WE think ourselves oblig’d to make a separate Article of such particular Books of the Bible as have been translated into Latin, either by Catholicks or Protestants, however without distinguishing them. We shall pursue the Order wherein these several Books stand in Scripture.
John Drusius has translated some particular Books of Scripture out of Hebrew into Latin, viz. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and the first eight Chapters of Numbers. He has likewise translated Job, Ruth, and Esther, and has added his Annotations. Drusius having read the Jewish Books, and old Greek Translators, framed to himself a better Idea of the sacred Language than those other Criticks who applied themselves only to the reading of the Rabbins, and consequently has succeeded better. This is M. Simon’s Opinion, in his Critical History of the Old Testament.
Andrew Masius has translated the Book of Joshua out of Hebrew into Latin, and with it has joined an excellent Comment. See upon Joshua.
Victorinus Strigelius translated the whole Pentateuch out of Hebrew, printed at Lipsick in 1566, 3 Vols. in 8vo. and the two Books of Maccabees out of the Greek, at the same Place 1571, in 8vo.
Christian Ravius, who translated the first six Chapters of Genesis, printed at Lipsick, 1665, in 8vo. Elai Terser, who translated the Pentateuch, printed at Upsal in 1652, excepting Numbers and Deuteronomy, which are still in Manuscript. See what Scheffer says of them, in his Bibliotheca Danica, p. 193. Christian Ravius was a Lutheran of Berlin, Professor of the Oriental Languages at Upsal. He died in 1677. Fabricius speaks of him in the History of his Library, tom. 5. p. 507, 508. Elai Terser, by Nation a Swede, was a Lutheran, Divinity Professor and Bishop of Lincop. He died in 1678. He understood Hebrew. John Schudt translated only the first four Chapters of Genesis out of Hebrew into Latin, which were printed together with the Hebrew Text, at Frankfort, 1695, in 8vo. Schudt was a German Lutheran, Rector of the College at Frankfort upon the Mein, and was still living in 1718.
Meibim Meibim, or Meibomius, put out three new Latin Versions of some Pieces of the Old Testament, in the way of Essay to a much larger Undertaking. It was printed at Amsterdam, and afterwards at Paris, in the Year 1698, in fol. There is mention made of it in the Journal des Sçavans of 1699, p. 774. Mark Meibomius different from Henry, a Lutheran as well as he, was of Holsace, understood the three Languages, and died in 1710.
Augustin Justiniani translated into Latin the Book of Job, printed in 4to. at Paris, 1516. He likewise translated the Psalter. See the Article of these two Books. Justiniani was of Genoa, and a Dominican. He was made Bishop of Nubio in Corsica, and assisted at the Council of Lateran under Leo X. Leander Alberti says he understood Hebrew, Arabick, and Chaldee. He perished in a Storm in 1536, being 66 Years old.
James Boldue has likewise translated and commented the Book of Job, two Vols. in fol. at Paris, 1637. and in 4to. 1629. The same Book has been translated by John le Cocq, Philip Codurques, and John Henry Hottinger. The Version by John le Cocq, or Cocceius, was published at Franekar in 1644, in fol. that of Hottinger at Zurich 1689, in 8vo. both from the Hebrew. As to Philip Codurques, see upon Job.
The Psalter was translated out of Hebrew into Latin by Felix du Pré, and Aretius Felinus, (that is to say, Martin Bucer) whose Translation was printed at Strasburg, 1526, in fol. There are two Versions which are to be found likewise with his Comments. He moreover translated Zephaniah, printed ibid. 1528, in 8vo.
Conrad Pellican, Hulric Zuinglius, and John Bugenhuguius have likewise translated the Psalter; the Version of the latter was published at Basil in 1524, with Comments.
We have besides, the Version of the Psalter by James Fabri, or le Fevre, which is generally called Psalterium quintuplex, viz. Gallicanum, Romanum, Hebraicum, which make three different Latin Versions, placed parallel to one another, in three Columns; Vetus & Conciliatum, in two other Columns: A Work very rare, and very curious for the Learned. In the Front of it is a long Epistle Dedicatory, addressed to William Briçonnet, Cardinal, and Bishop of Meaux; another longer, or rather an Appendix on the 30th Psalm, inscribed to Peter the Carthusian. In this Fabri justifies himself from the Imputation of having said, that the Soul of Jesus Christ suffered in Hell. He declares at the End of his Work that he finished it in the Monastery of St. German des Prez in the Year 1508, and that it was printed by Henry Stephens in 1509. This is the same Psalter which was printed at Caen in 1615, for Peter and Felix Dupré, or Desprez. James Fabri, or le Fevre, surnamed the Elder, to distinguish him from another James le Fevre, more modern, was of Estaples in Picardy. He perform’d his Studies at Paris, and shined in that University at the Beginning of the sixteenth Century. He went afterwards to Meaux, thence to Blois, and lastly to the Queen of Navarre’s Court, which drew on him the Suspicion of Heresy. He died at Nerac, in 1537. Fabri had a great deal of Wit, with a very little Body. His Friend Erasmus calls him an honest, learned, and very human Man. Paul Jovius and M. de Sainte Marthe have made Encomiums of him.
To all these Translators of the Psalter we may add, Wolfang, Musculus, John Calvin, Sebastian Castalio or Chateillon, John Cocceius, John Draconites, Conrad Heresbach, Leo de Juda, Rod. Magister, George Major, Thomas Malvenda, Henry Muller, Simon de Muis, Sebastian Munster, Santés Pagninus, John Piscator, Sebastian Schmidt, Emmanuel Tremellius, Thomas de Vio Cardinal, Josse Willichius. It is computed that there have been five and twenty-ty Translations since the Year 1515.