The Author's Preface to His New Edition

The Occasion of thisthe Bible which was promised by my Booksellers about the End of last June. It is very well known that I made a Journey to Paris, on purpose to concert with them the best Method in putting out this Edition. I had been thinking of it for some time, and as soon as the Supplement was published I set about it; it is true, I was not expeditious enough to prevent that of Geneva; but then how could I have expected that they who are the Authors of it would have been in so much hurry as to give it us in such an ill-favoured Condition, and disfigure to such a degree as they have done the Paris Edition, which was procured by me, and carried on under my Direction? I cannot therefore think my self at all obliged to them for their Trouble. If they were so desirous of finishing their Work, they should either by themselves or others have performed what I have done, or have given over their Design. I confess there was something ticklish and perplexing to them in this Choice. There is Ground sufficient to presume that the Hope and Greediness of Gain did not permit them to be long uncertain which of these two Resolutions they should follow; for they were obstinately bent upon a new Impression of my Dictionary, together with the Supplement which I had added, without taking any previous Care to incorporate one with the other, as I had recommended in my last Preface; and without new modelling all the Articles, that so a proper Order might be observed, both as to Time and Matter. It must be owned however, that with all the Care they might have taken, with the Help of whatever learned Men they might have employed, their Undertaking was pretty difficult; for besides the moral Impossibility there is of entering perfectly into the Views of any Author, of apprehending rightly his Genius, Style and Plan, no other Person but himself is properly qualified to make fitting Alterations, Additions and Corrections in his Works, and knows well the particular Places wherein it is necessary to insert them.

The Geneva Editors were very sensible of these Difficulties; wherefore to obviate Advertisement to the Geneva Edition, p. 13.the Inconveniences, they say, to which in this instance they were liable, they determined to insert every Article of the Supplement in its place, without making any Alteration, and to inclose them all within two Hooks [ ] that they may be the better distinguished from the Body of the Work. But this Precaution is worse than the Inconveniences which they say they would avoid; for how tiresome to the Reader must it be to find himself obliged every Moment to read several times with- out Necessity and to no Purpose the same Thing, and the same Facts, almost always in a confused Order; so that what should be at the Beginning or End, with them is in the Middle, either higher or lower, and never in its proper Place? Ought they not to have foreseen that this alone was sufficient to make their Edition miscarry? If they were so concerned as they are pleased to give out, to save People’s Money, they should certainly have suppressed these Repetitions, since thereby they would have really lessened both the Charge of the Impression, and the Expence of Paper.

But what Reason could they have for inveighing as they do against the Plates with which we have adorned and embellished this Dictionary? It is not our Intention to make any Reply to such illgrounded Exclamations: The Paris Booksellers have already done this in a solid Manner, and such as proves that the supposed Unprofitableness of the Prints was not so much the real Motive of these stale and trivial Declamations, as the Design of concealing their Inability to make the necessary Advances for them; and inveigling the Publick with the Allurement of the low Price at which their Work was offered to Subscribers.

Had they considered in any tolerable degree the Relation and Connection of the Cuts with the particular Places of the Dictionary for which they were designed, they might have saved themselves this Confusion. If they have not yet considered this, nothing is more easy than to oblige them to it, and then retort upon them all that they said on this Occasion. What, for example, is the meaning of the Words following in the Article Absalom¹? They have not altogether expressed my Thoughts in the Order and Disposition of the two Armies; but this was too difficult for the Designer, &c. Or of these in the Article Jerusalem²? Some perhaps may think it wrong in the Designer to have placed the Army in Order of Battle before the Contravallation, &c. What can be the meaning of these and so many other Words of the like nature, which are to be read in many Places? You may turn them if you please every way, but without the Help of the Prints they will be of no other Use but to obscure the Text of Scripture, and that also of the Dictionary; they will only puzzle and perplex the Reader, and instead of giving him farther Lights, and assisting him in the Study of the Bible, they will only raise an infinite Number of Difficulties in his Mind, which he had otherwise been without.

It is evident therefore, that the Prints are very serviceable, and sometimes even necessary: They spare all sorts of Persons the Time and Trouble of tiring themselves in a Circle of Reflections to find out the State, Nature, and Disposition of the Things they are reading, and the Manner how the several Facts were transacted: Nay, they give Opportunity often to penetrating Wits of making new Discoveries, or of rectifying those which have been made already. But supposing they do not always produce these great Effects, we may ask the Geneva Booksellers how it came into their Heads to print these Words after they had resolved against inserting those Figures in their Edition, with which they were necessarily joined; for the Suppression of the Cuts by consequence must have occasioned that of the Discourse; or on the contrary, if these Words were suffered to stand, they were inevitably obliged to add at least such Figures as were explained by them. But the Editors have done neither; they were intent upon making all the Haste they could, and so getting the start of this Edition; by this means they have fallen into Mistakes which are very visible, and shocking to Reason.

We need only to pursue their Distribution and Disposal of the several Pieces which we have added to the Dictionary, to discover others of the like nature: These Pieces are no Part of the Dictionary itself, but are as it were Appendices to it. There is always a certain Order to be observed in relation to the Appendices of all sorts of Works; for as the Appendices have the same Aim and Tendency as the Work itself, this End is more or less easily attained, in proportion as this Order is well or ill preserved, of all which the Geneva Booksellers seem to have been ignorant; they have not kept up to this Order; nay, they have done worse; they have separated from the Bibliotheca Sacra the Catalogue or Table of the Authors of whose Writings it is composed, as if they were two different Works: Is this an Argument of their Judgment and Understanding, or that they had any Design of consulting the Reader’s Ease, of shortning his Labour, husbanding his Time for him, and relieving him of the most difficult Part of his Task?

For our Part, as it is our principal Care to proceed with Uniformity, Method and Accuracy, we have thrown the whole Supplement into the Dictionary; 1°. By inserting every one of the new Articles in its proper Place. 2°. By digesting anew the Matter of the old Articles and Additions, so that they may make one Body, all the Parts whereof should lie in the Rank and Order which they hold in History. 3°. By suppressing all the Repetitions that were in the Supplement. 4°. By correcting the Chronological Table of the History of the Bible, and augmenting it with several important Facts. 5°. By presenting the Publick with a new Bibliotheca Sacra; for our Additions to that which we at first published are so numerous and considerable, and the Plan which we have followed so different, that we can assure the Reader, that this Part of our Work has altogether the Air of something new. 6o. Lastly, by adding to all this a new Dissertation on the Hebrew Coins.

We say nothing here of the historical Flourishes placed before every Alphabetical Letter, nor of the Geographical Maps, or great Number of Prints, which are all Pieces that come from a good Hand, to the perfecting of which nothing has been spared either by the Articers or Paris Booksellers who concur’d with them in this Design. The Prints are of two Sorts; some represent the Antiquities of the Hebrews, their Dresses, Ceremonies, Temples, Synagogues, Tombs, and Musical Instruments; the Plans and Elevations of the Cities and principal Places in the Holy Land. Others set before us the Marches of Armies, the Sieges, Camps, and Orders of Battle, whereof there are Descriptions in many Places of the Scripture, circumstantial enough to enable one to argue from them with solidity; all this therefore we pass over, that we may enter upon a more particular Account concerning the Nature of this Dictionary.

Since the Publication of our literal Comment upon all the Books of the Old and New Testament, many learned Men have represented to us, that the World had no Reason to be entirely satisfied with those Dictionaries of the Bible, which had hitherto been printed; and that a Work of this nature would give us an Opportunity to treat of many new Subjects, which could not come under Consideration in the Body of our Comment, nor in the Dissertations that go along with it. That by this Means we should do an important Service to the Publick, by procuring a Collection in one Work of all that is most useful in our Comment, and of many Things besides, which are of Consequence for the Study of Holy Scripture; that abundance of Persons who were without the Comment, would be very glad to have the Advantage of the Dictionary, which would contain the Substance of it, and supply the Place of many other Books; and lastly, that they who had been at the Expence of purchasing our Comment, would receive a Dictionary with Pleasure wherein Matters are accurately treated of, and with the Addition of solid Proofs and Arguments.

Such convincing Reasons, together with the Authority of the Persons who proposed them, have determined us to enter upon this difficult Undertaking; and tho’ a Work of so much Length and Tediousness must necessarily have been very disagreeable, we yet think ourselves obliged to those who first suggested the Design of it, since thereby we have been unavoidably engaged in the Observation of many new things which otherwise perhaps had been intirely neglected by us: And farther, we have had an Opportunity of reviewing many Places of our Comment, wherein we have discovered some Faults, which, unless we had made those new Enquiries and Reflections that arose very naturally from the Matter we were handling, had been overlooked by us. Lastly, the large and beautiful Library belonging to the Abby of Moyenmontier, where we composed this Work, and the Tranquillity which we enjoyed in this Solitude, have enabled us to perfect it in such a Manner as we never could have done in a Place more open to Interruptions, and less furnished with good Books.

When we engaged in this Undertaking, we considered these two Things; first, the general Duty of one employed about a Dictionary; and, secondly, what it is that distinguishes a Dictionary of the Bible from all other Works of the like Nature. As to a Dictionary in general, whoever would succeed in writing one, should take care that the Notions to be given of the Terms and Things spoken of should be clear and distinct; that an Account should be inserted of their Etymologies, Definitions, Descriptions and Divisions; that Confusion, a too great Enlargement upon Things, and an excessive Brevity are to be avoided; that what is advanced be maintained by good and succinct Arguments; and because it is not proper that Things should be discoursed on at their full Length, such Authors should be directed to as have written best upon them, and the Readers referr’d to the Originals. Lastly, tho’ in Works of this kind a world of things are heaped together, and Facts very different ferent from one another, yet it should be so managed, that the same System of Chronology, Geography, Divinity and Philosophy should visibly prevail throughout; and particularly, that Conjectures should not be offered as Certainties; for the first Idea of a Dictionary supposes it to be the Standard of Language, and a Rule whereby to judge of the truest and most common Notions.

The End of a Dictionary of the Bible.As the Matter of the Bible is almost infinitely extensive, it either might be all entirely comprehended in a Dictionary, or some part of it only might be reserved for such a Design. The Hebrew Dictionaries are Dictionaries of the Bible, inasmuch as they explain the Hebrew Words which are to be found in the Original Text of the Old Testament. Pasor’s does the same for the Greek Text of the New.

The several Hebrew, Greek and Latin Concordances of the Old and New Testament may be reduced to the same Class, since they severally include all the Words of these Texts in an alphabetical Order.

Cardinal Hugo of S. Cher, a Dominican Monk, who died in 1261, or 1262, is thought to be the first Author of these Concordances.³ He composed his of all the declinable Words to be met with in the Bible; and for the carrying on this laborious and great Work the more sucessfully, we are told that he distributed it among five hundred Monks of his Order, who being divided in several Monasteries, had each a certain Number of Words assigned them, which they were to reduce into an alphabetical Order.

Conrad of Halberstadt, a Dominican likewise, added the undeclinable Words to these. He lived about the Year 1290; and to him Trithemius⁴ attributes the very Invention of Concordances. Others make one Arlot, of the Minor Brothers Order, who flourished in 1290, to be the first Author of them.

Rabbi Gedaliah affirms, that Rabbi Nathan borrowed the Design of his Hebrew Concordances, composed in 1438, from those of Father Arlot. But it is much more probable that Cardinal Hugo first invented this kind of Work, and that Conrad of Halberstadt and Arlot only brought it to Perfection.

During the Council of Basil in 1430, John of Segovia⁵ added to the old Concordances an alphabetical Table of the undeclinable Particles⁶, which have been often printed separately, at the End of the Latin Concordances; and at last being reduced into an alphabetical Order, they were placed with the declinable Words in the Body of the new Editions of Concordances.

Since this time, Works of this Sort have been brought to much greater Perfection. The most eminent Printers have endeavoured with Emulation to make them more correct, more accurate, and more easy. At first it was thought sufficient to specify the Chapter wherein the Word occurr’d, with an a, b, c, d, as Marks to point out the Beginning, the Middle, or the End of the Chapter: But after Robert Stephens, in 1545, had distinguished the Bible by Verses, the Verses likewise began to be marked, and the Letters in the Editions of the Concordances to be suppress’d; and in 1555 the same Printer published his fine Concordance, wherein the Chapters and Verses are exactly distinguished.

George Bullocus had his Concordance printed at Antwerp by Plantin, in 1572, with this Title, OEconomia Methodica Concordantiarum Scripturæ Sacræ, wherein he reduces under certain Titles, for the Benefit of Preachers, whatever is to be observed upon the Word in question; for Example, under Evangelium, he shews not only the Places wherein this Term is expresly to be found, but those likewise wherein it is implied, or signified by some other Word of the like Sense and Meaning, whether in the Old or New Testament; for Example, Verbum Dei, Veritas, Testimonium, Regula, Jugum, Pactum, Justitia, &c. Testamentum, Fœdus, Testimonium, Jusjurandum, Ritus, Solemnitas, Scriptura, Scriptum, Scriptor, Liber, &c. A Work very useful to Preachers, and those who discourse on moral Subjects, but inconvenient for its Length, and the too great Niceness and Exactness of its Method.

Gaspar de Zamora, a Spanish Jesuit, who died in 1621, made likewise a Concordance, which was published at Rome by Zannet, in 1627, under this Title, Concordantiæ Bibliorum majores cum narratione de iisdem Concordantiis per Gaspa-rem de Zamora. This Edition is well esteemed, but is too large, and too much perplexed with Divisions and Subdivisions.

I say nothing here of the Concordances published in French, German, Flemish and English, the Catalogue and Editions of these, as well as of the Latin Concordances, cordances, may be seen in the Bibliotheca Sacra of Le Long, a Father of the Oratory, t. 2. from p. 331, to 341.

The Example of the Latins raised an Inclination in the Greeks to compose Concordances likewise in their Language. Euthalius Rhodius, a Greek Monk of the Order of St. Basil, made a Greek Concordance of the whole Bible, in the Year of our Lord 1300; but this was never printed.

Conrad Kircher, a Protestant of Augsbourg, is celebrated for his Greek Concordance of the Old Testament, printed at Frankfort in two Volumes, Quarto, in the Year 1602. The Author has inserted first the Hebrew Words, then the Greek, in an alphabetical Order, according to the Interpretation of the Septuagint, and other Greek Interpreters. At the End of the second Volume there is an alphabetical Table of the Greek Words which refer to the Hebrew, whereby the Body of his Concordance begins.

This Work was reprinted in Holland, in two Volumes, Folio, in the Year 1718; but the Method of it has been changed by Trommius, who, instead of following the Hebrew Alphabet with Kircher, has chosen rather to observe the Order of the Greek Alphabet. Trommius has also corrected many Mistakes in Kircher, and supplied many of his Omissions, and withal gives Notice that wherever he cites any Greek Passages, he has copied Wechel’s Edition of the Septuagint, published at Frankfort, in Folio, 1597, which is the same that Kircher too had followed; and, which is a Particular worth observing, as there is a Difference between the two Greek Editions of the Septuagint, in order to a more easy Enquiry after any Passages in the different Editions, at the End of the second Volume of his Concordance, he has inserted a Parallel of the Chapters and Verses, according to the Diversities of the Roman Edition and that of Frankfort by Wechel.

Xistus Bethuleius, a Lutheran, who died in 1554, was Author of the Greek Concordance of the New Testament. He published it at Basil, in 1546. But this Edition has been much improved by the Care of Henry Stephens, and was printed at Geneva in 1600; and again, with many Augmentations, in 1624.

Rabbi Mordecai Nathan, otherwise called Isaac Nathan, composed an Hebrew Concordance in Imitation of the Latin ones. He began it in 1438, and compleated it in 1448, so was ten whole Years in finishing it; and besides, as he himself says, he was forced to employ a great many Writers in this Work. These Concordances were printed several times. First at Venice, by Daniel Bomberg, in 1623, under the Title⁷ of Meïr Netib; that is to say, Which giveth Light in the Way. They were reprinted afterwards at Basil, by Frobenius, in 1581; and after that at Cracow, in 1584; but the best Edition of all is that of Rome, 1621, in four Volumes, Folio, by Maria di Calasio, with the Latin Translation on the Side, and the Various Readings of the Septuagint and Vulgate in the Margin. At the Head of each Article the Author gives a Parallel of other Oriental Languages compared with the Hebrew.

Antony Reuchlin procured the Hebrew Concordance of Isaac Nathan to be printed at Basil, in 1556, by Henry Pierre, with a Latin Translation, but a very faulty one, of his own making. However, Maria di Calasio has made good Use of Reuchlin’s Labour in his Interpretation of the Hebrew Words. And as to the Latin Translation, which is over against the Hebrew Text, the greatest Part of it is borrowed from Pagninus.

John Buxtorf the Son procured likewise a new Edition of the Hebrew Concordance, by Kenig at Basil, 1632; and Christian Crinesius another at Wittemberg, in 1627, in Quarto. At length an Abridgment of these Concordances, in the Form of a Lexicon, was printed at Berlin, in 1677, by the Care of Christian Ravius, in Octavo; and at London, in 1680, by William Robinson, in Quarto, under this Title, Thesaurus Linguæ Sanctæ, seu Concordantiale Lexicon Hebræo-Latino-Biblicum una cum Concordantiis Hebraicis, &c. Frederick Landkisch, in 1680, got an Abridgment to be printed of the Greek and Hebrew Concordances, at Lipsick and Frankfort, in Quarto, with the German Translation of Luther placed over-against them.

The Dictionary intitled Mammotreptus, or Mammotrectus, was composed, as it is said, by a Franciscan, for the Benefit of the poor Clergy, who when they read the Bible did not understand the Force and Significancy of the Expressions in it; and when they preach’d the Word of God had no Regard in their Pronunciation to the Quantity of long or short Syllables. You have here the Words of his Preface: Impatiens propriæ imperitiæ, ac ruditati compatiens pauperum clericorum qui ad prædicationis officium promoventur, decrevi Bibliam perlegendo transcurrere, nec non & alia quæ in Ecclesia recitantur, g .מאיר נתיבIlluminans viam. recitantur, si vita comes fuerit, inspicere diligenter, & partium difficilium significantias, & accentus, & genera insinuare lectori pauperculo, secundum quod pro captu intelligentiæ colligere potero ex laboribus aliorum, &c. We have here a Specimen of the Ignorance and Barbarism of those Times, which appears still more in the Body of the Book. The Author begins his Explanation with St. Jerom’s Epistle to Paulinus, then proceeds to St. Jerom’s Preface to the Pentateuch; at last he comes to Genesis, and continues to explain successively the other Books of Scripture. He concludes with illustrating the Hymns and Anthems, the Legends of the Saints, and Sermons of the Fathers, which are recited in the Office of the Church.

Eusebius Bishop of Cæsarea wrote a Geographical Dictionary of the Scripture, wherein he reduces the Names of such Places as are to be met with in the sacred Books into an alphabetical Order. This is a very useful Work, and very much esteem’d, tho’ it be not entirely without Faults, which are not so much to be imputed to Eusebius, as to the Negligence or Presumption of his Transcribers. St. Jerom has translated it, and made a good Number of considerable Additions, which give new Light to the Places that Eusebius speaks of; some too he has inserted which Eusebius had not mentioned. Our Readers may consult what we shall say hereafter, when we come to speak of those Authors who have written upon Geography. Adrichomius, M. Samson, Father Lubin, Bonfrerius and Reland have treated of this Matter at length.

Philo the Jew, as Origen reports⁸, wrote a Book of the Hebrew Names, the Etymology and Signification whereof were set down in a Column placed opposite to the Hebrew Word. Origen also composed a Work like this, which remains to this day in Greek, and was translated by St. Jerom into Latin. But as St. Jerom understood Hebrew better than either Philo or Origen, as likewise Additions are made easily to Things which are already begun, and there is no great Difficulty in improving any new Invention, when discover’d, this Father carried the Design beyond what either of the others had done. He read over again all the Books of Scripture, and made a Draught out of them of all the Hebrew Names, which he afterwards explained in Latin. More on this Head may be seen in the Beginning of the second Volume of St. Jerom of F. Martinay’s Edition, and in our Preface to the French Interpretation of the Hebrew, Chaldee and Greek proper Names which we read in the Vulgate, and are printed by us at the End of this Dictionary. Here some very singular Remarks may be seen upon this Matter, and upon the proper Names of the Hebrews.

Several Authors have published moral Dictionaries, or Repertories, of such Scripture-Passages as relate to Men’s Manners; such as the Common Places of Father Balinghem, D. Jerom Lauret’s Sylva Allegoriarum, and the Moral Concordances of F. Eulard. M. Huré, in his, has included the Grammatical, Moral and Historical Sense, but principally the Moral and Grammatical, having given us very little of History, and nothing at all of Geography, Chronology or Criticism.

M. Simon, a Priest and Doctor of Divinity, living at Lions, and heretofore Curate of St. Uzé, in the Diocese of Vienne in Dauphine, a very different Person from the famous M. Simon, formerly Priest of the Oratory, celebrated for his new Systems upon Scripture, and his critical History of the Texts both of the Old and New Testament; this M. Simon, I say, the Doctor of Divinity, wrote a new Dictionary of the Bible in one Volume, Folio, and had it printed at Lions, in 1693; in this he promises the Lives and Actions of the most considerable Persons spoken of in the Old and New Testaments, and, what relates to the History of the Jews, an Explanation of the Names of such clean and unclean Animals as are mentioned in the Scripture; of the precious Stones upon the High Priest’s Pectoral and Shoulders; the Names and Explanations of the Festivals and Solemnities among the Hebrews; as also to treat of the Provinces, Regions, Cities, Towns, Mountains and Rivers spoken of in the Sacred Writings and Josephus, and likewise of the Coins, Measures, &c. This Work was so well received by the Publick, that the Author augmented it with one whole Volume, and published a new Edition of it at Lions, in 1703, in two Volumes, Folio.

If the Sale of any Book were a certain Proof of its Value, few would deserve more Approbation than this. But Men of Learning, upon an Examination of it, have found many Faults in it; which have induced them to believe, that the Author had not the necessary Assistances of Books, or a Knowledge of the Languages, without which it is not possible to perform a Work of such Ex tent and Consequence with Success. The Publick, however, is very much obliged to him for entring boldly upon the Execution of a Design which few besides would have had the Courage to attempt. We confess that he has been serviceable to us, at least in supplying us with most of the Names set in Order, and with the Titles of the several Subjects distributed by him to our Hands; nay, in those very Places where the Author is mistaken, he has been useful to us; since hereby he has cautioned us to be upon our Guard, and to enter into a closer Examination of Things. In a word, the Publick having so far declared for a Dictionary of the Bible, as a Work that wou’d be very agreeable, and all the World expressing such an earnest Inclination to see a good one, we were encouraged to set about this, wherein we have endeavour’d to avoid the Faults which others are reproached with, who have gone before us on this same Subject.

The Method of this Dictionary.We proposed therefore to publish a Dictionary of the Bible after the Method of our Comment upon Scripture; that is to say, we confine our selves principally to the Letter, History, and Criticism of the Bible; we explain difficult Terms, compare the Text of the Vulgate with the Hebrew, shew exactly the Situation of such Provinces, Cities, Towns, Mountains and Rivers, as are spoken of in Scripture; we settle the true Chronology of the most memorable Events, and endeavour to explain the Names of Plants, precious Stones, Animals and Fruits; to relate what we know of the Customs, Festivals and Ceremonies of the Hebrews; of their Coins, and Measures of Length and Capacity; so that this Dictionary may be looked upon not only as an Abridgment of our Comment, but even as a Supplement to it, and may serve instead of Prolegomena and Introductions to the Scripture, and supply the Want of those Books which treat of the Chronology, History and Geography of the sacred Writings; of the Polity, Commonwealth, Laws, Manners and Ceremonies of the Jews; of their Plants, precious Stones, Animals and Diseases. So that this Work may be considered as a Library for those in meaner Circumstances, and a very useful Repertory for all others who would read the Scripture with Advantage. Men of Learning will find here an Epitome of what they have read in different Authors; and they who have not many Books will see here a Summary of what is generally said upon every Subject.

In that Part which belongs to History, we have given the Lives of the chief Persons, whose Names are set down in Scripture and Josephus; and this, as much as possible, in the very Words of the Sacred and Original Authors, without omitting any considerable Circumstance. Experience hath taught us, that this Way of relating Things is both the shortest and most certain. By following this Track, the whole Work is interspersed with historical Passages taken from the Books of oriental Authors, which relate to the History and the Sacred Antiquities of the Old Testament; as also with Traditions from the old Arabians, descended from Abraham and Ishmael, who preserved some Footsteps of the Truth, tho’ in many Circumstances altered and disguised.

The Authors of Dictionaries generally do no more than shew in gross, at the End of every Article, the Chronological Marks of such Facts as they report, without giving themselves the Trouble to fix these Marks to every particular Fact. To avoid this Inconveniency, we thought our selves obliged, as the History requires it, to cite the Authors in the Margin, from whom we borrow what we relate; and to note at the same time not only the Year of the World, but the Years likewise before Jesus Christ, and before the Vulgar Æra. We not only relate what we learn from Scripture of the Patriarchs, but have set down too what we find concerning them in Apocryphal Authors; not forgetting to say something of the Books, whether genuine or spurious, that are attributed to them.

When we speak of the Bible in general, we treat of the Texts, and several Versions of it; and when we consider every Book of Scripture in particular, we give a Summary of each, with an Account of the Authors of them; of their being received into the Canon of Scripture, of the Difficulties started concerning the Person, Time, and other Circumstances of the Work. We have explain’d at large whatever relates to the Hebrew Text, the Polyglots, Septuagint, Vulgate, Targums and Talmud; and we have said enough of them to give those a competent Knowledge of these Matters, who have not Leisure to go so far as the Spring-head in their Enquiries. We have been exact in the constant Citation of our Authors, that others might be able to compare or see those Things at length, which the Compendiousness of a Dictionary engages us to abridge. When any thing has appeared to us to be of Consequence, we have at the End of the Article relating to it expresly named the Books and Authors that are more particular upon it.

In treating on the Festivals, Laws and Ceremonies of the Jews, we have not only shewn what is to be found in Scripture on these Articles, but likewise what both Jewish and Christian Authors say of them; and farther, we have given some Account of the Customs of the present Jews.

We have included in this Work the Substance of many Dissertations and particular Treatises; we have inserted Lists of the several Judges of Israel, of the Kings of Israel and Judah, of the Princes of the Asmonæan Race, of the Governors of Judea under the Romans, of the Kings of Egypt and Syria from the Time of Alexander the Great, and of the Jewish High Priests, together with a Genealogical Table of Herod’s Descendants, Tables of the Coins and Measures of the Hebrews, and Reductions of them to the Standard of our own Coins, Weights and Measures.

We have chiefly followed the Chronology of Usher, which hitherto hath been esteemed the most accurate that we have, and has been followed by the Generality of modern Writers. With this we have all along joined the Years of Jesus Christ and those of the Vulgar Æra, that the Reader at one View might discern the Relation that these Epochs have to one another. At the End of all we have added an Hebrew Calendar, wherein we have observ’d the principal Feasts, Fasts, and Solemnities that are taken Notice of, not only in common Calendars, but likewise in the most ancient that the Jews have. Many things also concerning Chronology may be seen in the Body of the Dictionary, under the Articles, Years, Months, Days, Jubilee; besides the Lists of Kings, Priests, and Princes already spoken of, which have some Relation to Chronology, we have farther prefixed to this Work, an universal Chronological Table, from the Beginning of the World to the Destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans; and wherever the Dates have been omitted, that Defect may be supplied by this Table.

One thing whereof we were particularly careful in this Work was, to clear the Geography of Holy Scripture, the Knowledge of this being, as we are persuaded, indispensably necessary, in order to the making any Progress in the Study of the Scriptures. But as we have very few Lights on this Article, and Ignorance is preferable to Error, we have set down so much only as we know, and may declare as certain. The Geographical Maps, Plans and Descriptions of Places that are here inserted, have all along their Proofs with them, which will be found under every Article of the Dictionary. We are very much obliged to the Labours of M. Reland, who has written two Volumes in Quarto upon the Geography of Palestine. When the Places we describe are famous and considerable, we give a kind of History of every thing remarkable which hath happened to them, and of all the Revolutions to which they have been subject; Examples of this are to be seen in Jerusalem, Samaria, Tyre, &c. But as the Design of this Dictionary is only to facilitate the understanding of the Bible, we have generally confined ourselves to represent the Condition of such Places and Cities no farther than to the taking of Jerusalem by the Romans, and to the End of the first Century.

Very little concerning Morality will be expected here. Preachers have their common Latin Concordances, and their moral Dictionaries, which in this Particular will abundantly supply them. The Letter, History and Criticism of Scripture are the principal Objects of our Care. There are few Names of Places or Persons that are pass’d by unobserved; if some have been omitted, it was because there was nothing to be said concerning them, the Scriptures having transmitted nothing to us but their Names. We have seldom said any thing of the Etymologies and Signification of proper Names, having chosen to reserve that for a distinct Dictionary, which we have placed at the End of this.

For the better compleating of this Work, we have added a Bibliotheca Sacra, which is a real Introduction to the Study of Scripture, whether the Rules be considered which the Preface to it abounds with, or the very copious Catalogue of the most celebrated Authors, and best Books to be read on this Subject, whereof the Body of this Bibliotheque is composed. They who have most Inclination to this Study, have not often the Opportunity of having all the Books that are necessary; and they who have, want Leisure frequently, or Resolution, to read them with a Design of comparing them with one another, and of making a judicious Choice of them: They too who propose to form a Library, and buy Books, may be glad to know what Authors have written on every Volume of the Scripture, and what Treatises are most in Reputation for their Accuracy on this important Matter. For want of this Knowledge, People are at a great deal of Pains and Expence oftentimes to very little Purpose; pose, because they set out wrong, follow bad Guides, and take Directions from Masters who are ill informed themselves. It is our Endeavour therefore to remedy this Inconveniency, by giving this Catalogue of Books, whereof we have set down a great Number, that there might be the better room for Choice, and that they who write on any Subject may have the Satisfaction to see all that has been said upon it. We do not however promise to name all the Books and Authors that have written on the Scripture, this is a Matter too extensive to be comprehended all intirely within this Dictionary; besides, F. le Long of the Oratory has executed this Design with great Perfection.

Lastly, That Pleasure and Profit may be join’d together in this Dictionary, several Persons of Consideration have obliged us to represent the Antiquities of the Hebrews, and Ceremonies of the Jews, in Figures, so that let the Explanation of them be what it will, the Prints will be sure to make Things more sensible and clear, and by this Means contribute to the better understanding of the Holy Scripture, and satisfy the Reader’s Curiosity.

We therefore imployed the ablest Masters in delineating and engraving the principal Antiquities of the old Hebrews, and the modern Jews; such as Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel, the Tabernacle and Utensils of it, Solomon’s and Ezekiel’s Temple, the same rebuilt by Herod the Great, the House of Cedar built by Solomon for his Queen; Monuments, Habits and chief Ceremonies; Plans and Views of the most celebrated Places in the Holy Land; and many other Things besides, which we have represented according to the Descriptions that we have of them in Scripture or the Jewish Writers.

As to those Things whereof there is either no Mention at all in Scripture, or not a very clear one, we have taken our Account of them from the old Historians, particularly Josephus, from Travellers and Commentators, supplying this way what to us appeared to be most probable, and most agreeable to Truth, relating to the Times, Countries, Manners and Customs of the Ancients. We do not therefore affirm every thing which we have had thus represented in Figures to be absolutely certain; but we hope at least that we have come as near to Truth as is possible in Matters so remote and obscure, and that we have in some degree clear’d and explain’d the Jewish Antiquities. And tho’ all that has been thus engrav’d by our Direction be not new, the Publick notwithstanding is obliged to us for collecting in this Dictionary, not only many Things that are new, but almost every thing besides most curious, that is elsewhere to be met with on this Subject.

As to the Prints which relate to War, they neither are of my Invention or Procurement. The Chevalier Folard, so well known throughout Europe for his Experience and Capacity in the Tacticks of the Ancients, and the Works which he has published on this important Matter, is the Person who furnished the first Draughts of them. This able Officer having cast his Eyes upon my Dissertation concerning the Militia of the Hebrews, immediately conceived an advantageous Idea of the Valour of the ancient Israelites, and of their Knowledge in the Art of War: He determined afterwards to study this Point in the first Sources; to this End he read over the historical Books of the Old Testament, and examined particularly those Passages wherein there is any Mention of Battles, Sieges, and military Expeditions, under Moses, Joshua, the Judges, Kings and Maccabees. By this sort of reading he was confirmed more and more in the Opinion which had always been entertained by him, that the Greeks and Romans only imitated what had been so long before practised by the Eastern People, the Egyptians, Hebrews, Chaldæans, Assyrians and Persians; and as he is very sagacious, and has been much conversant in this kind of Literature, he has made such Discoveries in turning over the Sacred Writings as had escaped me, and perhaps might have escaped any other Person beside himself.

He resolved therefore to make his Observations upon the principal Battles and most famous Sieges recorded in the Books of the Old Testament. The Booksellers who were upon the Point of printing this Supplement to the first Edition of my Dictionary, desired he would please to communicate his Remarks to them, in order to insert them in it, being persuaded that the Publick wou’d be glad to see a Matter so new and engaging treated by one of the Profession, and withal of so good an Understanding as the Chevalier Folard. He yielded to their pressing Instances, and they on their Part, that the Satisfaction of the Publick might be entire, have procured a great Number of Plates to be engraved in a very neat Manner, and at a great Expence, representing the Orders of Battles, Encampments and Sieges, upon which he has composed a Sort of Dissertations. They are distinguished by Hands placed at the Beginning of these Articles. In these the Author sometimes confutes my Opinions as to some Points of the ancient Way of making War; and in this he is very obliging, it being no extraordinary thing for a Man of my Profession to be ignorant of many things relating to the Exercise of War, to the Marches of Armies, the Order of Battles, the Disposition of Encampments, warlike Machines, &c.

Notwithstanding that the Distance of Times and Places, and the concise Style of Scripture concur to keep us in the dark, and confound our Ideas, the Penetration of the Chevalier Folard supplies, corrects and restores every thing. He transports the Reader to the very Spot, leads him up and down all the Places which were the most memorable Scenes, and most particularly relating to Religion; he points them out to him, and brings him to a Knowledge of them, makes every thing present to him, and revives Facts, Histories and Circumstances which seemed condemned to be eternally forgotten. Nay, he goes farther, for sometimes by the way he discovers new Meanings in the Scripture, unknown to Interpreters, and reconciles Passages which according to the Significancy of received Terms, or the Sense hitherto fixed on them, implied a Contradiction.

But Josephus has particular Obligations to him: This Author, tho’ a Jew, wrote in Greek, and his Works have always been an Entertainment to Persons of good Taste: Few, to his Misfortune, are qualified to read him in the Original; and they who are not, are forced to have Recourse to Translations; that is to say, to Books wherein Josephus is disfigured so as not to be easily known. This did not escape the Observation of M. de Folard, and was what he could not disguise either from himself or others. His Dissertations abound with Remarks which fix the Meaning of the Text, correct the Blunders of Translators, make them sensible of their Errors, discover their Ignorance, mend their Expressions, and furnish them with Terms of Art.

It is needless to say any thing in particular concerning the Neatness and Beauty of the Engravings: it may be sufficient to declare that the same Designers and Engravers who wrought those of the first Dictionary and Supplement, have finished these with still more Delicacy, Accuracy and Care than the first, with which however the Publick has appeared to be so well satisfied.