of the objection founded by Infidels upon the supposed sterility of the soil of Palestine. Forcible testimony to the credibility of the Old Testament Scriptures afforded by the present condition of the Jews 159 CHAPTER IV Efforts of Infidels to show that the books of the Old Testament are forgeries of comparative modern date. Their objections considered. Curious discovery illustrative of the antiquity and exactness of the Mosaic writings. The utter impossibility of the books being forgeries proven.--Mr. Olmsted's argument to prove that the book of the law was forged by Ezra. Confutation of his argument. Proofs that the law could not have been forged by Daniel nor by any of the captives in Babylon; that it could not have been forged by Isaiah. A forgery could not have been effected after the revolt of the ten tribes. It could not have been forged by David; nor by Saul: nor by any of the Judges who preceded Samuel. The law existed in Joshua's time. Joshua could not have forged the law. The impossibility of practicing a fraud upon the Israelites during a sojourn in the wilderness.--The books of the Pentateuch have internal marks, which demonstrate that they were written by Moses. The book of Genesis included by the Jews in the book of the law. Evidences of its antiquity and genuineness. --Profane testimony to the genuineness of the Mosaic writings. Objection on the ground that although Moses wrote a book called the book of the law, we have no evidence that it was the book now current in his name. The objection considered and answered 193