By the Rev. J. L. Ross. 165 
in their Purana by the Hindoo Historians as a conflagration of the 
long grass with which the universe was then covered, “mark to 
what extent idolatrous worship at that period prevailed: and by its 
shewing the origin and establishment of those cities which the Bible 
History notices after the Exodus of Israel, we shall better under- 
stand against what manner of superstition the servants of Jehovah 
had to contend, with the causes of its prevalence over that land 
especially, which had been tolerably free from idolatry in the days 
of Abraham.”?! 
As we are informed in Scripture that Abraham successfully re- 
sisted an earlier incursion of some of these Hamite invaders, when 
Lot and his family had been taken prisoners, we have less reason 
to be surprised at their expulsion at a subsequent period by his 
descendants, who thus by a righteous retribution avenged at once 
their own oppression in Egypt and the iniquities of which these 
usurpers had been guilty in Canaan. Thus the promises of God to 
the Patriarchs and his punishment of the Canaanites were in the 
fulness of time literally fulfilled. 
CHAPTER IV. 
Tue Hycst or Tirans. 
‘‘Titans,—our Sire’s progenitors.” 
The expulsion of the Titans from Lower Egypt, supposed by 
1 We may place the following events during the time that Israel was in 
Egypt. In Gen. xiv. we read of an irruption and conquest by the Kings of 
Persia, Babylonia, &c., who overran Canaan, which continued in subjection 
during twelve years; and though they were by God’s mercy defeated by Abra- 
ham then, yet it is clear, (1) that from the eastern provinces armies had easy 
access to Canaan, where they had probably many partizans; and from Canaan 
they might at pleasure invade Egypt, as Nebuchadnezzar, Cambyses, and other 
Babylonian monarchs did in after ages. (2) That when Jacob and his family 
were gone down into Egypt, the land of Canaan appears to be entirely relin- 
quished to whatever might befall it; and we have no history of it during the 
interval from its being left by Jacob, to its being re-entered by Joshua. (3.) 
Nevertheless, the numerous names of towns which occur in Joshua and are 
clearly idolatrous, evince the prevalence of idolatry: and (4.) The seizure of 
Egypt by these foreigners during this period, is sufficient proof of their establish- 
ment in Canaan not long before. (See Taylor's Fragments, vol. iii. p. 97.) This 
invasion of Egypt is probably referred to by the Sacred Historian, when he ac- 
quaints us ‘that another king (or dynasty) arose which knew not Joseph :” 
thus slightly are civil matters and revolutions alluded to in Scripture, when 
they are unconnected with the designs of the Spirit of God. 
