. The reading of many of tlie Septuagiut versions, may, 

 perhaps, be reconciled on a similar supposition of intentional 

 correction. Observing that they granted but 20 years to Eli, 

 and omitted the ten, attributed to Elon, and perhaps differed 

 in some other points from the Hebrew ; the correctors and 

 transcribers thought they ought to be amended in the ag- 

 gregate also, and therefore reduced the 480 of the Hebrew 

 to 440. But after the Hebrew calculus came into repute, 

 from the collation of the Scriptures and the more general 

 study of tJie original language, in the time of Constantine, the 

 Greek MSS. were altered to conform to it, and the years of 

 Elou were generally restored, and in the Coraplutensian col- 

 lation, the Hebrew reading of 480. Nicephorus grants only 

 20 years to the Philistine oppression, 3 to Elon, and 20 to Eli ; 

 so that he subducts 47 years from the Hebrew, but the MS. he 

 used granted perhaps 440, as the round number, more accord- 

 ing with the generality of chronologic periods in Scripture. 



It may be here casually remarked, that the items of Nice- 

 phorus do not accord with his summation, in computing 

 " 630 years from theexod to David ;" (p, .396> edit, ut supra) 

 as from the exod to the foundation of the temple, theij 

 amount only to 563 years, including the years of the third 

 servitude, which have been omitted by mistake. What re- 

 liance is then to be placed on such authorities, agamst the 

 imdeviating accuracy of the Hebrew records?* 



S H 2 ^ It 



• This accuracy b observable, even in the terms used to introduce the mention of the 



seryilades 



