of the early Maccabæan times, and upholding the old traditions of quietude and resignation.” Leszynsky, on the other hand, is inclined to believe that the author was a Sadducee; his arguments, however, are not convincing.[299] The book contains what purports to be a prediction of the future history of Israel which had been revealed to Moses, and which he in turn reveals to Joshua. It is, therefore, as a whole not an apocalyptic book in the technical sense, though part of it does distinctly come under this designation; this is clear from Chapter x., which is written in poetry, and in the familiar apocalyptic strain; it tells of the coming of divine rule upon earth, when sorrow shall be taken away, and wrath shall come upon the enemies of God; the signs of the end are graphically described. The book was originally written in Hebrew, though some scholars contend for an Aramaic original. Only part of the book has so far been recovered and this is in Latin, which was, however, made from a Greek translation of the original. (_g_) THE ASCENSION OF ISAIAH [LITERATURE.—Schürer, II, iii. pp. 141-146, German ed., pp. 386-393; Beer, in Kautzsch, II, pp. 119-127; Charles, _The Ascension of Isaiah_ (1900); Charles, _The Martyrdom of Isaiah_, in _The Apocr. and Pseudep. of the O.T._, II, pp. 155-162. Burkitt, _Jewish and Christian Apocalypses_, pp. 45 ff.] In ancient ecclesiastical writings mention is made of three apocryphal books about Isaiah, viz. the “Ascension of Isaiah,” the “Martyrdom of Isaiah,” and the “Vision of Isaiah.” It is possible that the “Ascension” is only another name for the “Vision,” for in Chapter x., which belongs to the “Vision” portion, an account is given of Isaiah ascending to the seventh heaven. But, in any case, two writings are incorporated in the book. Moreover, there are many additions made by a Christian editor. These various elements belong to different dates; the earliest is the “Martyrdom,” which comprises ii. i-iii. 12, v. 2-14; this is of Jewish authorship, and belongs to the first half of the first century A.D.; the final words of this portion have a special interest inasmuch as the reference to the sawing asunder of Isaiah there mentioned points to this being the authority for the statement in Hebrews xi. 37. The words are as follows: “But Isaiah neither cried aloud nor wept whilst he was being sawn asunder, for his mouth spoke with the Holy Ghost until he had been sawn asunder.” Next in date is a short apocalypse (iii. 13-v. 1); this gives a _résumé_ of the early history of the Christian Church, and foretells the last judgement; this is by a Christian author, and belongs to about the middle of the first century A.D., or a little later. Lastly, there is the “Vision” (vi.-xi.), which is likewise Christian, and belongs to the end of the first century A.D. The first chapter is probably an addition by a Christian editor, the date of which cannot be fixed. The whole of this material has come