THROUGH THE RED SEA. 
Children of Israel actually resided, extending themselves over a 
country that sustained their numerous flocks and herds, to the bor- 
ders of that part of Egypt where grain was cultivated, but in which 
they would not be permitted to sojourn, in consequence of their 
destroying the sacred animals. I cannot, therefore, for a moment 
believe, that Heliopolis was within their bounds, or that they ever 
went either to the south or west of it ; though it appears, indeed, 
from the account of the sacred historian, that they were near to 
this capital of Pharaoh ; but Moses is spoken of as having gone out 
to his brethren, which would seem to imply that they were at some 
little distance. 
Taking, therefore, any part of the country between Aboukechied 
and Heliopolis, as being the province of Harnesses, whence the 
Children of Israel departed, how improbable does it appear, that 
they should proceed into the low land of Egypt, to the very banks 
of the holy river, to round Mokattem, and enter the valley, which, 
beginning there, extends to the Red Sea ; and this at a time when 
they were thrust out from the land of the Egyptians, who did not 
believe themselves safe, till they had got rid of them. 
In the ]3th chap, verse 1 7th of Exodus, it is declared, that " God 
led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although 
that was near" (verse 18th), "but about through the way of the 
wilderness of the Red Sea." Now, both these observations are per- 
fectly true, if they set oflp from the vicinity of Heroopolis, which 
was actually on the way to Canaan, but would be false, if they 
began their journey from opposite Memphis, whence it would be 
piuch nearer to reach the Red Sea than the land of the Philistines. 
By the supposition that the Children of Israel resided nearer to 
