Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/365

 A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Mxavtined. $

times in each century for the first five centuries, which would bring us down to about the time of Abraham, and show a population in Abraham's day of under fifty-eight thousand, although it is our opinion that these figures are double the actual facts, "Higher critics" are so in the habit of using wild unreason in respect to matters of ancient times, that we make this concession. They will declare, for instance, that Assyria was a great nation at this time, and that evi- dences have been unearthed mentioning the great King Chedorlaomer, whom they estimate as probably the ruler of millions taking no thought of the flood and the impossi- bility of having more than fifty thousand in the world at that time.

The Scripture narrative, however, will save the Lord*s people from such errors of judgment, for this great King Chedorlaomer is distinctly mentioned in Genesis xiv. in con- nection with three associated kings, who, joining their com- bined forces, attacked five other kings in the vale of Siddim. The great Chedorlaomer and his valiants conquered, and carried away the spoil, including Lot, Abraham's nephew, and his goods. The narrative shows that these kings, though great for their time, when there were few people in the world, had very small armies, for they did not venture to attack (King) Abraham, who was "very rich" in flocks, herds, etc. On the contrary, when (King) Abraham heard that his nephew Lot was taken prisoner, he armed his three hundred and eighteen servants and pursued after the four great kings and their armies, smote them hip and thigh, and brought back Lot and all his goods. To the Bible student, therefore, the biggest thing about King Chedorlaomer was his name, and such will not be confused by the exaggerated estimates of the higher critics respecting the millions of those days; for their figures are just as reliable as Dr Eaton's given above.

Continuing our liberal allowances, we have estimated that

during the next five centuries the world'spopulationmultiplied

three times each century. This would give us as the world's

population at the time of the exodus 14,241 J


 * See NOTE, page 14.

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