theologico-political treatise p2(神学与政治专题研究2)-第20章
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good； even he who was called Neghunja； the son of Hezekiah： for； save for
him； the book of Ezekiel would been concealed； because it agreed not with
the words of the law。〃
（103） It is thus abundantly clear that men expert in the law summoned
a council to decide which books should be received into the canon； and
which excluded。 （104） If any man； therefore； wishes to be certified as to
the authority of all the books； let him call a fresh council； and ask every
member his reasons。
（105） The time has now come for examining in the same manner the
books in the New Testament； but as I learn that the task has been already
performed by men highly skilled in science and languages； and as I do not
myself possess a knowledge of Greek sufficiently exact for the task； lastly；
as we have lost the originals of those books which were written in Hebrew；
I prefer to decline the undertaking。 （106） However； I will touch on those
points which have most bearing on my subject in the following chapter。
End of Part 2。
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AUTHOR'S ENDNOTES TO THE
THEOLOGICO…POLITICAL
TREATISE Part 2 … Chapters VI to X
CHAPTER VI。
Endnote 6。 （1） We doubt of the existence of God； and consequently of
all else； so long as we have no clear and distinct idea of God； but only a
confused one。 （2） For as he who knows not rightly the nature of a triangle；
knows not that its three angles are equal to two right angles； so he who
conceives the Divine nature confusedly； does not see that it pertains to the
nature of God to exist。 （3） Now； to conceive the nature of God clearly and
distinctly； it is necessary to pay attention to a certain number of very
simple notions； called general notions； and by their help to associate the
conceptions which we form of the attributes of the Divine nature。 （4） It
then； for the first time； becomes clear to us； that God exists necessarily；
that He is omnipresent； and that all our conceptions involve in themselves
the nature of God and are conceived through it。 （5） Lastly； we see that all
our adequate ideas are true。 （6） Compare on this point the prologomena to
book； 〃Principles of Descartes's philosophy set forth geometrically。〃
CHAPTER VII。
Endnote 7。 （1） 〃It is impossible to find a method which would enable
us to gain a certain knowledge of all the statements in Scripture。〃 （2） I
mean impossible for us who have not the habitual use of the language； and
have lost the precise meaning of its phraseology。
Endnote 8。 （1） 〃Not in things whereof the understanding can gain a
clear and distinct idea； and which are conceivable through themselves。〃 （2）
By things conceivable I mean not only those which are rigidly proved； but
also those whereof we are morally certain； and are wont to hear without
wonder； though they are incapable of proof。 （3） Everyone can see the truth
of Euclid's propositions before they are proved。 （4） So also the histories of
things both future and past which do not surpass human credence； laws；
institutions； manners； I call conceivable and clear； though they cannot be
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proved mathematically。 （5） But hieroglyphics and histories which seem to
pass the bounds of belief I call inconceivable； yet even among these last
there are many which our method enables us to investigate； and to
discover the meaning of their narrator。
CHAPTER VIII。
Endnote 9。 （1） 〃Mount Moriah is called the mount of God。〃 （2） That is
by the historian； not by Abraham； for he says that the place now called 〃In
the mount of the Lord it shall be revealed；〃 was called by Abraham； 〃the
Lord shall provide。〃
Endnote 10。 （1） 〃Before that territory ＇Idumoea＇ was conquered by
David。〃 （2） From this time to the reign of Jehoram when they again
separated from the Jewish kingdom （2 Kings viii：20）； the Idumaeans had
no king； princes appointed by the Jews supplied the place of kings （1
Kings xxii：48）； in fact the prince of Idumaea is called a king （2 Kings
iii：9）。
（3） It may be doubted whether the last of the Idumaean kings had
begun to reign before the accession of Saul； or whether Scripture in this
chapter of Genesis wished to enumerate only such kings as were
independent。 （4） It is evidently mere trifling to wish to enrol among
Hebrew kings the name of Moses； who set up a dominion entirely
different from a monarchy。
CHAPTER IX。
Endnote 11。 （1） 〃With few exceptions。〃 （2） One of these exceptions is
found in 2 Kings xviii：20； where we read； 〃Thou sayest （but they are but
vain words）； 〃the second person being used。 （3） In Isaiah xxxvi：5； we read
〃I say （but they are but vain words） I have counsel and strength for war；〃
and in the twenty…second verse of the chapter in Kings it is written； 〃But if
ye say；〃 the plural number being used； whereas Isaiah gives the singular。
（4） The text in Isaiah does not contain the words found in 2 Kings xxxii：32。
（5） Thus there are several cases of various readings where it is impossible
to distinguish the best。
Endnote 12。 （1） 〃The expressions in the two passages are so varied。〃 （2）
For instance we read in 2 Sam。 vii：6； 〃But I have walked in a tent and in a
tabernacle。〃 （3） Whereas in 1 Chron。 xvii：5； 〃but have gone from tent to
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tent and from one tabernacle to another。〃 （4） In 2 Sam。 vii：10； we read； 〃to
afflict them；〃whereas in 1 Chron。 vii：9； we find a different expression。 （5）
I could point out other differences still greater； but a single reading of the
chapters in question will suffice to make them manifest to all who are
neither blind nor devoid of sense。
Endnote 13。 （1） 〃This time cannot refer to what immediately
precedes。〃 （2） It is plain from the context that this passage must allude to
the time when Joseph was sold by his brethren。 （3） But this is not all。 （4）
We may draw the same conclusion from the age of Judah； who was than
twenty…two years old at most； taking as basis of calculation his own
history just narrated。 （5） It follows； indeed； from the last verse of Gen。
xxx。； that Judah was born in the tenth of the years of Jacob's servitude to
Laban； and Joseph in the fourteenth。 （6） Now； as we know that Joseph was
seventeen years old when sold by his brethren； Judah was then not more
than twenty…one。 （7） Hence； those writers who assert that Judah's long
absence from his father's house took place before Joseph was sold； only
seek to delude themselves and to call in question the Scriptural authority
which they are anxious to protect。
Endnote 14。 （1） 〃Dinah was scarcely seven years old when she was
violated by Schechem。〃 （2） The opinion held by some that Jacob wandered
about eight or ten years between Mesopotamia and Bethel； savours of the
ridiculous； if respect for Aben Ezra； allows me to say so。 （3） For it is clear
that Jacob had two reasons for haste： first； the desire to see his old parents；
secondly； and chiefly to perform； the vow made when he fled from his
brother （Gen。 xxviii：10 and xxxi：13； and xxxv：1）。 （4） We read （Gen。
xxxi：3）； that God had commanded him to fulfill his vow； and promised
him help for returning to his country。 （5） If these considerations seem
conjectures rather than reasons； I will waive the point and admit that Jacob；
more unfortunate than Ulysses； spent eight or ten years or even longer； in
this short journey。 （6） At any rate it cannot be denied that Benjamin was
born in the last year of this wandering； that is by the reckoning of the
objectors； when Joseph was sixteen or seventeen years old； for Jacob left
Laban seven years after Joseph's birth。 （7） Now from the seventeenth year
of Joseph's age till the patriarch went into Egypt； not more than twenty…
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two years elapsed； as we have shown in this chapter。 （8） Consequently
Benjamin； at the time of the journey to Egypt； was twenty…three or twenty…
four at the most。 （9） He would therefore have been a grandfather in the
flower of his age （Gen。 xlvi：21； cf。 Numb。 xxvi：38； 40； and 1 Chron。
viii；1）； for it is certain that Bela； Benjamin's eldest son； had at that time；
two sons； Addai nd Naa…man。 （10） This is just as absurd as the statement
that Dinah was violated at the age of seven； not to mention other
impossibilities which would result from the truth of the narrative。 （11）
Thus we see that unskillful endeavours to solve difficulties； only raise
fresh ones； and make confusion worse confounded。
Endnote 15。 （1） 〃Othniel； son of Kenag； was judge for forty years。〃 （2）
Rabbi Levi Ben Gerson and others believe that these forty years which the
Bible says were passed in freedom； should be counted from the death of
Joshua； and consequently include the eight years during which the people
were subject to Kushan Rishathaim； while the following eighteen years
must be added on to the eighty years of Ehud's and Shamgar's judgeships。
（3） In this case it would be necessary to reckon the other years of
subjection among those said by the Bible to have been passed in freedom。
（4） But the Bible expressly notes the number of years of subjection； and
the number of years of freedom； and further declares （Judges ii：18） that
the Hebrew state was prosperous during the whole time of the judges。 （5）
Therefore it is evident that Levi Ben Gerson （certainly a very learned man）；
and those who follow him； correct rather than interpret the Scriptures。
（6） The same fault is commi
