Types of mankind, or, Ethnological researches, based upon the ancient monuments, paintings, sculptures, and crania of races, and upon their natural, geographical, philological and Biblical history / illustrated by selections from the inedited papers of Samuel George Morton and by additional contributions from L. Agassiz, W. Usher, and H.S. Patterson ; by J.C. Nott and Geo. R. Gliddon.

  • Nott, Josiah C. (Josiah Clark), 1804-1873.
Date:
1860
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Types of mankind, or, Ethnological researches, based upon the ancient monuments, paintings, sculptures, and crania of races, and upon their natural, geographical, philological and Biblical history / illustrated by selections from the inedited papers of Samuel George Morton and by additional contributions from L. Agassiz, W. Usher, and H.S. Patterson ; by J.C. Nott and Geo. R. Gliddon. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    662/800 (page 606)
    body was calcined “ut quam clementissime et citra sanguinis effusionem, puniretur.” (118) Had Lanci never turned his vast Semitic acquirements to any other Scriptural text but Joshua Xth, 12, 13, astronomical posterity should weave for him a wreath of laurels. But, to appreciate his labors, one must bestow a final smile of pity upon the forty-seven. Z — Joshua x. 12, 13, 14. “ Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.... And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.... And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened to the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.” So far “ authorized version! ” and, in lieu of examining whether the ancient Text has been truthfully rendered, those among whom knowledge has not yet advanced beyond the theological grade are lavishly vituperative of scholars who, knowing the English translation of this passage to be an absurdity, despise the commentaries upon it as a sham. To place the reader at our point of view, let us first ask the question—what is this “book of Jasher?” One of the twenty lost books of the Hebrews cited in the Old Testament, is the facile reply. “ The look of Jasher, that is, the Righteous. [Josh. x. 13; 2 Sam. i. 18.) This book must have been of no very ancient date, for it contained the Lamentations of David on the death of Saul and Jonathan. A spurious work with this title has come down to us, containing the history recorded in the first seven books of the Old Testament.” (119) According to Cahen (vii, pp. 121-124; 2 Samuel i. 17-27), the verse runs — “17. David composed this lament upon Saul and upon Jonathan his son. —18. And ordered to be taught to the children of Judah [the elegiac Lament called] the. Bow; behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.” Then follows the lament itself, from verse 19 to 27: in which David, in poetic strain, says (v. 22, 23) — “ The bow of Jonathan never retreated; The sword of Saul never returned empty: (Oh) Saul and Jonathan! ” Consequently, David, about b. c. 1056, had composed this beautiful ode; and a later writer says, “ behold, it is written in the Book of Jasherthat is, David’s ode is. Ergo, this Book of Jasher was a collection of poems compiled after b. o. 1056. Now, the writer of “Joshua Xth” quotes, from this same Book of Jasher, the passage which in king James’s version runs — “ So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down about a whole day;” continuing his citation down to “the Lord fought for Israel.” Hence it is positive that “ Joshua-5m-NUN,” could not have been the author of the “Book of Joshua;” because, having departed this life about b. c. 1426, he could have known nothing of a sub- sequent collection of poems that contained the lamentations of David upon events that happened some 370 years after Joshua himself was dead and buried. Moses is the only man who is privileged by orthodoxy to describe his own demise: (120) a second instance cannot be tolerated. Now, this author of “ the Book of Joshua” is utterly unknown, and its date is very modern, perhaps as low as the sixth century b. c. ; (121) as are likewise the “Books of Samuel.” The next point, to which attention is invited, regards the sentence—“ Is not this written in the Book of Jasher?” What was written in the said book? Commentators, ignorant of Oriental usages, concur in the notion that those passages which precede the book cited, were contained in the said book. Such opinion is fallacious, because, as Orientalists know, it is the universal custom of Semitic writers to quote the authorities they introduce before (118) IIumboijjt. Cosmos ; transl. Otti; New York, 1851; iii. p. 17. (119) I)f. Wette: i. p. 411. (120) Deuteron. xxxiv. 5-12. N. B. The dates are from the margin of our English Bible.