An Historical Geography of the Old and New Testament: in Two Volumes

soon as he was able, i. e. had recovered his strength and sight) he went into Arabia; and, consequently, what is said, Acts ix. 20. of his preaching imme diately in the synagogues at Damascus, cannot be rationally understood, till after his return to Da

mascus.

Chap. II. § 9.

Hence St. Paul being bred up in his youth in the schools of Tarsus, became so well acquainted with Heathen authors.] Since it is not rational to suppose miraculous knowledge, where a thing may be known by ordinary means; and since we do not find that the reading of Heathen authors was encouraged, if allowed of, at Jerusalem; hence it is most probable to suppose, that St. Paul attained the knowledge he had of Heathen writers at Tarsus, where he was born, especially this being an ancient university, or seat of literature. Nor does any thing related in the history of the Acts contradict this opinion. For surely St. Paul might be taught school-learning at Tarsus, in his younger years, or while he was a boy, and yet, when he came to be about sixteen, be brought up in Jerusalem at the feet of Gamaliel. And whereas it is said, Acts xxvi. 4. My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among my own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews. The Greek whereof is this: Τὴν μὲν ἐν βίωσίν μου τὴν ἐκ νεότητος, τὴν ἀπ ̓ ἀρχῆς γενομένην ἐν τῷ ἔθνει μου ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, ἴσασι πάντες οἱ Ιεδαίοι. Where the expression τὴν ἐκ νεότητος does, I think, truly import thus much, viz. that the Jews of Jerusalem did know his manner of life (not from his childhood, but only) from his youth, i. e. after he came to be sixteen or thereabouts. And the other expression, τὴν ἀπ ̓ ἀρχῆς γενομένην ἐν τῷ ἔθνει μου ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, does, I think, truly import this, viz. that though not before, yet he had from the very beginning of his youth lived at Jerusalem. So that neither does this text, if rightly understood, contain any thing repugnant to the opinion

embraced by learned men, that St. Paul was taught the Heathen authors at Tarsus, while he was a boy, or in the former part of his youth, taken largely, and as it is frequently, to denote all one's younger years.

Chap. VII. § 5.

This country (viz. Media) doubtless took its name from Madai, one of the sons of Japhet.] This is the opinion generally received, and at first view seems most probable, by reason, not only of the affinity between Madai and Media, but also of the use of the word Madai in the Hebrew Bible, to denote always the country we call, from the Greeks and Latins, Media. But upon further inquiry I have found reason to recede from this opinion, and rather to embrace another, which the reader will find largely insisted on in my Historical Geography of the Old Testament, Part I. chap. iii. sect. ii. § 48, 49, &c.