128 



more properly anticipated before. But again, Gilead and 

 the country bejond Jordan, is clearly expressed to have been 

 subjugated eighteen years .before the invasion of the trans- 

 fluviatic tribes, (c. 10. v. 8. 9.) To what are we to attribute 

 this cautious reserve, this restrained hostility for so long a 

 period? On the hypothesis of my adversaries, I know not; 

 but, on my own, it seems consistent and analogous, that the 

 death of Jair, and the consequent jealousy, dissention, and 

 anarchy, usual before the election of a successor; and the 

 want of unanimity and conduct, natural to such a period, 

 should have inspired the enemy with hopes of an easy and 

 bloodless conquest. '<i '''j- 



Jepthah reckons from the conquest of the Amoritcs to his 

 time, three hundred years, (11. 26.) The Amorites ivere 

 conquered in the fortieth year of the exod, and this gives us 

 an irresistible argument in favour of our system. In fact, no 

 other hypothesis satisfies the supputation equally well, as 

 will be visible from my table, in the sequel. Usher allows 

 263 years, by the help of abridging Joshua to 6 years, and 

 Gideon to nine, both of which, as we have seen, are contra- 

 dictory to the spirit and expression of the sacred historian? 

 and therefore cannot be admitted. Marsham has accom- 

 plished 278 by similar conjecture and supposition equally 

 arbitrary and unsupported. It will be seen, that we have 

 approached on just and defensible grounds to the calculus; 

 which fully establishes the arguments Ave have already urged 

 for the three first reposes, and for including the 18 years of 



the 



