the Gulf of Suoz at the time of tho Exodns is open to question. On the whole, it is perhaps most probable that tho Bitter Lakes were then a portion of the Red Sea inlet, 1 being connected with it by a narrow and shallow channel, which is now dried up. We should ourselves place the passage somewhere near the present site of Suez, and we should suppose the point of landing to have been about five or six miles north of the Ayun Musa, about which, for the sake of the water, the host would no doubt have encamped. To the objection that the site of Suez is too far south, since the distance from Etham, as we have now placed it, is above forty miles, which could not have been accomplished in a day, we answer that in the Scriptural narrative there is no mention of days, and th.at it is quite a gratuitous supposition that the number of camping-places mentioned marks the number of days spent on the journey. In point of fact only six camping- places are mentioned between Rameses and the wilderness of Sin ; yet it is expressly stated that the journey took a full month (Ex. xvi. 1 ). We should suppose at least three days to have been occupied by the march from Etham to Pi-hahiroth. The Red Sea crossed, and the Ayftn Musa reached, there was no doubt a halt of at least a day, while Moses composed his " Song," and thanksgiving was offered, and Miriam and the other women danced and sang for joy (Ex. xv. 1-21 ). The Israelites were then led out into " the wilderness of Shur" (ib. ver. 22), or, as it is elsewhere called, "the wilderness of Etham" (Num. xxxiii. 8). These names seem to have been applied, indifferently, to the whole western portion of the great desert-tract which separates Egypt from Palestine. It was called " the wilderness of Etham," because Etham lay "in its edge" (Ex. xiii. 20), at the point where it was most accessible from Egypt ; and it was called " the wilderness of Shur," probably from a name, Zor, which the Egyptians applied to the tract within which Etham was situated. 2 Through this tract, or rather through the south-western portion of it, which lay along the eastern side of the Gulf of Suez, the Israelites proceeded for three entire days without finding any water (io.). Travellers tell us that this is the exact character of the tract east of the Gulf from the Ayun Musa to the source, called Howarah, 3 which lies at the distance of about thirty-eight or thirty-nine miles. Most critics agree that this was the line of route pursued, and identify Marah (io. ver. 23) with Howarah or its neighbourhood, which has several springs that art.
Migdol. In modem geography, some low hills near Suez are said to be called Mnktala (Stanley, 'Sinai and Palestine,' p. 65), which may be a reminiscence of Migdol, but points to no exact site. Of the names Pi-hahuoth and Baal-zephon there is no trace at all. 1 So Canon Cook (' Sfeaker's Commentary,' vol. i. pt. i. p. 435), and Mr. R. Stuart Poole
(' Dictionary of the Bible, vol. iii. p. 1016). 2 Brugsch, 'History of Egypt,' vol. ii. p..357. 3 Robinson, 'Biblical Researches,' vol. i. pp. 91-96; Stanley,' Sinai and Palestine,' p. 66;
Wilson and Palmer ' Our Work in Palestine,' p 275 ; etc. d xxxiv INTRODUCTION.
remarkably "bittor." 1 We incline to agree with them, though it must bo nllowed that in the space of three thousand years many physical changes nre likely to have occurred, and that an exact correspondence between the present condition of the country and the description of Moses is not to be expected. The next camping-place after M:arah was Elim, which means "trees" according to some critics. 2 Here were twelve springs of water and a grove of seventy palm-trees 3 (Ex. xv. 27)-pleasing objects to the traveller who has spent three or four consecutive days in the true wilderness. Elim has been identified '\1\rith three distinct sites-WadyGhurundel, WadyUseit, and Wady Shubeikah,' all of which have trees and water. They are distant from Howarah, respectively, six miles, ten miles, and sixteen miles. To us it seems that W ady Ghurundel, which would be reached first, and which is the most beautiful of the three, has the best claim of the three to represent the camping-place of Elim, the short distance from Howarah furnishing no objection now that there was no need of haste, and the abundance of shade, pasturage, and water rendering the place most attractive. We are inclined to believe that a considerable stay was made in this locality, more especially for the refreshment of the flocks and herds, which must have suffered severely during the three days' march without water. 6 The next notice of movement which we have in Exodus is remarkably vague, and but for the light thrown upon the subject by the summary in Numbers might be misleading. "They took their journey,'' we are told, " from Elim, and all the congregation of the children of Israel came unto the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai " (Ex. xvi. 1). From this it might have been supposed that the next encampment after Elim was in the wilderneBB of Sin, which must then have been looked for within twelve or fifteen miles of Wady Ghurundel. But there is no suitable tract within the distance. We find, however, by Numbers (xxxiii. 10, 11), that there was at least one encampment between Elim and the Sin desert. " They removed from Elim," it is said, "and encamped by the Red Sea;
1 The bitterness of A.in Howa.re.b is recognised by ell travelleIB, from Burckhe.rdt (' Travels
in Syria.,' p. 473) downwards. Win~r ~e.lwi:irterbuch, ad 1'oc.. Marah) says ~hat a still bitterer well lies east of Mare.h. Mention IS e.lso made of m exceedmgly bitter sprmg south of Marah (' Dictiowi.ry of the Bible,' vol ii. p. 233). • Stanley, ' Sinai and Pe.lestine,' pp. 22, 508 ; Hlghton, in Smith's 'Dictionary of the Bible, vol. ii. p. 532, note, etc. 3 Pe.l.m.s are still found in these parts, both at W ady Ghurundel and W ady Useit. They are "either dwarf, i. e. trunkless, or else with savage hairy trunks and branches all dishevelled" (Stanley, p. 68). • Sbubeikah is preferred by Lepsius (' Travels,' vol. i. p. 27) ; Useit by Laborde(' GeograJ>hical Commentary on Exodus,' xv. 27); Ghurundel, or Gliurundel together with Useit, by Dean Stanley (Ji. 68) ; Ghurundel positively by Canon Cook, the Bev. S. Clark, Xa.lisch, Knobel, and most others. • It is our conviction that the cattle of the Israelites rapidly decreased as they pursued their march. Many were probably killed for food; others died of thiIBt, or pined away from the iu.su.fficiency of the pasturage. INTRODUCTION. XXXV