NOTES. 



NOTE A.--(From page 222.) 

 "After Eight Days." — Johi xx. 26. 



In noticing the objection to the popular assumption — de- 

 ri ved from the literal reading of the text ^^ after eight days'^ 

 — J. N. B. replies {p. 185) ; "But this is contrary to Jewish 

 usage, as well as Christian. As well might he object to 

 Chrisfs resurrection on ' the third day/ from the phrase ^ after 

 tliree days I will rise again.' — Matt. xxvii. 63, 64.'^ My 

 friend mistakes the point. The day of the resurrection is not 

 proved hy the expression " after three days'' — but by inde- 

 pendent and explicit testimony. His quotation merely goes 

 to show that the phrase in question may have the meaning he 

 assigns to it (which I never denied) ; it in no wise proves that 

 it must have that meaning. I contend that the primary import 

 of ^^ after ihxee days/' or ^^ after eight days/' is its literal 

 meaning : modified in the one case by direct counter evidence, 

 and in the other case wholly unmodified. 



J. JST. B. will not doubt that Jonah was literally ''three days 

 and three nights" in the fish that swallowed him. (Jonah i. 

 17.) Can I prove to him that the prophet was there only 

 one day and two nights, by citing the instance of one who was 

 buried from Friday evening until Sunday morning, and yet 

 was said to be "three days a7id three nights in the heart of the 

 earth?" {Matt. xii. 40.) I may succeed in showing that 

 the half period is a possible construction : he will hardly be 

 satisfied that it is a necessary one, or even a probable one. 

 25 



