etymology of the Hebrew language, the laws by which the syntax is regulated, the customs, modes of thinking, antiquities, religious belief, and expectations, of the ancient Hebrew nation, which will include the use of Commentaries, Concordances, ancient and modern Translations, the Oriental Languages, Travellers, and in short every other help usually recommended to the student of Scripture. I mention these things, because some are apt to think that a knowledge of the Grammar, with the use of the Dictionary only, is quite enough to enable any one to be an able interpreter of Holy Writ; while the truth is, language, opinions, and customs, are so intimately connected together, that they never can entirely be separated. Where however this is attempted, (and it is often attempted,) conjecture, uncertainty, and doubt, must necessarily supply their place. The study of the Oriental Languages indeed, which is indispensable to the critic, opens a very extensive field of inquiry. Our daily intercourse however with the East, in addition to the numerous valuable elementary and other Oriental works, which are now, by the munificence of the British public, daily making their appearance, has rendered this study comparatively easy and sure. And the probability is, that at no distant period it will be in the power of the British Divine, to call in to his aid every assistance which the East can afford him.* And my own opinion is, that if all these helps be duly appreciated and applied, we may indeed never have it in our power to boast of more erudite, laborious, acute, or pious, Divines than we now can, but we may of those who are more simple, more easy, more engaging, and more practical. I need now only add, what it is important the student should know, that the Hebrew Bible from which the extracts in this work are taken, is that which was printed under the superintendence of Mr. Judah d'Allemand for the Publisher of this work. *I allude to the Oriental translation Committee which was established a few years ago, principally by the zeal and activity of the Earl of Munster, aided by the assistance of our present gracious and beloved Sovereign, His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, and other members of the Royal Family. See the Reports of this Institution. On the Initial and Final Characters of Sheva and its Substitutes.... 17-18 Euphonic Changes in the Orthography, as it regards the Consonants 33-37 On the Contractions which take place in the Vowels. On the General Changes of the Vowels..... On the Use of Sheva and its Substitutes Particular rules for the insertion of Dagesh ... 37-38 39-41 41-44 44-47 LECTURE IV. On the Personal Pronouns, Separable and Inseparable Tables, exhibiting their several inflections, as to gender, number, conjunction with the pronouns, and state of construction...... 101-105 Their force when conjugated as Verbs active and passive, in the On the force of those conjugated in the Niphhál species 123-124 125-131 On those forms which have the Hē-emanti letters prefixed ON THE AUGMENTED, REDUPLICATED, AND COMPOUND WORDS. ON THE ETYMOLOGY OF THE PARTICLES. On the forms and characters of the Separable Particles..... Do. of the Inseparable Particles ..... 179-187 Do. of those commencing with N, and ", respectively Do. of those having 1, or, for the middle radical letter respect- Do. of those in which the third radical letter is subject to elision.. 234-237 Do. of those Verbs which have for their third radical letter..... |