point takes another direction to the east, and to the Red-sea. This is authenticated by the words which follow. For the author adds, that it makes its turn, so boropiat is, where the quarries were. He then subjoins---raury μεν ληγον (το ορός) ανακαμπτει ες τα ειρηται. The mountain terminating at this place, immediately passes in a new direction to the part of the world before mentioned. I have taken these pains to determine the range of this mountain towards the east, as all travellers from the point above to the Red-sea are obliged to follow its direction, if they go the common and more northern road. The Israelites in particular are found to have proceeded that way.

From Succoth to the Desert of Etham.

This desert was properly a continuation of the wilderness from Egypt. But it commenced under the name of Etham at the northern extremity of the Red-sea. The distance from Babylon, and the modern Cairo, to this point is, by travellers, estimated to be about ninety miles. If then to Succoth were thirty of these, there remain sixty from thence to

their second place of encampment. For we have been told that they departed from Succothy and pitched in Etham, in (or upon) the edge of the wilderness. Exod. xiii. 20.

From Etham to Phi-Hiroth.

The Israelites were now secure, being out of all fear of the Egyptians, and just ready to take shelter in a wilderness where no army, without a miracle, could subsist. The want of water and every other other necessary article precluded all chance of being overtaken. But at this instant they have an order to change their route; and in consequence of it one would imagine that they would be directed to march by the left to Canaan, the land flowing with milk and honey. No: they are commanded to retire from it. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they TURN and encamp before Pi-hahiroth, (or Phi-Hiroth) between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon; before it shall ye encamp by the sea. Nothing can be more plain than the command of the Deity; and the situation into which they were afterwards brought

in consequence of it is equally plain. They were to turn somewhat retrograde, which is a circumstance particularly to be observed; and they were then to proceed, till they came. ---xara soμa Eigwe, to a mouth or opening between some mountains, at that day well known. And when they had halted, they were to have the sea on one hand, and Migdol, the castle or garrison, on the other; and over against them was to be Baal-zephon, on the opposite side of the sea. The place where the wilderness of Etham commenced was at the top of that western gulf, in which the Redsea ended. There were two of these gulfs, one of which lay to the east, and was of the least extent. This in aftertimes was called Elanites, from the city Elana, or Elah, the Elath of the scriptures, which bordered upon it. The other was the Sinus Heroopolitanus, which extended farther inland, and was nearest to Egypt. It was thus named by the Greeks from the city Heroum, which stood at its northern extremity. Near this point the chil

2

1 Fauces Montium,, os, apertura. See Le Clerc upon Exodus, p. 430.

2

* Ptolemy, 1. 5. p. 162. It is by Pliny called Sinus Horoopoliticus, 1. 5. c. 11, 259.-Deut. ii. 8.

dren of Israel turned back, and passing downward with the sea on their left hand, they were brought into a defile, which consisted of a long extended coast, and was bounded by the above mentioned sinus to the east, and by the extremity of the Arabian mountain

1

to the west. At the end was the inundation above mentioned, which from the Greeks had the name of Clysma, and supposed to be the same place which was called by the Arabians Colsum. This inlet of water stopped the Israelites, and prevented their proceeding farther; for it directly thwarted them in their passage, so that they were on every side enclosed, and had their enemy pressing close upon their rear. For the Egyptians pursued after them, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon, The place of this inlet is, I believe, now for the most part dry, and is called Bedea by the

It is now called Gibel Mocatti. See Shaw, Pocock, and Niebuhr.

* Some say, that whatever similarity may have appeared in the purport of these two names, yet they are of a different signification. Clysma, Kavra, denotes an inundation, cr place inundated: but by Colsum is meant an overwhelming or submersion. It was, they say, given from the overwhelming of Pharaoh and his host.

f

Arabs. It formerly extended some miles inward towards Egypt, passing through a mouth or opening between the mountains; which mouth or opening is very justly supposed to have been the Phi-Hiroth of the scriptures. It is some miles in length, and still retains marks of the sea, as we learn from Monconys, and others who have passed it. For, instead of going round by the mountain of Arabia, in a direction to the north or the east, travellers often pass towards the south-east through this hollow way, and so arrive at Bedea, where it terminates at the Red-sea. From thence they turn to the left northward, and in about ten hours arrive at Suez. This road is called now Derb al Touriac. The history given by Monconys is remarkable, where he describes his passage through the length of this opening. ? Après diner nous passâmes pendant deux heures entre des montagnes, qui sont de côté et d'autre fort droites, et fort hautes, et laissent un grand chemin au milieu de trente ou qua

Of the different roads to the Red-sea, and Etham, see Shaw's Travels, p. 433. and Niebuhr's Arabie, p. 352. Of the four roads mentioned by Pocock, Derb Ejenef is the most northern, and by this he supposes the Israelites to have passed, as it led more directly to Etham, p. 155.

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* Voyages de Mons. de Monconys, vol. 1. p. 409.