376 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1874- 



F. W. Schultz, of Breslau), there is considerable deflection 

 from the line of strict conservatism as represented 

 by Keil s Introduction. In accordance with the usual 

 opinion of recent critics, the Chronicler is recognised as 

 the author of Esra-Nehemiah, and a rigorously historical 

 character is not claimed for the book of Esther. As 

 regards exegesis, this is one of the best of the Lange series. 

 The second part of Professor Reuss s new French trans 

 lation of the Bible, with introductions and commentary, 

 embraces the prophets. (Les Prophetes. Par Edouard 

 Reuss. Paris, 1876. 2 vols.). The prophetic texts (in 

 which the book of Jonah is not included) are arranged in 

 chronological order according to the current principles of 

 criticism, and on grounds which are briefly set forth in the 

 introduction to each prophecy. The result is an arrang- 

 ment not very different from that of Ewald, though 

 modified in detail by the views of Hitzig and other critics, 

 and by the characteristic sobriety of the author in matters 

 of mere hypothesis. The comments, like the introduc 

 tions, may be taken as a fair account, in lucid and popular 

 style, of the general view of the prophetic books among 

 moderate German critics. There is very little that is 

 absolutely peculiar to the writer, and extreme and isolated 

 opinions of previous commentators are seldom followed 

 against the consensus of a majority of scholars. It will, 

 of course, be understood that a veteran theologian like 

 Professor Reuss represents rather the scholarship of the 

 masters who are rapidly passing away than that of the 

 newer school of rising Orientalists, whose investigations 

 seem sometimes to be unduly neglected. No part of the 

 book will be more interesting to readers in this country 

 than the general introduction which sketches the history 

 of prophecy, the leading features of the prophet s activity, 

 the main elements of their theology, and the character 

 istics of their written works. The questions which arise 

 under these heads are treated with a light but firm hand, 

 in a very suggestive though by no means exhaustive 



