people. Accordingly, I take the work of Joshua to begin from where Moses ended, at the xxxivth chapter of Deuteronomy, and to end with the 27th verse of the xxxivth chapter of Joshua. As oshua thus added at the end of Deuteronomy the account of Moses death; so what we find from the 28th verse of the xxivth chapter of Joshua to the end of that book, was unquestionably not written until Joshua and all the elders his contemporaries, who out-lived him, were gone off the stage ;" and was added to the end of the book of Joshua, by some sacred penman, who was afterwards employed to record the subsequent state of the affairs of Israel.

As to the objections made against Joshua's being the writer of the book so called, they are but inconsiderable. It is remarked, that there are many short hints and intimations in divers parts of the book, which appear evidently of later date than Joshua's time. Of the stones which Joshua set up at Gilgal, it is observed that they were there unto this day; a remark very proper to be made in a distant age, but not likely to be hinted by Joshua, of a monument designed by him, not so much for his own times, as for the information of a late posterity. Of the Canaanites in divers tribes it is suggested, that the Israelites did not drive them out; but admitted them to live among them, and made them pay tribute;" and

Joshua xxiv. 28.

x Chap. vii. 26.

* xiii. 9.-xvi. 10.

" Ver. 31.

y iv. 21, 22.

a

of the tribe of Dan, that they went up against Leshem. But this expedition was not taken until after Joshua's death; nor did the tribes of Israel come to agreement with the inhabitants of Canaan, whilst Joshua was living; therefore all these observations must have come not from Joshua, but from a later hand. We e are told, that what Joshua wrote about the sun and moon's standing still, was also found in the book of Jasher; but the book of Jasher was more modern than these times. It contained hints of what David desired the children of Judah might be taught, 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; but this country seems not to have had this name until Hiram called it so in the days of Solomon. I might add to these some other observations of a like sort; but how obvious is it to reply to all of them? 1. That the observation of Rahab's being alive' suggests that the book of Joshua had been composed long before any of these more modern intimations could be given; and consequently, that none of these could be in the original book of Joshua. 2. The learned are

a Josh. xix. 47. d Ibid. x. 13:

f Joshua xix. 27.

'xviii.

C Judg. i.

• 2 Sam. i. 18.

1 Kings ix. 13.

h Vid. Cleric. Dissertat. de Scriptoribus, lib. Histor. Vet.

Testam.

i Josh, vi. 25.

1

abundantly satisfied, that there are many little stric tures and observations of this nature now found in divers parts of the sacred books, which were not written by the composers of the books in which they are found. 3. Dean Prideaux says of them that they were additions made by Ezra, when, upon the return from the captivity, he collected and settled for the Jews a correct copy of their holy Sciptures. What authority this most learned writer had for this opinion, I cannot say I suspect it proceeded from a desire to preserve the same regard for these additions and interpolations which is due to the sacred writings; for he says, Ezra was assisted in making these additions by the same Spirit, by which the books were at first written. 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 such transcribed copies as were in the hands of the Israelites of his time; whether in the copies he consulted, the additions we are speaking of might not stand as marginal hints made by private hands in their copies of the sacred books; whether Ezra could ever design either to add to the sacred books, or to diminish ought from them; though perhaps finding divers of these intimations of use to the reader for illustrating, and comparing one

* See Prideaux? Connections, part i, book v. 1Id. ibid.

• Prov. xxx. 6.

m Ibid.

n

part of the sacred writings with another, or suggesting what might explain an obscure or antiquated name or passage in them, he might take such as he judged thus serviceable into his copy also; but whether he did not insert them in his copy, as marginal hints and observations only; and whether their being made, as we now find them, part of the text, has not been owing to the mistake or carelessness of later transcribers from Ezra's copy; are points which I submit, with all due deference, to the judgment of the learned.

1

END OF VOL. III.