that came into Egypt； but the old Latin copies want it； and
directly assure us he was one of them。 It is therefore hardly
certain which of these was Josephus's true reading； since the
number 70 is made up without him； if we reckon Leah for one； but
if she be not reckoned； Jacob must himself be one； to complete
the number。
（12） Josephus thought that the Egyptians hated or despised the
employment of a shepherd in the days of Joseph； whereas Bishop
Cumberland has shown that they rather hated such Poehnician or
Canaanite shepherds that had long enslaved the Egyptians of old
time。 See his Sanchoniatho； p。 361； 362。
（13） Reland here puts the question； how Josephus could complain
of its not raining in Egypt during this famine； while the
ancients affirm that it never does naturally rain there。 His
answer is； that when the ancients deny that it rains in Egypt；
they only mean the Upper Egypt above the Delta； which is called
Egypt in the strictest sense； but that in the Delta ＇and by
consequence in the Lower Egypt adjoining to it＇ it did of old；
and still does； rain sometimes。 See the note on Antiq。 B。 III。
ch。 1。 sect。 6。
（14） Josephus supposes that Joseph now restored the Egyptians
their lands again。 upon the payment of a fifth part as tribute。
It seems to me rather that the land was now considered as
Pharaoh's land； and this fifth part as its rent； to be paid to
him； as he was their landlord； and they his tenants； and that the
lands were not properly restored； and this fifth part reserved as
tribute only； till the days of Sesostris。 See Essay on the Old
Testament； Append。 148； 149。
（15） As to this encomium upon Joseph； as preparatory to Jacob's
adopting Ephraim and Manasses into his own family； and to be
admitted for two tribes； which Josephus here mentions； all our
copies of Genesis omit it； ch。 48。； nor do we know whence he took
it； or whether it be not his own embellishment only。
（16） As to the affliction of Abraham's posterity for 400 years；
see Antiq。 B。 I。 ch。 10。 sect。 3； and as to what cities they
built in Egypt； under Pharaoh Sesostris。 and of Pharaoh
Sesostris's drowning in the Red Sea； see Essay on the Old
Testament； Append。 p。 132…162。
（17） Of this building of the pyramids of Egypt by the Israelites；
see Perizonius Orig。 Aegyptiac； ch。 21。 It is not impossible they
might build one or more of the small ones； but the larger ones
seem much later。 Only； if they be all built of stone； this does
not so well agree with the Israelites' labors； which are said to
have been in brick； and not in stone； as Mr。 Sandys observes in
his Travels。 p。 127； 128。
（18） Dr。 Bernard informs us here； that instead of this single
priest or prophet of the Egyptians； without a name in Josephus；
the Targum of Jonathan names the two famous antagonists of Moses；
Jannes and Jambres。 Nor is it at all unlikely that it might be
one of these who foreboded so much misery to the Egyptians； and
so much happiness to the Israelites； from the rearing of Moses。
（19） Josephus is clear that these midwives were Egyptians； and
not Israelites； as in our other copies： which is very probable；
it being not easily to be supposed that Pharaoh could trust the
Israelite midwives to execute so barbarous a command against
their own nation。 （Consult； therefore； and correct hence our
ordinary copies； Exodus 1：15； 22。 And； indeed； Josephus seems to
have had much completer copies of the Pentateuch； or other
authentic records now lost； about the birth and actions of Moses；
than either our Hebrew； Samaritan； or Greek Bibles afford us；
which enabled him to be so large and particular about him。
（20） Of this grandfather of Sesostris； Ramestes the Great； who
slew the Israelite infants； and of the inscription on his
obelisk； containing； in my opinion； one of the oldest records of
mankind； see Essay on the Old Test。 Append。 p。 139； 145； 147；
217…220。
（21） What Josephus here says of the beauty of Moses； that he was
of a divine form； is very like what St。 Stephen says of the same
beauty； that Moses was beautiful in the sight of Acts 7：20。
（22） This history of Moses； as general of the Egyptians against
the Ethiopians； is wholly omitted in our Bibles； but is thus by
Irenaeus； from Josephus； and that soon after his own age： …
〃Josephus says； that when Moses was nourished in the palace； he
was appointed general of the army against the Ethiopians； and
conquered them； when he married that king's daughter； because；
out of her affection for him； she delivered the city up to him。〃
See the Fragments of Irenaeus。 ap。 edit。 Grab。 p。 472。 Nor
perhaps did St。 Stephen refer to any thing else when he said of
Moses； before he was sent by God to the Israelites； that he was
not only learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians； but was also
mighty in words and in deeds； Acts 7：22。
（23） Pliny speaks of these birds called ibes； and says； 〃The
Egyptians invoked them against the serpents；〃 Hist。 Nat。 B。 X。
ch。 28。 Strabo speaks of this island Meroe； and these rivers
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 Mose