Difference between revisions of "Goshen"

<p> '''1.''' Three Egyptian homes in the Delta, and extending over part of Goshen, bore a name beginning with ka or ga, "a bull," namely, Mnevis, worshipped at On, representing [[Turn]] the unknown source of all existence. N.E. of Lower Egypt, having the [[Mediterranean]] on N., the desert on E., the Delta and the Tanitic branch of the Nile on W. (hence called the field of Zoan or Tanis, &nbsp;Psalms 78:12; &nbsp;Psalms 78:43), extending S. to the head of the Red Sea and nearly to Memphis. Also called the land of Rameses, in which [[Israel]] built (i.e. fortified anew) for [[Pharaoh]] [[Raamses]] and Pithom as treasure cities (&nbsp;Genesis 47:11; &nbsp;Exodus 1:11). Joseph naturally placed his family on the border land between Egypt and Palestine, the promised land, and at the same time near himself at [[Tunis]] or else [[Memphis]] the capital of Egypt. Goshen corresponded to Wady-'t-Tumeylat. </p> <p> The fresh water canal runs through it from the Nile to Ismailia. From [[El]] [[Wady]] to the head of the gulf of [[Suez]] is three days' journey, the distance assigned in Exodus. The answer of Joseph's brethren to Pharaoh (&nbsp;Genesis 46:28; &nbsp;Genesis 46:34), "thy servants have been herdsmen from our youth," (Joseph so instructing them "that ye may dwell in ... Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians,") proves that Goshen was regarded by [[Egyptians]] as scarcely Egypt proper, though having many Egyptians in it, as is recorded during the ten plagues; also foreigners. (See [[Beriah]] .) The names of sonic places in Goshen are Semitic, as [[Migdol]] and Baal-zephon. Joseph lived under the 12th or 13th dynasty, a native not a shepherd dynasty (as &nbsp;Genesis 46:34 proves). </p> <p> Pharaoh calls Goshen "the best of the land" (&nbsp;Genesis 47:5-11), namely, for a pastoral people as Israel; for in tillage the parts of Egypt next the Nile are more fertile than Goshen. In Goshen Pharaoh implies he kept some of his cattle, over which he proposes to set [[Israelites]] as rulers of herdsmen. The separation of Israel from the plagues marks the distinctness of the land. Israel setting out from Rameses in Goshen in two days reached the edge of the Wilderness, and in one day more the Red Sea, i.e. from Rameses (on the old canal from the Tanitic arm of the Nile to lake Timsah) 30 miles direct to the ancient western shore. The Septuagint call Goshen "Gesen of Arabia;" and Pliny "the Arabic nome" from its bordering on Arabia. Now Esh-Shurkiyeh, well intersected by canals; Egypt's best province, yielding the largest revenue. </p> <p> '''2.''' A district in S. Palestine, between [[Gaza]] and [[Gibeon]] (&nbsp;Joshua 10:41; &nbsp;Joshua 11:16), and a city (&nbsp;Joshua 15:51); between the S. country (the Negeb) and the shephelah (the low hills between the mountain and plain, not as KJV "the valley ") of Judah. [[Doubtless]] named in remembrance of Israel's original place of sojourn in Egypt. </p>

<p> [[Goshen]] (''Gô'Shen'' ). 1. The portion of Egypt assigned to Israel. &nbsp;Genesis 45:5; &nbsp;Genesis 45:10; &nbsp;Genesis 46:28; &nbsp;Genesis 47:27; &nbsp;Genesis 50:8. It probably bordered on the Tanitic branch of the Nile, hence called Zoan or Tanis, &nbsp;Psalms 78:12, and reached from the Mediterranean to the Red sea. It was suited to shepherds, and abounded in vegetables. It contained the treasure-cities Rameses and Pithom. Goshen was near the royal capital, &nbsp;Genesis 47:27 compared with 48:1, 2; &nbsp;Exodus 5:20; appears to have been the starting-place of the Israelites in their journey to the land of promise. &nbsp;Exodus 12:37; &nbsp;Exodus 38:2. A district in Palestine, perhaps between Gibeon and Gaza. &nbsp;Joshua 10:41; &nbsp;Joshua 11:16. 3. A city in the hill-country of Judah, &nbsp;Joshua 15:51. </p>

<li> A town in the mountains of Judah (&nbsp;Joshua 15:51 ). <div> <p> '''Copyright Statement''' These dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by [[Thomas]] Nelson, 1897. Public Domain. </p> <p> '''Bibliography Information''' Easton, Matthew George. Entry for 'Goshen'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/g/goshen.html. 1897. </p> </div> </li>