272 MAJOR-GENEEAL TULLOCH, C.B., C.M.G., ON 



Pharaoh of Joseph gave the Israehtes some of the best 

 kind ill Egypt, that in Rameses the land of Goshen (now 

 known to have been in the eastern part of the delta). 

 Some four hundred years afterwards the then Pharaoh 

 (Exodus i, 10), fearing that the half million men of Israel on 

 the eastern border would in time of war join their S emetic 

 kinsfolk who were so close to them in Palestine, decided 

 to take harsh measures with the Israelites, probably with 

 the intention of reducing them to a state of slavery, and 

 destroying their existence as an independent race. Accord- 

 ingly, in pursuance of this policy, the Egyptians set over 

 them " task-masters to afflict them with their burdens," and 

 compelled them to build the treasure cities of Pithom and 

 Rameses, it being specially stated that the Egyptians 

 '' made their lives bitter with hard bondage in mortar and 

 brick." When Moses subsequently complained of their 

 treatment to Pharaoh, the Israelites were still further op- 

 pressed by being made to find their own straw, which was 

 necessary for making thoroughly serviceable sun-dried 

 bricks. 



The events Avhicli finally induced Pharaoh to let the 

 Israelites go are so fully recorded that it is unnecessary to 

 enlarge upon the subject, but the actual route has not yet 

 been definitely settled. According to Bible narrative they 

 journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, thence to Etham on 

 the edge of the wilderness, and then to Pi-hahiroth, whicli 

 was on the sea-coast (Exodus xiv, 9). From this it is ap- 

 parent that the Israelites moved from Rameses to the sea in 

 three stages ; but Succoth seems to have been the first 

 place from which the regular marches were commenced, be- 

 cause here, as stated in chapter xii, 39, they evidently 

 halted and baked the unleavened bread for use during the 

 first part of the journey. Now, as there was a vast midti- 

 tude all on foot Avith flocks and herds, ten miles a day 

 would be the utmost they could accomplish, and as they 

 reached the sea in two marches the crossing place could not 

 have been more than twenty miles from Succoth. The first 

 march brought them to P]tham. Here they made a turn 

 and must have kept along the edge of the desert, making for 

 the intended crossing place : this is so stated in chapter xiv, 2, 

 " Speak unto the children of Israel that they turn and 

 encamp before Pi-hahiroth." The route Avas probably by 

 the Sweet Water Canal, already mentioned, which extended 

 to the port at the then head of the Red Sea. 



