00.3-Preface to the Second Edition During the quarter of a century which has passed away since this book was published, theological studies have made a considerable advance, both at the Universities and throughout the country. The issue of the Revised English Bible has done much for the ordinary student, and many of the points adverted to in the following pages have been dealt with in it, though not all in some respects the Revisers might have gone much further, both in the choice and uniformity of renderings, and in the use of the hyphen.
I have dealt with the Scriptures not as a collection or Jewish literature, but as trustworthy and authoritative documents which are Divine in their origin, though Human in their expression. Having to do solely with the meaning and usage of words, I have avoided all reference to modern critical theories of the O.T in preparing the work for the press in this revised form, I have kept before me, first, the needs of busy people who have not time to learn Hebrew, and secondly, the requirements of beginners in Hebrew, who need more encouragement than they sometimes get, my object being to help them to study Christian doctrine in the light of O. T. terminology.
I must add, in closing, an expression of thanks to my friend Prof. Sayce, who has kindly added references to the corresponding Assyrian words throughout.
Hampstead,
January 1897