theologico-political treatise p2(神学与政治专题研究2)-第21章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to one's heart's content。
（55） If anyone thinks that I am speaking too generally； and without
sufficient warrant； I would ask him to set himself to showing us some
fixed plan in these histories which might be followed without blame by
other writers of chronicles； and in his efforts at harmonizing and
interpretation； so strictly to observe and explain the phrases and
expressions； the order and the connections； that we may be able to imitate
these also in our writings； ＇Endnote 17＇。 （56） If he succeeds； I will at once
give him my hand； and he shall be to me as great Apollo； for I confess that
after long endeavours I have been unable to discover anything of the kind。
（57） I may add that I set down nothing here which I have not long
reflected upon； and that； though I was imbued from my boyhood up with
the ordinary opinions about the Scriptures； I have been unable to withstand
the force of what I have urged。
（58） However； there is no need to detain the reader with this question；
and drive him to attempt an impossible task； I merely mentioned the fact
in order to throw light on my intention。
（59） I now pass on to other points concerning the treatment of these
books。 （60） For we must remark； in addition to what has been shown； that
these books were not guarded by posterity with such care that no faults
crept in。 （61） The ancient scribes draw attention to many doubtful readings；
and some mutilated passages； but not to all that exist： whether the
commentaries of those who endeavour to harmonize them。 （62） The
Rabbis evidently let their fancy run wild。 （63） Such commentators as I
have； read； dream； invent； and as a last resort； play fast and loose with the
language。 （64） For instance； when it is said in 2 Chronicles； that Ahab was
forty…two years old when he began to reign； they pretend that these years
are computed from the reign of Omri； not from the birth of Ahab。 （65） If
this can be shown to be the real meaning of the writer of the book of
Chronicles； all I can say is； that he did not know how to state a fact。 （66）
The commentators make many other assertions of this kind； which if true；
59
… Page 60…
A Theologico…Political Treatise Part 2
would prove that the ancient Hebrews were ignorant both of their own
language； and of the way to relate a plain narrative。 （67） I should in such
case recognize no rule or reason in interpreting Scripture； but it would be
permissible to hypothesize to one's heart's content。
（68） If anyone thinks that I am speaking too generally； and without
sufficient warrant； I would ask him to set himself to showing us some
fixed plan in these histories which might be followed without blame by
other writers of chronicles； and in his efforts at harmonizing and
interpretation； so strictly to observe and explain the phrases and
expressions； the order and the connections； that we may be able to imitate
these also in our writings （17）。 （69） If he succeeds； I will at once give him
my hand； and he shall be to me as great Apollo； for I confess that after
long endeavours I have been unable to discover anything of the kind。 （70）
I may add that I set down nothing here which I have not long reflected
upon； and that； though I was imbued from my boyhood up with the
ordinary opinions about the Scriptures； I have been unable to withstand the
force of what I have urged。
（71） However； there is no need to detain the reader with this question；
and drive him to attempt an impossible task； I merely mentioned the fact
in order to throw light on my intention。
（72） I now pass on to other points concerning the treatment of these
books。 （73） For we must remark； in addition to what has been shown； that
these books were not guarded by posterity with such care that no faults
crept in。 （74） The ancient scribes draw attention to many doubtful readings；
and some mutilated passages； but not to all that exist： whether the faults
are of sufficient importance to greatly； embarrass the reader I will not now
discuss。 （75） I am inclined to think that they are of minor moment to those；
at any rate； who read the Scriptures with enlightenment： and I can
positively； affirm that I have not noticed any fault or various reading in
doctrinal passages sufficient to render them obscure or doubtful。
（76） There are some people； however； who will not admit that there is
any corruption； even in other passages； but maintain that by some unique
exercise of providence God has preserved from corruption every word in
the Bible： they say that the various readings are the symbols of
60
… Page 61…
A Theologico…Political Treatise Part 2
profoundest mysteries； and that mighty secrets lie hid in the twenty…eight
hiatus which occur； nay； even in the very form of the letters。
（77） Whether they are actuated by folly and anile devotion； or whether
by arrogance and malice so that they alone may be held to possess the
secrets of God； I know not： this much I do know； that I find in their
writings nothing which has the air of a Divine secret； but only childish
lucubrations。 （78） I have read and known certain Kabbalistic triflers；
whose insanity provokes my unceasing as astonishment。 （79） That faults
have crept in will； I think； be denied by no sensible person who reads the
passage about Saul； above quoted （1 Sam。 xiii：1） and also 2 Sam。 vi：2：
〃And David arose and went with all the people that were with him from
Judah； to bring up from thence the ark of God。〃
（80） No one can fail to remark that the name of their destination； viz。；
Kirjath…jearim ＇Endnotee 18＇； has been omitted： nor can we deny that 2
Sam。 xiii：37； has been tampered with and mutilated。 〃And Absalom fled；
and went to Talmai； the son of Ammihud； king of Geshur。 （81） And he
mourned for his son every day。 So Absalom fled； and went to Geshur； and
was there three years。〃 （82） I know that I have remarked other passages of
the same kind； but I cannot recall them at the moment。
（83） That the marginal notes which are found continually in the
Hebrew Codices are doubtful readings will； I think； be evident to everyone
who has noticed that they often arise from the great similarity； of some of
the Hebrew letters； such for instance； as the similarity between Kaph and
Beth； Jod and Van； Daleth and Reth； &c。 （84） For example； the text in 2
Sam。 v：24； runs 〃in the time when thou hearest；〃 and similarly in Judges
xxi：22； 〃And it shall be when their fathers or their brothers come unto us
often；〃 the marginal version is 〃come unto us to complain。〃
（85） So also many various readings have arisen from the use of the
letters named mutes； which are generally not sounded in pronunciation；
and are taken promiscuously； one for the other。 （86） For example； in Levit。
xxv：29； it is written； 〃The house shall be established which is not in the
walled city；〃 but the margin has it； 〃which is in a walled city。〃
（
