first edition
1823 · Poultney, VT
by Smith, Ethan
Poultney, VT: Smith & Shute, 1823. First Edition. 187pp. Duodecimo [18.5 cm] Full brown sheep with a gilt stamped red label and gilt bands to the backstrip. An exceptionally nice copy of this rare work. Ethan Smith's View of the Hebrews combines scriptural citations and reports from various observers among Native Americans and Jews to support the claim that the Native Americans were the descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel. It is one of several books reflecting the popular fascination at the time of Joseph Smith with the question of Native American origins. Alleged relationships of View of the Hebrews to the Book of Mormon have attracted interest periodically through the years. Ethan Smith's book was published in the adjoining county west of Windsor County, where Joseph Smith was born and lived from 1805 to 1811. B.H. Roberts studied and compared both works at and looked candidly at the possibility that Joseph Smith could have been acquainted with Ethan Smith's book and could have used it as a source of the structure and some ideas in the Book of Mormon. He cited some twenty-six similarities between the two books. "It may never be proved that Joseph [Smith] saw 'View of the Hebrews' before writing the Book of Mormon, but the striking parallelisms between the two books hardly leave a case for mere coincidence." - Fawn Brodie.
Ethan Smith (1762-1849) was a New England Congregationalist clergyman, who served congregations for several years at a time in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. He accepted an appointment as 'City Missionary' in Boston. He also served as a supply pastor for vacant pulpits. "He was a warm friend of what he accounted pure revivals of religion; though he was careful to distinguish the precious from the vile" in matters of religious experience. Smith enjoyed a "robust constitution and vigorous health" and continued to preach until within two weeks of his death. Mormon Parallels 398. Sabin 82538. (Inventory #: 9922)
Ethan Smith (1762-1849) was a New England Congregationalist clergyman, who served congregations for several years at a time in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts. He accepted an appointment as 'City Missionary' in Boston. He also served as a supply pastor for vacant pulpits. "He was a warm friend of what he accounted pure revivals of religion; though he was careful to distinguish the precious from the vile" in matters of religious experience. Smith enjoyed a "robust constitution and vigorous health" and continued to preach until within two weeks of his death. Mormon Parallels 398. Sabin 82538. (Inventory #: 9922)
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