It appears then very clear, by comparing Dr. Robinson with Moses and with facts, that his extraordinary ebb, brought about by natural means,' could not have produced such a state of things as he supposes, still less such a state of things as the miracle requires. The only resource is to deny the miracle, and disown the entire ac count. If this bold course is declined, then the passage at Suez or across the arm must be given up in favour of one lying far more to the south.
These strictures on Dr. Robinson's hypothesis are in no way prompted by any previous leaning to a preference in favour of the passage at Ras Attaka, for they were penned exclusively under the influence of the scriptural narrative. And if authority is needed as against one who has been on the spot, what has already been given from Sicard might be deemed sufficient, especially when it so obviously agrees with the tenor of the accounts found in Exodus and in Josephus. But other witnesses are not wanting. Mr. Blumhardt, in his missionary visit to Abyssinia, passed through Suez (Oct. 1836, see Church Missionary Record, No. t, Jan. 1838), and furnishes some remarks on the subject. The Red Sea at Suez is exceedingly narrow, and in my opinion it cannot be that the Israelites here experienced the power and love of God in their passage through the Red Sea. The breadth of the sea is at present scarcely a quarter of an hour by Suez. Now if this be the part which they crossed, how is it possible that all the army of Pharaoh, with his chariots, could have been drowned ? I am rather inclined to believe that the Israelites experienced that wonderful deliver ance about thirty miles lower down. This opinion is also strengthened by most of the Eastern churches, and the Arabs, who believe that the Israelites reached the opposite shore at a place called Gebel Pharaon, which on that account has received this name. If we accept this opinion, it agrees very well with the Scripture.' Still more important is the evidence of Dr. Olin ( Travels in the East, New York, 1843). Many of his remarks we have anti cipated in our observations on Robinson. Dr. Olin, however, agrees with Robinson in fixing Etham on the border of the wilderness which stretches along the eastern shore of the arm of the sea which runs up above Suez.' At this point he says the Hebrews were commanded to turn. They turned directly southward and marched to an ex posed position, hemmed in completely by the sea, the desert, and Mount Attaka. A false confidence was thus excited in Pharaoh, and the deliverance was made the more signal and the more impressive alike to the Israelites and to Egypt. Admitting the possibility that the sea at Suez may have been wider and deeper than it is now, Olin remarks, it must still have been very difficult, if not impossible, for the army of Israel, encumbered with infants and aged people, as well as with flocks, to pass over (near Suez) in the face of their enemies' (i. 346). Besides, the peculiarities of the place
must have had a tendency to disguise the character and impair the effect of the miracle. The passage made at the intervention of Moses was kept open all night. The Egyptians followed the Hebrews to the midst of the sea, when the sea engulphed them. The entire night seems to have been con sumed in the passage. It is hardly credible that so much time should have been consumed in cross ing near Suez, to accomplish which one or two hours would have been sufficient.' Nor is it con ceivable that the large army of the Egyptians should have been at once within the banks of so narrow a channel. The more advanced troops would have reached the opposite shore before the rear had entered the sea ; and yet we know that all Pharaoh's chariots and horsemen followed to the midst of the sea, and, together with all the host that came in after them, were covered with the returning waves' (i. 34S). Preferring the position at Ras Attaka, Olin states that the gulf is here ten or twelve miles wide. The valley ex pands into a considerable plain, hounded by lofty precipitous mountains on the right and left, and by the sea in front, and is sufficiently ample to accom modate the vast number of human beings who com posed the two armies.' An east wind would act almost directly across the gulf. It would be unable to co-operate with an ebb tide in removing the waters—no objection certainly if we admit the exercise of God's miraculous agency ;' but a very great impediment in the way of any rationalistic hypothesis. The channel is wide enough to al low of the movements described by Moses, and the time, which embraced an entire night, was sufficient for the convenient march of a large army over such a distance.' The opinion which fixes the point of transit in the valley or wady south of Mount Attaka derives confirmation from the names still attached to the principal objects in this local ity. Upon this point I acknowledge my obliga tions to the Rev. Mr. Leider, of Cairo, who has spent more than ten years in Egypt, is familiar with the Arabic language, and has devoted much attention to this vexed question. Ile recently spent several days in this neighbourhood in making investigations and inquiries in reference to the pas sage of the Israelites. Jebel Attaka, according to Mr. Leider, who only confirms the statements of former travellers, means in the language of the Arabs the Mount of Deliverance.' Baideah or Becleah, the name of this part of the valley, means the Miraculous,' while Wady el Tih means the Valley of Wanderings.' Pi-hahiroth, where Moses was commanded to encamp, is rendered by scholars the mouth of Hahiroth,' which answers well to the deep gorge south of Attaka, but not at all to the broad plain about Suez' (i. 350).
Other parts of the line of march pursued by the Israelites will be found treated of under the heads MANNA, SINAI, WANDERING.-J. R. B.