2:4. — “The Christ.” It is to be regretted that in the Authorized Version the definite article should be so seldom before the word “Christ,” when it is present in the Greek. The expression “the Christ” calls our attention to the fact that “Christ” is, properly speaking, not a personal name, but a title or official designation, meaning, “the Anointed One.”
2:16. — “Male children;” the fact that only male children were slain does not appear in the Authorized Version. In this connection the word “borders” is more intelligible than “coasts,” and we accordingly find that it has been generally adopted in the Revised Version. “Coast” in modern English always means the shore of the sea, and would never be used in speaking of an inland place, such as Bethlehem.
2:18. — “Weeping and great mourning.” This is the reading of the Vatican manuscript. Beza and the Codex Ephraemi agree with the authorized Version. In Jeremiah 31:1515Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. (Jeremiah 31:15), we read “lamentation and bitter weeping,” (literally, weeping of bitterness.)
2:22. — “And being warned of God.” The Authorized Version has “notwithstanding,” which mars the effect of the passage; as it was not into Galilee, but into Judea, that Joseph feared to go.
23. —That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene.” This translation is somewhat more satisfactory than that of the Authorized Version, which says simply, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.” It is well known that these words are nowhere to be found in the Old Testament. We may also remark that, in the New Testament, quotations are not generally introduced, as in this case, by the word “that.” If we read the verse as the Revisers render it, we may explain the difficulty as to the quotation, by supposing that the words are not a direct citation from any preceding writing, but that “ the prophets” (in this verse the plural is used) taken as a whole, show the Messiah to be “despised and rejected of men,” or, as another passage says, one “whom the nation abhorreth.” (Isaiah 49:77Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the Lord that is faithful, and the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee. (Isaiah 49:7).)
(To be continued.)
Note, —Owing to the great press of matter, we have been compelled to make the first number 24 pages.