TO THE READER. No apology seems required for the republication of the present work. The original Latin, of which this is a decided improvement, has gone through several editions in Germany; it has been recommended from the theological chair of this University by the late learned professors Van Mildert and Lloyd; and the publication of two editions of Mr. Upham's valuable translation, made with the sanction and assistance of the very celebrated biblical scholar Professor Stuart, and other gentlemen of the Theological Seminary of Andover, sufficiently testifies the high esteem in which it is held by our pious brethren in the United States. Professor Stuart, indeed, in his preface to Jahn's History of the Hebrew Commonwealth, speaks of it as bearing "manifest impressions of the same diligence, care, and unwearied effort," which distinguish that work. Strictly speaking, the volume now before the reader is a new edition of Mr. Upham's translation; every page of it has been carefully revised by a scholar, and the greater part of it by two; many paragraphs have been altogether rewritten, and almost every one has undergone some change, for the purpose of making the sense clearer, or the style more vernacular. Besides this, the references, and the index to the texts of scripture illustrated, have been all diligently verified; a labour which the numerous errors of the former editions rendered absolutely necessary, and which it is hoped will give the work an increased value to the biblical student. The Rev. T. Hartwell Horne speaks of Mr. Upham's version as "faithful, with valuable additions and corrections, partly the result of a collation of Jahn's Latin work with the original German treatise, and partly derived from other sources." That gentleman, it is presumed, will take no offence at this attempt to make his work more perfect, and to increase its circulation and usefulness. OXFORD, 1836. PREFACE TO THE SECOND AMERICAN EDITION. THIS translation, of which a second edition is now offered to the public, was undertaken at the suggestion and desire of PROFESSOR STUART, of the Theological Seminary at Andover; and was first published at that place in February, 1823. For the encouragement and aid which PROFESSOR STUART afforded him in this undertaking, and for the assistance which he received in various ways from other gentlemen of the Theological Seminary, with which the Translator was at that time connected as an assistant instructer, he embraces this opportunity to repeat his grateful acknowledgements. The author of the original work is DR. JOHN JAHN, who was formerly Professor of Oriental Languages in the University of Vienna. It was at first written in the German language, and extended through five octavo volumes. Being of such extent, and accompanied with numerous plates, it was found too expensive for common use, and after numerous solicitations to that effect, was abridged by the author himself, translated into Latin, and printed in a single octavo volume. The translation. into English, which is now presented to the public, is made from the second edition of the Latin abridgment, printed at Vienna in 1814. The translator, in fulfilling his task, has constantly had before him the original German edition, and it is proper for him to remark, that where he noticed an observation in the German which seemed to be important, and which promised to instruct and interest the English reader, but which, nevertheless, was not in the Latin, he has ventured, in a considerable number of instances, to translate. and insert it. In doing this he has considerably increased the labour and responsibility which devolved upon him, but it is believed that the work has thereby been rendered more valuable. It is hardly necessary to remark that, in order to learn the additions and alterations, and the grounds on which they have been made, it will be found important to compare the translation with the German, as well as the Latin. The notes which have been occasionally inserted, and the extracts which, in order to render some articles more complete than they would otherwise have been, it has been thought proper to insert, are distinguished from the text of Jahn, by being enclosed with brackets. Many errors in the references have been corrected; and in the present edition the reader will find a full and valuable index of the passages referred to. For this index the translator here acknowledges his obligations to the interest taken in this work by Mr. Smith Travers, of the city of Washington. It was made out with much care and labour by Mr. Travers, soon after the publication of the first edition, and is now with pleasure presented to the reader, with only a few alterations from his copy. Other minor improvements will be found in this edition; and it is confidently hoped that the work will be found in all respects a valuable assistant to the biblical student in acquiring a knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Me. November 30, 1827. THOMAS C. UPHAM. |