ws say that the Holy Spirit spake to the Israelites during the
Tabernacle by Urim and Thummim, and under the first Temple by the
Prophets, and under the second by Bath Kol. The Bath Kol, which
signifies "daughter voice" or "daughter of a voice," was a kind of
divine intimation, which was as inferior to the oracular voice
proceeding from the Mercy Seat as a daughter is supposed to be
inferior to her mother. It was said to be preceded by a clap of
thunder. This, however, was not always the case. The Talmud relates
that "Rabbis Jochanan and Simeon ben Lachish wished to see the face
of Rabbi Samuel, a Babylon Rabbi. 'Let us follow,' said they, 'the
hearing of Bath Kol.' They journeyed near a school, and as they were
passing it they heard a boy reading from the book of Samuel the
words, 'And Samuel died.' Observing this, they concluded that their
friend was dead. And it so happened that news was soon brought to
them that Rabbi Samuel of Babylon had died." The Bath Kol seems to
have been a sort of divination practised with the words of
Scripture, like the Sortes Virgilianae among the heathen.

6 The Rabbis make two changes in this verse--they change "kings" into
"angels," and "fled" into "led."

7 The expression "they" is often used in the phraseology of the Talmud
to denote either certain officials or else the sages and men of
authority. The exact reference can only be gathered from the
context. So again with the use of "he." In such cases the expression
"he" generally refers to the decision on a particular occasion.

8 "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord," etc. (Deut. vi. 4-9,
xi. 13-21; Num. xv. 37-41). Evening prayer might be said after 12.30
P.M. (Acts x. 9.) It is abundantly evident from the Zohar that the
ancient Jews understood that in the Shemah there was a confession of
the doctrine of the Trinity in unity--three Persons in One God.
"Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our God is one Jehovah. By the first name
in this sentence, Jehovah, is signified God the Father, the Head of
all things. By the next words, our God, is signified God the Son,
the fountain of all knowledge; and by the second Jehovah, is
signified God the Holy Ghost, proceeding of them both; to all which
is added the word One, to signify that these three are I