Page:The Northern Ḥeǧâz (1926).djvu/292

 the north they likewise followed a convenient road, along which, if it was the rainy season, they found plenty of pasture for their animals and perhaps also numerous flocks belonging to the native population, who like to stay in this hot rift valley during the cold season. From al-ʻAraba the kings could make raids on the separate encampments to the east or west, both to ʻÊn Mišpaṭ, or Ḳadeš, which I locate in the vicinity of Petra, as well as to the territory of the Amalekites and Amorites west and northwest of ʻÊn Mišpaṭ.

The suggestion that we should identify Êl Pârân with the later Elath is supported also by the account given in 1 Kings, 11: 18. Joab, David’s captain, conquered Edom and had every member of the king’s family murdered. The royal servants protected Ḥadad, one of the sons of the king of Edom, and, wishing to escape with him to Egypt, departed from Madian and reached Pârân. Taking people with them from Pârân, they arrived in Egypt.

From the context it may be supposed that the servants were seeking a refuge for Ḥadad in Madian but that they did not stay long there. The ruler of Madian could not protect Ḥadad if he did not wish to lose the profit he derived from accompanying the trade caravans, which had either to pass through Edom or at least to go round it. The same was the case with the other tribes encamping on the borders of Edom and even with the southern Arabian commanders guarding the separate stopping places on the great transport route. This was known to the protectors of Ḥadad, and they therefore fled with him to Egypt, the only land where he could obtain not only complete safety but also help in recovering his father’s inheritance. In order not to attract attention to themselves, they did not join any of the large trade caravans but fled alone with Ḥadad. They certainly passed along the transport route, upon which there were wells and where, because it was the usual route, they were not so conspicuous. From 2 Kings, 16: 6 and 2 Chronicles, 28: 17, it appears that Edom proper lay to the east of al-ʻAraba. The later kings of Judea held Elath, although Edom did not belong to them; the people of Edom, however, finally took Elath itself away from them, though they were unable to gain possession of the territory to the south of Judea and to the west of al-ʻAraba. We must therefore locate the center of the Madianites beyond the reach of Joab’s army, i. e. not to the west but to the southeast of Elath.

Through this center passed a branch road of the main transport route from southern Arabia to Egypt, running thence to the present settlement of al-ʻAḳaba (the ancient Ajla or Elath). Proceeding along it, the king’s servants crossed the rift valley of al-ʻAraba at Elath. They certainly did not cross farther to the north, because they would then have reached Edom (Seʻîr), which extended as far as the ridge of Mount Seîr. They would have naturally avoided such a northerly route, not wishing again to incur the danger of being caught by Joab’s spies. If we grant that they crossed al-ʻAraba at the present settlement of al-ʻAḳaba, then we may, and in fact must, locate Pârân there also. And even if this Pârân is not exactly identical with Elath, it lay at any rate in the closest vicinity to it or in any case in the southern part of al-ʻAraba.

From there the fugitives took guides as well as protectors against the tribes encamping between Edom and Egypt.—In a settlement through