The Chronology of the Old Testament, and its Connexion with
Profane History. In the three earliest copies of the old Testa- ment, there is an extraordinary chronological difference; and what is equally singular, the differences are consistent in themselves with regard to their details. Thus, from the Creation to the Deluge, the Hebrew makes 1656 years, the Septuagint 2262, the Samaritan 1307; whilst from the Deluge to the birth of Terab, the discrepancies are more startling, the shortest period giving 322, the longest 1102 years. The great point, of course, is to prove which is the original copy of Holy Writ ; and many long and learned dissertations have been written upon the sub- ject. The object of Mr. SKENE'S little volume is to maintain the correctness of the Hebrew verity ; which he attempts by a ge- neral view of the question, and by a detailed examination upon the texts which bear upon it. The former is broad and acute; and the evidence of JOSEPHUS in favour of the Septuagint is judiciously, although the direct authority of PHILO upon the same point is somewhat cavalierly, disposed of. The arguments on the minor points are of course less interesting, and, it strikes us, not always so ingenious.
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