Isaiah According to the Septuagint. Translated and Edited by R.
R. Ottley, M.A. Vol. II, Text and Notes. (Cambridge University Press. 6s. net.)—The text of the Codex Alexandrinua has been used for this edition. Mr. Ottley gives a general view of the textual criticism of the book in his introduction, but refers the reader for details to the "Old Testament in Greek"
published at.' Cambridge. The text itself occupies one hundred and four pages, the more important variations being given in footnotes. The notes fill about three times that space, and show great care and industry. It is impossible to deal with them in detail. One passage, however, we must notice. On VII. 14, w.pOieos iv rarpl ftel, the note is—" Many deny that the Hebrew word necessarily mune a virgin, but in practice it seems to be generally, if not always, used of such." We do not think that this fairly represents the case. The word is more general in its significance than the reader would gather from this note. But what follows is more strange. "The ultimate reference to our Lord's birth of the Virgin Mary is guaranteed by Matt. i. 23." Does Mr. Ottley then maintain that the application in the First Gospel of a quotation from the Old Testament "guarantees" that meaning ? Surely these applica- tions are sometimes arbitrary. It might be argued that the application of "Rachel weeping for her children" to the massacre at Bethlehem "guarantees" that this meaning was in the prophet's mind.
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