DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0143
USELESS SPECULATIONS. 143
tain, or even some other mountain in the neighbor-
hood, as the place where the law was given. Some
travelers seem to rather pride themselves in attempts
to remove ancient landmarks, and change long tradi-
tionated locations. In the midst of Bible scenery,
they should never do this but with extreme reluctance,
and then never but with overwhelming reasons for
the change. About all travelers now admit that the
plain of llahah, situated directly on the North side of
this mountain, must have been the main place of the
Israelite encampment at the time the law was given
on Sinai. No other valley in the entire region of
Horeb, of the extent of the plain of Rahah, or even
suited for such an encampment, is to be found. This
being settled, the next probable location for Sinai is
this very mountain. Here is a mount that may be
touched from that plain. Here is a mountain in the
entire view of that plain, and valleys branching from
it. I regret to see that, though Professor Robinson
admits the law to have been given on this mountain,
he thinks it must have been on an entire different part
of it, i. e., on the Northern side or peak, directly in
front and in full view of the plain of Rahah. His ob-
jections are the distance that the traditionated peak of
Sinai is situated from this plain, and that no part of
it could be seen from the plain of Rahah. Now, in
my judgment, this short distance constitutes no valid
objection, when we duly consider the Scripture re-
presentation of the scene. " And Mount Sinai was
altogether in a smoke, because the Lord descended
upon it, and the whole mount quaked greatly." This
awful display of the divine presence, which covered
tain, or even some other mountain in the neighbor-
hood, as the place where the law was given. Some
travelers seem to rather pride themselves in attempts
to remove ancient landmarks, and change long tradi-
tionated locations. In the midst of Bible scenery,
they should never do this but with extreme reluctance,
and then never but with overwhelming reasons for
the change. About all travelers now admit that the
plain of llahah, situated directly on the North side of
this mountain, must have been the main place of the
Israelite encampment at the time the law was given
on Sinai. No other valley in the entire region of
Horeb, of the extent of the plain of Rahah, or even
suited for such an encampment, is to be found. This
being settled, the next probable location for Sinai is
this very mountain. Here is a mount that may be
touched from that plain. Here is a mountain in the
entire view of that plain, and valleys branching from
it. I regret to see that, though Professor Robinson
admits the law to have been given on this mountain,
he thinks it must have been on an entire different part
of it, i. e., on the Northern side or peak, directly in
front and in full view of the plain of Rahah. His ob-
jections are the distance that the traditionated peak of
Sinai is situated from this plain, and that no part of
it could be seen from the plain of Rahah. Now, in
my judgment, this short distance constitutes no valid
objection, when we duly consider the Scripture re-
presentation of the scene. " And Mount Sinai was
altogether in a smoke, because the Lord descended
upon it, and the whole mount quaked greatly." This
awful display of the divine presence, which covered