A round number = 4 Great Years another Samaritan computation to the birth of Abram. And 2200 × 360= 330 × 2400 exactly. 76. Let us now try how this intercalary 60 will suit the entire period to the call of Abram. Our table shews a sum total of 2467 lunar years. = 52 2519 And 2400 × 3651 348 × 2519 nearly. THE HEBREW. 77. The Hebrew recension will next engage our attention. It will be seen that this has made 3 centenary additions to the Samaritan of Gen. v. It has also added 56 years (apportioned 27 to Methuselah and 29 to Lamech) to the series which we have ascertained to have been the original of Gen. V. Its version of Gen xi. presents the lowest series of numbers; and having neither a single periodic nor intercalary addition, it furnishes us with the original, and is identical with it. When the transpositions, in conformity with our principle, have been made in the series of Chap. v., and the same additions to Chap. xi. as were shewn to be required in the case of the Samaritan (with the exception of the complemental 10 years which has not entered into this computation), we obtain this result: 2056 78. The recension before us appears to have divided the original of this period at the same epoch as the Samaritan, viz. at the birth of Noah's sons; for at that date it gives out two remarkable round numbers, 1500 a millennium and a half, and 500 half a millennium. On the scheme under consideration (for there is another), it agrees with the Samaritan in regarding the interval between the Creation and the Call as one indivisible period in respect of lunar commutation. * In connection with this number, the old tradition which assigned to Adam 33 sons and 23 daughters (= 56) has a striking significancy. 79. But the Hebrew has also evidently made another division of the original of this Period, viz., at the Deluge; for at that date likewise we obtain two round numbers, the first of which the second multiplied into the number of its centuries, i.e. 1600 (or a millennium + "a Great Year ") = 400 (one-third part of two Great Years) x 4. On this division we find commutations into lunar years. For 1600 × 360 = 348 × 1656, and 1656 is the duration of the Period between Adam and the Deluge, according to the extant text and the vulgar Chronology. Again, 400 x 365 = 356 × 410. And the last-named sum (i.e. the lunar years) may be made up by the addition of the 10 years derivable from Josephus. Nevertheless, though this may have been one commutation made, we apprehend it is not the commutation connected with the one last obtained; because it is not on a scale uniform with it; and we are able to produce computations on this scale from the Creation to the Exode, and from the first to the second destruction of Jerusalem. To admit of the application of this scale we ought to have a total (in the text of this division) of 414, as lunar years. If then, in addition to the 10 years indicated by Josephus, we suppose an intercalation of 2 additional lunar years each allowed, in this instance, in the cases of Shem and Terah, we obtain total of 414. These additions would make an interval of 4 years in each case between the births of Shem's and Terah's eldest and youngest sons, which, supposing the interval to be estimated conjecturally (as it must be on the historical view), would not be improbable; or (on the other theory), taking into account the necessarily-arbitrary method, and various demands of the intercalation system, such a liberty would be quite allowable. But if we intercalate only one year each against Shem's and Terah's names,-which may appear more suitable as allowing a year for each of the sons, we have a total from this recension of 412 lunar years. And this will approach near enough for our purpose, especially in reference to the whole of the period before us, which on this reckoning will amount to 2068. For 400 × 364 348 × 413 and 2000 × 364 = 348 × 2068. = 80. Similarly with the Samaritan, the Hebrew recension will present to us another period (extending from the Creation to the birth of Abram) if, following the precedent of the Samaritan, we suppose the final figure and intercalary quantity 6 to have been used for solar as well as for lunar years. The period we allude to may be conveniently exhibited by the following Table : = 1900 1950 And 1900 × 364 3543 × 1950. 81. Or we may preserve the uniformity of the scales by an addition to the lunar years of 2 each to Shem's and Terah's numbers, in the way we have seen reason in the preceding calculation to introduce them. For 1950 + 4 = 1954. 82. Again, if we add the extra 10 years obtained from Josephus, we get another commutation. Thus 1950 + 10 1960. And 1900 × 365 = 354 × 1960. 83. But what is still more worthy of note is that the Hebrew, like the Samaritan, appears to have used the doubtful 7 attached to Methuselah's in both capacities, that is, to denote original solar as well as intercalary lunar years. For if we regard it in the former light, we may then also obtain a commuted period. Solar Lunar yrs. yrs. 2007 2056 2 107 107 30 75 Years from the Creation to the birth of Abram 1900 1949 1900 × 364 3543 × 1949, or 1900 × 365 = 356 × 1949. We apprehend that the double results we have now obtained in 3 instances will leave no room to doubt of the correctness of our opinion that these intercalary numbers have been used in a two-fold capacity. 84. We must now try how far the 60, added (as an intercalation) by the delay of the birth of Abram, can be made available in this recension. Taking the second division of the period by itself, we have from the Hebrew text exclusively : From the Deluge to Terah's procreation 293 yrs. 60 75 428 'And 400 × 360 = 336 × 428. THE SEPTUAGINT. 85. The Septuagint stands next for consideration. It differs from the preceding recensions in having made a much larger amount of centenary additions to the original in both its divisions; viz., 9 centuries to the first, and 8 to the second. It may, in consequence, very naturally be expected to differ from them materially in its commutations. And such we have found to be the case, for it has proved impossible to commute more than its first division, on the same scale as we have found available in all the divisions of the foregoing recensions, or to reduce both divisions (at least on the received text) as one entire period. It is therefore necessary to treat the divisions separately, and we proceed to speak of the first. 86. It will be seen that the first division, in this instance, comprehends the period between the Creation and the Deluge. The sum of the numbers of the text, excluding the centenary additions in both cases, is greater by 6 than that of the Hebrew, and this difference is found to lie in the names which furnish the intercalary additions-a clear indication that it did not arise accidentally. Moreover, it is not divided equally or unequally between the two numbers, but allotted wholly to the last, so that the complemental 7 of double meaning is not concealed, but the intercalary number attached to Methuselah's name remains the same as in the Hebrew. We think we see here design, and a confirmation of our theory, with respect to the meaning of the variations between the recensions in general, and of the 7 in particular. The centenary additions in this division (=900) added to the original (= 1300), give us 2200 as the number of solar years, and the intercalary complement (62) being added, gives 2262 for the lunar years or sum of the textual numbers. 87. It may here be observed, that, if from this 2262 there be subtracted 600, the centenary difference between the LXX. and the Hebrew, and if also the various reading (167) against Methuselah be substituted for that in the text, the length of this division will be altered to 1642. And this sum is, in round numbers, 14 Sothiac Cycle. For 365 × 41 = 16421. 88. Turning to the second division of the LXX, we find 8 centennial additions (= 800 years), and the 50 years as in the Samaritan,-which, it will be observed, has been obtained. in the same manner as the centenary additions, namely, by compensative alteration of the remainder of life. We have also inserted the 10 years derived from Josephus, though this number appears to have been used in some of the computations of this recension and not in others. The result is that the original 400 + 800 1200 solar years + 60 = 1260 lunar years. And 1200 × 365 = 348 × 1260. This computation of 1260 years appears to be conclusively confirmed by the circumstance that it is a clearly established Jewish Cycle, and further by the fact that it is the exact treble of a Josephean statement (Ant. VIII. iii. 1) which makes the duration 420 years. We may take occasion here to notice, by the way, that Mahaleel died, according to the Hebrew and Samaritan, A.M. 1290-a period connected, like the above 1260, with the prophetic "half-week" numbers, and 430 × 3. 89. Again, if we suppose that the intercalary 2's were omitted in one computation, we shall have 1256 years. And 1200 × 364-348 × 1256. This last commutation has an air of probability thrown upon it by the circumstance that the complemental 56 is that which is used in the first division of the Hebrew, and is of frequent occurrence; but more especially because we shall find hereafter (as we expect) that a complemental intercalation of 112, obtained by omitting Josephus's 10, has been used for this whole period, either in connection with an original 3200 (= 1600 × 2), or more probably in alliance with another (parallel but not co-terminous) computation. 90. Turning now to the entire Period, we shall find that it is possible to obtain various commutations; but none upon the same scale as we have found applicable to all the pre |