THE Country which in the Hebrew language was called Cush, from the eldest son of Ham, is in our translation of the Bible rendered Ethiopia-" The land of men burnt in the face." This name, in its widest sense, included all the country lying south of Egypt, as well as the south of Arabia, to which latter country the Ethiopian woman belonged whom Moses married. More frequently, however, it is to be understood as comprising the extensive tract of land now known as Nubia and Abyssinia, which bordered on Egypt, and was bounded on the east by the Red Sea, its limits on the south and west not being defined. Very little is known of the early history of the Ethiopians, who for the most part consisted of barbarous tribes. (1) Numb. xii. 1. And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. There did, however, exist a civilized Ethiopian people, who dwelt in cities, erected temples, and had a fixed government and laws. The country was much intersected by rivers, which were navigated by boats made of the Egyptian bulrush or papyrus,' which, according to Bruce, are in use at the present day. A piece of acacia wood serves as a keel, to which the rushes, first sewn together, are joined, and so form the sides. The most important as well as the most highly civilized district of Ethiopia was Moroë, a large tract of land nearly enclosed by the Nile and another river, now called Atbara. Upon this island (as it was called) lay a city of the same name, the splendid ruins of which prove that its ancient inhabitants had made a considerable advance in architecture and the other arts of civilized life. The government was in the hands of a race of priests, worshippers of Ammon, who elected from among themselves a king. The Ethiopians formed part of the force led up by Shishak against Rehoboam king of Judah,' and about thirty years afterwards, Zerah, another Ethiopian monarch, led a mighty army against Asa, who, relying on the Divine assistance, utterly defeated him. So, king of Egypt, to whom an embassy was sent by Hoshea, king of Israel, is supposed to have been king of Ethiopia as well. Tirhakah, the king of Ethiopia, who is mentioned as having meditated war against Sennacherib," was also king of Egypt. These facts sufficiently account for the frequent mention of Egypt and Ethiopia in close political connexion, as 3 (1) Isa. xviii. 2. That sendeth ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters. (2) 2 Chron. xii. 3. And the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians. (3) 2 Chron. xiv. 9-13. And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah. Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee. So the Lord smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah ; and the Ethiopians fled. (4) 2 Kings xvii. 4. For he had sent messengers to So king of Egypt. (5) 2 Kings xix. 9. And when he heard say of Tirhakah king of Ethiopia, Behold, he is come out to fight against thee: he sent messengers again unto Hezekiah. TEMPLE OF ISIS, ETHIOPIA. 2 43 well as for their being threatened with punishment from the same quarter. Isaiah foretold that the king of Assyria should lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives;1 Ezekiel describes the two countries as falling together under the power of the king of Babylon, and to Daniel it was shown, that the Romans should extend their arms over Egypt, Lybia, and Ethiopia.3 The fulfilment of these prophecies is therefore to be discovered in the fate of Egypt; and it appears from history that, B.C. 526, Egypt, with as much of the neighbouring country as the conquerors thought worthy of being taken possession of, became a province of Babylon; B.C. 332, it fell into the hands of Alexander the Great; and at the time of our Blessed Lord it was in the power of the Romans. Another remarkable class of prophecies respecting Ethiopia contains allusions to the future enlightenment of the people. Thus Zephaniah foretold that suppliants from beyond the rivers of Ethiopia should bring offerings and call upon the name of the Lord ;* and a similar prophecy occurs in the Psalms. The Baptism of Queen Candace's treasurer, by Philip the deacon, led the way to the fulfilment of this prediction, there being in the country, even at the present time, a tradition that Christianity was introduced by this person. But however this may be, a church was founded in Ethiopia at a very early period, St. Athanasius having sent a Bishop thither in the fourth century. Abyssinia is to this day the only great Christian state in the eastern world; the inhabitants generally express a deep sense of religion, and are much given to visiting the sick, almsgiving, and other Christian virtues. 5 6 (1) Isa. xx. 4. So shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives. (2) Ezek. xxx. 4, 24. And the sword shall come upon Egypt, and great pain shall be in Ethiopia. And I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break Pharaoh's arms. (3) Dan. xi. 43. But he shall have power over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt: and the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps. (4) Zeph. iii. 10. From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia my suppliants, even the daughter of my dispersed, shall bring mine offering. (5) Ps. lxviii. 31. Princes shall come out of Egypt; Ethiopia shall soon stretch out her hands unto God. (6) Acts viii. 27-38. One of the most interesting remains of ancient art in this country is the ruined temple of the goddess Isis, situated on the western bank of the Nile, and surrounded by foundations of buildings, which must once have constituted a city of temples. The ruin, figured in the wood-cut, consists of six beautifully finished columns with richly-carved capitals. The two on the right, which form a gateway, are ornamented with the head of Isis, who is represented with the ears of a cow, the most sacred animal of Egypt and Ethiopia. The face is well preserved, and has the peculiar softness of expression which is so remarkable in Egyptian statues. The other columns have capitals of the lotus form, and are ornamented with grapes and ears of wheat. From these and other parts which remain, it appears that the temple measured thirty feet by thirty-six. Small as it was, great labour was bestowed on its erection and decoration; and a vast number of Greek inscriptions, of a comparatively recent date, show that the temple was held in such high repute, as to be visited by worshippers who came from a great distance to secure, by offerings, the good-will of the goddess for themselves and their friends. Numerous other temples dedicated to the same goddess have been discovered, all in a greater or less state of decay. One visited by Mr. Belzoni, at no great distance from that described, was used as a cow-house. GAZA, the frontier town of Canaan, is one of the earliest cities of Palestine mentioned in the Holy Scriptures.1 Little, however, is said of it in the earlier books, except that it was not subdued by Joshua ; hence we may infer that it was strongly fortified even at that remote period, having several towns and villages under its protection.3 In the partition of the land, it fell to the lot of Judah, who took possession of it and the surrounding country: but instead of exterminating (1) Gen. x. 19. And the border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza. (2) Josh. xi. 22. dren of Israel: only (3) Josh. xv. 47. (4) Judges i. 18. There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the chil- |