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upon the dry-land.

Thus we find, that the

whole of this mystery was to conclude in blood.

Of Moses an Oracle, and a reputed Divinity.

Moses heard all these assurances in respect both to Pharaoh and the Israelites; yet a diffidence of himself was still predominant; and he could not help uttering his unnecessary fears. Exod. iv. 10. And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant; but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.

V. 11. And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? or who maketh the dumb, or the deaf, or the seeing, or the blind? have not I the Lord?

It is said, that the Lord was displeased with this backwardness; yet, in compassion to human weakness, he condescended to assure him of farther assistance. That he would influence Aaron, his brother, who should certainly come with joy to meet him on his approach towards Egypt.

V. 15. And thou shalt speak unto him, and

put words in his mouth; and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do.

V. 16. And he shall be thy spokesman untø the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be unto him instead of God.

By this is meant, that Moses should be like a divine oracle; whose responses were disclosed by his priest, or prophet. He was, as a divinity, to suggest, and another was to declare his purpose. But the first suggestion was to come from God; by whom Moses himself was to be originally inspired.--- Thou shalt speak unto him, (thy brother) and put words in his mouth. But antecedently to this---I will put words in thy mouth. Thus Moses was made the oracle of God. This is very remarkable; for we find, that among the Egyptians he was stiled Alpha, or more properly Alphi, which signifies the mouth or oracle of God. are indebted to Ptolemy Hephestion for this.

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• Exodus iv. 15.

We

Vox Dei. This circumstance I have mentioned in a former treatise: but it is so necessary to the present purpose, that I am obliged to introduce it again.

3 Apud Photium, p. 485. sect. exc.

intelligence; who however, not knowing the purport of the name, has done every thing in his power to ruin the history. He would interpret a foreign term by a Grecian etymo logy; and supposes it to be derived from axpos, alphos, vitiligo. From hence he would insinuate, that Moses was infected with leprosy. If the prophet had been the least tainted with n a disorder, he must have been in no fit condition for such an embassy; as he would have had little chance of gaining access to Pharaoh, or being admitted to the elders of his own people. Let it then suffice, that

such

2

Mwons,

των Εβραίων Νομοθετης Άλφα εκαλείτο : Moses, the lawgiver of the Hebrews, was called (among the Egyptians) Alpha. Let us see, what was the purport of the title among the people, from whence he came, or at least those of their neighbourhood, who were connected with them. The Phenicians came originally from Egypt; and carried with them much of the religion of that country. We accordingly are told ---Αλφα, βες, * κεφαλη Φοίνικες. Among

2

Apud Photium, p. 485. Sect. cxc.

*Hesychius. So it is altered by the learned Bochart. Originally it stood--anpa Coos españn. Geog. Sacra. 1. 2. p. 738.

the Phenicians Alpha signifies an ox, or an head: i. e. a chief, or leader. Again---A20n, riuz.

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2

By Alphe, is denoted value and honour. Axonκαι, ανθρωποι εντιμοι, βασιλεις. Alphesta are honourable personages: kings and princes. Plutarch tells us, that Cadmus was supposed to have given the name of Alpha to the first letter of his alphabet in honour of the sacred bull or cow of 3 Phenicia; which was distinguished by this title. For this animal was by the Phenicians, as well as the Egyptians, esteemed sacred, and oracular and therefore called alphi, () the voice of God. This is intimated by the story of Cadmus; who is said to have been directed to his place of residence by a bull or cow: which went before him, and shewed him the way. By

' Ibid. See Scholia in Iliad. Σ. v. 593.

* So the words should be placed. See Hesych.

3 (Καδμον) φασι το αλφα παντων (γραμμάτων) προτάξας, δια το Dorinas Šta zaλe Tov Cav. Plutarch. Sympos. ix. 3. p. 738. Both the Apis, and Mnevis; also the Cow at Momemphis, were esteemed oracular. These animals were stiled Alphi on this account--as being interpreters of the will of the gods.

4 Some writers speak of his conductor being a bull; others a cow. They were equally held sacred by the Phenicians; and Porphyry says, that this people would sooner have fed upon a human body than have tasted the flesh of any kine.

this was originally meant, that he formed his route in obedience to Alpha, an oracle. From these evidences it appears, that this term was used for an honourable and prophetic title; and it was justly appropriated by the Egyptians to Moses: as he was appointed to be God's oracle, and Aaron his interpreter.

I

I will be with thy mouth:---and he, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of a god. Again---See I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. What could be more apposite than for people to give to this prophetic personage the name of (x) Alphi; expressed by the Greeks Alpha; which precisely signifies--The Mouth of God. There was an account given by Helladius Besantinous of Moses being recorded by the Egyptians under this title: but he explained it in the same idle manner, as Ptolemy Hephæstion had done before. He also referred to Philo Judæus in support of his hypothesis; but there is nothing in Philo to his purpose.

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Exodus, iv. 15, 16.

Chap. vii. 1. 3 Apud Photium, sect. cclxxix. p. 1578. ↑ He derived it from Alpha, vitiligo.

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