Settlement of Joseph's Father and his Family in Goshen Joseph's Sons Blessed by Jacob . 112 ABBREVIATIONS AND SIGNS EXPLAINED. Heb. Hebrew language. Syr. Syriac Version. LXX. Septuagint Version (Greek translation of the Hebrew Scrip tures). Vulg. Vulgate Version (Latin translation of the Old Testament). R.V. The Revised Version of the New Testament. In loco. The seat of a particular word in the lexicon indicated, or of a passage in the book referred to. TH INTRODUCTION. HE Bible is the most ancient book in existence, and in every respect the most wonderful book the world has ever seen. The Bible is a record of the most extraordinary events, the most marvellous histories, the most interesting biographies, and the most astounding facts that it is possible to conceive. Going back into the remotest past, it also describes the actual present, and deals with the far, unseen future, propounding a plan by which man may attain to a happy, glorious, and everlasting life. Above all, the Bible declares itself to be God's revealed will to man, the one only book in which the Divine Being speaks to and communicates with the human being, the one only source of all the knowledge which this world possesses concerning the unseen, the heavenly, the eternal. Such are the claims of this most ancient, wonderful, and deeply interesting book. The question naturally arises: Can these claims be supported by indisputable evidence and proof? Is the Bible really Divine in its origin and inspiration? Are the hopes held out therein to be relied on? Is there the possibility of a glorious future for the human race? That the Bible is a genuine and authentic book (that is, genuine as to the writers and authentic as to the facts) rests on a weight of evidence derived from various sources, which, when carefully and impartially considered, is abso B lutely overwhelming. And in the present day, most striking confirmation thereof is afforded by the remarkable discoveries that have taken place as the result of diligent exploration of various localities and ancient sites, as well as patient deciphering of cuneiform and hieroglyphic writing on monuments and tablets of various kinds. The Deluge Tablets, the Moabite Stone, the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser, with their various records, the Assyrian sculpture representing the capture of Lachish by Sennacherib, with its inscription, the discoveries of Layard and Rassam in Nineveh and Babylon, and the very recent discovery of the tablet from the Pool of Siloam, with its inscription, may be cited as illustrations. And that the Bible is a divinely inspired book to the extent of plenary verbal inspiration is capable of demonstration to a degree that cannot fail to convince the candid, earnest inquirer after truth. It is most important that the Bible student should be thoroughly satisfied as to the genuineness and authenticity of the Holy Scriptures; whilst as regards their Divine inspiration, the necessity of his determining the same with clearness and accuracy cannot be exaggerated. For if the Bible be not God's written revelation to fallen man, all human hopes and expectations in reference to the eternal future are shaken to their foundation, overturned, destroyed. The Bible should be read and studied as a whole, and its structure and composition carefully examined; for the sacred volume is not one book alone, written at the same time by one and the same author, but it consists of sixty-six separate books, written at various periods, through a space of about fifteen hundred years, by as many as forty different writers. This of course refers to the human element in the Bible; as regards its Divine authorship, the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, is but one book, inspired by one controlling Mind, having reference to the past, the pre sent, and the future. These different books of the Bible vary considerably in style and language. The thirty-nine books which comprise the Old Testament were written in the Hebrew language, except a small portion which is in Chaldee. The twenty-seven books which comprise the New Testament were written in the Greek language; not classic Greek, but Greek acquired through conversation, and modified by being made the vehicle of thoughts which the language had never before conveyed. The diction and composition of these books differ essentially, and this demonstrates very forcibly the existence of the human element in the Bible, whilst the unity of the book as a whole proves the existence and controlling power of the Divine element. The subject matter of these various books differs materially, and this forms one great charm concerning the Bible. The truth contained therein is one, but it is presented in so many and varied aspects, that the attention is arrested, the heart is captivated and won. There are statements of abstract facts, as creation, the fall of man, the flood, the plagues of Egypt, etc. History occupies a large portion of the Biblical record, but it is mainly that of one nation. Biography is presented sometimes in brief, at other times in full, but always of the deepest interest, and setting forth important truth. Types occur repeatedly in the Old Testament and occasionally in the New. Parable and allegory are abundantly used, especially in our Lord's teaching. Doctrines are enunciated either in abstract and dogma, or suggestively and inferentially. A very large proportion of the Bible is occupied with prophetic truth; and this fact alone should compel the most earnest and reverent attention to the subject of prophecy, both fulfilled and unfulfilled. Promises, precepts, and warnings are found abundantly in the word of God: promises exceedingly |