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SECT. II.* 1.1 From the departure of the Israelites out of Aegypt, to the death of So∣lomon, and the Rent of the Kingdom.
* 1.21. THe number of the Children of Israel may be esteemed by what is recorded concerning their men of War,* 1.3 of the Age of twenty years and upwards. Of these went out about 600000. besides Women and Chil∣dren; so that if those of that Age be reckoned as two parts of five, of the whole multitude, (which is the usual account amongst all Nations, to rec∣kon men for War, as 40 to 100. in respect of the whole body) then the totall number of all, both old and young, amounted to about 1500000. To these must be added a mixed multitude; which, having taken up their religion, went out with them, and is thought by some to have consisted of as many more; so that the whole sum of all together, at this rate, would arise to 3000000. As for the number of the Israelites, it need not seem incredible, that from about 70 persons in the space of 210 years, so many should pro∣ceed. For if but one man, in the thirtieth year of his Age should begin to be a father, and had but in all ten Children,* 1.4 who also with their posterity should beget at the same Age, that one man, before 200 years, would have des∣cended from him, of the sixth Generation 1000000. of the fifth 100000. of the fourth 10000. of great Grand-Children 1000. of Grand-Children 100. and of Children 10. But that the Israelites began to be fathers before the Age of thirty is more then probable; nature* 1.5 sometimes not requiring half that time, and there is ground sufficient to think that they often exceeded the number of ten Children. The Scripture relateth Abdon to have had fourty sons, Abizara thirty, and as many daughters, Gideon seventy sons, and Ahab as many. Aegyptus, Danaus, Priamus, and Darius, are reported to have had fifty Children; Artaxerxes, Justin relateth to have had 115. and Hierotimus 600. These things (to add no more) prove the great increase of the Israelites to have been possible in the course of Nature, although not without an especial providence.
2. Moses had gathered the people together, as Josephus writeth, about Ramesses the chief Citie of Goshen, that they might be in a readinesse, and thence they came to Succoth where was their second station. Here Moses propounded the command of God concerning the annual observation of the Passeover,* 1.6 and the Consecration of the first born. A ready way hence to the Land of Canaan would have been through that of the Philistins; but because the Israelites were born in slavery, and therefore had but low and poor spi∣rits; to exercise them, to stir them up, and lest, for want of experience, they should be so terrified as to return, God lead them another and longer way. From Succoth therefore they came to Etham in the end of the Desart, in two dayes; whither God conducted them by a Pillar of a Cloud by day, and Pil∣lar of fire by night, that never forsook them, till they came to the Borders of the promised Land. From Etham they journeyed to Pihahiroth, and thence to the Red-sea. Hither Pharoh pursued them with all his Forces, re∣penting he had let them go. They were there exceedingly struck with ter∣rour, and murmured against Moses, for bringing them out of Egypt. In this extremity God divided the waters of the Red-sea, which being as a Wall on both sides to them, they passed over on dry ground. The Egyptians essayed also to pursue them in this place; but the Pillar then removed from before them, and placed it self between them, giving light to the Israelites,* 1.7 but causing great darknesse to their Enemies. Hereupon ensued great consternation, and a pannick fear amongst the Egyptians, which causing great disturbance, the Lord also fought against them, and they fled. But then the waters returned to their place and overwhelmed them all, so that nei∣ther Pharoh, nor any one of his men escaped. This place of the Red-sea be∣ing