Critical Remarks on an Alleged Interpolation in Isaiah 7: 8 [pp. 558-575]

Isaiah 7: 8.
of foreign erudition. Some, who are forward in disclaiming
all regard for systems and authorities, that is, orthodox authorities and Christian systems, seem to lose their independence, when it comes into collision with the systems and
authority of German unbelievers. And others, who are
peevishly impatient of all opposition from their friends and
brethren, seem really afraid to differ from a foreign infidel.
The worst effect of this is, that young men form the habit of
regarding, with deference, opinions from abroad, which, if
broached at home, would be rejected with contempt. As the
growing use of German books-the literary worth of which
is undeniable-renders inevitable, on the part of students,
some acquaintance with the dogmas of the unbelieving critics,
it is desirable that these should be exposed in their true character, without regard to that factitious dignity, with which
they are invested by the feeling above mentioned. It is not
uncommon, for example, to evade the exegetical difficulties
of a passage, by rejecting that part of it, in which the puzzle
lies, as an interpolation. This is especially resorted to, in
cases where the text, as it stands, admits of no explanation,
except upon the supposition that the writer was inspired.
Rather than make this concession, these impartial critics will
resort to any mode of dealing with the text, however violent
and arbitrary. And yet they do it with an air of confidence,
which frequently imposes on the unsuspicious reader, as if
there were not two sides to the question, or as if the evidence
lay wholly upon one. The only method of correcting the
impressions, which are thus made to the disadvantage of the
sacred volume, is by showing, in specific cases, that the supposition of an interpolation is encumbered with at least as
many difficulties as the common reading. Such an expose
we shall try to make, in reference to the last clause of Isaiah
7: 8. And we beg the reader to bear in mind, that the question is not,' whether the text, in its actual state, is free from
obscurity and doubt-for we admit that it is not-but whether the difficulties which attend it are more grave and numerous than those which attend the supposition of an interpolation. In order to accomplish our design, it will be necessary to ascertain the meaning of the whole verse, and its connexion with the ope which follows. As we do not write
exclusively for biblical scholars, we shall abstain from introducing Hebrew words, and hope to be excused for the awkward phraseology and circumlocutions, which will thus be
forced upon us.
VOL. IX. NO. 4. 72
1837.]