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Observations On The Destruction Of Sennacherib's Army.
of humanity , I cannot affirm that the puirefaction was more or less rapid than usual in that country . As to the meteor itself , it may be ' examined with impunity at the distance of three or four fathoms , and the . country people are only afraid of being surprised by it when they are asleep ; neither are such accidents very common , for these Siphons are only seen during two or three months of the year ; and as their approach is felt , the camp guards , and the people awake , are always
very careful to rouse thoss who sleep , who also have a general habit of covering their faces with their mantles . ' ' We mu ^ t account for any s . eeming contrariety of representation between these gentlemen , by supposing that , in different desarts , or at different times , these meteors are more or less mortal ; but we would wish to direct the reader ' s attention to some peculiar ideas , implied in these accounts .
i . The meteor seems like a thin smoke , i . e . seen by day-light when Mr . Biuce travelled . 2 . It passed with a gentle ruffling wind . 3 . It w . is some hours in passing . 4 . It affected the mind , byenfeebling the body ; producing despondency . 5 . It is dangerous , by being breathed . 6 . 'It is fatal to persons sleeping . 7 . Its effects even on these on whom it is net fat . J , are enfeebling and lasting . 8 . It is felt like a suffocating fire . 9 . Its extent is sometimes considerable ;
about half a mile , sometimes more , sometimes less . 10 . To prevent inspiring it , it is necessary first to see it , which is not always practicahie , especially by nigut . Let us now compare the nature and effects of the Simoom with the occurence related in 2 Kings xix . and Isaiah xxxvii , I . 'Bhold I will send a blast upon him , ' ( Sennacherib ) . Now the wujd rendered blast [ RTJACI 3 does not imph a vehement wind ; but a gentle breath ' ng , a breeze , a vapour , an exhalation ; and thus agrees wifrHhe above description .
II . It is supposed that the prophet alludes to this meteor , when he 3 ays , chap . xxx . 27 . ' The Lord ' s anger is burning , or devouring fire . ' 33 . 'The wrath uf the Loid , like a stream of brimstone , doth kindle it . " III . The army of Sennacherib was destroyed in the ni ght . It appears thdt , in full security , they were negligent , and their discipline was relaxed ; the camp guards were not alert , or were themselves first taken off ; and then those who sleptnot wrapped imbibed the
, up , poison plentifully and CifaJJy . I- the Assyrians were not accustomed to this meteor at home they mi ? , ht not expect it . The gross numberof this army is not mentioned ; perhaps it was three or four times the number slain ; that it was very great appears from Sennacherib ' s boastings sent to Hezekia / i . If the extent of the meteor was half a mile , or a mile , in passing over a camp ,
it mi g ht slay nwnv thousands of sleepers : while those on each side of its course escaped . The subsequent languor and despondency attending this meteor , contributes to account lor Sennacherib ' s return home ; even though his army might be very numerous , notwithstanding this loss . The Babylonish Talmud hath it , that this ' destruction was executed by Jighining ; -arid Josephus says that one hundred and eighty-five jihousynd perished-in one night b y a judicial pestilence .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Observations On The Destruction Of Sennacherib's Army.
of humanity , I cannot affirm that the puirefaction was more or less rapid than usual in that country . As to the meteor itself , it may be ' examined with impunity at the distance of three or four fathoms , and the . country people are only afraid of being surprised by it when they are asleep ; neither are such accidents very common , for these Siphons are only seen during two or three months of the year ; and as their approach is felt , the camp guards , and the people awake , are always
very careful to rouse thoss who sleep , who also have a general habit of covering their faces with their mantles . ' ' We mu ^ t account for any s . eeming contrariety of representation between these gentlemen , by supposing that , in different desarts , or at different times , these meteors are more or less mortal ; but we would wish to direct the reader ' s attention to some peculiar ideas , implied in these accounts .
i . The meteor seems like a thin smoke , i . e . seen by day-light when Mr . Biuce travelled . 2 . It passed with a gentle ruffling wind . 3 . It w . is some hours in passing . 4 . It affected the mind , byenfeebling the body ; producing despondency . 5 . It is dangerous , by being breathed . 6 . 'It is fatal to persons sleeping . 7 . Its effects even on these on whom it is net fat . J , are enfeebling and lasting . 8 . It is felt like a suffocating fire . 9 . Its extent is sometimes considerable ;
about half a mile , sometimes more , sometimes less . 10 . To prevent inspiring it , it is necessary first to see it , which is not always practicahie , especially by nigut . Let us now compare the nature and effects of the Simoom with the occurence related in 2 Kings xix . and Isaiah xxxvii , I . 'Bhold I will send a blast upon him , ' ( Sennacherib ) . Now the wujd rendered blast [ RTJACI 3 does not imph a vehement wind ; but a gentle breath ' ng , a breeze , a vapour , an exhalation ; and thus agrees wifrHhe above description .
II . It is supposed that the prophet alludes to this meteor , when he 3 ays , chap . xxx . 27 . ' The Lord ' s anger is burning , or devouring fire . ' 33 . 'The wrath uf the Loid , like a stream of brimstone , doth kindle it . " III . The army of Sennacherib was destroyed in the ni ght . It appears thdt , in full security , they were negligent , and their discipline was relaxed ; the camp guards were not alert , or were themselves first taken off ; and then those who sleptnot wrapped imbibed the
, up , poison plentifully and CifaJJy . I- the Assyrians were not accustomed to this meteor at home they mi ? , ht not expect it . The gross numberof this army is not mentioned ; perhaps it was three or four times the number slain ; that it was very great appears from Sennacherib ' s boastings sent to Hezekia / i . If the extent of the meteor was half a mile , or a mile , in passing over a camp ,
it mi g ht slay nwnv thousands of sleepers : while those on each side of its course escaped . The subsequent languor and despondency attending this meteor , contributes to account lor Sennacherib ' s return home ; even though his army might be very numerous , notwithstanding this loss . The Babylonish Talmud hath it , that this ' destruction was executed by Jighining ; -arid Josephus says that one hundred and eighty-five jihousynd perished-in one night b y a judicial pestilence .