Commentary On The Psalms

THE present work consists of a translation of that portion of Emalds Poets of the Old Testament, which relates to the Pnalms and the Lamentations comprising the introductory mntter to the Psalms from tho first half, and the whole of the second half of Part I. In following Ewalds exposition, mo feel that we are under the guidance of a powerful and iudependent mind, which carries a vast erudition with easo, and never allows its origi nality ho be suppressed. His tretltment of the Psalms is characteri ed by intense poetic and religious sympathy, and by a keen and discrimintlting historical imagination. Tlie Commentary can hardly be tcrmed theological it contains the rosults of the application of purely literary ancl historical methods to the study of Hebrew poetry. This constitutes t, he specific scientific value of the work and it is perhaps the best course to resorve the theological and Messianic aspocts for separate t, roatment and discussion, as being matters on which difference of opinion and controversy prevail. Thc groat service of Ewald consisks in laying firmly the scientific basis, in applying thc general laws of literature, which include the laws of psyol ology, to the study of the Old Teshment. Ewalds preface is interesting as containing some esprossion of his general viorvs on this subject, with criticisms on the work of some of his eminent fellow-labourers in this fiold. It is to be regretted that he shouId have perrnittcd himself to have spoken with such dogmatism and severity of esteemed commentators like Delitzsch, Hengstonberg, and othera. But Emald, as is wcll known, is as conspicuous by the faults of his temper, les dqauts de ses gualifes, as by the power of hisintellect and the extent of his scholarship. Happily, cont, roversial references are excluded from the body of the work and me are left fo folIow undisturbed the course of his beautiful and spiritual exposition of these immo tal songs. As to style, Ewald falls bohind his matter his sentences aro long and clumsy, his language ofton diffuse and redundant. The transJat or, while keeping close to the original, has endeavoured to aid the English render by simplifying and breaking up to some extent the structure of his peiiods, and hopes to have produced a, faithful and intelligible endering. Thc references by the simple number of the parag apha re to Emalds Hebrew Grammar those by the Roman capital I. are to the first half of the first part of the Diel ter dea Alten. Bunde his second edition thero is much that is made the subject of still closer inquiry and definition. Especially the historical elements, according to the principles already laid dom in the first edition are further pursued, -mare coherently arranged, and more completely cxhibitcd. However, it i not very easy, nor indeed according to my taste, to say eveiy thing that might be said in favour of the opinions set forth or in opposition to the assumptions of others. It is well to explain satisfactorily the fundamental truths from an in vestigation of the facts before us, merely to indicate much that is collateral, and to leave many things to conjecture. Every superior writer has indeed before his eyes only the good, the experienced, md progressivc among his readers...