Page:Studies in the Scriptures - Series I - The Plan of the Ages (1909).djvu/374

 14 A Criticism of Millennial Hopes Examined.

humanity that ever lived would count less than (10,000,000,000) ten thousand millions.

We still stick to the figures based upon our previous estimate (28,000,000,000) twenty-eight thousand millions; but we merely give these figures based on the "wedge" as corroborative evidence that our first calculations are in every way liberal.

ISRAEL'S INCREASE A MIRACLE.

Some may be disposed to question our figures of the Exodus, and cite the fact that at that time Israel bad 603 550 men capable of hearing arms and burdens, besides women and children. (Num. 1:45,4-6.) \T e accept those figuies with the statement that there were none infirm amongst the Israelites. Accordingly we would reckon that this in- cluded all the males from twenty years old and upward, that there were as many females and as many young children, and estimate the whole at 2,000,000. The increase of the Israelites was phenomenal, miracu- lous. In no other way could we possibly understand how Jacob and his twelve sons and their families could in the short^space of 198 years increase from seventy persons to 2,000,000; nor did the miracle con- tinue, for we find that forty years later, when entering Canaan, their male forces numbered less than when they left Egjrpt (Num. 26.) Several centuries later, King Saul numbered the entire army prepara- tory to a -war with the Amalekites, and the total was 210,000 fighting men little more than one-third of the number that left Egypt, ( I Sam. 15:4.) Kor are such decreases of population exceptions. "Where are the formerpeoples of Palestine and Egypt? In more modern times note the disappearance of the Aztecs and Montezumas of Central Amer- ica and the rapid fading away of the North American Indian.

Evidently the fertile country and temperate climate in the "vicinity of the Mediterranean Sea made that region the cradle of the race after tic flood. From thence the people spread abroad, Palestine itself was the home of seven of the great nations of that time, enumerated as greater and mightier than Israel. (Deut 7:r -) But this must mean that combinedly they "were greater and mightier, or else it signified tliat these people were larger-bodiedgiants. This latter thought is in accord with the report of the spies (Num. 13:22, 28, 33), and agrees with the words of Moses. (Deut 9:2.) Certainly the entire seven great nations of that time cannot have numbered much over a million souls, else how could that little land have supported them? Its entire area is only 6,040 square miles less than one-seventh that of the State of Pennsylvania,- less than one-fortieth that of the State of Texas.

"We repeat that at that time Israel -was a great nation that "the nations under the whole heaven'* feared them, (Deut 2:25*) V a " questionably Egypt was the principal nation of that time, and the King of Egypt freely conceded that the Israelites were -"more and rphysical- ly] mightier" than the Egyptians. Ex. 1:9; Deut. isio; fsa. 105; i 37-

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