372 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1874- 



recent commentators, and have the merit of candour and 

 independence of thought along with very considerable 

 reading. On critical questions they are moderate con 

 servatives, not denying occasional corruptions in the text, 

 and admitting that the titles, to which they usually adhere, 

 are sometimes incorrect. Psalm li. is assigned to the 

 period of the Babylonian exile, and is supposed to be a 

 poetic conception of David s feelings. Three Psalms are 

 assigned to the Maccabaean period (xliv., Ixxiv., Ixxix.). 

 The introductions contain a good deal of useful matter, 

 together with not a little that is questionable. In 

 adopting Aben Ezra s highly probable view that the 

 title Al-taschcheth is taken from the opening words of a 

 well-known song, Mr. Lowe might have thought of the 

 vintage song, &quot; Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it &quot; 

 (Isa. Ixv. 8). 



Last year saw the completion of the Speaker s Com 

 mentary on the Old Testament in a volume (vol. vi., 

 &quot; Ezekiel, Daniel, and the Minor Prophets &quot;) which is 

 scarcely calculated to diminish the feelings of partial 

 disappointment with which this work has been generally 

 received. A note at page 83 shows that among Dr. 

 Currie s qualifications to write on Ezekiel, a knowledge 

 of the elements of Hebrew grammar is not included. 

 In discussing the great vision of the renewed Theocracy, 

 the commentator does not seem to be aware of the 

 importance which this section of the prophecies possesses 

 for the criticism of the Pentateuchal law. He under 

 stands the vision as &quot; portraying immediately the Church 

 of Christ,&quot; without reference to any partial fulfilment 

 in the restoration of the material temple. &quot; As the Jews 

 already knew something of the typical character of the 

 temple services, this vision was intended to teach 

 them more.&quot; At the same time, we are reminded that 

 the minute details are not all in themselves symbolically 

 important, but are requisite from the character of 

 visionary presentation, which sets a finished picture 



