سر

ON

DIVERS

PASSAGES OP SCRIPTURE.

Placing many of them in a Light altogether new;
Ascertaining the Meaning of several not determinable by the

Methods commonly made use of by the Learned ;
Propofing to Confideration probable Conjectures on others, different
from what have been hitherto recommended to the

Attention of the Curious ;
And more amply illuftrating the rest than has been yet done, by

Means of Circumstances incidentally mentioned

JOSEPHUS AND. ST. JEROME,

PLACED A KTER THE PRE FACE.

VOL. IV. RELATING TO
VII. Their Books.
VIII. The NATURAL, Civil, and MILITARY State of JUDAA.
IX. Ægypt, it's adjoining WILDERNESS, and the Red-Sea.
X. MisceLLANEOUS MATTERS.

Sanctam Scripturam lucidius intuebitur, qui Judæam oculis contemplatus fit.

S. HIERON, in lib. Paralip. præfatio.

PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON,
No 72, SAINT PAUL'S CHURCH - YAR D.

M.DCC.LXXXVII.

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3-28-19 32

OBSERVATIONS

ON

Divers Passages of Holy SCRIPTURE,

CHA P. VII. .

Concerning their Books.

OBSERVATION CXXI.

W

HATEVER materials the ancient

Jews wroto upon, they were liable to be easily destroyed by the dampness, when hidden in the earth. It was therefore thought requisite to inclose them in something that might keep them from the damp, lest they should decay and be rendered useless'.

1

So we find our parchments are very apt to decay that are kept in moist places, as well as our modern paper. Our pictures also prove that moisture is very injurious to painted cloth, and must be more so where oil is not used. 'Writing on filk was not then known, which some later Eastern writers have supposed should be made use of, in committing things to writing that were highly valued, according to d'Herbelot, in the article Macamat, VOL. IV.

B

In