his labours, will not be in danger of an attack of this defcrip tion; but candour and impartiality call on us to fufpend all criticifm at prefent, and to confider this article merely in the light of a literary notice, on a fubject of the very first interest and importance. Dr. Holmes's former and larger fpecimen, though on account of the vastnefs of the defign it is judicioufly given up, in favour of his fecond and more contracted plan, claims from us its juft tribute of attention. Addrefling the Bishop of Durham, as one of the first and most geneçous of his patrons, he fubmits to the public an example of his intended labours, and communicates fuch data as are neceffary to form a proper idea of the work. The notes are divided into four diftinct heads, distinguished in the margin by the four first letters of the Greek alphabet, in capitals. A contains the various readings in the MSS. and the Complutenfian, Aldine, Alexandrine, and fome other most celebrated editions. That called the Vatican edition, and published by the directions of Sixtus V. in 1587, with the Latin verfion of Nobilius, is propofed to be followed in the text of Dr. Holmes's work, with the moft fcrupulous exactness; the errata only are corrected, many of which the Vatican editors themselves altered with a pen, before the publication of their valuable work; and all thefe variations are noticed. Under the head B are inferted the various readings found in the most celebrated verfions from the Greek text. The citations from the Greek Fathers occupy the third divifion; and the fourth contains the edited and inedited texts of the ancient interpreters, together with Scholia and other fragments, which have a refernce to the Hexapla, particularly an anonymous Greek verfion of the highest value, of which Semler, Michaelis, and other eminent orientalifts, have spoken in terms of the highest praise, and which has lately been publifhed; the Pentateuch at Erlang, by Profeffor AMMON, and the other facred books, by the celebrated Villoifon, from the MS. formerly belonging to Cardinal Beffarion, and preserved in the library of St. Mark. Nothing can be more completely happy, or more judicious, than the idea adopted by this author (whom Dr. H. imagines to have been fome Hellenistic Jew, between the 9th and 12th centuries, of rendering the Hebrew text in the pure Attic dialect, and the Chaldee in its correfponding Doric. To give the learned world a perfect notion of the immensity of the defign which Dr. Holmes has relinquished, and to vindicate the propriety, the expediency, the neceflity of fome alteration taking place, we with to leave upon record a fpecimen of his intended labours; and, in fixing on the verfe in Genefis Genefis which defcribes the creation of man, we by no means confider ourfelves as having exhibited a paffage of the greatest length, or most painful exertion on the part of the editor. See Ch. I. v. II, 25. Ch. II. v. 15, 17, 21, 23. « Καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον. κατ ̓ εἰκόνα Θεῖ ἐποίησεν αὐτόν. ἄρσεν και θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς.” A A "XXVII. A. Mss. ET EDD. GR. totum comma, 83. moinσεν ὁ Θεὸς &c.] εποιησεν ο Θεος &c. Notetur pundtum fuperius poft vocabulum ioinger, fi forte accentui Athnach in Hebb. Codd. refpondeat, 131. κατ' εἰκόνα Θες] εν εικονι αυτό, κατ' εικ. Θεό 135. Si vero fuerit fcriptum antiquitus fic, ΚΑΤΕΙΚΟΝΑ ΑΥΤΟΥΚΑ ΤΕΙΚΟΝΑΘΕΟΥ, facile alterutra κατ' εικόνα cum intermed. potuerunt ex homoioteleuto a fcriptore omitti, B. VERSIONES. xar' eixóv Θε] κατ' εἰκ. αὐτοῦ vel αὑτῷ Arab. Mss. 1. 2. ἐν εἰκόνι αὑτα κατ' εἰκόνα Θεῖ Αrm. Ms. I. Et præmittit eadem Arm. Verfio citata in Præfatione Mofis Chorenenfis per fratres Whiftonos, forfan ex thefauro Epiftolico Lacrozii. Præmittit cadem quoque Arm. Ed. xx εἰκόνα αὐτῷ κατ' εἰκόνα Θεο Arm. Ms. 2. κατ. εἰκ. Θεᾶ ἐποί, αὐτὸν] καὶ ἐποί. αὐτὸν κατ' εἰκ. Θεῷ Arab. Ms. 4. ἐποίησεν αὐτὸν] ἐπ. αὐτ Tès Arab. Ms. 3. moinσev alтés], Copt. Arab. Ms. 3. Et fecit Deus hominem, ad imaginem Dei fecit eum, mafculum et fæminam fecit eos, Lat. Vet. ap. Aug. 1. iii. de Gen. ad lit. ubi fupra. Hilar. I. iv. de Trin. 838. Ambr. in Pff. 743. Hieron. Ep. ad Cypr. Novatian. 1. de Trin. 1047. Victorin. Af. 1. de principio diei, 294. Fauf tin. Pr. contr. Arian. 638. Auctor. Qu. V. T. ap. Aug. iii. qu. 21, 45, alibi. Fulgent. contr. Fab. fragm. p. 605. Khilaftr. Brix. de Hær. 712. cum. Tert. 418. ad imaginem Dei] ad imaginem fuam Phi. laftr. Brix. 1. c. Vigil. Tapf. 1. contr. Varimand. 750. г. Сітт. GR. Citat tot. com. Philo i, 496. Theoph. 90. Clem. R. Ep. i. 33, fed, 2 claufula. Juft. M. Dial. 269. Conftit. Ap. 1. v. c. 7. p. 312. Baf. i, 92. Chryf. iv, 76. Greg. Nyff. i, 84. Julian. ap. Cyr. Al. vi, 58. Damafc. ii, 309. Anonym. in Cat. Nic. 76. Anonym. in Cat. Nic. 78. Philop. 1. iv. Citat cum intermed. xal i.ro Ignat. Ep. ii. ad Antioch. 104. Euf. in Pfl. p. 126, et D. E. ii, 232. Cyr. Hierof. Cat. x. 126. Method. ap. Epiph. i, 542. Cyr. Al. iv, 122. v, 377, 471, 524, 663. vi, 22. et alibi fæpe. Greg. Nyff. i, 101. ii, 703, 757. Theodoret. iv, 745. Ifidor. Peluf. Ep. p. 302. κατ ̓ εἶκ. αὐτοὺς ad fin. Theodot. ap. Clem. Αl. 973. καὶ ἐπ.—Θες Baf. i, 338. ἄρσεν και θ. ἐπι res Chryf. vii, 204. xi, 142, 749. ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἀνθρ.] tr. τὸν ἄνω Sp.es Cyr. Al. v, 471. Kugios Tov avg. in Ed. fed. in Mss. Bodl. Roe et Cafaub. ut Vat. Cyr. Hierof. 1. c. nar' sixóva Ose] xxi xxT' tin. O Greg. Nyff. i, 84, ex accomm. iv eixón aur Baf. i. 88, ex accommodatione. nar' einóva saule Damafc. i, 357, Ms. iv lón O Anaftaf. Ms. Ifidor. Peluf. 1. ii. Ep. 143, fed l. iii. Ep. 112 habet ut Vat. fed ἐν εἰκόνι Θεῦ.... ἀλλ' οὐχὶ τῇ ἑαυτοῦ.... Philo ii, 625. autor] aircùs Theodot. ap. Clem. Al. 1. c, Sed Philo, ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτοὺς, οὐκ ἔτι αὐτὸν, ἀλλ ̓ αὐτοὺς ἐπιφέρει Jurizas i, 496. Firmat igitur hoc in loco adróv. agaev xai In au] λυξ ἄρρεν καὶ θῆλυ Philo i, 496, fed alibi ut Vat. Orig. iii, 638. A. RELIQ INTPP. GR. &c. ̓Ακ. καὶ ἔκτισεν ὁ Θεὸς σὲν τὸν ἄνε θρωπον ἐν εἰκόνι αὐτῷ· ἐν εἰκόνι Θεὸ ἔκτισεν αὐτός· ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἔκε τισεν αὐτούς. Σύμμ. καὶ ἔκτισεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐν εἰκόνι δια φόρων ὄρθιον ὁ Θεὸς ἔκτισεν αὐτόν· ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἔκτισεν αὐτούς. Θεοδ. καὶ ἔκτισεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐν εἰκόνι αυτῷ· ἐν εἰκόνι Θεᾶ ἔκε τισεν αὐτούς· ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτές. Montf. Anonym. ἔκτισεν οὖν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον ἐν εἰκόνι ἑαυτῶ, ἐν εἰκόνι Θεῷ ἔκτισεν αὐτὸν, ἄρρενα καὶ θήλειαν ἔκτισέ σφε. ἔκτισεν αὐτοὺς 1°] ἔκτισεν αὐτὸν Philop. vi, 18. ἐν εἰκ. διαφόρῳ, όρθιον] hæc Symmacho tribuit margo Cod. Gr. 127, fi modo legatur όρθιον loco vocis ibi corrupta έξθριον. ἔκτισεν αὐτοὺς 41 ἔκτισεν αὐτὸν Philop vi, 18." In the course of the preliminary obfervations, addreffed to the Bishop of Durham, is introduced a fac fimile of the celebrated Vienna MS. and of the principal abridgments made ufe of in it, and likewife a literal copy of the accurate tranfcript of Alterus; who fuppofed the MS. to have been written at the clofe of the 5th century. Lambecius had affigned it to the æra of Conftantine the Great; but in this he differed from Montfaucon and other diftinguished critics. To the fac fimile we must refer our readers. The copy is on the following plan. 12. Και ειπεν ως ο θς τω νωε τούτο το σημίον της 14. 15. « Lin 11. ανα non apparet. ετι εις κατα κλυσμον « Lin. ult. Lambecius: καὶ μνησθήσομαι τῆς διαθήκης με, ἤ ἔσιν ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμὲ καὶ ὑμῶν. Cod. argent, non habet: ἡ ἐσιν ἀνὰ μέσον ἐμὲ καὶ ὑμῶν. In v. μου eft o minor-majufcula fupra lin. prima m. Hoc rarum in medio lin. In v. κατακλυσμον eft va a ad finem lin. κλυσμον επ fubtus fine nota divifionis," To the copy which we had the opportunity of perufing was fubjoined the following remark in MS. which we conceive we are right in affigning to the refpectable editor himself. "The reprefentation in these notes has been made what it is, both in fubftance and arrangement, in compliance with the fuggeflions of fome among the learned at home and abroad. The fpecimen, how. ever, will fufficiently fhew, that the edition cannot poffibly contain all that they wish, and which is contained in thefe pages, without exceeding all bounds, as to the time and expence that will be required for for printing it, and as to the price for which it can be fold. Re trenchment, therefore, being abfolutely neceffary, it may be right to abide by the terms of the original propofal, and to confine the reprefentation to various readings, with one addition only, namely that of Hexaplar Remains, which may occur in the margins of Greek MSS. but are not extant in Montfaucon or Bardhit. If this method be approved, it will be followed." Upon this plan Dr. Holmes has proceeded in his fecond fpecimen, and the annotations on Ch. I. v. 27, in their abridged ftate, are as follow: « Καὶ ἐποίησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν ἄνθρωπον· κατ ̓ εἰκόνα Θεοῦ ἐποίησεν αὐτὸν ἄρσεν καὶ θῆλυ ἐποίησεν αὐτούς, " XXVII. tot. com. 83. A ὁ Θ. τὸν ἄνθρ.] tr. τὸν ἄνθρ. ὁ e. Cyr. Al. v, 471. Kipios Tov äve. Cyr. Hierof. Cat. x. 126, in Edd. fed in Mss. duob. Bibl. Bodl. ut Vat. κατ ̓ εἰκ. Θεό] non aile xal' eix. Ose 135. Si fuerit in Codd. antiquitus, KATEIΚΟΝΑ ΑΥΤΟΥΚ ΑΤΕΙΚΟΝΑΘΕΟΥ, alterutra, και εικόνα, cum intermed. potuerunt ob ὁμοιοτελευτὸν a fcriptore quodam omitti. κατ ̓ εἰκ. αὑτῷ vel ar Arab. Mss. 1. 2. ad imaginem fuam Philaftr. Brix. Vigil. Tapf. i eixón avtõ nar' ein. De Arm. Ms. 1. Arm. Ed. xal' six. αὑτοῦ κατ ̓ εἰκ. Θεὖ Arm. Ms. 2. καὶ κατ' εἰκ. Θες Greg. Nyf. i, 84. ἐν εἰκόνι αὐτοῦ Βaf. i, 88. κατ ̓ εἰκ. ἑαυτῷ Damafc. i, 357, Ms. ixón de Anaftaf. Ms. Ifidor. Peluf. iii, Ep. 143, fed ii, Ep. 112, ut Vat. ἐν εἰκόνι Θεῖ.... ἀλλ' οὐχὶ τῇ ἑαυτῷ Philo ii, 625. κατι εἶχ Θ. ἐπ. ἀ.] καὶ ἐπ. 2. κατ ̓ εἰκ. Θ. Arab. Ms. 4. Συ. εν εικονι διαφορω Agrov (leg. offiov) margo 127. AUTO] Tes Arab. Ms. 3. Theodot. ap. Clem. Al. 973. in. aurès] Copt. Arab. Ms. 3." A From thefe fpecimens a fufficient idea will be gained of the nature of the work, both in its more enlarged ftate, and on the prefent contracted scale; for the reft, we wait with anxiety, but not with impatience, till further progrefs fhall be made in publishing the collations, either in the whole, or in parts. There can be no doubt, with any learned and confiderate man, that, next to correct copies of the Hebrew Bible and of the Greek Teftament, the moft valuable acquifition to the library of a chriftian fcholar, would be the most exact copy poffible of the LXX Verfion of the Old Teftament. For, though from all the editions hitherto publifhed, it is plain that Some of the books in that tranflation are fo wretchedly rendered, that no dependance can be placed on it, as to the fenfe of many paffages in thofe books, yet this is not the cafe with the Pentateuch, nor, in general, with the former hiftorical writings, as far as 1 Chron. And it is the opinion of the critic beft able to decide on the fubject," that, with a few exceptions, the LXX tranflators have fomewhere or other given the true leading fenfe of every Hebrew root; by the tracing of which 3 through through its feveral branches, and thereby fixing its ideal meaning, we may be furnished with the means of rectifying their verfion in thofe places where it is erroneous; and this, together with the light which their Hellenistic Greek throws on the style and language of the New Teftament, is the primary use and benefit of the LXX tranflation." But, in order to enjoy these benefits in their utmost perfection, it is certainly defirable to have that verfion as free from faults, and from the errors and alterations of tranfcribers, as poffible; and to this valuable end it appears, from Dr. H.'s annual accounts, and his two fpecimens, that his intended edition will greatly contribute. For, belides giving a correct copy of the Vatican edition, and the various readings of the three other principal editions (Complut. Ald. et Alexandr.) together with thofe of the chriftian fathers, and of the ancient verfions, he will alfo prefent us with fuch as are found in that valt number of MSS. which he has either himfelf collated, or has caused to be collated; and which are fpecified in his feveral annual accounts. And it would be hard indeed, if, after the adamantine toil of colle&ting fuch abundant materials, and then making proper felections and arrangements, and digefting thofe that were for his purpose, he thould not have made very material advances towards rectifying and improving the hitherto unfettled text of the LXX. With pleature, there fore, we anticipate the time when Dr. Kennicott's Hebrew Bible and Dr. Holmes's Septuagint, will be ranged together in the most celebrated collections of theology and criticifm throughout the world; we pronounce, not merely as our fanguine hope, but as our decided opinion, that Dr. H.'s intended edition, according to his fhorter and now fixed plan, "modo fervetur ad imum, qualis ab incepto procefferit," will be by far the best and most valuable ever given to the world; and fincerely do we with him life and health to complete his glorious task, and enjoy the well-earned rewards he has already received, and may yet expect, from our governors in church. and ftate, for his immenfe and almoft inconceivable labours in facred literature. ART. |