Page images
PDF
EPUB
[ocr errors]

tongue; and that the land was so denomi nated from its tongue-like form. It is certain that this part of Egypt was at times described under the semblance of a pear and an heart, and also of a tongue. All these objects have some analogy in their shape, beginning at a point, and swelling out towards their base. Hence this region is said to have been called Rib and Rab, a pear; and an heart over burning coals is mentioned as its particular emblem. It was also described as a tongue, which was a familiar image for lands pointed and projecting, as this did. * Cæsar speaks

'Riph. quo nomine hodieque Delta, seu pars Ægypti triquetra Nili ostiis comprehensa, vocatur a pyri formâ. Id enim proprie est Rib. see Bochart Phaleg. 1. 1. c. 15., p. 59. Ab Alcairo Rosetam oram vocant Erriphiam, (quasi Ai Rif) vei terra pyriformis. Leo Africanus, l. 8. p. 666. It is called at this day Rif by the Arabians. Niebuher Voyage, T. 1. p. 194.

2

154.

2HT, Cardia.-See Coptic Lexicon by Mr Woide, p.

ант,

A and He, cor.-Orus Apollo, 1. 1. c. 22. p. 39.

3 Sometimes inlets of the sea are called tongues; but generally the ferm is adapted to a narrow slip of land, or isthmus. 4 De Bello Gallico, 1. 3. c. 12. p. 102.

-latus angustum jam se cogentis in arctum Hespe riæ tenuem produeit in æquora linguam. Lucan. 1. 2.

v. 613.

of towns situated upon such points of land, and stiles them---oppida posita in extremis linguis promontorii. The opinion therefore of my learned friend appears to be founded in truth, and the land of Goshen seems to have received this name from its form and situation, and signified a tongue-like promontory". And not only Goshen, but a great part of Lower Egypt, may have been comprehended under this emblem. This is countenanced by a passage in Isaiah, hitherto not well understood, which it explains, and at the same time is confirmed by it.—The Lord shall utterly destroy the tongue of the Egyptian sea; and with his mighty wind shall he shake his hand over the river, and shall smite it in the seven streams, and make men go over dry-shod. Chap.

xi. 15.

2

Tenuem linguam, terram tenuem exporrectam in linguæ formam. Sulpitii Comment. in Lucanum.

Lingua promontorii genus. Festus.

Eustath.

-the furthest point of Africa, called by Dionysius πυμάτην γλώχινα. ν. 184. ακραν γλώχινα, ὁ ἔτι γωνία. Ibid.

2 The Nile was stiled Oceanus. Οι Αιγυπτιοι νομίζεσιν Ωκ κανον ειναι τον παρ' αυτοις Νειλον. Diodorus Sic. 1. 1. p.

12.

Τον δε ποταμον αρχαιότατον μεν ονομα σκειν Ωκεαμην, or as some read, Ωκεανην, ός εσιν ἑλληνισι ωκεανος. Ibid. p. 17,

Different Opinions considered.

Some have thought that the sea mentioned by Isaiah was the Red-sea; and among those of this opinion was the learned Bishop Lowth. But the force and peculiarity of the prophecy is greatly prejudiced by this application, The Red-sea lay at a distance from the land of the Mizraim, and was of great extent, so that it was inhabited on each side by various independent nations. The upper part was possessed by the Midianites, Edomites, and Nabatheans, also by different tribes of Arabians. In the times of the Ptolemies some towns were built near the most northern recess, but, for want of water and other necessaries, they soon sunk to ruin, and their situation cannot easily be ascertained. But, in the time of Isaiah, we have no reason to think that the Egyptians had a single town upon this part of the sinus. And if they had, yet we can hardly suppose that the inhabitants, and the nook upon which they stood, were the great objects to which the prophet alluded.

It is well known that the Nile increased in the summer, and for some months overflowed

[ocr errors]

the whole country. The region about Delta particularly appeared like a vast sea, and the principal towns and cities became so many islands; and all communication was carried on by ships and boats. Hence the river, as I have before mentioned, had the name of Oceanus, or the sea, and was a sure guard to the whole region, which was hereby rendered impregnable. The seven streams were at all times a strong barrier, in which the people placed their chief security. And of all the cities, that at the point or tongue of Delta was particularly fortified, as commanding the passage by water between Upper and Lower Egypt. The prophet therefore says, that this tongue of the sea shall be ruined, however it may seem secured by the surrounding waters. For the Lord would with a mighty (southern) wind force these waters downwards; by which means the seven channels should become empty and dry; so that people should pass over without wetting their feet. Hence the king and people should be brought to ruin by being deprived of their chief defence, in which, they blindly trusted. The prophet Ezekiel is accordingly ordered to set his face against Pha* Diodorus, 1. 1. p. 17.

Herod. 1. 2. c. 97. p. 147.

raoh king of Egypt. Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I am against thee, Pharaoh king of Egypt, the great dragon that lieth in the midst of his rivers, which hath said, My river is mine own, and I have made it for myself Behold therefore, I am against thee, and against thy rivers, and I will make the land of Egypt utterly waste and desolate, from Migdol even to Syene and the borders of Cush.

[ocr errors]

plished; and the prophet it was to be effected.

[ocr errors]

This was accomforetells by whom Therefore thus saith

the Lord God, Behold, I will give the land of Egypt unto Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he shall take her multitude, and take her spoil, &c. chap. xxix. 2, 3, 10, 19. And they shall know that I am the Lord, because he hath said, The river is mine, and I have made it. ver. 9. The same conquest is alluded to by the prophet Jeremiah, who mentions the like circumstances.----Egypt riseth up like a flood, and his waters are moved like the rivers: and he saith, I will go up, and will cover the earth. chap. xlvi. 8. Here the widely extended army is compared to the overflowing of the Nile. Such is the history of the sea of Egypt, which, according to the prophecy, was to be exhausted, and all the rivers to be bereft of water, to

« PreviousContinue »