The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2Browne, Thomas, Sir
Religion
The Works of Sir Thomas Browne, Volume 2
Browne, Thomas, Sir
Christianity; Ethics; Religion and medicine
Whatsoever Interpretations there have been since, have been especially
effected with reference unto these, that is, the Greek and Hebrew text,
the Translators sometimes following the one, sometimes adhering unto the
other, according as they found them consonant unto truth, or most
correspondent unto the rules of faith. Now however it cometh to pass,
these two are very different in the enumeration of Genealogies, and
particular accounts of time; for in the second intervail, that is,
between the Flood and _Abraham_, there is by the Septuagint introduced
one _Cainan_ to be the son of _Arphaxad_ and father of _Salah_; whereas
in the Hebrew there is no mention of such a person, but _Arphaxad_ is
set down to be the father of _Salah_. But in the first intervail, that
is, from the Creation unto the Flood, their disagreement is more
considerable; for therein the Greek exceedeth the Hebrew, and common
account almost 600 years. And 'tis indeed a thing not very strange, to
be at the difference of a third part, in so large and collective an
account, if we consider how differently they are set forth in minor and
less mistakable numbers. So in the Prophesie of _Jonah_, both in the
Hebrew and Latin text, it is said, Yet forty dayes and _Ninevy_ shall be
overthrown: But the Septuagint saith plainly, and that in letters at
length, τρεῖς ἡμέρας that is, yet three dayes and _Ninevy_ shall be
destroyed. Which is a difference not newly crept in, but an observation
very ancient, discussed by _Austin_ and _Theodoret_, and was conceived
an error committed by the Scribe. Men therefore have raised different
computes of time, according as they have followed their different texts;
and so have left the history of times far more perplexed than Chronology
hath reduced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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