GESENIUS’

HEBREW-CHALDEE LEXICON

TO THE

Old Testament Scriptures

TRANSLATED,

WITH ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS FROM THE AUTHOR’S THESAURUS AND OTHER WORKS,

BY

SAMUEL PRIDEAUX TREGELLES, LL.D.

Preface.

—————

The following work is a translation of the “Lexicon Manuale Hebraicum et Chaldaicum in Veteris Testamenti Libros,” of Dr. William Gesenius, late Professor at Halle.

The attainments of Gesenius in Oriental literature are well known. This is not the place to dwell on them; it is more to our purpose to notice his lexicographical labours in the Hebrew language: this will inform the reader as to the original of the present work, and also what has been undertaken by the translator.

His first work in this department was the “Hebräisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch des Alten Testaments,” 2 vols. 8vo., Leipzig, 1810–12.

Next appeared the “Neues Hebräisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch; ein für Schulen umgearbeiteter Auszug,” etc., 8vo., Leipzig, 1815. Of this work a greatly-improved edition was published at Leipzig in 1823. Prefixed to it there is an Essay on the Sources of Hebrew Lexicography, to which Gesenius refers in others of his works. Another and yet further improved edition appeared in 1828.

In 1827, the printing commenced of a much more extensive work, his “Thesaurus Philologicus Criticus Linguæ Hebrææ et Chaldææ Veteris Testamenti.” The first part of this work was published in 1829: the second part did not appear till 1835 (other philological labours, which will presently be noticed, having occupied a considerable portion of the intervening years). The third part of the “Thesaurus” appeared in 1839; a fourth in 1840; and a fifth in 1842; bringing the work down as far as the root שָׁבַר. On the 23rd of October, 1842, Gesenius died in his fifty-seventh year. His MSS., etc., were entrusted to his friend, Prof. Rödiger, in order to the completion of the work. Three years, however, have passed away without any further progress having been announced.*

Between the publication of the first and second parts of the “Thesaurus,” appeared the “Lexicon Manuale,” in Latin, of which the present work is a translation; and also (in 1834), an edition of his German Lexicon, conformed to the “Lexicon Manuale.”*

Of several of the above works translations have been made into English. In 1824, Josiah W. Gibbs, A.M., put forth a translation of the second of the afore-mentioned Lexicons, at Andover, in North America. This translation has also been twice reprinted in London.

The first of these Lexicons was translated by Christopher Leo, and published at Cambridge, in 2 vols. 4to., the former of which appeared in 1825.

In 1836 there was a translation published in America of the “Lexicon Manuale,” by Edward Robinson, D.D.

This work of Dr. Robinson, as well as the translations of Gibbs, had become very scarce in England, and the want of a good “Hebrew and English Lexicon,” really adapted to students, was felt by many.

The question arose, Whether a simple reprint of one of the existing ...