pursued. From Babylonia and Chaldea westward was a desert of great extent; which reached to Canaan, and still farther to the Nile. Nor is there, I believe, upon record above one in

25

stance of its having ever been "5 traversed. All armies, and all caravans of merchants, were obliged to go to the north of the Euphrates, when they came from Babylonia to Egypt; or the reverse, when they went from Egypt to Babylonia, Herodotus, when he is speaking of the march of Cambyses to Egypt, says, that the only way into that country was downward from the Euphrates, by Syrophenicia, and Palæstine. Μούνη δε ταύτη

26

είσι φανεραι εισβολαι ες Αίγυπτον. There is no other apparent passage into Egypt but this. And the reason is plain for the Arabian desert rendered it impracticable to proceed in a strait line. People were obliged to go round by Carchemish upon the Euphrates: and the kings of Babylonia and Egypt fortified that place alternately, to secure the pas

14 Μετα δε τας συμβολας Ευφρατε τε και Τιγρίδος κατεισιν ἡ Βαβυλωνια μέχρι θαλασσης, δυτικώτεραν έχεσα την Έρημον. Agathe mer. apud Geog. Vet. vol. 2. p. 43.

25 It is said by Berosus, that Nebuchadnezzar, hearing of his father's death, made his way in great haste over this desert. Apud Josephum contra Ap. 1. 1. c. 9. p. 450.

26 Herodotus. 1. 3. c. 5.

sage of the river. When Pharaoh Necho, and the king of Babylon wanted to meet in battle, they were obliged to come this way to the "7 encounter. The army of Cambyses, and all the armies of the Greeks and Romans; those who served under Cyrus the younger; the army of Alexander, Antiochus, Antonius, Trajan, Gordian, Julian, went to the north by the Euphrates. Some of these princes set out from Egypt, yet were obliged to take this circuit. It is remarkable, that Crassus, in his rout towards Babylonia went by 28 Charræ, or Haran: which was the very spot, where Abraham, in his way from Chaldea to Canaan, resided. At this place, the Roman general was met by Surena and slain. Alexander the Great went nearly in the same track: for though this was round about, yet it was by many esteemed the best road to Babylonia. The emperor Julian also took his rout by Haran; but from thence went the lower way by Cercusium and the Euphrates. For there were two roads through Mesopotamia to Babylon,

27 The army of Pharaoh Necho-which was by the river Euphrates in Carchemish, which Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, smote. Jeremiah. c. 46. v. 2. See 2 Kings. c. 23. v. 29. 2 Chron. c. 35.

v. 20.

23 Charræ is called Harran by the Nubian geographer. p. 198. and by Nassir Ettusæus. Geog. Vet. v. 3. p. 94.

and Persia; and they both commenced at 29 Charræ or Haran. All these circumstances afford great light to the Mosaïc history, and abundantly witness its truth and precision, even in the most minute particulars. It is therefore a great pity, that men of learning are not sufficiently considerate in their determinations. We from this instance see, that they would set aside a plain and accepted interpretation, on account of a seeming difficulty to the prejudice of Scripture: which interpretation, upon inquiry, affords a wonderful evidence in its favour: for it appears, upon the strictest examination, that things must have happened, as they are represented.

The inhabitants of Chaldea were Cuthites, of the same family, as those by whom Babylon was founded. They are in the Scriptures uniformly called Chasdim, or Chusdim. This, I may be told, is contrary to the usual mode of composition: for if they were the sons of Chus, they should regularly have been rendered Chusim. How then came they to be called Chusdim, contrary to all rule and analogy? To this I can say little. I can give no reason, why Chus was called Cuth; and the land of Cushan, Cutha: much less can I

29 Marcellinus. 1. 23. p. 273. Carras, antiquum oppidum; unde duæ ducentes Persidem viæ regiæ distinguuntur.

.

account for its being still further diversified, and rendered Scutha, and Scuthia. It is equally difficult to say, why these very Chasdim of the Scriptures are by the Ethnic writers continually styled Chaldæi; which is still a greater variation. All I know is, that the same names, at different periods, will be differently expressed and scarce any terms are exhibited by those, who are foreign to a country, as they are pronounced by the natives. But we are not to go by sound and similarity; nor does the history of a family depend merely upon their 3° their 30 name. Had the people, of whom we are treating, been in any degree natives of Assyria, we should certainly find some traces of them in the Assyrian history. But we hear nothing of them till the reign of Salmanasser, or Asuraddon; who, when they transplanted conquered nations, and had removed Israel from Samaria, brought men of " Babylon and Cutha in their room. From hence we may judge, that the Cuthites and Babylonians, among whom the Chaldeans are included,

3o There was a Chaldea upon the Pontus Euxinus, to the east of Sinope, in the country of the Chalybes: but nobody will suppose that Abraham came from hence.

31 2 Kings. c. 17. v. 24. of Assur-Adon. See Ezra. c. 4.

were in the same interest, and had been in confederacy against the Assyrians; consequently they were not of their family. In a little time, the Babylonians shook off the Assyrian yoke, and in their turn formed a great empire; and then we have continual accounts of the Chaldeans. They were in a manner the same as the Babylonians, who were indisputably the sons of Chus: and the two names are used by writers indifferently, as being nearly synonymous. Hence when the army of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, surrounded Jerusalem, it is called the army of the Chaldees. The Chaldees were against the city round about: "And the army of the Chaldees-brake down the walls. Isaiah speaks of Babylon, as the beauty of the Chaldees excellence. And when Darius the Mede obtained the throne of Babylon, he is said to have been 35 made king over the realm of the Chaldees. Even Nebuchadnezzar abovementioned is distinguished by the title of "Nebuchadnezzar,

34

32 2 Kings. c. 25. v. 4. In like manner it is said, that the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah. Jeremiah. c. 52. v. 8.

33 2 Kings. c. 25. v. 10.

34 Isaiah. c. 13. v. 19.

35 Daniel. c. 9. v. 1. 36 Ezra. c. 5. V. 12. VOL. IV.

B b