A Pisgah-Sight of Palestine, Book 5 · Part 1 · Chapter 20
CHAP. XXI. Objections answered against the eastern confines of Palestine.
Philol.
YOu have left the eastern part of this Map altogether empty, which you ought to have furnished with moe towns, and Cities therein.
Aleth.
Whose image and superscription doth this Map bear? Is it not of Arabia the desert, a wild barren Countrey? To make a desert full, is as absurd, as to paint a Black-more faire. Besides, whence should the Geographer fetch the names of these Cities, except from his own groundless fancy? And then, as King Edgar is said to have founded in England as many Monasteries as there be weeks in the year, a Map-maker might build moe Cities then there be hours therein, whilest the Reader must have as much simplicity, as the Author dishonesty, that gives credit thereunto.
Philol.
You have false pointed (to use your ownaPag. …7. §. 45. expression) the Iewish peregrinations, seeing those four intermediate stages (Comma's, as you term them) be Ar, Mattanah, Nahaliel, and Bamoth, being named after the stream of Arnon, seem on the other side of the River, and therefore rather to be placed in the Tribe of Reuben.
Aleth.
I have consulted the text, and best Comments upon it, and cannot yet be convinced, but that the same is rightly situate. Arnon I conceive divided into many streams, therefore plurally termed the brooks of bNum. 21. 14.Arnon, probably tributary brooks running into that main River: and though the places aforesaid lay north of these rivolets, they were south of the main Arnon, and in the land of Moab. However, because of their so ambiguous posture, being more willing to learn then to teach, I am ready to alter them on any better information.
Philol.
You make Iobs sons tent in your Map blown down on his children therein, whereascJob. 1. 13. Scripture calleth it expresly an house, and otherwise it is unlikely they should be slain, with such slight curtains falling upon them.
Aleth.
I will not plead that a tent is also termed an house in Scripture dCompare Gen. 26. 25. with Gen. 27. 25.phrase, that tent-dwelling was most fashionable in the eastern Countries, especially in that ancient age, that statory, or long standing tents were quilted with timber, for their stronger support; that Iob… children might be (though not killed with weight) stifled with the closeness of the very linnen in the tent, when Satan with such violence in a vengeance, drave it in upon them; but fairly charge it on the account of the Graver following his own fancy therein.
Philol.
You have made the Red-sea too near to the Dead-sea, presenting not above sixty miles distance betwixt them, when there is much more in all authentick descriptions of them. See now what covetousness doeth, it makes men guilty of much falshood, as here your over-greediness to recover Ezion Gaber within this Map, hath tempted you to trespass on due proportion.
Aleth.
I confess the main channell of the Red-sea runs many miles more south-west; but this Bay called Sinus Elaniticu…; from … (E…ath in Scripture, a fair City built bye2 King. 14. 22. Uzziah, and restored to I…ah, fDeut. 2. 8.hard by Ezion Gaber) buncheth out more to the north, and in Mr. Mores Maps, and others of good credit, is advanced as near to the Dead-sea, as in this our description. Besides, I have good reason to conceive, that this Reach of the Red-sea, anciently stretched more north-ward, then now adays; even to the City of Elana, or Elath, whence it takes its name; because in Ptolemies Map, Elana is set in the land, some miles distance from the Sea; whither, no doubt, it reached formerly, and made an haven for Ezion Gaber thereabouts.
Philol.
But, how can Ezion Gaber stand on the Red-sea, when we read of Huram King of Tyre (an haven sufficiently known to be seated on the Mediterranean) that he sent g2 Chr. 8. 17, 18.ships to Solomon to Ezion Gaber? Surely, they sailed not round about Africa, much less can you conceive them to goe over land, (ships having fins, and not feet) and a shole of fish may with as much probability be driven over the Continent.
Aleth.
Here Sir, I will not tell you of the Prince of Orange his constantly carrying boats to make bridges of (though of no great burden) in his wagons: much less will I instance in those seventy lesser ships, and Galliots, brought by Zoganes Bassa Anno 1453. up a hKnowls T…k. Hist. pag. 343.great hill, and so by dry land with all their sails abroad▪ out of the Bosphorus, the space of eight miles, into the haven of Constantinople, by an ingenious device, and a great strength of men to manage it, whereby the said City was soon after unexpectedly taken by the Turke. An invention formerly found out, and practised by the Venetians at the lake of Bennacus. But, waving these things, take notice, I pray, of two memorable passages concerning the matter in hand.
1 King. 9. 26.
And King Solomon made a navy of Ships in Ezion Gaber.
2 Chron. 8. 18.
And Huram sent him [to Ezion Gaber] by the … of his servants, Ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea.
The result of both is this, Solomons ships were built in the place at Ezion Gaber, where all their lumber, and ma…sie timber was provided, at the Dock wherein they were made: whilest their tackling, and other essentiall implements thereof (easily portable when taken in pieces) might be sent from Tyre by land-carriages. Such far carting being part of the burdens Solomon imposed on the people, whereof they afterwards so grievously i1 King. 12. 4.complained: or else by Hurams sending ships, by a Metonymie of the cause understand ship-rights, such as found materials there, and brought art and industry (virtually with the former a whole navy) thither with them.
Philol.
Seeing Edom bounded north-ward on the Dead, south-ward on the Redsea (whereon stood Ezion Gaber in the land ofKing. 9. 26. Edom) how can the children of Israel be conceived (when denyed passage through it) tolNum. 21. 4. compass the land of Edom without coming into any part thereof, except they went into the water?
Aleth.
Understand it, they went not the nearest way to Canaan through the heart, and fruitfull middle of Edom, but surrounded the same, going through the borders thereof (leaving the Red-sea on the right hand) where their passage was no whit prejudiciall to the Edomites, as being through a base Countrey secured against the long stay of any passengers therein, by its own barrenness. Besides,m…. some conceive the land of Edom extended not anciently so far as the Red sea, so that in Moses his time Ezion Gaber belonged not thereunto, though in the days of Solomon accounted parcell thereof.