Page:Essays ethnological and linguistic.djvu/177

Rh In the history of the creation given us in the sacred Scriptures, because the word in the Hebrew,, yom, has unfortunately been translated 'day' in our version, instead of by some term equivalent to 'age' or 'period,' the generality of readers have become imbued with an almost ineradicable impression that the statements of the Mosaic history are contradictory to the discoveries of modern science. Though the same word is constantly used throughout other parts of the Scriptures for other or indefinite periods of time, and is so acknowledged to be by every writer on the subject worthy of notice, yet a prejudice has grown up to the contrary, on the assumption of this reading, of a nature to make even some of those writers to succumb to it, and thereupon to endeavour to reconcile facts with what is opposed both to the original history and to probability itself, by suppositions equally untenable.

Again, in the computation of the chronology of the world, or rather of the period of time that has elapsed since the creation of man, we find the system adopted in our common version of the Scriptures, repeated in every new edition of them, and referred to by writers generally as if it were incontrovertible, notwithstanding the labours of Dr. Hales and Bishop Russell especially, as well as of others, who have so satisfactorily refuted it, and shown how contrary it is to true history and to every conclusion of reason founded upon history.

It must be acknowledged, however, that there was at least some show of authority for these two prepossessions having taken such deep root in general belief. Unaided by the light of later science and modern researches, it was excusable for all the translators of the Scriptures, from those of the Septuagint downwards, to render the word by its primary meaning of 'day' in the history of the creation, though in many other parts they could not fail to understand it as bearing a larger signification. There was less excuse for the error relating to the chronology of the world, inasmuch as the Roman Catholic Church had rightly handed down from antiquity a more correct computation, in many particulars, which the mistaken zeal of our Reformers unfortunately repudiated; though even in their behalf it may be urged that their computation had the sanction of the Hebrew reading. But for another illusion as commonly received as either of these, without any reason or authority in its favour, and to which I am not aware of any direct answer having been given, namely the supposed loss of the Ten Tribes of Israel, consequent upon their subjugation by the Assyrians, I now venture to request your attention.