at Leyden in 1622, 4to., appears to have been executed in the thirteenth century by some African Jew, who has very closely adhered to the Hebrew. 3. The Arabic version of the book of Joshua, printed in the Paris and London Polyglotts, is, in the opinion of Bauer, made directly from the Hebrew. Its author and date are not known. 4. The Pentateuch, Psalms, and Prophecy of Daniel, were translated by Saadia Ben Levi Asnekot, who lived in the early part of the seventeenth century: they are extant only in MS. in the British Museum, and are of very little value. Besides these versions, the Arab Christians have a translation of the Book of Job (printed in the Paris and London Polyglotts), and two versions of the Psalms, still in MS. which were respectively made from the Peschito or Old Syriac version. All the Arabic books of the Old Testament, (with the exception of the Pentateuch and Job), which are printed in those Polyglotts, were executed from Hesychius's recension of the Septuagint. The Psalms, inserted in Justiniani's Polyglott Psalter, and Gabriel Sionita's Arabic Psalter, were made from Lucian's recension of that version: and the Arabic Psalter, printed at Aleppo in 1706, 4to., follows the Melchitic recension of the LXX.3 Besides the preceding Oriental versions, there are several others; which, though not of equal importance in the criticism and interpretation of the Sacred Writings, may still be occasionally consulted with advantage. Among these we may enumerate the Persic, Egyptian, Ethiopic, Armenian, and Sclavonic translations. 1. The PERSIC VERSION. Although we have no authentic account of the conversion of the whole Persian nation to Christianity, yet we are informed by Chrysostom and Theodoret, that the Scriptures were very antiently translated into the Persian language. It does not appear, however, that any fragments of this antient version are extant. The translation of the Pentateuch, printed in the 4th volume of Bishop Walton's Polyglott, was executed by a Jew, for the benefit of the Jews, in the eleventh or twelth century. The Hebrew text is, for the most part, faithfully rendered. Bishop Walton mentions two Persic versions of the Psalms-one by a Portuguese monk at Ispahan in the year 1618, and another by some Jesuits from the vulgate Latin version. These are yet in MS. 1 Cat. Harl. MSS. vol. iii. num. 5505. 2 The Melchites were those Christians in Syria, Egypt, and the Levant, who, though not Greeks, followed the doctrines and ceremonies of the Greek church. They were called Molchites, that is, Royalists, by their adversaries, by way of reproach, on account of their implicit submission to the edict of the emperor Marcian, in favour of the council of Chalcedon. Mosheim's Eccl. Hist. vol. ii. p. 188. note (m.) 3 Carpzov. Crit. Sacr. pp. 640-644. Bauer, Crit. Sacr. pp. 321-324. Jahn, Introd. ad Vet. Fœd. pp. 78-80. Masch, part ii. vol. i. pp. 103-110. In pp. 110 -128. he has given an account of Arabic editions of the Old Testament, and detached parts of it. On Arabic editions, Schnurrer's Bibliotheca Arabica, pp. 339397, may also be advantageously consulted. 4 Walton, Prol. xvi. § 6-8. pp. 692–695. Kortholt, c. xix. pp. 301-303. Jahn, p. 80. For an account of editions consult Masch, part ii. vol. i. pp. 158-164. 2. EGYPTIAN VERSIONS. From the proximity of Egypt to Judæa, it appears that the knowledge of the Gospel was very early communicated to the inhabitants of that country, whose language was divided into two dialects-the Sahidic or dialect of Upper Egypt, and the Coptic or dialect of lower Egypt. In the former of these dialects the ninth chapter of Daniel was published by Münter at Rome in 1786; and Jeremiah, ch. ix. 17. to ch. xiii. by Mingarelli, in Reliquia Egyptiorum Codicum in Bibliotheca Naniana asservata, at Bologna, in 1785. The Coptic language is a compound of the old Egyptian and Greek; into which the Old Testament was translated from the Septuagint, perhaps in the second or third century, and certainly before the seventh century. Of this version, the Pentateuch was published by Wilkins in 1731; and a Psalter, by the congregation de Propaganda Fide, at Rome, in 1744 and 1749. And in the course of the year 1816 M. Engelbreth published at Copenhagen, in quarto, some fragments of a Basmurico-Coptic version of the Old and New Testament (preserved in the Borgian Museum at Velitri), collated with other Egyptian versions. The editor has given a Latin version, and illustrated the work with critical and philological notes. No part of the Sahidic version of the Old Testament appears to have been published. The late Dr. Woide was of opinion that both the Coptic and Sahidic Versions were made from the Greek. They express the phrases of the Septuagint Version; and most of the additions, omissions, and transpositions, which distinguish the latter from the Hebrew, are discoverable in the Coptic and Sahidic Versions. 3. The ETHIOPIC or ABYSSINIAN VERSION, which is still extant, was made from the Septuagint: although its author and date are unknown, yet, from the marks of unquestionable antiquity which it bears, there is every reason to believe that it was executed in the second century. Some peculiar readings occur in this translation: but, where it seems to be exact, it derives considerable authority from its antiquity. Only a few books and fragments of this version have been printed. The first portions of the Ethiopic Scriptures that appeared in print, were the Psalms, and the Song of Solomon; edited at Rome, by John Potken, A. D. 1513. In 1548, the New Testament was also printed at Rome by some Abyssinian priests, and was afterwards reprinted in the London Polyglott: but as the manuscripts used in the Roman edition were old and mutilated, the editors restored such chasms as appeared in the text, by translations from the Latin Vulgate. These editions, therefore, are not of much value, as they do not present faithful copies of the antient Ethiopic text. About the 1 Masch, part ii. vol. i. pp. 182–190. Jahn, p. 81. 2 The following is the title of the work above noticed, of which the author has not been able to procure a sight:-Fragmenta Basmurico-Coptica Veteris et Novi Testamenti, quæ in Museo Borgiano Velitris asserventur, cum reliquis versionibus Ægyptiacis contulit, Latinè vertit, necnon criticis et philologicis adnotationibus illustravit W. F. Engelbreth, 4to. Hafnia, 1816. The only perfect copy of the Coptic Bible now in Europe, is said to be in the possession of Monsieur Marcel. See M. Quartrèmère's Recherches sur la Langue et la Littérature d'Egypte, p. 118. middle of the seventeenth century appeared in print, the Book of Ruth; the Prophecies of Joel, Jonah, Zephaniah, and Malachi ; the Song of Moses; that of Hannah (1 Sam. ii.); the Prayers of Hezekiah, Manasseh, Jonah, Azariah, and the three Children; Isaiah; Habakkuk; the Hymns of the Virgin Mary, Zechariah, and Simeon; and the first four chapters of Genesis. In 1815, the British and Foreign Bible Society published a reprint of Ludolf's edition of the Ethiopic Psalter. This is the whole of the Ethiopic Scriptures hitherto printed. It is not necessary here to enumerate all the reprints of the above portions of the Ethiopic Bible.1 There is, however, reason to expect that, in no long time, the gift of the entire Ethiopic Scriptures will be imparted to Abyssinia. A manuscript copy of this version, in fine preservation, has been purchased by the committee of the Church Missionary Society. From a memoir on this manuscript by Professor Lee, we learn, that it contains the first eight books of the Old Testament, written on vellum, in a bold and masterly hand, in two columns on each page. The length of a page is that of a large quarto: the width is not quite so great. The volume contains 285 folios, of which the text covers 282, very accurately written, and in high preservation. On the first page is written, in Ethiopic, the invocation usually found in the books of the eastern Christians: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Then follows an account of the contents of the book, written in Latin by some former possessor, and a date A. D. 1696, 20th September. On the reverse of the first folio is found a table, not unlike the tables of genealogy in some of our old English Bibles, which seems to be intended to show the hours appointed for certain prayers. Then follows the Book of Genesis, as translated from the Greek of the Septuagint. On the reverse of the third folio is the following inscription in Arabic: "The poor Ribea, the Son of Elias, wrote it: O wine! to which nothing can be assimilated, either in reality or appearance: O excellent drink! of which our Lord said, having the cup in his hand, and giving thanks, This is my blood for the salvation of men."" Folios 7 and 8 have been supplied, in paper, by a more modern hand. On the reverse of folio 8 is a very humble attempt at drawing, in the figure of a person apparently in prayer, accompanied by an inscription in Ethiopic, at the side of the figure: "In the prayers of Moses and Aaron, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, am I, thy servant, O Lord, presented in the power of the 1 Jahn, p. 81. Masch, part ii. vol. i. pp. 140-143. In pp. 145-157. is a bibliographical notice of all the Ethiopic editions of the Scriptures, whether entire or in parts, that have been published. Walton, Prol. xv. § 10-12. pp. 679-685. Kortholt, pp. 298-301. In Mr. Bruce's Travels, vol. ii. pp. 416-420. (8vo. edit.) there is an interesting account of the Ethiopic Biblical books. It is not known in whose possession the manuscript copy of the Ethiopic Version now is, which was brought by Mr. B. from Abyssinia. 2 As this inscription, which occurs on the supplied leaves, savours of the errors of the Romish Church, it was probably written by some Abyssinian Catholic. The inscriptions of Isaac, the writer of the MSS., though mutilated, and sometimes obscure, seem free from these errors. The figure of St. Peter, mentioned below, was probably traced by the same hand. VOL. II. 25 Let them implore Trinity, a weak, infirm, and defiled sinner. Christ." Under the drawing, in Ethiopic: "In the same manner, every slayer that slays Cain, will I repay in this; and as he slew, so shall he be slain." On the reverse of folio 98, at the end of the book of Exodus, are two figures, somewhat similar, but rather better drawn, and seemingly by the writer of the manuscript; and, in another place or two, there are marginal ornaments. At the end of Deuteronomy is this inscription, in Ethiopic; "The repetition of the law, which God spake to Moses. Numbered 50701 (words.) Intercede for your slave Isaac."- At the end of the volume: " Pray for those who laboured in this book; and for your slave Isaac, who gave this to Jerusalem, the Holy." Then follows an inscription, in Arabic: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, one God. O Lord, save thy people from every evil! O our God, Jesus Christ, the speaker to men! O holy people, remember your slave Isaac, the poor : God shall remember you in the mercies of this book. Pray, if God be willing, that I may be permitted to see your face. And pray for me, the sinner. Pardon my sins, O Lord! and let my body be buried in Mount Sion." Then follows, in Ethiopic : "That our enemies may not say of us, 'We have conquered them :' be ye prudent. We have given you a lamp. Be ye the culture.Sow ye the flock: reap and rejoice."..... A few lines have been erased. Then follows...."me, Isaac, the poor, in your prayers. It was completed in Beth Gabbaza, of Axuma. In thy name, O Lord, have I planted, that thou place me not in any other place except Mount Sion; the mount of Christ; the house of Christians. Let them not be forgotten in your prayers, who have read and testified to you. Preserve, O Lord, this my offering for me thy servant, the poor; and preserve all these books which I offer, that the brethren, dwelling at Jerusalem may be comforted. And pray for me, forget me not in the holy offices, and in prayer, that we may all stand before God in the terrible day and hours. That it might not be written that we were wanting, I have previously sent and given you this for the warfare of the testimony. Intercede, and bless. And also for the refreshing of the record of the Fathers and also for Cueskam,3 the queen of the sons of Abyssinia; that they may be comforted, and thence convert our region-may, moreover migrate into other regions, and restore Jerusalem: and for the Calvary of Mary. Let them pray for me. Let it be preserved as the widow's mite, for ever and ever. Let them not sell or exchange; nor let them carry it 1 It is customary among the Jews, Syrians, and Ethiopians, to number the words in the books of Scripture. 2 In most of the eastern churches, it is the practice to enumerate their Saints in a certain part of the Liturgy. 3 The name of a region, a sea, and a mountain, in Ethiopia; so celebrated, as to be esteemed by the Ethiopians as preferable to even Sinai or Mount Olivet; and, as tradition says, whither Joseph and Mary, with the child Jesus, betook themselves, making it their residence for some time, after the flight into Egypt, Castell, sub voce. Ludolf, sub voce, says it is the name of a monastery in Upper Egypt, which was always had in great veneration by the Copts and Ethiopians; and where Christ is said to have resided with his mother, when he fled from Herod. away ; nor let them cause it to be placed elsewhere. And ....” the rest is wanting. Hence it appears, that the book was written at Axuma, the antient capital of Ethiopia; and that it was sent by Isaac to the Abyssinians residing in Jerusalem. No date appears in the manuscript itself. It is, probably, about 300 years old. On the reverse of fol. 285, is a drawing, intended to represent Andrew the Apostle, with the book of the Gospels in one hand, and the keys in the other. Some less ingenious draftsman, however, has, by means of the transparency of the vellum, traced out this figure on the first page of this folio, and given the name of Peter to his humble representation. He has thus succeeded in assigning to St. Peter the first place, and also in bestowing on him the keys. Against this picture of Peter is placed his age, 120 years. The following fac-simile represents part of the remarkable propheey of Balaam.1 Num. XXIV. 17. እሬኢዮ፡ወኣነ፡ይ ቂቀ፡ሴት፤ I shall see him, but not now: I shall call him blessed, but he is not near: there shall arise a star out of Jacob, and from Israel shall it arise: and he shall destroy the ambassadors of Moab, and shall take captive all the children of Seth. This precious manuscript has been carefully transcribed, and is now printing with a fount of types, cast at the expense of the British and Foreign Bible Society, from the matrices (preserved at Frankfort) of the celebrated Ethiopic scholar John Ludolph; whose types, 1 Eighteenth Report of the Church Missionary Society, pp. 188, 189. In p. 190., there is an interesting notice of the Ethiopic MSS. of the Scriptures, in the Royal Library at Paris, |