APPENDIX.

SECTION I.

The texts which were collected by Le Clerc, as affording reason to doubt whether the Pentateuch was composed by Moses, considered;* with the answer to the objection founded on each text annexed to it-Dr. Geddes's opinions on the authenticity of the Pentateuch considered-Specimens of his reasonings on this subject-An article in the Appendix to the eighth volume of the Critical Review for September, 1806, in which Mr. De Wett's work on the Old Testament is briefly considered-An humble remonstrance to the Reviewers.

No. I.

TEXT: Gen. ii. 11 and 12.-" The name of the first river is "Pison that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havi"lath, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is "good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone."

OBJECTION. These observations appear the production of some one residing in Chaldæa, for Pison is that branch of the Euphrates which falls into the Persian Gulf, and passes by those countries which were formerly called Chaldæa, and where now Ormus is; and it is not credible that Moses, who had but just left Egypt, should be so well acquainted with the geography and productions of distant countries, or have been inspired on such a subject.

ANSWER, by Le Clerc himself.-Admitting these observations to relate to Chaldæa, that country might be extremely well known in Egypt at the time of Moses, by merchants trading thither. For if in the time of Jacob, companies of merchants traded from Gilead (vide Genes. xxxvii. 25.) to Egypt, with spices, &c. why might not merchants from Chaldæa trade thither, near four hundred years after, in

*Vide Clerici Prolegomena in Vet. Testam. Dissertatio 3ia de Scriptore Pentateuchi, et Witsis Miscellanea Sacra, Tom. I. Lib. I. cap. xiv. An Moses Auctor Pentateuchi.

the time of Moses? And thus might not all these circumstances be easily known, to one educated in the court of Pharaoh, and "learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians."

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No. II.

TEXT: Gen. x. 8 to 12.-" And Cush begat Nimrod: he be'gan to be a mighty hunter before the Lord: wherefore it is "said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. "And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel and Erech, "and Accad, and Calneh in the land of Shinar. Out of that "land he went forth into Assyria, and builded Niniveth, and "the city Rehoboth, and Calah, and Resen, between Niniveth "and Calah: the same is a great city.”

OBJECTION. First, this exactness in describing the cities of Mesopotamia and Assyria, appears to indicate an author conversant in those countries; and it would be more natural after the Babylonish captivity, than at a period long before the Jews had any intercourse with the Babylonians. Secondly, Ninive took its name from Ninus, the son of Belus, who lived in the time of Deborah, two hundred years after Moses.

ANSWER. The celebrity of Babylon and the other cities, affords a natural reason why Moses should particularize them, as he has in several other cases alluded to ancient facts and ancient names; and there is no accuracy of knowledge in the enumeration, which may not naturally be ascribed to him. To the second objection it is answered, there is no proof which can be depended on, that Nimrod did not build Ninive as well as the other cities, or that it took its name from Ninus; and if it did, it would only prove that this single name was added to the words of Moses, by some later writer, to complete the enumeration of these ancient and distinguished cities. I would add, that our common translation, which reads, "Out of that land went “Assur (i. e. the Assyrian) and built Niniveth," &c. removes the whole difficulty. This clause may have been naturally added by some writer in the flourishing state of the Assyrian empire, before or during the Babylonish captivity. And this translation is not only agreeable to the original Hebrew, but to the Septuagint, the Samaritan, the Syriac, the Arabic and the Vulgate versions.

In truth, there being no other objection than this very feeble and futile one, made to the enumerations contained in this tenth chapter of Genesis, as inconsistent with the state of the world at the time Moses lived, forms as strong a presumptive proof as can be desired, that it was really written by him; and that he possessed the most astonishing accuracy of information as to the origin of nations, and the primeval history and spread of mankind. It is indeed most remarkable, that this chapter, short as it is, supplies the only clue which

directs our steps, in tracing the progress of nations in the very remotest period of antiquity; and that the authors who have followed it with the closest attention, have been most successful in evolving the labyrinths and penetrating the recesses of the very earliest history, and explaining in a rational and consistent manner the apparently wild and chimerical fictions of heathen mythology. Memorable examples of this are found in the Phaleg of Bochart, in which, from this account in Genesis, he traces with such wonderful accuracy and success the origin of nations; and thus decidedly confirms the Mosaic history, which declares that "of the three sons of Noah was the whole earth overspread." *

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Equally remarkable is the success with which the learned Bryant, following the same guide, has analysed the various systems and fables of ancient mythology, and shewn how naturally they can be explained and connected, by considering them as ultimately derived from the facts and characters of the Mosaic records. I might easily multiply instances, but I forbear, and proceed with my subject.

No. III.

TEXT: Gen. xi. 28 and 31.-"Haran died in Ur of the Chal"dees: they went from Ur of the Chaldees, to the land of "Canaan."

OBJECTION. This city or country could not be so called in the time of Abraham, for the Chasdem or Chaldæans descended from Chesed, who was the nephew of Abraham by his brother Nahor, Gen. xxii. 22. In the time of Moses that region was called Padan Aram; it was the more modern writers about the time of the captivity, who called it the land of the Chaldees.

ANSWER, by Witsius.-Le Clerc, who advanced the objection, confesses it is altogether uncertain whether the Chaldæans derived their name from Chesed, and where this city was, since it was the name of two cities near the Euphrates; the extent of the land of Chaldæa is also uncertain. It is remarkable that Le Clerc, who on reflection abandoned and even refuted his own objections to the authenticity of the Pentateuch, has omitted to take any notice of this in his review of them; in all probability deeming it too trifling.

It is indeed not wonderful that Witsius should grow a little angry: after stating the answer, he adds, "Hæc si vera sunt ne species quidem "difficultatis superest, quid ergo movit criticum nisi prava carpendi "libido, ex qua orta est quam subjungit accusatio, scriptores sacros parum exactos esse nominibus." If Le Clerc advanced this accusation, it was certainly a rash act; but he should be forgiven, since he as certainly repented of it.

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*Gen. ix. 19.

No. IV.

TEXT: Gen. xii. 6.-"The Canaanite was then in the land:" and xiii. 7. “The Canaanite and the Perizzite then dwelled in "the land."

OBJECTION. They therefore were not there when this history was written, but they continued there until after the death of Moses; therefore he was not the author of this book.

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ANSWER, by Witsius.-It does not follow from this clause, that the Canaanites had been expelled when it was written; it may mean no more, than that the Canaanites were even at that time in the land which God had promised to give to the seed of Abraham. And this observation may have been intended to illustrate the faith of Abraham, who did not hesitate to obey the command of God, by sojourning in this strange land, though even then inhabited by a powerful nation totally unconnected with, if not averse to him: a circumstance intimated by Abraham's remonstrance to Lot, to avoid any enmity between them, "because they were brethren;" as if he had said, It would be most extreme imprudence for us, who are brethren, who have no connexion or friendship but with each other, to allow any dissension to arise between us, surrounded as we are by strangers, indifferent to, or even averse to us, who might rejoice at our quarrel, and take advantage of it to our common mischief; "for the Canaanite and Perizzite was even then in the land." What is there in this, asks Witsius, which Moses might not have said? I may venture to add that another reason may be given, for noticing the circumstance of the Canaanite and Perizzite having been then in the land, which Moses immediately after declares God had promised to the seed of Abraham. The Israelites might thus be most clearly satisfied, that no change had taken place in the purpose of God to give them this land, when they were reminded that at the very time this purpose had been declared, the very same nation possessed the country, who still occupied it. It may be necessary to remark, that Dr. Geddes insists that it must be granted, that "this comma supplies a proof, that this history was written after the expulsion of the Canaanites, or that it must be considered as an ad"dition by some posterior scribe;" which last he is not disposed to admit. He adduces Dathe and Rosenmuller as explaining the passage as Witsius had done: "the Canaanite was even then in the land." They are as respectable authorities in Hebrew literature as even Dr. Geddes himself; and I think the Doctor's opinion, that this comma was necessarily written after the expulsion of the Canaanites, already sufficiently refuted.

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No. V.

TEXT: Gen. xiii. 18.-" Abram dwelt in the plain of Mamre, "" which is in Hebron."

OBJECTION.-It appears from Joshua, xiv. 15, and xv. 13, that the original name of this place was Kirjath Arba, and that it probably took the name of Hebron from the grandson of Caleb.

ANSWER. The words "which is in Hebron," seem to have been added by a later hand, to mark out the place, as evidently was done in Genesis, xxiii. 2. "And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is "Hebron, in the land of Canaan." Such explanatory additions becoming necessary by time, appear to me rather to confirm than impeach the antiquity of the original. Witsius thinks Hebron added as an explanatory word, wherever it occurs.

No. VI.

TEXT: Gen. xiv. 14.-" Abram pursued them unto Dan,"

OBJECTION.-Dan acquired that name from the Danites, long after Moses, the ancient name of the city being Laish.

ANSWER.-Le Clerc from Josephus, Antiq. Lib. I. cap. x. observes, that this place was so called from its being near one of the fountains of the river JORDAN; JOR was the name of the other. Witsius seems to think this word was inserted by a later hand (Samuel or Ezra) as explanatory of the situation, in the room of an old name, the application of which was unknown. I would add, that the Samaritan Pentateuch and the Arabic version read, instead of DAN, BANJAS. There was therefore probably some uncertainty as to the name which had originally stood here; which would render the insertion of a modern name to mark the place plainly, more necessary.

TEXT: Gen. xx. 7.

OBJECTION. This word was of a more modern date than Moses, as appears from 1 Samuel, ix. 9.

ANSWER.-The word is certainly used in this sense constantly in the Pentateuch. Thus, Exod. vii. 1. God tells Moses, "thy brother "shall be thy prophet," thy DJ, Numb. xi. 29. "Would God "the Lord's people were all prophets," the same word is used; and Numb. xi. 27. “Eldad and Medad do prophesy," the same root is used; and Deut. xiii. 1. 3. 5. prophet is expressed by the same word; and in the promise of God to Moses, Deut. xviii. 18. "God will raise "them up a prophet like unto thee." Nor does the passage in Samuel prove the word was never used before, but rather that it was not used to denote strictly a foreseer of future events, which in Samuel's time it was appropriated to. "Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God," (to reveal secrets or future events) "thus he spake, "Come and let us go to the seer, (777) for he that is now called a prophet () was beforetime called a seer." Now to me this change of signification appears natural, and easily to be accounted for. The early patriarchs, to whom this word was applied, and Aaron himself,

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