Questions on the Old and New Testaments; With References and Answers

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE OLD TESTAMENT. 1 The word "Bible" literally signifies the book; it is applied to the Sacred Volume, as being the book of books, the chief of all books. The word "Scriptures" signifies writings, and is applied by way of eminence to those sacred compositions which contain the revealed will of God. 2 The word Testament is generally explained, as signifying a covenant or agreement; but perhaps the word dispensation would better convey its meaning, as applied to the two divisions of the Sacred Volume. The application of the word Testament to these divisions is derived from 2 Cor. iii. 6, 14. 3 The books of the Old Testament were divided by the Jews into three classes: viz., I. The Law; containing the five books of Moses. II. The Prophets; containing Joshua, Judges, the "two books of Samuel, and of Kings, respectively, in single books, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve Minor Prophets in one book. III. The Chetubim, or HagioQrapha, that is, the Holy Writings; comprehending the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra and Nehemiah (in one book), and the two books of Chronicles, also reckoned as one book. This division of the Old Testament obtained in the time of our Saviour, as appears from Luke xxiv. 44. 4. The books of the Old Testament were originally written in Hebrew. 5. The Vulgate is the Latin translation of the Scriptures, made by St. Jerome in the fourth century. It has been exclusively adopted by the Roniish church ever since the seventh century. 6. The Septuagint is a Greek version of the Old Testament, so called because the translation is supposed to have been made by seventy-two Jews (six out of each tribe), who for the sake of round numbers, are usually called the seventy interp...