KEDEM. This is an Hebrew Word which we find in some Places of the Scripture, and is generally translated East. It is Gen. xi. 1, said, for Example, that the Sons of Noah 2. having but one Language, departed from the East and came into the Land of Shinar. Hereupon some Difficulties have been raised; for the Land of Shinar is not to the West of Armenia, where we know the Ark rested, and Armenia does not lye to the East of Babylonia, where the Land of Shinar was. On the contrary, we are sure that it is to the North of this Countrey. To disengage themselves out of these Perplexities, Interpreters and Commentators have imagined different Explanations of this Passage.
Capellus apud Boch. Phaleg. l. 1. c. 7. Gen. xxv. 15. Bochart. loco citato.Some by the Word Kedem have understood the Countrey which was afterwards peopled by Kedemah, the youngest Son of Ishmael. Others, that Kedem was used for, at the Beginning; and that Moses intended to describe the particular Time at which the first Men departed after the Deluge, in order to spread themselves into different Countries. Others, that Moses spoke according to the Custom of the Assyrians, who called all the Provinces of their Empire, which were situated beyond the Tigris, Kedem or East; and those on this Side the same River, the West or Arab. Drusius, instead of they departed from the East, translates, they departed to go towards the East. He relates some passages which seem to favour his Explanation: But we must confess that it is something forced.
It appears to us, from a great Number of Places in the Old, and even in the New Testament, that the sacred Writers called the Provinces which were beyond the Tigris and Euphrates, even Mesopotamia, Armenia, and Persia, Kedem or the East. Mo- their ses, who had been bred up in Egypt, and lived long in Arabia, in this likewise might probably follow the Custom of the Country. It is certain that Babylonia, Chaldæa, Susiana, Persia, and a Part of Mesopotamia, as well as the Rivers of Euphates and Tigris, for the greatest part of their Course are to the East of Palestine, Egypt, and Arabia.
It is farther certain, that the People who came from Armenia, Syria, Media, and Upper Mesopotamia, entred Palestine and Egypt from the East side, which was sufficient for the Hebrews to say, that these People lay to the East, with respect to them. Lastly, We prove that these Countries were known among the Hebrews under the Name of East, by the following Passages. Balaam Numb. xxiii. 7.says, that Balak King of Moab had brought him from the Mountains of the East; that is to say, from Pethor upon the Euphrates. If. xli. 2.Isaiah says, that Abraham came from the East into the Land of Canaan. We know he came from Mesopotamia and Chaldæa. The If. xlvi. 11.same Prophet says, that Cyrus should come from the East against Babylon. He places If. ix. 12.Syria to the East of Judæa. Daniel says, Antiochus should be troubled with the Dan. xi. 44.News which he received relating to the Revolt of the Eastern Provinces; that is to say, the Provinces on the other Side of the Euphrates. St. Matthew says, that the wise Men who came to worship Jesus Christ, set out from the East. Matt. ii. 1.
All this demonstrates, in my opinion, what we have advanced; that in the Scripture Style, the East is often used for the Provinces which lye to the North of Judæa and Egypt, from whence however people generally enter Palestine by the Way only of Damascus, which is to the North-East of this Country.