382 LECTURES AND ESSAYS [1874- 



point is the treatment of Exodus xxxiv. as a distinct 

 and independent source. It is to be hoped that Well- 

 hausen will soon add an analysis of the legal parts of the 

 Pentateuch, as his investigation, even in its present 

 imperfect state, points to inferences of great interest for 

 the history of the Old Testament. 



In the historical studies which fall to be noticed in this 

 survey, the period subsequent to the Exile has received 

 most attention. The third series of Dean Stanley s 

 Lectures on the History of the Jewish Church (London : 

 Murray) extends from the captivity to the Christian era. 

 The purpose of the volume is popular and didactic. The 

 author makes no claim to independent research. Resting 

 on the works of previous writers, whose labours are 

 regarded as &quot; exempting any later author from the duty 

 of undertaking afresh a labour which they have accom 

 plished once for all not to be repeated,&quot; and following in 

 the main the guidance of Ewald, to whom an eloquent and 

 touching tribute is paid in the preface, Dr. Stanley seeks 

 &quot; to disentangle the main thread of the story from 

 unmeaning episodes, to give the most important con 

 clusions without repeating the arguments &quot; of larger 

 works, and above all, &quot; to draw out the permanent 

 lessons &quot; of the story. That this task has been accom 

 plished with much literary tact and grace, and with a 

 singular felicity of graphic detail and pictorial touches 

 that give living colour to the narrative, is what we knew 

 to expect from a hand that has not forgotten its cunning. 

 Yet it cannot but be matter of regret that merits of 

 exposition so conspicuous, applied to a period of history 

 so thorny and tangled that skilful exposition is peculiarly 

 helpful to the reader, were not combined with a deeper 

 study of the available materials than seems to have lain 

 in the plan of the author. In spite of the confidence with 

 which Dr. Stanley accepts the guidance of his predecessors, 

 the study hitherto devoted to this part of the history has 

 been more prolific of controversies than of conclusions ; 



