But even this is far from being all. The children of Israel entered Egypt with their "households" (taph), or retainers. What the size of a patriarchal household often was, we may gather from the history of Abraham, who at an hour's notice was able to call out 318 trained servants, capable of active military service. All these, we are told, "were born in his house," words that imply that he had other servants that might have been employed on this occasion, some "bought with money from strangers," and some acquired as "gifts," like those presented to him in Egypt. From all these facts, the most moderate and cautious estimate cannot make the entire number of Abraham's household less than 2500 souls. He was, in fact, one of the most powerful chiefs of the land, and one of these, Heth, addresses him as : "My lord, thou art a mighty prince among us."

Now, we have several reasons for believing that Jacob's "household," on going down to Egypt, was far more numerous than that of Abraham. So strong was Jacob even on his return from Padan-Aram that his offended brother Esau did not think it wise or safe to meet him with less than "four hundred armed men." And the princely gift which he made Esau, in the hope of reconciliation, offers a similar indication of his great wealth and power. Supposing that present to have been a tenth part of all he possessed, the proportion Abraham thought a fit offering to a king, then Jacob's possessions must have numbered 2200 goats, 2200 sheep, 600 camels, 500 oxen, and 300 asses. Such was the family, and such the property Jacob had acquired in the twenty

years he spent with Laban, beginning with naked hands. What then must have been the increase of his household, and of his herds and flocks, aided by all his twelve active sons in the course of thirty-three years more, or at the time of his going down into Egypt? Besides all this, Jacob came into possession at once by inheritance of at least one-half the retainers and property owned by his father Isaac, who died some ten years after his return to Canaan. From all these facts, we think it obvious that the household of Jacob when he set out for Egypt, which in fact embraced the twelve distinct households of his sons, including the numerous retinue of Joseph, far outnumbered that of Abraham, and that we cannot put it down at less than 3600 souls, or an average of 300 only for each tribe.

To all the foregoing is to be added the fact that Goshen, when assigned to the children of Israel, had already its scattered inhabitants of various "strangers," who amounted, we may safely say, to not less than 700 throughout that large and fertile province. These would naturally become incorporated and amalgamated with the dominant tribe, both in blood and religion; so that the whole population would soon be named and numbered as Hebrews.

We have, then, an aggregate of 4300 original settlers in Goshen, from whom were to spring the people of the exodus. No one that will study and candidly weigh the above facts-facts all embraced in the sacred record -can put their number at a lower figure.

Second, What was the probable rate a which they

increased? All things in the situation, circumstances, and relations of the Hebrews, in Goshen, were eminently favorable to rapid multiplication. Their climate was mild and salubrious, their territory large and fertile, capable of supporting a population of several millions. The lands would produce of many things two crops a year and of some things a crop every month. Maize, millet, rice, lentiles, pulse, figs, dates, olives, grapes, melons, and esculent roots, as also wheat, rye, barley, etc., could have been raised there, as the present condition of the country demonstrates, with little labor and in the greatest abundance. The increase of the population, therefore, was subject to no check arising from soil or climate; on the contrary, they were most favorably conditioned in regard to both.

At first, and for some length of time after, they also enjoyed all the advantages that could flow from royal favor; these would have their attraction, and in the hope of sharing directly or indirectly in them, many would naturally flock in from all sides, and take up their abode among them, and thus materially help to swell their numbers in time.

Enjoying the freedom and following the simplicity of a pastoral life, we learn that this people were remarkably healthy and vigorous. It was the testimony of the midwives to Pharaoh, that "the Hebrew women were not as the Egyptians, but were lively," that is quick and strong in bringing forth, so that "they were delivered ere they came in unto them." And when, at length, the people assembled for their departure out

of the country, we read that "there was not one feeble person among them."

Further, the region of Egypt was ever famous for its fertility in men. The sexes matured and married young, often as early as the age of fourteen or fifteen; both Pliny and Seneca speak of this; and Aristotle informs us that three at a birth was nothing uncommon. Whatever there was in the region conducive to this fecundity was no doubt shared to the full by the Hebrews.

With all the above, we must not omit to mention the special blessing of God which was upon them and their children for their increase. This had been expressly and repeatedly promised, to Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. Accordingly we read of them, while yet in Goshen, "And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and were exceeding mighty, and the land was filled with them."

Now, since in ordinary circumstances, as Malthus has shown, a population tends to double every twenty-five years, we are warranted to conclude that the Hebrews, under the above extraordinary combination of favorable circumstances, must have doubled in a considerably shorter period. But to make sure that we are on the side of truth, we will only say that they doubled every twenty-four years.

Third, What was the duration of their stay in Egypt? This is a question involving several difficulties. We have seen that this period is put down in the objector's argument at 215 years; but we cannot receive this reckoning of the time as correct. However, not to

interrupt our argument with a discussion of the point bere, we will admit for the present, that their sojourn in Goshen was but 215 years.

Having now decided upon these three essential facts, namely, that the original number of settlers in Goshen was 4300, that the rate at which they increased was doubling every 24 years, and that the length of time they remained there was 215 years-we are prepared to compute the total Hebrew population at the date of their exodus, under the direction of Moses. Their natural increase would stand as follows:

The above calculation plainly shows us, then, that the original settlers of Goshen, according to the natural law of increase, in a period of 216 years, would amount to a population of 2,200,000; and this result, it will be observed, is so near that obtained by the actual numbering of the people at Sinai, namely 2,191,000, as to leave no reasonable foothold to call in question the credibility of the Scripture history on this ground.

On the preceding page we expressed our dissent from the chronology which limits the stay of the Israelites in Egypt to a period of 215 years. As this is what has created the whole difficulty, and what lends to the opposer's argument whatever of seeming force it presents, we deem it proper and necessary to add a few lines on