Page:Sefer ha-Yashar or the book of Jasher (1840).djvu/9



University of New York, April, 10, 1840.

I have compared a large portion of the translation of the Book of Jasher with the original Hebrew, and find it faithfully and eloquently rendered into English. The Hebrew itself is of a very pure character.

ISAAC NORDHIEMER,


 * To Meesrs. Noah and Gould,

,

I am acquainted with the Book of Jasher, having read a considerable part of it while in the hands of the translator in England. The Hebrew is very purely written, aud the translator is an eminent scholar and has done it ample justice. It is full of interest throughout, and breathes a pure spirit of piety and religion, and I am satisfied that this is the first English translation ever made of that work, the Royal Asiatic Society at Culcutta never having completed the translation of their copy as anticipated.

April 14, 1840.

H. V. NATHAN,

,

.

The following letter is from Professor Turner an able Hebrew scholar.

Theological Seminary, Chelsea Square, N. Y., April 28, 1840.

,

Agreeably to a request made to me yesterday by Mr Noah, I have sufficiently examined the English version of the Rabbinical work which heads the title of “the Book of Jasher,’’ to satisfy myself of its general correctness. I have carefully compared three chapters of the translation with the original, and have no hesitation in saying that in general they give a correct representation of the author’s meaning, and as literal as the different idioms of the two languages would allow. In some instances however, it would have been desirable that every word of the Hebrew should have been rendered into English. For instance, in ch. i, v. 2, the translator has omitted the word dust, in mentioning man’s formation “from the ground,” and in v. 4, the literal version after middle part would be “and he took away one of his ribs and built flesh upon it, and made a woman and brought her to the man.” In v. 6 also, the Rabbinical writer does not say “called their