in church-history, an ancient sect, who were properly neither Jews, Christians, nor Gentiles, though they took their name from the Hebrew word sopher, sinner; as though they worshipped that planet.

They acknowledged only one God; washed themselves often; and in almost everything attached themselves to the religion of the Jews.

Books of SAMUEL; two canonical books of the Old Testament, so called as being usually ascribed to the prophet Samuel.

The books of Samuel, and the books of Kings, are a continued history of the reigns of the kings of Israel and Judah; for which reason the books of Samuel are like- wife styled the first and second books of Kings. Since the first twenty-four chapters contain all that relates to the history of Samuel, and the latter part of the first book, and all the second, include the relation of events that happened after the death of that prophet, it has been supposed that Samuel was author only of the first twenty-four chapters, and that the prophets Gad and Nathan furnished the work. The first book of Samuel comprehends the transactions under the government of Eli, and Samuel; and under Saul, the first king; and also the acts of David, whilst he lived under Saul; and is supposed to include the space of a hundred and one years. The second book contains the history of about forty years, and is wholly spent in relating the transactions of king David's reign.