60 ACCOUNT OF THE CHALDEANS CONCLUDED. [CHAP. II.
Such is the account which has been transmitted to us of the
Chaldeans and their leaders, at the period when the knowledge
and influence of the priest caste probably were greatest, namely,
between the departure of Kahtan and that of the other Shemitic
branch from Babylonia towards Canaan; the settlement of this
branch in the latter territory will be noticed more fully in the
succeeding Chapter.
( 61 )
CHAPTEE III.
STATE OF ARABIA FROM THE DEPARTURE OF ABRAHAM TO TH E
DEATH OF JOB.
Abraham quits TJ’r of the Chaldees.—The Patriarch proceeds from Haran
to Damascus, Palestine, and Egypt.—Settlement of Abraham and Lot.—
Invasion and Discomfiture of the Assyrian Kings.—March of the latter
through the Desert.—Destruction of Sodom from natural and supernatural
causes.—The Alliance of Lot’s Daughters with the people of the country,
originates the Moabites and Ammonites.—Birth o f Ishmael and Isaac.—
Expulsion of the former.—Territory of Ishmael’s Descendants.—The
Sons of Keturah and the Midianites.—State of Egypt from the time of
Abraham to that of Joseph.—Historical interest of Egypt.—Invasion of
the Hyk-sos, part coming through Abyssinia.—Their Dominion in Egypt,
and Period of their Expulsion.—The Sons o f Esau occupy Mount Seir.—
Mingled People of Arabia.—Amalekites, Edomites, Saracens, &c.—The
Horites. Eliphaz the Temanite.—Position o f the Land of Uz.—Period
of Job’s Trial.—The Localities about O’rfah correspond with the circumstances
in the book of Job.—State o f Knowledge in Arabia in the time of
Job.—The Tobba'i of Yemen.—Expedition of the Himyarites into Central
Asia.—Samarcand founded.—Language and written Character of the
Himyarites.—Inscriptions found in Yemen, also at Hisn Ghorab, Nakbel
Hajar, &c., and others near San’a.—Ard-es-Saba, or Land of Saba.__
Himyari Inscription found near ’Aden.—Traces o f that People in
distant countries.SThe Hebrew Language, its Cognates and written
Character.
T h e settlement of the principal branch of the Shemitic people Abraham,
in the central and southern parts of Arabia, as detailed in the departure an
preceding Chapter, was at no distant period followed by the epoch!“ *
occupation of the north-western extremity of the peninsula by
another section of the same race. The possession of Palestine
afterwards took place; and this event had in the sequel, the
greatest influence upon the state of the neighbouring nations
more particularly on the empires of Egypt and Assyria.
The departure of Abraham for the promised land, became