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decalogue in Exodus； where its history is explicitly set forth； will be
sufficient to show us a wide discrepancy in all these three particulars； for
the fourth commandment is given not only in a different form； but at much
greater length； while the reason for its observance differs wholly from that
stated in Exodus。 （114） Again； the order in which the tenth commandment
is explained differs in the two versions。 （115） I think that the differences
here as elsewhere are the work of Ezra； who explained the law of God to
his contemporaries； and who wrote this book of the law of God； before
anything else； this I gather from the fact that it contains the laws of the
country； of which the people stood in most need； and also because it is not
joined to the book which precedes it by any connecting phrase； but begins
with the independent statement； 〃these are the words of Moses。〃 （116）
After this task was completed； I think Ezra set himself to give a complete
account of the history of the Hebrew nation from the creation of the world
to the entire destruction of the city； and in this account he inserted the
book of Deuteronomy； and； possibly； he called the first five books by the
name of Moses； because his life is chiefly contained therein； and forms
their principal subject； for the same reason he called the sixth Joshua； the
seventh Judges； the eighth Ruth； the ninth； and perhaps the tenth； Samuel；
and； lastly； the eleventh and twelfth Kings。 （117） Whether Ezra put the
finishing touches to this work and finished it as he intended； we will
discuss in the next chapter。
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CHAPTER IX
OTHER QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE SAME BOOKS：
NAMELY； WHETHER THEY WERE COMPLETELY FINISHED BY
EZRA； AND； FURTHER； WHETHER THE MARGINAL NOTES
WHICH ARE FOUND IN THE HEBREW TEXTS WERE VARIOUS
READINGS。
（1） How greatly the inquiry we have just made concerning the real
writer of the twelve books aids us in attaining a complete understanding of
them； may be easily gathered solely from the passages which we have
adduced in confirmation of our opinion； and which would be most obscure
without it。 （2） But besides the question of the writer； there are other points
to notice which common superstition forbids the multitude to apprehend。
（3） Of these the chief is； that Ezra （whom I will take to be the author of the
aforesaid books until some more likely person be suggested） did not put
the finishing touches to the narrative contained therein； but merely
collected the histories from various writers； and sometimes simply set
them down； leaving their examination and arrangement to posterity。
（4） The cause （if it were not untimely death） which prevented him
from completing his work in all its portions； I cannot conjecture； but the
fact remains most clear； although we have lost the writings of the ancient
Hebrew historians； and can only judge from the few fragments which are
still extant。 （5） For the history of Hezekiah （2 Kings xviii：17）； as written in
the vision of Isaiah； is related as it is found in the chronicles of the kings
of Judah。 （6） We read the same story； told with few exceptions； ＇Endnote
11＇； in the same words； in the book of Isaiah which was contained in the
chronicles of the kings of Judah （2 Chron。 xxxii：32）。 （7） From this we
must conclude that there were various versions of this narrative of Isaiah's；
unless； indeed； anyone would dream that in this； too； there lurks a mystery。
（8） Further； the last chapter of 2 Kings 27…30 is repeated in the last chapter
of Jeremiah； v。31…34。
（9） Again； we find 2 Sam。 vii。 repeated in I Chron。 xvii。； but the
expressions in the two passages are so curiously varied ＇Endnote 12＇； that
we can very easily see that these two chapters were taken from two
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different versions of the history of Nathan。
（10） Lastly； the genealogy of the kings of Idumaea contained in
Genesis xxxvi：31； is repeated in the same words in 1 Chron。 i。； though we
know that the author of the latter work took his materials from other
historians； not from the twelve books we have ascribed to Ezra。 （10） We
may therefore be sure that if we still possessed the writings of the
historians； the matter would be made clear； however； as we have lost them；
we can only examine the writings still extant； and from their order and
connection； their various repetitions； and； lastly； the contradictions in dates
which they contain； judge of the rest。
（11） These； then； or the chief of them； we will now go through。 （12）
First； in the story of Judah and Tamar （Gen。 xxxviii。） the historian thus
begins： 〃And it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his
brethren。〃 （13） This time cannot refer to what immediately precedes
＇Endnote 13＇； but must necessarily refer to something else； for from the
time when Joseph was sold into Egypt to the time when the patriarch
Jacob； with all his family； set out thither； cannot be reckoned as more than
twenty…two years； for Joseph； when he was sold by his brethren； was
seventeen years old； and when he was summoned by Pharaoh from prison
was thirty； if to this we add the seven years of plenty and two of famine；
the total amounts to twenty…two years。 （14） Now； in so short a period； no
one can suppose that so many things happened as are described； that Judah
had three children； one after the other； from one wife； whom he married at
the beginning of the period； that the eldest of these； when he was old
enough； married Tamar； and that after he died his next brother succeeded
to her； that； after all this； Judah； without knowing it； had intercourse with
his daughter…in…law； and that she bore him twins； and； finally； that the
eldest of these twins became a father within the aforesaid period。 （15） As
all these events cannot have taken place within the period mentioned in
Genesis； the reference must necessarily be to som