of affirmation; " and he (Jehu) took him (Jehonadab) up into his chariot." So then, it was not as an assistance to enable Jehonadab to get into the chariot, that Jehu gave him his hand, but, on the contrary, Jehonadab gave his hand to Jehu. This seems confirmed by verse 16, " So THEY made him (Jehonadab) ride in his (Jehu's) chariot." All these pronouns embarrass our translation, but they were perfectly understood by those who knew the customs of their country. Vide No. CXXXI.

No. LXIV. EASTERN ASSES. TAXATION OF JOSEPH AND MARY.

AN uncertainty if not a difficulty, has been started, whether to adhere to the opinion of Dr. DODDRIDGE, or to that of Mr. HERVEY, in respect to the kind of Ass on which our Lord rode into Jerusalem. Dr. DODDRIDGE observes, that the Eastern Asses are larger and much better than our's, and that our Lord's triumphant entry was not degraded by indignity; but, though humble, was not mean. Mr. HERVEY, on the contrary, glories in whatever of meanness and disrepute attached to that circumstance. It may however, be remarked, that much of that extreme meanness which some have found in the character and situation of Jesus, arises from their imperfect acquaintance with local customs and manners, and is greatly diminished on closer inspection : for, however humble might be his appearance, yet it was neither vulgar nor mean. How far the following extracts support this idea, in respect to the kind of Ass rode by our Lord when entering Jerusalem, is left to the reader; but this is not the only instance in which the medium is safest and best. See No. LII.

"Christians cannot, indeed, repine at being forbidden to ride on horseback in the streets of Cairo, for the Asses are there VERY HANDSOME; and are used for riding, by the greater part of the Mahometans; and by the most distinguished women of the country." NIEBUHR, page 39, French edition.

In fact, this use of Asses is general in the East; and only the grandees use horses in the cities. This excepts the Arabs of the country, those in offices of government, &c. See Ass, in Dict.

To this hint, may be added a question, whether we must not adhere to the same principle of medium, in order to obtain a true idea of the circumstances of our Lord's parents?-if, as seems at least plausible, Augustus, in taxing Syria, established the same rules of taxation as Sultan Selim enforced in later times: that of a territorial impost. For, in this case, the inference will be, that Joseph and Mary possessed some landed property at Bethlehem, which brought them there to be there taxed. Moreover, had personal property been the subject of taxation, and had Joseph and Mary possessed no other, might they not as well have been taxed at Nazareth, where they dwelt ? This inference is by no means weakened, if the word apographe, employed by Luke, signifies ENROLMENT " every one in HIS OWN (Tv dav) city"-the city of his family and inheritance—where his property lay. Is not enrolment at least as natural for land, as for any other property? previous to an assessment laid on a country generally.

"When Sultan Selim had conquered Syria, in order to render the collection of the revenue more easy, he established a single territorial tribute, called the MIRI. It should seem, that this Sultan, notwithstanding the ferocity of his character, understood the importance of favouring the husbandman. That this tax might be collected regularly, Selim gave orders to prepare a DEFTAR, or REGISTER, in which the contingent of each VILLAGE should be set down." VOLNEY'S Travels, vol. ii. page 406, English edition.

This "register" seems to be the very article intended by the apographe of Luke; which word is rendered register by many commentators and is usually so understood. N. B. Bethlehem, if not a large town, might be more than a village.

VOL. III.

Q

No. LXV. BEHEMOTH, FROM EGYPTIAN REPRESENTATIONS.

(WITH A PLATE.)

THE want of that accurate information on many subjects, which can only be obtained on the spot, and by personal inspection, is especially felt in our investigation of the Natural History of the Sacred Scriptures: a conviction of this made the inquisitive BOCHART forsake Europe for a time, to reside in the Holy Land, that if possible, by observing the very animals themselves, which inhabit there: and, by investigating their nature and manners, he might ascertain those which are named in Holy Writ. We are obliged to him for his labours: yet many persons, of no small learning, have, without hesitation, differed entirely from his opinions: of which, our present subject is an instance.

The author of the book of Job has evidently taken great pains in delineating highlyfinished poetical pictures of two remarkable animals, BEHEMOTH and LEVIATHAN : these he reserves to close his description of animated nature, and with these he terminates the climax of that discourse, which he puts into the mouth of the Almighty.—He even interrupts that discourse, and separates, as it were, by that interruption, these surprizing creatures from those which he had described before; and he descants on them in a manner which demonstrates the poetic animation with which he wrote. The passage stands thus in our translation:-(Job chap. xl.)

The Leviathan is described at still greater length; and these creatures evidently appear to be presented as companions; to be reserved, as fellows and associates. Under this idea, which is almost undeniable, we wish, without extending this Fragment so far as the learned well know it might be extended, to enquire, what were the creatures most likely to be companionized and associated, in early ages, and. in countries bordering on Egypt, where the scene of this poem is placed?

It is now generally admitted, that the Crocodile is described under the name Leviathan; accepting this as decided, the enquiry is, what is Behemoth, his fellow?

Had any ancient Egyptian poems, or even writings, come down to us, we might possess a chance of meeting in them with something to guide our enquiries: but of these we are totally deprived. It is therefore fortunate, that, by means of Egyptian representations, we may hope to determine this question, and lay it at rest.

On carefully inspecting that great work, published under the authority of the King of Naples, containing prints from the Antiquities found at Herculaneum, we were agreeably surprized to find, among other Egyptian subjects, those of which the annexed figures, No. 1. and No. II. offer copies to the reader.

No. I. is from Antiq. Hercul. vol. ii. page 295. The original is divided into three compartments in the first, is a large Crocodile, lying among the reeds; with three ducks, two above him, one below him. The middle compartment is that of our plate : the third compartment includes a Crocodile, and a duck below him.

The design here selected represents, at the bottom, a large Crocodile, his mouth opened, as if yelling; on his back is placed a pigmy, holding in each hand crossed reeds; a little higher is a duck floating on the water; and above are two Hippopotami, each among reeds, each with his mouth open, as if bellowing; the lower one seems also to be moving his tail. The rest of the water is adorned with water-flowers, &c.

No. II. is, in the original, an Egyptian landscape, representing a Crocodile, crouching, but his mouth open as if watching for prey; then a dwelling, then a duck floating, and close to him, a Hippopotamos, drinking with great vehemence, and considerable commotion of the water: his tail is elevated and apparently in motion.

No. III. is an extract from that famous piece of antiquity, commonly called the Prenestine Pavement: it is musaic (or coloured stones) and was formerly part of the pavement of the temple of the goddess Fortune, at Prenestum. It represents, say some, the triumph of Alexander in Egypt, but all agree that it represents Egypt, principally, though it offers an assemblage of the most remarkable creatures of Africa. It is among the most decisive proofs, that the ancients were better acquainted with the internal parts of Africa, and their productions, than we are; since it not only offers representations of several animals whose existence is but lately ascertained to us, but also of some others, which we have every reason to believe future discoveries will justify. That very rare animal, the Giraffe, an animal scarcely acknowledged by naturalists, till lately, is in it; as is the African wild boar (le Sanglier du Cap de Verd, of Buffon, Supp.) and others, equally dubious. We have extracted a portion from this pavement, which shows the association of the Crocodile and the Hippopotamos: having at bottom two Crocodiles sprawling about in the mud of a kind of island; and above, three Hippopotami, of which one is just lifting his head above the water, to stare at the huntsmen who are engaged in pursuing them. A second has two shafts stuck into his shoulders, of which he seems to complain: the third, has received a shaft in his hip, which he disregards, and continues feeding in full security. The vessel, and the persons in it, deserve inspection.

A fourth instance of this association of the Hippopotamos and the Crocodile, occurs in the famous statue of the Nile, with the sixteen children about him (alluding to his water's rising sixteen cubits;) the base of which statue is ornamented with a number of these animals all around it (sixteen or seventeen) in various attitudes, accompanied by other peculiarities of that river, as reeds, &c. pygmies in boats, &c.

These four instances are clear and decided; there are others extant, but not equally explicit, as in the famous Isiac table :-the Hippopotamos is there among the reeds; but the Crocodile is not so closely connected with him, as in the foregoing instances. After these authorities, we think we may, without hesitation, conclude, that this association was not rare or uncommon, but that it really was the customary manner of thinking, and consequently, of speaking, in ancient times, and in the countries where these creatures were native; we may add, that being well known in Egypt, and being, in some degree, popular objects of Egyptian pride, distinguishing natives of that country, from their magnitude and character, they could not escape the notice of any curious

naturalist, or writer on natural history; so, that to suppose they were omitted in this part of the book of Job, would be to suppose a blemish in the book, implying a deficiency in the author: and if they are inserted, no other description can be that of the Hippopotamos.

It is well known that many learned men have taken the Elephant for Behemoth ;— but, to this it may be replied that No pictorial authority which has hitherto been published, has represented the Elephant as known in Egypt: we say, as known in Egypt; much less as peculiar to that country, though it has been repeatedly, indeed, we believe, constantly, adopted as a symbol of Africa. Till, therefore, some instance be produced, in which the Elephant is not only represented as an inhabitant of Egypt, but also is associated with the Crocodile, we presume we may consider the weight of evidence as decisive in favour of the Hippopotamos-as being Behemoth. Omitting therefore what might be said against the Elephant, such as the difficulty of reconciling certain particulars with the description of Behemoth by the sacred writer, &c. let us now examine our print somewhat closely, in the order of the verses in the passage. The particulars are numbered for their more ready perception by the reader.

1. He eateth grass like an ox. It is evident from all the representations here selected, that the Hippopotamos feeds on vegetables: In fig. I, he is in the very act of feeding on such provisions.

2. His strength is in his loins; 3. His force in the navel of his belly-Each of these delineations represents him as powerfully built; fig. H, shows prodigious strength of construction.

4. He moveth (bendeth) his tail like a cedar, i. e. shaken by the wind; not, we suppose, rapidly, with a tremulous motion, but slowly, as it were solemnly, in a stately manner. This appears, in some degree, from fig. D, but especially from fig. F, where his tail is seen to advantage, and is evidently in motion.

5, 6, 7. Are implied in his general form; but are incapable of illustration by these subjects. We shall merely improve the version: "His smaller bones are like compact bars of brass; his larger bones like forged bars of iron."

9. He (God) in making him, has made fast (fixed) his weapon. Neither of these figures exhibits the tusks of the Hippopotamos, like what they are in nature; which, we are the rather sorry for, as this fixed insertion of them, is remarkable in the animal. Yet fig. D. E, F, and H, show, that this part of the animal had not escaped notice.

10. The swellings (risings) produce him food: not mountains, strictly speaking, but any elevations, such as those on which fig. H and I are feeding.

11. Where play all the beasts of the field. Certainly, our plate says little about the beasts of the field; but it may be thought sufficiently remarkable, that in several of these representations, where so formidable a creature as the Hippopotamos is depicted as drinking, roaring, &c. there should be a duck in perfect quiet, and without any fright, or fear of injury from him. Is it not the chief intention of this verse, to express the security of the lesser creatures from injury by this inoffensive animal, which permits even their frolics and sportiveness without interruption?

12. He lieth under the shady trees; 14. The shady trees compass him with their shadow. Here our print fails; Egypt being a country not abounding in trees: but, as amends, verses 13, 15. He lieth in the covert of the reeds and fens, are strongly illustrated by our subjects, since fig. D, E, H, I, are almost surrounded by reeds, &c.

16. He drinketh up a river: he hasteth not. Fig. F seems to be a direct comment on this verse; and on verses 17, 18. He is confident, though Jordan rush against his mouth, he taketh it with his eyes. Observe the eagerness which the ancient artist has expressed in this animal.

These remarks are independent of the general natural history of the Hippopotamos ; and are merely meant to show, that the chief particulars of his manners were well understood in ancient times; that they are conformable to the accounts of travellers, will appear to any who peruse BUFFON's account of this animal: and especially, the more recent "Travels in Africa" of M. VAILLANT:-but, as our present design is not to write the Natural History of the creature, but merely to ascertain and identify the Behemoth of the book of Job, with what success this design has been fulfilled must now be left to the reflective reader.

The Pigmy on the back of the crocodile, A, is a customary mode of figuring the inhabitants of Ethiopia, and those around the head of the Nile, i. e. Upper Egypt, and further south. The Pigmies are well known to the readers of classic authors. See a farther illustration of the ancient ideas connected with this peculiar race of men, in No. CCCXXII.

It should be remembered, that these subjects from Herculaneum, were the common ornaments of common houses. No. I. formed part of the wall of a shop, situated near the gate of the city of Pompeii. No. II. was found in digging: it seems to be an entire picture. The merit of these representations, therefore, as instances of art, is by no means considerable; but their commonness (as seems to be a fair inference from their being found in such situations) deserves notice, in support of principles adopted on this subject and others.

No. LXVI. SUGGESTIONS ON THE POOL OF BETHESDA.

AMONG other advantages arising from these FRAGMENTS, as detached from the DICTIONARY, is that of proposing illustrations of passages of Holy Writ, for further consideration that may be proper as a query here, which, perhaps, might not be so well, if incorporated into an article expected to contain matter of fact only.

It is notorious that the majority of writers have regarded the cures wrought at the Pool of Bethesda, as a standing miracle among the Jews; and yet they have been surprised that Josephus should omit to mention a fact so honourable to his nation. Dr. DODDRIDGE calls this "the GREATEST OF DIFFICULTIES in the history of the Evangelists; and that in which, of all others, the learned answerers of Mr. Woolston had given him the least satisfaction." Mr. FLEMING, to avoid some difficulties in the story, supposed the latter part of the third verse, and the whole of the fourth, to be spurious: it is wanting in Beza's мs. and is added, in a later hand to a мs. in the French King's library; however, it is in all other mss. in the Syriac, and the other versions in the Polyglott. The very learned Dr. Hammond supposed that the blood of the great number of sacrifices which were washed in this Pool communicated a salutary efficacy to the water, on its being stirred up by a messenger from the high-priest :-a strangely unphilosophical suggestion, surely! and yet Dr. PocOCKE was so far carried away by it, as to seek at Jerusalem, for the Pool of Bethesda, on the wrong side of the city, where it is not and where it is, he could not see it; for reasons which we shall state presently. We insert one of Dr. DODDRIDGE's notes on this history; partly from respect to his memory, and deference to his difficulties; partly, as it sets the idea of a standing miracle in a very strong light; and, partly as an instance how greatly learning and piety might profit, by intimate acquaintance with things, as well as words.

"I imagine this pool might have been remarkable for some mineral virtue attending the water; which is the more probable, as Jerom tells us, it was of a very high colour: this, together with its being so very near the temple, where a bath was so much needed for religious purposes, may account for the building such stately cloysters round it, three