This is frequently mentioned as the southern limit of the Land of Promise (Genesis 15:18; 2 Chronicles 7:8; Numbers 24:5; Joshua 15:4). (See BROOK). Calmet is of opinion that this was the Nile, remarking that Joshua 13:3 describes it by the name of Sihor, which is the true name of the Nile (Jeremiah 2:18), "the muddy river;" and that Amos 6:14 calls it the river of the wilderness, because the eastern arm of the Nile adjoined Arabia, or the wilderness, in Hebrew Arabah, and watered the district by the Egyptians called Arabian. In answer to this, it is said that this stream was the limit of Judaea toward Egypt, and that the Sept. (Isaiah 27:12), "unto the river of Egypt," render "to Rhinocorura," an interpretation which is adopted by Cellarius, Bochart, Wells, and others, although that is the name of a town certainly not adjacent to the Nile. (See NILE). Besides, it is extremely dubious whether the power of the Hebrew nation extended at any time to the Nile, and, if it did, it was over a mere sandy desert. But, as this desert is unquestionably the natural boundary of the Syrian dominions, no reason can be given why the political boundary should exceed it. Most geographers, therefore, understand by "the River of Egypt" the modern Wady el-Arish, which drains the middle of the Sinaitic desert; a few, however, take it to be the brook Besor, between Gaza and Rhinocorura. (See Joshua 15:47.) (See EGYPT).
The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature was edited by John McClintock and James Strong. It contains nearly 50,000 articles pertaining to Biblical and other religious literature, people, creeds, etc. It is a fantastic research tool for broad Christian study.
John McClintock was born October 27, 1814 in Philadelphia to Irish immigrants, John and Martha McClintock. He began as a clerk in his father's store, and then became a bookkeeper in the Methodist Book Concern in New York. Here he converted to Methodism and considered joining the ministry. McClintock entered the University of Pennsylvania in 1832 and graduated with high honors three years later. Subsequently, he was awarded a doctorate of divinity degree from the same institution in 1848.WikipediaRead More