[118] 2 Kings 17. 6; 25. 3.
[119] Hastings, Dict. of the Bible, vol. i., p. 401.
We have now briefly considered the Books of the Old Testament, both as to their undesigned agreements, which are very interesting; their alleged mistakes, which are unimportant; and the effect of modern discoveries, which has undoubtedly been to support their accuracy. What, then, is the value of the evidence they afford as to the history of the Jewish Religion having been confirmed by miracles?
(B.) The Old Testament Miracles.
We will include under this term superhuman coincidences as well as miracles in the strict sense; and they occur all through the historical books of the Old Testament. A few of them have been already noticed in the last chapter, but we must now discuss them more fully, first considering whether they are credible, and then whether they are true.
(1.) Their credibility.
Now this can scarcely be disputed, provided miracles at all are credible, which we have already admitted, since scientific difficulties affect all miracles equally; and of course the Superhuman Coincidences have no difficulties of this kind whatever. Among these may be mentioned most of the Ten Plagues, the destruction of Korah, the falling of the walls of Jericho, probably due to an earthquake; the lightning which struck Elijah's sacrifice; and many others.
The Passage of the Red Sea, for instance, almost certainly belongs to this class. The water, we are told, was driven back by a strong east wind, lasting all night; and this was doubtless due to natural forces, though, in common with other natural events (such as the growth of grass[120]), it is in the Bible ascribed to God. And the statement, the waters were a wall unto them, need not be pressed literally, so as to mean that they stood upright. It may only mean here, as it obviously does in some other cases, that the waters were a defence on each side, and secured them from flank attacks.[121] And as they must have advanced in several parallel columns, probably half a mile wide, this certainly seems the more likely view.
[120] Ps. 147. 8-9.