This was the most fertile pasture ground in the whole of Lower
Egypt; thence called Goshen, from _gush_, in Arabic, signifying “a
heart,” or whatsoever is choice or precious. There was also a Goshen in
the territory of the tribe of Judah, so called for the same reason,
Joshua x, 41. Hence Joseph recommended it to his family as “the best of
the land,” Gen. xlvii, 11, and “the fat of the land,” Gen. xlv, 18. The
land of Goshen lay along the most easterly branch of the Nile, and on
the east side of it; for it is evident that, at the time of the exode,
the Israelites did not cross the Nile. In ancient times, the fertile
land was considerably more extensive, both in length and breadth, than
at present, in consequence of the general failure of the eastern
branches of the Nile; the main body of the river verging more and more
to the west continually, and deepening the channels on that side.
Egypt; thence called Goshen, from _gush_, in Arabic, signifying “a
heart,” or whatsoever is choice or precious. There was also a Goshen in
the territory of the tribe of Judah, so called for the same reason,
Joshua x, 41. Hence Joseph recommended it to his family as “the best of
the land,” Gen. xlvii, 11, and “the fat of the land,” Gen. xlv, 18. The
land of Goshen lay along the most easterly branch of the Nile, and on
the east side of it; for it is evident that, at the time of the exode,
the Israelites did not cross the Nile. In ancient times, the fertile
land was considerably more extensive, both in length and breadth, than
at present, in consequence of the general failure of the eastern
branches of the Nile; the main body of the river verging more and more
to the west continually, and deepening the channels on that side.