Arabia, in the borders of Egypt, and upon the river Bubastus: which is impossible. Moreover, if Goshen was a district in the nome of Tanis, whatever is said above of Goshen is applicable to Tanis. In consequence of which, Tanis likewise must have been towards Arabia, or in the nome of Arabia, in the borders of Egypt, upon the river Bubastus. But, if there be any thing certain in geography, Tanis was a city and province in the lower part of Delta, near the sea, upon a river of its own name; forty-four miles distant from Pelusium and Arabia; and still much farther from the nome of Arabia, which was at the top of lower Egypt: and next to Tanis was Sethron in the like situation. From so many incoherent circumstances being clustered together by Perizonius, it is plain, that he did not know the true situation of any one place he mentions.

Having for a time cooped up the Israelites in a subordinate district, he makes them at last extend themselves from Tanis to Memphis, and to occupy part of Arabia to the east of the Nile; in order to comprehend this fairy land, if it be at all attainable. But this is a circumstance quite incredible nor is there the least reason to think, that they were possessed of such a tract of country; most of which I have shewn was not habitable. Besides, it does not remedy the evil. The land of Goshen was fixed and permanent: that did not travel with them: and, whatever provinces they

might occupy afterwards, this must have remained distinct nor could their change of place alter it. The same nation that settled in Franconia got possession of Gaul to the Pyrenees and the Ocean: but nobody places Franconia in Gascony or Thoulouse. In short, the mistakes of Perizonius are almost too flagrant to need a regular confutation. His reasoning is as unfair, as the grounds he proceeds upon are untrue: both unworthy of him.

41

Cellarius has touched upon this head. In his map of Egypt he places Goshen in the neighbourhood of the city On or Heliopolis, to the east of the Nile: and, together with these, he has transposed other provinces and cities in a much too lawless and unwarrantable manner. His learning is copious; and the authorities that he appeals to many, but not always sufficiently digested. His work, which is a very laudable one, and of great utility, was too extensive to give him time to be thoroughly accurate. Though he differs from others in the situation, which he gives to these places; yet, as he goes so far as to place them in Arabia, all that he says upon the subject, has been answered already.

It is remarkable of the persons who contributed to the Greek version of the Bible, that (where it is

* Cellarü Notitia Orbis Antiqui, 2 vol. Amstel. 1706. vol. 2. P. 34.

said in the original that Joseph "" went up to meet "Israel his father to Goshen") they translate it xx' 'Howwv Toλ, the city Heroum or Heroopolis. In other 4 places they term it γη Γεσεμ Αραβίας. Now Heroopolis, at least the only city we know of that name, was upon the north west point of the Red Sea; as we learn from Ptolemy and Strabo. This situation for Goshen is more extravagant than any that has been yet thought of: it cannot be supposed that the best of the land of Egypt was here. The few towns upon the upper part of the Red Sea were solitary seaports, that stood upon the verge of a barren wilderness; and were not of Egyptian original. We are told by Strabo, that the kings of Egypt for a long time were averse to trade, particularly by sea, and discouraged navigation. They were satisfied with the produce of their own fertile soil; and needed not any foreign importations: which circumstance made them ill affected to sailors and shipping, and little solicitous about seaports and harbours; especially beyond the limits of their own country. 40 Οι μεν ουν προτεροι των Αιγυπτίων βασιλεις

42 Genes. 46. v. 29.

43 Genes. 46. v. 34.--45. v. 10. 44 Geogr. Edit. Bertii. p. 103.

45 Vol. 2. p. 1158. Ἡ των Ηρώων έτι πόλις και η Κλεοπάτρις, εν τῳ μυχῳ τε Αραβία κόλπα τῷ προς Αιγυπτον. pag. 1193. καθ' Ηρωων πολιν την εν τῷ μυχῳ τε Αραβία κολπο.

46 Vol. 2. p. 1142.

αγαπώντες δις είχον, και 8 πανυ επεισακτων δεομένοι, διαβε βλημένοι προς ἅπαντας τες πλεοντας κ. τ. λ. 47 Diodorus Siculus says the same. The histories of Egypt are continually describing the care and cost of their first kings, in fortifying the country to the east, and securing it from foreign attacks. They made the river of Pelusium the boundary of their kingdom; and never thought of founding 48 seaports on the Red Sea. Heroopolis, and the few towns near it were separated from Egypt at the distance of four days journey; and were occupied by the Arabians, and by the sons of Ishmael and Edom for ages. The latter, in the time of Jehoshaphat, seem to have been sole masters of the gulf of Elah. As soon as this king had subdued them; he took possession of their ports, and built a fleet, and projected a scheme of trade. It was the first attempt of any prince of that house since the days of Solomon; and soon

47 Καθόλυ δε πρωτος [Ψαμμίτιχος] των κατ' Αιγυπτον βασιλέων ανέωξε τοις άλλοις εθνεσι τα κατα την αλλην χώραν εμπορία, και πολλην ασφαλειαν τοις καταπλέυσι ξένοις παρείχετο. lib. 1. pag. 43.

"The priests of Egypt esteemed it an abomination for a person to quit his native country: for which reason they never left it; thinking it inexcusable in any persons, excepting those, who were obliged to go abroad for the service of the crown by the king's appointment. This we learn from Cheremo the Stoic in his account of the Egyptian priests, δι γε εν τοις ασεβετατοις ετίθεντο πλειν απ' Αιγύπτω διευλαβόμενοι ξενικας τρυφας και επιτηδεύματα. Μανοις γαρ όσιον εδόκει τοις κατα τας βασιλικας χρείας απηναγκασμένοις, Porph. de Abstin. lib. 4.

proved abortive. The other and nearer gulf was possessed by the Arabians. The face of the country may be supposed to have been much the same at all times. What it is now, may be learned from a modern traveller, who passed from Suez, the most northern part of the Red Sea, to Cairo. Ex hoc loco pergentes venimus in campum Choas dictummedia ibi nocte exactâ recessimus, iter laboriosum per latissimos et prorsus steriles campos totá die illá conficientes; ubi nec virens aliquid vidimus, nec aquam reperimus, neque tentoria figere poteramus: eò quod tenuissima arena, quæ illic est copiosa, funium claves tenere non posset. Agreeable to this is what 50 Egmont and Heyman tell us, that about

49 Bernardi de Bredenback sanctæ peregrinationes in montem Sion et montem Sinai anno 1485 confecta. Impress. Spira. 1490.

50 Egmont and Heyman's Travels. vol. 2. p. 148. and 188. See also Viaggi fatti nel Egitto opera del Signor Gabrielle Bremond. In Roma, 1679. lib. 1. “Indi tirando fra levante e mezzo giorno "senza fermarsi al Birco, o stagno d'acqua fontano dal Cairo 4 "hore di camino, entrammo nel deserto, dove si travano cam“pagni sterili, non di rena, ma di terra secca, che per esser priva "d'acqua non produce ne anche un filo d'erba eccetto verso il

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mare. Facemmo tre giornate per questi diserti, riposando la sera sotto padiglioni che portavamo, et accommodando il viver "nostro all' uso Arabo, ne si reposava se non a 21 hore per risto"rarci. La sera del terzo giorno havendo scoperte alcune pic"ciole montagne, bisogno caminar sino alle tre hore di notte, per "arrivar ad un picciol castello, sotto il quale ci firmammo: si "noma Agirild: et e fabricato di fresco per guardia d'un pozza