ria; the planters shall plant, and shall cat (the fruit) as common.' Before we proceed, it is neceffary to obferve, that D does not denote watchmen, as tranflated in the Bibles, (verse 6th.) and understood by the Commentators; but defolators, deftroyers, &c. being derived from the Radix as fhewn in Lingua Sacra, under that root. And these destroyers are the Romans, who were the defcendants of Edom ; as already mentioned in the course of this work. See Vol. Ift. page 217. &c. And they were called destroyers, on account of the war and desolation, which they spread over the greatest part of the world. And thus, the Prophet calls them, in another place; (Chap. iv. 16.) for in the former part of that Chapter, he speaks of the deftruction of the firft temple; but in verse 16th, he speaks of the deftruction of the se השמיעו על ירושלים,cond temple: and fays נצרים באים מארץ המרחק Publife ye concerning Jerufalem, that deftroyers are coming from a far country. Thefe denote the Romans that came with Vefpafian and Titus: and who came from a far country: but Babylon could not properly be called a far country, in regard gard to Jerufalem. And Mofes in his denunciations, (Deut. xxviii. 49.) fays, "The LORD fhall bring a nation against thee from far, from the end of the earth." This, all the Hebrew Commentators understand, to denote the Romans. (See R. Levi Ben. Gerfhom, Abarbanal &c.) and whom they to this day call, □ Nazarenes. And of them, the Prophet Jeremiah fays, (Ibid.) "And they fhall lift up their voice against the cities of Judah." Because Vefpafion and Titus, firft conquered the cities of Judah; and afterwards took Jerufalem, of whom the Prophet says in verse 17th. "Like keepers of fields are they round about her, because she hath rebelled against me faith the LORD." And, as he had prophefied concerning both the first, and second destruction of Jerufalem; he fays verse 18th. "Thy way and thy doings have done these (things) unto thee;" By the plural pronoun* thefe, the Prophet plainly * Thus reads all the printed copies; thus alfo is it read, and understood by all the Hebrew commentators; by the Chaldee Paraphraft Jonathan Ben Uzziel; and thus also the tranflators of the Bible understood it; yet, Dr. Blaney, indefiance of all these great authorities; and without any reafon afligned, plainly pointed to the deftruction of the first, and fecond temples. And, as the latter was moft grievous, and went near to extirpate us; he obferves in the latter member of the verfe, "Such is thy calamity, for it is bitter; because it reacheth unto thy heart." For this great calamity, he complains verfe 18th. My bowels, my bowels, I am pained; (even) the walls of my heart; my heart is troubled within me; I cannot be filent; because thou hast heard, O my foul, the found of the trumpet, the alarm of war. Destruc * TT affigned, renders it "a curfe;" What it was that led him to it, I cannot divine: unlefs, that defpifing the points, (as the generality of Chriftians do; not one of whom, was ever able to enter into the fpirit, the idiom, and phrasaology of the Language) he read a curfe, inftead of these. Thus alfo I fuppofe he read y a plague, for y reacheth. These are but small flips, compared with fome, that I have mentioned, in my remarks on the neceffity of the points; (See Lingua Sacra. Vol. Ift. page 25-27. &c.) and as I fhall fhew more at large, when confidering the scheme of correcting the prefent Printed Text, by manufcripts: as already noticed in this work. * The walls of the heart, undoubtedly denotes the pericardium; a thin membrane of a conick figure, that refembles a purfe, and contains the heart in its cavity: fo that it may well be called the walls of the heart; as it furrounds and guards it like a wall. tion upon destruction is proclaimed;" Now, what are we to underftand by "deftruction upon deftruction" but the deftruction of the firft, and fecond temples. All which, is a manifeft proof, that D the deflroyers denotes the Romans; and of whom the prophet, in the prophecy we are treating of, fays, verse 6th. "For there is yet a day unto the LORD our God, that the deftroyers upon mount Ephraim fhall cry, Arife, and let us go up to Zion." For, as the Prophet had in the preceding verfes, fpoken of the eftablishment, and tranquillity of the nation; he informs us when that will be; and therefore fays, there is a certain time appointed by God; (for that is what is properly meant by the term," to the LORD our God:") that the Nazarenes, or deftroyers, fhall cry to each other upon mount Ephraim, Arife, and let us go up to Zion, in order to conquer Jerufalem, and the holy land of Ifiael. But, when that day fhall come, then Ifrael will rejoice; for then they will know that their falvation is near: and therefore, he says, verse 7th. Sing with joy for Jacob, and cry aloud at the head of the nations: publish ye, praife ye, and fay, O LORD, fave thy people, the he the remnant of Ifrael." For as there will "" By |
