directed by a Divine voice to strike the sea with his rod, when he heard it, touched the water with his rod; and so the fluid divided, and the host passed over through a dry way. But when the Egyptians entered along with them, and pursued them, it is said, that fire flashed against them in front, and the sea, returning back, overwhelmed the passage. Thus the Egyptians perished, both by the fire, and by the reflux of the tide.'

The latter account is extremely curious: it not only confirms Scripture, but it notices three additional circumstances. 1. That for their protection against THE GOD OF ISRAEL, the Egyptians brought with them the sacred animals; and by this means, God executed judgment upon all the [bestial] gods of Egypt, as foretold, Exod. xii. 12, who perished with their infatuated votaries; completing the destruction of both, which began with smiting the first born both of man and beast. 2. That the recovery of the "jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment," which they asked and obtained of the Egyptians, according to the Divine command, Exod. xii. 35, 36, was a leading motive with the Egyptians, to pursue them; as the bringing back the Israelites to slavery had been with "Pharoah and his servants," or officers. And, 3. That the destruction of the Egyptians was partly occasioned by lightning and thunderbolts, from the presence of the Lord: exactly corresponding to the psalmist's sublime description: "The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee; they were afraid: the depths also were troubled. clouds poured out water: the skies sent out a sound: thine arrows also went abroad.-Yea, he sent out his arrows, and scattered them; and he shot out lightnings, and discomfited them. Then the channels of waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils," Psa. lxxvii. 16, 17; xviii. 14, 15.

The

The exode of the Israelites, and the destruction of Pharoah and his host, is dated by Dr. Hales, 1648 years B. C. This learned author, also, as well as other chronologers, enumerates many monarchs who ruled over Egypt after this period; but as Scripture, which is the most ancient piece of history extant is silent from the time of the exodus till the days of Solomon concerning Egypt, (a fact which proves that the storm of war had passed off either to the westward of Palestine, or that the Egyptian conquerors followed the maritime roads by Gaza

and the Phenician coasts, leaving Judea to the right,) our knowledge of these monarchs is very limited. What is known, is derived partly from profane authors, and partly from the hieroglyphics and tradition, neither of which speak of some of the monarchs enumerated by chronologers.* The first monarch of whom there is any historical information after the exode is

MOERIS, OR MYRIS.†

The name of Moeris is not found on the Phonetic inscriptions; nevertheless his reign is a well authenticated fact; and he seems to have been one of the wisest and best of the Egyptian kings. To him is ascribed the formation of the lake Moeris, now called Kairoun, which was designed to receive the redundant waters of the Nile, and to discharge them by sluices, for the irrigation of the lands when the river failed. According to Herodotus, this lake was about 450 miles in circumference, and, from the varied statements of modern travellers, from thirty to fifty miles long, and from six to ten miles wide, and its deepest part 200 cubits, or 100 yards; which is too great a work to have been excavated by human labours. Nothing, indeed, says Browne, can present an appearance so unlike the works of men. On the north-east and south is a rocky ridge, in every appearance, primeval. It would be safer, therefore, to understand, that Moeris only opened a communication between the river and this vast natural basin, which runs parallel thereto from north to south, about ten miles distant, and made a canal, eighty stadia, or about four leagues in length, and three plethra, or 100 yards, in breadth, as described by Diodorus. would have been a stupendous work, and far more glorious than either the pyramids or the labyrinth, if we consider it with reference to its utility; for it was used for the three-fold purposes of agriculture, commerce, and a fishery. This canal is now called Bahr Jusuf, or " Joseph's river," and it is

This

* For the names of these monarchs we refer the reader to the lists of dynasties given at the conclusion of the book.

+ Between the exode of the Israelites, and the reign of Moeris, there were several monarchs of Egypt, but, as we have no authentic information concerning them, it must be considered as a blank in the history. Their names will be found in the lists at the end of the book.

vulgarly ascribed to that great man, while regent of Egypt. This has arisen, probably, from the circumstance, that the famous Sultan Joseph Saladin (who made that wonder at Cairo called "Joseph's well," attributed also to the patriarch,) repaired this celebrated work.

Besides this, Moeris is said to have built two great pyramids in the midst of this lake, 600 feet high, the half of which was covered by the water. These are mentioned both by Herodotus and Diodorus; the former of whom, whose veracity is unimpeachable, says that he saw them, and that on the top of each there was a stone colossus sitting upon a throne. These pyramids are not, however, mentioned by Strabo, nor are they to be met with at the present day; from which circumstance it has been asserted, that there is not a fact in history, in which testimony and observation are more at variance.

Moeris appears also to have been attentive to religious observances. He built the northern portico of the temple of Vulcan, at Memphis, which was more stately and magnificent than all the rest. This is noticed both by Herodotus and Diodorus, the former of whom sums up the notice of the various works of Moeris with this observation, "These are, indeed, lasting monuments of his fame."

The greatest work ascribed to Moeris was the famous labyrinth, from whose model that of Crete was afterwards copied by Dædalus; and in which, Pliny says, not a single piece of wood was used, being entirely constructed of stone. Herodotus, says Mr. Wilkinson, attributes its foundation to the twelve kings in the time of Psammeticus; but tradition seems to have ascribed it to Moeris, though it is possible that the son of Neco and his colleagues may have enlarged it. Pliny asserts, it was first built by king Petesuccus, or Tithoes, though others affirm it to have been the palace of Motherus, or the sepulchre of Moeris; and received opinion maintains that it was dedicated to the sun. Diodorus, again, mentions Mendes, or Maron, or Marrus, as the founder, while others have put forth the claims of Ismandes, probably Osymandas,

and various other monarchs.

Manetho has attributed nineteen years and six months for the reign of this prince; but this appears too short a period for the various and stupendous works which he executed: hence, Dr. Hales thinks, that the reign of Harmesses, his predecessor, which is stated to have been sixty-six years two

months, should be assigned to Moeris. The death of Moeris is dated B. c. 1308.

SESOSTRIS.

If the authority of Diodorus is admitted, seven generations intervened between Moeris and Sesostris; but Herodotus seems to place the latter as his immediate successor. By some writers, Sesostris, or, as Diodorus calls him, Sesosis, was reputed to have been the son of Amenophis III., whom Dr. Hales identifies with Moeris; and they record that about the period of his birth, the god Vulcan appeared to his father in a dream, informing him that his child should become lord of the whole earth.

Josephus supposed that this celebrated monarch of Egypt was the Shishak or Sesac of Scripture, who invaded Rehoboam and plundered the temple of Jerusalem; a supposition which has been adopted by many able chronologers, but which is now generally abandoned as untenable.

The incidents recorded in the life of Sesostris are more numerous and stirring, and better authenticated, than any of his immediate predecessors. He was not only, indeed, one of the most powerful kings of Egypt, but one of the greatest conquerors recorded in the annals of antiquity. Diodorus relates, that the father of Sesostris formed a design of making him a conqueror, while yet he was but an infant. For this purpose, he took up all the children throughout Egypt, born on the same day with his son, to be educated with him, and caused them to be trained alike in the same rigid discipline of the public schools, that they might compose a band of companions, attached to his person, and qualified to fill the first civil and military departments of the state. The chief part of their education was the inuring them to a hard and laborious life, in order that they might one day be capable of sustaining the toils of war, and of excelling in brute force. They were never suffered to eat till they had run on foot or horseback a considerable race, and hunting was their most usual exercise.

It is remarked by Ælian, that Sesostris was instructed by Mercury in politics and the art of government. This Mercury is he whom the Greeks called Trismegistus, "thrice great," and to whom, some say, Egypt owes the invention of almost every art. But as Jambilicus, a priest of Egypt, affirms, that it was customary for the Egyptians to affix the

name of Hermes, or Mercury, to all the new books or inven. tions that were offered to the public, it seems erroneous to ascribe them to one man, and the error may have arisen from that circumstance.

During his father's lifetime, Sesostris reduced the Arabians, who had never been conquered before, eastward; and the Libyans, westward; and, encouraged by these successes, he formed the design of conquering the known world. Accord ingly, when his father died, he prepared for his ambitious enterprise. But before he left his kingdom, he provided for hi domestic security, in winning the hearts of his subjects, by his generosity, justice, and obliging behaviour. He was no less studious to gain the affection of his officers and soldiers, being well assured, that all his designs would prove unsuc cessful, unless his should be attached to his person by the ties of esteem, affection, and interest. He divided the country into thirty-six governments, called Nomi, and bestowed them on persons of merit and approved fidelity.

army

In the mean time, he made the requisite preparations, levied forces, and headed them with officers of bravery and reputation, chiefly taken from among the youths who had been educated with him. It is said, that the number of his officers was 1,700, and that his army consisted of 600,000 foot, and 24,000 horse, besides 27,000 armed chariots all numbers, however, of so large an amount, at this early period must be received with caution.

Sesostris began his expedition by invading Ethiopia, or Abyssinia, situated on the south of Egypt. This country he rendered tributary, obliging the nations thereof to furnish him annually with a stated quantity of ebony, ivory, and gold. He then reduced the islands of the Red Sea, or Persian Gulf, with his fleet. He is said, also, to have marched an army by land as far as India, eastwards, and to have penetrated even beyond the Ganges; but this is, probably, a fiction of the Egyptian priests, who reported it to Diodorus, from whom we derive the information. After this, he turned his arms northwards, subdued the Assyrians and Medes of Upper Asia, and crossing over into Europe, subdued the Scythians and Thracians. But he received a check at the river Tanais, where he was in danger of losing his army from the difficulty of the passes, and the want of provisions. He left a colony in the ancient kingdom of Colchis, situated to the east of the Black Sea, where the Egyptian manners and customs have ever been retained. He likewise erected pillars ir