SECT. VI.

both in the one and the other places must have been be- CHAP. II. tween the two encampments already mentioned, viz. be÷ tween the rivers Arnon and Jordan, or more particularly betwen Dibon-Gad and the plains of Moab by Jordan, overs against Jericho. Certainly to determine the order of these intermediate encampments, is impoffible in respect of the fhort account we have of them in both places of Scripture. What seems to be probable in the matter is this: That the Ifraelites having croffed the river Arnon, first encamped at Dibon-Gad, lying in the wilderness; then at Beer, i. e. the Well, which God was pleased to discover to them, being in a great strait for water in that wildernefs; then at Almon-diblathaim, lying in the edge of the fame wilderness; then at Mattanah; then at Nahaliel, a word which taken appellatively denotes the rivers or brooks of God; and fo perhaps named, because here the Ifraelites began to meet with a country better watered than they had done in their journeys hitherto, namely, watered with feveral rivulets or ftreams iffuing from the neighbouring mountains, and running into the river Arnon, or the river Jordan. From Nahaliel the Ifraelites decamping, they seem to have encamped next in the mountainous tract of Abarim, and in this tract to have had two particular encampments, one at Bamoth, (which probably enough may be the fame place with that called, Jofh. xiii. 17. Bamothbaal, or the high places of Baal,) and the other afterwards nearer Jordan, at that part (or parts) of the mountains of Abarim, which was particularly called Nebo and Pisgah. Hence they moved, and encamped in the plains of Moab, between Beth-jefhimoth and Abel-fhittim, which is the last encampment mentioned in either of the chapters we are speaking of, or in the whole Mosaic history, as being the laft made during the life of Moses.

To conclude this chapter concerning the encampments of the Ifraelites. From comparing Num. xxxiii. with other chapters, where fome of the journeys of the Ifraelites are taken notice of, it feeins very probable, that though in Num. xxxiii. Mofes profeffes to give an account

VOL. I.

of

PART II. of the journeys of the Ifraelites; yet he is not thereby to be understood, as if he there defigned to give an account of all the particular places, where they made any halt or ftay, only for a fingle night or day, or the like; but only of such places where they encamped, i. e. ftaid for fome confiderable time. And thus I have gone through what I judged requifite to obferve concerning the journeys of the Ifraelites from Ramefes in the land of Egypt, to the caft fide of the river Jordan, during the life of Mofes.

CHAP.

CHAP. II.

1.

The coun

try beyond

Of the Country beyond Jordan, i. e. on the Eaft of Jordan, which was divided by Mofes between the two Tribes of Reuben and Gad, and one half of the Tribe of Manaffeh. THE Ifraelites having fubdued Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites, beyond or on the east of Jordan, Mofes divided their country (from its fituation in respect Jordan, by whom pofof the land of Canaan, called by the Greeks Peræa, i. e. feffed fucthe country beyond Jordan) between the two tribes of Reu- ceffively. ben and Gad, and one half of the tribe of Manaffeh. And because it will be of good ufe for the clearer understanding of the facred history, I shall briefly premise here a short account of the feveral masters, under whom these countries fucceffively were, as far forth as may be gathered from Scripture; and fo fhall have opportunity to take notice by the way of the lands of Moab and Ammon.

2.

First, as is

fcendants

I have in the former Part of the Geography of the Old Testament observed, that it is generally agreed, that upon probable, the first plantation of the earth after the Flood, as great by the depart of Mefopotamia, and the adjoining parts of what was of Uz. called by the Greeks and Latins Syria, fell to the lot and poffeffion of Aram, one of the fons of Shem; so Uz, one of the fons of Aramı, fettled himself in the parts of Syria about Damafcus; and fo thefe parts beyond Jordan, of which we are now fpeaking, were probably at first poffeffed by the defcendants of Uz. Whence it is, I think, most probably thought by many ancient as well as modern writers, that the land of Uz, mentioned in the book of Job, is to be understood of the country lying originally between Damafcus to the north, and the plantation of Cush or Arabia to the south, and the land of Canaan to the weft, and Arabia Deferta to the east.

3.

But be this as it will, in procefs of time, namely, at the time when Abraham firft fojourned in the land of Canaan, the Re

Then by