WE thought it necessary to distinguish Dictionaries of this kind from those we have been speaking of, because they are of a quite different kind; notwithstanding which, we judged it not convenient to omit them, or place them at a distance from the foregoing Article: For tho’ they are entirely Historians, yet we have abundance of Hebrew Words explained in them, and the true Signification of them given us.
M. Simon, Doctor in Divinity, and different from the famous Richard Simon, formerly Priest of the Oratory, published a Dictionary of the Bible in French, but it is not very accurate or correct. We were at first advised to review it, but we were of opinion that it was easier to make a new one, than endeavour to improve another’s. There are two Editions of this we are speaking of; one in a single Volume in fol. at Lyons, 1693, and the other in two Vols. ibid. of the Year 1703. This last is so much enlarged, that it may be almost said to be more properly an Universal Dictionary than a Dictionary of the Bible; so that if at present we had nothing better, it would be necessary to stick to the first Edition, wherein abundance of Facts are omitted that have no relation to the Scripture; and are unseasonably treated of in the second Edition.
The Dictionary of the Bible, by M. Huré, is a kind of Alphabetical Comment of the Scripture, wherein the different Significations of Words in the Vulgate are distinguiged, and other Forms of Speech are explained which we meet with in the sacred Writings. It was printed at Rheims, 1715, in fol. 2 Vols.
M. Huré was of Sens, made Humanity Professor in the University of Paris, and died in 1718. being Principal of the College of Boncour. He has written other pieces upon Scripture, whereof we shall hereafter take notice.
We shall say nothing of our own Dictionary of the Bible, since they who read this Bibliotheque will have it in their hands.