Page 122 - Travels in Arabia (Vol 2)_Neat

VI.] SHERM TO SINAI. 103

ful perusal of the Scriptures on the spot, now
and during a subsequent visit, I am fully con­
vinced that no just grounds exist for depriving

Jebel Musd of the sacred reputation with
which so many ages have invested it*.

From a very early period some doubts ap­
pear to have existed as to the application of
the names Sinai and Horeb; and, if we con­
sult the pages of the several learned travellers
who have been in this neighbourhood, we find

a number of conflicting opinions have been
put forth. By some it has been held that
they are merely different names of the same
mountain ; by others—and in this they are
joined by the monks—Horeb is thought to be
merely a shoulder of Mount Sinai. In neither
case, however, is it possible to reconcile their
opinions with the sense of the several passages
where these names are mentioned in Holy
Writ; and much confusion has arisen in con­

sequence. After a due consideration of the
whole subject, with the Bible as my guide, I

* Referring to page 54, it will be seen that the opinion started
as to there not being sufficient space amidst the valleys in the
vicinity of Sinai for the assembled multitudes of the Israelites
is most erroneous.