PREFACE.

The Samaritan Book of Joshua was first brought to the notice of European scholars by the eminent Orientalist, Joseph J. Scaliger, who obtained a manuscript of it from the Samaritans of Cairo, in the year 1584. This MS. was

deposited by him in the library of the University of Leyden, and for a long period remained the only copy of the work in Europe; in fact, it is only within the last half of the present century that other MSS. have been obtained; one of these is now in the possession of the British Museum, and another is said to be in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge. To the celebrated Swiss theologian and scholar, Johann Heinrich Hottinger, is due the credit of first making the contents of this work fully known to scholars; this he did in his Exercitationes Anti-Moriniano de Pentateucho Samaritano, published in 1644, wherein he gave a condensed Latin translation, or rather epitome, of the whole chronicle: he likewise treated of it in other of his writings, especially in his Smegma Orient, (1657), which contains a fair resumé of its contents. Hottinger's works remained the principal source from which scholars drew their information of the character and contents of this chronicle of the Samaritans, until in the year 1848, T. W. J. Juynboll edited the Arabic text of the Leyden MS. with a complete

Latin translation to which were added elaborate dissertations and copious critical notes. This translation of Juynboll's at once superseded all that had preceded it, and has ever since remained the standard.

The translation now offered-the first that has ever been attempted in English-is made directly from the Arabic text as printed by Juynboll, while the MS. in the British Museum has been examined and consulted in many cases. To those who may take the trouble to compare this English translation with Juynboll's Latin, it may occa sion surprise to find that, in the interpretation of a considerable number of passages they materially differ; if such will, however, only turn to the original Arabic and consult it, the writer confidently believes that the English rendering will be found to more exactly represent the original than the Latin. It should be borne in mind, however, that the Leyden MS. is in the Samaritan characters, though written in the Arabic language, which the scribe often wrote in a most careless and negligent manner, and hence the MS. is in many places exceedingly difficult to decipher. Juynboll edited it in Arabic characters, but, on account of the wretchedness of the writing, was often driven to conjectural readings and emendations, yet he always placed in the margin the exact, or supposed, words of the text, thus affording the student an opportunity to form an independent judgment as to the justice and accuracy of his emendations, and upon careful consideration one is sometimes forced to the conclusion that Juynboll has unintentionally erred, both in his reading of the text and in his conjectural corrections, and that the discarded words in the margin are in some cases to be preferred to his attempted improvements. These facts will explain some of the variations which

distinguish this translation from the Latin one of Juynboll.

It is not the intention of the writer to detract one whit from the great praise which is due to Juynboll, for the care he bestowed upon his work and for his truly able translation and the scholarly and erudite notes that he added to it; to all of which the writer here makes acknowledgment of his great indebtedness.

Next to the Jews there is scarcely any people that excite the interest of biblical students more warmly than the Samaritans. Their origin, their history, their literature and their traditions are questions that have brought to their investigation a succession of able scholars, and are to day still subjects of intense interest and research. The present translation is put forth with the hope that it may not be unwelcome to the many who are interested in these subjects, but to whom this Chronicle in the original language has been a sealed book.

Among the Samaritans themselves this book is not held to be of Divine inspiration-for they believe that only the five books of Moses are inspired-nevertheless, they greatly revere it and hold it in the highest estimation, and believe it to contain a true and authentic history of the period of which it treats. As to when it was composed and who was its author we have no positive knowledge. From the inscription which the Leyden MS. bears we learn that the first part of that codex, as it now stands, was written in A. D. 1362-3, and the latter part in A. D. 1513. Juynboll's researches led him to the conclusion that it was redacted into its present form about A. D. 1300, out of earlier documents, This is probably the fact, and it is all that can be safely predicated as to the time of its compilation.

A marked feature of the book is the number

of legends and traditions it contains, some of which-so far as we are aware-are to be met with nowhere else. Most of them, however, are intimately connected with similar legends current in the East, and show a common origin with those of the Jews, and frequently with those of the Mohammedans. In the notes an effort has been made to notice such Jewish or Moslem legends and traditions as are identical or show an affinity with those mentioned in the text, in order that the reader may see wherein the various versions agree or differ. Care has been taken also to identify, so far as it was possible, all places or localities mentioned in the Chronicle, and to give their ancient Hebrew names. This, it is believed, will not be without value to all such as are unfamiliar with the modern Arabic names of places in Palestine, and who might otherwise be at a loss to know what were the places that are hidden under the Arabic names in the Chronicle.

To all who are interested in the history, geography and legends of Palestine this Chronicle of the Samaritans will be of particular interest; and while it is not to be denied that many of its statements are incredible, still the fact remains that much that it contains is of true value and is not to be ignored, but may be used discriminately to good advantage by scholars to shed light upon a large range of subjects, our knowledge of which is and always has been extremely limited; in support of this we might refer to the recognition it has received at the hands of such writers as Bishop Patrick, Dean Stanley, Capt. Conder and others.

In conclusion, the translator wishes to express his obligation to his father, Rev. Oliver Crane, DD., LL.D., for his kindly interest and encouragement throughout, and for many good criticisms and suggestions in revising the manuscript,