tained that the passage of the Israelites took place at the time
of the ebb, while the flow engulfed the Egyptians who pursued
them. This hypothesis is refuted by the fact that D"'lp never
means or can mean the east wind ; and, moreover, it is incon-
sistent with the oft-repeated statement that the water stood up
to right and left of the Israelites, as also with the analogy of
the passage through the Jordan. Besides, the Egyptians, know-
ing the nature of their own country, would certainly not have
followed so blindly if a tide were to be expected. We must
therefore give up this hypothesis, which has been recently revived
by Kobinson and justly opposed by v. Eaumer. Moreover, the
efficacy here attributed to the wind still finds its analogies :
" When a continuous north wind," says Schubert, " drives the
water towards the south, especially at the time of ebb, it can
be traversed northwards from Suez, and may be waded through
on foot ; but if the wind suddenly turns round to the south-east,



THE MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS. 293

the water may rise in a short time to the height of six feet.
Napoleon experienced this when he wanted to ride through the
sea at that place, and was in danger of his life owing to the
sudden rise of the water. When he had been safely brought
back to land, he said, ' It would have made an interesting text
for every preacher in^ Europe if I had been drowned here.'"
But God's time had not yet come — he was still needed ; after-
wards he was swallowed up in Moscow.
§4.
THE MARCH THROUGH THE WILDERNESS UNTIL THE
GIVING OF THE LAW ON SINAI.
