An exposition with practical observations continued upon the thirty-eighth, thirty-ninth, fortieth, forty-first, and forty-second,…

Again, Others conceive the wilderness here stands in direct opposition to Egypt, and that the Lord would intimate, that as Egypt was abundantly watered by the river Nilus, they making sluices from that river (as hath been somewhere noted in this Book) to draw the water all the Country over; for Egypt is a flat Country, not a Country of Mountains or Hills. Now saith the Lord, even as Egypt by the drawing of Water-courses, is made fruitful, and abundantly supplied with moisture, though no rain falls there; so I will water the Wilderness with rain from the clouds, as well as they water Egypt, ¹by sluices from the river Nilus. Egypt grew very proud or atheistical rather, because they had such an advantage by the river; which caused one of the Ancients to say, There is never a Plough-man in Egypt will so much as look up to Heaven. They took not themselves at all beholding to God, for the fertility of their land, they had it all from Nilus. Well, saith the Lord, I will moisten the very barren wilderness, it shall be satisfied with rain, even as Egypt with the waters of the river. The Desert shall be as well watered by rivers from heaven, as Egypt is by the river Nilus. But whether the Lord had any respect to that or no, I dare not assert; yet it is plain, that the Lord waters the wilderness where no man is, even as well as Egypt is watered.

Again, Others conceive the wilderness here stands in direct opposition to Egypt, and that the Lord would intimate, that as Egypt was abundantly watered by the river Nilus, they making sluces from that river (as hath been somewhere noted in this Book) to draw the water all the Country over; for Egypt is a flat Country, not a Country of Mountains or Hills. Now saith the Lord, even as Egypt by the drawing of Water-courses, is made fruitful, and abundantly supplied with moisture, though no rain falls there; so I will water the Wilderness with rain from the clouds, as well as they water Egypt, ¹by sluces from the river Nilus. Egypt grew very proud or atheistical rather, because they had such an advantage by the river; which caused one of the Ancients to say, There is never a Plow-man in Egypt will so much as look up to Heaven. They took not themselves at all beholding to God, for the fertillity of their land, they had it all from Nilus. Well, saith the Lord, I will moisten the very barren wildernesse, it shall be satisfied with rain, even as Egypt with the waters of the river. The Desert shall be as well watered by rivers from heaven, as Egypt is by the river Nilus. But whether the Lord had any respect to that or no, I dare not assert; yet it is plain, that the Lord waters the wilderness where no man is, even as well as Egypt is watered.