Tetradymus. Containing I. Hodegus ... II. Clidophorus ... III. Hypatia. ... IV. Mangoneutes

P R E F A C E.

Exodus 23:20, 21, 22, 23.

...authors have written concerning the sacred fires of the ancients. Many who fail in proving their main argument still become useful or pleasant to read through their supporting research. What I have proposed concerning the ANGEL mentioned in the 23rd chapter of Exodus, I do not expect will be properly received until the work appears to which that explanation properly belongs. However, I am not so doubtful about my idea of the Angel of God in the 19th and 20th verses of the 14th chapter of the same book, nor of my investigation concerning RAGUEL, JETHRO, and HOBAB These three names refer to Moses's father-in-law and his family; the author argues they are often confused in biblical commentary, who are strangely confused by most writers. I hope my account of the origin of the Kenites—explaining that HOBAB was rewarded according to the promise of MOSES for guiding the Israelites in the wilderness, where he was the Fire-bearer or General Guide of the Camp—will satisfy all impartial lovers of truth.

As for others, I do not care what they think or say. If anyone should dispute the detail of the Ark being carried on men’s shoulders—because in some historical illustrations of the Bible it is depicted being carried like our sedan chairs original: "Chairs"; the author is referring to portable enclosed chairs carried by poles—he is welcome to his opinion. But since the Ark was intended to be visible, and its presence provided significant encouragement to the Army, I believe it was carried the other way meaning high on the shoulders to be seen by the crowd. Its rings and poles would work either way, but the nature of the situation—and the solemn ritual of saying, "Rise up, LORD, let your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate you flee before you" whenever the Ark was to move forward, along with many other passages to the same effect—leads me to believe the matter is settled in my favor.

This Dissertation, to conclude what I have to say of it here, is mentioned in a note within the Voyage of JAQUES MASSÉ A fictional travel novel by Simon Tyssot de Patot, often used to voice radical or deist ideas, written by a gentleman of great wit and judgment, to some of whose friends I showed my manuscript at the Hague in the year 1708. His words on page 168 are these: "We have heard mention of a learned man from

Sections 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30.

Pyrophoros original: Πυρφορος; Greek for "fire-bearer"

Pages 20 and 26.

Numbers 10:35, 36.

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The following paragraph is a footnote in French, separated by a line from the main text. Original: "On a oui parler d'un savant Anglois qui a fait une dissertation depuis peu, où il entreprend de prouver, qu'il n'y a eu rien de miraculeux, ni meme d'extraordinaire dans cette colonne de feu qui conduisoit les Israëlites dans le desert ; et de faire voir par les meilleurs auteurs anciens et modernes, que ç'a eté toujours la coûtume dans ces sortes de deserts, de se servir de feu pour diriger la marche des armées ou des multitudes, en le faisant porter devant elles par des Guides, de maniere que toute la troupe en put voir"
"We have heard mention of a learned Englishman who recently wrote a dissertation in which he undertakes to prove that there was nothing miraculous, nor even extraordinary, in that column of fire which led the Israelites in the desert. He shows, using the best ancient and modern authors, that it has always been the custom in these types of deserts to use fire to direct the march of armies or large groups, by having it carried before them by guides so that the entire troop could