punctuations which the same word may receive in particular places, where it is rather a question of interpretation than of grammar. Here the case is obviously a different one. But the answer to the question depends on the value we give to the old exegetic tradition of the Palestine Jews, and especially that of the Targums. We have stated above, that we are constrained to set a higher value on this than many critics of the Bible have done. An examination of the vocalization, in respect to exegesis and the division into words, gives the same result; and, in general, it may be maintained that these punctators understood the text better than many modern interpreters of it, who, in their numerous changes of the punctuation, often show neither sound judgment, nor good taste, nor exegetical tact. In a great many cases, a somewhat finer knowledge of grammar would have saved them the critical attempt. But, notwithstanding this, it is evident that this tradition could give no infallible rule, and that here, also, each question must be decided by its own merits. $ 10. b THE ACCENTS. The system of accentuation also depends on the age of the vowel system, with which, in its present form, it is intimately connected. The design of the accents is twofold: 1. To point out the tonesyllable, and at the same time determine the interpunction, or the relation which each word bears to the sentence. 2. To designate the modulation in the tone by which the Old Testament was recited, or intonated, in the synagogues, in a half-singing manner, like the cantillating reading of the Koran in the mosques. The prosaic C a Cappellus, Crit. sac. vol. ii. p. 937-956. On the other hand, Scharfenberg's Remarks. Michaelis, Krit. Bemerk, zur alten Schriften in A. T.; and, in opposition thereto, among others, see Stange, (Anticrit. in Ps.,) Reiske, (Conject. in Jobum et Prov.,) Ziegler, (Stange, Theol. Symmikt. vol. i. p. 166, opposes him,) Dathe, Faber, and Hensler, (on Isa. p. 270.) Rosenmüller and De Wette think otherwise. See Michaelis, on Ps. iv. 7, (Supplem. ad Lex. Heb. pt. ii. p. 551.) Compare Schultens, Animadv. in loc. So far they are called, sensus, rationes. See J. D. Michaelis, AcCent. Heb.; Halle, 1755, 8vo. Dachsell, Bib. accentuata; Leips. 1729, 4to. Hirt. Syst. Accent.; 1752. ✔ Here they are called. Michaelis, De Ritualibus, S. S. ex Alcorano illustrandis, § 15, in Pott's Sylloge Com. Theol. vol. ii. p. 110. accentuation is different from the poetic, and the key to this difference is found in the Sarga, so called." It may next be inquired, Which is the older, the vowel system or the accents? Many modern writers' have decided in favor of the latter, and have wished to date some accents as musical notes, in the time of the old Hebrew temple music, and, in accordance with this hypothesis, they have attempted to decipher them, and find out their true ancient meaning. In a similar manner the Gemara makes the Levites recite according to the accents, even in the time of Nehemiah. But the only argument adduced to support thisnamely, the indispensableness of musical notes, at a certain stage in the formation of Hebrew music - has not the requisite value, especially when we consider that there were, at that time, no characters for the vowels, which were vastly more necessary. Doubtless, following the accounts in Chronicles, we conceive the temple music to have been much more splendid and perfect than it was. But we can easily conceive that certain melodies, especially such as were inartificial and not very regular, might be preserved and transmitted without musical If the accents were at first musical notes, I should be inclined to place them in the later period of the synagogue, where it was the custom to reduce all the treasures of tradition to writing, and thereby to fix them. notes. However, without wishing to set myself up as an arbitrator of this controversy, almost boundless as it is, it seems to me the first design of the accents was to regulate the intonation and interpunction. The first mention of the accents in the Talmud and Jerome have reference to this use, and this occurs at a time when the Greek accents and interpunction were also regulated. And the exaggeration made of this system of interpunction may not seem strange among grammarians who surpass all others in subtilty and minuteness. Hence arose the subdistinctives (like half and quarter commas) and conjunctives, as in the vowel system there are half vowels, and signs of the absence of vowels. The transition from a Jablonski, Præf. ad Bib. Heb. § 24. Kircher, Musurg, vol. i. lib. ii. ch. 5. Walton, (1. c. iii. § 45, 56,) Paulus, (Memorab. vol. vi. p. 138,) Bertholdt, (p. 179,) and Eichhorn. On the other side, see Jahn, vol. i. p. 353. C Speidel, Traces of the Ancient Davidic Music, in Forkel's Gesch. der Musik, vol. i. p. 156. Anton, in Paulus, Neue Rep. vol. i. p. 160, vol. ii. p. 80, sqq. d Nedarim, c. 4, fol. 37, B. Megilla, c. 1, fol. 3, on Neh. viii. 8. He mentions accentus, Epist. ad Cypr. on Ps. xc. 11: "Inter Hebraicum et LXX. diversa est distinctio." See Bertholdt, p. 196. marks of the tone and connection to marks of declamation, like recitative notes, was very easy, on account of the singing method of reading which is common to all the Orientals." G. (See § 72.) SPECIMENS OF THE KIND OF DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE TWO PAPAL EDITIONS OF THE VULGATE. I. SENTENCES AND WORDS CONTAINED IN THE EDITION OF CLEMENT, BUT OMITTED IN THAT OF SIXTUS. Num. xxx. 11. Uxor in domo viri, etc., to end of verse. Prov. xxv. 24. Melius est sedere in angulo domatis quam cum muliere litigiosa et in domo communi. Matt. xxvii. 35. Ut implentur quod dictum est per prophetam dicentem, Diviserunt sibi vestimenta mea, et super vestem meam miserunt sortem. Lev. xx. 9. Patri matrique maledixit. Judg. xvii. 2, 3. Reddidit ergo eos matri suæ, quæ dixerat ei, Consecravi et novi hoc argentum. 1 Sam. iv. 21. Quia capta est arca Dei. 1 Kings xii. 10. Sic loqueris ad eos. 2 Ch. ii. 10. Et vini viginti millia metretas. II. SENTENCES AND WORDS INTERPOLATED BY SIXTUS, ANI 1 Sam. xxiv. 8. Vivit Dominus quia nisi Dominus percusserit eum, aut dies ejusque venerit, ut moriatur, aut descendens in prælium peri a The Mohammedans define their cantillation as a method of observing the pauses, and giving each letter its just articulation. Sacy, Traité des Pauses dans la Lecture de l'Alcoran, in his Notices et Extraits des MSS. de la Bib. Imperiale, vol. ix. No. 3. ...... See the works on the antiquity of the accents, in Wolf, 1. c. vol. ii. p. 492, iv. p. 218. Comp. Köcher, Bib. vol. ii. p. 122, sqq. Some names of accents are more difficult to explain, though of Chaldaic form. Elias Levita confessed (7, ch. 2) that the meaning of several was unknown to him. See Explanations, in Löscher, l. c. p. 345. Buxtorf, Thes. Gram. i. 5. Extracted from Hodius, 1. c. p. 505. erit. Propitius mihi sit Dominus, ut non mittam manum meam in Christum Dominum. 1 Sam. xxv. 6. Ex multis annis salvos faciens tuos et omnia tua. 2 Sam. vi. 12. Dixitque David ibo et reducam arcam. 2 Sam. viii. 8. De quo fecit Salomo omnia vasa ærea in templo et mare æreo et columnas altari. 2 Sam. xix. 10. Et consilium totius Israel venit ad regem. [I omit many other examples.] III. MANIFEST CONTRADICTIONS BETWEEN THE EDITIONS OF Ex. xxiii. 18. S. tuæ; C. meæ. Num. xxxiv. 4. S. ad meridiem; C. à meridie. Deut. xvii. 8. S. inter lepram et non lepram; C. inter lepram et lepram. Josh. ii. 18. S. signum non fuerit; C. signum fuerit. IV. DISCREPANCY IN NUMBERS. Ex. xxxii. 28. S. triginta tria m.; C. viginti tria m. 2 Sam. xv. 7. 2 Sam. xvi. 1. 1 Kings iv. 42. S. quatuor; C. quadraginta. S. duobus utribus vini; C. utro vini. S. quinque millia; C. quinque et mille. [Many in following passages omitted.] V. OTHER REMARKABLE DIFFERENCES. Gen. xxiv. 24. S. filia sum Bathuelis, filii Nachor, quem peperit ei Melcha; C. filii Melchæ ei Nachor. Josh. iii. 17. S. contra Jordamon; C. contra Jericho. 1 Sam. iii. 2, 3. S. nec poterat videre lucernam Dei antequam extingueretur; C. oculi ejus caligaverunt, nec poterat videre; lucerna Dei antequam extingueretur. 1 Kings ii. 28. S. ad Salomonem; C. ad Joab. |