End of the Book of Joshua, by fome facred Penman, who was afterwards employed to record the fubfequent State of the Affairs of Ifrael. As to the Objections that are offered against Joshua's being the Writer of the Book fo call'd, they are but inconfiderable: It is remarked, that there are many thort Hints and Intimations in divers Parts of the Book, that appear evidently of a later Date than Joshua's Time: Of the Stones which Joshua fet up at Gilgal, it is obferved that they were there unto this Day (y); a Remark very prope to be made in a diftant Age, but not likely to be hinted by Joshua, of a Monument defigned by him, not fo much for his own Times, as for the Information of a late Pofterity (z): Of the Canaanites in divers Tribes it is fuggefted, that the Ifraelites did not drive them out; but admitted them to live amongst them, and made them pay Tribute (a), and of the Tribe of Dan, that they went up againft Leshem (b): But this Expedition was not undertaken until after Joshua's Death (c), nor did the Tribes of Ifrael come to Agreement with the Inhabitants of Canaan, whilft Joshua was living (d); and therefore all thefe Obfervations must have come, not from Joshua, but from a later Hand: We are told, that what Joshua wrote about the Sun and Moon's ftanding ftill, was also found (a) xiii. 9. (¿)` Judg. i. in the Book of Jafher (f): But the Book of Jafher was more modern than these Times: It contained Hints of what David defired the Children of Judah might be taught (g), and therefore was a Book probably not in Being until David's Age: In like Manner a Tract of Land in the xixth Chapter of Joshua is called Cabul (i); but this Country feems not to have had this Name until Hiram called it fo in the Days of Solomon (k). I might add to these fome other Obfervations of a like Sort (); but how obvious is it to reply to all of them? 1. That the Obfervation of Rahab's being alive (m) fuggefts the Book of Joshua to have been compofed long before any of these more modern Intimations could be given, and confequently, that none of thefe could be in the original Book of Joshua. 2. The learned are abundantly satisfied, that there are many little Strictures and Obfervations of this Nature now found in divers Parts of the facred Books, which were not written by the Compofers of the Books they are found in (2). 3. Dean Prideaux fays of them, that they were Additions made by Ezra, when, upon the Return from the Captivity, he collected and fettled for the Jews a correct Copy of their holy Scriptures (0): What Authority this moft learned Writer had for this Opinion, I cannot fay; I fufpect it proceeded from a Defire to preserve the fame (f) Judg. x. 13. (k) 1 Kings ix. 13. (g) 2 Sam. i. 18. (i) Josh. xix. 27. () Vid. Cleric. Differtat. de Scriptoribus Lib. Hiftor. Vet. Teftam. (m) Josh. vi. 25. (n) See Prideaux Connect. Part 1. Book v. (0) See Prideaux Connect. Part 1. Book v. VOL. III. F f Regard Regard to these Additions and Interpolations as is due to the facred Writings; for he fays, Ezra was affifted in making these Additions by the fame Spirit, by which the Books were at first wrote (p): But, whether Ezra made his Copy of the Scriptures from original Books of them then extant; or rather, whether he did not make his Copy from collecting and comparing fuch tranfcribed Copies as were in the Hands of the Ifraelites of his Times; whether in the Copies he confulted, the Additions we are speaking of might not stand as marginal Hints made by private Hands in their Copies of the facred Books; whether Ezra could ever defign either to add to the sacred Books, or to diminish ought from them (q); tho' perhaps finding divers of these Intimations of ufe to the Reader for illuftrating, and comparing one Part of the facred Writings with another, or fuggefting what might explain an obfcure or antiquated Name or Paffage in them, he might take fuch as he judged thus ferviceable into his Copy alfo; but whether he made them Part of his Text; or rather, whether he did not infert them in his Copy, as marginal Hints and Obfervations only; and whether their being made, as we now find them, Part of the Text, has not been owing to the Mistake or Careleffness of later Tranfcribers from Ezra's Copy, are Points which I fubmit, with all due Deference, to the Judgment of the Learned. INDEX ΤΟ ΤΗΕ THIRD VOLUME. A A. ARON with Hur holds up Mofes's Hands, whilst the Required to make the Ifraelites an Idol His Excufe for fuffering the People to go into Idolatry His Behaviour upon the Deaths of his two Sons Dies on Mount Hor Abibu Son of Aaron, his Offence and Death Reason for the Vengeance inflicted on him Abiram, with Korah and Dathan, his Rebellion The Grounds of it The Miracles that reduced it 35 110 156 169 158 Achan, his Tranfgreffion and Death 365 Aifh, Hebrew Word for Man, its ancient Derivation ibid. Alexander the Great, his Difpofition of his Kingdoms confidered Apophis, the King of Egypt, who was drowned in the Red-Sea Arad, King of that City, attacks the Ifraelites, &c. Arcas, King of Arcadia Arfinoe, City, where fituate Argus, his Family and Genealogy 'AGs, who fo called at the first Rife of Kingdoms Afs, Miracle of Balaam's confidered 242 248 89 4 73-75 94 271-277 Affeffment of the Ifraelites, how much Money raised by it B. 149 Bacchus, Grecian Fable about his Birth explained Balaam, his Country, where His Anfwer to Balak's Meffengers God's Directions to him What Fault he was guilty of in going with the Meffengers Not an Enchanter, but a Worshipper of the true God 279 Beards of the Ifraelites, faid to have turned yellow by drinking a Water. C. 118 Canaanites had no Temples in the Days of Mofes 155 Whether any Companies of them efcaped from Joshua by 422 Whether they made any Settlements in leffer Afia, or in 424 404 Caleb together with Joshua, endeavours to ftill the People 171 102 Callimachus, rejected the Cretan Account of the Tomb of Jupiter Ceres fettled in Attica In what Country fhe fought her Daughter Proferpine Centimani, Fable about them explained رنگی |