Page images
PDF
EPUB

something else, besides a school-boy's task in construing and parsing. I do not mean that the lexicon and grammar are to be thrown aside; but I am sure that no one has thoroughly learned a language, till he has become in a good measure independent of these helps, till his own mind is his best lexicon and grammar; and this power can be acquired, in the first instance, only by the continuous study of some one good author. In the second year, let him in the same manner read Herodotus; and let the reading of Herodotus be, not the mere study of Greek words, but let it be a course of study in ancient history. In a short time, he will become familiar with the style of Herodotus, and will read his history with ease and pleasure, and as he would read a well written history in his own language, for the sake of the information and entertainment which the history affords. Every Greek scholar will see why I select these two writers for the commencement of the college course. They are the most ancient and simple, the most lively and entertaining of the Greek writers, and their works (the Odyssey more than the Iliad) are peculiarly calculated to interest and improve the youthful mind. For the third year, I would propose Xenophon's Memorabilia of Socrates, which gives a full and delightful account of that philosopher's opinions and reasonings on all the most important topics of morality and natural religion; and the Phaedo of Plato, that most finished and enchanting dialogue, in which Socrates is introduced discoursing on the nature and immortality of the soul. By this course, four of the most distinguished writers, two of the most important dialects, the manners, antiquities, and history, the moral philosophy, and natural theology of the ancient Greeks, in their most engaging forms, may be made familiar to the student; while, on the present plan, he reads just enough of a variety of writers, to be wearied and perplexed by them all, without obtaining a complete or satisfactory idea of any.

To connect the study of the Bible with this course, the student should already be familiar with Hebrew grammar, and bave read some of the earlier and easier portions of Genesis. This, if rightly taught, is to the young an easy acquisition; because the language is so perfectly simple and regular in its structure. The only difficulty is at the very outset, on account of the pure orientalism of the Hebrew being in many respects so contrary to our occidental notions of language. Then, with the study of Homer, should be connected some of the oldest poetry of the

[graphic]
[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

r

Բ

Hebrew Scriptures, as for example the most simple songs in he Pentateuch, the ninetieth and some other of the Psalms; with Herodotus, the historical writings of Moses and the other Hebrew annalists; and with Xenophon and Plato, the discourss of our Lord in the Gospels of Matthew and John, and one of he more elaborate epistles of Paul, for example, that to the Romans. The comparison should be carefully carried through every instance; and thus the superiority of the Bible will be learly manifested.

On this plan, we might engage in the business of teaching the cient languages with some hope of success and usefulness; n interest might be excited in the classics in the highest deee auspicious to the cause of sound learning; and the Word God would, at the same time, be exerting its holy and heavly influence on the intellect and the heart.

RT. V. ON THE EXODUS OF THE ISRAELITES OUT OF EGYPT, AND THEIR WAnderings in the Desert.

By the Editor.
[WITH A MAP.]

It will be the chief object of the present article, to trace the arch and wanderings of the children of Israel, from the time f their miraculous passage through the Red sea, until their arval on the borders of Moab and the confines of the promised ind. This is a subject which has long been discussed by comentators, without arriving at any satisfactory results; inasmuch s the whole tract of country south of Palestine, which the Isaelites necessarily traversed, has remained until recently a terra ncognita to modern geographers. Within the last few years, however, the researches of several travellers have torn away the veil of darkness which so long rested on those regions; and it would therefore seem desirable to apply the results of their researches to the illustration of that part of Holy Writ, which is more particularly connected with these districts. I am not aware that this has yet been attempted by any one; certainly

not in the English language; and I therefore hope that the following pages may prove acceptable to the reader, at least as a first essay to elucidate an interesting and difficult topic, and one which may hereafter be extended or modified by the suggestions of other minds, and the aid of wider and more exact geographi cal investigations.1

As a preliminary step, it will not be improper to take a brief survey of that part of Egypt in which the Israelites probably resided, in order to obtain a more definite idea and clearer view of their breaking up, and of their march before arriving at the Red sea; because all this must necessarily have a direct bearing on the question, At what place was the passage of the Red sea effected? We can here only touch upon all these points; since the necessity of a fuller consideration of them has been superseded, by the very ample discussions of Professor Stuart in the second part of his Course of Hebrew Study. Indeed, the present article must properly be regarded, only as a continuation of the discussions of that writer.

I. Land of Goshen.

In regard to the situation of the land of Goshen, the views of modern writers would appear to have become in a good degree definitely fixed. It was most probably the tract lying eastward of the Pelusian arm of the Nile, towards Arabia, i. e. between that arm on the one side, and the Red sea and the borders of Palestine on the other. Commentators, however, have been greatly divided in respect to the situation of Goshen. Cellarius, Shaw, and others, suppose it to be the region around Heliopolis, not far from the modern Cairo; Bryant places it in the Saitic nome or province ;3 while Jablonsky strangely endeavours to fix

1 The substance of this article, (as well as the accompanying map,) will also be found in the forthcoming American edition of Calmet's Dictionary, as revised by the Editor of this work, under the articles EXODUS, ELATH, CANAAN, GOSHEN, etc. The information there given has been here moulded into a different and more connected form and order; while, at the same time, this article may serve as a specimen of the additions made by the Editor to that work. This edition of Calmet, it is hoped, may prove an acceptable as well as valuable present, not only to the biblical student, but also to every attentive reader of the Bible.

2 Excursus I-IV. p. 153-198.. 3 Obs. on the Plagues of Egypt.

« PreviousContinue »