PREFACE. I MOST gratefully acknowledge the important helps which I have received in my attempt to explain the prophet Ezekiel; as they will ftamp on the following work its principal value. His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury very obligingly allowed me a transcript of Archbishop Secker's valuable notes, from the manuscripts bequeathed to the Lambeth library; and likewise of that judicious writer's differtation on the vifion of the temple, which is inserted in its proper place. Dr. Woide, of the British Museum, deferves to be as well known for his courtesy in furnishing affistance to editors, as for the literary productions with which he has favoured the public. To this eminent scholar I am indebted for copying Archbishop Secker's remarks; for collations of a *Coptic verfion fuppofed to be of the fecond century, and of the Pachomian manuscript of the Septuagint version, ascribed to the tenth or eleventh century; for an English translation of the very learned J. D. Michaelis's annotations, fubjoined to his German version of the bible; and for a curious extract relating to Ezekiel, tranflated from Profeffor Eichhorn's introduction to the Old Teftament, written alfo in the German language, and highly esteemed in that country. Learned notes on Ezekiel were alfo tranfmitted to me by the Rev. Mr. Henry Dimock, my worthy contemporary at Pembroke College in the University of Oxford. C b IT IS uncertain whether Ezekiel calls himself a priest, or the son of a priest. Jofephus fays that he was carried to Babylon in his youth, with three thousand * See Bishop Lowth's preface to Isaiah, p. lxvii. Leipfic. 1783. 8vo. с Ezek. i. 4. The conftruction in the original is doubtful. The word of Jehovah came expressly unto Ezekiel the fon of Buzi the priest. Here the word priest may be conftrued with Ezekiel, according to the Greek, the Vulgate, and our English verfion; or with Buzi, according to the points in the Arabic. The former construction is favoured by the close of Ifai. xxxvii. 2. Ant. x. vi. 3. See 2 Chron. xxxvi. 5, 6. b (RUPPE) 5235 674 78173 |