Page:Jewish Encyclopedia Volume 2.pdf/34

2 THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

Apocrypha drew

this "book" (Siracli), etc. It has frequently been asserted that the idea and the name of the Greek "Apocrypha" were derived from this Hebrew terminology. (See Zahn, "Gesch. des Neutestamentlichen Kanons," i. 1,123 et seq. Schurer, in "Protestantische Realencyclopadie," 3d ed., i. 623, and many others; compare Hamburger," Realencyklopadie," ii.

68, n. 4.) said,

a

"Apocrypha"

literal translation of

(air6npv<pa

fitfiXia)

DTUJ D'HDD,

"

is,

it is

concealed,

hidden books. " Closer examination shows, however, that the alleged identity of phraseology is a mistake. Talmudic literature knows nothingof a classof D'HQD DTIJJ neither this phrase nor an equivalent occurs not even in " Ab. R. N." i. 1, though the error appears to have originated in the words Vil DVUJ used there. Nor is the usage identical fjj does not mean " conceal " (a-KoapmrEiv translates not tJJ, but -|DD and its synonyms), but "store away "; it is used only of

—

things intrinsically precious or sacred. As applied to books, it is used only of books which are, after all, included in the Jewish canon, never of the kind of literature to which the Church Fathers give the name " Apocrypha " these are rather D'JlX'nfl D'HBD (Yer. Sanh. x. 1, 28a), or DTDf! , "1SD. The only exception is a reference to Siracli. The Book of (magical)

Cures which Hezekiah put away (Pes. iv. 9) was doubtless attributed to Solomon. This being the state of the facts, it is doubtful whether there is any connection between the use of f JJ and that of aTT6KpV(j>0£.

§ III. Lists of

Apocrypha

The following is a brief writings which have been



Classification.

descriptive catalogue of at some time or in some

quarters regarded as sacred scripture, but are not included in the Jewish (and Protestant) canon. For more particular information about these works, and for the literature, the reader is referred to the special articles on the books severally. First, then, there are the books which are commonly found in the Greek and Latin Bibles, but are not included in the Hebrew canon, and are hence rejected by Protestants; to these, as has already been said, Protestants give the name " Apocrypha " These are (following the order and specifically. with the titles of the English translation): I Esdras; IIEsdras; Tobit; Judith; The Rest of the Chapters of the Book of Esther; Wisdom of Solomon; Wisdom of Jesus, the Son of Sirach, or Ecclesiasticus; Baruch, with the Epistle of Jeremiah; Song of the Three Holy Children; History of Susanna; Destruction of Bel and the Dragon; Prayer of Manasses; I Maccabees; II Maccabees. These, with the exception of I, II (III, IV) Esdras and the Prayer of Manasses, are canonical in the Roman Church. Secondly, books which were pronounced apocryphal by the ancient Church. Of these we possess several catalogues, the most important of which are the Stichometry of Nicephorus; the Athanasian Synopsis; and an anonymous list extant in several manuscripts, first

edited

by Montfaucon

(see

Schurer,

262 et seq.); further a passage in the " Apostolical Constitutions " (vi. 16), and the socalled Decree of Pope Gelasius (" Corpus Juris Canonici," iii. Distinctio 15). References in the Fathers add some titles, and various Oriental versions give us a knowledge of other writings of the same kind.

Gesch." 3d

ed.,

iii.

part of this literature has been pre-

and fresh discoveries almost every year prove how extensive and how popular it once was. served,

A

satisfactory classification of these writings is

probably the most convenient group them under the chief types of Biblical literature to which they are severally rehardly

scheme

possible;

is

to

lated—viz.



story

including history proper, books, and haggadic narrative. 2. Prophetic, including apocalypses. Historical,

1.

—



"

A considerable

psalms.

3.

Lyric

4.

Didactic;



proverbs and other forms of "wis-

dom. "

The assignment of a book to one or another of must often be understood as only a potiori; a writing which is chiefly narrative may contain prophecy or apocalypse; one which is prithese divisions

marily prophetic

may

exhibit in parts affinity to the

didactic literature.

§ IV. Historical

Apocrypha.

1.

First

Mac-

A

history of the rising of the Jews under the leadership of Mattathias and his sons against Antiochus Epiphanes, and of the progress of the struggle down to the death of Simon, covering thus The book was written the period from 175-135 B.C. cabees.

Hebrew, but is extant only in Greek and in transmade from the Greek. Professedly an abridgment 2. Second Maccabees. of a larger work in five books by Jason of Cyrene. It begins with the antecedents of the conflict with Syria, and closes with the recovery of Jerusalem by Judas after his victory over Nicanor. The work was written in Greek, and is much inferior in historical value to I Mace. Prefixed to the book are two letters addressed to the Jews in Egypt on the in

lations

observance of the Feast of Dedication (rDljn). 3. First Esdras. In the Latin Bible, Third Esdras. A fragment of the oldest Greek version (used by Josephus) of Chronicles (including Ezra and Nehemiah), containing I Chron. xxxv.-Neh. viii. 13, in a different, and in part more original, order than the Hebrew text and with one considerable addition, the story of the pages of King Darius (iii. 1-v. 6). The

book

is printed in an appendix to the official editions of the Vulgate (after the Testament), but is not

New

recognized by the 4.

Roman Church

Additions to Daniel,

a.

The

as canonical. story of Susanna

and the

elders, prefixed to the book, illustrating Daniel's discernment in judgment. b. The destruction of Bel and the Dragon, appended after ch. xii., showing how Daniel proved to Cyrus that the Babylonian gods were no gods. a.

The Song

of the three Jewish

fiery furnace, inserted in

Dan.

iii.

Youths

in the

between verses 23

and 24. These additions are found in both Greek translations of Daniel (Septuagint and Theodotion); for the original language and for the Hebrew and Aramaic versions of the stories, see Daniel. 5. Additions to Esther. In the Greek Bible, enlargement on motives suggested by the original story: a. The dream of Mordecai and his discovery of the conspiracy, prefixed to the book; the interpretation follows x. 3; b. Edict for the destruction of the Jews, after

iii.

13; c, d. Prayers of

Mordecai and Esther,