CORNELL UNIVERSITY LIBRARY GIFT FROM
Alfred C. Barnes
The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text.
http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924029308503
THE FIVE BOOKS FROM MACKABEANS IN ENGLISH.
WITH NOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS, BY
HENRY COTTON, D.C.L.
ARCHDEACON OF CASHEL,
AND DECEASED STUDENT AT CHRIST CHURCH, OXFORD
OXFORD, AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS. MDCCCXXXII.
TO
THE PROVOST, FELLOWS AND SCHOLARS, VAN TRINITY COLLEGE, DUBLIN, TO WHOSE VALUABLE LIBRARY I HAD THE MOST GENEROUS ACCESS, THE PRESENT PUBLICATION IS ENGRAVED, IN TESTIMONY OF RESPECT AND REGARD.
BOOK II INTRODUCTION
The second book, or the first of our English Bibles, contains a clear and succinct account of events which befell the Jews during the space of forty years ; namely, from the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes, to the death of Simon Maccabaeus, in the 135th year before Christ. Its author is unknown; and its original language has been greatly controverted. Origen and St. Jerome assert, that they had seen the original in Hebrew; but this is considered to have been lost. Yet it is to be observed, that Dr. Kennicott, in his “Dissertatio Generalis,” cites two MSS., one of which. No. 474, is preserved at Rome, ” Libr.
” Maccab. Chaldaice,” written early in the 13th century: a second, No. 613, existing at Hamburg, ” Libr. Maccab. Hebraice,” written in the year 1448. Archbishop Ussher, following St. Jerome, says, ” it is a book exactly translated out of the ” Hebrew, and containeth everywhere the brevity ” and Hebraisms of it.” Annals of the World. Michaelis, in ” Biblioth. Oriental, part. XII.” (as quoted by Harles in his edition of Fabricius,) asserts that Josephus took his account of these transactions from the Hebrew book of Maccabees and did not consult the Greek version. Theodotion has by some writers been considered as its translator into Greek : and the book is thought to have been compiled partly from the memoirs collected by Judas Maccabaeus, and partly from those of John Hyrcanus, whose leadership began at the period where this book leaves off, and who more over himself has been regarded by some persons as its author. Others again, as Beveridge, in his ” Codex Canonum Vindicatus,” contend that both books were originally written in Greek. There is in bishop Walton’s Polyglott Bible a Syriac version of this book, made from the Greek also an ancient Latin one; respecting which, see Sabatier in the Prolegomena to his edition of the Hebrew Bible : there is likewise a modern Latin translation, by Nobilius. It deserves to be noticed, that a short history of king Antiochus, in Hebrew, but differing in many points from the account given in this book of Maccabees, is printed, accompanied by a Latin version, by Bartoloccius in his ” Bibliotheca Rab ” binica,” (torn. I. p. 383, &c.) who states it to be found in the Ritual of the Spanish Jews. Fabri cius, in his ” Codex Pseudepigraphus Veteris Tes ” tamenti,” (torn. I. p, 1165,) has reprinted the Latin version of Bartoloccius, but without his long and learned notes; in which he maintains that the author of the work is unknown, but that beyond doubt it was compiled from the Talmud. Christopher Wagenseil reports that he had discovered a manuscript of the same work, in Chaldee, in the dirty study of a Jew at Nicolasburg in Moravia. Wagenseil translated this into Latin, and his version is said to be remaining in the public library at Leipsic. In Archbishop Marsh’s library at Dublin is a small Hebrew rollon parchment, without points, containing this history of Antiochus and of “John ” the son of Mattathias;” of which the beginning (and probably the whole) agrees with that which has been published by Bartoloccius.
MeWe join our group at Friends in Jesus
You may also want to join Creation Ministries International.
Read all about it : Creation.com
Find more Study topics at Quo Vadis World
We give thanks and acknowledgement to Rick Meyers for e-Sword.
P.O. Box 1626
Franklin, TN 37065
United States of America
www.e-sword.net
