- Pethor:
- Dr. Kennicott justly remarks, that "the description now given of Balaam's residence, instead of being particular, agrees with any place, in any country where there is a river; for he lived by 'Pethor, which is by the river of the land of his people.' But was Pethor, then, near the Nile in Egypt? Or in Canaan, near Jordan? Or in Mesopotamia, near the Euphrates, and belonging to the Ammonites? This last was in fact the case; and therefore, it is well that twelve Hebrew manuscripts (with two of De Rossi's) confirm the Samaritan text here, in reading instead of âmmo, 'his people,' Ammon, with the Syriac and Vulgate versions." Houbigant justly contends for this reading; and necessity urges the propriety of adopting it, and it thus agrees with "Becauseª¹ they¹ metª° you not¹ with breadª and with waterª in the way,ª when ye came forthª° out of Egypt;ª¹ and because¹ they hiredª° against¹ thee¹ Balaamª the sonª of Beorª of Pethorª¹ of Mesopotamia,ª to curseª° thee." {Deu 23:4}. Ptolemy calls Pethor, Pachura, and Eusebius, Pathura; who places it in upper Mesopotamia. Calmet is of opinion, that it was situated towards Thapsacus, beyond the Euphrates. "And he took upª° his parable,ª and said,ª° Balakª the kingª of Moabª hath broughtª° me from¹ Aram,ª out of the mountainsª¹ of the east,ª [saying], Come,²°¹ curseª° me Jacob,ª and come,²°¹ defyª° Israel.ª" {Num 23:7} + "Becauseª¹ they¹ metª° you not¹ with breadª and with waterª in the way,ª when ye came forthª° out of Egypt;ª¹ and because¹ they hiredª° against¹ thee¹ Balaamª the sonª of Beorª of Pethorª¹ of Mesopotamia,ª to curseª° thee." {Deu 23:4}
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