DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY AND THEOLOGY ; AND PROFESSOR OF THE

ORIENTAL LANGUAGES, BIBLICAL ARCHÆOLOGY, ETC.,

IN THE UNIVERSITY OF VIENNA :

WITH ADDITIONAL REFERENCES AND NOTES

BY

SAMUEL H. TURNER, D. D.

PROE. OF BIBL. LEARN, AND THE INTERP. OF SCRIPT. IN THE GENERAL

THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY OF THE PROT. EPIS. CHURCA,

Southern District of New-York, ss.

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the 5th day of December, A. D.
1827, in the 520 year of the Independence of the United States of America,
SAMUEL H. TURNER and WILLIAM R. WAITTINGHAM of the said District,
have deposited in this office the title of a Book, the right whereof they claim
as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit:

“ An Introduction to the Old Testament, translated from the Latin and Ger-
man Works of John Jahn, Doctor of Philosophy and Theology; and Professor
of the Oriental Languages, Biblical Archæology, etc., in the University of
Vienna : with additional References and Notes by Samuel H. Turner, D. D.
Prof. of Bibl. Learn. and the Interp. of script, in the General Theological Semi-
nary of the Prot. Epis. Church, and William R. Whittingham, A. M. an Alum-
nus of the Seminary.”

In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled “ An Act
for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts,
and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the time
therein mentioned.” And also to an Act, entitled " An Act supplementary to
an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of Learning, by securing the
copies of Maps, Charts, and Books, to the authors and proprietors of such
copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to
the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."

FREDERICK J. BETTS,
Clerk of the Southern District of New-York.

OTHIAS

În presenting to the Public the following Introduction, its translators feel confident that no apology is necessary. The extensive knowledge of Dr. Jabn, and the multiplicity and accuracy of his researches, especially on Biblical subjects, are evinced by his numerous publications, some of which are already advantageously known to American readers. To the inquirer after truth, it cannot but be a gratification to know the result of the investigations of such a scholar respecting the various important subjects necessarily comprised in a work of this nature. His treatment of those subjects renders it evident that he has examined for himself; and the instances are few in which there is reason to be dissatisfied with that examination, or with the nature of the judgment founded on it.

It may be necessary, however, to say something of the translation itself. Its basis is a work entitled, • Introductio in Libros sacros Veteris Foederis, in epitomen redacta a Johanne Jahn, editio secunda emendata, 8vo. Vienne, 1814. Of this an entire translation is given. But as this volume was merely an abridg. ment, intended for the use of seminaries of learning and the author's own pupils, of his larger work, ' Einleitung in die Göttlichen Bücher des Alten Bundes, 2 Th. 8vo, Wien, 1803,' the translators deemed it expedient to add from the latter as largely as it was possible to do, without entering too minutely into unimportant details, and extending their book beyond the limits of an elementary work. Such of these additions as are of no greal extent have generally been incorporated into the text, without remark. Others, of more importance, for example many of the sections which give an account of the contents of the different books, have been printed as the text, but enclosed in brackets. But in most instances, the additions from the German have been subjoined to the section in a different type, and enclosed in brackets, with references to the passages of the text to which they are supplementary.* _ A considerable number of references on the subjects discussed, and some additional remarks have been made by the translators. These are invariably designated by the letters “ Tr.", and enclosed in brackets. This distinction has been scrupulously adhered to, for the purpose of enabling the reader to know with certainty what he may attribute to the author, and for what he may consider the translators as responsible. It will be perceived that the latter have occasionally expressed opinions different from those maintained by the former. They thought it incumbent on them to exbibit his views without attempting to modify or accommodate them to their own, but assumed the privilege of stating their reasons for dissent, leaving it to the reader to decide upon their value. Yet the translators do not consider themselves responsible for every opinion of Dr. Jahn respecting which they have not exercised this privilege. On many points a latitude of opinion is allowable, and almost inevitable, and others require extensive and profound investigation before a correct decision can be formed.

The translators originally intended to divide their task, and to inform their readers of the portion respectively performed by each. But in its progress this was found impracticable, and both may now be considered as responsible for every part, as the whole has been examined and corrected by each.* Considerable pains have been taken to make the translation accurate, so far as to exbibit a faithful view of the author's meaning, avoiding at the same time his Latin and German constructions. Occasionally, in order to render the sense more plain, a slightly paraphrastic rendering has been given, or more perspicuous passages have been substituted from the German.

The references of Jahn have all been examined anew, and the numerous typographical errors in the originals corrected, while the greatest care has been taken to have them correctly printed in this edition.

To increase as much as possible the utility of the work, a regular table of contents and complete indexes have been substituted for the Conspectus Operis' of the Latin work.

New-York, November 30th, 1827.