theologico-political treatise p2(神学与政治专题研究2)-第24章
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Judah； copied out。〃 （9） I cannot here pass over in silence the audacity of
the Rabbis who wished to exclude from the sacred canon both the
Proverbs and Ecclesiastes； and to put them both in the Apocrypha。 （10） In
fact； they would actually have done so； if they had not lighted on certain
passages in which the law of Moses is extolled。 （11） It is； indeed； grievous
to think that the settling of the sacred canon lay in the hands of such men；
however； I congratulate them； in this instance； on their suffering us to see
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these books in question； though I cannot refrain from doubting whether
they have transmitted them in absolute good faith； but I will not now
linger on this point。
（10） I pass on； then； to the prophetic books。 （11） An examination of
these assures me that the prophecies therein contained have been compiled
from other books； and are not always set down in the exact order in which
they were spoken or written by the prophets； but are only such as were
collected here and there； so that they are but fragmentary。
（12） Isaiah began to prophecy in the reign of Uzziah； as the writer
himself testifies in the first verse。 （13） He not only prophesied at that time；
but furthermore wrote the history of that king （see 2 Chron。 xxvi：22） in a
volume now lost。 （13） That which we possess； we have shown to have
been taken from the chronicles of the kings of Judah and Israel。
（14） We may add that the Rabbis assert that this prophet prophesied in
the reign of Manasseh； by whom he was eventually put to death； and；
although this seems to be a myth； it yet shows that they did not think that
all Isaiah's prophecies are extant。
（15） The prophecies of Jeremiah； which are related historically are also
taken from various chronicles； for not only are they heaped together
confusedly； without any account being taken of dates； but also the same
story is told in them differently in different passages。 （16） For instance； in
chap。 xxi。 we are told that the cause of Jeremiah's arrest was that he had
prophesied the destruction of the city to Zedekiah who consulted him。 （17）
This narrative suddenly passes； in chap xxii。； to the prophet's
remonstrances to Jehoiakim （Zedekiah's predecessor）； and the prediction
he made of that king's captivity； then； in chap。 xxv。； come the revelations
granted to the prophet previously； that is in the fourth year of Jehoiakim；
and； further on still； the revelations received in the first year of the same
reign。 （18） The continuator of Jeremiah goes on heaping prophecy upon
prophecy without any regard to dates； until at last； in chap。 xxxviii。 （as if
the intervening chapters had been a parenthesis）； he takes up the thread
dropped in。 chap。 xxi。
（19） In fact； the conjunction with which chap。 xxxviii。 begins； refers to
the 8th； 9th； and 10th verses of chap。 xxi。 Jeremiah's last arrest is then very
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differently described； and a totally separate cause is given for his daily
retention in the court of the prison。
（20） We may thus clearly see that these portions of the book have been
compiled from various sources； and are only from this point of view
comprehensible。 （21） The prophecies contained in the remaining chapters；
where Jeremiah speaks in the first person； seem to be taken from a book
written by Baruch； at Jeremiah's dictation。 （22） These； however； only
comprise （as appears from chap。 xxxvi：2） the prophecies revealed to the
prophet from the time of Josiah to the fourth year of Jehoiakim； at which
period the book begins。 （23） The contents of chap。 xlv：2； on to chap。 li：59；
seem taken from the same volume。
（24） That the book of Ezekiel is only a fragment； is clearly indicated
by the first verse。 （25） For anyone may see that the conjunction with
which it begins； refers to something already said； and connects what
follows therewith。 （26） However； not only this conjunction； but the whole
text of the discourse implies other writings。 （27） The fact of the present
work beginning the thirtieth year shows that the prophet is continuing； not
commencing a discourse； and this is confirmed by the writer； who
parenthetically states in verse 3； 〃The word of the Lord came often unto
Ezekiel the priest； the son of Buzi； in the land of the Chaldeans；〃 as if to
say that the prophecies which he is about to relate are the sequel to
revelations formerly received by Ezekiel from God。 （28） Furthermore；
Josephus； 11 Antiq。〃 x：9； says that Ezekiel prophesied that Zedekiah
should not see Babylon； whereas the book we now have not only contains
no such statement； but contrariwise asserts in chap。 xvii。 that he should be
taken to Babylon as a captive； ＇Endnote 20＇。
（29） Of Hosea I cannot positively state that he wrote more than is now
extant in the book bearing his name； but I am astonished at the smallness
of the quantity； we possess； for the sacred writer asserts that the prophet
prophesied for more than eighty years。
（30） We may assert； speaking generally； that the compiler of the
prophetic books neither collected all the prophets； nor all the writings of
those we have； for of the prophets who are said to have prophesied in the
reign of Manasseh and of whom general mention is made in 2 Chron。
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xxxiii：10； 18； we have； evidently； no prophecies extant； neither have we all
the prophecies of the twelve who give their names to books。 （31） Of Jonah
we have only； the prophecy concerning the Ninevites； though he also
prophesied to the children of Israel； as we learn in 2 Kings xiv：25。
（32） The book and the personality of Job have caused much
controversy。 （33） Some think that the book is the work of Moses； and the
whole narrative merely allegorical。 （34） Such is the opinion of the Rabbins
recorded in the Talmud； and they are supported by； Maimonides in his
〃More Nebuchim。〃 （35） Others believe it to be a true history； and some
suppose that Job lived in the time of Jacob； and was married to his
daughter Dinah。 （36） Aben Ezra； however； as I have already stated； affirms；
in his commentaries； that the work is a translation into Hebrew from some
other language： I could wish that he could advance more cogent arguments
than he does； for we might then conclude that the Gentiles also had sacred
books。 （37） I myself leave the matter undecided； but I conjecture Job to
have been a Gentile； and a man of very stable character； who at first
prospered； then was assailed with terrible calamities； and finally； was
restored to great happiness。 （38） （He is thus named； among others； by
Ezekiel； xiv：12。） （39） I take it that the constancy of his mind amid the
vicissitudes of his fortune occasioned many men to dispute about God's
providence； or at least
