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Astapus and Astaboras； B。 XVI。 p。 771； 786； and B XVII。 p。 82＇。
（24） This superstitious fear of discovering the name with four
letters； which of late we have been used falsely to pronounce
Jehovah； but seems to have been originally pronounced Jahoh； or
Jao； is never； I think； heard of till this passage of Josephus；
and this superstition； in not pronouncing that name； has
continued among the Rabbinical Jews to this day （though whether
the Samaritans and Caraites observed it so early； does not
appear）。 Josephus also durst not set down the very words of the
ten commandments； as we shall see hereafter； Antiq。 B。 III。 ch。
5。 sect。 4； which superstitious silence I think has yet not been
continued even by the Rabbins。 It is； however； no doubt but both
these cautious concealments were taught Josephus by the
Pharisees； a body of men at once very wicked and very
superstitious。
（25） Of this judicial hardening the hearts and blinding the eyes
of wicked men； or infatuating them； as a just punishment for
their other willful sins； to their own destruction； see the note
on Antiq。 B。 VII。 ch。 9。 sect。 6。
（26） As to this winter or spring hail near Egypt and Judea； see
the like on thunder and lightning there； in the note on Antiq。 B。
VI。 ch。 5。 sect。 6。
（27） These large presents made to the Israelites； of vessels of
and vessels of gold； and raiment； were； as Josephus truly calls
them； gifts really given them； not lent them； as our English
falsely renders them。 They were spoils required； not of them；
Genesis 15：14； Exodus 3：22； 11：2； Psalm 105：37；） as the same
version falsely renders the Hebrew word Exodus 12：35； 36。 God had
ordered the Jews to demand these as their pay and reward； during
their long and bitter slavery in Egypt； as atonements for the
lives of the Egyptians； and as the condition of the Jews'
departure； and of the Egyptians' deliverance from these terrible
judgments； which； had they not now ceased； they had soon been all
dead men； as they themselves confess； ch。 12。 33。 Nor was there
any sense in borrowing or lending； when the Israelites were
finally departing out of the land for ever。
（28） Why our Masorete copy so groundlessly abridges this account
in Exodus 12：40； as to ascribe 430 years to the sole
peregrination of the Israelites in Egypt； when it is clear even
by that Masorete chronology elsewhere； as well as from the
express text itself； in the Samaritan； Septuagint； and Josephus；
that they sojourned in Egypt but half that time； … and that by
consequence； the other half of their peregrination was in the
land of Canaan； before they came into Egypt； … is hard to say。
See Essay on the Old Testament； p。 62； 63。
（29） Take the main part of Reland's excellent note here； which
greatly illustrates Josephus； and the Scripture； in this history；
as follows： 〃＇A traveller； says Reland； whose name was＇ Eneman；
when he returned out of Egypt； told me that he went the same way
from Egypt to Mount Sinai； which he supposed the Israelites of
old traveled； and that he found several mountainous tracts； that
ran down towards the Red Sea。 He thought the Israelites had
proceeded as far as the desert of Etham； Exodus 13：20； when they
were commanded by God to return back； Exodus 14：2； and to pitch
their camp between Migdol and the sea； and that when they were
not able to fly； unless by sea； they were shut in on each side by
mountains。 He also thought we might evidently learn hence； how it
might be said that the Israelites were in Etham before they went
over the sea； and yet might be said to have come into Etham after
they had passed over the sea also。 Besides； he gave me an account
how he passed over a river in a boat near the city Suez； which he
says must needs be the Heroopolia of the ancients； since that
city could not be situate any where else in that neighborhood。〃
As to the famous passage produced here by Dr。 Bernard； out of
Herodotus； as the most ancient heathen testimony of the
Israelites coming from the Red Sea into Palestine； Bishop
Cumberland has shown that it belongs to the old Canaanite or
Phoenician shepherds； and their retiring out of Egypt into Canaan
or Phoenicia； long before the days of Moses。 Sanchoniatho； p。
374； &c。
（30） Of these storms of wind； thunder； and lightning； at this
drowning of Pharaoh's army； almost wanting in our copies of
Exodus； but fully extant in that of David； Psalm 77：16…18； and in
that of Josephus here； see Essay on the Old Test。 Append。 p。
15；1； 155。
（31） What some have here objected against this passage of the
Israelites over the Red Sea； in this one night； from the common
maps； viz。 that this sea being here about thirty miles broad； so
great an army conld not pass over it in so short a time； is a
great mistake。 Mons。 Thevenot； an authentic eye…witness； informs
us； that this sea； for about five days' journey； is no where more
than about eight or nine miles over…cross； and in one place but
four or five miles； according to De Lisle's map； which is made
from the best travelers themselves； and not copied from others。
What has been further objected against this passage of the
Israelites； and drowning of the Egyptians； being miraculous also；
viz。 that Moses might carry the Israelites over at a low tide
without any miracle； while yet the Egyptians； not knowing the
tide so well as he； might be drowned upon the return of the tide；
is a strange story indeed ！ That Moses； who never had lived here；
should know the quantity and time of the flux and reflux of the
Red Sea better than the Egyptians themselves in its neighborhood！
Yet does Artapanus； an ancient heathen historian； inform us； that
this was what the more ignorant Memphites； who lived at a great
distance； pretended； though he confesses； that the more learned
Heliopolitans； who lived much nearer； owned the destruction of
the Egyptians； and the deliverance of the Israelites； to have
been miraculous： and De Castro； a mathematician； who surveyed
this sea with great exactness； informs us； that there is no great
flux or reflux in this part of the Red Sea； to give a color to
this hypothesis； nay； that at the elevation of the tide there is
little above half the height of a man。 See Essay on the Old Test。
Append。 p。 239； 240。 So vain and groundless are these and the
like evasions and subterfuges of our modern sceptics and
unbelievers； and so certainly do thorough inquiries and authentic
evidence disprove and confute such evasions and subterfuges upon
all occasions。
（32） What that hexameter verse； in which Moses's triumphant song
is here said to be written； distinctly means； our present
ignorance of the old Hebrew metre or measure will not let us
determine。 Nor does it appear to me certain that even Josephus
himself had a distinct notion of it； though he speaks of several
sort of that metre or measure； both here and elsewhere。 Antiq。 B。
IV。 ch。 8。 sect。 44； and B。 VII。 ch。 12。 sect。 3。
（33） Take here the original passages of the four old authors that
still remain； as to this transit of Alexander the Great over the
Pamphylian Sea： I mean； of Callisthenes； Strabu； Arrian； and
Appian。 As to Callisthenes； who himself accompanied Alexander in
this