The

of the most difficult problems which | Mesopotamia, two days' journey east history presents. From eastern anal- of the Euphrates, sixty-seven miles ogy, it seems most probable that the north-east of Beer. The Jews, accorKasdim of the Scriptures translated ding to Mr. Wolff, still call the place Chaldeans, was a general name among by the name in the text the Shemitic nations for the northern or Kasdim, or Ur of the Chaldees, barbarians, though descended doubt- and it is a place of pilgrimage as the less from Kesed (Chesed) the son birth-place of Abraham, in whose honof Nahor, and grandson of Terah, our the Moslems have a fine mosque, Gen. 22. 22. If so, the Chaldees here in the court of which is a lake teeming mentioned had not this name in the with fish which are held sacred to the time of which Moses speaks, but they patriarch' and not permitted to be were so called at the time in which he caught. Its ancient name 118 Oor, wrote. The term is used therefore by which signifies iight or fire, probably anticipation. At all events it is certain derived its name from the idolatry of that the conquering Chaldeans forced the Ignicolists or fire-worshippers, their way from the north, where their which was there established. various hordes wandered over the primitive name of the city was changsteppes of Mesopotamia, and finally ed by the Macedonians when they beoverwhelmed southern Asia, making came possessed of it to Edessa, and themselves masters of the Syrian and under that name was the capital of a Babylonian plains, to which fact it is territory called Osrhoene, occupying owing that the same country is indis- the northern and most fruitful part of criminately called Babylonia and Chal- Mesopotamia, and which, for several dea. The reader who wishes for a full centuries before Christ formed an indeler view of this subject is referred to pendent kingdom. Its last king was Gesenius on Is. 33. 13, where the frag- Abgarus, of whom there is a well ments of the earlier history of this known tradition that he wrote a letter people will be found collected. Of this to Christ to which he received an anan abstract is given in Robinson's edi-swer. The place afterwards passed tion of Calmet. The learned German successively through the hands of the commentator seeks the original seat of Romans, the Saracens, the Crusaders, the Chaldeans in the mountains of the Tartars, and was ultimately conKurdistan, now inhabited by the Kurds quered by the Turks. It is now the (pron. Koords), who are probably their seat of a pashalic, and is a large and successors; and conjectures that they tolerably well-built town, situated on were brought from their native regions the eastern side of a hill, defended by by the Assyrians as mercenaries, after a castle, and composed of stone-houses which they settled in the plains till of as good masonry, and as highly orthey became strong enough to bring namented, as those of Aleppo. Mr. Bucktheir employers themselves into subjec- ingham (Travels in Mesopotamia, vol. tion. i. p. 89) describes the city in general as being a delightful place, and the most tolerable and happy in the Turkish dominions. It is a place of considerable trade, having numerous and well-filled bazaars, and enjoying the advantage of being one of the principal stations on the great caravan route between Aleppo and Bagdad. The population is

From their being much addicted to astronomy, and probably to judicial astrology, hence all astrologers were, in process of time, called Chaldeans, Dan. 2. 2-5.-As to the city here mentioned, some difficulty has been experienced by commentators in fixing its site, but in the East it is generally identified with the present town of Orfah in Upper

29 And Al ram and Nahor took | ran his son's son, and Sarai hiç them wives: the name of Abram's daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from Ur of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran, and dwelt there.

proper names of our translation, from ducted from 205, it is clear that he was its having been chosen to give the let- born when his father was 130, that is, ter ch a power equivalent toh. It 60 years after his brother Haran.- -T ought to be Charan, as it is in Acts 7. And Terah died in Haran. Many of 2, where the Greek text (Xappav) has God's people have died upon journeys. properly represented the Hebrew It is well to be prepared for the summons Charan. The same course is adopted whenever and wherever it may meet us. by the translation in numerous other REMARKS.-(1.) We see in the coninstances. The place in question, duct of the builders of Babel a striking which was called Charra by the Ro- exemplification of the spirit which actumans, would seem to the English read-ates so large a portion of the human er to have derived its name from Haran race. They were urged on by a desire the father of Lot, but this can hardly of distinction-'Go to, let us make ourbe, as the Hebrew words are entirely selves a name.' They thought that by different, the name of the place begin- raising this city and tower they should ning withch, and that of the person immortalize themselves, and be famed with h. This shows the evil of the for their wisdom and exploits to the remethod adopted by the English trans- motest generations. And what other lators of representing both letters by principle than this is the moving spring our h. Its situation is fixed by Ren- of the actions of countless multitudes nell about 30 miles S. S. E. from Orfah of men in all ages? What is it but the on the direct route from Mesopotamia desire of fame that impels the warrior to Palestine, on a brook known to the to the field of battle? What has greatGreek writers by the same name, which er influence on the scholar and the flows into the river Chaboras, one of philosopher, or more forcibly animates the tributaries of the Euphrates. It them in their researches after knowlanciently carried on an extensive trade edge? What is it that actuates the with the Tyrians, Ezek. 27. 23; and in rich in constructing and decorating more recent times became famous their splendid edifices, but a desire to among the Romans for the total defeat display their opulence and win eclat of their army by the Parthians, and from their fellow-men? It would not the death of Crassus their general, who perhaps be right to condemn the princiB was killed in the battle. It is now a ple in the abstract, or to hold it up to poor place, mostly in ruins, in the oc- unqualified reprobation. Provided we cupation of a few families of Bedouin seek distinction as a secondary object, Arabs, who have been drawn thither in subservience to higher ends, as a by its rather abundant supply of water. means of augmenting our usefulness Their presence renders a visit so unand bringing a larger revenue of glory pleasant that no travellers have recentto God, it may be a commendable moly been there. It must early have fal- tive of action. But alas! how seldom len into ruins, as it seems to have been does it exist in this form? How much quite desolate when the Jew, Benjamin more frequently does it assume the of Tudela, travelled through Mesopo- character of a vain-glorious ambition, tamia in the twelfth century. and engage its possessor in schemes as contrary to the will, or at least to the approbation, of heaven, as that of the infatuated projectors here mentioned? How vain the hope by which such men are deluded, and how certain are they to build a Babel to their own confusion.

32. The days of Terah were two hundred and five years. This affords a satisfactory clew to the time of Abraham's birth; for if 75 years, which was his age when his father died, and when he left Haran, ch. 12. 4, be de

The

(2.) How liable are the schemes of un- | Governor of the universe is never at a godly men to be interrupted and defeat-loss for means to confound the devices ed in the midst of their execution. of the wise or frustrate the counsels of builders of Babel had made considera- the ungodly. ble progress and were doubtless antici- (3.) What fearful consequences does pating the satisfaction they should ex- bold impiety frequently draw after perience in its completion. But they it! Discomfited rebellion does not were arrested in mid career. And thus always plague merely its original it is that high-raised worldly expecta- authors. We are at the present day tions are generally disappointed. The suffering grievously under the curse eager aspirants for happiness form their inflicted on the builders of Babel. Difplans; they prosecute their designs; ference of language has not only placed they advance in their prospects; par- obstacles in the way of commercial tial success animates them to more dil- intercourse, but has given occasion to igent exertions; but sooner or later contiguous or distant nations to considGod stops them in their progress, and er each other as enemies. It has moreeither dashes all their labours to the over, been the means of excluding the dust, or says to them, 'Thou fool, this greater part of the world from all the night shall thy soul be required of thee.' advantages of revelation. And if a beWhen they are saying 'peace and safe- nevolent person, desirous of diffusing ty, then sudden destruction cometh the knowledge of Christ among the upon them as a thief in the night, or as heathen, engage in the arduous untravail upon a woman with child.' dertaking, he must first partially lose Consider too the means which God several years before he can attain took to effect his purpose in this in-competent knowledge of the languages stance. They were the most unlooked in which he is to address them. Even for that could be imagined. The peo- then he labours under the greatest disple engaged in the work might conceive advantages in speaking to them; and it possible that they should be stopped after all he must limit his exertions to by quarrels among themselves, or by two or three nations at the utmost. another deluge, or by fire from heaven; Multitudes who would gladly encounter but could they have entertained the labour and fatigue in the service of their remotest idea of such an interruption fellow-creatures are discouraged by as they experienced? And thus does these difficulties, and are compelled to God generally interpose to disappoint restrain their benevolent wishes through the expectations of worldly men! He a conscious incapacity to carry them has ten thousand ways in which to ren- into effect. Suffering then as we do der their plans abortive or to embitter to for the transgression of these builders, them the very things in which they we ought at least to shun a repetition have sought their happiness. We have of their sins and to beware of the soar laboured for honour and distinction.ings of an unsanctified ambition. He suffers us perhaps to attain our wishes; and then makes our elevation a source of nothing but disquietude and pain. Many have looked for enjoyment in the acquisition of a partner or a family, who after a time would give the world perhaps to loose the indissoluble knot, or to have been written childless in the earth.' In short the

(4.) How vain is it to fight against God. God had one purpose and they another. It was his intention that the earth should be peopled by their distributing themselves over its surface, while they presumptuously cherished the resolve to remain concentrated on a single spot. This was the issue joined, and how equitable, easy, and complete was the

world, man lives under one and the same system of divine grace, yet tha system divides itself into three successive dispensations, each differently characterized according to the condition of the world during the period in which

triumph of omnipotence! 'In the thing | observe, that although from the time of wherein they dealt proudly he was the fall down to the termination of the above them.' How signally did he overrule the event to compass the very ends which they were bent upon defeating! And with equal facility will he always ease and avenge him of his adversaries. The prophet Obadiah 3, 4, has furnished us with a thread of reflec-it prevailed and the object which it had tion which cannot fail to conduct us to the right use which we ought to make of this remarkable narrative. He has pronounced the application of the subject. The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the Lord.' Had the prophet stood by and witnessed the project in its proud advance and its disastrous termination, he could scarcely have painted their presumption, their folly, and their disgrace in more striking language. Let us then beware of engaging in any enterprise or indulging in any spirit which will expose us to a like discomfiture and humiliation.

CHAPTER XII.

more immediately in view. These, are (1.) the Patriarchal; (2.) the Levitical; (3.) the Christian; all which are really but component parts of one great system, of which Christ is from first to last the sun and the centre. As the Patriarchal dispensation was marked by a sufficient degree of the light of divine truth to have conducted all men to heaven, had they not wilfully perverted their ways and turned aside from the revealed will of God, its characteristic or genius therefore was universality. Adam after the creation and Noah after the flood, would severally communicate to all their children and their children's children the knowledge which themselves possessed respecting God's gracious purposes; and as no intimation is given that this knowledge was to be confined to a particular family, it was clearly intended to be universal, and if it failed of becoming so effectively, the fault was in man himself. But in respect to the Levitical dispensation the case was essentially different. A sin

The important objects which divine wis om proposed to accomplish by Calling Abraham out from among a na-gle people was to be chosen out of the tion of idolaters and making him the head of a peculiar chosen race, rendered it proper that his vocation and subsequent history should be detailed with great minuteness. Accordingly we find that while the history of the world from the creation to the flood, comprising a period of 1656 years, is despatched in the compass of six chapters, no less than nineteen chapters are devoted to the account of Abraham, although his life covered only the space of 175 years. -By way of introduction to the history of this remarkable personage we may

corrupt mass in order that they might be the depositaries of the truth, and as this nation was to be descended from a selected head, God was pleased at the proper time to call his servant Abraham from among the idolatrous Kasdim and to commit to him a fresh religious dispensation. Of this dispensation therefore particularity was the leading feature; and this is strikingly alluded to in one of Balaam's predictions delivered to Balak, Num. 33. 9, 'From the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him; lo, the people shall dwell alone,