A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Samuel.
By Henry Preserved Smith. (T. and T. Clark. 12a)—Thia is a volume of the " International Critical Commentary." Professor Smith applies the higher criticism with much ingenuity and freedom. In the story of David and Goliath (1 Sam. xvii.), for instance, he would omit verses 12-31, the original narrative thus restored, as Professor Smith thinks, representing David, already one of the bodyguard of Saul, taking up the challenge of the Philistine at once. This gets rid of some difficulties—the forty days' repetition of the challenge, for instance—but some are left. The difficulty of making an absolutely coherent story, when the circumstances are not known, is very great, and is as much felt in secular as in sacred history. We cannot profess to be entirely satisfied with Professor Smith's results, but his con- tribution to the criticism of the book is of great value.
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