twenty-four years. And these being deducted from the eightieth year of Abraham, will give us the fifty-sixth of his life, and the first year of the Titanian war. At this time, or near it, I should imagine that it commenced. I have supposed, that the Cuthite Shepherds came into Egypt immediately upon the dispersion: and it is very plain from Manethon, that their coming was five hundred and eleven years before the Exodus. The call of 3 Abraham was only four hundred and thirty, and his birth five hundred and five, years before that æra: therefore the dispersion must have been about six years prior to his birth. According to this computation, the first Titanian war was about sixty-two years after the dispersion. *4 Abydenus, as Cedrenus, and other writers, who take notice of the dispersion, mention this war as the next great event.

As the Cuthite Shepherds were in possession of Egypt at the time of this war; it may seem extraordinary, that they did not take a share in it, and assist those of their family who were invaded. There is an obscure tradition of their being so

licited to interfere: but as they were not themselves attacked, nor injured, they did not listen to the proposals. This is intimated in a history given of Oceanus, who was one of the Titans. It is also a name of the Nile, which was called both 87 Oceanus, and Ægyptus: and in this account, that country and its inhabitants are alluded to.

The history is, that when the Titans entered into a conspiracy against their father, Oceanus withstood the solicitations, which were made to him: though he was some time in doubt, whether he should not take a part in the commotion. Proclus, who gives this account, has preserved some Orphic fragments to this purpose. The same is to be found in Apollodorus; who mentions the Titans engaging in war, and says, that Oceanus would not join them. 89 Οι δε χωρις Ωκεανε επιτίθενται. By Oceanus is meant in the language

of mythology the Oceanitæ and Nilotæ, the in habitants of Egypt.

I imagine, that the Canaanites had been in the same original rebellion in Babylonia, as the sons of Chus; and that they were a part of the dispersion. It is therefore probable, that they came into Canaan about the same time that the others betook themselves to Egypt. This is certain, that when Abraham traversed the country, it is repeatedly said, that the Canaanite was then in the land: from whence we may infer, that they were but lately come. And the sacred writer, speaking of Hebron, a seat of the Anakim, or Titans, says, that it was built seven years before" Zoan in Egypt. By this we may infer, that the two nations in some degree corresponded in their operations, and began building about the same time. All the while, that the Patriarch sojourned in this country, we find it so thinly peopled, that he could pass where he listed, and pitch his tent where he pleased: and yet he travelled with a large retinue, and with flocks and herds in abundance. All this seems to indicate a recent population. Syria, and the coast from Libanus upwards, had been peopled by a different family before: and it is probable, that those of the confederacy, who settled there, had some battles with the natives. Eusebius accordingly mentions, that in early times the Chaldeans, by whom are meant the Babylonians, made war upon the people of Phenicia. * Χαλδαίοι κατα Φοινικων εςρατευσαν. But the land, which the Canaanite invaded, was in great measure vacant, and had been set apart for another people; for the distribution of the whole earth was by divine appointment: and the land of Canaan was particularly allotted to the sons of Israel. They accordingly have this strongly inculcated to them, that in the division of countries, " the Lord's portion is his people; Jacob is the lot of his inheritance. The son of Sirach also informs us to the same purpose; that in the division of the nations of the whole earth, He (the Lord) set a ruler over every people; but Israel is the Lord's portion. In conformity to this, the Psalmist introduces the

Deity as telling Abraham, " Unto thee will I give the land of Canaan, the lot, or line, of your inheritance : which circumstance had been before recorded by * Moses. And yet even to him and to his posterity, it was rather a loan than a gift: for the Deity seems always to have peculiarly reserved the property of this country to himself. The Israelite therefore had never a full command of it: he only held it at will, and was subject to God as proprietor. In short it was ever the Lord's portion. The people therefore are told, when a permission is given to them in some degree to part with their inheritance,

The land shall not be sold for EVER: for the land is mine: and ye are strangers and sojourners with me, saith the Lord. Indeed the whole earth may justly be called the Lord's, but this was his particular portion. It was however invaded, as were other places, in opposition to the divine appointment. Eusebius, in conformity to this tells us, that Noah explained to his sons the will of the Deity; and allotted to each their particular place of retreat, 98 κατα θειον δηλονοτι χρησμον, having received his instructions from Heaven. But the sons