TO CORRESPONDENTS

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 6, 1879

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

W. FRANCIS: In answer to your inquiries we respond briefly as follows:—

1. There has been some difference in punctuation between American and English Bibles. The American has changed in some points to correspond with the English.

2. The regular Jewish year consisted at the exode, as at all other times, of 360 days, or 12 months of 30 days each. The number of weeks would be 51 and a fraction. This is five days and nearly a quarter less than the actual year as determined by the revolution of the earth around the sun. Hence every third year the Jews added a thirteenth month of such a length as to make up all this loss.

3. The programme of the week of unleavened bread, or the passover, was as follows: On the 14th of Nisan every trace of leaven was put away from the houses, and every male Israelite not hindered by infirmity or ceremonial impurity was required to appear before the Lord at the national sanctuary with an offering of money in proportion to his means. As the sun was setting, the lambs were slain, and the fat and blood given to the priests. The lamb was then roasted whole, and eaten with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. On the 15th there was a holy convocation, and cessation from work. It was one of the yearly and ceremonial sabbaths of the Jews. The 21st of Nisan, the seventh and last day of the feast, was a day of peculiar solemnity, and was likewise spent in cessation from labor. The five days between these two sabbaths were not distinguished from other days only as being days of the feast, and witnessing additional burnt-offerings and sin-offerings. All care was to be laid aside, and cheerfulness to prevail during the whole feast.

4. In regard to the loss of the Bible during the Dark Ages, it was not lost, but was kept from the masses. Multitudes of Bibles in manuscript were preserved by monks in cloisters and monasteries. Our present version is called King James’ version, because it was made during the reign of James I. of England. Fifty-four learned men were selected, who were approved by the king. Seven of these failing to

take part in the revision and translation, the actual work was done by the remaining forty-seven. The first edition was published in 1611. We are satisfied that with a few verbal changes which might be made, it cannot be substantially improved.

5. In regard to the names of the days of the week, see REVIEW, No. 4, present volume.