ion to which I have already alluded--the
Pentateuch, and the Historical, Poetical, and Prophetical Books of the
Old Testament.

What the careful reader of Genesis will not fail to observe is the number
of passages in which comparatively small alterations give a new light to
details of the sacred narrative which, in general reading, are commonly
completely overlooked. A new colouring, so to speak, is given to the
whole, and rectifications of prevailing conceptions not unfrequently
introduced, either in the text or, as often happens, by means of the
margin, where they could hardly have been anticipated. The prophecy of
Jacob as to the future of his children (chap. xlix) will supply an
instance. In the character of Reuben few of us would understand more
than general unsteadiness and changefulness in purpose and in act, but a
glance at the margin will show that impulse and excitability were plainly
elements in his nature which led him into the grievous and hateful sin
for which his father deposed him from the excellency of a first-born.

What has been said of the Book of Genesis is equally applicable to the
remainder of the Pentateuch. The object throughout is elucidation, not
simply correction of errors but removal of obscurity, if not by changes
introduced into the printed text, yet certainly always by the aid of the
margin; as, for example, in the somewhat difficult passage of Exodus
xvii. 16, where really, it would seem, that the margin might rightly have
had its place in the text. Sometimes the correction of what might seem
trivial error, as in Exodus xxxiv. 33, gives an intelligible view of the
whole details of the circumstance specified. Moses put on the veil after
he had ceased speaking with them. While he was speaking to them he was
speaking as God's representative. In Numbers xi. 25 the correction of a
mistranslation removes what might otherwise lead to a very grave
misconception, viz. that the gift of prophecy was continuous in the case
of the whole elderhood. In the chapters relating to Balaam,
independently of the alterations that are made in the language of his
remarkable utterances, the mere fact of their being arranged rhythmically
could not fail to cause the public reader, almost unconsciously, to
change his tone of voice, and to make the reading of the prophecy more
distinct and impressive. Among many useful changes in Deuteronomy one
may certainly be noticed (chap. xx. 19), in which the obscure