Text: Charles Anthon to E. A. Poe — June 1, 1837

New York, June 1, 1837.

Dear Sir, — I owe you an apology for not having answered your letter of the 27th sooner, but I was occupied at the time with matters that admitted of no delay, and was compelled therefore to lay your communication on the table for a day or two. I hope you will find what is written below satisfactory. Do not wait to pay me a formal visit, but call and introduce yourself.

Yours truly,
Chas. Anthon.

E. A. Poe Esqr.

1. Isaiah 34.10.

[[Hebrew text:]] xxxxx xxxx xx xxx xx [[:Hebrew text]]

Lenecah necahim ‘en ‘over bah

1. “For an eternity “

2. “ of eternities”

3. “not “

4. “moving about ‘*

5. “ in it.”

“For an eternity if eternities (there shall) not (be anyone) moving about in it.” The literal meaning of bah is “in it,” not “through it.” The participle over refers to one moving to and fro, or up and down, and is the same term which is rendered “torrent,” as an epithet of money, in Genesis 23.16. The prophet means that there shall be no marks of life in the land, no living being there, no one moving up and down in it.”

a. Ezekiel35.7.

[[Hebrew text:]] xxxxx xxxx xx xxx xx [[:Hebrew text]]

Wenathattti eth-har seir leshimemah ushemamah wehikhratti

1. “and I will give “

2. “the mountain “

3. “ Seir “

4. “for a desolation ‘*

5. “and a desolation”

6. “and I will cut off”

7. “from it “ —

8. “him that goeth”

9. “ and him that returneth.”

“and I will give mount Seir for an utter desolation, and will cut off from it him that passeth and repasseth therein.”

The reference here is the same as in the previous passage, and the inhabitants of the land are referred to, as moving about therein, and actively employed in the business of life. The meaning of “passing and repassing” is sanctioned by Gesenius, s. v. vol. 2, p. 570, Leo’s transl. Compare Zachariah 7.14 and 9.8. There is something analogous in the Hebrew-Greek phrase that occurs in Acts 9.28, [[Greek text:]] xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx [[:Greek text]]and he was with them in Jerusalem, coming in and going out.” The Latin seruatus est hits it off exactly. The meaning is that Saul, the new convert, was on intimate terms with the true believers in Jerusalem, moving about amongst them, to and fro, or in and out.

C. A.

E. A. Poe Esqr.