THE Hebrew Bibles which have been printed by the Jews, in general are more correct than those which have been printed by Christians, but they are not so beautiful.
Biblia Hebraica cum punctis, in fol. Soncini, 1488. Curâ Josue Salomo filii Israel Nathan, manus Abraham illustris Rabbi Chaum.
Biblia Hebraica & Judæis impressa Pisauri, in 4to. ann. 1494, correctissima cum punctis.
Biblia Hebraica sine punctis, in fol. & in 4to. Pisauri, correctissimè*. Ann. 1494*. Sunt & aliæ Editiones sine punctis. Annis 1573, 1610, 1631, 1639, 1694, 1702, at Leyden, two Vols. in 24mo.
Biblia Hebraica, in 8vo. Brixiæ, 1594. Item alia Pisauri ad usum Judæorum.
Biblia Hebraica duplici columnâ, in fol. 1517, à Judæo Soncinate.
Biblia Hebraica, Rabbinica, cum Paraphrasibus Chaldæis & Rabbinorum Commentariis. Venetiis, Anno 1518. Curâ Felicis Pratensis, typis Danielis Bomberg. This is the first Edition of the Bible, next to the Complutensian, procured by Christians. Felix Pratensis was a Jew, but embraced Christianity before he set about this Bible. There are six Editions of this Rabbinical Bible, viz. of the Years 1517, -26, 49, - 68. 1617, -19.
Biblia Hebraica Dan. Bomberg, in fol. An. 1526. item alia 1549.
Biblia Hebraica, in 4to. ejusdem Dan. Bomberg. An. 1518, -21, -25, -28, -33, -44.
Biblia Hebraica cum Latinâ versione Sebastiani Munsteri. two Vols. in fol. Basiliæ, ex Officinâ Bebelianâ, ann. 1534. & secunda Editio, 1546. It is in such a Hebrew Character as the Germans make use of, with Notes taken from the Rabbins. The second Edition, of 1546, is the largest and most correct.
Biblia Hebraica, sine Notis, in 4to. two Vols. curâ Sebastiani Munsteri. Basileæ, typis Frobin. & Episcopii, Ann. 1536.
Biblia Hebraica, in 4to. 4 Vols. Parisiis, ex Officinâ Roberti Stephani, 1539, 1544. This Edition, particularly the first Part of it, is very fair, but not very correct.
Biblia Hebraica, ejusdem Roberti Stephani, 7 Vols. in 16mo. Paris. 1544, 1546. This Edition is fairer and more correct than the foregoing one.
Biblia Hebraica, in 4to. Venetiis, operâ Cornelii Adelkenad apud Anton. Justiniani. Ann. 1551. Item in 18mo. 4 Vols. Ann. 1552. Item in 4to. Ann. 1563.
Biblia Hebraica, Francofurti ad Oderam, in 4to. Ann. 1551.
Biblia Hebraica, cum Comment. Germanico, R. Nepthali-Ben-Aser, in fol. Cracoviæ, 1552.
Biblia Hebraica, in 4to. Venetiis, Joan. de Gara. ann. 1566. Bomberg’s Rabbinical Bible was reprinted by him in 1568.
Biblia Hebraica, Antwerpiæ, typis Christophori Plantini, 1 Vol. in 4to. & 2 Vols. in 8vo. & 4 Vol. in 16, edita pluriès; scilicet Annis 1566, -72, -73, -82, -84, -90. These Editions are fair, and pretty correct.
Biblia Hebraica, cum versione interlineari Santis Pagnini. Ann. 1572. in Polyglottis Antwerpiens. This Edition is the best of all. Great Complaints have been raised against Arias Montanus, for disfiguring it in such a manner, and rendering it so barbarous as to be seldom intelligible, by endeavouring to make it agree better with the Hebrew. The Roots of the Hebrew in the Old Testament, and of the Greek in the New, are noted in the Margin. This Edition has been several times reprinted; by Plantin in 1581, and 1584. and at Geneva, by Peter de la Rouviere, in 1609, and in 1619. The Booksellers to promote the Sale of it added this Title to it; Additis correctionibus Romanis Lucæ Brugensis, Ann. 1619. But this is the same with the Edition of 1609. It was reprinted at Lipsick in 1657, in 8vo. eight Vols. at Leyden in 1608, 1613. It is useful to Beginners.
Biblia Hebraica, sine punctis in 8vo. & in 24mo. 2 Vol. Antwerp. apud Plantin. Ann. 1573.
Biblia Hebraica in 4to. Venetiis, 1573. Item in 4to. Venetiis, apud Joan. de Gara, Ann. 1582. Item Venetiis 1595.
Biblia Hebraica & Latina Ariæ Montani, cum ejusdem Tract. de varia librorum Hebræorum Scriptione & Lectione, & de Versionis Pagnini defensione, in fol. in Burgo Aracenensi in Hispaniâ, ann. 1581. This Edition is very scarce.
Biblia Hebraica, in 4to. apud Plantin. 1582.
Biblia Hebraica, studio Eliæ Hutteri, in fol. Hamburgi, ann. 1587. opera Jacobi Lucii. This Edition is remarkable, because the Radical Letters are printed in full, black, Characters; whereas the Servile and deficient Letters, which are not pronounced, are marked with a hollow white Character. The same Bible, without any Difference, is to be seen with the Dates of the Years 1558, -59, 1605.; the Booksellers in all probability having thus changed them in order to persuade the World that they were so many new Editions of this Bible, and so promote the Sale of it.
Biblia Hebraica, in 8vo. Antwerpiæ, 1590.
Biblia Hebraica, Francofurti ad Oderam, 1 Vol. in 4to & 2 Vols. in 8vo. & 4 Vols. in 16mo. apud Hartmann. ann. 1595. The Jews value this Bible mightily.
Biblia Hebraica, 2 Vols. in 16mo. Leid. Rapheleng. 1596.
Biblia Hebraica, fine punctis, 2 Vol. in 24mo. Hanoviæ, 1611. The same with that of Leyden above-mentioned.
Biblia Hebraica, minimo charactere, ex recensione Job. Buxtorf. Basileæ, Valdric. 1611.
Biblia Hebraica, 4 Vol. in 12mo. Venetiis, typis Joannis Bragadini, annis 1614, 1615.
Biblia Rabbinica, juxta priores Edit. Dan. Bomberg. 4 Vol. in fol. Venetiis, ann. 1617. apud Petr. & Laurent. Bragadin. Leo of Modena, otherwise called R. Judas Arias, had the Direction of this Edition. It is very correct, but in Bartolocci’s opinion, not wholly without Faults.
Biblia Hebraica, Genevæ, operâ Cephæ Elori, ann. 1618. in 4 Vol. in 8vo. & 6 Vol. in 18mo. These Editions are in no esteem, being full of Faults.
Biblia Rabbinica, Johan. Buxtorfii patris. 4 Vol. in fol. Basileæ, typis Ludovici Koning. ann. 1618, & 1619. Walton maintains, that this is much more to be esteemed than Bomberg’s Rabbinical Bible.
Biblia Hebraica, cum commentariis Rasi & Jakal Sopher, in 8vo. Pragæ, 1629.
Biblia Hebraica, fine punctis, in 8vo. Amstelod. typis Menasse-Ben-Israel, sumptibus Henrici Laurentii, 1631.
Biblia Hebraica, cum versione Hispanâ vocum difficiliorum in margine caractere Hebraico, in 4to. Venetiis, 1635.
Biblia Hebraica, duabus columnis distincta, studio Rabb. Menasse-Ben-Israel, 2 Vol. in 4to. This Edition passes for a very correct one. The Author has published two Bibles more in 8vo. one whereof is without Points. At Amsterdam, by Janson, 1639.
Biblia Hebraica, cum Comment. Rabb. Jacob Lombroso, in 4to. Venetiis, 1639. Joan. Martinelli.
Biblia Hebraica, cum Masorâ in Pentateuchum, & Comment. Rasi, 4 Vol. in 4to. Venetiis, Antonii Caleoni, ann. 1647, 1649.
Biblia Hebraica, typis Josephi Athias Judæi Amstelodam. cum Præfat. Lat. Joan. Leusden. ann. 1661. & iterum ann. 1667. This Bible is in two Vols. 8vo. very well printed, and pretty correct. It is more useful than the generality of the other Editions of the Hebrew Bible; because the Chapters and Verses in it are distinguished after our way.
Biblia Hebræa, caractere minuto, cum titulis librorum & capitum Latinis, & distinctione versuum, studio J. Georg. Nisselii, Leidæ, 1662.
Biblia Hebræa, Lemmatibus Latinis illustrata, à Johanne Leusden. 2 Vol. in 8vo. Amstelod. typis Josephi Athias, 1667. This is to be esteemed for its Exactness, Beauty, and Commodiousness. The Chapters and Verses, and the Arguments of the Chapters, are set down in the Margin. Their High Mightinesses the States General presented Athias with a Gold Chain, and a Gold Medal hanging to it, as an Acknowledgment for his great Pains and Diligence in the Impression of this Bible. This Edition however is thought to be not so correct as that of the Year 1661.
Biblia Hebraica, Versibus, Capitibus, Masoretarum Keri & Ketib, &c. instructa, operâ & Studio Davidis Clodii, in 8vo. Francofurti, ad Mœnum. 1677. & iterum recognita à Joan. Henrico Maio, & à Joan. Leusden revisa, ann. 1692. Daniel Ernest Jablonski says this Edition is very faulty.
Biblia Hebraica, fine punctis, in 12mo. Francofurti, Jon. Wustii, 1694. This abounds with Faults.
Biblia Hebræa, cum Notis Hebraicis, & Lemmatib. Latinis, ex recensione Joan. Ernesti Jablonski, in 4to. Berolini, ann. 1699. Notwithstanding all the Care which was taken to make this Edition perfect, it is nevertheless not without Faults.
Biblia Hebræa, cum Commentario Rasi, 4 Vol. in 12mo. Amstelodami, Studio Rabb. David novis. 1700. in domo Emmanuel F. Joseph. Athias.
Item ibidem, eadem Biblia, sed sine Notis Rasi, 4 Vol. in 12mo.
Biblia Hebraica, à Joanne Leusden denuò recognita, 2 Vol. in 8vo. Amstelod. & Ultrajecti, typis Boom & Sociorum, ann. 1705. This Edition is throughout one of the best and most beautiful. It is averr’d that the Vowel Points were cast with the Letters themselves; so that by this means many Faults have been avoided, which happen generally by losing or misplacing of the Vowel Points.
Biblia Hebraica, cum Latinâ versione Santis Pagnini, Bened. Ariæ Montani, &c. in fol. Francofurti, ad Mœn. 1707.
Biblia Hebræo-Germanica vet. Test. & Græco-Germanica novi Test. ex versione Lutheri, in 4to. Lipsiæ, 1707.
Biblia Hebraica, Studio Sociorum Collegii Orientalis Theolog. Halens. in Saxonia. This Bible was begun and carried on a good way in 1707.
Biblia Hebræa, à Judæis edita Venetiis, ann. 1678. There is an Italian Version of the difficult Words in the Margin.
Thus you have a Catalogue of the principal Hebrew Bibles which have appeared from the Beginning of Printing to this Day. It may be observed in general, that those which are printed with the Arguments of the Chapters, and the Verses marked in the Margin, are the most commodious for use: For which Reason those of Leusden and Athias may, without Contradiction, be preferred to any others. I do not know of any that have been printed in France, since those of Robert Stephens, excepting in le Jay’s Polyglot: The Reason whereof may be, that there are very few Jews in this Country, and scarce any besides Jews can succeed well in correcting Works of this kind; particularly when the Vowel Points and Accents are inserted.
We do not give a Catalogue here of any separate Pieces of the Bible, which have been printed by themselves; and that for these two Reasons: First, because this would carry us too far; and 2dly, because we could say nothing particulary of them. They who would have the Bible in the original Text, will not fail to have it entire: And they who would make a large Library, and collect every thing beautiful and singular in this kind that they can find, may consult the two Vols. in fol. of F. le Long’s Bibliotheca Sacra, from whence we have taken almost the whole Catalogue above inserted. The Reader may consult likewise Lipenius’s Bibliotheca Theologica, Tom. 1. p. 152. under the Title Bible.
We cannot excuse ourselves from saying something here of those eminent Printers who have procured for us such fine Bibles, which will ever be one of the principal Ornaments of our Libraries. These Printers are the Stephens’s, Bombergue, and Plantin, whom we reckon among the Men of Learning, since they understood the Languages, and were not ignorant of the Art of Criticism.
Robert Stephens was born at Paris, in the Year 1503, and in the Reign of Lewis XII. He was Son to Henry Stephens the first of that Name. He applied himself to Study, and became a learned Man, not only in Latin, but likewise in Greek and Hebrew. He was at that time a Catholick; but the Uneasinesses which some People gave him on the Score of his Notes upon the Holy Scriptures, obliged him to leave his Country, and retire to Geneva, where he turned Calvinist, in 1551. and died there in 1559, at 56 Years of Age. See his Elogium more at large in Teissier, tom. 1. p. 387, -99. We shall speak of his Notes upon some Books of the Old and New Testament in their Place.
Henry, his Son, the second of the Name, was born at Paris, with a Mind very well adapted to Letters, and an admirable Memory. He followed his Father to Geneva, and died a Calvinist in 1598. See his Encomium in Teissier, Tom. 4. p. 342.
The particular Character of both Father and Son, was, an extraordinary Zeal to enrich the Publick with fair and correct Editions of the Books which they printed, so far, as even to ruin their Family by it. For all their Care and Labour, their Fortune, and their Lives, were laid out in the continual Exercise of so noble an Art. See every thing relating to the Stephens’s, in their Lives written by Janson of Almeloveen, and printed at Amsterdam, in 1683.
Daniel Bombergue was a Fleming, born at Antwerp. He went to Venice, there to exercise the Art of Printing; which he did with great Expence, and there he died in 1549. Bayle speaks of him in his Critical Dictionary of 1715, tom. 1. He was as disinterested in his Art as the Stephens’s: He spared neither Charge nor Labour. In one Point he excelled them; viz. he died a Catholick, and always had been so. He understood Hebrew in perfection.
Christopher Plantin is also one of those famous Printers who recommended themselves to the Esteem of the World by their great Care in cultivating their Art, in putting out none but fine Impressions. He was a Frenchman, born at Tours, or at Mount Lewis, near Tours, and dwelt at Antwerp, where he died a Catholick, in 1598, at 75 Years of Age. See his Elogium, in Teissier, tom. 4. p. 6, -10. Cardinal Baronius commends him for the most eminent of all the Printers in the World, not on the score only of his sincere Piety, but likewise for all the other Qualities which compose a Man compleatly fitted for this Profession.