Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 51:201 (Jan 1894)
Article: Semitic Literary Notes.
Author: A. A. Berle

BSac 51:201 (Jan 1894) p. 168

Semitic Literary Notes.

A. A. Berle.

Boston. Mass.

A REVIEW of the products of recent Semitic study shows that there is not only no diminution, but on the contrary a steady increase of interest in the questions connected with Old Testament philology and criticism, and, in connection with the same and as a part of the same movement and endeavor, in the collateral and related lines of Semitic work. It may fairly be said, in re-

BSac 51:201 (Jan 1894) p. 169

spect to the variety of the results and the multiplicity of methods revealed in reaching them, that the past year has had no equal among the recent years of the revival of Semitic investigation.

Naturally the largest part of the material is connected with the Old Testament, and is important chiefly because of that fact. But in the reconstruction, of religious ideas and in the philological influence upon comparative religious study, important results have also been secured. In this connection it must be noted that the centre of the discussions in this department has changed, from the mere consideration of texts, manuscripts, and their interpretation, to the consideration of the ideas they represent, as in force at the time of their writing, and the bearing of this fact upon the natural history of religion. The Tell-el-Amarna tablets are a striking illustration of this fact. Important as they are in themselves, and interesting as affording a fair picture of the practices in vogue, of the relation of the Egyptian court to its subject dependencies, and of the diplomatic methods employed, the main question upon which they cast an almost decisive light is upon the possibility of extensive literary operations in Palestine and vicinity at that early period, among other peoples than those immediately concerned. To be sure, conservative scholars have hastened with a great many inferences to claim that their views have been confirmed, though it is a juster estimate to wait for more decisive data on some of the most contested points.

In America comparatively little has been produced that is either new or important, though there have been some notable advances made in the recognition and acceptance of the results of European scholarship. Germany continues to be the productive mother of the science, and to her we must look for our main results. French scholars have given us something too, but not very much. In England the battle rages most fiercely, because of the diversity of the conclusions which appear to be drawn from exactly the same facts. How this works out will appear in the examination of some of the more recent books.

The death of M. Renan removes from the ranks of Semitic scholars a figure who has laid the whole world under a...