| hundred and ten miles; whereas by placing Kadesh twenty miles only from Sinai or Horeb, the distance will be three hundred and thirty miles. And instead of ten miles a day, according to the former computation, the spies must have travelled near seventeen, which for forty days successively, seems to have been too difficult an expedition in this hot, and consequently fatiguing climate; especially as they were on foot, or footpads, as (their appella-harbour; from whence they are sometimes supplied, as I tion in the original) may probably import. These geographical circumstances therefore, thus corresponding with what is actually known of those countries at this time, should induce us to situate Kadesh, as I have already done, one hundred and ten miles to the northward of mount Sinai, and forty-two miles to the westward of Eloth, near Callah Nahar, i. e. the castle of the river or fountain, (probably the Ain Mishpat) a noted station of the Mohammedans in their pilgrimage to Mecca. been at Ezion-gaber, which being the place from whence Solomon's navy went for gold to Ophir, 1 Kings ix. 26. 2 Chron. viii. 17. we may be induced to take it for the present, Meenah el Dsahab, i. e. the port of gold. According to the account I had of this place from the monks of St. Catharine, it lies in the gulf of Eloth, between two and three days' journey from them,-enjoying a spacious have already mentioned, with plenty of lobsters and shellfish. Meenah el Dsahab, therefore, from this circumstance, may be nearly at the same distance from Sinai with Tor; from whence they are likewise furnished with the same provisions, which, unless they are brought with the utmost expedition, frequently corrupt and putrefy. I have already given the distance between the northwest part of the desert of Sin and Mount Sinai, to be twentyone hours; and if we farther add three hours, (the distance between the desert of Sin and the port of Tor, from whence these fish are obtained,) we shall have, in all, twenty-four hours; i. e. in round numbers, about sixty miles. Ezion-gaber, consequently, may lie a little more or less at that distance from Sinai; because the days' journeys which the monks speak of, are not, perhaps, to be considered as ordinary and common ones; but such as are made in haste, that the fish may arrive in good condition. "In the description of the East, p. 157, Ezion-gaber is placed to the southeast of Eloth, and at two or three miles only from it; which, I presume, cannot be admitted. For, as Eloth itself is situated upon the very point of the gulf, Ezion-gaber, by laying to the southeast of it, would belong to the land of Midian; whereas Ezion-gaber was undoubtedly a sea-port in the land of Edom; as we learn from the authorities above related, viz. where King Solomon is said to have made a navy of ships in Ezion-gaber, which is ny ns beside Eloth, on the shore of the Red sea, in the land of Edom. Here it may be observed, that the word n we render beside (viz.) Eloth, should be rendered, together with Eloth; not denoting any vicinity between them, but that they were both of them ports of the Red sea, in the land of Edom. "From Kadesh, the Israelites were ordered to turn into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, (Numb. xiv. 25. Deut. i. 40.) i. e. they were at this time, in punishment of their murmurings, infidelity, and disobedience, to advance no farther northward, toward the land of Canaan. Now, these marches are called the compassing of Mount Seir, Deut. ii. 1. and the passing by from the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain of Eloth and Ezion-gaber, ver. 8. The wandering, therefore, of the children of Israel, during the space of thirty-eight years, Deut. ii. 14. was confined in all probability, to that neck of land only which lies bounded by the gulfs of Eloth and Heroopolis. If then we could adjust the true position of Eloth, we should gain one considerable point toward the better laying down and circumscribing this mountainous tract, where the Israelites wandered for so many years. Now there is an universal consent among geographers, that by Eloth, Ailah, or Aclana, as it is differently named, was situated upon the northern extremity of the gulf of that name. Ptolemy, indeed, places it forty-five minutes to the south of Heroopolis, and nearly three degrees to the east; whereas Abulfeda, whose later authority, and perhaps greater experience, should be more regarded, makes the extremities of the two gulfs to lie nearly in the same parallel, though without recording "From Ezion-gaber the Israelites turned back again the distance between them. I have been often informed to Kadesh, with an intent to direct their marches that way by the Mohammedan pilgrims, who, in their way to Mecca, into the land of Canaan. But upon Edom's refusing to pass by them both, that they direct their marches from give Israel passage through his border, (Numb. xx. 18.) Cairo eastward, till they arrive at Callah Accaba, or the they turned away from him to the right hand, as I supcastle (situated below the mountains) of Accaba, upon the pose, toward Mount Hor, (Numb. xx. 21.) which might Elanilie point of the Red sea. Here they begin to travel lie to the eastward of Kadesh, in the road from thence to between the south and southeast, with their faces directly the Red sea; and as the soul of the children of Israel is toward Mecca, which lay hitherto upon their right hand; said to have been here much discouraged because of the having made in all from Adjeroute, ten miles to the north way, it is very probable that Mount Hor was the same northwest of Suez, to this castle, a journey of seventy chain of mountains that are now called Accaba by the hours. But as this whole tract is very mountainous, the Arabs, and were the easternmost range, as we may take road must consequently be attended with great variety of them to be, of Ptolemy's va opn above described. Here, windings and turnings, which would hinder them from from the badness of the road, and the many rugged passes making any greater progress, than at the rate, we will that are to be surmounted, the Mohammedan pilgrims suppose, of about half a league an hour. Eloth, then, lose a number of camels, and are no less fatigued than the (which is the place of a Turkish garrison at present, as Israelites were formerly in getting over them. I have it was a presidium of the Romans in former times,) will already hinted, that this chain of mountains, the usλava opn lie, according to this calculation, about one hundred and of Ptolemy, reached from Paran to Judea. Petra, thereforty miles from Adjeroute, in an east by south direction: fore, according to its later name, the metropolis of this part a position which will likewise receive farther confirmation, of Arabia, may well be supposed to lie among them, and from the distance that is assigned to it from Gaza, in the to have been left by the Israelites on their left hand, in old geography. For, as this distance was one hundred journeying toward Moab. Yet it will be difficult to deterand fifty Roman miles, according to Pliny, or one hun-mine the situation of this city, for want of a sufficient dred and fifty-seven, according to other authors, Eloth number of geographical data to proceed upon. could not have had a more southern situation than latitude old geography, Petra is placed one hundred and thirtytwenty-nine degrees, forty minutes; neither could it have five miles to the eastward of Gaza, and four days' journey had a more northern latitude, insomuch as this would have from Jericho, to the southward. But neither of these disso far invalidated a just observation of Strabo's, who tances can be any ways accounted for; the first being too makes Heroopolis and Pelusium to be much nearer each great, the other too deficient. For, as we may well supother than Eloth and Gaza. And, besides, as Gaza is pose Petra to lie near, or upon the border of Moab, seven well known to lie in latitude thirty-one degrees forty days' journey would be the least: the same that the three minutes, (as we have placed Eloth in latitude twenty- kings took hither, 2 Kings iii. 9. (by fetching a compass, nine degrees forty minutes,) the difference of latitude be- as we imagine,) from Jerusalem, which was nearer to tween them will be two degrees, or one hundred and that border than Jericho. However, at a medium, Petra twenty geographical miles; which converted into Roman lay in all probability, about the half way between the miles, (seventy-five and a half of which make one degree) south extremity of the Asphaltic lake, and the gulf of we have the very distance (especially as they lie nearly Eloth, and may be therefore fixed near the confines of the under the same meridian,) that is ascribed to them above country of the Midianites and Moabites at seventy miles by Strabo and Pliny. Yet, notwithstanding this point distance from Kadesh, towards the northeast; and eightymay be gained, it would be too daring an attempt even to five from Gaza, to the south. According to Josephus, it pretend to trace out above two or three of the encamp- was formerly called Arce, which Bochart supposes to be ments mentioned, Numb. xxxiii. though the greatest part a corruption of Rekem, the true and ancient name. The of them was, in all probability, confined to this tract of Amalekites, so frequently mentioned in Scripture, were Arabia Petræa, which I have bounded to the east, by the once seated in the neighbourhood of this place, who were meridian of Eloth, and to the west by that of Heroopolis; succeeded by the Nabathaans, a people no less famous in Kadesh lying near, or upon the skirts of it to the northward. profane history. From Mount Hor, the direction of their "However, one of their more southern stations, after marches through Zalmona, Punon, &c. seems to have they had left Mount Sinai, and Paran, seems to have been between the north and northeast. For it does not In the appear, that they wandered any more in the wilderness out of the direct way that was to conduct them through the country of Moab, (Numb. xiii. 38, 39.) into the land of promise." SHAW's Travels, chap. v. p. 304, &c. 4to edition. It may be necessary to inform the reader, that the map which accompanies this book, has been constructed from the very best authorities, and much pains have been taken to make it correct. Great difficulty, however, has occurred in laying down the different places; no two travellers agreeing in their accounts of the positions, bearings, and distances of the towns, villages, mountains, &c. which they mention. The confusion here is indescribable, and I am far from supposing that every difficulty is removed, by the pains that have been taken to correct and reconcile others. Several embarrassments still remain, but they are not such as affect the general accuracy of the map. The position of Egypt, the Nile, Mediterranean sea, Red sea, with its Heroopolitic and Elanitic gulfs, the Desert or 314 | Stony Arabia, mount Sinai, and the promised land, are, I hope, sufficiently correct. Though I have inserted the preceding remarks from Dr. Shaw, yet, as many respectable writers differ from him in some positions and distances, I could not construct the map so as to tally with his account, much less with his map, which is obviously incorrect: therefore the reader must places in which Dr. Shaw lays them down. The diffinot be surprised if he find some stations, not exactly in the culty of placing these correctly in a tractless wilderness, which has never been accurately measured, will at once plead both his excuse and mine. The track of the journey of the Israelites, I have laid widely from Calmet and others. The forty-two stations, down exactly from Dr. Shaw's map: but this differs with any degree of correctness, as most that has been said mentioned Numb. xxxiii. I could not pretend to lay down jecture than facts. on the subject, appears to me to be founded rather on con MAY 1, 1811. END OF THE NOTES ON EXODUS. A CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS RECORDED IN THE BOOK OF EXODUS, Showing in what year of the World, in what year before Christ, in what year from the Deluge, and in what year from their departure from Egypt, each event happened; interspersed with a few connecting circumstances from Profane History, according to the plan of Archbishop Ussher. B. C. 2421 1577 1574 1573 A. M. 2365 1639 Levi, the third son of Jacob, dies in the 137th year of his age, Exod. vi. 16.-N. B. This event is placed twenty years later by most chronologists, but I have followed the computation of Mr. Skinner and Dr. Kennicott. See the note on Gen. xxxi. 41. 2375 1629 2385 1619 2387 1617 2396 1608 2400 About this time, Acencres, son of Orus, began to reign in Egypt, and reigned twelve years and one month. 1604 1583 Armais succeeds Ancencheres, and reigns four years and one month. 2425 1579 2431 2433 An. Dil 709 719 729 731 740 744 753 765 About this time Kohath, the son of Levi, and grandfather of Moses, died in the 133d year of his age. 769 771 Aaron, son of Amram, brother of Moses, born eighty-three years before the Exodus of the Israelites, 774 About this time. Pharaoh (supposed to be the same with Rameses Miamun) published an edict, ordering 775 777 792 2448 809 810 817 1556 The kingdom of the Athenians founded about this time, by Cecrops. 2465 1539 In this year, which was the eighteenth of Cecrops, the Chaldeans waged war with the Phænicians. 1538 About this time, the Arabians subdued the Chaldeans, and took possession of their country. 2466 2473 1531 Moses being 40 years of age, kills an Egyptian, whom he found smiting a Hebrew; in consequence of 1530 The birth of Caleb, the son of Jephunneb. 2474 1510 Rameses Miamun, king of Egypt, dies about this time in the 67th year of his reign, and is succeeded by his 2513 1491 While Moses keeps the flock of Jethro at Mount Horeb, the angel of God appears to him in a burning Aaron and Moses assemble the elders of Israel, inform them of the divine purpose, and then go to Pha- Aaron throws down his rod, which becomes a serpent. The Egyptian magicians imitate this miracle, Pharaoh refusing to let the Israelites go, God sends his first plague upon the Egyptians, and the waters Pharaoh remaining impenitent, God sends immense numbers of frogs, which infest the whole land of This plague not producing the desired effect, God sends the third plague, the dust of the ground becoming Pharaoh's heart still remaining obdurate, God sends the fourth plague upon the nation, by causing great The Egyptian king still refusing to dismiss the Hebrews, God sends his fifth plague, which is a universal This producing no good effect, the sixth plague of boils and blains is sent, chap. ix. 8-12. Pharaoh still hardening his heart, God sends the seventh plague, viz. a grievous hail, which destroyed the This, through Pharaoh's obstinacy, proving ineffectual, the eighth plague is sent, immense swarms of Pharaoh refusing to submit to the divine authority, the ninth plague, a total darkness of three days' con- Pharaoh continuing to refuse to let the people go, God institutes the rite of the passover, and sends the 1491 The Israelites march from Succoth to Etham; thence to Pi-ha-hiroth, the Lord guiding them by Towards the close of this month, Pharaoh and the Egyptians pursue the Israelites:-God opens The Israelites come to Marah, and murmur because of the bitter waters: Moses is directed to On the fifteenth day of this month the Israelites come to the desert of Sin, where, murmuring The Amalekites attack the Israelites in Rephidim, and are discomfited, chap. xvii. 8—16. A.M. 2513 2514 B. C. 1491 Moses is again called up into the mount, where God renews the covenant, and writes the two Moses, after having been in the mount forty days and forty nights, during which time he ate 1490 From this time to the month Adar, including Marchesvan, Cisleu, Thebet, and Sebat, Bezaleel, On the first of this month, being the first month of the second year after their departure from Jethro brings Zipporah and her two sons to Moses in the wilderness, and gives him wholesome A TABLE of the THREE GREAT EPOCHS, A. M., B. C., and the JULIAN PERIOD, synchronized with the reigns of the sovereigns of the four principal monarchies; viz. Egypt, Sicyon, the Argivi, and the Athenians, from the death of Jacob, A. M. 2315, to the erection of the Tabernacle, A. M. 2514, by which any event in the preceding Chronological Table may be referred to its corresponding year of the reign of any of the above sovereigns. E. G. To find out the year of the birth of Moses, inspect the preceding Table, by which it appears, he was born A. M. 2433, B. C. 1571, and from the Deluge 777. Then look in the following Table, for A. M. 2433, where it appears, that this event took place in the year of the Julian Period, 3143-the 7th of Rameses Miamun, king of Egypt-the 46th of Orthopolis, king of Sicyon-the king of the Argivi—and the 15th before the reign of Cecrops, king of the Athenians. of 17th Phorbas, TO THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS. THE of HE Greek version of the SEPTUAGINT and the Vulgate Latin, have given the title of LEVITICUS to the third book called, because it treats principally of the laws and regulations of the Levites, and priests in general. In Hebrew it is termed " Vayikra, "And he called," which is the first word in the book; and which, as in preceding cases, became the running title to the whole. It contains an account of the ceremonies to be observed in the offering of burnt sacrifices; meat, peace, and sin-offerings; the consecration of priests, together with the institution of the three grand national festivals of the Jews, Pass-over, PENTECOST, and TABERNACLES; with a great variety of other ecclesiastical matters. It seems to contain little more than the history of what passed during the eight days of the consecration of Aaron and his sons; though Archbishop Usher supposes that it comprises the history of the transactions of a whole month, viz. from April 21 to May 21, of the year of the world 2514, which answers to the first month of the second year after the departure from Egypt. As there are no data by which any chronological arrangement of the facts mentioned in it can be made, it would be useless to encumber the page with conjectures, which, because uncertain, can answer no end to the serious reader for doctrine, reproof, or edification in righteousness. As the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, the whole sacrificial system was intended to point out that Lamb of God, Christ Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world. In reading over this book, this point should be kept particularly in view; as without this spiritual reference, no interest can be excited by a perusal of the work. The principal events recorded in this book, may be thus deduced in the order of the chapters. Moses having set up the tabernacle, as has been related in the conclusion of the preceding book, and the cloud of divine glory, the symbol of the presence of God, having rested upon it, God called to him out of this tabernacle, and delivered the laws and precepts contained in the seven first chapters. In Chap. i. he prescribes every thing relative to the nature and quality of burnt-offerings, and the ceremonies which should be observed, as well by the person who brought the sacrifice, as by the priest who offered it. In Chap. ii. he treats of meat-offerings, of fine flour, with oil and frankincense; of cakes, and the oblations of first-fruits. Chap. iii. treats of peace-offerings, prescribes the ceremonies to be used in such offerings, and the parts which should be consumed by fire. Chap. iv. treats of the offerings made for sins of ignorance; for the sins of the priests, rulers, and of the common people. Chap. v. treats of the sin of him, who being adjured as a witness, conceals his knowledge of a fact; the case of him who touches an unclean thing; of him who binds himself by a vow or an oath; and of trespass-offerings in cases of sacrilege, and in sins of ignorance. Chap. vi. treats of the trespass-offerings for sins knowingly committed; and of the offerings for the priests, the parts which should be consumed, and the parts which should be considered as the priests' portion. And in Chap. vii. the same subject is continued. Chap. viii. treats of the consecration of Aaron and his sons; their sin-offering, burnt-offering ram of consecration, and the time during which these solemn rites should continue. Chap. ix. After Aaron and his sons were consecrated, on the eighth day they were commanded to offer sin-offerings, and burnt-offerings, for themselves and for the people, which they accordingly did, and Aaron and Moses having blessed the people, a fire came forth from before the Lord, and consumed the offering that was laid upon the altar. Chap. x. Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, having offered strange fire before the Lord, are consumed; and the priests are forbidden the use of wine and all inebriating liquors. Chap. xi. treats of clean and unclean beasts, fishes, birds, and reptiles. Chap. xii. treats of the purification of women after child-birth, and the offerings they should present before the Lord. Chap. xiii. prescribes the manner of discerning the infection of the leprosy in persons, garments, and houses. Chap. xiv. prescribes the sacrifices and ceremonies which should be offered by those who were cleansed from the leprosy. Chap. xv. treats of certain uncleannesses in man and woman: and of their purifications. Chap. xvi. treats of the solemn yearly expiation to be made for the sins of the priest and of the people, of the goat and bullock for a sacrifice, and of the scape-goat; all which should be offered annually, on the tenth day of the seventh month. Chap. xvii. the Israelites are commanded to offer all their sacrifices at the tabernacle :-the eating of blood is prohibited; as also the flesh of those animals which die of themselves, and of those that are torn by dogs. Chap. xvii. shows the different degrees within which marriages were not to be contracted; and prohibits various acts of impurity. Chap. xix. recapitulates a variety of laws which had been mentioned in the preceding book, (Exodus) and adds several new ones. Chap. xx. prohibits the consecration of their children to Moloch, forbids their consulting wizards, and those which had familiar spirits, and also a variety of incestuous and unnatural mixtures. Chap. xxi. gives different ordinances concerning the mourning and marriages of priests, and prohibits those from the sacerdotal office, who have certain personal defects. Chap. xxii. treats of those infirmities and uncleannesses which rendered the priest unfit to officiate in sacred things, and lays down directions for the perfection of the sacrifices which should be offered to the Lord. Chap. xxiii. treats of the sabbath and the great annual festivals the pass-over, pentecost, feast of trumpets, day of atonement, and feast of tabernacles. Chap. xxiv. treats of the oil for the lamps and the show-bread; the law concerning which had already been given, see Exodus xxv. &c. mentions the case of the person who blasphemed God, and his punishment-lays down the law in cases of blasphemy and murder; and recapitulates the lex talionis, or law of like for like, prescribed Exod. xxi. Chap. xxv. recapitulates the law, given Exod. xxiii. relative to the sabbaticul year, prescribes the year of jubilee, and lays down a variety of statutes relative to mercy, kindness, benevolence, charity, &c. Chap. xxvi. prohibits idolatry, promises a great variety of blessings to the obedient, and threatens the disobedient with many and grievous curses. Chap. xxvii. treats of rows, of things devoted, and of the tithes which should be given for the service of the tabernacle. No Chronological Table can be affixed to this book; as the transactions of it seem to have been included within the space of eight days, or of a month at the utmost, as we have already seen. And even some of the facts related here, seem to have taken place previously to the erection of the tabernacle: nor is the order in which the others occurred, so distinguished as to enable us to lay down the precise days in which they took place. |