7. Quotations from the Old Testament in the Talmud and later rabbinical writers are another source of sacred criticism.  The Talmud, embodying the ecclesiastical and civil law of the Jews according to their traditions, consists of two parts, the Mishna, or text, generally referred to the last half of the second century, and the Gemara, or commentary on the Mishna.  The Mishna is one; but connected with this are two Gemaras of later origin; the more copious Babylonian, and the briefer Jerusalem Gemara; whence the distinction of the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud.  Whether because the Hebrew text was rigidly settled in its present form in the days of the Talmudists, or because their quotations have been made to agree with the Masorah, an examination of the Talmud furnishes few various readings that are of any importance.  Most of them relate to trifling particulars.  The quotations of later rabbinical writers are of small account in a critical respect.

8.  It remains to speak of critical conjecture.  Of this a wise and reverent scholar will make a very cautious use.  He will content himself with offering to the public his suggestions, without venturing to incorporate them into the text itself.  The recklessness of some modern critics, who make an abundance of conjectural emendations, and then embody them in their versions, with only a brief note, deserves severe condemnation.  Had the ancient critics generally adopted this uncritical method, the sacred text would long ago have fallen into irretrievable confusion.

We add an example where critical conjecture is in place, though it may not venture to alter the established reading.  In Psalm 42, the last clause of verse 6 and the beginning of verse 7, written continuously without a division of words (Chap. 13, No. 5), would read thus: 

    [Hebrew:  ky’od’odnu’sho’tpnyu’lhy’lynpshytshtvhh]

    With the present division of words: 

    [Hebrew:  ky ’od ’odnu ’sho’t pnyu ’lhy ’ly npshy tshtvhh]

    the clauses are to be translated, as in our version: 

    For I shall yet praise him [for] the salvation of his
    countenance.  O my God, my soul is cast down within me.

    Divided as follows (by the transfer of a single letter to the
    following word).

    [Hebrew:  ky ’od ’odnu ’sho’t pny u’lhy ’ly npshy tshtvhh]

    the rendering would be: 

    For I shall yet praise him, [who is] the salvation of my
    countenance and my God.  My soul is cast down within me.