Hitzig, FERDINAND

Hitzig, FERDINAND, a German biblical scholar, was born 23d June 1807, at Haningen, in Baden, and educated at Heidelberg, Halle (where the influence of Gesenius determined him in favour of Old Testament studies), and Göttingen. In 1833 he was called to Zurich as professor of Theology, and in 1861 returned to fill the similar chair at Heidelberg. The first work which established his fame was his commentary on Isaiah (1833). Besides a translation of the Psalms, with a commentary (1835-36), he furnished for the Exegetisches Handbuch zum A. T. the commentaries on the twelve minor prophets (1838; 4th ed. 1881), on Jeremiah (1841), Ezekiel (1847), Ecclesiastes (1847), Daniel (1850), the Song of Solomon (1855), Proverbs (1858), and Job (1875). This able and combative rationalistic critic is also known by Die Erfindung des Alphabets (1840), Urgeschichte und Mythologie der Philister (1845), Geschichte des Volkes Israel (1869-70), &c., and by numerous contributions to the learned journals. He died at Heidelberg, 22d January 1875.