of Cham, but of many others which descended of Abraham. as Ishmael the sonne
of Abraham, by Hagar; and
Zimran, and Iokshan, and Medan, and Midian,
and Ishbak and Shuah with their posteritie, the issue of Abraham by Keturah:
who, after that Seba and Sabbetha, and Rama and Sabtheca had peopled some parts
of Arabia, were sent away with their portions Eastward to the East Countrey, that is,
into Arabia; where it is likely they mingled their Seed and Generations with those
former of the posteritie of Cham: for therefore it seemeth Moses wife, Zipporah,
was called a
Cushite, or (as some reade) an Aethiopian, not that shee was of the
Countrey Aethiopia, but a Midianite of Arabia, of Abrahams race: which Coun∣trey,
because the posteritie of Cush had first inhabited, and happily had mingled
themselues in marriages with them, shee is called a Cushite, which some wrong∣ly
expound an Aethiopian; although Cush were also the father of the Aethiopi∣ans.
This posteritie of Abraham are, in Scripture, often called the children of the
East.
The name Foelix, or Happie, is giuen to the Southerly parts of Arabia, for the
fertilitie thereof:
the name Petraea to a second part, of Petra the Seat royall, after
called Arach, of Aretas an Arabian King.
The Desert Arabia hath a name answerable to the nature thereof; being, in
great part, without inhabitants, for the barrennesse of the soyle: as is also a great
part of that which is called Petraea. This Desert Arabia is also
called Aspera,
Inferior, C••ua, and of the Hebrewes Cedar. It is bounded on the East with Baby∣lonia,
and part of the Persian Gulfe; on the North with Mesopotamia, neere to
Euphrates; on the West, with Syria and Arabia Petraea; on the South, are the
Mountaines of Arabia Foelix. Neere to them and to Euphrates it hath some
Townes, and is frequented with Merchants, otherwhere partly vnpeopled, partly
(Strabo therefore tearmeth it
Scenitis) fedde with such
Roming Arabians, as
haue no dwelling-houses, but remoue to and fro, seeking where to finde pasture
for their Beasts, and lodge in Tents.
Dauid accounteth himselfe
miserable for this dwelling in the Tents of Kedar or
(as Tremellius reades it)
as the Scenites of Kedar. Thus did the Patriarchs of old,
thus did the Scythians, and thus doe the Tartars and the Arabians in Asia, Africa,
and Europe, at this day, roming, rouing, robbing.
They
which dwell in Townes and Cities, obseruing a more ciuill life, are cal∣led
Moores, the other Arabians, in more proper appellation. The name Moores
was giuen them of the Spaniards, because out of Mauritania they inuaded Spaine,
and now
is taken vsually, not so much for the inhabitants of the Arabian
Cities, as for all of the Arabian and Mahumetane Superstition. Bosra is the chiefe
Citie.
Arabia Petraea adioyneth on the West and North to Syria; on the East to the
Desert Arabia; on the South to the Happie. Plinïe, Strabo, and Ptolomey call it
Nabathaea. Some thinke, of Nebaioth, sonne of Ishmael. Tyrius calls it Arabia Se∣cunda.
Now it is called by Ruscelli, Baraab; or after Ziglerus, Barra; or Bathalatha,
after Castaldus.
Nigh to Syria it is more plentifull, then in other parts. The scarcitie of wood
and water, with the barrennesse of the Soyle in other places, shew how it is ma∣ligned
of the Elements. Both in this part, and the former, they had neede goe
strong and well accompanied, for feare of Robberie and Spoyle, which the Arabi∣ans
attend.
This part is famous vnto all Generations, not so much for the Amalekites,
Midianites, and other their bordering Neighbours (of whome and their Reli∣gion
somewhat is spoken
before) as
for the miraculous passage of the Is∣raelites
through the same, and abode therein fortie yeares, in which time they
receiued the Law, were fedde with Mauna; their Meat, Drinke, Clothing, Iudge∣ments,
Mercies, continually yeelding miraculous euidence of GODS presence a∣mongst
them.