p. 6 | The Critic Confuted

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 10, 1908

The Critic Confuted

In the twelfth verse of the second psalm occurs this expression: “Kiss the son, lest he be angry.” The word there translated son is the Hebrew word bar. The word generally used for son at the time when this psalm was written was ben. From this circumstance the Higher Critics have made the assertion that this psalm must have been written at a much later date than that commonly attributed to it. On the same kind of evidence many a learned criticism of the Bible itself has been made. Now there has come to light an ancient Aramaic inscription which throws light upon the use of that word. The discovery of this inscription near Haran was made known to the world by M. Pognon, the French consul at Aleppo, Asia Minor. Concerning the matter Dr. Driver says:—

The date of the inscription must be about 800 B. C. Consequently it is the oldest Aramaic inscription at present known, and only about fifty years later than the inscription of Mesha on the Moabite stone.

In this inscription the word bar is used for son, and the inscription contains within itself evidence which shows that it was written within two hundred years of the reign of David.

Thus falls to earth another learned criticism, illustrating the sheer worthlessness of the whole system of Bible study evolved by the Higher Critic.