sion of sins, or to remit sin. In the
Thirty-second Psalm, verse one, we find the expression, _Aschre Nesu
Pascha_. This, literally translated, would make: Being blessed through
the removal of crime, or sin. We make it: Blessed is he whose
transgression is forgiven, or taken away. The same is found in Isaiah
33, 24, The people that dwell therein shall be _Nesu Avon_, that
means, relieved from sin--shall be the people whose sin is forgiven.

203. The other original term, _avoni_, grammarians derive from the
verb _anah_, which signifies "to be afflicted," as in Zechariah 9, 9:
"Behold thy king cometh unto thee lowly (or afflicted)." Our
translation renders it "meek." Likewise in Psalms 132, 1: "Jehovah,
remember for David all his affliction." From the same root is derived
the expression, "low estate," or "lowliness," used by the Virgin Mary
in her song, Lk 1, 48. This fact induces Sanctes to render it
"punishment."

But here _avoni_ signifies "iniquity" or "sin," as it does also in
many other passages of the Holy Scriptures, which appears more plainly
from the verb "remit," which stands connected with it.

204. Hence it is that grammarians, who are nothing but such and know
nothing of the divine things, find their crosses in all such passages,
and crucify, not only the Scriptures, but themselves and their hearers
as well. In the interpretation of the Holy Scriptures, the sense is
first to be determined; and when that appears in all respects
consistent with itself, then the grammatical features are to receive
attention. The rabbins, however, take the opposite course, and hence
it grieves me that divines and the holy fathers so frequently follow
them.

V. 14. _Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the
ground; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive
and a wanderer in the earth; and it will come to pass, that whosoever
findeth me will slay me._

205. From these words it appears that the sentence on Cain was
pronounced through the mouth of Adam. Cain acknowledges that he is
driven first from Home and State, and then also from the Church. Of
the difference between the words _adamah_ and _erez_ we spoke above.
We showed that _erez_ signifies the earth generally, while the word
_adamah_ means the cultivated part of the earth. The meaning therefore
is: I am now compelled to flee from thy presence and from that part of
the earth which I have cultivated. The whole world indeed lies befor