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HEN the  first  English  edition  was  published  in  1894,  the  original German work  had  reached  the  twelfth  edition; it  is  now  in  the eighteenth. The present  English  edition  has  been  revised  according to the  sixteenth  German  edition,  and  has  been  as  far  as  possible  brought into line  therewith,  though  some  freedom  has  been  allowed  in  adding, altering and  omitting  portions,  in  order  to  adapt  them  to  the  circumstances of  English  readers. The passages  of  Scripture  on  which  the narrative is  based  are  indicated  at  the  head  of  each  chapter;  all  notes are placed  at  the  foot  of  the  page;  the  illustrations  are  new;  and various improvements  in  matter  and  form  have  been  effected  in  both text and  notes.

The Revision  of  the  present  edition  is  due  to  the  Right  Rev. Monsignor  V.  J Schobel,  D.  D.,  whose  judgment  upon  Bishop  Knecht’s Commentary deserves  to  be  here  recorded. He writes:  “I  have  read the Commentary  with  genuine  pleasure  and  profit. How it  brings  home to one  the  real  scope  and  purpose  of  the  Bible  1 ‘For  what  things soever were  written,  were  written  for  our  learning: that,  through  patience and the  comfort  of  the  Scriptures,  we  might  have  hope’  (Rom.  15,  4). The Practical  Commentary  will  prove  the  very  best  antidote  to  the poison of  Biblical  Criticism  now  spreading  among  the  masses. Its value, therefore, goes  far  beyond  its  immediate  scope.”

MICHAEL F. GLANCEY.

St. Augustine’s, Solihull.

''May 1. 1901.''