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Divinæ Scrip

3. Της Θείας Γραφής, παλαιας δηλαδη και νέας απαντα. turæ Veteris Novæque omnia. Argentorati, apud Wolphium Cephalæum, 1526, 4 vols. 8vo.

This edition is of great rarity; the fourth volume contains the New Testament. It follows the text of Aldus, and is not only well and correctly printed, but possesses the additional merit of judicious punctuation. Though the chapters are distinguished, the text is not divided into verses; and a space is left at the beginning of each chapter for the insertion of the initial letter. The apocryphal books, and a small but valuable collection of various readings, are added in this edition by the editor John Lonicerus, a disciple and follower of the illustrious reformer, Dr. Martin Luther. Copies of this edition are sometimes to be met with, having the date of 1529. They are however all of the same impression, the beginning of the preface being altered, the name of Lonicerus omitted, and that of Jerome substituted for Luther, with a new title page.

Divinæ Scrip

4. Της Θείας Γραφής, παλαιας δηλαδή και νέας απαντα. turæ, Veteris ac Novi Testamenti omnia, innumeris locis nunc demum, et optimorum librorum collatione et doctorum virorum opera, multo quam unquam emendatiora, in lucem edita. Cum Cæs. Majest. gratia et privilegio ad quinquennium. Basileæ, per Joannem Hervagium, 1545, folio.

In this rare and little known edition the text of Lonicerus is chiefly followed; it is said to surpass in correctness both the Strasburg and Venetian editions, and also has some valuable various readings. The preface was written by Melanc⚫

thon.

5. Biblia Græca, Græca et Latina.... Basileæ, per Nicholaum Brylingerum. 1550, 5 vols. 8vo.

Each of the five volumes, of which this edition consists, has a distinct title page which is printed by Masch. The Greek and Latin are placed in opposite columns; the former from the Aldine text, the latter from the Vulgate as printed in the Complutensian Polyglott. The type, though rather too small to be read with ease, is pronounced by Masch to be distinct and neat.

6. Η παλαια Διαθηκη, κατα τους Εβδομήκοντα δι' αυθεντίας Ξυστου Ε'

άχρου Αρχιερέως εκδοθείσα. Vetus Testamentum Græcum, juxta LXX Interpretes, studio Antonii Cardinalis Carafæ, ope virorum doctorum adjuti, cum prefatione et scholiis Petri Morini. Romæ ex Typographia Francisci Zannetti, 1586, folio.

A beautiful edition, of great rarity and value. The copies of it are of twodates; some, with M. D. LXXXVI, as they originally appeared, and others with the date of M. D. LXXXVII, the figure 1. having been subsequently added with a pea. The latter copies are most commonly met with, and hence this edition is usually dated 1587. They contain 783 pages of text, preceded by four leaves of preliminary matter, which are followed by another (subsequently added), entitled Corrigenda in notationibus Psalterii. This last mentioned leaf is not found in the copies bearing the date of 1586, which also want the privilege of pope Sixtus V. dated May 9th, 1587, at whose request and under whose auspices it was undertaken by Cardinal Antonio Carafa, aided by Antonio Agelli, Peter Morus, Fulvio Ursino, Robert Bellarmin, Cardinal Sirlet and others. The celebrated Codex Vaticanus 1209 (described in pp. 74-77. of Part I. of this volume), was the basis of the Roman or Sixtine edition, as it is usually termed; but the editors did not exclusively adhere to that MS., having changed both the orthography and readings whenever these appeared to them to be faulty. Such is the opinion of Drs. Hody and Grabe, Eichhorn, Morus, and other eminent critics; though the late Dr. Holmes has contended that text of the Roman edition was printed from one single MS. which was exclusively followed throughout. The first forty-six chapters of Genesis, together with some of the Psalms, and the book of Maccabees being obliterated from the Vatican manuscript through extreme age, the editors are said to have supplied this deficiency by compiling those parts of the Septuagint, from a Grecian and Venetian MS. out of Cardinal Bessarion's library, and from another which was brought to them from Calabria. So great was the agreement between the latter and the Codex Vaticanus, that they were supposed to have been transcribed either the one from the other, or both from the same copy. Various read

ings are given to each chapter. This edition contains the Greek text only. In 1588, Flaminio Nobili printed at Rome in folio, Vetus Testamentum Secundum LXX. Latine Redditum. This Latin version was not composed by him, but compiled out of the fragments of the antient Latin translations, especially the Old Italie. It is a splendid volume, and of considerable rarity. The Roman edition was reprinted at Paris in 1628, in three folio volumes, entitled Biblia Sacra LXX. Interpretum Græcè et Latine, opera et studio Joannis Morini. The New Testament in Greek and Latin forms the third volume. This reprint is in great request, not only for the neatness and correctness of its execution, but also for the learned notes which accompany it. Some copies are occasionally met with, dated Parisis, Piget 1641, which might lead us to suppose that they were distinct editions. De Bure however says that they are but one and the same edition, with a new title page, probably printed by the bookseller who had purchased the unsold copies.

7. Της Θείας Γραφης, παλαιας δηλαδη και νέας, απαντα. Divinæ Seripturæ, nempe Veteris ac Novi Testamenti, omnia .... Francofurti apud Andrew Wechelii Hæredes, 1597, folio.

This edition is formed after that of Hervagius, the errors of the latter being previously corrected. It has a collection of various readings, taken from the Complutensian, Antwerp, Strasburgh, and Roman editions. Morinus charges the editor, (who is supposed to have been Francis Junius or Frederick Sylbergius) with abandoning the Aldine text in four chapters of the book of Exodus, and in the twentyfourth chapter of the book of Proverbs, and substituting the Complutensian text in its stead. It is very neatly printed on clear types, and is divided into verses. 8. Η παλαια Διαθηκη κατα τους Εβδομήκοντα. Vetus Testamentum Græcum ex versione Septuaginta interpretum. Londini excudebat Rogerus Daniel, 1653, 4to.

This edition is frequently mentioned in catalogues as being both in quarto and in octavo. Masch states that there is but one size, viz. in quarto, though the paper be different. It professes to follow the Sixtine edition; but this is not the fact; the editors having altered and interpolated the text in several places, in order to bring it nearer to the Hebrew text and the modern versions. The errors of this edition have been retained, 1. In that printed at Cambridge in 1653, 8vo. with a learned preface written by Bishop Pearson (whose initials are at the end); and 2. In the very neat Cambridge edition printed by Field in 1665, in three volumes 8vo. (including the Liturgy in Greek and the New Testament.) Field's edition was counterfeited, page for page, by John Hayes a printer at Cambridge, who executed an edition in 1684, to which he put Field's name and the date of 1665. The fraud however may easily be detected by comparing the two editions; the typography of the genuine one by Field being very superior to that of Hayes. The genuine Cambridge edition was reprinted at Amsterdam, in 1683, in 12mo. without the Greek Testament. The editing of it is commonly, but erroneously ascribed to Leusden. The omission of Bishop Pearson's initials at the end of the preface has caused the latter to be attributed to Leusden. The book is neatly, but very incorrectly, printed in two columns, divided into separate verses. The Apocryphal books, which are found in the Cambridge edition, are altogether omitted.

9. Ἡ Παλαια Διαθηκη, κατα τους εβδομήκοντα. Vetus Testamentum Græcum ex versione Septuaginta interpretum, cum libris Apocryphis, juxta exemplar Vaticanum Romæ editum, et Anglicanum Londini excusum. Lipsæ, 1697, 8vo.

The editors of this impression were M. J. Cluver and Tho. Klumpf; though inferior to the London and Amsterdam editions in beauty of exccution, it is very far superior to them in point of correctness. The prolegomena of John Frickius prefixed to it, contain a critical notice of preceding editions of the Septuagint Version, which is said to be very accurate.

10. Vetus Testamentum Græcum, ex versione LXX. Interpretum, ex antiquissimo MS. Codice Alexandrino accuratè descriptum, et ope aliorum exemplarium ac priscorum scriptorum, præsertim vero Hexaplaris Editionis Origenianæ, emendatum atque suppletum, ad ditis sæpe asteriscorum et obelorum signis, summa cura edidit Joan

nes Ernestus Grabe, S. T. P. Oxonii, 1707, 1709, 1719, 1720. 4 vols. folio, and 8 vols. 8vo.

This splendid edition exhibits the text of the celebrated Codex Alexandrinus, now deposited in the British Museum. Though Dr. Grabe prepared the whole for the press, yet he only lived to publish the Octateuch, forming the first volume of the folio edition, in 1707, and the fourth, containing the metrical books, in 1709. The second volume, comprising the historical books, was edited by Francis Lee, M. D., a very eminent Greek scholar, in 1719; and the third volume, including the prophetical books, by W. Wigan, S. T. D., in 1720. This edition gives a fair representation of the Alexandrian Manuscript where it was perfect; but where it was defective and incorrect, the passages supplied and corrected readings are given, partly from the Codex Vaticanus, and partly from the Complutensian edition, in a smaller character than that employed in the text, the erroneous lections being printed in the margin. The prolegomena of Dr. Grabe contain a treasure of sacred criticism. Dr. Grabe designed to have added copious notes to this work, but was prevented by death from composing them. After the folio sheets were struck off, the pages were divided, and over-run into an octavo form, to prevent the book from being piratically printed in Germany.

11. Ἡ Παλαια Διαθηκη κατα τους εβδομήκοντα. Vetus Testamentum ex versione Septuaginta interpretum secundum Exemplar Vaticanum Romæ editum, accuratissimè denuo recognitum; una cum scholiis ejusdem editionis, variis Manuscriptorum Codicum Veterumque Exemplarium Lectionibus, necnon fragmentis versionum Aquile, Symmachi, et Theodotionis. Summa cura edidit Lambertus Bos. Franequera. 1709. 4to.

An elegant and accurate edition, which is deservedly esteemed. The preface of the editor, professor Bos, contains a critical disquisition on the Septuagint Version and its utility in sacred criticism, together with an account of the preceding principal editions. Bos's text was reprinted at Amsterdam in two 8vo. vols. under the editorial care of David Mill. It contains some various readings from some MSS. at Leyden, which however are of no great critical value.

12. Ἡ Παλαια Διαθηκη κατα τους εβδομήκοντα. Vetus Testamentumn ex versione Septuaginta Intepretum, olim ad fidem Codicis MS. Alexandrini summo studio et incredibili diligentia expressum, emendatum et suppletum a Joanne Ernesti Grabio, S. T. P. Nunc vero exemplaris Vaticani aliorumque MSS. Codd. Lectionibus var. nec non criticis dissertationibus illustratum insigniterque locupletatum, summa cura edidit Joannes Jacobus Breitinger, Tiguri Helvetiorum. 1730-1-2. 4 vols. 4to.

The contents of this edition are minutely described by Masch, who states it to be a correct reprint of Dr. Grabe's text, to which the various readings of the Roman or Vatican edition are added at the foot of the page. The beauty of its typography and paper, and its critical value concur to render this edition highly valuable it is consequently both scarce and dear. Michaelis pronounces it to be the best edition of the Septuagint ever printed.

13. Ἡ Παλαια Διαθηκη κατα τους εβδομήκοντα. Vetus Testamentum Græcum ex versione Septuaginta Interpretum, una cum Libris Apocryphis, secundum Exemplar Vaticanum Romæ editum et aliquoties recognitum, quod nunc denuo ad optimas quasque editiones recensuit, et potiores quasdam Codices Alexandrini et aliorum lectiones variantes adjecit M. Christianus Reineccius. Lipsiæ, 1730. 8vo. 1757. 8vo. edit. secunda.

A neat and commodious edition, though the type is rather too small. The Apocryphal books are at the end of the volume.

14. 'H Пaara Aan. Vetus Testamentum ex versione Septuaginta Interpretum, ad exemplar Vaticanum Romæ editum ex optimis codicibus impressum. Accesserunt Libri Apocryphi. Hala, sumptibus Orphanotrophei. 1759. 12mo.

An edition of more promise than execution. Masch denounces it as very incorrect, and says, that instead of being taken from the best codices (as the editor professes), or editions, it agrees with the London, Cambridge, and Leipsic editions.

15. Vetus Testamentum Græcum, cum variis Lectionibus, edidit Robertus Holmes, D. D. Decanus Wintoniensis. Oxonii, e typographio Clarendoniano. 1798, folio.

Vetus Testamentum Græcum, cum variis Lectionibus. Editionem, a Roberto Holmes, S. T. P. inchoatam continuavit Jacobus Parsons, S. T. B. Tomus secundus. Oxonii, e typographio Clarendoniano. 1818. folio.

To the university of Oxford belongs the honour of giving to the public this valuable and splendid edition of the Septuagint Version. In the year 1788, the late Rev. Dr. Holmes, Dean of Winchester, circulated proposals for collating all the MSS. of that version known to be extant. These being liberally supported by public and private patrons, Dr. H. published annual accounts of his collations, which amounted to sixteen in number, up to the time of his decease. In 1795 he published, in folio, two Latin epistles to the Bishop of Durham, containing specimens of his proposed work; and in 1798 appeared the first part of vol. i. containing the book of Genesis: part ii. comprising Exodus and Leviticus, was published in 1801; and the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy, which complete the first volume, in 1804. The date of 1798, therefore, in the title page of the first volume is not strictly correct. A general preface to this volume, in four chapters, discusses the history of the Kown, or common text of the Septuagint Version, and its various corrections; describes the MSS. consulted for this edition (eleven of which were written in uncial letters, and upwards of one hundred in small letters); and gives an account of the printed editions of the LXX., of the Fathers, and other Greek writers quoted in the various readings, and of the several antient readings, and of the several antient versions, viz. the Old Italic or Antehieronymian Latin. the Coptic, Sahidic, Syriac (made from the Greek text), Arabic, Sclavonic, Armenian, and the Georgian versions, whence various readings in the Pentateuch have been extracted. Each of the five books of Moses is furnished with a short preface and an appendix; and at the end of the volume are eleven pages of addenda et emendanda. Dr. Holmes also published the book of Daniel, in 1805, according to the text of Theodotion and the Septuagint, in the same manner as the Pentateuch, a few months before his death. The text is printed on a strong and beautiful type, after the Sixtine or Roman edition of 1587; and the deviations from it, which are observable in the Complutensian and Aldine editions, and in that of Dr. Grabe, are constantly noted. The various lections are exhibited at the foot of the page. On Dr. Holmes's death, in 1805, after a considerable but unavoidable delay, the publication of this important work was resumed by the Rev. J. Parsons, A. M. now B. D.) under whose editorial care the second volume was completed in 1818. comprises all the historical books from Joshua to the second book of Chronicles inclusively; the several fasciculi of which were published in the following order, viz. Joshua in 1810; Judges and Ruth in 1812; 1 Kings in 1813; and the five remaining books in the four succeeding years, the whole being printed off in the early part of 1818. Two portions of the third volume, containing the book of Job and the Psalms, have recently been published. The plan, laid down by Dr. Holmes, has been followed by his learned successor; whose continuation is executed in the same splendid and accurate manner as the Pentateuch. The reader will find a copious and very interesting critique on the first volume of this magnificent undertaking in the Eclectic Review, vol. ii. part i. pp. 85-90, 214–221, 267-274, 337-348; and of the second volume in the Classical Journal, vol. ix. pp. 475-479, and vol. xix. 367-372.

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16. Vetus Testamentum Græcum ex Versione LXX. secundum Exemplar Vaticanum Romæ editum. Accedunt varia Lectiones e Codice Alexandrino necnon Introductio J. B. Carpzovii. Oxonii, e typographio Clarendoniano. 1817. 6 vols. 8vo.

17. Vetus Testamentum ex Versione Septuaginta Interpretum, juxta Exemplar Vaticanum, ex Editione Holmesii et Lamberti Bos. Londini, in Edibus Valpianis. 1819. 8vo.

This elegantly executed volume is an ornament to any library. It is very correctly printed, and (which cannot but recommend it to students in preference to the incorrect Cambridge and Amsterdam reprints of the Vatican text,) its price is so reasonable as to place it within the reach of almost every one.

VIII. The importance of the Septuagint, in the criticism and interpretation of the Scriptures, especially of the New Testament,' will justify the length of the preceding account of that celebrated version : it now remains that we briefly notice the other antient Greek translations, which have already been incidentally mentioned; viz. those of Aquila, Theodotion, Symmachus, and the three anonymous versions, usually cited as the fifth, sixth, and seventh versions, from which Origen compiled his Tretrapla and Hexapla.

1. The version of Aquila. The author of this translation was a native of Sinope in Pontus, who flourished in the second century of the Christian æra: he was of Jewish descent; and having renounced Christianity, he undertook his version to oblige the Jews, who then began to be disgusted with the Septuagint as being too paraphrastic. It is certain that he lived during the reign of the Emperor Adrian, and that his translation was executed before the year 160; as it is cited both by Justin Martyr, who wrote about that time, and by Irenæus between the years 170 and 176. The version of Aquila is extremely literal, and is made without any regard to the genius of the Greek language: it is however of considerable importance in the criticism of the Old Testament, as it serves to show the readings contained in the Hebrew MSS. of his time. Professor Dathe has collated several passages from this translation, and has applied them to the illustration of the prophet Hosea. The fragments of Aquila and of the other Greek versions were collected and published, first by Flaminio Nobili in his notes to the Roman edition of the Septuagint, and after him by Drusius, in his Veterum Interpretum Græcorum Fragmenta (Arnheim, 1622, 4to.):3 and also by Montfaucon in his edition of Origen's Hexapla above noticed. According to Jerome, Aquila published two editions of his version, the second of

1" The Book," says the profound critic Michaelis, "most necessary to be read and understood by every man who studies the New Testament, is without doubt, the Septuagint; which alone has been of more service than all the passages from the profane authors collected together. It should be read in the public schools by those who are destined for the church, should form the subject of a course of lectures at the university, and be the constant companion of an expositor of the New Testament." Introduction to the New Test. vol. i. p. 177.- "About the year 1785," says Dr. A. Clarke (speaking of his biblical labours), "I began to read the Septuagint regularly, in order to acquaint myself more fully with the phraseology of the New Testament. The study of this version served more to expand and illuminute my mind than all the theological works I had ever consulted. I had proceeded but a short way in it, before I was convinced that the prejudices against it were utterly unfounded; and that it was of incalculable advantage towards a proper understanding of the literal sense of Scripture." Dr. Clarke's Commentary, vol. i. General Preface, p. xv.

2 Dissertatio Philologico-Critica in Aquila Reliquias Interpretationis Hose, (Lipsia, 1757, 4to.); which is reprinted in pp. 1. et seq. of Rosenmuller's Collection of his "Opuscula ad Crisin et Interpretationem Veteris Testamenti," Lipsiæ, 1796,

ένα.

3 This work of Drusius's is also to be found in the sixth volume of Bishop Walton's Polyglott.

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