Let it suffice, that we have from them transmitted to us a dynasty of the Shepherds; the fifteenth of Africanus; and the seventeenth of Eusebius, which is likewise the fifteenth, if we reckon from the bottom. The next, which is by them all introduced as the eighteenth, begins in this manner :

68 The names are in a great measure taken from Africanus in Syncellus. p. 72. See also Theoph. ad Autolyc. 1. 3. p. 392.

69 So he is called by Apion, and Ptolemy Mendesius : likewise by Tatianus Assyrius, p. 273. Justin. Martyr. Cohort. p. 13. Clemens Alex. Strom. 1. 1. p. 378. See Euseb. Præp. Evang. I. 10. p. 490. 493.497.

Armeses.

Rhameses.

Amenophis.

70

The account given by Manethon, concerning the expulsion of the Shepherds is this. After they had for many years kept the Egyptians in subjection; the people of Upper Egypt rose against them, and, under the direction of their kings, carried on a long and bloody war. At last Halisphrag muthosis, more generally called Misphragmuthosis, surrounded them in their district, named Avaris, which they had fortified. Here they were besieged a long time: when they at last came to terms with 7° Amosis, the son of the former king. After some conferences, they agreed to entirely evacuate the country, if they might be permitted to go off unmolested. He accordingly gave them his promise, and they all departed. When they were gone, he demolished the "fortification which they had raised; that it might not any more be a receptacle to disaffected, or rebellious people. From this history we learn, that Misphragmuthosis, and his son Amosis reigned in the time of the first shepherds. Therefore the reign of the for

70 Tethmosis of Africanus.

71

Κατέσκαψε την Αυαριν Αμωσις. Tatianus Assyrius, from Ptolemy Mendesius. p. 273. See also Clemens Alex. 1. 1. p. 378. and note '7.

mer, and some years of the latter, should be placed in collateral order, as being plainly synchronical. The like is to be observed of all the previous kings of that dynasty. They were the princes who first made head against the Shepherds; and carried on the war mentioned above, which was put an end to by Amosis. They were consequently synchronical. But by this not having been observed, they are brought after, and some of them are sunk above an hundred years lower than they should be: and this in contradiction to the very evidence by these writers produced. For they allow, that Amosis ruined the place called Avaris, into which his father Misphragmuthosis had before driven the Shepherds: and it is expressly said, that it was afterwards given by Amenophis to the other Shepherds, who succeeded. Nothing can be more determinate than the words of Manethon; την των Ποιμένων ερημωθείσαν πολιν Αύαριν συνεχώρησε. He gave them the city Avaris, which had been vacated by the former Shepherds. We find that the history lies within a short compass. The only thing to be inquired into, is the identity of the persons spoken of. As Misphragmuthosis defeated the Shepherds, and drove them into Avaris, do we find a king of

72

72 Manethon apud Josephum contra Ap.1 1. p. 460.

Egypt so called? There is a king of that name: and if we look into the list, we find him the sixth in the eighteenth" dynasty, which consists of Theban, or Diospolite kings. His son Amosis is said to have concluded the whole affair, and finally to have expelled them. Does any prince

occur of the name of Amosis or Tethmosis, in this order? A person of this name appears in the same dynasty; and he is successor to the former, in conformity to the history given. It is said, that Amenophis gave the district, which the former Shepherds vacated, to the latter. As these. succeeded the others very soon, is there any king of the name of Amenophis, whose reign coincides with these circumstances? Such a one very happily occurs: and he comes the very next in succession to the prince, who sent the first Shepherds away. These things surely are very plain. Why then are these kings brought so much lower than the æra allotted to the Israelites? and why have the most learned of the Fathers adjudged the departure of that people to the time of the first king of this Theban dynasty? This prince is said to have lived 74 twenty-five years after they were re

73 6. Misphragmnthosis.

7. Amosis, sive Tethmosis.

8. Amenophis.

74 Theoph. ad Autolyc. 1. 3. p. 392.

75

tired. From hence we may be assured, that this could not be the person, with whom Moses was concerned; for that king was drowned in the Red Sea. Theophilus calls this king Amasis; and speaking of these twenty-five years, says, that he reigned that term, ” μετα την εκβολήν τα λας; after he had erpelled the people spoken of. This can never be made applicable to the Israelites. It cannot with any propriety be said of them that they were expelled. They were detained against their will: and when they were suffered at last to depart, the Egyptians pursued after them, in order to bring them 7 back. The history certainly relates to the Cuthite Shepherds, who stood their ground till they were actually driven away. So far, I believe, is true; that the Israelites left the country in the reign of Amasis, who was more properly called Ramases, and Ramases the son of Sethon but this was a long time after the reign of Amos, or Amosis, who is placed at the head of the Theban dynasty.

75 Ibid.

76 It may be said, that the Egyptians pressed the Israelites to depart: And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land, &c. Exodus. c. 12. v. 33. But this does not come up to the real and hostile expulsion, which is mentioned by the Egyptian historians; so that the people thus forcibly expelled could not possibly be the Israelites.