The Book of Chronicles. By Edward Lewis Cooper, D.D., and
Albert Alonzo Madsen, Ph.D. "The International Critical Com- mentary." (T. and T. Clark. 12s.)—Dr. Cooper, who makes himself responsible for tho opinions set forth in this volume, thinks that the Chronicles are not historical, but that they throw much light on Jewish thought at a certain time. They express the dominant feeling of the post-Exilic period. The chronicler, who, Dr. Cooper thinks, worked on the older records, rather than drew from common sources, was an apologist. He glosses and revises. He is jealous of the honour of the priestly caste. The writer of 2 Samuel viii. speaks of David's sons as "priests" ; the chronicler writes, "the first at the hand of the Ring." God, tempting David to number Israel in 2 Samuel xxiv. 1, becomes Satan, to suit the better-developed ideas of a later time. David's purchase of Ornan's threshing-floor is altered from fifty pieces of silver to six hundred shekels of gold. Generally, the chronicler rejoices in great numbers.
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