in a different version； he will easily； I say； discern that all
the materials were promiscuously collected and heaped together； in order
that they might at some subsequent time be more readily examined and reduced
to order。 （22） Not only these five books； but also the narratives contained
in the remaining seven； going down to the destruction of the city； are
compiled in the same way。 （23） For who does not see that in Judges ii：6 a
new historian is being quoted； who had also written of the deeds of Joshua；
and that his words are simply copied？ （24） For after our historian has
stated in the last chapter of the book of Joshua that Joshua died and was
buried； and has promised； in the first chapter of Judges； to relate what
happened after his death； in what way； if he wished to continue the thread
of his history； could he connect the statement here made about Joshua with
what had gone before？
（25） So； too； 1 Sam。 17； 18； are taken from another historian； who assigns a
cause for David's first frequenting Saul's court very different from that
given in chap。 xvi。 of the same book。 （26） For he did not think that David
came to Saul in consequence of the advice of Saul's servants； as is
narrated in chap。 xvi。； but that being sent by chance to the camp by his
father on a message to his brothers； he was for the first time remarked by
Saul on the occasion of his victory； over Goliath the Philistine； and was
retained at his court。
（27） I suspect the same thing has taken place in chap。 xxvi。 of the same
book； for the historian there seems to repeat the narrative given in chap。
xxiv。 according to another man's version。 （28） But I pass over this； and go
on to the computation of dates。
（29） In I Kings； chap。 vi。； it is said that Solomon built the Temple in the
four hundred and eightieth year after the exodus from Egypt； but from the
historians themselves we get a much longer period； for：
Years。
Moses governed the people in the desert 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40
Joshua； who lived 110 years； did not； according to Josephus and
others' opinion rule more than 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 26
Cusban Rishathaim held the people in subjection 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 8
Othniel； son of Kenag； was judge for 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 ＇Endnote 15＇ 40
Eglon； King of Moab； governed the people 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 18
Ehucl and Shamgar were judges 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 80
Jachin； King of Canaan； held the people in subjection 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 20
The people was at peace subsequently for 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40
It was under subjection to Median 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 7
It obtained freedom under Gideon for 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40
It fell under the rule of Abimelech 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 3
Tola； son of Puah； was judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 23
Jair was judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 22
The people was in subjection to the Philistines and Ammonites 。 。 。 。 。 18
Jephthah was judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 6
Ibzan； the Bethlehemite； was judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 7
Elon； the Zabulonite 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 10
Abclon； the Pirathonite 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 8
The people was again subject to the Philistines 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40
Samson was judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 ＇Endnote 16＇ 20
Eli was judge 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40
The people again fell into subjection to the Philistines；
till they were delivered by Samuel 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 20
David reigned 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 40
Solomon reigned before he built the temple 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。 。。 。 。 。 。 。 4
（30） All these periods added together make a total of 580 years。 （31） But to
these must be added the years during which the Hebrew republic flourished
after the death of Joshua； until it was conquered by Cushan Rishathaim；
which I take to be very numerous； for I cannot bring myself to believe that
immediately after the death of Joshua all those who had witnessed his
miracles died simultaneously； nor that their successors at one stroke bid
farewell to their laws； and plunged from the highest virtue into the depth
of wickedness and obstinacy。
（32） Nor； lastly； that Cushan Rishathaim subdued them on the instant； each
one of these circumstances requires almost a generation； and there is no
doubt that Judges ii：7； 9； 10； comprehends a great many years which it
passes over in silence。 （33） We must also add the years during which Samuel
was judge； the number of which is not stated in Scripture； and also the
years during which Saul reigned； which are not clearly shown from his
history。 （34） It is； indeed； stated in 1 Sam。 xiii：1； that he reigned two
years； but the text in that passage is mutilated； and the records of his
reign lead us to suppose a longer period。 （35） That the text is mutilated I
suppose no one will doubt who has ever advanced so far as the threshold of
the Hebrew language； for it runs as follows： 〃Saul was in his year； when
he began to reign； and he reigned two years over Israel。〃 （36） Who； I say；
does not see that the number of the years of Saul's age when he began to
