¦sS^HB* liSSP- _¦.-. asss ;^^i saasi -.-ig^s^sa.'iy mm %&g_m8IB 3-'\jn^, £*&$ki ¦ iiy»Mffin 5? ^sasass* - . - 9/%m - : ; ! ¦ ¦ _._T_r__ jRaiiiM faiflj flip J&ifll nl -Ttttir-U; _ . . 5S=E 'kor-LX&Cb THE FAMILY BIBLE; CONTAINING THE OTD AND NEW TESTAMENTS, WITH BRIEF NOTES AND INSTRUCTIONS, DESIGNED TO GIVE THE RESULTS OF CRITICAL INVESTIGATION, AND TO ASSIST THE READER TO UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE INSPIRED WORD. INCLUDING THE REFERENCES AND MARGINAL READINGS OF THE POLYGLOT BIBLE, WITH ENGRAVINGS, MAPS, AND TABLES. AMERICAN TRACT SOCIETY, 150 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK. Entebed according to Act of Congress, in the year 1861, by the Ahedican Tbact Society, in the Clerk's office of the Distrio Court for the Southern District of New York. ¦ „ ... _ . _ ~f 86>i NAMES AND ORDER OF ALL THE BOOKS OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE BOOKS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT. No. Chap. GENESIS, 50 EXODUS, 40 LEVITICUS, 27 NUMBERS, 36 DEUTERONOMY, 34 JOSHUA, 24 JUDGES, 21 RUTH, 4 I. SAMUEL, 31 II. SAMUEL, 24 I. KINGS, 22 II. KINGS, 25 I. CHRONICLES, 29 No. Chap. II. CHRONICLES, 36 EZRA, 10 NEHEMIAH, 13 ESTHER 10 JOB, 42 PSALMS, - 150 PROVERBS, 31 ECCLESIASTES, 12 SONG OP SOLOMON, 8 ISAIAH, 66 JEREMIAH, 52 LAMENTATIONS, 5 EZEKIEL, 48 No. Chap. DANIEL, 12 HOSEA, 14 JOEL, 3 AMOS, 9 OBADIAH, 1 JONAH, 4 MICAH, 7 NAHUM, 3 HABAKKUK, 3 ZEPHANIAH, 3 HAGGAI, 2 ZECHARIAH, 14 MALACHI, 4 THE BOOKS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT. MATTHEW, 28 MARK, 16 LUKE, 24 JOHN, 21 THE ACTS, 28 TO THE ROMANS, 16 I. CORINTHIANS, 16 II. CORINTHIANS, 13 GALATIANS, 6 EPHESIANS, 6 PHILIPPIANS, 4 COLOSSIANS, 4 I. THESSALONIANS, 5 II. THESSALONIANS, 3 I. TIMOTHY, 6 II. TIMOTHY, 4 TITUS* 3 PHILEMON, .• 1 ' TO THE HEBREWS, 13 EPISTLE OF JAMES 5 I. PETER, 5 II. PETER, 3 I.JOHN, 5 II. JOHN, 1 III. JOHN, 1 JUDE, 1 REVELATION 22 THE ORDER OF TIME IN WHICH THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN. JOB, B. C. 1521 GENESIS, 1500 EXODUS, 1491 LEVITICUS, 1490 NUMBEKS, 1451 DEUTEKONOMY 1451 JOSHUA, 1427 JUDGES, 1403 MATTHEW,- A. D. 38 I. THESS., 54 II. THESS., 54 GALATIANS, 58 I. CORINTHIANS,- 69 II. CORINTHIANS, 60 RUTH, I. SAMUEL,---. II. SAMUEL,--- PSALMS, - SOL. SONG, ---- PROVERBS, ECCLESIASTES, JONAH,- 10601055 101810131000 977 862 ROMANS,-- 60 I. PETER, 60 JAMES, 60 LUKE, 63 ACTS, 64 EPHESIANS, 64 JOEL, 800 AMOS, 787 HOSEA, 785-725 ISAIAH, 7150-698 NAHUM, 713 MICAH, 750-698 ZEPHANIAH, 630 I. KINGS, 620 COLOSSIANS, 64 PHILIPPIANS, 64 PHILEMON, 64 HEBREWS, 64 I. TIMOTHY, 65 MARK, 65 HABAKKUK,---- 626 II KINGS, 590 JEREMIAH, --628-586 LAMENTATIONS, 587 OBADIAH, 587 EZEKIEL, 695-575 DANIEL, 534 HAGGAI, 520 TITUS, 65 JUDE,---- 66 II. PETER, ------ 66 II. TIMOTHY, 66 JOHN, 90 I. JOHN, 90 ZECHARIAH, 520 ESTHER, 509 I. CHRONICLES,- 467 II. CHRONICLES,- 457 EZRA, -•"- 450 NEHEMIAH, 434 MALACHI, 397 II. JOHN, 90 III. JOHN, 90 REVELATION, — - 96 THE BIBLE GOD'S GIFT FOR MEN. This book is the word of God. In it he makes known to men his character and will. It is all given by inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and is profitable ; teaching men what to believe ; showing them in what they are wrong ; instructing them in what is right; and leading them, through the grace of God, to do it. Although written by men, God directed them what to write and how to write it, that as a rule of human faith and conduct it might be perfect. Having been all written, not in words taught by the wisdom of men, but the wisdom of God, it is " perfect, converting the soul ; sure, making wise the simple ; and right, rejoicing the heart." Of course a knowledge of this book is more to be desired than gold, even much fine gold ; because in under standing, believing, and obeying it, there is great present and great future reward. Hence, every person who can, should own a copy of it, and should read it every day; asking God to teach him, by his Spirit, rightly to understand, cordially to believe, and faithfully to obey it. It will then be spirit and life to his soul, and make him wise to salvation. It will be a lamp to his feet, and a light to his path ; guiding him in the way of righteousness, that way of pleasantness and path of peace. He will be wiser, in the things of God, even than his teachers, if they do not understand, believe, and obey the Bible. Through it he will get understanding and will hate every false way ; and by it he will be furnished thoroughly for every good work. On the Sabbath he should study this book in its divinely inspired aspects and con nection ; not merely that he may obtain a greater knowledge of it himself, but also that he may be better qualified to communicate this knowledge to others. He should also, as he may be able, avail himself of the assistance of his fellow-men, that he may receive from the treasures of revelation things new and old. For this purpose he should confine his worldly business, cares, travelling, and amusements, to six days in a week, and should rest on the Sabbath and keep the day holy. He should not only, as on other days, pray to God, morning and evening, him self in secret and also in the family, but he should meet with others and worship God in public ; hearken to the preaching of the gospel by the ministers of Jesus Christ ; and when he goes home and has opportunity, he should examine the Bible and see whether 6 THE BIBLE GOD'S GIFT. what he has heard is according to it. If it is, he should receive it and treat it as the truth of God. If it is not, he should reject it; for if any one preaches contrary to the Bible, he does not preach the truth, and is not to be believed. Each one should there fore study this word of God for himself, that he may be able rightly to judge whether what he hears is according to it or not. Every true minister of Christ will wish to have his hearers do this; and like Paul will rejoice, (see Acts 17 : 11,) when he learns that they are "searching the Scriptures daily." By this law and testimony of God all human teaching from the pulpit and the press should be tried. If men speak not according to this word, there is no light in them. Beader, make this book your own. By it try your faith, and your practice. Hearken to it daily, as the voice of God speaking to you, telling you words by which you may be saved, and by which you may also be instrumental in saving others. Fol low its heavenly teachings, and all things shall work together for your good. God will guide you by his counsel through life ; he will support and comfort you in death ; and after death he will receive you to glory ; where with him, and all his people, you "will rise from glory to glory for ever and ever. The object of the notes in this Family Bible is to assist common readers to under stand the teaching of the Holy Spirit in the revealed word, by giving, in the plainest and briefest manner, the results of sound, judicious critical and prayerful investigation. Some of the instructions suggested by each chapter, are added in the hope of inducing all who read the Bible to form the habit of drawing from it such practical instructions as will tend most to their growth in knowledge and in grace, and to furnish them thoroughly for every good work. The endeavor rightly to apprehend and rightly to express the meaning of the Holy Ghost in the passages examined, has been delightful ; and it is hoped that, through the divine blessing, great and lasting benefits will result to many. j. e. THE HARMONY AND PERFECTION OP THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. FROM THE PREFACE TO THE POLYGLOT BIBLE, THE REFERENCES IN WHICH ARE EMBODIED IN THIS WORK. In that grand enunciation of the dignity and design of the sacred volume which is given by the apostle Paul, we are told that "all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction IN RIGHTEOUSNESS ; THAT THE MAN OF GOD MAY BE PERFECT, THOROUGHLY FURNISHED unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3 : 16, 17. But it must be evident that the Scripture could not be effectually profitable for these great ends, nor make the man of God per fect, if it were not perfect itself; if its different parts were at variance with each other; if, notwithstanding all the variety of matter, and multiplicity of detail, which such a book required, the doctrines revealed, and the moral duties enjoined, were not substan tially and essentially the same throughout; and if all the parts did not concur in the plan of the whole. To exhibit then the harmony of the sacred writers on the subjects of which they treat, has been the primary design of this selection. And as there are some subjects of leading importance, in which all the rest are included, and by means of which the harmony and perfection of the inspired pages are written as with the beams of the sun, to these especial care and attention have been devoted. I. It has appeared an object of the first magnitude, that the reader of the holy Scriptures should be assisted by references from text to text, to have constantly in view the connection of all the divine attributes, and the holy, uniformity of God in his government both of his church and of the world. A display of the true character and perfections qf God is, without dispute, one chief design of the inspired volume. Here, as in Isaiah's miraculous vision, may Jehovah be seen, sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up ; his train fills the temple, and the sacred writers, like the seraphim, cover 8 THE HARMONY AND PERFECTION themselves, and cry one to another, and say, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of his glory." It is this which gives to the Scripture its superlative grandeur. By it God is known ; his will is promulgated ; his purposes are revealed ; his mercy is announced ; and he is everywhere exhibited as worthy of the supreme adoration, love, service, and praise of all his intelligent creatures. Little do those who neglect the Bible think what refined delight they lose by thus turning away their eyes from the most sublime, the most glorious, and the most beatifying object of contemplation that the whole universe affords. II. But this manifestation of the divine character and government is not presented to us as a matter of mere speculation, in which we have no immediate and personal interest. The holy Scriptures are designed to promote the glory of God by the salva tion of man. The peculiar purpose of the whole is to turn men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God ; to raise them from the ruins of the fall, and to put them in possession of the blessings of redemption ; to lead them from sin to holi ness ; to conduct them through a state of conflict and trial on earth, to a state of rest and felicity in heaven ; and so to assist and direct them in all possible conditions in life, that they may not fail of these great ends, except by their own wilful rejection of the counsel of God against themselves. The salvation of his own soul should therefore be the grand concern of every reader of the Scripture. Here the immortality of the soul is brought to light, and placed in unquestionable evidence. Here, its defection from original purity is clearly demonstrated, the means of its restoration are set forth, and its future destiny is declared. It is an awful responsibility which they incur who wil fully neglect this holy book, and devote all their time and the powers of their minds to terrestrial and subordinate objects. They slight the pearl of greatest price, which is nowhere else to be found; and seem as if they were determined to frustrate, as far as respects themselves, all that divine wisdom and goodness have done to rescue the immortal mind of man from spiritual ignorance, error, vanity, vice, and ruin. Those, however, who are seeking to enjoy the blessings which the gospel reveals, will, as they are able, search the Scriptures ; and such persons will receive great help from having references at hand to assist their inquiries. " It were to be wished," says Bishop Hors- ley, "that no Bibles were printed without references. Particular diligence should be used in comparing the parallel texts of the Old and New Testaments It is incredible," he adds, " to any one who has not made the experiment, what a proficiency may be made in that knowledge which maketh wise unto salvation, by studying the Scriptures in this manner, without any other commentary or exposition than what the different parts of the sacred volume mutually furnish for each other. Let the most illiterate Christian study them in this manner, and let him never cease to pray for the illumination of that Spirit by which these books were dictated, and the whole compass OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 9 of abstruse philosophy and recondite history shall furnish no argument with which the perverse will of man shall be able to shake this learned Christian's faith." So great and perfect is the coincidence of every part of the word of God in the grand and mer ciful design of the whole! III. This is more apparent, and the harmony and perfection of the holy Scriptures are rendered more peculiarly evident and distinct, by the constant reference of all its writers to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. " To him give all the prophets wit ness." Acts 10 : 43. The things which were written in the law of Moses, and in all the prophets, and in the Psalms, concern him, Luke 24 : 27, 44 ; and would come to nothing if he were separated from them. He is the bright and morning Star ; the true Light that must lighten every man who comes to see the glory of divine revelation. Rev. 22 -. 16; John 1:9. It has therefore been a chief design of this work to connect and to exhibit the testimony which all the sacred penmen bear to the adorable Imman uel; to the proper and unequivocal divinity of his nature, the necessity of his media tion, the reality and design of his incarnation, his spotless and exemplary life, his unparalleled sufferings, his vicarious death, the verity of his resurrection and ascension into heaven, the sufficiency of his righteousness, the prevalence of his intercession, the spirituality of his kingdom, his sovereignty in the church, his constant care and love of his people, and the certainty of his second coming to raise the dead and judge the world in righteousness: grand and sublime truths, in which every individual of the human race is deeply and eternally interested. IV. The chief purpose of Christ's mission being that such as believe on him might be saved from sin, which is the transgression of the divine law, and from the punishment due to it, it has been thought important frequently to connect those texts which speak of transgressions, with those in which the law concerning them is to be found, and in which punishment is threatened ; and sometimes with those in which the atonement is set forth, and pardon is proclaimed, or in which sanctification is promised or enforced; and these again with such as relate to the future happiness and glory which is promised to the faithful, or the punishment and misery denounced against the impenitent. A small body of divinity is sometimes comprised in a few texts connected together in this way: Thus, from those words in Ezek. 23 : 49, "Ye shall bear the sins of your idols," the reader is referred first to Num. 14 : 34 as a parallel passage, showing God visiting sin upon the transgressors themselves; then to Num. 18 : 23, to show the typical visita tion of it upon the Levitical priesthood; then to Isaiah 53 : 11, to show the prophetic declaration of its being laid on Christ ; and lastly, to 1 Pet. 2 : 24, to show the actual fulfilment of that prophecy, and the end to be answered by it ; for there we are told that He that judgeth righteously, "his own self, bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sin, should live to righteousness." 10 THE HARMONY AND PERFECTION V. The concurrence of the Old and New Testaments with each other, and the relation of the types before and under the Mosaic law to their completion under the gospel, have been studiously regarded, so as to render it evident, that whatever variations may have been made in the form and administration of external worship, true religion, under the former dispensations, was always essentially the same as true religion under the present; that "he is not a Jew which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision which is outward in the flesh: but he is a Jew which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit and not in the letter, whose praise is not of men but of God." For "in every nation he that feareth God, and worketh righteousness, is accepted of him." Rom. 2 : 28, 29; Acts 10 : 35. In this, the revelation made before the institution of the Levitical priesthood, that made during its continuance, and that which has been made since its termination, all agree. The Mosaic ritual was the shadow of good things to come ; so were the priesthood and kingdom of Melchizedek : and the body is Christ, who is essentially "the same," both in his person and in his government, "yesterday, and to-day, and for ever." Heb. 13 : 8. VI. But the instruction diffused through the Scriptures respecting the gracious and indispensable operations of the Holy Ghost the Sanctifier, has not been forgotten ; and the references on this article will show that, as to his sacred influence on the minds of the inspired penmen we are indebted for all the truths they have taught us, so to his influence on the minds of those who receive and regard them must such persons be indebted for all they have learned or can learn of them. His work completes the great design of the whole ; and his assistance and blessing are distinctly promised to all who sincerely ask them. VII. As the Scriptures harmonize in their primary and general objects, so do they with regard to the particular subjects comprehended in their plan. Historical accounts are verified by other coincident ones, or by accounts of the persons or places to which they refer. The prophecies of one prophet concerning events which were to take place, relating either to kingdoms, families, individuals, or the world at large, are consistent with those pronounced by other prophets. The accounts of the Jewish polity under its various vicissitudes, are confirmed by the writings of the prophets who lived during or after those vicissitudes ; while the former tend reciprocally to establish the authen ticity of the latter. The histories of the four evangelists have a regular connection and parallelism, especially those of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The recital of the transactions of the apostles, after- the ascension of our Lord, strongly authenticates the apostolic epistles: and Archdeacon, Paley has well shown the confirmation which the epistles of St. Paul derive from the circumstances recorded by St. Luke in his book of the Acts. Prophecies are connected with their accomplishments as far as those accom plishments are included in the Scripture history. Promises and threatenings are con- OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. 11 nected with their respective fulfilments ; precept with example, and with supplication ; and the prayers of believers with the answers they have received. All these relations have been carefully regarded in this compilation. VIII. Further, the Scriptures are not merely intended to lead men to godliness, they are intended also to exemplify it. Repentance, faith, hope, charity, and devotion are here exhibited in the most perfect models ; and it has therefore entered into the design of this work to show the corresponding emotions and conduct of the saints, both of the Old Testament and the New, when under the influence of those dispositions, contemplations, and emotions which are most peculiarly characteristic of true piety ; and also to connect the devotional parts of Scripture with the occurrences which gave rise to them, as far as they can be ascertained. Thus is religion known by its fruits ; not as a thing merely of times and circumstances, but a living principle in the mind, which times and circumstances call into action and contribute to display. IX. The 'aphoristic and poetical parts of the sacred writings are also connected, so as to illustrate and enforce each other, that the reader may be constantly impressed with those momentous truths, and that sublime language with which they abound, and which afford perpetual food for the best exercises of the understanding and the finest emotions of the heart ; at once furnishing materials for the most rational entertainment, and the most solid instruction. In this respect, the Scriptures will be found to resem ble the garden of Eden, in which the Lord God has made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for spiritual food. But no cherubim or flaming sword are here to prohibit access to the tree of life. The children of the second Adam may freely, and without fear or interruption, now put forth their hands to its soul-reviving fruit, and take, and eat, and live for ever. X. The agreement of the sacred writers with each other will be found not only to exist in the subjects on which they treat, but to extend to their own individual charac ters. It will appear that they were all animated by the same Spirit ; that they were all holy men, speaking as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, calling men to holiness, as the indispensable requisite to the enjoyment of everlasting happiness — men neverthe less of like passions with ourselves, conscious of their own natural infirmity and sinful ness, and of the mercy of God through Christ Jesus, as their only refuge from his just displeasure. In short, they were men fearing God ; loving God ; loving his character, his laws, his will ; admiring his great and wonderful purposes, and voluntarily, deliber ately, and determinedly devoting themselves to his service, whatever it might cost them, and to whatever it might expose them. On all these accounts, they are held forth as examples, whose faith, patience, and practice, Christians are to follow. 1 Cor. 11:1; Heb. 13 : 7;' James 5 : 10. It is thus that the Scriptures are profitable to all the purposes for which they are 12 HARMONY OF THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. destined, and are calculated to make the man of God "perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." To the inspired pages at large may be applied the remarks of the excellent Bishop Home on the Psalms: "Indited under the influence of Him to whom all hearts are known, and all events foreknown, they suit mankind in all situa tions, grateful as the manna which descended from above, and conformed itself to every palate. The fairest productions of human wit, after a few perusals, like gathered flow ers, wither in our hands and lose their fragrancy ; but these unfading plants of Para dise become, as we are accustomed to them, still more and more beautiful ; their bloom appears to be daily heightened, fresh odors are emitted, and new sweets extracted from them. He who hath once tasted their excellences, will desire to taste them yet again ; and he who tastes them oftenest will relish them best." Happy in having labored to facilitate the acquaintance of the Christian with this invaluable treasure, the editor has now only to implore the blessing of Him by whom its exhaustless stores have been bestowed on sinful man ; and to hope that his feeble endeavors may be instrumental in advancing the reader's edification, and in their hum ble measure tend to promote that happy state of things so long foretold, and so ardently to be desired, in which "the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea." Hab. 2 : 14 j Isa. 11 : 9. T. C. Old. Testament names in Lack letters .New Testament names in Roman >- Modern names in Italic "\j Jupiter immoi i , b y " " -° <> .> Descendants of No all iS.":"Cfe\.2.XS.O. _ ifm-t7i Jjsyn«i j Salah. ChaldoPii |M Sep Genesis X*" Oia.pt.ei Afnca,& S.W. Arabia \fOJztu Ethiopia, | Seba ' S. of Egypt 'TSgcAlah. -E. * "ft7" of Bed. Sea fSabtab. i" Arabia. j~fl««TfriaW j?(2rft Arabia Wp.it Arabia W&S Arabia 1 ffi^JBJjjjJjjffi 'Gr.Jnpetvs ' Eiuvpe, and part of A. i GOTT^ST Cimmerians, O-axds , Celts rfcsKfrp-nn7. coasts of the Euxine ~ E.&Ar. of fixe Armenia A Caucasus "Signatk 5eV££ Jo'ktan Primitive I^lBU. .Mmooad. I Sexo.?; jSanox Snelepii "nn.7>aniiOTB\n "TTlexaly | .Abraham lsnma.elit.es ' Jews Jeian Tl-/,al DMak OVaL Abimael j.Saeim "Hscvilaiv. 3o"bal) 1 SVeta ( Penan. Sabtedian., Africa, ,it par mouth ot' -Bed Sea Central and "Southern Arab i, i KTroToa. Flain, of Shmar 'MflftTCRAfflfr Egyptians, Ifear Etliwpia W. of Egypt Lenalmn. roast TT of Egypt M\MTtvym iK | Ya.tnru.sim. zipper or S.Egypt ?>Mi H\itn Canaan I'M.&cL&Aj Jtf^as , and early Bxndoos 3 3N &JT\* lonuxns , Greeks 'l^sfaah. Mvcce. Peloponnesus , & Islands i"Sitnm Cyprus , Italy, etc tHoaBcoim- Macedonia .^-C- Lydians in A in A/h*«Y7 lowar.i; II,,, West jllSyTa. Syivi.Ui'Siipotmnu-i ;"D'i Ar- A777i7<7 , .vi.?/: (77^ Edovi [¦a-oi ,T, u ' 1'iilv.stin.e | CreTnei: 7. KfArmrum [ J"M.asV J' kssyii,, 1 The Holy Lasvi ZAnoniaas /V It' fow/ of Canaan ILttiiPs /V'//- Hebron .leWisiles 7JP(?7¦ .leru^oli'm Amcmles Giigasniies "HiviiesArtaiXcs & E. of Plains of Jordan L i?i //> Centre of Canaan j.v*a,s Thrace SimVp s Arvaooies /.exaaiTtea L i namaAliiies ) ,YotV 27/).\ t/tM*> presents the location ot ncititms which spritna from die immediate Xonh.so far as they arc recorded xiv fhe J 77ir /io7ju' of 7??rt7tv tribes, especially i ^/iica.w uurejtaijt. THE FIRST BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED GENESIS. The five books of Moses are called collectively the Pentateuch,- which signifies in Greek, the five, books The church has in all ages received them as the writings of Moses, the closing chapter of Deuteronomy alone having been added by a later hand. Genesis signifies in Greek, generation, or in a wider sense, origin, The book is so named because it opens'with an account of the origin of the heavens and earth by God's creative power. It is the only authentic record which wc possess of man's creation in God's image, of his fall, and through this fall of the universal apostasy of the human race. The narrative proceeds to show how man's apostasy mani fested itself in the murder of Abel by Cain ; how, in consequence of Cain's departure from the presence of the Lord, the human family was early divided into two branches, the worshippers of God and the ungod ly ; how from the intermarriage of these a universal corruption followed, which God punished by the deluge ; and how, after the deluge, God confounded men's language, and scattered them abroad. Thus far the narrative is general. The remainder of the book is occupied with the history of Abraham and his family, in the line of Isaac and Jacob, with only some brief notices of his other descendants, to the time of their settlement in Egypt, an event which was, by divine appointment, brought about by the sale of Joseph into Egypt by his brethren. CHAPTER I. 1 The creation of heaven and earth, 3 of the light, 6 of the firmament, 9 of the earth separated from the waters, 11 and made fruitful, 14 of the sun, moon, and stars, 20 of fish and fowl, 24 of beasts and cattle, 20 of man in the image of G-od. 29 Also the appointment of food. Anno Mnn- nr-jf ^ie beginning" God created" the di, or year of I o B the world, i. J_ heaven and the earth. Before Christ, g An(j ^ ^.^ wag c without fo^ and void ; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit a of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3 And God said,0 Let there be light :f and there was light 4 And God saw the light, that it was good God divided *the light from the darkness. and »Prov. 8:23; John 1:1, 2; Heb. 1:10. b Job 33:4; Psa. 33:0; Isa. 40:26; Jer. 51:13; Zech. 12:1: Acts 14:15; Rom. !;20; Col. -1:10. <= Job 20:7; Jer. 4:23. ¦>¦ Job 20:13; Psa. 104:30. e Psa. 33:!); Mat. 8:3. f 2 Cor. CHAPTER I. 1. The beginning; of the creation here spoken of. Cre ated; brought into being out of nothing. The heaven and the earth; the matter out of which these were afterwards formed. 2. Without form; the materials existed, but the different kinds had not been separated or put into shape. Void; empty, and destitute of the vegetation and living crea tures which were afterwards brought forth. How long the earth remained so, God has not revealed, and we do 5 And God called the light8 Day, and the dark ness he called Night. +And the evening and the morning were the first day. 6 1 And God said,11 Let there be a ^firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. 7 And God made the firmament,1 and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were abovej the firmament : and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day. 9 1 And God said, kLet the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear : and it was so. 4:6; Eph. 5:14. " Heb. between tlie light, and between the darkness, e Psa. 74:10; Isa. 45:7. t Heb.^nrf the evening was, and the morning was. h Job 37:18. t Heb. expansion, i Jer. 10:12. j Prov. 8:28. k Job 38:8. not know. The deep; the abyss of waters. Moved; in the original, brooded or hovered over the mass of matter, and thus prepared it for being brought into an orderly form, and for bringing forth, at the command of God, various production's. 6. Firmament; in the original, expanse; namely, thai above and around the earth, which we call sky. 9. Waters^-dry land; the earth had before been cov ered with water ; but now the water and the dry land were separated. 13 The creation. GENESIS I. Creation of man. 10 And God called the dry land Earth ; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas : and God saw that it was good. 11 And God said, Let the earth" bring forth grass,* the herb yielding seed, and the fruit-tree yielding" fruit after his kind,- whose .seed is in itself, upon the earth : and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind : and God saw that it was good. 13 And the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 1 And God said, Let there bec lights in the firmament of the heaven, to divide the May from the night ; and let them be for signs, andd for sea sons, and for days, and years: 15 And let them be for lights in the firmament af the heaven, to give light upon the earth : and it was so. 16 And God made two great lights ; the great er light *to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night : he made the stars also. 17 And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to giye light upon the earth, 18 And to crule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness : and God saw that it was good. 19 And the evening and the morning were the fourth day. 20 T And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the § moving creature that hath 'life, and T fowl that may fly above the earth in the open" firmament of heaven. 21 And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind : and God saw that it was good. • Mat. 6:30. * Heb. tender grass. >> Luke 0:44. 1 Psa. 136:7. t Heb. between the day, and between ihe night, d Psa. 104: 19. 1 Heb. for the rule oftluday, * Jer. 31:35. S Heb. creeping. 1 Kings 4:33. tt Heb. a living soul, ver. 30; Eccl. 3:21. 1 Heb. let fowl fly. • Heb. face of the firma- 11. Yielding seed; to perpetuate by natural growth the same kind. 14-19. Lights; light and heat had been made before, on the first dayf ver. 3-5 ; but now there were two. great bod ies in the heavens to occasion, through their motions and those of the earth, day and night, summer and winter, seed-time and harvest. 20. Life; vegetable life had been given before, ver. 11, 12 ; but now a higher kind of life, that of animals, was given. Fowl that mayfly; better, as in the margin, let fowl fly. The fowl, as well as the beasts, were formed out of the ground. Chap. 2 : 19. 21. Whales; the original word denotes the large sea ani mals generally — sea-monsters. 24. Cattle — creeping thing — beast of the earth; the usual Hebrew division of land animals. The beast of the earth denotes wild beasts, and the creeping thing all small ani mals that move with a low or gliding motion, as moles, serpents, etc. 26. Us; such are the nature and manifestations of God, that he can properly speak of himself as I or we, me or us; thus our Saviour said, We will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:23. Our image — our likeness; like his Creator, a rational spirit, exercising do minion. 29, 30. Every lierb bearing seed — every green lierb; God gives to tnan for his food the fruits and seed-bearing 14 22 And God blessed them, saying, Be B.c.5obI: fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. 23 And the evening and the morning were the fifth day. 24 T And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after hi* kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind : and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind : and God saw that it was good. 26 1 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness : and let them have do minion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the - earth, and over every creeping thing that creep eth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image,f in the image of God created he him; male and fe male created he them. 28 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it ; and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that tmoveth upon the earth. 29 1 And God said, Behold, I have given you every. herb * bearing seed, which is upon the face of all tlie earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to gyou it shall be for meat. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every fowl of the air, and to every thing that creepeth upon the earth, wherein there is §life, I have given every green herb for meat: and it was so. 31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day. ment of heaven, ver. 7, 14. f Eccl. 7:29; Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10. t Hob. creepeth. Psa. 69:34. 1 Heb. seeding seed. 5 ch. 2:16; 9:3; Job 36:31; Acts 14 : 17. S Heb. a living soul. plants, such as wheat, pulse, etc. ; leaving to the cattle the green herbage. 31. Very good; each part is separately pronounced good, but the whole is very good, because it is only in the whole that each part finds its perfection. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The existence, wisdom, and greatness of G°d are shown by the things which he has made, even his eternal power and godhead ; so that those who see these things and yet do not adore him, are without excuse. Rom. 1 : 20. 3. Light exists independently of the sun, as in electric ity, lightning, and fire. God caused the light to shine out of darkness, and he can shine into dark hearts, and -give them the light of the knowledge of his glory in the face of Jesus Christ. 2 Cor. 4:6. 10. In separating and combining the elements, assigning to each its appropriate place, and upholding it there, no less really than in its creation, God showed his infinite power, wisdom, and goodness. He spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. Psa. 33:9; Heb. 1:3. 12. In the continuance of the great law which God at first gave, that each seed should produce its kind in all future time, wo have evidence that he sees and governs throughout tho vegetable creation — is of one mind, and none can turn him. Job 23 : 13 ; Isa. 46 : 10. The first sabbath. GENESIS II. The garden of Eden. £.o!iV CHAPTER II. 1 The first sabbath. 4 -The manner of the creation. 8 The planting of the garden of Eden, 10 and the river thereof. 17 The tree of knowledge only forbidden. 19, 20 The naming of the creatures. 21 The making of woman, and institution of marriage. THUS the heavens an.d the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 2 And "on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the sev enth day from all his work which he had made. 3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sancti fied it ; because that in it he had rested from all his. work which God * created and made. 4 T These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made tho earth and the heavens, 5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the Lord God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. 6 But + there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground. 7 And the Lord God formed man* of the "dust of the ground, and c breathed into his d nostrils the breath of life ; and "man became a living soul. 8 T And the Lord God planted1' a garden east ward in Eden ; and there he put the man whom he had formed. < a Exod. 20:11 Isa. 58:13 Heb. 4:4. • Heb created lo make, t Or, a mist which went up front. 1 Heb dust of the ground. > eh. 3:19; Psa. 103:14; Isx 64:8 ; 1 Cor. 15:47. « Job 33:4. d Isa. 2:22. e I Cor. 15:45. f Ezek. 31 3,9. 5 ch. 3:22 Prov 3:18 Rev. 2:7. b ver. 17. >ch. 25: IS. 18. The sun, moon, and stars are bright manifestations of the wisdom, power, and goodness of God. We can see and enjoy them without being able to understand their nature, or how they produce their effects. So we can believe truths, and enjoy the benefits of faith, with out comprehending how those truths exist, are related, or operate so usefully on us. 28. The fear of man manifested by fishes, fowls, and beasts, testifies to his dignity as the representative of his Maker ; and by yielding to him to whom God gave domin ion, they acknowledge God's authority, and thus honor him. They also suffer iri consequence of man's sin. Gen. 6:7; Rom. 8:20. 31. All that God does is very good ; like its Author, perfect. Nothing could be better ; and in our treating all things according to his will there is great reward. CHAPTER II. 1. Thus; as described in the previous chapter. 2. Rested; not in the sense of weariness, or ease from fatigue ; God is never weary. Isa. 40 : 28. But he ceased from the work of the six days. He rested, as men should, after six days of labor ; and as the friends of God, who rightly understand their duty, will. Having made man in his own image, he now sets him an example. 3. The seventh* day ; that which succeeds the six work ing days ; and which was made to be a day of rest from secular employments and of devotion to religious duties. Sanctified it; set it apart from other days for sacred em ployments. 4. " Tliese are the generations;" this expression is always prefixed to the account to which it belongs. Chap. 5:1; 10:1; 11:10; 25:12,19; 36:1; 37:2. Here it introduces a second further account of the creation, containing impor tant particulars which could not be brought into the pre ceding narrative without interrupting its orderly plan. Lord; in the original, Jehovah. This is the first time this word is used in the Bible. . It is the peculiar name of Him, who is, and was, and is to come, the Almighty ; and 9 And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food ; the B tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the "tree of knowledge of good and evil. 10 And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and be came into four heads. 11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth 'the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold ; 12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx-stone. 13 And the name of the second river is Gihon: the same is it that compasseth the whole land of Ethiopia.8 14 And the name of the third river is Hidde- kel :J that is it which goeth ' toward the east of Assyria. And the fourth river is Euphrates. 15 And the Lord God took '"the man, and kput him into the garden of Eden, to dress it and to keep it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden * thou mayest freely eat : 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,1 thou shalt not eat of it; for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou + shalt surely die. 5 Heb. Cush. J Dan. 10:1. It Or, eastward to Assyria. 7 Or, Adam, k ver. 8. • Heb. eating thou shalt eat. 1 ch. 3:1, 3,11, 17; Rom. 6:23; 1 Cor. 15:56. t Heb. dyijig thou shalt die. implies eternal, independent, unchanging self-existence, and infinite perfection. When the word Loud in the Bible is printed in small capitals, it is in the Hebrew, Jehovah. 5. Every plant — before it teas in the earth — every herb— before it grew; many prefer to render the original, "And no plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field yet grew," the sacred writer again commencing with the time when the earth was void. 7. Formed man; chap. 1:27. He was not born as men now are, and did not grow up gradually; but as other things were formed by the power of God at once, he was created full-grown and perfect. 8. Eden; a country east or north-east of Palestine, through which flowed the rivers Tigris and Euphrates. 9. The tree of life; whose fruit would be to man, if obe dient, a pledge of endless life. Tree of knowledge; by man's treatment of which his character would be known ; and concerning which he knew by express revelation the will of God: by obeying that will, he would know good and good only ; and by disobeying, he would know evil, and transmit it to his posterity. 10. Was parted— four heads; was divided into four head streams. But whether we are to reckon downward from Eden, so that the garden lay at their common source, or upward, so that.it lay below their junction, is not agreed. 13. Ethiopia; in the Hebrew, Cush ; not the Ethiopia in Africa, but a country iu Asia, inhabited by descendants of Cush the son of Ham, and father of Nimrod. Gen. 10 : 6, 8. 14. Hiddekel; the river Tigris, which empties into the Euphrates. Euphrates; a river which rises in Armenia and flows south into the Persian Gulf. 15. Dress; cultivate. 16. Of every tree; except the tree of knowledge, ver. 17. 17. Thou shalt not eat of it; this was attest of his obe dience to the known will of God. Surely die; in the orig inal, dying thou shalt die. He would lose the moral image and the favor of God ; become mortal and exposed to endless sinfulness and misery. 15 The making of woman. GENESIS III. Man's shameful fall. 18 1 And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone: "I will make him a help 'meet for him. 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and "brought them unto +Adam to see what he would call them ; and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. 20 And Adam *gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field ; but for Adam there was not found a help meet for him. 21 And the Lord God caused a cdeep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept ; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof: 22 And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, §made he a woman, and brought'1 her unto the man. 23 And Adam said, This is now bone0 of my bones, and flesh of my flesh : she shall be called Woman,' because she was taken out of T Man. 24 Therefore shall a man leave fhis father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. 25 And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed. CHAPTER III. . 1 The serpent deceiveth Eve. 6 Man's shameful fall. 9 God arraign- eth them. 14 The serpent is cursed. 15 The promised seed. 16 The punishment of mankind. 21 Their first clothing. 22 Their casting out of paradise. ATOW the B serpent was more "subtle than any !_> beast of the field which the Lord God had a 1 Cor. 11 ;9; 1 Tim. 2:13. *Heb. as before him. b psa. 8;6. t Or, the man. t Heb. called. « ch. 15:12. 5 Heb. builded. & Prov. 18:22. « Jiph, 5:30. 1 Heb. Isha. 1 |Heb. Ish. t Mark 10:7. S Rev. 12:9. li 2 Cor. 11:3. 18. Alone; without a human companion. Meet for him; suited to his nature, condition, and wants. 23. Woman — man ; in Hebrew, man is Ish ; woman, Isha, the feminine of man. 24. Therefore; -oh account of her likeness to man, her suitableness to be his companion, the appointment of God with regard to it, and the mutual affection which he would cause to subsist between them. One flesh; united in bonds more tender and strong than those which unite relatives by birth. 25. Not ashamed; shame is the fruit of sin, and as they had never sinned, they felt none of its evils. How long they continued in this state, God has not told us ; and we do not know. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. As God made one day in seven for rest and spiritual duties, set it apart to be devoted not to secular but to sacred employments, and enforced the observance of it by his own example and his command, it is manifestly his will that men should regard it ; and no man in this respect does his will who does not remember the. Sabbath-day to keep it holy. 7. As the body of man was at first formed from the dust, and all our bodies must soon return to dust, our chief concern should be for the soul ; that it may be fit ted, when it leaves the body, to enter into the presence and enjoy the favor of God. 15. Diligence in business during the six working days, as well as rest from it on the Sabbath, was needful to man in a state of inftocence. He was made for employment ; and no man can indulge in idleness or sloth, without com mitting sin. 18. As God has told us that it is not good for man to live unmarried, those who contend that it is best for min- 16 made. And he said unto the woman, *Yea, b.c'.iom: hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden : 3 But of the fruit of fhe tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, 'Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the ' serpent said unto the k woman, Ye shall not surely die : 5 For God doth know, that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened ; and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was +pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. 7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they, knew that they were naked ;' and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons.* 8 And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the- garden in the scool of the day: and Adam and his wife mhid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the gar den,' and I was afraid, "because I was naked ; and I hid myself. "Heb. yea, because, etc. i ch. 2:17. j John 8:44. kl Tim. 2:14. t Heb. a desire. 1 ch. 2:25. t Or, things to gird about. 5 Heb. wind, m Jer. 23:24 ; Amos 9:2, 3. " 1 John 3:20. isters of the gospel to live unmarried, set up their wis dom in opposition to his, deprive themselves of many blessings, and set an evil example to their fellow-men. 23. The manner in which, and the object for which woman was made, show that the husband and wife should love each other with tender affection ; cultivate union of views, inter est, and effort ; and mutually seek each other's highest good. 24. Marriage, according to the will of God, is a union for life of one man with one woman, and with one only ; and the fact that it is a divine institution, shows that men should enter into it for the glory of God in the promotion of their own happiness and usefulness. CHAPTER III. 1. Subtle; cunning, deceitful. He; the serpent, or Satan speaking by him. 4. Ye shall not — die; this is the first lie recorded in the Bible. Satan was its author, and he is justly called the father of lies. John 8:44. 5. Be as gods; be greatly exalted in knowledge, and able to choose for yourselves between good and evil. 6. To make one wise; the tempter took occasion from the name of the tree, to deceive her into the idea that it would make her wise in such a way as greatly to advance her dignity and blessedness. She took of the fruit; show ing that she believed Satan rather than God. 7. Were opened; but in an opposite sense from that of the tempter. They were opened to see their shame and ruin, and to understand from their own sad experience the difference between good and evil. Compare ver. 22. Knew that they were naked ; experienced shame from their naked ness as the fruit of sin, - 8. Hid themselves; through conscious guilt, and fearful expectation of coming evil. The judgments of God. GENESIS IV. The birth of Cain. b.'c!'«xm. H A"d he said, Who told theo that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, where of I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the Lord God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the wom an said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. 14 And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field: upon thy belly shalt thou go, and "dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life : 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between cthy seed and dher seed; cit shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly mul tiply thy sorrow and thy conception: in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be* to thy husband, and he shall frule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree of which I commanded thee, say ing, Thou shalt not eat of it : cursed is the ground for thy sake ; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life ; a Job 31:33; Prov. 28: 13. b Isa. 65:25; Micah 7:17. « Matt. 13:38; John 8:44; 1 John3:8. d Isa.7:14; Matt. 1:23; Lukel-,35. e Rom. 16:20; Eph. 4:8; Rev. 12:7, 8. * Or, subject to thy husband. ' 1 Cor. 14:34. t Heb. 11. Who told thee; how didst thou become ashamed and fearful? This was asked, not for the information of God, but for the conviction of Adam. 12. She gave me; this was true, but it did not excuse him. 13. Beguiled; deceived. 14. The serpent; the instrument through which Satan acted. Cursed; he would be greatly degraded, and de tested. 15. It; the seed of the woman, or, as it might be ren dered, He, referring especially to Christ, who in due time would come to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3 : 8. Bruise thy head; overcome him and destroy his power. Bruise his heel; inflict upon him temporary evil. 16. And thy conception ; in thy conception. Thy desire — to thy husband; he should control her, and she be subject to him. 18. The herb of the field; for which he must laboriously toil, instead of living any longer in paradise. 20. Eve; meaning life. 21. Skins; supposed to be of animals offered in sacrifice to God, pointing forward to the great atoning sacrifice of Christ, the promised Conqueror of Satan. Through faith in Christ, God would forgive men, sanctify, and save them. 22. One of us; chap. 1:26. Man had vainly attempted to elevate and bless himself, by taking his own way, in compliance with Satan's temptation, and in opposition to the known will of God ; thus he knew good and evil, by losing the one and suffering the other. 24. Cherubim; this was some visible appearance of celestial beings, but its exact nature is unknown. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The great means of safety to man is continued, hearty belief in the truth of God's declarations. Hence Satan tries to prevent this, that by their own voluntary trans gressions, he may destroy them. 4. Satan tries to make men disbelieve God's declara tions, m order to lead them to break his commands. Liars 2 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring + forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field: 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken : for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. 20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve ;* be cause she was the mother of all living.8 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed" them. 22 ir And the Lord God said, 'Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil : and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life,j and eat, and live for ever : 23 Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden,k to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So he drove out the man: and ho placed at the east of the garden of Eden cherubim,1 and a flaming sword m which turned every way, to keep the way" of the tree of life. CHAPTER IV. 1 The birth, trade, and religion of Cain and Abel. 8 The murder of Abel. 11 The curse of Cain. 17 Enoch the first city. 19 Lamech and his two wives. 25 The birth of Seth, 26 and Enos. AND Adam knew Eve his wife ; and she con ceived, and bare Cain,§ and said, I have got ten a man from the Lord. cause to bud. t Heb. Chavah, that is, living, e Acts 17:26. h Isa. 01:10; Phil. 3:9. i ver. 5. jRev.2:7. k ver. 19. 1 Psa. 80:1, etc. j 99:1. m I Chr. 21:10. n Heb. 10:20. § That is, gotten, or acquired. resemble Satan, do his work, and will partake of his tor ment. Rev. 21:8. 9. Sin makes men ashamed of themselves, afraid of God, and desirous to escape his notice. But their efforts to hide themselves or their sins are vain, and only show the reality of their guilt and the dreadfulness of their condition. 13. Impenitent men try to cast the blame of their sins on others ; while those who are penitent, take it to them selves. Luke 15:21. 17. Duty, safety, and interest sometimes require us to refuse compliance with the wishes of our dearest friends ; and if we do not, we shall bring upon ourselves a dread ful curse. 19. The evil of sin surpasses all finite conception. Every instance of death is an evidence of its power, and of the truth of God. When the word hath gone out of his mouth, it standeth for ever. All who disbelieve his known declarations, demonstrated in the universal mor tality of men, are without excuse. 21. When our first parents had vainly endeavored to hide their shame by a covering of their own invention, God, in his great mercy, provided for them a suitable cov ering. This truly shadows forth the righteousness which God gives through faith in Christ, to all who humbly ask him for it, with a hearty acknowledgment of the worth? lessness of their own righteousness. 24. There is nothing in the nature of holiness which is a security against apostasy and ruin. Those that are perfectly holy may commit sin; and thus change their character, condition, and prospects for eternity. CHAPTER IV. 1. Cain; meaning possession. A man; man-child, a son. From the Lord; these words may be rendered, with the Lord ; that is, by intercession with him, and with his aid. Some suppose she thought this eon to be the prom ised Seed, who should bruise the serpent's head. 11 Cain slayeth Abd, and GENESIS IV. becometh a fugitive. 2 And she again bare his brother "Abel. And Abel was +a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. 3 And *in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought" of the fruit of the ground an offer ing unto the Lord. 4 And Abel, he also brought" of the firstlings of his § flock, and of the fat" thereof. And the Lord had respect0 unto Abel and to his offer ing: 5 But unto Cain, and to his offering, he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. 6 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen? 7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not ' be accept ed? and if thou doest not well, asin lieth at the door. And Tunto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. 8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother : and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and eslew him. 9 IF And the Lord said unto Cain/ Where is Abel thy brother ? And he said, I know not : Am I my brother's keeper? 10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's "blood criethg unto me from the ground. 11 And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. 12 When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugi tive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth. 13 And Cain said unto the Lord, My punish ment is greater than I can bear. * Heb. Hebel. t Heb. a feeder, t Heb. at the end of days. » Num. 18:12. S Heb. sheep, or goals, b Lev. 3:10, 17. c Heb. 11:4. fl Or, have the excel lency, d 1 John 3:12. 1 Or, subject unto thee, e 1 John 3:12; Judo 11. fPsa.9:12. * Heb. bloods, £ Heb. 12:24; Rev. 6:10. i Or, mine iniquity 2. Abel; signifying vanity. 3. In process of time;- probably at the end of some stated time appointed to worship God. 4. Had respect; received it with favor, and showed that he accepted it; because it pointed forward to the aton ing blood of Christ, and showed faith in what God had revealed concerning him. Chap. 3:15, 21, Dotes: Heb. 11:4. 5. Had not respect; he did not accept it. It was not an expression of faith in a coming Saviour, and was not offered with a right spirit. His countenance fell ; he looked sad, angry, and sullen. 7. Sin lieth at the door; according to some, croucheth at thy door, like a beast of prey, ready to destroy thee ; according to others, a sin-offering (such as I require) lieth at the door, by offering which in a right spirit, thou may est gain my favor. Thou shalt rule over him; Cain, being the eldest son, according to his birthright would have preeminence over Abel. 9. My brother's keeper; one whose business it is to watch over and take care of him. 10. Blood crieth; calle th for the punishment of him who shed it. 11. From the earth; or ground, which would not yield him its increase as before, and would thus testify against his sin. 12. A fugitive — a vagabond; driven from God's presence and the home of Adam. Ver. 16. 14. Face of the earth; the land where he had dwelt. IR 14 Behold thou hast driven me out this a. m. ^ut day from the face of the earth ; and from b. a 3875. thy face shall I be hid ; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, hthat every one that findeth me shall slay me. 15 And the Lord said unto him, Therefore who soever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him seven-fold. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him. 16 1 And Cain went' out from the presence of the Lord, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. 17 And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare *Enoch : and he builded a city, and call ed the name of the city after the name of his son, Enoch. 18 And unto Enoch was born Irad: and Irad begat Mehujael: and Mehujael begat Methusael: and Methusael begat §Lamech. 19 1 And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other Zillah. . 20 And Adah bare Jabal : he was the father of such as dwellj in tents, and of such as have cattle. 21 And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. 22 And Zillah, she also bare Tubal-cain, an ' in structor of every artificer in brass and iron : and the sister of Tubal-cain was Naamah. 23 And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, hear my voice ; ye wives of Lamech, heark en unto my speech: for TI have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man "to my hurt. 24 If Cain shall be avenged seven-fold, truly Lamech seventy and seven fold. is greater titan that it may be forgiven. Mat. 12:31. h Job 15:20-21; Prov. 28:1. i 2 Kings 13:23; 24:20; Psa. 51:11. » Heb. Chanoch. i Heb. Le- meek, i ver. 2; chap. 25:27; Jer. 35:9, 10. fl Heb. whetter. H Or, I would slay a man in my wound, etc. * Or, in my hurt. . From thy face; from the place where God manifested his special presence, he would be expelled. ShaU slay me; he knew they would think that he deserved to die for killing his brother, and was afraid they would treat him accordingly. 15. Seven-fold; he shall be more severely punished. Set a mark upon Cain; more literally, appointed to Cain a sign, that is, some miraculous token. He was to live a vagabond, as a monument of the guilt of murder and of the wrath of God against it. 16. Land of Nod; that is, of vagrancy. 17. His wife; it is supposed that Cain was married be fore he murdered Abel. 19. Two wives; this is the first instance mentioned of a violation of the law of marriage, by taking more than ono wife. It shows that men had become very corrupt, and this course tended to make them worse. 20. The father; the inventor of a business, or he who makes great improvements in it, is, in Hebrew, called tho father of those who pursue it. 22. Instructor — and iron; or, forger of every instrument of brass and iron. 24. Lamech seventy and seven; God had said, ver. 15, that should any one kill Cain, his death should be avenged seven-fold ; and Lamech says his would be avenged sev enty and seven ; implying that in his own estimation he was much less guilty than Cain ; and that he who should kill him, would be punished much more severely than he who should kill Cain. The genealogy GENESIS V. of the patriarchs. a. m. .bo* 25 1 And Adam knew his wife again; n.e' 3874. and she bare a son, and called his name Seth :* For God, said she, hath appointed me an other seed instead of Abel, whom Cain slew. 26 And to Seth, to him also there was born a son ; and he called his name + Enos : then began men Uo call upon the name of the Lord. CHAPTER V. 1 The genealogy, age, and death of the patriarchs, from Adam unto Noah. 24 The godliness and translation of Enoch. THIS is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in "the likeness of God made he him ; 2 Male" and female created he them ; and bless ed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. 3 1 And Adam lived a hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness,0 after his image ; and called his name Seth : 4 And the days of Adam after he had begotten Seth were eight hundred years: and he begat sons and daughters:4 5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years : and he died.6 6 IT And Seth lived a hundred and five years, and begat Enos:f 7 And Seth lived after he begat Enos eight hun dred and seven years, and begat sons and daugh ters: 8 And all the days of Seth were nine, hundred and twelve years : and he died. 9 T And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan :§ 10 And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters : 11 And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died.8 12 T And Cainan lived seventy years, and be gat ' Mahalaleel : 13 And Cainan lived after he begat Mahalaleel • Heb. Sheth, that is, appointed, or put. t Heb. Enosk. i Or, to call themselves by the name of the Lord. Deut. 20:17; Psa. 110:17- Isa. 44-5- Joel 2:32; 1 Cor. 1:2. a ch. 1:27; 1 Cor. 11:7; 2 Cor. 3:18. b Mal. 2:15. « Job 25:4; John 3:0; 1 Cor. 15:39. ^ ver. 7, 10, 13, 19, 22, 20, 30. e Heb. 25. Seth; meaning appointed or substituted in place of Abel. 26. To call upon the name of the Lord; they separated themselves from the wicked, maintained the public wor ship of God, and were thus recognized as his visible peo ple. It is generally thought that they were "the sons of God," mentioned in chap. 6:2. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. In the declaration that the seed of the woman should bruise the serpent's head, and in the appointment of sac rifices, chap. 3:15, 21, God revealed the certainty of a coming Saviour, and laid a foundation for faith, by the exercise of which men might be justified, and for Christ's sake be accepted as righteous. Heb. 11 : 4. 5. Faith in what God has revealed with regard to the Redeemer, and the way of life through him, is, to those who know this revelation, essential to acceptable wor ship. He that rejects the Son rejects also the Father, and will be rejected by him. John 15 : 23 ; 1 John 2:23. 9. Sins have a close connection, and the commission of one leads to the commission of others. He who will commit murder will also tell lies. eight hundred and forty years, and begat" sons and daughters : 14 And all the days of Cainan were nine hun dred and ten years : and he died.1 15 IT And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat * Jared : 16 And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters : 17 And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years : and he diedlj 18 T And Jared lived a hundred sixty and two years, and he begat Enoch : 19 And Jared lived after he begat Enoch eight hundred years, and begat sons and daughters : 20 And all the days of Jared were nine hundred sixty and two years : and he died.k 21 1 And Enoch lived sixty and five years, and begat "Methuselah: 22 And Enoch walked with God1 after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters : 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hun dred sixty and five years : 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; mfor God took him. 25 1 And Methuselah lived a hundred eighty and seven years, and begat + Lamech: 26 And Methuselah lived after he begat Lamech seven hundred eighty and two years, and begat sons and daughters : 27 And all the days of Methuselah were nine hundred sixty and nine years : and he died. 28 T And Lamech lived a hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son : 29 And he called his name *Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground n which the Lord hath cursed. 30 And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five hundred ninety and five years, and begat sons and daughters : 9:27. f ch. 4:20. § Heb. Kenan. S ver. 5. I Heb. Maleleel. h ver. 4. i ver. 5. T Heb. Jered. j ver. 5, k ver. 5. • Gr. Mathusala. 1 ch. 0:9; 17:1 j Deut. 13:4; 2 Kings 20:3; Psa. 10:8; Amos 3:3; Mal. 2:0. m Heb. 11:5. t Heb. Lemech. 1 (jr. Noe; that is, rest, or comfort, a ch. 3:17; 4:11. 14. A murderer feels that he deserves to die ; and when he is put to death, often acknowledges that it is just. 26. If men would possess the character and receive the reward of God's people, they must separate themselves from his enemies, publicly maintain his worship, and show themselves to be his friends. Mark 8 : 38 ; John 14:21; 1 Cor. 7:19; 2 Cor. 6:17. CHAPTER V. 1. Book of the generations; history of Adam and his posterity. 2. Their name Adam ; that is, man. 3. In his own likeness; a human being, and depraved; who, without the renewing grace of God, would never be holy, but would live and die in sin. 24. Walked with God; was cordially reconciled to him, Amos 3:3; sought his guidance, believed his declarations, obeyed his commands, and enjoyed his presence. Was not; was not found on the earth; nor did he die, but God took him to heaven. Heb. 11:5. 27. He died ; in the year of the flood. 29. Noah; signifying rest; expressive of the hope and expectation that he would be a great blessing. 19 Wickedness of the world. GENESIS VI. Form of the ark 31 And all the days of Lamech were seven hun dred seventy and seven years : and he died. 32 And Noah was five hundred years old : and Noah begat Shem, Ham, and Japheth.11 CHAPTER VI. 1 The -wickedness of the world, which provoked God's wrath, and caused the flood. 8 Noah findeth grace. 14 The order, form, and end of the ark. AND it came to pass, when men" began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daugh ters were born unto them, 2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair;c and they took them wives'1 of all which they chose. 3 And the Lord said, °My Spirit shall not al ways strive with man, for that he also is fflesh: yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. 4 There were giants in the earth ih those days ; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare chil dren to them, the same became mighty men, which were of old, men of renown. 5 IT And God saw that the wickedness8 of man was great in the earth, and that every 'imagina tion of the thoughts" of his heart loas only evil continually.* 6 And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; *both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air ; for it repenteth me that I have made them. a Ch. 0:10; 7:13; 1 Chr. 1:4-31. bch.l:23. <=Job31:l. "1 Deut. 7:3, 4; Ezn 9:2; Neh. 13:20, 27: 2 Cor. 0:14. e Neh. 9:30; Isa. 5:4; 03:10; Jer. 11:7,11; 1 Pet. 3:20. f Psa. 78:"9. % Psa. 14:2; 53:2; Rom. 3:9. * Or, the whole imagination. The Hebrew word signifies not only the imagina- 31. He died; five years before the flood. 32. Japheth; he is generally thought to have been the elder; see note to chap. 10:21; but Shem is mentioned first, because from him would descend the Messiah. INSTRUCTIONS. 24. To walk with God is the highest duty, the greatest honor, excellence, and blessedness of man. Jude 14, 15 ; Heb. 11:5, 6. 29. Parents often hope-for great comfort from their chil dren ; and if children are pious, especially if they become preachers of righteousness, and are instrumental in the salvation of men, parents have reason to rejoice with great joy. CHAPTER VI. 2. Sons of God; his visible worshippers, who had re mained in the home of Adam. Of men; the openly wick ed, who seem to have belonged to Cain's descendants. Chap. 4:16. All which tliey chose; being governed in this matter by their own wills, not by the will of God. 3. Strive with man; to bring him to repentance and sal vation. Is flesh; corrupt, John 3:6. A hundred and twen- >y years; so long would God wait before he would destroy the world. 4. Giants; men of great stature and wickedness. Men of renown; famous for their deeds of rapine. 6. Repented the Lord — grieved him; ho would change his conduct towards men, as men change their conduct when sorry for what they have done ; and instead of continuing them on the earth and granting them his favors, as he had done, he would destroy them. 7. See Instruction, chap. 1:28. 20 8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of i'-aMi the Lord. 9 These are the generations of Noah : Noah was a just man and § perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God. 10 And Noah begat three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 11 The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end1 of all flesh is come before me ; for the earth is filled with violence through them ; and behold, I will destroy them "with the earth. 14 IF Make thee an ark of gopher-wood : ^ rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch. 15 And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits. 16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above ; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof: with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. 17 And behold, I, even I, do bring a floodJ of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven ; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. 18 Bu,t with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons' wives with thee. tion, but also the purposes and desires. hch.S:21; Deut. 29:19; Ezek. S: 9, 12; Mat. 15:19. t Heb. every day. 1 Heb. from man unto beast. 9 Or, upright, i 1 Pet. 4:7. I Or, from the earth. H Heb. nests, j Psa. 93:3, 4; Amos 9:0. 8. Grace; favor, as being a righteous man. 9. Perfect; not in the sense of being sinless ; but in the sense of being sincere, upright, and truly devoted to God. 14. Gopher; a species of resinous wood; perhaps the cypress. 15. Length; about four hundred and fifty feet. Breadth; seventy-five feet. Height; forty-five feet: proportions according to which the best ships are now built. 16. And in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; literally, unto a cubit shalt thou finish it above ; that is, thou shalt mako it to the height of a cubit. Some understand these words of the roof of the ark, which was to have a cubit's slope from tho central line outwards. But they more naturally refer to the windows. The horizontal width of the win dow is not given; this may have greatly exceeded its height. 18. My covenant; his engagement for the preservation of Noah and his family, when the rest of the world should bo destroyed. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Intimate connections with the wicked are sources of great moral corruption and danger. 7. When God, instead of preserving and blessing men, turns against and destroys them, he is said in the Bible to repent, because he changes his conduct as men do when they repent. Not that he alters his purposes, or does what he did not always intend to do. In this sense he is of one mind, and none can turn him, Job 23:13; he is not a man that he should lie, nor the son of man that he should repent. Num. 23:19. There is no contradiction in theso texts ; they refer to different things, and express different truths. In studying the Bible, wc should not Noah enters the ark. GENESIS VII. The waters prevail. fcc.'S 19 And °f every living thing of all flesh, two11 of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep tliem alive with thee : they shall be male and female. 20 Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind ; two of every sort shall como unto thee, to keep them alive. 21 And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them. 22 Thus did Noah ;" according to all that God commanded him, so did he. CHAPTER VII. 1 Noah, with his family, and the living creatures, enter into the ark. 17 The beginning, increase, and continuance of the flood. AND the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for cthee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 2 Of every d clean beast thou shalt take to thee by sevens,* the male and his female ; and of beasts that are not clean by two, the male and his female. 3 Of fowls also of the air by sevens, the male and the female ; to keep seed alive upon the face of all the earth. 4 For yet seven days, and I will cause it to rain upon the earth forty days and forty nights ; and every living substance that I have made will I destroy f from off the face of the earth. 5 And Noah did according unto all that the Lord commanded him. 6 And Noah was six hundred years old when the flood of waters was upon the earth. 7 1 And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. 8 Of clean beasts, and of beasts that are not clean, and of fowls, and of every thing that creep eth upon the earth, 9 There went in two and two unto Noah into the ark, the male and the female, as God had commanded Noah. 10 And it came to pass, *after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. » Ch. 7:8, 9. & Heb. 11:7. = 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5. d Lev. ch. 11. * Heb. seven seven, t Heb. blot out. X Ot, on the seventh day. e ch. S:2; Prov. 8:23; Matt. 24:38; 1 Thess. 5:3. i Or, floodgates, 'ch. 0:18. I Heb. regard simply the sound of the words, but become ac quainted with and believe their meaning. In no other way can we receive benefit from them. 9. The cause of the difference between a good man and the openly wicked is, not their natural disposition, but di vine grace ; and the fruits of this grace are piety towards God, integrity, uprightness, and benevolence towards men. 12. The corruption of men proceeds from themselves ; they are the authors of all their wickedness, and the cause of their own ruin. Prov. 1 : 31 ; Hosea 13 : 9 ; James 1 : 14. 22. That faith in God which he accepts, and which is the means of justification and salvation, leads those who exercise it to obey his commands. CHAPTER VII. 2. Clean beast; suitable for sacrifice. 10. After seven days; on the seventh day it began to rain. 11. Second month; the year began late in September; and the second month, called Marchesvan, answered to the last part of October and the first part of November. Fountains 11 IT In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains0 of the great deep. broken up, and the §windows of heaven were opened. 12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights. 13 In the self-same day entered Noah, and Shem, and Ham, and Japheth, the sons of Noah, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them,f into the ark ; 14 They, and every beast after his kind, and all the cattle after their kind, and every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind, and every fowl after his kind, every bird of every " sort. 15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and fe male of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the Lord shut him in.g 17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth ; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lifted up above the earth. 18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters. 19 And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth;" and all. the high hills that were under the whole heaven were covered. 20 Fifteen cubits upward did the waters pre vail; and the mountains1 were covered. 21 And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man :] 22 All in whose nostrils was Hhe breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven ; and they were destroyed from the earth : and Noahk only remained alive, and they .that were with him in the ark. 24 And 'the waters prevailed upon the earth a hundred and fifty days. wing. S Deut. 33:27; Psa. 40:2; 91:9; Prov. 3:23. 1> Job 12:15; Psa. 104:0; 2 Pet. 3:0. i Jer. 3:23. j Job 22:15-17. H Heb. the breath of the spirit of life, k Ezek. 14:14, 20; Mal. 3:17, IS. 1 ch. 8:3. of the great deep — windows of heaven ; the waters rushed up from the sea, and poured down from the heavens. 20. Fifteen cubits; about twenty-two and a half feet. Upward; above the highest land. 24. A hundred and fifty days; so long, it is supposed, the waters did not sensibly abate. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. It is not necessary for a man to be wicked because others around him are wicked. Any one may, if he will, be righteous, even in the midst of abounding iniquity. And every one whom God sees to be righteous through faith, will be saved when the wicked are destroyed. 5. If men would be saved, they must not only believe God's declarations, but also make it their great object to obey all his commands. 15. God has power not only over men, but also over beasts, and all the works of his hands He can influence, direct, and control them, as.seemeth him good. 16. Those who believe God's declarations and obey 21 The waters assuage. GENESIS VIII. Noah offers a sacrifice. CHAPTER VIII. 1 The waters assuage. 4 The ark resteth on Ararat. 7 The raven and the dove. 1-5 Noah, being commanded, 18 goeth forth of the ark. 20 He buildeth an altar, and offereth sacrifice, 21 which G-od accepteth, and promiseth to curse the earth no more. AND Goda remembered Noah, and every liv ing thing, and all the cattle" that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind0 to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged ; 2 The fountains" also of the deep, and the win dows" of heaven were stopped, and. the rain from heaven was restrained ; 3 And the waters returned from off the earth continually:* and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 4 And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mourt- tains of Ararat/ 5 And the waters + decreased continually until the tenth month : in the tenth month, on the first day of the month, were the tops of the mountains seen. 6 IT And it came to pass at the end of forty days, that Noah opened8 the window of the ark which he had made : 7 And he sent forth a raven, which went forth to* and fro, until the waters were dried up from off the earth. 8 Also ho sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground; 9 But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark ; for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled1 her in unto him into the ark. 10 And he stayed yet other seven days, and again he sent forth the dove out of the ark ; 11 And the dove came in to him in the evening ; and lo, in her mouth was an olive-leaf plucked off: aCh 19:29; Ex. 2:24; Psa. 100:4. >> Psa. 30:0. c Ex. 14:21. a Prov. 8:28. e Job 38:37 Matt. 8:27. • Heb. in going and returning. f Jer. 51:27. t Heb were in going and decreasing. s en 0: 10. t Heb. in going forth and returning . § Heb. caused her to come, h ch 1:22. IHeb fain- his commands, will receive his effectual protection and care. 21. Men who know the declarations of God but do not believe them, will be convinced of their truth by their fulfilment ; and when he undertakes to punish, there is no possibility of escape. CHAPTER VIII. 1. Remembered; showed that he remembered. Assuaged; began to abate. „ 3. Hundred and fifty days; from the time it began to rain. 4. Seventh month; called Nisan, and answering to the last part of March and the first part of April. Mountains of Ararat; in Armenia. 5. Tenth mon'h; called Thammuz, and answering to the last part of June and the first part of July. 6. Forty days; after the mountains were first seen. 7. A raven; which, being an unclean bird, could feed on dead bodies. 9. Found no rest; though the tops of some mountains could be seen, these were not the regions which the dove would visit. 13. The first month; called Tisri, and answering to the last part of September and the first part of October. This was the first month' of the civil year. Afterwards, in the days of Moses, the ecclesiastical year of the Jews began in the month of Abib or Nisan, answering to the last part of March and the first part of April. 22 so Noah knew that the waters were abated aaiS: from off the earth. 12 And he stayed yet other seven days, and sent forth the dove; which returned not again unto him any more. 13 1 And it came to pass in the six hundredth and first year, in the first month, the first day of the month, the waters were dried up from off the earth: and Noah removed the covering of the ark, and looked, and behold, the face of the ground was dry. 14 And in the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, was the earth dried. 15 T And God spake unto Noah, saying, 16 Go forth of the ark, thou, and thy wife, and thy sons, and thy sons' wives with thee. 17 Bring forth with thee every living thing that is with thee, of all flesh, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth ; that they may breed abundantly in the earth, and be fruitful" and multiply upon the earth. 18 And Noah went forth, and his sons, and his wife, and his sons' wives with him : 19 Every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their "kinds, went forth out of the ark. 20 T And Noah builded an altar unto the Lord, and took of every clean beast,1 and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the altar. 21 And the Lord smelled ^a sweet j savor; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground k any more for man's sake ; "for the im agination1 of man's heart is evil from his youth : neither will I again smite1" any more every thing living, as I have done. 22 While Hhe earth remaineth,11 seed-time and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and win ter, and day and night, shall not cease. Hies, i Lev. 1-11. H Heb. a savor of rest. 3 Lev. 1:9; Isa. 65:5; Ezek. 20:41; 2 Cor. 2:15. *ch. 3:17; 6:17. * Or, though, leh- 6:5; Job 15:14; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 1 21. m ch. 9:11, 15. t Heb. as yet all the days of the earth, n Isa. 54:9 Jer. 33:20, 25. 14. The seven and twentieth day ; reckoning the day he entered and the day he left, this was twelve months and eleven days from the time the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven opened. Chap. 7:11. Theirs were lunar months, measured by the changes of the moon. Six of these consisted of thirty days each, and six of twenty-nine. Twelve months and eleven days would therefore make a solar year, or three hundred and sixty-five days. 20. Altar; an elevated place on which to offer sacrifices. Burnt-offerings; offerings that were consumed by fire; expressive of the conviction of the offerers, that they, as sinners, deserved to be consumed ; also of their gratitude for sparing mercy, their need of pardoning grace, and their hope of obtaining it, through the sacrifice of Christ as a propitiation for the sins of the world. Eph. 5:2; Heb. 9:14; 1 John 2:2. 21. A sweet savor ; God was pleased with, and accepted the offering, as a suitable expression of a penitent, be lieving, and grateful heart. Said in his heart; determined, and made known his determination. Not again curse the ground; by bringing upon it a flood. For; though men would continue to be naturally as wicked after the flood as before, yet God would not again interrupt the regular course of the seasons, and of day and night, to the end of time. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. However great or long-continued the trials of God's God blesseth Noah. GENESIS IX. The covenant of the rainbow. klS- CHAPTER IX. 1 (rod blesseth Noah. 4 Blood and murder are forbidden. 8 God's covenant, 13 signified by the rainbow. 18 Noah replenisheth the world, 20 plantetli a vineyard, 21 is drunken, and mocked of his son, 25 curseth Canaan, 26 blesseth Shem. 27 prayeth for Japheth, 29 and dieth. AND God blessed Noah and his sons, and said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth." 2 And the fear of you, and the dread of you, shall be upon every beast of the earth, and upon every fowl of the air, upon all that moveth upon the earth, and upon all the fishes of the sea;b into your hand are they delivered. 3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you ;c even as the green herbd have I given you all things.6 4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat/ 5 And surely your blood of your lives will I require : at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man ;g at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 6 Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed :h for in the image of God made he man.1 7 And you, be ye fruitful, and multiply ; bring forth abundantly in the earth, and multiply therein. 8 1 And God spake unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, 9 And I, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your seed after you ¦' 10 And with every living creature that is with you, of the fowl, of the cattle, and of every beast of the earth with you ; from all that go out of the ark, to every beast of the earth.k 11 And I will establish my covenant with you; * Ver. 7,19; ch. 10:32. b Psa. 8:0; Hos. 2:18; Jas. 3:7. « Deut. 12:15; 14:4, etc.; Acts 10:12-14 ; 1 Tim. 4:3,4. deh. 1:39. « Eom. 14:3. 'Lev. 17:10-14; 19:20; Deut. 12:23; 1 Sam. 14:31. r Ex. 21:12, 2;'. h Lev. 24 : 17 ; lKings2:5, 0, 32. ich. 1:27. j ver. 11, 17; ch. 0:18. k ch. 8:1; Psa. 145:9. 12Peter3:7. mch.l7:ll. »Ezek.l:23; Rev.4:3; 10:1. ° Lev. 20:42,45. people, he never forgets them ; nor does he continue those trials any longer than will promote his glory and their highest good. Let them place implicit confidence in him ; in due time all his promises will be fully accomplished. 12. In the days of Noah, as at the creation and in the days of Adam, time was divided into weeks or periods of seven days ; marked, not by the revolutions of heavenly bodies, as were months and years, but by the return of the Sabbath, a day of rest from secular, and of devotion to sacred duties. This division of time was carried into all parts of the world, and has been observed by the people of God in all ages. 18. As soon as trials have accomplished God's wise and benevolent ends, he delights to deliver his people from them, and to fill their hearts with joy. 21. Whatever destruction God brings upon the wicked, and however extensively it may be known, without the grace of God those who survive will continue to be wick ed ; neither judgments nor mercies will lead them to love and obey God. 22. The regular return of day and night, summer and winter, seed-time and harvest, is a constant memorial of the truth of Jehovah ; that when the word hath gone out of his mouth it standeth for ever. Num. 23:19; Matt. 24:35. CHAPTER IX. 2. Into your hand; they shall be subject to you, to be used for your benefit. neither shall all flesh be cut off any more by the waters of a flood ; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth.1 12 And God said, This is the token of the cov enant which I make between me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpet ual generations:"1 13 I do set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth." 14" And it shall come to pass, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the bow shall be seen in the cloud : 15 And I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh ; and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.0 16 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the ever lasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.p 17 And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is upon the earth., 18 IT And the sous of Noah, that went forth of the ark, were Shem, and Ham, and Japheth :q and Ham is the father of Canaan.* 19 These are the three sons of Noah:r and of them was the whole earth overspread. 20 And Noah began to be a husbandman, and he planted a vineyard :s 21 And he drank of the wine,4 and was drunk en ; and he was uncovered within his tent. 22 And Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the na kedness" of his father,T and told his two brethren without. Deut. 7:9; lKings8:23; Neh. 9:32; Psa. 100:45; Ezek. 10:00; Lukel:72. Pch. 17:13,19; 2Sam. 23:5; Isa. 55:3: Jer. 32:40; Heb. 13:20. qoh.l0:l, 0. • Heb. Chenaan. r ch. 10:32; 1 Chr. 1:4. » Deut. 20:6; 28:30; Prov. 24:30; Songl:6; 1 Cor. 9:7. I Prov.20:l; Luke 21:34; 1 Cor. 10:12; Tit. 2:2. "Hab. 2:15; Rev. 3:18. v Psa. 35:20; 40:15; 70:3; Obad. 12, 13. 3. Every moving thing ; that is good to eat. 4. The blood — shall ye not eat; it must not be eaten, as it was to typify the blood which was to be offered to God as an atonement for the sins of men. 5. At the hand of every beast will I require it; this was to impress upon them the sacredness of human life, and thus prevent one man from killing another. Exod. 21:28, 29. Brother; he who slays a man slays his brother, since the whole human family are brethren of one blood. 6. His blood be shed; the murderer of man should by man be put to death. This was designed to be another safeguard oi human life. The murderer was to die, to prevent others from committing mul-der. In the image of God; a rational, accountable, moral, and immortal being; to exercise by God's appointment a portion of his author ity, and with a right to life, till God, or some one in obe dience to or in accordance with his will, should take it away. 9. Establish my convenant; confirm a solemn promise or engagement. 13. My bow ; the rainbow. A token; a visible assurance of the certain fulfilment of what God promised, and bring ing it to remembrance. 15. I will remember my covenant; the rainbow was to be a 'means of leading men in all ages to remember God's covenant, and to feel that he remembers it, and that what he has promised he will accomplish. 19. Overspread; repeopled with inhabitants. 20. A husbandman ; a cultivator of the earth. 23 The curse of Canaan. GENESIS X. Generations of Noah 23 And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders, and went back ward,11 and covered the nakedness of their father : and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness. 24 And Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done unto him. 25 And he said, Cursed" be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren. 26 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of Shem ; and Canaan shall be "his servant. 27 God shall + enlarge Japheth,0 and he shall dwell in the tents of Shem ; and Canaan shall be his servant. 28 IT And Noah lived after the flood three hun dred and fifty years. 29 And all the days of Noah were anino hun dred and fifty years: and he died. CHAPTER X. 1 The generations of Noah. 2 The sons of Japheth. 6 The sons of Ham. 8 Nimrod the first monarch. 21 Ihe sons of Shem. NOW these are the generations of the sons of Noah; Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. 2 The esons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, » Ex. 20:12; Gal. 0:J ; 1 Pet. 4:8. b Deut. 27:16; Josh. 9:23, 27; Judg. 1:23, 30; 2 Chr. 8:7, 8. • Or, servant to them, t Or, persuade, c Eph. 2:13. d ch. 5:5. e ver. 2i. t Or, as some read it, Rodanim. f Jer. 2: 10 ; Zeph. 25. Canaan ; God mercifully restricted the curse to Ca naan the son of Ham, and father of the Canaanites, whom, as a just punishment for their sins, God- in after-ages directed the Israelites to destroy. Ex. 34 : 10-14 ; Deut. 7 : 17-24. Servant of servants; the meanest of servants. 27. Enlarge Japheth ; greatly extend the territory of his descendants. Dwell in the tents of Shem; partake of the bless ings enjoyed by him. The Jews came from Shem. The chief civilized and Christian nations of modern Gentiles are from Japheth. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. With the increase of the human family by tho mar riage of one man with one woman, God is well pleased, that all parts of the earth may be inhabited, cultivated, and filled with his praise. 3. The fear of man in beasts, birds, and fishes, is evi dence of the truth and goodness of God. Without his permission we should have no right to use them for food ; and all wanton destruction of them, or putting them to pain, is sinful. G. God is the rightful disposer of human life, and as he directs that the murderer shall by man be put to death, it is morally wrong for government not to do it. It is a vio lation of duty to God and to men. 15. Whenever we see the rainbow we have evidence of the truth of God's declarations, and that he remembers them ; and we should feel that not one jot or tittle of what he has said will fail, but that all will be fulfilled. 21. Wine is an intoxicating liquor. Those who, at home or abroad, on ordinary or on festive occasions, drink it, are in danger of becoming drunken ; nor is piety tow ards God, nor benevolence to men, nor a long course of successful resistance of temptation, a sure safeguard against it. All, therefore, who think they stand, should take heed lest they fall; praying, "Lead us not into temp tation," and showing tho sincerity of their prayers by Iheir conduct. CHAPTER X. 1. Now these are the generations; this chapter contains the oldest and most important genealogical record in the world. The reader will notice that the names of tho descendants of Noah's sons represent generally not sim- 24 and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and i?.g: Meshech, and Tiras. 3 And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Ri- phath, and Togarmah. 4 And the sons of Javan ; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and *Dodanim. 5 By these were the islesf of the Gentiles di vided in their lands ; every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations. 6 IT And the sons of Ham ; Cush, and Mizraim, and Phut, and Canaan. 7 And the sons of Cush; Seba,g and Havilah, and Sabtah, and Raamah, and Sabtecha: and the sons of Baamah ; Sheba, and Dedan. 8 And Cush begat Nimrod :h ho began to be a mighty one in the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter1 before the Lord; wherefore it is said, Even as Nimrod the mighty hunter before the Lord. 10 And the beginning of his kingdom was § Ba bel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar. 11 Out of that land ' went forth Asshur, and build- ed Nineveh, and Tthe city Rehoboth, and Calah, 12 And Resen, between Nineveh and Calah : the same is a great city. 2:11. e Psa. 72:10. h Mic. 5:0. i Mic. 7:2. $ Gr. Babylon. I Or, he went out into Assyria. U Or, the streets of the city. ply individuals, but nations, or families of nations sprung from them. 2. Gomer ; probably the Cimmerians north of the Black sea, around which and north of it his sons settled, ver. 3. Magog; a powerful people of the north. Ezek. 38:15; 39 : 2. Madai; the Medes east of Assyria and south of the Caspian sea. Javan; the Ionians on the western coast of Asia Minor, and then the Greeks generally. Tubal, and Meshech ; probably inhabiting the region between the Cas pian and Black seas, and further north. 3. Togarmah; probably the Armenians, or a people in that vicinity. 4. Elishah; the Greeks. Kittim; the same as Chittim, and the isles of Chittim. The word is plural, and signi fies the coasts and islands west of Palestine, and then, in a general sense, Europe and the coasts of Asia Minor. The same is signified by " the isles of the Gentiles," ver. 5. The sons of Japheth occupied Europe, Asia Minor, the countries around the Black sea and the Caspian, and the vast region to the north and east of them. 6. Cush; from whom came the Ethiopians, south of Egypt. Mizraim; from whom came the Egyptians. Miz raim is the Hebrew word for Egypt. 7. Seba; a people of Ethiopia, the same as tho Sabcans, mentioned in Isa. 45 : 14, along with Egypt and Ethiopia. It must not be confounded with the Sabeans of Job 1 : 15, where a different word is used in the Hebrew. Havilah ; different from the Havilah mentioned ver. 29. Sheba, and Dedan; to be distinguished from the Sheba and Dedan named, chap. 25:3, as descendants of Abraham. Thero was also a third Sheba, descended from Shem, ver. 28. 8, 9. Mighty one in the earth — mighty hunter; distinguish ed for his bold and successful exploits, in overcoming and controlling beasts and men. 10. Babel; Babylon on the Euphrates. Tlie land of Sin nar; the plain country lying around Babylon. It was sis or seven hundred miles east of Canaan. 11. Asshur; from him came the name Assyria. He was a son of Shem, ver. 22, and is mentioned here by way of anticipation. Some prefer the marginal reading: "He [Nimrod] went forth to Asshur," that is, Assyria. Nine veh; a city on the river Tigris, about three hundred miles north of Babylon. Sons of Ham and Shem. GENESIS XI. Building of Babel. a., m. about 13 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Ana- u. c. 2218. mim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, 14 And Pathrusim,a and Casluhim, (out of whom came Philistim,) and Caphtorim. 15 T And Canaan begat *Zidon his first-born, and Heth, 16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite, 17 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, 18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad. 19 And the border of the b Canaanites was from Zidon, as thou comest to Gerar, unto +Gaza; as thou goest unto Sodom, and Gomorrah, and Acl- mah, and Zeboim, even unto Lasha. 20 These are the sons of Ham, after their fam ilies, after their tongues, in their countries, and in their nations. 21 1 Unto Shem also, the father of all the chil dren of Eber, the brother of Japheth the elder, even to him were children born. 22 The children of Shem ; Elam, and Asshur, and *Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram. 23 And the children of Aram ; Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Mash. 24 And Arphaxad begat -sSalah; and Salah be gat Eber. 25 And unto Eber" were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg," for in his days was the »lChr. 1:12. ' Heb. Tzidon. b 0h. 15:18, 21 ; Num. 31:2, 12; Josh. 12:7, 8. t Heb. Azzali. I Heb. Arpachshad. i Heb. S/ielah. c 1 Chr. 1:19. 13. Ludim ; that is, children of Lud, im being the He brew plural. Another Lud is mentioned ver. 22, the de scendant of Shem. Pathrusim; tho people of Pathros, that is, Upper Egypt. 14. Philistim; the Philistines, who occupied the south western angle of Palestine. From Deut. 2:23, and Amos 9 : 7, we learn that they came out of Caphtor. We may suppose that from the Casluhim came first the Caphtorim, and from these the Philistim. According to the ancients, the Caslu him and Caphtorim were Egyptian colonies, the former in habiting Colchis, at the eastern extremity of the Black sea ; the latter Cappadocia, in the eastern part of Asia Minor. Some understand by Caphtor the modern island of Crete. 15. Zidon; from whom came the Zidonians. Heth; the father of the Hittites. 19. Zidon; the chief city of the Zidonians, in the north west corner of Palestine on the Mediterranean sea. As thou comest to Gerar, unto Gaza; that is, extending from Zidon to Gaza, as one goes south to Gerar. Gaza was the southern city of the Philistines, and Gerar was near it. As thou goest unto Sodom — unto Laslta; extending from Zi don south-east to Lasha, as one goes towards Sodom, etc. Lasha seems to have been east of the Dead sea. Sodom and the three cities named with it lay in the vale of Sid- dim, which is now covered by the Dead sea. The posterity of Ham occupied Egypt and Africa gen erally, the whole eastern coast of the Mediterranean, the great plain around the lower Euphrates and its branches, and some parts of Asia Minor and of Arabia. 21. Eber; see below, ver. 24. The elder; these words, as they stand in the original, may refer to either Shem or Japheth. From the fact that in the genealogical tables Japheth is named first, as also from chap. 5:32 compared with chap. 11:10, it is inferred with probability that Ja pheth was the elder brother. 22. Elam; inhabiting the country now called Persia. Asshur ; see above, ver. 11. Lud; according to Josephus, earth divided; and his brother's name was Jok- tan. 26 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, 27 And Hadoram, and Uzal, and Diklah, 28 And Obal, and Abimael, and Sheba,d 29 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab: all these were the sons of Joktan. 30 And their dwelling was from Mesha, as thou goest unto Sephar, a mount of the east. 31 These are the sons of Shem, after their fam ilies, after their tongues, in their lands, after their nations. 32 These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations; and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood. CHAPTER XI. 1 One language in the world. 3 The building of Babel. 5 The confu sion of tongues. 10 The generations of Shem. ¦ 27 The generations of Terah the father of Abram. 31 Terah goeth from TJr to Haran. AND the whole earth was of one ^language, and of one "speech. 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the +east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar ; and they dwelt there. 3 And Hhey said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and 8burn them thoroughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for mortar. D That is, dlv ision. d ch. 25:3. H Heb. lip. * Heb. words, t Or, eastward. t Heb. a man said to his neighbor. 6 Heb. burn them to a burning. the Lydians in Asia Minor. Aram; a general name for ancient Syria, lying north and north-east of Palestine, and in the wider sense, including Mesopotamia. 23. Uz; several persons of this name are mentioned in Scripture, chap. 22:21; 36 : 28 ; and from which of them the land of Uz in Arabia was peopled, is not known. Probably Uz, Hul, Gether, and Mash all occupied parts of Syria. 24. Eber; or Heber in Mesopotamia beyond the Euphra tes. He was the ancestor of Abraham, and many suppose that from him is derived .the word Hebrew. 25. Peleg; meaning division. The earth divided; among the different tribes of men. Chap. 11:8. 26. Joktan; his children seem all to have settled in Ara bia, or further east. Hazarmaveth; the same as Hadra- mant in south-eastern Arabia. 28. Sheba; the Sabeans in the southern part of Arabia Felix. 29. Ophir; probably in India. Havilah; on the Persian gulf. The posterity of Shem occupied Arabia, Syria, and the region east, in a more southern line than that of the pos terity of Japheth. Many changes were afterwards made among the de scendants of Noah's three sons, by colonization and con quest. INSTRUCTIONS. 32. As all nations had one common origin and sprung from one family, they should all love each other as breth ren, and seek to promote each other's good ; doing in all things to others as they ought to wish that others should do to them. CHAPTER XI. 1. One language — one speech; these words denote union in counsel and in language. 3. Go to; come now. Slime— for mortar; bitumen; a pitchy substance which they used for cement. 25 Confusion of tongues. GENESIS XI. The kindred of Abram, 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city, and a tower8 whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name," lest we be scattered abroad0 upon the face of the whole earth. 5 And the Lord came down4 to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. 6 And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language ; and this they begin to do : and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined6 to do. 7 Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language,f that they may not understand one another's speech. 8 So the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth : and they left off to build the city. 9 Therefore is the name of it called Babel," be cause the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth : and from thence did the Lord scat ter them abroad upon the faceg of all the earth. 10 TT These11 are the generations of Shem : Shem was a hundred years old, and begat Arphaxad two years after the flood : 11 And Shem lived after he begat Arphaxad five hundred years, and begat1 sons and daughters. 12 And Arphaxad lived five and thirty years, and begatj Salah : 13 And Arphaxad lived after he begat Salah four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 14 And Salah lived thirty years, and begat Eber: 15 And Salah lived after he begat Eber four hundred and three years, and begat sons and daughters. 16 And Eber lived four and thirty years, and begat + Peleg : 17 And Eber lived after he begat Peleg four hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters. a Deut. 1:28. b Psa. 49:11-13 Prov. 10 7; Dan. 4:30 c ver. 9; Psa. 92:9; Luke 1:51 •i ch. 18:21. e Psa. 2:1. f Psa. 55:9; Acts 2:0 1 Cor. 14:23 • That is, confusion. S Acts 17:20! b ver. 27 ; ch. 10:21, 22 i ch. 1:28. J Luke 3:35. t Luke 3:35 Phalec. t Luke 3:35; Ragau. § Luke 4. A name; a tower of renown, which may serve as a centre of unity. 6. Nothing will be restrained; if permitted to go on, they will accomplish their designs. 7. Confound their language; by an influence from God their speech was confounded, and their counsels divided, so that they separated themselves into different families speaking different languages. 9. Babel; meaning confusion. 10. Shem; the progenitor of Abraham, whose history Mosos, the writer of this book, is about to give. 26. Lived seventy years; and after that, begat Abram, Na- hor, and Haran; but not, it is supposed, in this order. Haran was the first-born, and Abram was the youngest. He is mentioned first as Shem was, chap. 5:32, because from him was to spring the Messiah. See chap. 5, and Matt. 1. 28. Ur of the Chaldees; a place it is supposed between the Tigris and the Euphrates, about four hundred miles north-east of Canaan. This is the first time the Chaldees are mentioned, in Scripture. They lived in the north part of Mesopotamia, now Koordistan. Afterwards they went south into the land of Shinar, which was afterwards called Chaldea and Babylonia. Chap. 10: 10. 29. Sarai — Milcah; these are both supposed to have 26 18 And Peleg lived thirty years, and A-1^T"b<",L begat Reu:* B.b.2217. 19 And Peleg lived after he begat Reu two hun dred and nine years, and begat sons and daugh ters. 20 And Reu lived two and thirty years, and bo- gat §Sei*ug: 21 And Reu lived after he begat Serug two hundred and seven years, and begat sons and daughters. 22 And Serug lived thirty years, and begat " Na- hor: 23 And Serug lived after he begat Nahor two hundred years, and begat sons and daughters. 24 And Nahor lived nine and twenty years, and begat T Terah: 25 And Nahor lived after ho begat Terah a hundred and nineteen years, and begat sons and daughters. 26 And Terah lived seventy years, and begat Abram,k Nahor, and Haran. 27 Now these are the generations of Terah : Te rah begat Abram, Nahor, and Haran ; and Haran begat Lot. 28 And Haran died before his father Terah in the land of his nativity, in 'Ur'of the Chaldees. 29 And Abram and Nahor took them wives: the name of Abram's wife was Sarai;™ and the name of Nahor's wife, Milcah," the daughter of Haran, the father of Milcah, and the father of ' Iscah. 30 But Sarai was barren;0 she had no child. 31 And Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran his son's son, and Sarai his daugh ter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went forth with them from pUr of the Chaldees, to go into the land of Canaan; and they came unto Haran* and dwelt there. 32 And the days of Terah were two hundred and five years : and Terah died in Haran. 3:35; Saruch. 1 Josh .24: 2; Naehor. 1 Luke 3:34 Thara. k Josh 21:2; 1 Chr 1 20, 27. 1 ch. 15:' . m ch. 17:15. o oh. 22 20 24:15. o ch 10:1, 2; 18:11 12: 21:1,2; Psa 113:9; Luke 1:30 Pch. 12 1. * ver .32; Cltar- ran. been daughters of Haran, the elder brother of Abram and Nahor. If so, these two brothers married their nieces ; but it seems that Haran and Abraham, though both sons of Terah, had not the same mother. Chap. 20: 12. 31. Into; towards. Canaan; a country on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean sea. Haran; a place in Meso potamia between the rivers Euphrates and Chebar. It is called in the New Testament, Charran. Acts 7:4. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. It is natural for men to seek to be distinguished, and as natural to seek it in a wrong way and for a wrong end. In doing this they will be disappointed. Would they be truly great, and permanently honored, which they may and ought to desire, they must seek these blessings, not in the indulgence of selfish gratification, but in learning and doing the will of God. 9. The effects of the confusion of tongues are seen down to the present day, in the variety, of languages which are spoken, and in the difficulty thus occasioned of holding intercourse and communicating freely the knowledge which multitudes need, and without which they are exposed to perish. 31. The statements of the Old Testament are in various ways confirmed by the New, and thus they mutually sup- God eaUeth Abram. GENESIS XII. Abram sojourneth in Egypt. k£S£ CHAPTER XII. 1 Grod calleth Abram, and blesseth him with a promise of Christ. 4 He departeth with Lot from Haran. 6 He joumeyeth through Ca naan, 7 which is promised him in a vision. 10 He is driven by a fam ine into Egypt 11 Fear maketh him feign his wife to be his sister. 14 Pharaoh, naving taken her from him, by plagues is compelled to restore her. NOW the Lord had said unto Abram," Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kin dred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee : 2 And I will make of thee a great nation," and I will bless thee, and make thy name great ;° and thou shalt be a blessing : 3 And I will bless them that bless thee,a and curse him that curseth thee : and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. e 4 So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot went with him: and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran. 5 And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother's son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that they had gotten in Haran ; and they .went forth to go into the land of Canaan ;f and into the land of Canaan they came. 6 H And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem,8 unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite11 was then in the land. • 7 And the Lord appeared unto Abram,' and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land:j and there builded he an altar k unto the Lord, who appeared unto him. 8 And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Beth-el,1 and pitched his tent, hav ing Beth-el on the west, and *Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the Lord, and called upon the name of the Lord."1 »Ch 11:31 ; 15:7; Neh. 9:7 Isa. 41:2; Acts 7:3; Heb. 1 :8. b oh. 17:0; 24:35. c ch. 16:18; •28:4. d Num. 24 :S e Psa. 72:17; Acts 3:2.i Gal 3:8. ' Heb. 1:8. f Deut. 11 :30; Judg. 7:1. b r.h 10:18, 19. i ch. 17:1; 18:1. jch. 13:15; 1 ~:S; 20:3; 28:13; Psa. 105:9-11 ; Rom. 9:S Gal. 3:10; port and illustrate each other ; while both throughout have special reference to, and in numerous ways proclaim the dignity and show forth the glory of Jesus Christ. CHAPTER XII. 1. Abram; this is composed of two Hebrew words : Ab, signifying father, and ram, meaning high or distinguished. 2. Be a blessing; to all families of the earth (ver. 3) by being the progenitor of Jesus Christ. 3. Be blessed; in his seed, which is Christ. Gal. 3:8-16. 6. Sichem ; called also Shechem ; and in the New Testa ment, Sychar. John 4:5. It lay between mount Ebal on the north, and Gerizim on the south. It is now called Nabulus or Nablus, and is about forty miles north of Jerusalem. Plain; the original word means oak. 8. Bethel; the meaning of this word is house of God. This name was afterwards given to this place by Jacob. Chap. 28 : 19. The city was before called Luz, and is about thirty miles south of Shechem. Hai; called Ai, Josh. 8:1; a few miles .east of Bethel. 13. My sister; see note to chap. 20:12. That it may be well with me; that I may be well treated for thy sake. See ver. 16. My soul shall live; my life shall be spared. 16. He had sheep — camels; Abraham had them as presents from Pharaoh. 17. Plagued Pharaoh; and also in some way revealed to him tlie cause of these plagues. Compare chap. 20:3. 9 And Abram journeyed, + going on still toward the south. 10 IT And there was a famine in the land: and Abram went down into Egypt to sojourn there ; for the famine was grievous in the land. 11 And it came to pass, when he was come near to enter into Egypt, that he said unto Sarai his wife, Behold now, I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon : 12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive. 13 Say, I pray thee, thou art my sister:" that it may be well with me for thy sake; and my soul shall live because of thee. 14 1 And it came to pass, that when Abram was come into Egypt, the Egyptians beheld the woman that she was very fair. 15 The princes also of Pharaoh saw her, and commended her before Pharaoh:0 and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's house.p 16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he-asses, and men-servants, and maid-servants, and she-asses, and camels. 17 And the Lord plagued Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. 18 And Pharaoh called Abram, and said, What is this that thou hast done unto me? Why didst thou not tell me that she was thy wife?q 19 Why saidst thou, She is my sister? so I might have taken her to me to wife: now there fore, behold thy wife, take her, and go thy way. 20 And Pharaoh commanded his men concerning him ;r and they sent him away, and his wife, and all that he had. 4:23. k ch. 13:4, 18; 20:25; 33:20. 1 ch. 23:19. * Heb. Ai; Josh. 7:2. mch. 21:33. t Heb. ingoing and journeying, n ch. 20:2; 20:7. o Mat. 5:28. pPsa. 105:14; Prov. 0:29; Heb. 13:4. q ch. 20:10; 20:10; Ex. 32:21. rProv. 21:1. 19. Might have taken her to me to wife ; he had purposed an honorable marriage with her, but had not accomplished it. Compare chap. 20:4. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Though God calls his people to make great sacrifices for his sake, he promises them blessings greater than those they relinquish ; and in believing and obeying him, they will find abundant reward. 8. When called to remove from one place to another, it is a great comfort to take with us our friends. Wherever we are we should worship God, and commit ourselves and our friends to his merciful guidance and care. 10. Though obedience to God will not, in this world, secure us from trials, it will prepare us to meet them, make them blessings, and fit us, when we leave this world, to be freed from all trials and receive unmingled and ¦ everlasting joys. 12. The best of men are far from being faultless ; they do many things in which it is neither wise, nor safe, nor right for us to imitate them ; and whenever we trust to human expedients instead of trusting in God, we may expect to be punished for our folly. 15. Great beauty is a source of great danger, and often the means of great evil to its possessor. 20. The Lord watches over his people for good, and takes much better care of them than they do of themselves. 2T Abram and Lot separate. GENESIS XIV. God's covenant with Abram. CHAPTER XIII. 1 Abram and Lot return out of Egypt. 7 By disagreement they part asunder. 10 Lot goeth to wicked Sodom. 14 God reneweth the promise to Abram. 18 He removeth lo Hebron, and there buildeth an altar. AND Abram went up out of Egypt, he, and his wife, and all that, he had, and Lot with him, into the south." 2 And Abram was very richb in cattle, in silver, and in gold. 3 And he went on his journeys from the south even to Beth-el, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Beth-el and Hai ; 4 Unto the place of the altar,0 which he had made there at the first: and there Abram called on the name of the Lord.*1 5 1 And Lot also, which went with Abram, had flocks, and herds, and tents. 6 And the land was not able to bear them,e that they might dwell together : for their substance was great, so that they could not dwell together. 7 And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram's cattle, and the herdmen of Lot's cat tle : and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled then in the land/ 8 And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife,* I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen ; for we be * brethren.11 9 Is not the whole land before thee?1 Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me : if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right ; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.j 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere, before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah* even as the garden1 of the Lord, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.m * Ch. 12:9, etc. b ch. 24:35; 1 Sam. 2:7; Job 1: 10; Psa. 112:3; Prov. 3:9, 10; 10:22; Matt. 0:33. ' oh. 12:7, 8; Psa. 42:1, 2, 81:10. d Psa. 110:17; 145:18. e ch. 30:7. f ch. 34:30. S Phil. 2:14; Heb. 12:14. " Heb. men brethren, n ch. 11:27. i ch. 20:15. j 1 Pet. 3:8-12. k ch. 19:25; 1 John CHAPTER XIII. 1. The south ; tho south part of Canaan. 6. Not able to bear them ; the pasturage was not sufficient for their flocks. 7. Dwelled then in the land; this made their quarrels the more improper and perilous. 8. Brethren; near relatives, and professors of the same religion. 10. Jordan; lising near mount Lebanon, and running south into the Dead sea. The plain of Jordan was the region bordering on the river. Sodom — Gomorrah; cities in the south of Canaan, the site of which is now occupied by the Dead sea. Garden qf the Lord; the scenery of para dise may harbor a population ripening for hell. As thou comest unto Zoar ; the meaning is, " all the plain of Jordan," as far as to Zoar, " was well watered." Zoar was a small place near Sodom and Gomorrah. Chap. 19:22. . 15. To thee will I give it; not to him personally, but to his descendants. Acts 7:5. For ever; for a perpetual in heritance, should they continue to obey him. 16. As the dust of the earth; very numerous. 18. Plain; oaks of Mamre, chap. 12:6. Hebron; a city about twenty miles south of Jerusalem, called also Kir- jath-Arba, or the city of Arba, a famous giant who lived there. Josh. 14:15. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. Habitual communion with God is essential to a life of faith ; and necessary in order rightly to use the 28 11 Then Lot chose him all the plain of 'ko.ffi Jordan ; and Lot journeyed east : and they sepa rated themselves" the one from the other. 12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom. 13 But the men of Sodom were wicked and sin ners0 before the Lord exceedingly. 14 1 And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward : 15 Por all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever." 16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth : so that if a man can number the dust of tlie earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered. 17 Arise, walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it; for I will give it unto thee. 18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the + plain of Mamre,0- which is in He bron, and built there an altar unto the Lord. CHAPTER XIV. 1 The battle of four kings against five. 12 Lot is taken prisoner. 14 Abram rescueth him. 18 Melchizedek blesseth Abram. 20 Abram giveth him tithe. 22 The rest of the spoil, his partners having had their portions, he restoreth to the king of Sodom. AND it came to pass, in the days of Amraphel king of Shinar,r Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of nations ; 2 That these made war with Bera king of Sod om, and with Birsha king of Gomorrah, Shinab king of Admah,3 and Shemeber king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, which is Zoar.1 2:15. 1 ch. 2:10; Isa, 18:20; Ezek. 10:49; 2 Pet. reh. 11:2; Isa. 11:11; Zech. 5:11 51:3; Joel 2:3. m ch. 14:2. n Prov. 27:10. o oh 2:7,8. Pch. 12:7. t Heb. plains, q ch. 35:27 s Deut. 29:23; Hos. 11:8. t cn. 19:22. ¦ blessings, meet the trials, and discharge the duties of life. 6. Increasing riches may part old and tried friends. 7. Contentions among the friends of God, the members of their families, or persons in their employment, are ex ceedingly injurious to his cause ; they tend to prejudice men agamst religion, and to prevent their salvation. 9. A wise and good man will be kind, accommodating, and peaceful; will seek to avoid strife, especially with his relatives ; and will often relinquish his rights rather than contend for them. 13. When men, in selecting their place of abode, regard the opportunities for making money more than they do the means of intellectual and moral improvement, they commit sin, and will have reason to be grateful if they escape ruin. 15. God requires faith in promises, the fulfilment of which is future and distant. 18. Men who, from regard to God, make sacrifices for peace, will be kept from many evils into which others will fall. They will receive much good themselves, and be instrumental in communicating much to others. CHAPTER XIV. • 1. Shinar; chap. 10:10. Ellasar; apparently lying be tween Shinar and Elam. Elam; Persia. Nations; several small nations, whose situation is unknown. 2. King of Sodom ; the word king is used in the Bible for the ruler of a city or small district ; and for the chief of a clan or tribe, as well as for tho ruler of a nation. The battle qf the kings. GENESIS XIV. Lot rescued by Abram. a. m. «i»ut 3 All these were- joined together in the b. c. 1913. vale of Siddim, which is the salt sea." 4 Twelve years they served Chedorlaomer, and in the thirteenth year they rebelled. 5 And in the fourteenth year came Chedorlao mer, and the kings that were with him, and smote the Rephaimb' in Ashteroth-karnaim,0 and the Zu zim3 in Ham, and the Emim in *Shaveh Kiria- thaim, 6 And the Horites in their mount Seir, unto El-paran,* which is by the wilderness.0 7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt ih Hazezon-tamar.f 8 And there went out tho king of Sodom, and the king of Gomorrah, and the king of Admah, and the king of Zeboiim, and the king of Bela, the same is Zoar ; and they joined battle with them in the vale of Siddim ; 9 With Chedorlaomer the king of Elam, and with Tidal king of nations, and Amraphel king of Shinar, and Arioch king of Ellasar ; four kings with five. 10 And the vale of Siddim was full of slime- pits ; and the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, and fell there : and they that remained fled to the mountain.81 11 And they took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah, and all their victuals, and went their way. 12 And they took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who dwelt in Sodom,11 and his goods, and departed. 13 IT And there came one that had escaped, and told Abram the Hebrew; for he dwelt in the plain of Mamre the Amorite,' brother of Eshcol, and brother of Aner : and these were confederate with Abram. a Deut. 3:17; Josh. 3:10. b ch. 15:20. » Josh. 12:4. & Deut. 2:10 20. * Or, the plain of Kiriathaim. t Or, plain of Paran. e ch. 21:21; Num. 12:10. t 2 Chr. 20:2. s ch. 19:17, 30. n ch. 13:12; Num. 10:20; 1 Tim. 0:9. i ch. 13:18. t Or, led forth. § Or, instructed, j Deut. 31:1. & Isa. 3. Joined together ; assembled as allies. Vale of Siddim ; the southern part of the valley of the Jordan, in which were the cities above mentioned, and which is now cov ered by the Dead sea. 4. Served Chedorlaomer ; by paying him tribute. Rebelled; refused longer to pay tribute. 5. Ashteroth — Ham — Sliaveh Kiriathaim; places east of the Jordan. 6.- Mount Seir; south of the Dead sea. El-paran; west of mount Seir. 7. Kadesh; Kadesh-barnea, in the desert south of Judah. Hazezon-tamar ; En-gedi, on the west shore of the Dead sea. 2 Chron. 20:2. 10. Slime-pits; places where bitumen, an adhesive and inflammable substance, oozed out of the ground, or where bitumen had been dug out to be used for mortar. Chap. 11:3. Fell there; were entangled among them and over come, and many perished. 13. The Hebrew; a name given to Abram, as somo sup pose, because he descended from Eber, or Heber ; and as others think, because he came from beyond the river Euphrates ; the word signifying one who has passed over. Plain of Mamre; chap. 12:6. Confederate with Abram; united with him in opposing his enemies. 14. Brother; here used for nephew. Chapter 12:13. Dan; perhaps Dan-jaan, mentioned 2 Sam. 24:6, and dif ferent from the Dan in tho northern limit of Palestine, 14 And when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he * armed his § trained servants, born in his own house, three hundred and eigh teen, and pursued them unto Dan.J 15 And he divided himself against them, he and his servants, by night, and smote them,k and pur sued them unto Hobah, which is on the left hand of Damascus. 16 And he brought back all the goods,1 and also brought again his brother Lot, and his goods, and the women also, and the people. 17 IF And the king of Sodomm went out to meet him, after his return from the slaughter of Che dorlaomer, and of the kings that were with him, at the valley of Shaveh, which is the king's dale.n 18 And Melchizedek0 king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest" of the most high God."- 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:1 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.3 21 And the king of Sodom said unto Abram, Give me the 'persons, and take the goods to thy self. 22 And Abram said to the king of Sodom, I have lifted up my hand unto the Lord,* the most high God, the possessor of heaven and earth," 23 That I will not take from a thread even to a shoe-latchet,v and that I will not take any thing that is thixe, lest thou shouldest say, I have made Abram rich : 24 Save only that which the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men which went with me, Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their por tion. w 41:2.3 . 1 1 Sam. 30:8, IP. n 1 Sam. 18:0 n 2 Sam . 18 18. 0 Heb. 7:1. p Psa. 110:4: Heb 5:0 7:3, 11. 1 Mic. 0 fi. , r ver. 22; l>s* 24 1; 50:10. » Heb. 7:1-10. 1 3eb. souls t Ex. 0:8. u v«r. 19 ch 21 33. v Esth. 9:15,10. wlTim . 5:18 . which did not receive this name till long after the death of Moses. Judges 18:29. 15. Left hand; to the north. Damascus ; the capital of ancient Syria ; on a plain east of Anti-Lebanon. 17. Shaveh — dale ; a valley near Jerusalem. 18.* Melchizedek; a name meaning King of righteousness. Salem; meaning in Hebrew, peace, Heb. 7:2; supposed to have been the place afterwards called Jerusalem. 20. He gave him tithes; Abram gave to Melchizedek a tenth part. Heb. 7 : 1-17. This was done as an expression of gratitude to God, whose priest Melchizedek was. 21. Persons and — goods; which Abram had taken from the enemy. 22. Lifted up my hand; taken an oath, or made a solemn promise. 24. Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre : the confederates of Abram, mentioned ver. 13. INSTRUCTIONS. 11. Ever since the apostasy, there have been men who acted as if might gave right ; who, if they could, would rob others ; and, to obtain their property, put them to death: sins as odious and hateful when committed by rulers and nations, as when committed by private indi viduals. 12. When men, for worldly purposes, choose to dwell in places distinguished for wickedness, they expose them. 29 God encourageth Abram GENESIS XV. with the promise of a son. CHAPTER XV. God encourageth Abram. 2 Abram complaineth for want of an heir. 4 G-od promiseth him a son, and a multiplying of his seed. 6 Abram is justified by faith. 7 Canaan is promised again, and confirmed by a sign, 12 and a vision. AFTER these things the word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision," saying, Pear not,b Abram : I am thy shield,0 and thy exceeding great reward.4 2- And Abram said, Lord God, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless,6 and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus ? 3 And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed : and lo, one born in my house is mine heir.' 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir ; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.g 5 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars,11 if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.1 6 And he believed in the Lord ; and he counted it to him for righteousness.1 7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees,k to give thee this land to inherit it. 8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?1 9 And he said unto him, Take me a heifer of three years old, and a she-goat of three years old, and a ram of three years old, and a turtle-dove, and a young pigeon. 10 And he took unto him all these, and divided »Ch 40:5 ; Num. 2:0 ; Dan . 10:1 ; Acts 10:11 22 b Luke 1:13. » Deut. 33 29, Psa 3:3; Bl "; 91:4 119: 114; Prov. 30:5. ii Psa. 142:5; Lam. 3:24: Beb. 13:5 e oh 30:1 Isa. 50:5; Acts 7:5. f Prov. 29:21. e oh. 17 10 h Deut. 1 10 Heb. 11: 12. i Eom. 4:18. 1 Rom. 4^3 , 0, etc. ; Gal. selves to share in the calamities which that wickedness brings upon the people. 16. When men have been robbed of what justly belongs to them, those who are right-minded will abhor the crime, and be disposed, when they can, to take right and effectual measures, that what has been taken away may be restored. 20. Though God often suffers wicked men to take pos session of what does not belong to them, such possession gives them no just title to it ; and when, in his providence, he restores it, his goodness should be acknowledged, and the praise given to him. 23. Good men, who do right, will be careful to avoid the reality and the appearance of covetousness, and of every thing selfish, niggardly, and mean. CHAPTER XV. 2. Give me; he asks for something higher than the mere increase of his outward estate. Steward of my house ; or, as many prefer, possessor of my house, that is, heir. 3. Born in my house; a house-servant. 6. Counted it to him for righteousness ; accepted him as righteous, through faith, or the exercise of that confidence in God which led him to follow his directions. Rom. 4 : 4, 21,22; Gal. 3:6-9, 29; James 2:21-24. 7. Ur of the Chaldees ; chap. 11:31. Give thee this land; not him personally, but his posterity. Acts 7:5. 8. Whereby shall I know; by what token or visible sign. 10. One against another; the carcass was divided length wise, and each half placed opposite the other, with a space wide enough for those who in this way made a covenant, to pass between them in token of its ratification. 11. Fowls; ravenous birds, accustomed to feed upon flesh. 30 them in the midst,™ and laid each piece A-2^1»bo"t one against another: but the birds divide n.o.i9i3, ed he not." 11 And when the fowls came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away. 12 And when the Sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram ;° and lo, a horror of great darkness fell upon him. 13 And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them ; and they shall afflict them four hundred years ;p 14 And also that nation whom they shall serve, Will I judge :« and afterward shall they come out with great substance/ 15 And thou shalt go to thy fathers in peace; thou shalt be buried in a good old age.3 16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.* 17 And it came to pass, that when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and *a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. 18 In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates : 19 The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites, 20 And the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Rephaim, 21 And the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Girgashites, and the Jebusites. 3:0; Jas. 2:23. k oh. 12:1. 1 Judg. 0:17; 2 Kin. 20:8; Luke 1:18. m Jer. 34:18,19. ¦> Lev. 1:17. o ch. 2:21; 1 Sam. 20:12; Job 4:13. P Ex 12:40. q Ex. 0:0. r Ex. 12:36. » oh. 25:8; Job 5:20. t Matt. 23:32; 1 Thess. 2:10. * Heb. a lamp of fire. 12. Great darkness ; emblematical of the affliction which would come upon his posterity in Egypt. 13. Four hundred years ; the departure of the Israelites from Egypt took place four hundred and thirty years from the time the promise was first made to Abraham ; about half of which his posterity spent in Canaan, and the rest in Egypt. Gen. 12 : 1-3 ; Ex. 12 : 40, 41 ; Gal. 3 : 17 ; 4 : 29. In the present prophecy, uttered some years after the first promise, the round number four hundred is appropriately employed. 14. Judge; visit with judgments, in punishment of their sins. Substance; riches. Psa. 105:37. 16. In the fourth generation; after four hundred years from the time above mentioned ; or the fourth generation from the time they went into Egypt, Moses and Caleb be ing the fourth generation from Levi and Judah. Amorites; one of the principal nations that was to be destroyed by the Israelites, after they should leave Egypt. Deut. 20: 17 ; Josh. 3:10; 10:5-14; 24:15. 17. A smoking furnace, and a burning lamp; symbols of the divino presence. 18. River of Egypt ; supposed to be a stream which emp tied into the Mediterranean between Gaza and the eastern branch of the Nile. Num. 34:5; Josh. 13:3; 1 Chron. 13:5. Its present name is El-Arish. Euphrates; Gen. 2:14. 19-21. Kenites — Jebusites; tribes that dwelt in Canaan. Chap. 9:25-27. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Those who are protected by God have no reason to fear, and those who receive his gracious reward will not want any good thing. 6. That confidence in God which leads men to believe and obey him is counted to them for righteousness ; and Hagar flceth from Sumi. GENESIS XVII. God reneweth the covenant. A. M. about 2093. B. C. 1911. CHAPTER XVI. 1 Sarai, being barren, giveth Hagar to Abram. 4 Hagar, being afflict ed for despising her mistress, runneth away. 7 An angel sendeth her back to submit herself, 11 and telleth her of her child. 15 Ishmael is born. VTOW Sarai, Abram's wife, bare him no chil- yp- 1_> dren: and she had a handmaid, an Eg tian," whose name was Hagar .b 2 And Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the Lord hath restrained me from bearing:0 I pray thee, go in unto my maid;4 it may be that I may obtain* children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai. 3 And Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife. 4 IT And he went in unto Hagar, and she con ceived : and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her eyes.0 5 And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee : I have given my maid into thy bosom ; and when she saw that she had conceived, J was despised in her eyes : the Lord judge between me and thee/ 6 But Abram said unto Sarai, Behold, thy maid is in thy hand;g do to her +as it pleaseth thee. And when Sarai * dealt hardly with her, she fled from her face. 7 1 And the Angel of the Lord found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the foun tain in the way to Shur.11 8 And he said, Hagar, Sarai's maid, whence earnest thou ? and whither wilt thou go ? And she said, I flee from the face of my mistress Sarai. »Ch. 21:9. b Gal. 4:24. c oh. 20:18. ¦> oh. 30:3, 9. * Heb. be builded by her. ' 1 Sam. 1:0, 8; Prov. 20:23. t ch. 31:53 ; 1 Sam. 24:15; 2 Chr. 24:22. ff I Pet. 3:7. t Heb. that which is good in thine eyes, t Heb. ajflict- edher. b.ch.25:18. i!Pet.2:18. 5 That is, God shall hear, i oh. 21:20. those who exercise it will, for Christ's sake, be justified, sanctified, and saved. Rom. 4:3; James 2:21-24. 13. God graciously communicates to his people as much knowledge of the future as will best fit them for the dis charge of their duty; and what would not be useful to them he kindly withholds. 18. When God in his providence has given to a people a good land, and they abuse his mercies, break his laws, and live in rebellion against him, he may justly take it from them and give it to others. CHAPTER XVI. 2. May obtain children by her; her present purpose was to reckon Hagar's offspring as her own. 3. To be his wife; a subordinate wife, or concubine, ac cording to the custom of those times. This was a viola tion of the great law of marriage, and was followed by great domestic troubles. Matt. 19:5-9. 5. My wrong be upon thee; thou art the cause of this evil, and thou oughtest to prevent it. 7. The Angel of the Lord ; supposed to be the Messenger of the covenant, the Messiah. Mal. 3:1; Luke 1:76. Shur ; a city on the borders of Egypt and Palestine. The adja'cent desert is called the wilderness of Shur. She was on the way to her native home. 9. Return to thy mistress; she would be more exposed to hardship, suffering, and death, in going forward, than in going back. 11. Ishmael; a Hebrew name, meaning God will hear; it was given as a memento that God had heard and grant ed her relief, and an encouragement to her and others to call upon him. Psa. 50 : 15. 9 And the Angel of the Lord said unto her, Re turn to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands.1 10 And the Angel of the Lord said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude. 11 And the Angel of the Lord said unto her, Behold, thou art with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;8 because the Lord hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild man ;j his hand will be against every man, and every man's hand against him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.11 13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me:1 for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me? 14 Wherefore the well was called Beer-lahai- roi :" behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered. 15 T And Hagar bare Abram a son : m and Abram called his son's name, which Hagar bare, Ishmael. 16 And Abram was fourscore and six years old, when Hagar bare Ishmael to Abram. CHAPTER XVII. 1 G-od reneweth the covenant. 5 Abram his name is changed in token of a greater blessing. 10 Circumcision is instituted. 15 Sarai her name is- changed, and she blessed. 17 Isaac is promised. 23 Abra ham and Ishmaei are circumcised. AND when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God ;n walk before me,0 and be thou perfect.1 k ch. 25:18. 1 Prov. 5:21. 11 That is, the well of Aim that liveth and seeth me. m oh 25:12. n ch. 18:14; Ex. 6:3; Dan. 4:35; Eph. 3:20. o ch. 48:15; 1 Kings 2:4; 2 Kings 20:3. H Or, upright, or sincere; ch. 6:9; Deut. 18:13; Job 1:1. 12. He will be a wild man; his posterity would be rude, unsubdued, and opposed to the restraints of city life ; as the Arabs in their native country always have been. His hand — against every man; they would be robbers and plunderers of such as should fall in their way. Dwell in the presence; though opposed to all nations, they would never be exterminated or dispossessed ; and they have continued to inhabit Arabia down to the present day. 14. Kadesh and Bered ; places about forty miles south of Hebron. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Abraham was not perfect. In all things he came short, and in many things offended. It is not wise, safe, or right for us to imitate any mere man in all things. There is but one perfect example. 6. Such is human nature, that irresponsible power is very likely to be abused ; and nothing but the grace of God will teach masters and mistresses so to treat ser vants as to fulfil the great law of love. Matt. 7:12. 11. The Lord tenderly sympathizes in the afflictions of servants as well as of masters. His ears are always open to the cries of those who heartily call upon him, and he is ready to help them. 15. Mementos of divine kindness are highly proper, and may be very useful. They remind us of the unmerited goodness of God, tend to awaken new gratitude, and lead to increasing devotion to his service. CHAPTER XVII. 1. Perfect; sincere, upright, wholly and perseveringly devoted to the service and glory of God. 31 The seal of circumcision. GENESIS XVII. Abraham is circumcised. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee,a and will multiply thee exceedingly. 3 And Abram fell on his face : and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father b of "many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name0 shall be Abraham ;+ for a father of many nations have I made thee.d 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee;0 and kings shall come out of thee. 7 And I will establish my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their genera tions, for an everlasting covenant; to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee/ 8 And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land * wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting pos session f and I will be their God.h 9 T And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee, in their generations. 10 This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee : Every man-child among you shall be circumcised. 11 And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin ; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.1 12 And she that is eightdays old shall be cir cumcised among you, every man-child in your generations, he that is born in the house,j or bought with money of any stranger, which is not of thy seed. 13 He that is born in thy house, and he that is bought with thy money, must needs be circum cised : and my covenant shall be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. 14 And the uncircumcised man-child, whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised, that soul shall be cut off from his people ;k he hath broken my covenant. 15 T And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai a Ch. 9:9; Psa. 105:8, 11; Gal. 3:17, 18. t> ch. 13:16; 22:17. • Heb. multitude of nations. c Neh. 9:7. t That is, father of a great multitude. ¦IRom. 4:17. ever. 10,20; ch. 35:11. f ch. 2d: 13; Lev. 20:12; Heb. 11:10. I Heb. of thy sojournings. S ch. 48:4; Deut. 32:8. h Ex. 0:7; Jer. 24:7; 5. Abram; this word means a high or distinguished father. Gen. 12:1. Abraham; by this change in the Hebrew word it means a father of great multitudes. 7. Thy seed; Gal. 3:7,29. 8. Everlasting possession ; to the end of time, if persever- ingly obedient to God. 10. This is my covenant; the token or seal of it which they should continue to observe. Ver. 11 ; Rom. 4: 11-22. 11. Circumcise ; this word means, to cut around. 13. My covenant; the token or sign of it. Everlasting covenant ; a covenant which they should continue to ob serve from generation to generation, and the benefits of which to all the truly obedient would be eternal. The apostle Paul shows, Gal. 3:14-17, that all believers in Christ are the spiritual children of Abraham, and partakers of the spiritual blessings of the covenant which God made with him. 14. Cut off; this expression denotes, in general, the death of the offender ; but the manner is not specified. His outward and visible destruction was a solemn sym bol of his everlasting separation from God's holy family. 32 thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sa- \% __\ rai, but Sarah1 shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her •} yea, I will bless her, and 'she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laugh ed,"1 and said in. his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is a hundred years old ? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear ? 18 And Abraham said unto God, O that Ishmael might live before thee ! 19 And God said, Sarah thy wife shall bear thee a son indeed ; and thou shalt call his name Isaac : and I will establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant, and with his seed after him. 20 And as for Ishmael, I have heard thee : Be hold, I have blessed him, and will make him fruit ful, and will multiply him exceedingly: twelve princes shall he beget, and I will make him a great nation." 21 But my covenant wril I establish with Isaac, which Sarah shall bear unto thee at this set time in the next year.0 22 And he left off talking with him, and God went up from Abraham. 23 1 And Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all that were born in his house, and all that were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's house; and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in the selfsame day, as God had said unto him. 24 And Abraham was ninety years old and nine, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his fore skin. 25 And Ishmael his son was thirteen years old, when he was circumcised in the flesh of his fore skin. 26 In the selfsame day was Abraham circum cised, and Ishmael his son. 27 And all the; men of his house, born in the house, and bought with money of the stranger, were circumcised with him. Ezek. 37:23; Rev. 21:3. > Acts 7:8; Rom. 4:11. ! Heb a son of days. j Ex. 12:44 k Ex 4:24; Josh. 5 2, itc. 1 That is princess. 1 oh. 18:10 U Heb. she shall become nations; eh . 35:11 Gal. 4:20-31; L Pet. 3:0. moh. 18:12; 21:6. n eh. 25 :13, etc. 0 ch. 21 ». 15. Sarah ; meaning princess ; that is, of royal families to spring from her. Ver. 16. 17. Laughed; an expression of believing joy. 18. Might live; prosper and be blessed in his person and posterity. 19. Isaac; meaning laughter— joy in view of the bless ings bestowed on him. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Though the fulfilment of divine promises may be long delayed, yet in due time they will all be accomplish ed ; for God is almighty, he can do all his pleasure ; and none who continue" patiently to trust in, and obey him, will in the end be disappointed. 10. Circumcision was "a seal of the righteousness which Abraham had yet being uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all them that believe." It was de signed to impress on the mind the necessity of obeying God, not~ outwardly merely, but in heart ; of serving him who is a Spirit, in spirit and in truth. Rom. 2:25-29: 4:11; Phil. 3:3. Abraham visited by angels, GENESIS XVIII. who reveal Sodom's doom. A. M. 2106. B. C 1898. CHAPTER XVIII. 1 Abraham entertaineth three angels. 9 Sarah is reproved for laughing at the strange promise. 17 Ihe destruction of Sodom is revealed to Abraham. 23 Abraham maketh intercession for the men thereof. AND the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre:" and he sat in the tent- door in the heat of the day ; 2 And he lifted up his eyes and looked, and lo, three men stood by him :b and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent-door, and bowed himself toward the ground,0 3 And said, My Lord, if now I have found favor in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant :a 4 Let a little water,0 I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree : 5 And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and "com fort ye your hearts ; after that ye shall pass on : for therefore +are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said. 6 And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, *Make ready quickly three meas ures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth. 7 And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetched a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man ; and he hasted to dress it. 8 And he took butter/ and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them ; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat. 9 IT And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent. 10 And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life ; ff and lo, Sa rah thy wife shall have a son.'1 And Sarah heard it in the tent-door, which was behind him. 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well a Ch. 13:18; 14:13. b ver. 22; ch. 19:1; Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:9. e ch. 23:7; 33:3-7; 43:20, 2S; 44:14; Ruth 2:10; 2 Kings 2:15. d Heb. 13:2; 1 Pet. 4:9. e ch. 43:24. ' Heb. stay, t Heb. ye have passed, t Heb. Has ten, f Judg. 5:25. f ver. 14; 2 Kings 4:10. h ch. 17:19, 21 ; Rom. 9:9; Gal. 4:23. i Rom. 4:19; Heb. 11:11, 12. j ch. 31:35. k ch. 21:0; Psa. 120:2. 1 Lake 1:18. m 1 Pet. 3:0. n Num. 11:23; Jer. 32:17; Matt. 19:20. 13. It is the will of God that servants, as well as mas ters and their children, should have the means of grace, be instructed in the way of life, and be treated in all respects as rational, accountable, and immortal beings, for whom Christ died, and who, through faith in him, may shine as the brightness of the firmament and as the stars for ever. Ex. 20:9-11. 18. As God is the author of parental affection, he de lights in its exercise, and in answering the hearty, fervent prayers of parents for their children. 23. True and lively faith not only trusts the promises of God, but yields prompt, implicit, and hearty obedience to God's commands. It thus shows itself by works, and by works is faith made perfect. James 2 : 22. CHAPTER XVIII. 1. The Lord; Jehovah. Plains of Mamre ; chap. 14:13. 3. My Lord; a token of respect, addressed to one who appeared to be chief. 4. Wash your feet; as the feet were then protected only with sandals, or soles fastened on with straps, it was customary with travellers, when they stopped, to wash their feet. 5. Therefore are ye come ; intimating that they had been providentially directed there, that he might thus enter tain them. 10. I will — return; will visit thee again; namely, by 3 stricken in age ;! and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.1 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself," saying, After I am waxed old,1 shall I have pleas ure, my lord being old also?"1 13 And the Lord said unto Abraham, Where fore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old? 14 Is any thing too hard for the Lord?11 At the time appointed I will return unto thee, accord ing to the time of life,0 and Sarah shall have a son. 15 Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay ; but thou didst laugh.p 16 And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom : and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.q 17 T And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abra ham that thing which I do ;r 18 Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all tho nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?s 19 Eor I know him, that ho will command his children and his household after him,* and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abra ham that which he hath spoken of him." 20 And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sod om and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous/ 21 I will go down now,,v and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.x 22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom : but Abraham stood yet before the Lord. 23 1 And Abraham drew near,y and said, Wilt ° 2 Kings 4:10. P Psa. 44:21; Prov. 12:19. i Acisl5:3; Rom. 15:24; 3 John 0. r psa. 25:14; Amos 3:7; John 15:15. » ch. 12:3; 22:18; Psa. 72:17; Acts 3:25; Gal. 3:8. t Deut. 4:9, 10; 0-7; Psa. 73:5-3; Eph. 0:4. »lSun. 2:30. vcn. 13:13; 19:13. w ch. 11:5; Ex. 3:8. I Josh. 22:22; Psa. 139:1.- Jer. 17:10; Luke 10:15. y Jer. 30:21; Heb. 10:22; Jas. 5:17. giving thee a son by Sarah. According to the time of life; supposed to mean the usual time from the conception to the birth of a child. But some prefer to render, " at the reviving of the year." 12. Sarah laughed; a sign of unbelief, for which she is rebuked. 13. The Lord; Jehovah. 16. Looked toward Sodom; as if they would go that way. 20. The cry of Sodom; the cry concerning the sin of Sodom. So ver. 21. 21. I will know ; act with knowledge, and treat them as their case may require. 22. The men ; the two beings in human form, who ac companied Jehovah, and who at evening entered Sodom. Chap. 19:1. Tlie Lord; Jehovah, who had been speaking to Abraham. Ver. 13-20. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. A pious mind is accustomed to recognize the hand of God in all the events of providence, and to glorify him by doing good to men. 8. We should not be forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels, and also the Lord of angels ; and acts of kindness done for hip sake, even to the least of his disciples, he will remember and reward, as if done to himself. Matt. 10 : 42 ; 25 : 40 ; Heb. 13 : 2. 15. The commission of one sin makes way for the com- 33 He intercedeth for Sodom. GENESIS XIX. Two angels visit Lot. thou also destroy the righteous with the wick ed?1 24 Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein? 25 That be far from thee to do after this man ner, to slay the righteous with the wicked; and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be fas from thee:b Shall not tho Judge of all the earth do right? 26 And the Lord said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city,0 then I will spare all the place for their sakes. 27 And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:4 28 Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous : wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it. 29 And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty's sake. 30 And he said unto him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there. 31 And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty's sake. 32 And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once : ° Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten's sake/ 33 And the Lord went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place. CHAPTER XIX. I Lot entertaineth two angels. 4 The vicious Sodomites are stricken with blindness, li Lot is sent for safety into the mountains. Id Ue obtainei.h lija\'e to go into Zoar. 24 Sodom and (Jroinorrah are de stroyed. 26 Lot's wife is a pillar of silt. 30 Lot dwelleth in a cave. 31 The incestuous original of Moab and Ammon. ND there came two angels to Sodom at even;s and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot, seeing them, rose up to meet them, and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground. A: a Num. 10:22. b Job 8:3; 34:17; Pa. 58:11 ; 94:2. " Iw. 10:22; Jer. 5:1; Ezek. 22:3(1. & ch. 2:7; 3: 19; Job 4:10; Psa. 8:4 ; 144:3; Koel. 12: Isa. f Jc Luke » num. ii'.ii. " j.iu o..j , ; 21 :S; .uke 5:20: John 12:2; Heb. 13:2. k oh. 4:1; Lev 18:22; 211:13; Judg. mission of another; and the disbelief of God's word is a fruitful source of manifold and aggravated transgressions. 19. Family religion is peculiarly pleasing to God, and he requires that parents not only counsel and advise, but command their children to keep the way of the Lord ; and there is an intimate connection between their doing this, and his bestowing upon them and their children the richest spiritual and temporal blessings. 24. Those who love God love their fellow men, and earnestly supplicate for them the mercies which they need. 32. Prayer has great influence with God ; and those who rightly offer it are eminently benefactors of mankind. 34 2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, Vcim turn'1 in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay ; but we will abide in the street all night.' 3 And he pressed upon them greatly, and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast,j and did bake unleav» ened bread, and they did eat. 4 1 But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter: 5 And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.1' 6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him, 7 And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.1 8 Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let mo, I pray yon, bring them out unto you,m and do ye to them as is good in your eyes : only unto these men do nothing ; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof. 9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge :n now will wo deal worse with thee than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door. 11 And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness,0 both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door. 12 IT And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son-in-law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place : 13 For wc will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the Lord ;p and the Lord hath sent us to destroy it." 14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons- in-law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place ; r for the Lord will 19:22; laa. 1 9; 3:9; Jer. 3:3; G:H; Ezek. 13 : ID, 51 ; Matt. 11:23.21; Ram, 1:23. 24, 23, 27; 1 Cor. 0:9; 1 Tim- 1:10; 2 Ti^i 3 13; Jude'7. 1 Lav. IS:22; 20:13; Lout. 2):17; Rom. 1.21; 1 Ccr. C: 9-11 ; Judo 7. m R,ra. 3:.S. n Ex. 2:14: 2 Tot. 2:7, H. o 2 Eln^a 0-13, AotJ 13:11. P ch. lli:20. q 1 Chr. 21:15; Isa. 30:10. ' Num. 10.2.J; Jer. U:C; Rov. 1J:4. From regard to them, God may delay his judgments, and in answer to their prayers.bring tho wicked to repentance and salvation. CHAPTER XIX. 1. Two angels; according to tlie original, the two angels, namely, the two mentioned in tho preceding chapter, ver. 22. Lot supposed them to be men. 8. Bring them out ; he esteemed the persons of his guests as sacred, and was willing to protect them at all costs. But in this proposal he did very wrong, and showed the weakness of his faith in God. 14. As one that mocked; they did not bcliovo what he said. Sodom is destroyed. GENESIS XIX. Origin of Moab and Ammon. a c!'i89& destroy this city : but he seemed as one that mocked" unto his sons-in-law. 15 IT And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise,, take thy wife, and thy two daughters which "are here, lest thou be consumed in the iniquity* of the city. 16 And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him :b and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. 17 IT And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that lie said, Escape for thy life;0 look not behind thee,d neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord : 19 Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy ,e which thou hast showed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain,1 lest some evil take me, and I die: 20 Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one : Oh, let me escape thither,8 (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.11 21 And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee* concerning this thing also,' that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spo ken. 22 Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither.j Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.§ 23 IT The sun was 'risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven ;k 25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.1 26 IT But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.m a Ex 9:21 ; 2 Chr. 30: 10; Isa. 28:22; Luke 17:28; 21:11. • Heb. are found. t Or, panishmtnl . b Psa. 34:1-. ; Rom. 9:/0. ' 1 Sam. 19:11; 1 Kings 10:3. d ver. 20. « 1 Tim 1:14. f 1 Sam. -27 :1. E Prov 3:5-7. b Psa. 10:1' 5; Isa. 55:3 t Heb thy t ice. i ch. 4:7 Job 42:8, 9; Jer. 14:10. J ch. 32:20; Ex. 32:10; Deut. 9: 14; Mark 0:5 § Thac is little. 22. I cannot do any thing; it was God's purpose to spare Lot and his family. The work of destroying Sodom could not, therefore, be begun, till they had left the city. Zoar ; little. It was called Zoar, as a memento of this event. Its name before was Bela. Chap. 14:2. 26. A pillar of salt; as a monument of the wrath of God against her for breaking his command. Ver. 17. 27. Where he stood;. on the day before. Chap. 18:22. 37. Moab; progeny of a father. 38. Ben-ammi; son of my people; that is, my kindred. Ammon; the same as Ben-ammi. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. Though God bestow upon men a good land, and sur round them with unnumbered mercies, if left without his grace they will grow worse and worse, till they become too wicked longer to live. 8. Of two natural evils, it is often proper to choose the least; but of two moral evils we should choose neither, and should never commit sin to avoid any supposed evil, or obtain any supposed good. Tho only course of wisdom and safety is to trust in God and do right. 27 1 And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the Lord :n 28 And he looked toward Sodom and Gomor rah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.0 29 IT And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt." 30 If And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain,*1 and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters. 31 And the first-born said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth : 32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 33 And they made their father drink wine that night :r and the first-born went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the first-born said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father : let us make him drink wine this night also ; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 35 And they made their father drink wine that night also : and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 36 Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.3 37 And the first-born bare a son, and called his name Moab : the same is the father of the Moab ites unto this day.' 38 And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Ben-ammi : the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day." 1 Heb. gone forth, k Deut. 29:21; Job 1^:15; Psa. 11:6; La. '3:19; Jer. 49:1:1; 50:40; Lam.4:6;Ezek 10:49; Amos4:ll; Zeph. 2:9; Matt. 11:23; 2 Pet. 2:6; Jade 7 1 Psa. 107:31. m Luke 17:32. " ch. 18:22. o Rev. 19:3. p Psa. 14.5:20. qver.17,19. r pr0v. 33:31-:13. • Lev. 18:0, 7; Hab 2:15. tDeut. 2:9; 23:3. u Neh. 13: 1 ; Isa. 11:14 ; Zeph. 2:9. 11. All men are dependent upon God. With him for their protector his people will be secure, and his enemies, in perseveringly opposing them, will be destroyed. 14. Faith in God is needful to salvation ; and when he foretells the destruction of the wicked, if they do not be lieve him and escape, they will perish. 16. God is more merciful to his people than they are to themselves ; if he were not, they would all perish. 21. From regard to one righteous man, though he be imperfect, God may save many from destruction. 2 Peter 2:7-9. 25. Jehovah is a God of justice as well as mercy; and though he bear long with transgressors, if they turn not from their sins, he will in due time bring upon them over whelming destruction. 26. One act of wilful disobedience to God may prove the occasion of immediate and irretrievable ruin. 29. It is a great blessing to have pious relatives, and to be the subject of their prayers. From how many evils they have been and may be the means of saving us, none but God can tell. 32. The education of children amid scenes of gross de- 35 Abraham denieth his wife. GENESIS XX. Abimelech restoreth Sarah. CHAPTER XX 1 Abraham sojourneth at Gerar, 2 denieth his wife, and loseth her. 3 Abimelech is reproved for her in a dream. 9 He rebukath Abra ham, 14 restoreth Sarah, 16 and reproveth her. 17 He is healed by Abraham's prayer. AND Abraham journeyed from thence toward the south country, and dwelt between Ka desh and Shur," and sojourned in Gerar .b 2 And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister :c and Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. 3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night,a and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is "a man's wife. 4 But Abimelech had not come near her : and he said, Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation?0 5 Said he not unto me, She is my sister? and she, even she herself said, He is my brother : in the integrity1, of my heartf and innocency of my hands have I done this. 6 And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thees from sinning against me :h therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7 Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee,1 and thou shalt live : and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou and all that are thine. 8 Therefore Abimelech rose early in the morn ing, and called all his servants, and told all these things in their ears : and the men were sore afraid. aCh. 16:7, 14. b oh. 26:6. c 0h. 12:13; 23:7. i Job 33:15; Psa. 103:14. " Heb. married to a husband, e 1 Chr. 21:17. t Or, simplicity, or sincerity. f21ungs2D:3; 2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:13. s ch. 31:7; 35:5. iPn, 51:4. pravity has a strong tendency to blunt their moral feel ings. They who needlessly expose their offspring to such a corrupting influence, cannot reasonably hope that they will walk in the ways of virtue. 36. In solitude we are often more exposed to tempta tion, and in greater danger of complying with it, than in the crowded city ; and tho use of intoxicating drinks ex cites to the greatest abominations. CHAPTER XX. 1. From thence; the groves of Hebron, whero he had for some time resided. Chap. 13:18; 18:1. Gerar; a city of the Philistines, south-east of Gaza. 3. A dead man; he would bo, should he not return Sarah to her husband. 4. A righteous nation; that is, me and my nation, which will be involved in my destruction, though wo aro guilty of no intentional wrong. 1. Shalt surely die ; this shows God's abhorronco of tho crime of adultery, and his indignation against those who commit it. 9. Brought on me end on my kingdom; exposed us to commit a great sin. 12. Not— of my mother; Terah, Abraham's father, is sup posed by many mterpreters to havo had two wives ; Ha ran, Sarah's father, to havo boon a son of Terah's first wife, and Abraham to havo been a son of the second ; so that Sarah was his niece, and granddaughter of his father, but not of his mother. The term sister was then often given to a niece, and brother to a nephew, uncle, or near rela tive, ver. 5, 13; chap. 11:29; yet this use of these terms, in this case, was designed to deceive, and was wrong. 16. A covering of the eyes— all other; words of difficult 06 9 Then Abimelech called Abraham, and \.1\f^ said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on jny kingdom a great sin?J thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done.k 10 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? 11 And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place;1 and they will slay me for my wife's sake. 12 And yet indeed she is my sister;"1 she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother ; and she became my wife. 13 And it came to pass, when God caused me to wander from my father's house, that I said unto her, This is thy kindness which thou shalt show unto me ; at every place whither we shall come, say of me, He is my brother. 14 And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and men-servants, and women-servants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. 15 And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is be fore thee :n dwell * where it pleaseth thee. 16 And unto Sarah' he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver : behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes unto all that are with thee, and with all other : thus she was reproved.0 17 1 So Abraham prayed unto God: and God healed. Abimelech, and his wife, and his maid-ser vants ; and they bare children. 18 For the Lord had fast closed up all the wombs of the house of Abimelech,p because of Sa rah, Abraham's wife. k ch. 34:7. J Heb. as is i 1 Sam. 7:5; Job 42:8; Jas 5:16. j Ex. 32:21; Josh. 7:2>. INeh. 5:15; Psa. 36:1; Prov. 10:6. m oh. 11:29. » ch. 47:6. . good in thine eyes, o Prov. 12: 1 ; 25: 12; Rev. 3:19. P ch. 12:17; 1 Sam. 1:6. interpretation. According to our version they seem to mean, Acknowledge thy brother (with allusion to Abra ham's excuse) as thy husband. Then he will be to thee a covering of the eyes to all men of thy company, and with all others ; that is, will protect thee from their unlawful gaze, and from all harm. But some prefer to render, Be hold, it (the gift) shall be to thee a covering of the eyes ; that is, an honorable atonement, so called because it leads the injured party, and all concerned, to overlook the in jury received. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. The best of men are entirely dependent for persever ance in holiness, for integrity, uprightness, and even ex ternal morality, upon the grace of God. If left to them selves they will distrust Jehovah, give way to temptation, commit sin, and bring disgrace on religion, and distress, if not destruction, on themselves and others. 3. Before men had the Bible to guide them, God often made known his will in dreams : but now wc have no rea son to expect a revelation of his will in this way, as all needful directions in duty may be obtained from prayer ful study of the Scriptures. 7. Adultery is a sin which exposes all who commit it to the wrath of God, both in this world and in the world to come. 13. The guilt of sin is greatly increased when it is made a part of a settled plan, or committed with forethought, deliberation, and fixed purpose ; and were it not for the boundless grace of God, those who so sin would never be brought to repentance, but would inevitably perish. 16. The conduct of worldly men is often a reproof to professed Christians ; such as ought to make them ashanv ed. and arouse them to gre ater confidence ln God and greater devotion to his service. Luke 16.8. Isaac is born. GENESIS XXI. Abraham's treaty with Abimelech, A. M. 2107. B. C. 1897. CHAPTER XXI. 1 Isaac is born. 4 He is circumcised. C Sarah's joy. 9 Hagar and Ishmael are cast forth. 15 Hagar in distress. 17 The angel com- forteth her. 22 Abimelech's covenant with Abraham at Beer-sheba. AND the Lord visited Sarah as he had said," and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken.b 2 For Sarah conceived," and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. 3 And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.4 4 And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac, be ing eight days old, as God had commanded him.° 5 And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him. 6 1 And Sarah said, God hath made mo to laugh,f so that all that hear will laugh with me. 7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck?B for I have borne him a son in his old age. 8 And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned. 9 IT And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyp tian,11 which she had borne unto Abraham, mocking. 10 Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bond-woman and her son:' for the son of this bond-woman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac. 11 And the thing was very grievous in Abra ham's sight, j because of his son. 12 IT And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bond-woman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice ; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.^ 13 And also of the son of the bond-woman will I make a nation,1 because he is thy seed. 14 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away :m and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beer-sheba. 15 And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs. 16 And she went, and sat her down over against him, a good way off, as it were a bow-shot: for a 1 Sam. 2:21; Luke 1:68. 1 ch. 17:19; 18:10, 14. c Heb. 11:11. 4 oh. 17:19. = Ex. 12:48; Lev. 12:3; Acts 7:8. f Psa. 126:2; Isa. 54:1. g Num. i Psa. 86:10; Eph. 3:20. o ch. 10:1, 15; Gal. 4:22. i Gal. 4:30, i oh. 23:23 »o:23; rsa. au: iu; i^pn. o.ao. "1:11. 111:1, u; uai. 1:;-. « i-tu l. 4 : ¦ju. j en. 17:18. k Rom. 9:7, 8; Heb. ll:lS. I ver. IS; ch. 16:10. m John 8:35. » Ex. 3:7. o Psa. 107:4, 6. p ver. 13. q Num. 22:31 ; 2 Kings 0:17, 20; CHAPTER XXI. 2. At the set time; chap. 17:19-21 ; 18:10, 14. 4. As God had commanded; chap. 17:10-12. 9. Mocking; scoffing atlsaac, Sarah's own son. Gal. 4:29. 11. His son; Ishmael. 12. Let it not be grievous — in Isaac; the beginning of all Sarah's trouble with Hagar and her son was the first wrong step taken by Abraham in accordance with her re quest. Now God directs Abraham to pursue the course that is best under present circumstances, and in accord ance with his purpose that Isaac alone shall be the father of his covenant people, and especially of Christ, in and through whom the covenant is established. This, how ever, does not imply an approval of Sarah's spirit. * she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lifted up her voice, and wept. 17 And God heard the voice of the lad;11 and the Angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not;0 for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18 Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thy hand : for I will make him a great nation." 19 And God opened her eyes/1 and she saw a well of water ; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink. 20 And God was with the lad ; r and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.5 21 And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran :' and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.11 22 1 And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest :v 23 Now therefore swear unto me here by God,,v that* thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son : but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned. 24 And Abraham said, I will swear. 25 And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.x 26 And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing : neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to-day. 27 And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech ; and both of them made a covenant/ 28 And Abraham set seven ewe-lambs of the flock by themselves. 29 And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe-lambs, which thou hast set by themselves ?z 30 And he said, For these seven ewe-lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a "wit ness unto me that I have digged this well.a 31 Wherefore he called that place Beer-sheba ;f because there they sware both of them. Luke 24:16, 31. r ch. 17:20. ' ch. 25:27; 27:3. t Num. 10:12. « ch. 21:4; 27:46; 2S:2. v ch. 26:28; 28:15; 39:2; Josh. 1:5, 9. w oh. 24:3; Josh. 2:12. * Heb. if thou shalt lie unto me. x ch. 26:15-22. y ch. 31:44; 1 Sam. 18:3. z ch. 33:8. a ch. 31:48; Josh. 22:27. t That is, the well of the oath. 14. A bottle; the skin of some animal was then generally used for this purpose. Beer-sheba; this means, the well of the oath, ver. 31. It was in the southern border of Canaan. 21. Tlie wilderness of Paran; a desolate region south of Canaan. 22. Abimelech; chap. 20:2. 26. Wot; know. 27. Made a covenant; to treat each other kindly, and that each should have what rightfully belonged to him. 30. A witness; evidence which should testify against Abimelech and his people, should they lay claim to that well. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. To prevent all doubt, evidence is often repeated that 37 Abraham's faith tried. GENESIS XXII. Isaac is spared. 32 Thus they made a covenant at Beer-sheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines. 33 If And Abraham planted a grove* in Beer- sheba," and called there on the name of the LoRD,b the everlasting God.0 34 And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days. CHAPTER XXII. 1 Abraham is tempted to offer Isaac. 3 He giveth proof of his faith and obedience. 11 The Angel stayeth him. 13 Isaac is exchanged with a ram. 14 The place is called Jehovah-jireh. 15 Abraham is blessed again. 20 The generation of Nahor unto Rebekah. AND it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham,11 and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, f Behold, here I am. 2 And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah ;° and offer him there for a burnt- offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. 3 1 And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young • men with "him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt-offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass, and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you. 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt- offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son;f and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, *Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the Or,lree. a Deut. 16:21 ; Judg. 3:7; 2 Kings 17:16. b ch. 4:26. c Psa. 90:2 Isa. 40:28. d Deut. 8:2; 2 Chr. 32:31; Prov. 17:3; Heb. 11:17; Jas. 1:12; 1 Pet. 1:7. t Heb. Behold me. e 2 Chr. 3:1. fJohnl9:17. * Heb. Behold me. f Or, kid; ver. 2, S, 13. S John 1:29; Rev. 5:6. h Psa. 118:27; John 10:17, 18. i Heb. 11:17; Jas. 2:21. j Ex. 3:4; 1 Sam. 3:10. however long God may delay to fulfil his promises, at the set time they will be perfectly accomplished, and not a jot or tittle of what he has said fail till it all comes to pass. 5-8. God's way and time of fulfilling his promises are such as to bring the highest glory to himself, and the greatest good to his people. 11. Seasons of great joy are often followed by seasons of great anguish, and our choicest comforts may prove the occasion of peculiar sorrow. i4. In cheerful and prompt obedience to God, and hearty commitment of ourselves and our friends to him, he will keep us in peace, and provide for us according to all our wants. 17. God hears and tenderly sympathizes not only with the voice of supplication, but with that of distress. Not a groan, a tear, or a sigh escapes his notice, or fails to reach his heart. He hears the young ravens when they cry, and delights to feed them. Job 38:41; Psa. 147:9; Luke 12:24. 26. They who would live in peace should not only avoid contention themselves, but exercise a diligent supervision and a wise control over those under their care, lest wrong and injury should be done of which they are ignorant. When injured it is wise to go directly and kindly to those who can give redress, rather than publish the injury to others. 38 wood : but where is the lamb8 for a burnt- b. c! ii?! offering ? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt-offering : e so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son,h and laid him on the altar upon the wood.' 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 11 And the Angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am IJ 12 And he said, Lay not thy hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him:lc for now I know that thou fearest God,1 seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from me. 13 And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns :m and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt-offering in the stead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh:" as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen." 15 IT And the Angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,0 16 And said, By myself have I sworn,p saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, 17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven," and as the sand which is upon the sea-shore f and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies ; 18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed ; r because thou hast obeyed my voice.s 19 So Abraham returned unto his young men ; k Mic. 6:7, 8. 1 ch. 26:5; 1 Sam. 15 22 Psa. 25:12 ; 147:1 ; Mal. 4:2. m 1 Cor. 10:13 2 Cor. 1:9, 10. » That is, the Lord will see. or, provide. n Psa. 22:4. 5; Dan. 3:17, etc. 2 Cor. 1.0 10. o ver. 11. P Psa. 105:9; Isa. 45:23; Luke 1:73; Heb. 6:13,14. q lent. 1:10; Jer. 33:22. H Heb. lip. r oh. 12:3 si Sam. 2:30; Jer. 7: 23 CHAPTER XXII. 1. Tempt Abraham ; try him ; prove the genuineness and strength of his faith. 2. The land of Moriah; in which Jerusalem and the temple were afterwards built 5. I and the lad will — come again; he thought that God would raise Isaac from the dead, or in some way restore him, even if offered as a sacrifice. Heb. 11 : 17-19. 7. Where is the lamb; Isaac knew that Abraham was going to offer a burnt-offering, but did not know that he intended to sacrifice him. 12. Now I know; it had been made evident that Abra ham regarded God more than he did Isaac, or any creature. Let God command what he might, Abraham would obey. 14. Jehovah-jireh; meaning, the Lord will provide. As it is said to this day; said as a proverb. It shall be seen; rather, it shall be provided. Hence the proverb, " Man's extremity is God's opportunity." 15. Angel of theLord; here, as often elsewhere, Jehovah himself. 16. By myself have I sworn; Heb. 6:13-20. 17. Possess the gate; be victorious over all their foes. 18. Thy seed; Christ. Gal. 3:16. The death of Sarah. GENESIS XXIII. The cave of Machpelah. u'a'ilrf' and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba : and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. 20 1 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also borne children unto thy brother Nahor : 21 Huza his first-born, and Buzb his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram, 22 And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel. 23 And Bethuel0 begat Rebekah:* these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother. 24 And his concubine, whose name was Reu- mah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Tha- hash, and Maachah. CHAPTER XXIII. 1 The age and death of Sarah. 3 The purchase of Machpelah, 19 where Sarah was buried. AND Sarah was a hundred and seven and twenty years old: these were the years of the life of Sarah. 2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba ;d the same is Hebrone in the land of Canaan : and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her. 3 T And Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spake unto the sons of Heth, saying, 4:1 am a, stranger and a sojourner with you : f give me a possession of a burying-place with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.g 5 And the children of Heth answered Abraham, saying unto him, 6 Hear us, my lord: thou art fa mighty prince among us:1' in the choice of our sepulchres bury thy dead; none of us shall withhold from thee his sepulchre, but that thou mayest bury thy dead. 7 And Abraham stood up, and bowed himself to the people of the land, even to the children of Heth. a Job 1:1. t> Job 32:2. » ch. 21:15. • Rebecca; Rom. 9:10. d Josh. 14: 15; Judg. 1:10. e 0h. 13:18; ver. 19; 2 Sam. 5:3. f 1 Chr. 29:15; Psa. 39:12; Heb. 11:9; 1 Pet. 2:11. eActs7:5. t Heb. a prince of God. h ch. 20. Nahor; chap. 11:27. 23. Rebekah; her father was Abraham's nephew, and cousin to Isaac, whom she afterwards married. Chap. 24:15, 67. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The children of God, while in this world, must ex pect trials ; and often, the most severe come last. But they need not despond. If they trust in God, he will sus tain them and cause them to triumph. Rom. 5:3-5; Jas. 1:2-4: 1 Peter 1 : 6-9. 2. As God is the giver and preserver of life, he has a perfect right to direct when and how it shall be taken away. Though to take life in opposition to his known will is murder, and subjects the murderer to his curse, to do it in obedience to his command is a duty, and will receive from him a gracious and glorious reward. 5. To believe heartily and fully the divine declarations, and expect their fulfilment, it is not necessary to know, or be able to conceive, how they can be accomplished. 8. A permanent conviction that God will provide, is an anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. Under its influence, though the winds rage and the tempests roar, men may outride the storm, and in due time calmly and joyfully enter the port. 18. Fidelity under great trials is peculiarly pleasing to God and useful to men. It will receive special tokens of divine favor, and be followed by a rich and lasting reward. 8 And he communed with them, saying, If it be your mind that I should bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and entreat for me to Ephron the son of Zohar, 9 That he may give me the cave of Machpelah, which he hath, which is in .the end of his field ; for *as much money as it is worth he shall give it me, for a possession of a burying-place among you. 10 And Ephron dwelt among the children of Heth. And Ephron the Hittite answered Abra ham in the §audience of the children of Heth, even of all that went in at the gate of his city,1 saying, 11 Nay, my lord, hear me: the field give I thee, and the cave that is therein, I give it thee ; in the presence of the sons of my people give I it thee : bury thy dead. 12 And Abraham bowed down himself before the people of the land. 13 And he spake unto Ephron in the audience of the people of the land, saying, But if thou wilt give it, I pray thee, hear me: I will give thee money for the field :j take it of me, and I will bury my dead there. 14 And Ephron answered Abraham, saying unto him, % 15 My lord, hearken unto me : the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver ; what is that be twixt me and thee ? bury therefore thy dead. 16 And Abraham hearkened unto Ephron, and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver which he had named in the audience of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant. 17 And the field of Ephron,k which was in Mach pelah, which was before Mamre, the field, and the cave which was therein, and all the trees that were in the field, that were in all the borders round about, were made sure 13:2; 14:14. t Heb. full money, i Heb. ears. 21:24. k ch. 25:9; 40:30; 50:13; Acts 7:10. ch. 34:20, 24. j 2 Sam. CHAPTER XXIII. 3. Heth; the son of Canaan, and grandson of Ham. His descendants were called Hittites. 6. In the choice of our sepulchres; the proposal of the Hit tites was generous, but it did not meet the wishes of Abra ham. He was unwilling to bury Sarah in any sepulchre of the Canaanites, choosing rather to have a burying-place which should be exclusively his own. 9. Machpelah; a tract of land owned by Ephron, in which was a cave. Ver. 17-20. 15. Four hundred shekels; about two hundred dollars. 16. Weighed — the silver; to determine its value, as was the custom in those days, there being no coined money. Current money with the merchant; in respect to both weight and quality. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The longest life must come to an end, the dearest connections be sundered, and the most intimate friends part to meet no more on earth. 4. The bodies of those we most love must soon be buried out of our sight. 9. A burial-place, as a memento of the evil of sin, should lead us to abhor sin, and by believing in Him who is " the resurrection and the life," to obtain deliverance, from its power. John 11:25, 26. 39 Abraham's servant sent GENESIS XXIV. to seek a wife for Isaac. 18 Unto Abraham for a possession in the pres ence of the children of Heth, before all that went in at the gate of his city. _ 19 And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mam re : the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. 20 And the field, and the cave that is therein, were made surea unto Abraham for a possession of a burying-place by the sons of Heth. CHAPTER XXIV. 1 Abraham sweareth his servant. 10 The servant's journey: 12 his prayer: 14 his sign. 15 Rebekah meeteth him, 18 fulfilleth his sign, 22 receiveth jewels, 23 showeth her kindred, 25 and inviteth him home. 26 The servant blesseth God. 29 Laban entertaineth him. 34 The servant showeth his message. 50 Laban and Bethuel approve it. 58 Rebekah consenteth to go. (33 Jsaac meeteth her. AND Abraham was old and "well-stricken in age : and the Lord had blessed Abraham in all things." 2 And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house,c that ruled over all that he had,'1 Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:0 3 And I will make thee swear by the Lord/ the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daugh ters of the*Canaanites among whom I dwell :g 4 But thou shalt go unto my country,11 and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac. 5 And his servant said unto him, Peradventure the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land : must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou earnest ? 6 And Abraham said unto him, Beware thou, that thou bring not my son thither again. 7 1 The Lord God of heaven,' which took me from my father's house,j and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me, and that sware unto me, saying, Unto thy seed will I give this land: he shall send his angel before thee,k and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence. 8 And if the woman will not be willing to fol low thee, then thou shalt be clear from this my oath:1 only bring not my son thither again. 9 And the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him con cerning that matter. 10 1 And the servant took ten camels, of the a Jer. 32:10. • Heb. gone into days, b ch. 13:2: ver. 35; Psa. 112:1- 3. ' ch. 15:2. 4 ver. 10; ch. 39:5. e ch. 47:29; 1 Chr. 20:24. t Deut. D;13, * ch. 6;2, etc; Deut. 7:3; 2 Cor. 6:14. h ch. 11:25, etc.; 22:20; lK-2. > Ezra 1:2; Dan. 2:44; Jonah 1:9; Rev. 11:13. i ch. 12:1. 7; 13:15; Deut. 1:8: 31:4; Acts 7:5. k Ex. 23:23; 33:2; Psa. 34:7; Isa. 03-9- Heb. 1:14. 1 Josh. 2;17-20. t Or, and. m Deut. 23:4; Judg. 3:8, 12. True politeness, and a courteous, gentlemanly de meanor are the indispensable duty of all, especially of the friends of God; and the more distinguished men are, the greater is the importance of their being patterns of dis cretion, propriety, and good manners. 16. Perfect honesty in making bargains, and strict punc tuality in fulfilling them, are duties sacredly binding upon all ; and those who do not thus act, violate the first prin ciples not only of morality, but of religion, 20. All conveyances of property from one person to another should, at the time, be made sure, and flius occa sion of contention be prevented. CHAPTER XXIV. 1. Was old; aged one hundred and forty years. 40 camels of his master, and departed; (for1, B'-aSw.' all the goods of his master were in. his hand ;) and he arose, and went to Mesopotamia,"1 unto the city of Nahor.11 11 And he made his camels to kneel down with out the city by a well of water, at the time of the evening, even tho time *that women go out to draw water." 12 And he said, O Lord God of my master Abraham," I pray thee, send me good speed this day,*1 and show kindness unto my master Abra ham. 13 Behold, I stand here by the well of water;1- and the daughters of the men of the city come out to draw water : 14 And let it come to pass that the damsel to Avhom I shall say, Let down thy pitcher, I pray thee, that I may drink ; and she shall say, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy ser vant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast showed kindness unto my master.3 15 T And it came to pass, before he had done speaking,' that behold, Rebekah came out, who was born to Bethuel, son of Milcah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, with her pitcher upon her shoulder. 16 And the damsel was §very fair to look upon, a virgin, neither had any man known her: and she went down to the well, and filled her pitcher, and came up. 17 And the servant ran to meet her, and said, Let mo, I pray thee, drink a little water of thy pitcher. 18 And she said, Drink, my lord : and she hast ed, and let down her pitcher upon her hand, and gave him drink. 19 And Avhcn she had done giving him drink, she said, I will draw water for thy camels also, until they have done drinking." 20 And she hasted, and emptied her pitcher into the trough, and ran again unto the well to draw water, and drew for all his camels. 21 And the man, wondering at her, held his peace,v to wit whether the Lord had made his journey prosperous or not. 22 And it came to pass, as the camels had done 10; Aots2:9. n ch. 11:31 o Ex. 2:16; 1 Sam. 9:11 t Heb. that women which draw water go forth. P ver. 27; ch. 26:24; Ex. 3:6; Matt. 22:32. d r,,.i... ft. it n-r . i c mi. -, t t-. o lix. 2:10; 1 earn. »:ll, V ver. 'il; ch. 20:24; lix. 3:6; Matt. 22:32. q Neh. 1:11; Prov. 3:6. r ver. 43. » Judg. 6:17, 37; 1 Sam. 20:7. t Isi. 65:24; Dan. 9:21. 5 Heb. good of countenance, u 1 Pet. 4:9. v Luke 2:19.51. 2. Eldest servant; supposed to be Eliezer. Chap. 15:2. Under my thigh; a form of making solemn engagements. Chap. 47:29. 3. Make thee swear; put thee under oath, or make thee enter into a sacred engagement. i. My country, Mesopotamia. Kindred; relatives. 7. Send his angel; to make thy way prosperous. 10. The city of Nahor ; Haran. Chap. 11:27-32. 11. Kneel, down; the posture in which camels take their rest. 12. Send me good speed; prosper me in my undertaking. 15. Rebekah; chap. 22:23. 21. Wondering at her; to see how exactly his prayer was answered. To wit; to know, from the indications of Providence. %,¦ ! imt. Armutl' uf -Rrlu'rca He is prospered, GENESIS XXIV. and obtaineth Rebekah. A1!. C. ails7' drinking, that the man took a golden ear ring* of half a shekel weight, and two bracelets" for her hands of ten shekels weight of gold, 23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in ? 24 And she said unto him, I am the daughter of Bethuel the son of Milcah," which she bare unto Nahor. 25 She said, moreover, unto him, We have both straw and provender enough, and room to lodge in. 26 And the man bowed down his head,0 and worshipped the Lord. 27 And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham,4 who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth:6 I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master's brethren. 28 And the damsel ran, and told them of her mother's house these things. 29 1 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban :f and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well. 30 And it came to pass, when he saw the ear ring, and bracelets upon his sister's hands, and when he heard the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me, that he came unto the man ; and behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And he said, Come in, thou blessed of the L0RD;g wherefore standest thou without? for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels. 32 i And the man came into the house : and he ungirded his camels, and gave straw and proven der for the camels, and water to wash his feet, and the men's feet that were with him. 33 And there was set meat before him to eat : but he said, I will not eat until I have told mine errand.h And he said, Speak on. 34 And he said, I am Abraham's servant. 35 And the Lord hath blessed my master great ly,' and he has become great :j and he hath given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and men-servants, ajid maid-servants, and camels, and asses. 36 And Sarah, my master's wife, bare a son to my master when she was old : and unto him hath he given all that he hath. 37 And my master made me swear,k saying, Thou shalt not take a wife to my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I dwell : 38 But thou shalt go unto my father's house, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son. 30 And I said unto my master, Peradventure the woman will not follow me. 40 And he said unto me, The Lord, before whom • Or, jewel for the forehead. » Ezek. 16:11, 12; 1 Pet. 3:3. b ch. 22:23. ever. 52; Ex. 4:31; 34:8; Neh. 8:6; Psa. 95:0. d Ex. 18:10; Ruth 4:14. e ch. 32:10; Psa. 98:3; Luke 1:63. ' oh. 29:5. s ch. 26:29; Judg. 17:2; Ruth 3:10; Psa. 115:15. h Psa. 132:3-5; John 4:34; Eph. 6:5-7. Tver. 1; ch. 12:2; 13:2; Prov. 10:22; 22:4. j Psa. 18:35. t ver. 3. lver.12. m oh. 32. He ungirded; that is, Laban. 45. Speaking in my heart; offering silent prayer. 48. Brother's daughter; she was tho daughter of Abra ham's nephew. I walk, will send his angel with thee, and prosper thy way ; and thou shalt take a wife for my son of my kindred, and of my father's house. 41 Then shalt thou be clear from this my oath, when thou comest to my kindred; and if they give not thee one, thou shalt be clear from my oath. 42 And I came this day unto the well, and said, O Lord God of my master Abraham,1 if now thou do- prosper my way which I go:m 43 Behold, I stand by the well of water ; and it shall come to pass, that when the virgin cometh forth to draw water, and I say to her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water of thy pitcher to drink ; 44 And she say to me, Both drink thou, and I will also draw for thy camels ; let the same be the woman whom the Lord hath appointed out for my master's son." 45 And before I had done speaking in my heart,0 behold, Rebekah came forth with her pitcher on her shoulder ; and she went down unto the well, and drew water: aud I said unto her, Let me drink, I pray thee. 46 And she made haste, and let down her pitch er from her shoulder, and said, Drink, and I will give thy camels drink also: so I drank, and she made the camels drink also. 47 And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said, The daughter of Be thuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I put the ear-ring upon her face," and the bracelets upon her hands. 48 And I bowed down my head,11 and worship ped the Lord, and blessed the Lord God of my master Abraham, which had led me in the right wayr to take my master's brother's daughter unto his son. 49 And now, if ye will deal kindly and truly with my master,8 tell me : and if not, tell me ; that I may turn to the right hand, or to the left. 50 Then Laban and Bethuei answered, and said, The thing proceedeth from the Lord :' we cannot speak unto thee bad or good.11 51 Behold, Rebekah is before thee ; take her, and go, and let her be thy master's son's wife, as the Lord hath spoken. 52 And it came to pass, that, when Abraham's servant heard their words, he worshipped the Lord,v bowing himself to the earth. 53 And the servant brought forth jewels + of silver, and jewels of gold,w and raiment, and gave them to Rebekah : he gave also to her brother and to her mother precious things.x 54 And they did eat and drink, he and the men that were with him, and tarried all night; and they rose up in the morning, and he said, Send me away unto my master. 39:3; EzraS:21; Neh. 1:11; Psa.90:17; Rom.l:10. a Prov. 19:14. °lSam. 1:13; Neh. 2:4. P Ezek. 16:10-12. q ver. 26. r psa.. 32:8; 48:14; 107:7, Prov. 3:0; Isa. 48:17. » ch. 47:29; Josh. 2:14. t Psa. 118:21. u ch. 31:24; 2Sam. 13:22; Acts 11:17. v ver. 26, 48; Psa. 95:6. i Heb. vessels. "Exod. 3:22; 11:2; 12:35. I Dent. 33:13-10; 2 Chr. 21:3; Ezra 1:6. *49. Deal kindly; in permitting Rebekah to become Isaac's wife. 52. He worshipped the Lord; as the author of his suc cess. 41 Isaac meeteth Rebekah. GENESIS XXV. Children of Abraham, 55 And her brother and her mother said, Let the damsel abide with us afew days,* at the least ten ; after that she shall go. _ 56 And he said unto them, Hinder me not,a see ing the Lord hath prospered my way : b send me away, that I may go to my master. 57 And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth. 58 And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man?c And she said,- 1 will go. 59 And they sent away Rebekah their sister, and her nurse,d and Abraham's servant, and his men. 60 And they blessed Rebekah,0 and said unto her, Thou art our sister; be thou the mother of thousands of millions, and let thy seed possess the gate of those which hate them. 61 TT And Rebekah arose, and her damsels, and they rode upon the camels, and followed the man: and the servant took Rebekah, and went his way. 62 And Isaac came from the way of the well Lahai-roi;f for he dwelt in the south country. 63 And Isaac went out to meditate1 in the field at the eventide:8 and he lifted up his eyes, and saw, and behold, the camels were coming. 64 And Rebekah lifted up her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she lighted off the camel.'1 65 Por she had said unto the servant, What man is this that walketh in the field to meet us ? And the servant had said, It is my master: therefore she took a veil and covered herself.' 66 And the servant told Isaac all things that he had done. 67 And Isaac brought her into his mother Sa- * Or, a full year, or ten mon ths. a ch. 45:9. b Josh. 1 8; Isa 48:15. <¦ Psa. 45:10. d ch. 35:8. e ch. .22:17 Ku th4:ll 12. f ch .16:14 25:11. t Or. to pray. 6 Josh. 1:8; Psa 1:2; 7 7:12 119:15; 143:5. h Josh 15:18; Judg. 1:11. i 1 Tjm. 2:9. j ch 18:6. kch 38:12 1 Thess. 4:13. 1 Chr. 59. Her nurse; Deborah. Chap. 35:8. CO. Possess the gate; be victorious over their enemies. C2. Lahai-roi; chap. 16:14. South country; the country south of Canaan. 65. Covered lierself; according to the custom in that country. 67. Sarah's tent; which was hers when living, she hav ing been dead about three years. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. A wise parent will take a deep interest in the mar riage of his children, as affecting not only their usefulness and happiness, but that of their posterity. 12. Those who in all their ways acknowledge God and seek his blessing, may expect that he will make plain be fore them the path of duty, and enable them successfully and gratefully to walk in it. 14. Industry, kindness, economy, and beneficence are virtues which every prudent man will seek in a wife, as upon these the happiness, respectability, and usefulness of families very much depend. 21. Believing prayer is often so speedily and abundantly, answered as to astonish those who offer it, and lead them in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanks giving, to make known their requests unto God. Isa. 65:24; Phil. 4:6. 27. All the kindness which we receive from men, and all our success in business, we should acknowledge as coming from God, and be excited by it to new fidelity in learning and doing his will. 33. A faithful man will regard his appropriate business 42 rah's tent,j and took Rebekah, and she be- a": SI?: came his wife ; and he loved her : and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.* CHAPTER XXV. 1 The sons of Abraham by Keturah. 5 The division of his goods. ¦ 7 His age, and death. 9 His burial. 12 The generations of Ishmael. 17 His age, and death. 19 Isaac prayeth for Rebekah, being barren. 22 The children strive in her womb. 24 The birth of Esau and Ja cob. 27 Their difference. 29 Esau selleth his birthright. THEN again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.1 2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian,m and Ishbak, and Shuah." 3 And Jokshan begat Sheba,0 and Dedan." And the sons of Dedan were Asshurim, and Letushim, and Leummim. 4 And the sons of Midian ; Ephah,"1 and Epher, and Hanoch, and Abidah, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah. 5 T And Abraham gave all that he had unto Isaac. 6 But unto the sons of the concubines which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son,r while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. 7 And these are the days of the years of Abra ham's life which he lived, a hundred threescore and fifteen years. 8 Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age,' an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people." 9 And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre ; 1:32. m Num. 22:4; 25:17; Judg. 6. u Job 3:11. ° 1 Kings 10:1; Psa. 72:10. PJer.25:23. qlsa.60.0. rpSa.l7:14. » Judg. 6:3. t ch. 15:15; 49:29; Job 5:26. u ch. 35:29; 49:33. as more important than his personal gratification, and will endeavor so to conduct it as shall be most likely to insure success. For this purpose, while he will habitually pray for the divine blessing, he will use all suitable means, that his prayers may be answered. 48. When we have learned, by experience, the right way to secure the divine guidance and blessing, and God has given us success, it is proper to make known this way to others, that they may be induced to do likewise. 52. New favors will draw forth from a grateful heart new thanksgivings, till the habit become fixed of giving thanks always, for all things, unto God. Eph. 5:20. 58. It is happy, when one's inclinations and the indica tions of Providence coincide ; and a readiness promptly to do right, and make any sacrifices which duty requires, is a good preparation to be blessed, and to become a blessing. 63. Stated and devout meditation upon the character, works, and ways of God, communion with him, and com mitment of our interests to his care, are often followed by his special favors. Prov. 18:22. CHAPTER XXV. 4. Midian ; from whom came the Midianites south-east of the Dead sea. 6. Concubines ; Hagar and Keturah. 1 Chron. 1 : 32. East country; Arabia, which lay south-east of Canaan, and the bordering regions. 7. Threescore and fifteen; seventy-five. This was thirty- eight years after the death of Sarah, and thirty-five aftc- the marriage of Isaac. 9. Cave of Machpelah; chap. 23:14-20. Birth of Esau and Jacob. GENESIS XXV. Esau selleth his birthright. A. M. 2182. B. C. 1822. 10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth :a there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife. 11 H And it came to pass after the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac; and Isaac dwelt by the well Lahai-roi. 12 IT Now these are the generations of Ishmael, Abraham's* son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sa rah's handmaid, bare unto Abraham. 13 And these are the names of the sons of Ish mael, by their names, according to their genera tions: The first-born of Ishmael, Nebajoth; and Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, 14 And Mishma, and Dumah, and Massa, 15 Hadar,* and Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kede- mah: 16 These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their towns, and by their castles ; twelve princes according to their nations." 17 And these are the years of the life of Ish mael, a hundred and thirty and seven years : and he gave up the ghost and died, and was gathered unto his people. 18 And they dwelt from Havilah unto Shur,c that is before Egypt, as thou goest toward As syria: and he died* in the presence of all his brethren. 19 1 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son : Abraham begat Isaac : 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife,d the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padan-aram,6 the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac entreated the Lord for his wife/ because she was barren: and the Lord was en treated of him,g and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 And the children struggled together within * » Ch. 23:16. • Or, Hadad; 1 Chr. 1:30. b ch. 17:20. » 1 Sam. 15:7. THeb./ett. d ch. 24:67. e 0h. 23:5. < 1 Sam. 1:11; Luke 1 :13. S 1 Chr. 5:20; 2 Chr. 33:13; Ezra 8:23; Psa. 145:19; Prov. 10:24; Rom. 9:10. b 1 Sam. 22:15; Ezek. 20:31; 36:37. i ch. 27:29; Psa. 60:8; Isa. 63:1-6; Obad. 1-16; Mal. 1:2-4; Rom. 9:10-12. j Hos. 12:3. k ch. 27:3. 1 Heb. 11. Laliai-roi; chap. 16:14; 24:62. 13. The sons of Ishmael; all these were heads of Arabian tribes. 16. Twelve princes ; chap. 17:20. 18. They; the descendants of Ishmael. From Havilah unto Shur ; the country between the Persian gulf and the Red sea. He died — all his brethren; rather, his lot fell, that is, he dwelt. See note on chap. 16: 12. 20. Padan-aram; meaning the plains of Aram, one of the Hebrew names of Mesopotamia, more especially the level part of it. 23. Two nations; those from whom should descend two nations, the Edomites and the Israelites. Serve the youn- fer; the descendants of Esau would be subject to the escendants of Jacob. 25. Esau; hairy. 26. Jacob; meaning a supplanter, as by taking hold of the heel one causes another to fall, or overcomes him. 29. Sod; boiled. Pottage; a nutritious soup of lentiles, ver. 34. 30. Edom; which means red. 31.- Birthright ; that right which belonged to the first born, of succeeding, on the death of his father, to the government and spiritual instruction of the family, offici ating as their priest, offering sacrifices, and thus securing the blessings with which the performance of these duties would be connected. A double share of the inheritance also fell to him. her ; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus ? And she went to inquire of the Lord.11 23 And the Lord said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels : and the one people shall be stronger than the other people ; and the elder shall serve the younger.1 24 And when her days to be delivered were ful filled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all over like a hairy garment ; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel;j and his name was called Jacob : and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them. 27 And the boys grew : and Esau was a cunning hunter," a man of the field ; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.1 28 And Isaac loved Esau, because *he did eat of his venison :m but Rebekah loved Jacob. 29 IT And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, Peed me, I pray thee, § with that same red pottage ; for I am faint : therefore was his name called Edom.1 31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birth right. 32 And Esau said, Behold, I am Tat the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do tome?"1 33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day ; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob.0 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles ; and he did eat and drink,p and rose up, and went his way : thus Esau despised his birth right.11 11:9. 1 Heb. venison was in his mouth, u, ch. 27:19. 5 Heb. with thai red, -with that red pottage. B That is, red. T Heb. going to die. a Job 21:15; Mal. 3:14. o ch. 27:36; 36:6; Heb. 12:16. P Isa. 22:13; 1 Cor. 15.32. q Psa. 106:24; Matt. 22.5; Acts 13:41. 34. Lentiles; a kind of pulse or coarse grain resembling peas and beans. Despised his birthright; by giving up its temporal and spiritual blessings for the gratification of his appetite. Heb. 12:15-17. INSTRUCTIONS. 8. No degree of faith in God, or fidelity in his service, can prevent the approach of death; but as sin has en tered, and death by sin, so the sentence of death has passed upon all men, because all are sinners. Eomans 5:12-14. 18. The declarations of God, with regard to this world as well as the future, and with regard to bad men as well as good, will, in due time, all be accomplished. Num. 23:19; 1 Sam. 15:29. 23. The Lord sees the end from the beginning, and can describe events which are future with as much minute ness and accuracy as those which are past; and the truth of his declarations is abundantly proved by the dispensa tions of his providence. 28. Partiality of parents towards their children is a fruitful source of manifold evils, and will be conscien tiously avoided by all who duly regard the comfort and welfare of their families. 34. To disregard spiritual privileges and blessings, and treat them as less valuable than personal gratifications, is a great sin. It is viewed by God as profane, and exposes the soul to the loss of his favor. Heb. 12 : 17. 43 Isaac is blessed of God. GENESIS XXVI. His covenant with Abimelech. CHAPTER XXVI. 1 Isaac because of famine went to Gerar. 2 God instructeth, and blesseth him. 7 He is reproved by Abimelech for denying his wife. 12 He groweth rich. 18 He diggeth Esek, Sitnah, and Rehoboth. 26 Abimelech maketh a covenant with him at Beer-sheba. 34 Esau's wives. AND there was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abra ham/ And Isaac went unto Abimelech king of the Philistines, unto Gerar .b 2 And the Lord appeared unto him, and said, Go not down into Egypt : dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of. 3 Sojourn in this land,0 and I will be with thee,a and will bless thee : for unto thee, and unto thy seed, I will give all these countries,6 and I will perform the oath which I sware unto Abraham thy father -f 4 And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries : and in thy seed shall all the na tions of the earth be blessed ;s 5 Because that Abraham obeyed my voice,11 and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws. 6 1 And Isaac dwelt in Gerar : 7 And the men of the place asked him of his wife ; and he said, She is my sister :' for he feared to say, She is my wife :j lest, said he, the men of the place should kill me for Rebekah; because she was fair to look upon. 8 And it came to pass when he had been there a long time, that Abimelech king of the Philis tines looked out at a window, and saw, and be hold, Isaac was sporting with Rebekah his wife. 9 And Abimelech called Isaac, and said, Behold, of a surety she is thy wife : and how saidst thou, She is my sister ? And Isaac said unto him, Be cause I said, Lest I die for her. 10 And Abimelech said, What is this thou hast done unto us ?k one of the people might lightly have lain with thy wife, and thou shouldest have brought guiltiness upon us. 11 And Abimelech charged all his people, say ing, He that toucheth this man or his wife shall surely be put to death.1 12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and 'receiv ed in the same year a hundred-fold : and the Lord blessed him : 13 And the man waxed great, and f-went for ward, and grew until he became very great : 14 For he had possession of flocks, and posses sion of herds, and great store of servants;* and the Philistines envied him.m 15 Por all the wells which his father's servants a Ch. 12:10. t> ch. 20:2. c Psa. 39:12; Heb. 11:9, 13, 16. d ch. 28.15; Isa. 43:2,5. e ch. 13:15; 15:18: ' ch. 22:16; Psa. 105:0; Mic. 7:20. S ch. 22:18; Psa. 72:17. h eh. 22:16. ich.20:2,l3. j Prov. 29:25. koh.20:9. 1 Psa. 105:15; Prov. 6:29. ' Heb. found, t Heb. went going, t Or, hus bandry. m Eccl. 4:4. a Ex. 1:9. § Heb. living. B That is, Contention. CHAPTER XXVI. 1. The first famine ; chap. 12:10. Gerar; a city of the Philistines in the south part of Canaan. 3. The oath; chap. 22:16-18. 12. A hundred-fold; a hundred times as much as he had sowed. 13. Very great; rich and powerful. 44 had digged in the days of Abraham his a. m^ >w. father, the Philistines had stopped them, b. c. isw. and filled them with earth. 16 And Abimelech said unto Isaac, Go from us; for thou art much mightier than we." 17 1 And Isaac departed thence, and pitched his tent in the valley of Gerar, and dwelt there. 18 And Isaac digged again the wells of water which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham : and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them. 19 And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of § springing water. 20 And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours : and he called the name of the well Esek;" because they strove with him. 21 And they digged another well, and strove for that also : and he called the name of it Sitnah.T 22 And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth;* and he said, For now the Lord hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. 23 And he went up from thence to Beer-sheba. 24 And the Lord appeared unto him the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee,° and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham's sake. 25 And he builded an altar there,p and called upon the name of the Lord, and pitched his tent there : and there Isaac's servants digged a well. 26 T Then Abimelech went to him from Gerar, and Ahuzzath one of his friends, and Phichol the chief captain of his army.q 27 And Isaac said unto them, Wherefore come ye to me, seeing ye hate me,' and have sent me away from you?8 28 And they said, +We saw certainly that the Lord was with thee : and we said, Let there be now an oath betwixt us,' even betwixt us and thee, and let us make a covenant with thee : 29 *That thou wilt do us no hurt, as we have not touched thee, and as we have done unto thee nothing but good, and have sent thee away in peace : thou art now the blessed of the Lord.u 30 And he made them a feast,v and they did eat and drink. 31 And they rose up betimes in the morning, and sware one to another: and Isaac sent them away, and they departed from him in peace. H That is, Hatred. ' That is, Room. ° Psa. 27:1.3; Isa. 41:10; 51-12 P ch 35:1. qch. 21:22. rjudg.ll:7. « ver. 16. t Heb. Seeing- we saw. t ch 21:23. t Heb. If thou shalt, etc. a ch. 24:31; Psa. 115:15. v 0h. 19:3- 23. Beer-sheba; ver. 33; chap. 21:14, 22-31. 26. Went to him; to make with him a covenant of peace and friendship. 30. He made them a feast; showing that he was willing to live in peace with them. 31. Sware one to another; entered into a solemn engage ment with each other to live in peace. Jacob obtaineth GENESIS XXVII. his father's blessing. a.m. about 32 And it came to pass the same day, b. c. 1804. that Isaac's servants came, and told him concerning the well which they had digged, and said unto him, We have found water. 33 And he called it Shebah :* therefore the name of the city is Beer-sheba+ unto this day. 34 1 And Esau was forty years old when he took to wife Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Bashematha the daughter of Elon the Hittite : 35 Which were *a grief of mind unto Isaac and to Rebekah. CHAPTER XXVII. 1 Isaac sendeth Esau for venison. 6 Rebekah instructeth Jacob to obtain the blessing. 15 Jacob under the person of Esau obtaineth it. 30 Esau bringeth venison. 33 Isaac trembleth. 34 Esau com- plaineth, and by importunity obtaineth a blessing. 41 He threaten ed Jacob. 42 Rebekah disappointeth it. AND it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim,b so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. 2 And he said, Behold now, I am old, I know not the day of my death : c 3 Now therefore take, I pray thee, thy weapons, thy quiver and thy bow, and go out to the field, and stake me some venison; 4 And make me savory meat, such as I love, and bring it to me, that I may eat; that my soul may bless thee before I die.d 5 And Rebekah heard when Isaac spake to Esau his son. And Esau went to the field to hunt for venison, and to bring it. 6 IT And Rebekah spake unto Jacob her son, saying, Behold, I heard thy father speak unto Esau thy brother, saying, 7 Bring me venison, and make me savory meat, that I may eat, and bless thee before the Lord, before my death. 8 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice,6 ac cording to that which I command thee. 9 Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence ' That is. An oath, t That is, The well of the oath, a ch. 36:2, 3. tHeb. bitterness of spirit. * ch. 48:10; 1 Sam. 3:2; Eccl. 12:3. " prov 27:1; Luke 12:40; Jas. 4:14. S Heb. hunt. 4 ver. 25; ch. 48:9; 49:28 Deut. 33:1. e ver. 13. fver. 4. 6 ch. 25:25. h ver. 22. i ch. 9:25; Deut. 27:18. 33. Beer-sheba ; Abraham had named the well Beer-she ba, well of the oath, from the oath between himself and Abimelech, chap. 21 : 31. Now Isaac, from a like transac tion, names the place also Beer-sheba. 34. The Hittite; the Hittites were descendants of Heth the son of Canaan, and one of the nations that were after wards to he destroyed. Chap. 23:3. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. As great blessings often come upon children in con sequence of the piety and faithfulness of parents, by the exercise of like piety and faithfulness children should endeavor to confer similar blessings on their posterity. 10. The Bible describes men as they are ; records not only their virtues but their vices, and often without com mending the one or condemning the other. Whether an action is right or wrong must be determined not from the fact of its being recorded in the Scriptures, but from its agreement or disagreement with the requirements of God. 14. God deals with men in this world not according to two good kids of the goats ; and I will make them savory meat for thy father, such as he loveth:f 10 And thou shalt bring it to thy father, that he may eat, and that he may bless thee before his death. 11 And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, Be hold, Esau my brother is a hairy man,8 and I am a smooth man : 12 My father peradventure will feel me,h and I shall seem to him as a deceiver ; and I shall bring a curse1 upon me, and not a blessing. 13 And his mother said unto him, Upon me be thy curse, my son;j only obey my voice, and go fetch me them. 14 And he went, and fetched, and brought them to his mother : and his mother made savory meat, such as his father loved.k 15 And Rebekah took "goodly raiment of her eldest son Esau, which were with her in the house, and put them upon Jacob her younger son : 16 And she put the skins of the kids of the goats upon his hands, and upon the smooth of his neck: 17 And she gave the savory meat and the bread, which she had prepared, into the hand of her son Jacob. 18 1 And he came unto his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I; who art thou, my son ? 19 And Jacob said unto his father, I am Esau thy first-born;1 I have done according as thou badest me : arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me. 20 And Isaac said unto his son, How is it that thou hast found it so quickly, my son ? And he said, Because the Lord thy Godm brought it ^to me. 21 And .Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee,n my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. 22 And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father ; and he felt him, and said, The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau. ^> j 1 Sam. 25:24; 2 Sam. 14:9; Matt. 27:25. k ch. 25:28; Prov. 23:3; Luke 21:34. II Heb. desirable. 1 1 Kings 13:18; 14:2; Isa. 28:15; Zech. 13:4. m Ex. 20:7; Job 13:7. t Heb. before me. n ver. 12. their sins, but according to the greatness of his mercy ; and every new blessing lays them under new obligations to love and obey him. 22. Men who cannot live near each other without con tention, had better separate and live further apart. There is room enough for all; and let all do to others as they ought to wish that others should do to them, and all may live in peace. 31. A wise man, when he has been injured, will not be disposed to take revenge, but will be ready to overlook and forgive past transgressions. CHAPTER XXVII. 1. Old; about 'one hundred and thirty-six years. 3. Quiver; a case or sheath for arrows. 4. Savory meat ; seasoned with spices and other things to give it a pleasant taste. 13. Thy curse; the evil that would come in consequence of Jacob's deceiving his father. 19. I am Esau; an utter and deliberate falsehood. 20. The Lord thy God brought it; this was an aggrava- 45 Esau threateneth GENESIS XXVII. Jacob his brother 23 And he discerned him not, because his hands were hairy ,a as his brother Esau's hands •- so he blessed him. 24 And he said, drt thou my very son Esau ? And he said, I amJ> 25 And he said, Bring it near to me, and I will eat of my son's venison, that my soul may bless thee. And he brought it near to him, and he did eat: and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 And his father Isaac said unto him, Come near now, and kiss me, my son. 27 And he came near, and kissed him : and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him,c and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a fieldd which the Lord hath blessed :e 28 Therefore God give thee of the dew of heav en/ and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine. 29 Let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee; be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee:s cursed be every one that curseth thee,11 and blessed be he that blesseth thee. 30 1 And it came to pass, as soon as Isaac had made an end of blessing Jacob, and Jacob was yet scarcegone out from the presence of Isaac his father, that Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 And he also had made savory meat, and brought it unto his father ; and said unto his fa ther, Let my father arise, and eat of his son's venison, that thy soul may bless me. 32 And Isaac his father said unto him, Who art thou? And he said, I am thy sod, thy first-born, Esau. 33 And Isaac "trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where is he that hath + taken venison, and brought it me, and I have eaten of all before thou earnest, and have blessed him?1 yea, and he shall be blessed .j 34 And when Esau heard the words of his fa ther, he cried with a great and exceeding bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, 0 my father !k 35 And he said, Thy brother came with subtle ty,1 and hath taken away thy blessing. a Ver. 16. 1> 2 Sam. 14:5: Prov. 13:19, 22; Eph. 4:25. c Heb. 11:20. 4 Song 4:11; Hos. 14:6. e Heb. 6:7. t Deut. 33:13, 28, 2 Sam. 1:21; Psa. 133:3 ; Mic. 5:7. e ch. 49:8. 1> Num. 24:9; Zeph. 2:8. • Heb. trembled with a great trembling greatly, t Heb. hunted, i ver. 25. j Rom. 11:29. k Prov. 1:31; Heb. 12:17. 1 2 Kings 10:19; Mal. 2:10; 1 Thess. 4:6. t That tion of his falsehood, implying that God had countenanced him in his deception. 24. He said, lam; a repetition of his sin persevered in. 27. His raiment; which belonged to Esau. Ver. 15. 29. Be lord over thy brethren; here the blessings of the birthright were confirmed to Jacob, with great worldly prosperity, extensive- dominion, and family preeminence. Chap. 25:31-34. 33. He sltall be blessed; Isaac saw that although he had been deceived, yet it was the purpose of God that the blessings which he had pronounced should come upon Jacob, according to what was said of him before he was born. Chap. 25:23. 35. Subtlety; cunning, deceit. 36. Jacob; a supplanter; one who by artifice gets into the place of another. He took away; bought that which Esau despised and chose to sell for a mess of pottage. Chap. 25:33. 46 36 And he said, Is not he rightly named a. m. *»« Jacob?* for he hath supplanted me these b. c. 1760. two times : he took away my birthright ;m and be hold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me? 37 And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made him thy lord," and all his brethren have I given to him for servants ; and with corn and wine have I sustained5 him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son ? 38 And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, 0 my father I And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept.0 39 And Isaac his father answered, and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness* of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above ; 40 And by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother:" and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.q 41 1 And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him:r and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand,8 then will I slay my broth er Jacob.' 42 And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort him self,11 purposing to kill thee. 43 Now therefore, my son, obey my voice ; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran ;v 44 And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away ; 45 Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him : then I will send, and fetch thee from thence. Why should I be deprived also of you both in one day? 46 And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life, because of the daughters of Heth:w if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these which are of the daughters of the land, what good shall my life do me? is. A supplanter. m ch. 25:26, 34. aver 29; 2 Sam. 8:14. 5 Or. supported. o Isa. 05:14. I Or. of the fatness, p ch. 25:23, Psa. 60:9, 10; Obad. 18-20. q 2 Kings 8:20; 2 Chr. 21:8. r ch. 4:5; 37:4, 8. » ch. 50:3. t ch. 32:6; Obad. 10. "Job 20:12; Psa. 64:5. v0h.ll:31. "ch. 26:35. 37. Sustained him; foretold that he should be sustained. 40. By thy sword sludt thou live; his posterity would be warlike, and make plundering excursions upon their neigh bors. Serve thy brother; they would be in subjection to the posterity of Jacob. 2 Sam. 8:14. Break his yoke; after a time the Edomites would revolt from their subjec tion to the Israelites, and become independent. 2 Kings 8:20-22. 41. Days of mourning; on account of the death of Isaac, which Esau thought would soon take place and favor his designs. 43. Laban; chap. 24:29. 45. Deprived — of you both; had Esau slain Jacob, he must have been put to death as a murderer, chap. 9:6, or at least have fled from his father's home to escape this punishment. 46. The daughters of Heth; the Hittite females, especially the two whom Esau had married. Chap. 26:34, 35. Jacob sent to Padan-aram. GENESIS XXVIII. His vision at Bet Jul. X.M.^2244. CHAPTER XXVIII. 1 Isaac blesseth Jacob, and sendeth him to Padan-aram. 6 Esau mar- rieth Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael. 10 The vision of Jacob's ladder. 18 The stone ol' Bethuel. 20 Jacob's vow. AND Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan/ 2 Arise, go to Padan-aram,b to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father;0 and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.4 3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be *a multitude of people ; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham,6 to thee, and to thy seed with thee ; that thou mayest inherit the land + wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham. 5 And Isaac sent away Jacob : and he went to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syri an, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother. 6 IT When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Ja cob/ and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him, he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of.the daughters of Canaan; 7 And that Jacob obeyed his father,g and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram ; 8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased* not Isaac his father ; 9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had, Mahalath§ the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife. 10 1 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba,b and went toward Haran." aCh.24:3. b Hos. 12:12. 'ch. 25:20. i ch. 24:29, • Heb. an assembly of people. * ch. 12:2. t Heb. of thy sojournings. f ch. 27:13. ff ch. 27:43. 1 Heb were evil in the eyes. 5 ch. 30:3, is oalled Bashemath. h Hos. 12: 12. 1 Acts 7:2, called Charran. > ch. 41:1; Num. 12:0; Job4:13. J John 1:51; INSTRUCTIONS. 4. By depriving us of the use of our senses, or dimin ishing their power as age advances, God admonishes us that we are not at home iu the body, and that what our hands find to do in serving him, we should do with our might; for in the grave, to which we are hastening, there is no work. 10. When parents tempt their children to sin, they lay the foundation for great and lasting^orrow. 13. To imprecate on one's self the curse of evil-doing is high-handed iniquity ; it is assuming a load which may be found too great to bear. It is sowing the wind to reap the whirlwind. Hos. 8:7. 24. The telling of one lie often leads to the telling of a second, and that to a third. The beginning of iniquity is like the letting out of water from a dam, which may sweep every thing before it. 29. Through the evil-doing and the well-doing of men, God fulfils his infinitely wise,holy, and benevolent designs, causing even the evil which is committed to be overruled for good. 33. Men are often the means of accomplishing what they did not intend. They mean one thing, and God means another. Chap. 50:20; Prov. 16:9; 19:21. 36. Wicked men are prone to ascribe their calamities to other men's sins rather than to their own, and to exer cise pride, envy, and revenge, rather than humility, re pentance, and forgiveness. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set: and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed,1 and behold, a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven : and behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it.J 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father,k and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed. 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth ;' and thou shalt , spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south : and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.™ 15 And behold, I am with thee," and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest,0 and will bring thee again into this land;" for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.q 16 If And Jacob awaked out ot his sleep, and he said, Surely the Lord is in this place ;r and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other hut the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. 18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pil lows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.s 19 And he called the name of that place Beth el:* but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.1 20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will Heb. 1:14. k ch. 20:21; Exod. 3:6; Matt. 22:32. i ch. 13:16. 1 Heb. break forth, m ch. IS: If. " Josh. 1 :5; Judg. 6:16. o Psa. 121 :5-8. P ch. 35:0. q Heb. 13:5. r Exod. 3:5; Josh. 5:15. a Num. 7:1. * Heb. The house of God. t Judg. 1 : 23, 20 ; Hos. 12:4. 40. The foretelling of wickedness which men will com mit does not force them to commit it; nor does it lessen their power or obligation to refrain from it, or their guilt in committing it. 41. There is an intimate connection between hatred and. murder, and the indulgence of the one often produces the intention to commit the other. 46. To commit known sin. and tempt others to commit it, is the way to make life a burden ; and those who lead their children into sin, must expect through their children to be punished. CHAPTER XXVIII. 2. Padan-aram; chap. 25:20. 4. The blessing of Abraham ; that which was promised to him. Chap. 12:2,3; 15:5-7; 17:8; 22:17,18; Gal. 3:8-29. 9. Unto Ishmael; the family of Ishmael, he being dead. Chap. 25 : 17. 14. In thy seed; Gal. 3:16. 17. The house of God ; the place where God revealed him self in a special way. The gate of heaven ; in allusion to the ladder reaching to heaven, by wjiich the angels descended from heaven and returned, as through the gate of a city. 18. Poured oil upon the top of it; in token of its being consecrated to God as a memorial of what there took place. 19. Beth-el; meaning the house of God. It was about ten miles north of Jerusalem. That city; a city that stood near this place. Chap. 12:8; Judg. 1:23-26. 47 Jacob cometh to Haran. GENESIS XXIX. His covenant with Laban. be with me,a and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God:b 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar,0 shall be God's house : and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee.d CHAPTER XXIX. 1 Jacob cometh to the well of Haran. 9 He taketh acquaintance of Rachel. 13 Laban entertaineth him. 18 Jacob covenanteth for Ra chel. 23 He is deceived with Leah. 28 He marrieth also Rachel, and serveth for her seven years more. 32 Leah beareth Reuben, 33 Simeon, 34 Levi, 35 and Judah. THEN Jacob 'went on his journey, and came into the land of the +people of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold, a well in the field, and lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it ;e for out of that well they watered the flocks ; and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered : and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. 4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye ? And they said, Of Haran are we.f 5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor ? And they said, We know him. 6 And he said unto them, iIs he well?g And they said, He is well: and behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 7 And he said, Lo, %it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered togeth er : water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth ;h then we water the sheep. 9 1 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep ; for she kept them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and a 2 Sam. 15:8. b Deut. 26 17. « ch 35:7, 14. d Lev. 27:30 Heb. lift up his feet, t Heb. children e Psa. 23:2; Song 1:7 Ezek. 34: 14. f ch. 2' : 43. t Is there peace to him? e ch 43:27 8 Heb. yet the day is great. h Mark 16:3; Li ke 24:2 ' Exod. 2 17. j ch. 33:4 45:14. k ch 13:8; 22. God's house ; a place where I will publicly acknow ledge and adore him. Give the tenth; devote a tenth part of what he should have to acts of piety and mercy. _ INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Parents who rightly regard the good of their children, for this life or the future, or that of their descendants, will especially desire that they be connected with pious companions. 9. When persons undertake to cure or to lessen one evil by the commission of another, they must expect to be disappointed. The further they go in transgression the greater the mischief, and the greater the danger of utter ruin. 11. If men, through their own fault, are deprived of numerous blessings, and are left desolate and alone, they sometimes, during the silence and darkness of night, or in scenes of solitude, gloom, and peril, reflect on their condi tion, and are brought into* such a state of mind as to be prepared, through grace, for new and glorious manifesta tions of divine favor. 16. God is much nearer to us than we are apt to imag ine. Wherever we go, and whatever we do, we are sur rounded continually with his presence. He keeps the 48 the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, a. m^""" that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone b. c. 'nm. from the well's mouth,1 and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept.j 12 And Jacob told Rachel that he was her fa ther's brother ,k and that he was Rebekah's son;1 and she ran and told her father. 13 And it came to pass when Laban heard the tidings ' of Jacob his sister's son, that he ran -to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him,m and brought him to his house. And he told La ban all these things. 14 And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him 5the space of a month. 15 IF And Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother, shouldest thou therefore serve me for naught ? tell me, what shall thy wages be ? 16 And Laban had two daughters : the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.0 17 Leah was tender-eyed, but Rachel was beau tiful and well-favored. 18 And Jacob lovedRachel ; and said, Iwill serve thee seven years for Rachel thy younger daughter. 19 And Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee, than that I should give her to another man : abide with me. 20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel ;p and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.°- 211 And Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast/ 23 And it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and brought her to him ; and he went in unto her. 24 And Laban gave unto his daughter Leah, Zilpah his maid, for a handmaid.3 14:11,16. lch.24:2S. I Heb. hearing, m Rom. 16:16. ¦> Judg. 9:2; 2 Sam. 5:1; 19:12. t Heb. a month of days. °Ruth4:ll. pHos. 12:12. q Cant. 8:7. r Judg. 14:10; John 2:1,' 2. » ch. 30:9; 46:18. breath in our nostrils, the blood flowing in our veins, and it is in him that we live, move, and have existence. 22. Whenever we receive special favors, we should feel under special obligations to acknowledge and adore God, the author and finisher of all good ; and should, without delay, consecrate ourselves and all that we have to his service. CHAPTER XXIX. 3. Were all the flocks gathered — they rolled — watered — put the stone again; these words describe what was the daily custom. 7. High day ; the sun is yet high. Be gathered together ; that is, for the night. 8. We cannot; either because they had not bodily strength till more of the shepherds should come, or be cause it was contrary to established usage. 12. Her father's brother; Jacob was Laban's sister's son; of course not his brother in our sense of the word, but his nephew. Ver. 15. 14. My bone and my flesh; my near relative. 23. He took Leah; it was then customary for a bride to be taken at night to her husband covered with a veil. Children of Leah, GENESIS XXX. Bilhah, and Zilpah. b.' * 1753!' 25 And it came to pass, that in the morn ing, behold, it was Leah : and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast done unto me ? did not I serve with thee for Rachel ? wherefore then hast thou beguiled me ? 26 And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country,* to give the younger before the first-born. 27 Fulfil her week,a and we will give thee this also, for the service which thou shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his daughter to wife also. 29 And Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, Bilhah his handmaid, to be her maid.b 30 And he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah,0 and served with him yet seven other years. 31 H And when the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb:d but Rachel was barren.6 32 And Leah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Reuben :+ for she said, Surely the Lord hath looked upon my affliction ;f now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And she conceived again, and bare a son ; and said, Because the Lord hath heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me this son also: and she called his name Simeon.* 34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be join ed unto me, bgcause I have borne him three sons : therefore was his name called Levi.8 35 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she said, Now will I praise the Lord : there fore she called his name Judah,1 and 'left bearing. CHAPTER XXX. 1 Rachel, in grief for her barrenness, giveth Bilhah her maid unto Ja cob. 5 She beareth Dan and Naphtali. 9 Leah giveth Zilpah her maid, who beareth Grad and Asher. 14 Reuben findeth mandrakes, with which Leah buyeth her husband of Rachel. 17 Leah beareth Issachar, Zebulon, and Dinah. 22 Rachel beareth Joseph. 25 Ja cob desireth to depart. 27 Laban stayeth him on a new covenant. 37 Jacob's policy, whereby he became rich. AND when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children.15 Rachel envied her sister;11 and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.' " Heb. place. * Judg. 14:12. b ch. 35:22; 37:2. c ver. 20; Deut. 21:15. 'Psa. 137:3. eoh.30:l. t That is. See a son. f Deut. 26:7; 1 Sam. 1 :20; Luke 1:25. t That is, Hearing. 5 That is, Joined; Num. 18:2, 4. H That is. Praise. V Heb. stood from bearing, s ch. 29:31. c 1 Cor. 3:3; Jas. 4:5. i Job 5:2. jt Sam. 1:5. * Heb. be built by her. t ch. 16:3. 1 Psa. 35:24; 25. Beguiled; imposed on, deceived. Jacob had deceived his father, and now his wife's father deceived him. 27. Fulfil her week; Leah's week; that is, a week of feasting, according to the custom of weddings, after which Rachel would be given to him, on condition of his serv ing Laban seven years more. 31. Was hated; regarded less than Rachel. Mal. 1:3; Rom. 9:13. 32. Reuben; meaning, see a son. The Lord hath seen my affliction, and given me a son. 33. Simeon ; that is, hearing. Si, Levi; joined — thinking that her husband would now be joined in affection to her, as he was to Rachel. 35. Judah; praise — she being disposed to praise the Lord for his goodness. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. A kind and courteous behavior is most likely to re ceive kindness in return ; and a disposition to be useful, most likely to make a man welcome, and give him success. 11. Men sometimes weep for joy, and few things are 4 2 And Jacob's anger was kindled against Ra chel ; and he said, Jim I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb ?j 3 And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her ; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also 'have children by her. 4 And she gave him Bilhah her handmaid to wife :k and Jacob went in unto her. 5 And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son. 6 And Rachel said, God hath judged me,1 and hath also heard my voice, and hath given me a son : therefore called she his name Dan.+ 7 And Bilhah, Rachel's maid, conceived again, and bare Jacob a second son. 8 And Rachel said, With *great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed : and she called his name Naphtali.§ 9 When Leah saw that she had left bearing, she took Zilpah her maid, and gave her Jacob to wife. 10 And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bare Jacob a son. 11 And Leah said, A troop cometh: and she called his name Gad. lm 12 And Zilpah, Leah's maid, bare Jacob a sec ond son. 13 And Leah said, 'Happy am I, for the daugh ters will call me blessed:11 and she called his name Asher.* 14 IT And Reuben went in the days of wheat- harvest, and found mandrakes in the field, and brought them unto his mother Leah. Then Ra chel said to Leah, Give me, I pray thee, of thy son's mandrakes.0 15 And she said unto her, Is it a small matter that thou hast taken my husband ?p and wouldest thou take away my son's mandrakes also ? And Rachel said, Therefore he shall lie with thee to night for thy son's mandrakes. 16 And Jacob came out of the field in the even ing, and Leah went out to meet him, and said, Thou must come in unto me; for surely I have hired thee with my son's mandrakes. And he lay with her that night. 17 And God hearkened unto Leah,0- and she conceived, and bare Jacob the fifth son. 43:1 ; Lam. 3:59. t That is, Judging, t Heb. wrestlings of God. S That is, My wrestling. B That is, A troop, or company. "1 ch. 49:19. 1 Heb. In my happiness, n Cant. 6:9; Luke 1:48. ' That is. Happy, o Cant. 7:13. PNum. 16:9,13; Isa. 7:13; Ezek. 16:47. q Exod. '3:7; 1 Sam. 1:20; Luke 1:13. more affecting to a truly thankful heart, than the great goodness of God. 15. Our relatives, as well as others, should be fairly paid for their services ; and we ought not to wish any to labor for us without receiving a just compensation. Col. 4: 1. 20. One of the most prompt, cheerful, pleasant, and per severing springs of action, is love. Under its influence, labor, sacrifices, and self-denials often give great delight. 25. Those who wickedly deceive others should not wonder if others deceive them, and they experience the evils of it through life. Isa. 33: 1. 35. God often regards those whom men wrongfully dis regard, and graciously bestows such favors upon them as to fill their hearts with gratitude, and open their mouths in praise. CHAPTER XXX. 2. Jacob's anger was kindled; because Rachel seemed to find fault, not with him only, but also with God. 14. Mandrakes; a species of fruit which it is difficult to identify. 49 Rachel beareth Joseph. GENESIS XXX. Jacob's change of wages. 18 And Leah said, God hath given me my hire, because I have given my maiden to my husband : and she called his name Issachar.*a 19 And Leah conceived again, and bare Jacob the sixth son. 20 And Leah said, God hath endued me with a good dowry; now will my husband dwell with me,D because I have borne him six sons : and she called his name Zebulun.f 21 And afterwards she bare a daughter, and called her name Dinah.* 22 1 And God remembered Rachel,0 and God hearkened to her, and opened her womb. 23 And she conceived, and bare a son ; and said, God hath taken away my reproach:*1 24 And she called his name Joseph;5 and said, The Lord shall add to me another son. 25 1" And it came to pass, when Rachel had borne Joseph, that Jacob said unto Laban, Send me away,6 that I may go unto mine own place, and to my country/ 26 Give me my wives and my children, for whom I have served thee, and let me go : for thou know- est my service which I have done thee.g 27 And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favor in thine eyes, tarry : h for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.1 28 And he said, Appoint me thy wages,j and I will give it. 29 And he said unto him, Thou knowest how I have served thee,k and how thy cattle was with me. 30 For it was little which thou hadst before I came, and it is now increased unto a multitude; and the Lord hath blessed thee " since my com ing : and now, when shall I provide for mine own house also?1 31 And he said, What shall I give thee ? And Jacob said, Thou shalt not give me any thing : if thou wilt do this thing for me, I will again feed and keep thy flock : 32 I will pass through all thy flock to-day, re moving from thence all the speckled and spotted cattle, and all the brown cattle among the sheep, • That is, Jt Aire. » ch. 49:14; Deut. 33:18; 1 Chr. 1 t That is, Dwelling, t That is, Judgment, c ch. 29: 31 ; 1 S ,.C. T ,1.1 I. TL.t ... J,,.,.„i, !¦ ,-\. "I ¦ c., f „l. , 12:32. b ch. 29:31. ., lSam.l:19. I 1 Sam. 1:6; Isa.' 4:1. S That is, Adding, e ch. 24:54. fell. 31:55. S ch. 31:6. hExod. 3:21; Neh. 1:11; Dan. 1:9; Acts 7:10. i ch. 39:3,5; Psa. 1:3; Isa. 25. My country; the land of Canaan. 30. Mine own house; thus far Jacob had labored for La ban. He now proposes to provide for his own family. 33. So shall my righteousness answer for me ; by his hav ing none in his possession, except such as Laban had agreed to give him, it would be seen that he was honest. When it shall come — before thy face; rather, when thou shalt come upon my hire (that is, to inspect my hire) before thy face. Every one that is not speckled — shall be counted stolen; should Jacob have any of one color in his possession, it would be seen that they did not belong to him. 35. He removed; Laban, as appears from the next verse. 37. Pilled; peeled, made white stripes by peeling. 40. Set the faces of the flocks toward the ring-streaked; ar ranged the sheep and goats of one color, which composed the body of Laban's flocks, so that they would have the ring- streaked, spotted, and brown among the young always be fore their eyes. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Grief at another's prosperity is a great sin, and a source of torment to all who indulge it. Prov. 14:30. 50 and the spotted and speckled among the B.aiSI: goats: and of such shall be my hire.™ 33 So shall my righteousness11 answer for me inT time to come, when it shall come for my hire before thy face: every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and brown among the sheep, that shall be counted stolen with me. 34 And Laban said, Behold, I would it might be according to thy word. 35 And he removed that day the he-goats that were ring-streaked and spotted, and all the she- goats that were speckled and spotted, and every one that had some white in it, and all the brown among the sheep, and gave them into the hands of his sons. 36 And he set three days' journey betwixt him self and Jacob: and Jacob fed the rest of La- ban's flocks. 37 1 And Jacob took him rods of green poplar, and of the hazel and chestnut-tree; and pilled white streaks in them, and made the white appear which was in the rods. 38 And he set the rods which he had pilled be fore the flocks in the gutters in the watering- troughs when the flocks came to drink, that they should conceive when they came to drink. 39 And the flocks conceived before the rods, and brought forth cattle ring-streaked, speckled, and spotted.0 40 And Jacob did separate the lambs, and set the faces of the flocks toward the ring-streaked, and all the brown in the flock of Laban ; and he put his own flocks by themselves, and put them not unto Laban's cattle. 41 And it came to pass whensoever the stronger cattle did conceive, that Jacob laid the rods be fore the eyes of the cattle in the gutters, that they might conceive among the rods. 42 But when the cattle were feeble, he put them not in: so the feebler were Laban's, and the stronger Jacob's. 43 And the man increased exceedingly,0 and had much cattle, and maid-servants, and men servants, and camels, and asses." 61:9. jch. 29:15. kMatt. 24:45; Tit 2:10. 5 Heb broken forth. I Heb. at my foot. row; Exod 1 I Tim. 5:8. m ch. 3; :8. ° Psa 18:24; 37 6. % Heb. to-mor- 13:14. °ch. 31:8-12. P ver. 30. qch. 13:2 24:35; 20 : 13, 14 ; Job 42: 12. 8. Those who are discontented with their condition, often take wicked measures to change it ; and if successful, they are tempted to justify their course. But success in iniquity is no proof of divine approbation. 13. Success in iniquity tempts to its repetition; and desired objects attained blind the mind to the guilt of Wrongfully seeking them. 18. The reasons which men assign to the dispensations of Providence, are often very different from the true ones. 24. Events anticipated with joy are often the occasion of exquisite sorrow. Chap. 35:16-20. 27. Men of the world are often convinced that true pie ty is profitable, and employ pious persons to promote their own temporal advantage. 30. Those who have families should use all suitable means comfortably to provide for them ; and while they daily seek the blessing of God, they should wisely and diligently use proper means to obtain it. 43. Persons who have been wronged by others need not, and should not do wrong to obtain redress. Prop erty, and all earthly blessings, are the gifts of God, and Jacob departeth GENESIS XXXI. with his household. A. M. 2265. B. C. 1739. CHAPTER XXXI 1 Jacob upon displeasure departeth secretly. 19 Rachel stealeth her father's images. 22 Laban pursueth after him, 26 and complaineth of the wrong. 34 Rachel's policy to hide the images. 36 Jacob's complaint of Laban. 43 The covenant of Laban and J acob at G-aleed. AND he heard the words of Laban's sons, say ing, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's ; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory." 2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban,0 and behold, it was not toward him *as before.0 3 And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred ; and I will be with thee.d 4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, 5 And said unto them, I see your father's coun tenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.e 6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father/ 7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times f but God suffered him not to hurt me.h 8 If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages ; then all the cattle bare speckled : and if he said thus, The ring-streaked shall be thy hire ; then bare all the cattle ring-streaked. 9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 10 And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams+ which leaped upon the cattle were ring-streaked, speckled, and grizzled.1 11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream,j saying, Jacob : and I said, Here am I.k 12 And he said, Lift up now thine eyes and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ring- streaked, speckled, and grizzled : for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.1 13 I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anoint- edst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me:m now arise, get thee out from this land. and return unto the land of thy kindred." 14 And Rachel and Leah answered, and said aPsa. 49:16; Eccl. 4:4; 1 Tim. 6:4. b ch. 4:5. ¦ Heb. os yesterday and the day before, c Deut. 28:54. d ch. 28:15. e ver. 2, 3. fver.41. p ver. 41; Num. 14:22; Neh. 4:12; Job 19:3; Zech. 8:23. h ch. 20:0; Job 1 : 10: Psa. 37:23; 105:14. t Or, lie-goats. > ch. 30:39. i ch. 48:16. t Exod. 3:4; 1 Sam. 3:4, etc. ; Isa. 53:9. ' Exod. 3:7; Psa. 139:3; Eccl. 5:8. m ch. he will grant all that will in the end be a blessing to such as continue to obey him. CHAPTER XXXI. 2. Not toward him ; not favorable, but manifested dislike and opposition to him. 7. Ten times ; meaning very often. 8. All the cattle ; the greater portion of them. 9. God Imth taken away ; the efficacy of the means em ployed by Jacob to increase his property, was due to the agency of God. It does not appear that they had in themselves any natural power to accomplish such a re sult^ Many suppose that he was guided, by God him- Belf in the dream which he relates, to the use of these means. The Scriptures record many actions of good men with out approving of them, as the equivocation of Abraham and Isaac, and the deception practised by Jacob to obtain unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house ? 15 Are wc not counted of him strangers ? for he hath sold us,0 and hath quite devoured also our money. 16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's : now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do. 17 1 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels ;p 18 And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram ; for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan." 19 And Laban went to shear his sheep ; and Ra chel had stolen the images* that were her father's/ 20 And Jacob stole away § unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. 21 So he fled with all that he had ; and he rose up, and passed over the river,8 and set his face toward the mount Gilead.4 22 And it was told Laban on the third day, that Jacob was fled. 23 And he took his brethren with him, and pur sued after him seven days' journey ; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. 24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night," and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either "good or bad. 25 T Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban and his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword ?v 27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal' away from me, and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth,- and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?w 28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters?" thou hast now done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt : but the God of your father spake unto me yester- 28:18. n ver. 3; oh. 32:9. o ch. 29:27; Neh. 5:8. P ch. 21:10. q ch. 2^:21. J Heb. teraphim. r Judg. 17:5; 1 Sam. 19:13; Hos. 3:4. S Heb. the heart of Laban. ¦ch. 15:18 ' ch. 46:23; 2 Kings 12:17; Luke 9:51. uch.20:3; Job 33:15. D Heb. from good to bad. v l Sam. 30:2. 1 Heb. hast stolen me. w Job 81:11, 12. * 1 Kings 19:20. his father's blessing. We cannot, however, suppose that God would have added his immediate blessing to a course of conduct for which Jacob had no warrant. It seems more reasonable to conclude that here, as in the case of his descendants' spoiling the Egyptians, Ex. 12:35, 36, he acted by the direction of Him to whom all wealth belongs. 15. Hath sold us ; alluding to the fourteen years' service which Jacob had rendered him for them. Our money; that is, our prices which he received for us. 19. Images; in the original, teraphim; that is, small household idols that her father worshipped. Ver. 30. 21. Over the river; Euphrates, which lay between Pa dan-aram and Canaan. Mount Gilead; a range of high land east of the Jordan and south of Bashan. 24. Good or bad ; or, as in the margin, from good to bad : that is, take care not to speak any thing with the purpose of harming him. Ver. 29. 28. Sons; grandsons. 51 The covenant of GENESIS XXXI. Laban and Jacob. night, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longest after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?" 31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Be cause I was afraid : for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me. 32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live:0 before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee: for Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. 33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maid-servants' tents ; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the images,0 and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched* all the tent, but found them not. 35 And she said to her father, Let it not dis please my lord that I cannot rise up before thee ;d for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. 36 And Jacob was wroth,e and chode with La ban: and Jacob answered, and said to Laban, What is my trespass ? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me ? 37 Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren, and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both/ 38 This twenty years have I been with thee ; thy ewes and thy she-goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. 39 That which was torn of beasts, I brought not unto thee ; I bare the loss of it ; of my hand didst thou require it,B whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.- 40 Thus I was; in the day the drought con sumed me, and the frost by night ; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. 41 Thus have I been twenty years in thy house : I served thee fourteen years for thy two daugh ters,11 and six years for thy cattle ; and thou hast changed my wages ten times.' 42 Except the God of my father,5 the God of » Ver. 19; Judg. 18:24. 1> ch. 44:9. ' ver. 19. • Heb. felt, d Exod. 20:12; Lev. 19:32. e Eph. 4:26. ' 1 Cor. 6:5. e Exod. 22:10. h 0h. 29:18, 30. i ver. 7. j Psa. 121:1,2. * ver. 53. 1 Exod. 3:7. m 1 Chr. 12:17; Jude 9. n ch. 26:28. ° Josh. 22:27; 24:27. Pch. 28:18. t Chaldee, 31. I was afraid; this was Jacob's answer to the first of Laban's questions, why he had gone away privately ; not to the last, as to the gods. 42. The Fear of Isaac ; the God whom Isaac feared, lov ed, and obeyed. 43. These daughters are my daughters — is mine; that is, all that thou hast is dear to me as my own. What can I do — unto these; either, what harm can I do to them, since I re gard them as my own? or, what shall I do for them? as the original may be rendered; how shall I best secure them from future evil? This he immediately proposes to accomplish by a mutual covenant. 47. Jegar-sahadutha; Chaldee: in Hebrew, Galeed; both meaning, the heap, of witness. 49. Mizpah; a watch-tower. 61. This pillar; ver. 45. 52 Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac," had been b. c: 1739. with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction,1 and the labor of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.™ 43 IF And Laban answered, and said unto Ja cob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine; and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have borne? 44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a cov enant," I and thou ; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.0 45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar." 46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones ; and they took stones and made a heap : and they did eat there upon the heap. 47 And Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha ;+ but Jacob called it Galeed:* 48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness be tween me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed ; 49 And Mizpah ;§ for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.4 50 If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives besides my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee/ 51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which 1 have cast betwixt me and thee ; 52 This heap be witness, and this pillar be wit ness,8 that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father,' judge betwixt us.u And Jacob sware by the Fear of his father Isaac/ 54 Then Jacob offered sacrifice ¦ upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread : and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount. 55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them :v and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.* The heap of witness, t Heb. The heap of witness. 5 That is, A beacon, or watch-tower. 1 Judg. 11:29; 1 Sam. 7:5. r Judg. 11:10; 1 Sam. 12:5; Jer. 42:5. »ver. 45, 48. t Josh. 24:2. u ch. 16:5. v ver. 42. I Or, killed beasts. wch.28:l. *ch. 30:25; Num. 24:25. 53. The Fear of his father; see note on ver. 42. 55. His sons; grandsons. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Covetousness contracts and debases the soul, lessens natural affection, and tends greatly to injure those who exercise it, and those who feel its influence. 9. Things which take place in the course of divine prov idence are often, in the Bible, ascribed to God. Good men receive all their blessings as coming from him, and give him the glory. 16. When husbands and wives agree in doing what God commands, they may expect that he will be with them, and bestow upon them and their families all needed good. 24. That protection of God which is secured by obeying him, is a better safeguard than all human aid. Prov. 16 : 7. Jacob wrestleth GENESIS XXXII. with an angel. A. M. 2265. li. C. 1739. CHAPTER XXXII. 1 Jacob's vision at Mahanaim. 3 His message to Esau. G He is afraid of Esau's coming. 9 He prayeth for deliverance. 13 He sendeth a present to Esau. 24 He wrestleth with an angel at Peniel, where he is called Israel. 31 He halteth. AND Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.a 2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God's host :b and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.*0 3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother,*1 unto the land of Seir,0 the f country of Edom. 4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau:f Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now : 5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and men- servants, and women-servants : and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.8 6 1 And the messengers returned to Jacob, say ing, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. * 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distress ed :h and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; 8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. 9 1 And Jacob said, 0 God of my father Abra ham, and God of my father Isaac,1 the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee :j 10 + 1 am not worthy of the least of all the mer cies,11 and of all the truth,1 which thou hast showed unto thy servant ; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan ; and now I am become two bands.™ 11 Deliver me,n I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau : for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the moth er §with the children.0 12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.0 » Psa. 91:11; Heb. 1:14. t> Josh. 5:14; Psa. 34:7; 103:21; 148:2; Luke 2:13. • That is, Two hosts. » Josh. 21:33. & Luke 14:31, 32. e Deut. 2:5. t Keb. field, t Prov. 15:1. s ch. 33:8, 15. h ch. 35:3; Psa. 107:6. i Psa. 50:15; 91:15. j ch. 31:3:13. t Heb. I am less than all, etc. k ch. 24:27; 36. Good men are sometimes angry with others, when, if they knew all the circumstances, they would see that the case requires explanation and apology rather than censure ; and while ready to forgive, they would also feel the need of being forgiven. 55. When men are disposed, difficulties can be amica bly settled ; and when they are settled, both parties should unite in praising God, who is the author, not of contention but of peace, and who, in the settlement of difficulties, ordinarily confers upon both parties more blessings than could be gained by strife. 1 Cor. 14:33; James 3:16. CHAPTER XXXII. 2. Mahanaim; this was east of the Jordan, and north of the river Jabbok. 3. Country of Edom; south and south-east of Canaan. 5. Grace; favor. 13 1 And he lodged there that same night ; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother ; °- 14 Two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty she-asses and ten foals. 16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. 17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou ? and whither goest thou ? and whose are these before thee ? 18 Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Ja cob's ; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau : and behold, also he is behind us. 19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him. 20 And say ye, moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me,r and afterward I will see his face ; peradventure he will accept ' of me. 21 So went the present over before him; and himself lodged that night in the company. 22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two women-servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.3 23 And he took them, and ''sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 24 IT And Jacob was left alone ; and there wres tled a man with him until the 'breaking of the day.* 25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh ; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day break- eth: and he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.u 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name ? And he said, Jacob. Psa. 86:5. 1 Psa. 61:7; 85:10. m Job 8:7; Psa. 1S:35. n Psa. 59:1, 2. S Heb. upon, ° Hos. 10:14. P ch. 28: 13-15. qProv.lH:16. r Prov. 21:14. U Heb. my face, s Deut. 3:16. 1 Heb. caused to pass. ' Heb. ascending of themorning. 'Hos. 12:3,4. u Luke 18:1 ; 1 Cor. 15:58. 7. Jacob was greatly afraid; lest Esau should take ven geance on him for having obtained the birthright and the blessing. Chap. 27:36, 41. 16. Put a space betwixt drove and drove; this arrangement was adapted to make the deepest impression upon Esau's mind. While Jacob put his trust in God, he was careful to omit no means of propitiating his brother that lay in his power. 24. A man ; one in the form of a man. 25. Prevailed not against him; that is, while he used such a measure of strength as belongs to a man. Touched the hollow — was out of joint; by this touch he revealed to Jacob his divine power, and thus his true character. 26. Let me go ; this was said to try Jacob. I will not let thee go; Jacob, now understanding who it was that had been wrestling with him, felt emboldened to cleave to Him till He should bless him. 53 The meeting of GENESIS XXXIII. Jacob and Esau. 28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob," but Israel:* for as a prince hast thou power with God,0 and with men,0 and hast prevailed. 29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name : and he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name?a And he blessed him there. 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel:* for I have seen God face to face,0 and my life is preserved. 31 And as he passed over Penuel, the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day ; because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank. CHAPTER XXXIII. 1 The kindness of Jacob and Esau at their meeting. 17 Jacob cometh to Succoth. 18 At Shalem he buyeth a field, and buildeth an altar called El-Elohe-Israel. AND Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold, Esau came, and with him four hun dred men/ And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two hand maids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times,g until he came near to his brother. 4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him,11 and fell on his neck,1 and kissed him : and they wept. 5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children, and said, Who are those with a Ch. 35:10; 2 Kings 17:34. ¦ Heb. A prince of God. b Hos. 12:3, 4. " ch. 31:24; 33:4. a Judg. 13:18. t That is, The face of God. e Exod. 24:11; 33:20; Deut. 5:21; 34:10; Judg. 6:22; 13:22, 23; Isa. 6:5; John 1:18; Col. 1:15, Heb. 11:27. ' ch. 32:6. S ch. 18:2; 42:6; 43:26. h ch. 32:28. i ch. 45:14. J Heb. to thee, j ch. 48:9; Psa. 127:3. S Heb. What is all this band to thee? * ch. 32:5, 16. H Heb. be that to thee that is thine. 28. Israel; meaning a princely contender with God. As a prince hast thou power with God; the Hebrew word em ployed here, and in the name Israel, has the two mean ings of prince and contention, wrestling. It seems to be designedly chosen to unite these two ideas. This verse gives the meaning of the transaction. Jacob had wrestled with God in prayer, and prevailed ; and thus .he had also prevailed with the men whose anger he feared, as Laban and Esau. 29. Wherefore — ask after my name ? implying his exalted and mysterious nature. Compare Judg. 13 : 18. The name of God comprehends all his attributes. 30. Peniel; meaning the face of God. This Jacob says he had seen, showing that the one with whom he had wrestled was God in human form, the Angel of the cove nant, the Messiah. Hos. 12:3-5. 31. Penuel; meaning the same as Peniel. Ver. 30. He halted; limped, or was lame, in consequence of the touch of the Angel. Ver. 25. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Angels are ministering spirits sent forth by God to minister to those who are heirs of salvation. Psa. 91:11; Matt. 4:11; Heb. 1:14. 7. Past transgressions are often remembered, and- cause deep and pungent distress long after they have been com mitted. 54 thee?* And he said, The children which B.c:im God hath graciously given thy servant.* 6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves; and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8 And he said, s What meanest thou by. all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord." 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep " that thou hast unto thyself.1 10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand ; for therefore I have seen thy face,"1 as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee ;n because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have 1 enough:0 and he urged him,0 and he took it. 12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. 13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender," and the flocks and herds with young are with me; and if men should over drive them one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant; and I will lead on softly, "according as the cattle that goeth before me and the chil dren be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.r 15 And Esau said, Let me now * leave with thee some of the folk that are with me: and he said, What* needeth it? Let me find grace in the sight of my lord.3 16 IT So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir. 1 Prov. 16:7. m ch. 43:3; 2 Sam. 3:13. ' n 1 Sam. 25:27; 2 Kings 5:15. U Heb. all things, o Phil. 4:18. P 2 Kings 5:16. 23. q 1 Chr. 22:5. * Heb. according to tile foot of the work, etc., and according to the foot of the ehil7 dren. r ch. 32:3. t Heb. set. or place, t Heb. Wherefore is this? s ch. 34:11; Ruth 2:13; 2 Sam. 16:4. 12. Supplication to God is one of the most sure and powerful means of . influencing men and obtaining from them what we desire. Prov. 16:7 ; 21: 1. 20. Prayer does not render needless the most diligent use of appropriate means, but encourages it, and is in strumental in its success. 28. Fervency and perseverance in penitent, believing prayer, has great influence with God : it prepares the way for deliverance from present trials, and furnishes the best preparation for all which are future. CHAPTER XXXIII. 2. The handmaids — Leah — Rachel; putting those last that were most dear to him. Chap. 32 : 8. 4. They wept; for joy, at meeting each other in such a kind manner. 8. Grace ; favor, by their being presented to Esau. 10. As though I had seen the face of God; under circum stances of great and peculiar favor. 11. My blessing; his present, as a token of his Kindness and desire to promote Esau's good. 12. He; Esau. 13. He; Jacob. 15. Let me find grace; be permitted to proceed without any of Esau's men to accompany him. The Shechemites deceived GENESIS XXXIV. by the sons of Jacob. b.' aim l^ And Jacob journeyed to Succoth," and built him a house, and made booths for his cat tle : therefore the name of the place is called Suc- coth.* 18 T And Jacob came to Shalem,0 a city of Shechem,* which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought a parcel of a field,0 where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor,* Shechem's father, for a hundred § pieces of mouey. 20 And he erected there an altar ,d and called it El-Elohe-Israel." CHAPTER XXXIV. 1 Dinah is ravished by Shechem. 4 He sueth to marry her. 13 The sons of Jacob offer the condition of circumcision to the Shechemites. 20 Hamor and Shechem persuade them to accept it. 25 The sons of Jacob upon that advantage slay them, 27 and spoil their city. 30 Jacob reproveth Simeon and Levi. AND Dinah the daughter of Leah,0 which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daugh ters of the land/ 2 And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her,8 he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.1 3 And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob,11 and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly* unto the damsel. 4 And Shechem spake unto his. father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.1 5 And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field : and Jacob held his peace until they were come.5 6 1 And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him. 7 And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it : and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth," because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob's daughter;1 which thing ought not to be done.™ 8 And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife. 9 And make ye marriages with us, and give your » Josh. 13:27; Judg. 8:5. * That is. Booths, b John 3:23. t Acts 7: 16, called Sychem. «ch: 23rl7; Josh 21:32. t Acts 7:16, called Emmor. § Or, lambs, i ch. 35:7. I That is, God the God of Israel, e ch. 30:21. 'Tit. 2:5. ff Judg. 14:1; 2 Sam. 11:2. 1 Heb. humbled her ; Deut. 21:14; 23:24, 29; Judg. 19:24, 25; Ezek. 22:10, 11. hRuthl:14; 1 Sam. 18:1. 'Heb. to 17. House; or tent. Chap. 27:15. Booths; shelters, cov erings. Succoth ; that is, booths ; a place east of the Jor dan, and south of the Jabbok. 18. Shalem; on the west of Jordan, and north-east of Shechem. Shalem means peace ; and some havo rendered this, he came in peace to the city of Shechem. Shechem; or Sychar, John 4:5, about forty miles north of Jerusalem, in the part of Canaan afterwards called Samaria. 20. El-Elohe-Israel; God the God of Israel. Chapter 32:24-30. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. A soft answer turneth away wrath ; and yielding pacifieth great offences. Prov. 15:1; Eccl. 10:4. 11. Men who feel and act right, will in all their ways acknowledge God, and adore him as the giver of all their mercies. In so doing, they may hope for wisdom to adopt daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you. 10 And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you ;n dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein. 11 And Shechem said unto her father, and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give. 12 Ask me never so much dowry and gift,0 and I will give according as ye shall say unto me : but give me the damsel to wife. 13 And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully," and said, Be cause he had defiled Dinah their sister : 14 And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircum cised; for that were a reproach unto us:0- 15 But in this will we consent unto you : If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circum cised ;r 16 Then will we give our daughters unto you, and Ave will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people. 17 But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be cir cumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone. 18 And their words pleased Hamor and Shechem Hamor's son. 19 And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob's daugh ter:8 and he was more honorable than all the house of his father.' 20 T And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying, 21 These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them : let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22 Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circum cised." 23 Shall not their cattle, and their substance, the heart of the damsel; 2 Sam. 19:7; 2 Chr. 30:22; Isa. 40:2. i Judg. 14:2. J 1 Sam. 10:27; 2Sam. 13:22. k ch. 49:7. 1 Josh. 7:15; Judg. 20:6 2 Sam. 13:12. m Deut. 23:17. neh. 13:9. ° Exod. 22:17. P Prov. 26:25. q Josh. 5:9. rGal.4:12. »ch. 29:30. tch. 4:9; 41:20; Num. 22:15; 1 Kings 82: 24; 2 Kings 5:1 ; Isa. 3:3-5; 5:13; 23:8, 9; Acts 13:50; 17:12. " ver. 15, 17. such measures as he will crown with success. Prov. 3:6; Psa. 25:9. 20. When God, in fulfilment of his promises, bestows on men special favors, they should render special thanks giving ; and wherever they reside, should have a place consecrated to public worship. CHAPTER XXXIV. 13. Deceitfully; pretending one thing and meaning an other. And said; to justify the crime they were plotting. 14. We cannot; this shows the manner in which the word cannot is often used in the Bible, referring, not to power, but choice. 16. Then will we give; this was false, and designed to deceive Hamor and Shechem. 19. Deferred not; did not hesitate to do what they pro posed. 55 The Shechemites slain. GENESIS XXXV. Jacob blessed at Bethel. and every beast of theirs be ours?" only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us. 24 And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city;0 and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city. 25 1 And it came to pass on the third day, when they were sore, that two of the sons of Ja cob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brethren, took each man his sword, and came upon the city boldly, and slew all the males.0 26 And they slew Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge* of the sword,4 and took Dinah out of Shechem's house, and went out. 27 The sons of Jacob came upon the slain, and spoiled the city, because they had defiled their sister.0 28 They took their sheep, and their oxen, and their asses, and that which was in the city, and that which was in the field, 29 And all their wealth, and all their little ones, and their wives took they captive, and spoiled even all that was in the house. 30 And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, Ye have troubled mef to make me to stink among the in habitants of the land,B among the Canaanites, and the Perizzites : and I being few in number,11 they shall gather themselves together against me, and slay me ; and I shall be destroyed, I and my house. 31 And they said, Should he deal with our sis ter as with a harlot? CHAPTER XXXV. 1 &od sendeth Jacob to Beth-el. 2 He purgeth his house of idols. 6 He buildeth an altar at Beth-el. 8 Deborah dieth at Allon-bachuth. 9 God blesseth Jacob at Beth-el. 16 Rachel travaileth of Benjamin, and dieth in the way to Edar. 22 Reuben lieth with Bilhah. 23 The sons of Jacob. 27 Jacob cometh to Isaac at Hebron. 28 The age, death, and burial of Isaac. AND God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Beth-el, and dwell there:1 and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother J 2 Then Jacob said unto his household,* and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods l that are among you,m and be clean," and change your garments : 3 And let us arise, and go up to Beth-el ; and I a Prov. 1:12, 13. b ch. 23 18. c ch. 49:5-7. ' Heb. mouth. 4 Deut. 32:42. « ch. 49:7. ' Josh. 7:25. 6 Exod. 5:21; 1 Sam. 13:4; 27:12. 1> Deut. 4:27; Psa. 105:12. Psa. 47:4 i ch. 27:43; 23:13, 19. k ch. 18:19. 1 Josh. 21:15; Psa. 101 :2-7. m ch. 31:19; Josh. 24:23; 1 Sam. 7:3. n Exod. 19:10. » ch. 32:7, 24; Psa. 107:6. P ch. 23:20; 31:3, 42. <1 Exod. 25. Simeon and Levi; compare ver. 30, and also Jacob's last words, chap. 49:5-7. 29. The house; the houses of the Shechemites. 30. Stink; become odious, hateful. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Next to the fear and love of God, the guardianship of parents is the great safeguard of children. 5. In this life, trials often succeed trials like the waves of the sea ; the passing away of some being quickly fol lowed by the coming of others. 13. The deceitfulness of parents is often dreadfully punished by the deceitfulness of their children. 24. Pecuniary considerations have great influence with men, and they will readily submit to much self-denial for the sake of making money. 29 Deceit, hypocrisy, and a profane use of divine ordi- 56 will make there an altar unto God, who A-^h°m answered me in the day of my distress,0 b. c. 1732. and was with me in the way which I went." 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their ear-rings which were in their ears;0- and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem/ 5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them,3 and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob. 6 1 So Jacob came to Luz, which is in the laud of Canaan, that is, Beth-el, he and all the people that were with him. 7 And he built there an altar, and called the place El-beth-el;+ because there God appeared unto him, when he fled from the face of his brother.' 8 But Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died, and she was buried beneath Beth-el, under an oak: and the name of it was called Allon-bachuth.* 9 1 And God appeared unto Jacob again when he came out of Padan-aram, and blessed him. 10 And God said unto him, Thy name is Jacob : thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name ; and he called his name Israel." 11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty :v be fruitful and multiply ; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins. 12 And the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac,w to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land. 13 And God went up from him in the place where he talked with him.x 14 And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone :y and he poured a drink-offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God spake with him, Beth-el. 16 1 And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but §a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labor. 17 And it came to pass when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not ; thou shalt have this son also.2 32:3, 4; Hos. 2:13. r Judg. 9:6. ' Ex. 23:27; Deut. 11:25; Josh. 2:9; 2 Chr. 14:14. t That is, The God of Bethel, t ch. 28:13. 1 That is, The oak of weeping. " ch. 32:28. v oh. 17:1; 48:3,4; Exod. 6:3. w ch. 12:7; 13:15; 28:13. * ch. 17:22. y ch. 28:18. 5 Heb. a little piece of ground. zch. 30:21; 1 Sam. 4:20. nances, blind the mind, harden the heart, sear the con science, and prepare the way for the most abominable crimes. CHAPTER XXXV. 2. Change your garments; a symbol of the inward puri fication of the soul. 3. The day of my distress; chap. 28:20; 32:7, 24-28. 4. Ear-rings; probably graven with superstitious devi ces, and used as amulets or charms. 7. El-beth-el; God of Bethel. 8. Deborah; chap. 24:59. Allon-bachuth; the oak of weeping. 15. Beth-el; house of God. Chap. 28:19. 16. Ephrath; also called Bethlehem, about six miles south of Jerusalem. Ver. 19. A M Death of Rachel and Isaac. GENESIS XXXVI. Generations of Esau. a. Mj**™'- 18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in b. o. 1729. departing," (for she died,) that she called his name Ben-oni ;* but his father called him Benjamin/1 19 And Rachel died,0 and was buried in the way to Ephrath,0 which is Beth-lehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar upon her grave : that is the pillar of Rachel's grave unto this day.d 21 1 And Israel journeyed, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Edar.0 22 And it came to pass, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father's concubine :f and Israel heard it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve :g 23 The sons of Leah ; Reuben, Jacob's first-born, and Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Zebulun: 24 The sons of Rachel : Joseph, and Benjamin : 25 And the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid ; Dan, and Naphtali : 26 And the sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid; Gad, and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob, which were born to him in Padan-aram. 27 T And Jacob came unto Isaac his father unto Mamre,h unto the city of Arba,1 which is Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac sojourned. 28 And the days of Isaac were a hundred and fourscore years. 29 And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days ;' and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.k CHAPTER XXXVI. 1 Esau's three wives. 6 His removing to mount Seir. 9 His sons. 15 The dukes which descended of his sons. 20 The sons and dukes of Seir. 24 Anah findeth mules. 31 The kings of Edom. 40 The dukes that descended of Esau. NOW these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom.1 2 Esau took his wives of the daughters of Ca naan: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite,™ and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daugh ter of Zibeon the Hivite, aLam.2:12. " That is, The son of my sorrow, t That is, The son of the righthand. b 0h. 48:7. ' Ruth 1:2; 4: 11; Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:6. <1 1 Sam. 10:2. e Mic. 4:8. f ch. 49:4 ; 1 Chr. 5:1; 1 Cor. 5: 1, s ch. 46:8. h ch. 13:18. • Josh. 14:15; 15:13. i ch. 25:8; Job 5:26. t ch. 25:9. 1 ch. 18. Ben-oni; son of my sorrow. Benjamin; meaning, son of the right hand. 20. Unto this day; the time when Moses wrote this his tory. 21. Tower of Edar; that is, tower of the flock. Micah 4:8. It is supposed to have been not far from Bethtehem. 27. Hebron; chap. 13:18; 23:2, 19. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. When God has graciously appeared for us in trouble, answered our prayers, and visited us in mercy, we should hasten to acknowledge his goodness, and render the praise and thanksgiving which are his due and our reasonable service. 8. Domestics who perform with fidelity their appropri ate duties to God and to men, add greatly to the comfort and usefulness of families, and are justly entitled to con fidence, affection, and respect. By the wise and the good they will be greatly beloved while they live, and deeply lamented when they die. 14. Whenever God especially blesses men, pious grati tude should lead them publicly to acknowledge and adore him. 3 And Bashemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebajoth. 4 And Adah bare to Esau, Eliphaz ; and Bashe math bare Reuel ; 5 And Aholibamah bare Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah:" these are the sons of Esau, which were born unto him in the land of Canaan. 6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons* of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his sub stance which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob. 7 For their riches were more than that they might dwell together ; and the land wherein they were strangers could not bear them, because of their cattle.0 8 Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir :p Esau is Edom. 9 T And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites8 in mount Seir : 10 These are the names of Esau's sons ; Eliphaz the son of Adah the wife of Esau ; Reuel the son of Bashemath the wife of Esau.q 11 And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho," and Gatam, and Kenaz. 12 And Timna was concubine to Eliphaz, Esau's son; and she bare to Eliphaz, Amalek :r these were the sous of Adah, Esau's wife. 13 And these are the sons of Reuel; Nahath, and Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah : these were the sons of Bashemath, Esau's wife. 14 1 And these were the sons of Aholibamah, the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon, Esau's wife: and she bare to Esau, Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. 15 T These were dukes of the sons of Esau : the sons of Eliphaz the first-born son of Esau; duke Teman, duke Omar, duke Zepho, duke Kenaz, 16 Duke Korah, duke Gatam, and duke Amalek : these are the dukes that came of Eliphaz, in the land of Edom : these were the sons of Adah. 17 1 And these are the sons of Reuel, Esau's 25:30. mch. 26:34. nl Chr. 1:35. J Heb. souls. ° ch. 13:6, 11. P Deut. 2:5. 5 Heb. Edom. q ver. 3, 4; 1 Chr. 1:35. I Or, Zephi ; 1 Chr. 1:36. rEx. 17:8, 14; Num. 24:20; 1 Sam. 15:2. 19. Not a thought, word, or action escapes the notice of God, or ever passes from his remembrance. Give me children, said Rachel, or else I die. Chap. 30:1. God gave her children, and she died. More wise, more safe, more blessed is it to say, Not my will, but thine be done. Matt. 28 : 39-42 ; Luke 22 : 42-. 29. The death of a parent should ever awaken new affection and kindness in children ; and while they unite in paying respect to his memory, they should be grateful for his virtues, and so far as he obeyed God, imitate his example. CHAPTER XXXVI. 1. Generations of Esau; a notice of his descendants. Edom; chap. 25:30. 2. Esau took his wives ; chap. 26 : 34 ; 28 : 9. In the differ ent accounts his wives and their parents are called by different names, more than one name being often applied to the same person. 7. Could not bear them ; they needed more pasturage for their flocks. 8. Mount Seir; chap. 32:3. 15. Dukes; leaders, or princes. 51 The dukes of Edom. GENESIS XXXVII. Joseph's first dream. son; duke Nahath, duke Zerah, duke Shammah, duke Mizzah: these are the dukes that came of Reuel, in the land of Edom : these are the sons of Bashemath, Esau's wife. 18 1 And these are the sons of Aholibamah, Esau's wife ; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Ko rah : these were the dukes that came of Aholibamah the daughter of Anah, Esau's wife. 19 These are the sons of Esau, who is Edom, and these are their dukes. 20 1 These are the sons of Seir the Horite,a who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zib eon, and Anah, 21 And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan : these are the dukes of the Horites, the children of Seir in the land of Edom. 22 And the children of Lotan were Hori and Hemam;* and Lo tan's sister was Timna. 23 And the children of Shobal were these ; Al- van,+ and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho,* and Onam. 24 And these are the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this was that Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. 25 And the children of Anah were these ; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah. 26 And these are the children of Dishon ; Hem- dan,5 and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. 27 The children of Ezer are these ; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan." 28 The children of Dishan are these; Uz, and Aran. 29 These are the dukes that came of the Horites ; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah, 30 Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan : these are the dukes that came of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir. 31 1 And these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom,0 before there reigned any king over the children of Israel. 32 And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom ; and the name of his city was Dinhabah. 33 And Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. 34 And Jobab died, aud Husham of the land of Temani reigned inhis stead. 35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead : and the name of his city was Avith. a Ch. 14:6; Deut. 2:12, 22. ' Or, Homam. t Or, Allan. > Or, Shephi. iOr,Amram. I Or, Jakan. bichr. 1:43. c ch. 10:11. % 1 Chr. 1:50; Ha dad Pai. After his death was an aristocracy, d Exod. 15:15. * Or, Allah. t Heb. Edom t Heb. of his father's sojournings. <= ch. 17:8; 23:4; 28:4; 20. Sons of Seir; these were the former inhabitants, called Horites. 24. The mules; many prefer to render, the "warm springs," perhaps those of Callirrhoe, on the east side of the Dead sea. INSTRUCTIONS. 7. In this world, as to temporal things, God treats the righteous and the wicked in many respects alike. He makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends his rain on the just and on the unjust. But in the future world, each will receive according to his works. 43. Enough of the history of Esau's descendants is 58 36 And Hadad died, and Samlah of Mas- a. ^«i>?« rekah reigned in his stead. b. c. 1780. 37 And Samlah died, and Saul of Rehoboth0 by the river reigned in his stead. 38 And Saul died, and Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. 39 And Baal-hanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar1 reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pau ; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. 40 And these are the names of the dukes that came of Esau,d according to their families, after their places, by their names ; duke Timnah, duke Alvah,* duke Jetheth, 41 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, 42 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, 43 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram : these be the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations in the land of their possession : he is Esau the father of the Edomites.f CHAPTER XXXVII. 4 Joseph is hated of his brethren. 5 His two dreams. 13 Jacob send- eth him to visit his brethren. 18 His brethren conspire his death. 21 Reuben saveth him. 26 They sell him to the Ishmaelites. 31 His father, deceived by the bloody coat, mourneth for him. 36 He is sold to Potiphar in Egypt. AND Jacob dwelt in the land * wherein his fa ther was a stranger,0 in the land of Canaan. 2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren ; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report/ 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age:8 and he made him a coat of many colors.611 4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him,1 and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 T And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren : and they hated him yet the more. 6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed : 7 For behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood up right; and behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. j 8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou in deed reign over us?k or shalt thou indeed have 36-7- Heb. 11:9-10. f 1 Sam. 2:22-24; 1 Cor. 1 H ; 5: ; 11:18. K ch 44-21 . SOr pieces. h Judff. 5 30; 2 Sam 13:18; E zek 16 16. i ch 49 S3- Psa. 38:19; 09:4; Tit. 3:3. j ch. 42:6-9; 43:26; 44: 14. k Psa. 118:22; Luke 19:14, 27. given in the Bible to show that the promises of God con cerning him were accomplished. CHAPTER XXXVII. 2. Sons of Bilhah, and — Zilpah; Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. Chap. 30 : 4-13. Their evil report; Joseph made known to Jacob their evil conduct. 3. Coat of many colors ; as a mark of distinction, and an expression of his father's love. 4. Could not; for want of disposition, not of power; they chose not to do it. 7. Made obeisance; bowed down ; a common mode of ex> pressing subjection. Joseph's second dream. GENESIS XXXVII. His brethren sell him. B-'cSra5' dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words. 9 TT And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more ; and behold, the sun and the moon and the- eleven stars made obeisance to me." 10 And he told it to his father, and to his breth ren : and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed ? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?0 11 And his brethren envied him ;c but his father observed the saying.4 12 IT And his brethren went to feed their fa ther's flock in Shechem. 13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem ? Come, and I will send thee unto them.e And he said to him, Here am I. 14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, "see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron,' and he came to Shechem. 15 IT And a certain man found him, and behold,. he was wandering in the field : and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou Is 16 And he said, I seek my brethren : tell me,h I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. 17 And the man said, They are departed hence ; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.1 18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.j 19 And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer+ cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him,k and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him ; and we shall see what will become of his dreams. 21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands ; and said, Let us not kill him. 22 And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood,1 but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid a Ch 44:14; 46:29; 50:18. bch. 27:29. 'Acts7:9. & Dan. 7:28; Luke 2:19, 51. e 1 Sam. 17:17; Luke 20:13. . ' Heb. see the peace of thy brethren, etc. 'ch.35:27. E Judg. 4:22; 2 Kings 6:19. h Cant. 1:7. i 2 Kings 6:13. i Psa. 31:13; 37-12,32; 94:21; Matt. 21:38; 27:1; John 11:53; Acts 23:12. t Heb. master of dreams, k Prov. 1:11, 16; 27:4. 1 ch. 42:22. "Matt. 27:28. t Or, pieces. " ver. 3. o Psa. 35:7; Lam. 4:20. p Prov. 30:20; Amos 6:6. q ver. 28, 36. r Jer. 8:22. » ch. 4:10; Job 16:18. t 1 Sam. 9. Sun — moon and — eleven stars; referring to Joseph's father, mother, and eleven brethren. 11. Observed the saying; remembered it, and reflected much upon its meaning. 12. Shechem; chap. 33:18. 17. Dothan; twelve or fifteen miles north of Shechem. 22. That he might rid him out of their hands; prevent their killing him, and restore him again to his father. 24. Into a pit; that is, a cistern underground. Such cis terns are used now, as anciently, to hold water, and some of them are of great size. 28. Midianites — Ishmaelites; it seems to have been a mixed company, made, up of Ishmaelites, descendants of Ishmael, and Midianites, descendants of Midian, Abra- him out of their hands, to deliver him to his fa ther again. 23 1 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat,111 his coat of many colors * that was on him ; n 24 And they took him, and cast him into a pit :° and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. 25 And they sat down to eat bread:" and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead,0- with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh,r going to carry it down to Egypt. 26 And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood ?s 27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him ;' for he is our broth er and our flesh : and his brethren §were content. 28 Then there passed by Midianites," merchant men ; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver :v and they brought Joseph into Egypt. 29 1 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and behold, Joseph was not in the pit ; and he rent his clothes.w 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not;x and I, whither shall I go ? 31 And they took Joseph's coat,y and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood ; 32 And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found : know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. 33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat ; an evil beast hath devoured him ; Joseph is with out doubt rent in pieces.2 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sack cloth upon his loins," and mourned for his son many days. 35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him : but he refused to be comfort ed;0 and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. 36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer" of Pharaoh's, and captain7 of the guard. 18:17; 2 Sam. 12:9. S Heb. hearkened, u Judg. 6:3. v Psa. 105: 17; Zech. 11:12; Matt. 27:9; Acts 7:9. >v Hum. 14:6; Judg. 11:35; Job 1:20; Joel 2:13. xch. 42:13, 36; Jer. 31:15. y ver. 23. z ch. 44:28. »2Kingsl9:l; Esther 4:1; Isa. 32:11; Jonah 3:5. b 2 Sam. 12:17. I Heb. eunuch, cham berlain, or courtier; Esther 1:10. 1 Or, chief marshal. Heb. chief of the slaughter-men, or executioners. ham's fourth son by Keturah. Hence they are called now by. one name, now by the other. 29. Rent his clothes; a common way in the East of ex pressing deep grief. 30. The child is not; Reuben was probably absent when they sold Joseph. 33. Joseph is — rent in pieces; Jacob, who deceived his father, is now himself wofully deceived by his children. 34. Sackctoth; a kind of coarse cloth worn by mourners. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Parents in the treatment of their children need wis dom from above, and should carefully avoid making invid ious distinctions between them. 59 The children of Judah. GENESIS XXXVIII. Tamar deceiveth Judah. CHAPTER. XXXVIII. I Judah begetteth Er, Onan, and Shelah. 6 Er marrieth Tamar. 8 The trespass of Onan. 11 Tamar stayeth for Shelah. 13 She de ceiveth Judah. 27 She beareth twins, Pharez and Zarah. AND it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah ; and he took her, and went in unto her. 3 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.a 4 And she conceived again, and bare a son ; and she called his name Onan.b 5 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son ; and called his name Shelah : c and he was at Chezib when she bare him. 6 And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Tamar. 7 And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the Lord ; and the Lord slew him.d 8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.0 9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did "displeased the Lord ; wherefore he slew him also. 11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in- law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown : for he said, Lest per adventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. 12 1 And +in process of time, the daughter of Shuah, Judah's wife, died; and Judah was com forted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnath' to shear his sheep. 14 And she put her widow's garments off from a Ch. 46:12. b ch. 46:12. ' ver. 11,26. d 1 Chr. 2:3. e Deut. 25:5; Matt. 22.-24. * Heb. was evil in the eyes of the Lord, t Heb. the days were multiplied, f Josh. 15:10; Judg. 14:1. t Heb. the door of eyes, or of Ena- jim. B Prov. 7:12. 1 Heb. a kid of the goats, b ver. 25. i 2 Sam. 14:2, 5. 8. Children who are especially favored need much wis dom, in order not needlessly to increase the difficulty which the partiality of parents occasions. 11. God's dealings with children are full of instruction, and worthy of being carefully observed and seriously pondered by parents. 18. Envy tends to make men hard-hearted and cruel, to root out even natural affection, and awaken the most ma lignant and murderous passions. 24. Great favors of Providence are often accompanied or followed by great trials. 2 Cor. 2:7; Heb. 12:6. 32. Under the influence of envy or covetousness, men may sell even their own brother into perpetual bondage, and rend the heart of an affectionate father with exquisite anguish. But in doing it, they are preparing for exquisite anguish themselves. CHAPTER XXXVIII. 1. Adullamite; belonging to Adullam, a place north of Hebron, and south-west from Jerusalem. 2. Shuah; the name, not of the daughter, but of her father. Ver. 12. her, and covered her with a veil, and wrap- A-2^7<">°'" ped herself, and sat in*anopen place,g which b. c. 1727. is by the way to Timnath ; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot ; because she had covered her face. 16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me ? 17 And he said, I will send thee "a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it ? 18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee ? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thy hand :h and he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. 19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.1 20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand : but he found her not. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot that was openly T by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place. 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her ; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place. 23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we *be shamed :j behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. 24 1 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot ;k and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Ju dah saidr Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.1 25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man whose these are, am I with child : and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff."1 V Or, in Enajim. • Heb. become a contempt, j Prov. 6:33; Rom. 6:21; Eph. 5:12. * Judg. 19:2; Hos. 3:3. 1 Lev. 21:9; Deut. 22:21,-2 Sam. 12:5. m ver. 18. 60 9. Give seed to his brother; Deut. 25:5, 6. 12. Timnath; south-West of Jerusalem. 14. In an open place; or, at the entrance of Enajim. 15. Covered her face; that he might not know her to be his daughter-in-law. 18. Signet; seal. Bracelets; rather, cord, by which the signet was suspended from the neck. 23. Take it; keep the pledge to herself. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Although it is ordinarily best for young men to be married early in life, yet it should not be done without earnest prayer to God for his guidance and blessing, that the connection may be a source of happiness and useful ness. 10. Secret as well as open sins are all known to God, and unless repented of and forgiven, will be visited with his curse. 20. Judah had been instrumental in deceiving his father, and now he is himself deceived. 24. Those who are most guilty themselves are often I most ready to denounce vengeance on others. Joseph is advanced, GENESIS XXXIX. and cast into prison. a. m. about 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and b. cflj~. said, She hath been more righteous than 1;" because that I gave her not to Shelah my son.b And he knew her again no more.0 27 IT And it came to pass in the time of her trav ail, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And it came to pass when she travailed, that the one put out his hand : and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out ; and she said, How hast thou broken forth ?* this breach be upon thee : therefore his name was called Pharez.+Cl 30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand; and his name was called Zarah. CHAPTER XXXIX. 1 Joseph advanced in Potiphar's house. 7 He resisteth his mistress' temptation. 13 He is falsely accused. 20 He is cast into prison. 21 God is with him there. AND Joseph was brought down to Egypt ; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh,e captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither. 2 And the Lord was with Joseph,f and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand.8 4 And Joseph found grace in his sight,11 and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.1 5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake ;3 and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.k 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand ; and he knew not aught he had, save the bread which he did ea.t. And Joseph was a goodly per son,1 and well-favored. 7 IT And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph;1™ and she said, Lie with me." »1 Sam. 24:17. b Ter. 14. ' Job 34:31, 32; Rom. 13:12; Tit. 2: II, 12. " Or, Wherefore hast thou made this breach against thee? t Thar is, A breach. I Num. 26:20; 1 Chr. 2:4; Matt. 1:3. e ch. 37:36; Psa. 105:17. f 1 Sam. 16:18; 18:14, 28; Acts 7:9. S Josh. 1:7, 8; 1 Chr. 22:13; Psa. 1:3. b ver. 21; I Sam. 16:22. >ch.24:2. joh. 30:27. It Deut. 28:3-6. 1 1 Sam. 16:12; 17:42. m Job 31:1; Psa-. 119:37. n 2 Sam. 13:11. ° Prov. 1:10. P Lev. CHAPTER XXXIX. 4. Grace; favor. 6. He knew not aught; he did not take the care of any thing himself, but left all to# Joseph. Goodly — well-favor ed ; beautiful in person. 8. Wotteth; knoweth. 20. In the prison; chap. 41:14; Psa. 105:18. 22. He was the doer; he gave directions, and things were done accordingly. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. The Lord will not forsake any who put their trust in him ; and fidelity in the discharge of duty in lower situa- 8 But he refused,0 and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand ; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness,0 and sin against God?" 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day,r that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass about this time, that Jo seph went into the house to do his business ; and there was none of the men of the house there within. 12 And she caught him by his garment,8 saying, Lie with me : and he left his garment in her hand, and fled,' and got him out. 13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, sayiug, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us ;u he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a *loud voice : 15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his gar ment with me, and fled, and got him out. 16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me : 18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.v 19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me ; that his wrath was kindled.™ 20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison,x a place where the king's prison ers were bound : and he was there in the prison. 21 1 But the Lord was with Joseph, and Show ed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison/ 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 20:10; Prov. 6:29. 32. q 2 Sam. 12:13; Psa. 51:4; Jer. 28:16. r Prov. 22:14; 23:27. » Prov. 7:13. t Eccl. 7:26. " Ezek. 22:5. t Heb. great. v Exod. 23:1; Psa. 37:14; 120:3; Prov. 12:19. w Prov. 6:34, 35; Cant. 8:6. x ch. 41:14; Psa. 105:18. 5 Heb. extended kindness unto him. y Exod. 12:36; Psa. 106:46; Prov. 16:7; Dan. 1:9; Acts 7:10. tions is the best preparation for, and the surest way of advancement to those that are higher. 9. The fear of the Lord is the surest pledge of fidelity, the best safeguard against temptation, and the most pow erful means of promoting all the great interests of men. 15. Tempters to sin will turn accusers, and when they have power, will become persecutors and tormentors. 21. No evils which men can inflict can shut out the presence and favor of God from those who trust in him ; and a servant in a dungeon may be more happy than a king on his throne. Though he may suffer for righteous ness' sake, in due time he will be delivered, and his sor row turned into joy. 61 Pharaoh's butler GENESIS XL. and baker in prison, 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand ; because the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.* CHAPTER XL. 1 The butler and baker of Pharaoh in prison. 4 Joseph hath charge of them. 5 He interpreteth their dreams. 20 They come to pass according to his interpretation. 23 The ingratitude of the butler. AND it came to pass after these things, that the butler0 of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two qf his offi cers,0 against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.4 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they con tinued a season in ward. 5 T And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night,e each man ac cording to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morn ing, and looked upon them, and behold, they were sad/ 7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore 'look ye so sadly to-day?8 8 And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it.11 And Joseph said unto them, Do no.t interpretations be long to God ?[ tell me them, I pray you. 9 And the chief butler told, his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream,1 behold, a vine was before me ; 10 And in the vine were three branches : and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth ; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes : a Ver. 2, 3. b Neh. 1:11. " Prov. 16:14; 19:19. dch. 39:20, 23. e Job Boh. 41:15. reckon. a ver. a, -i. ° jven. l:ll. K rrov. ro:li; iy:ia. « en. d»:^u, at. 33:15-17. 'Dan. 4:5. * Heb. are your faces evil? S Neh. 2:2. h0h. 1 Dan. 2:11, 28. j Judg. 7:13. k ch. 41:25; Dan. 2:36. t Or, r 1 2 Kings 23:27; Jer. 52:31. I Heb. remember me with thee, m 1 Sam. 20:14, lo; I Kings 2:7; Luke 23:42. n 1 Sam. 24:11; Psa. 59:3,4; Dan. CHAPTER XL. 1. Butler; a cup-bearer ; one who presented to the king his wine. Baker; the one who furnished the king his bread, or had the direction of others who did it. 3. Ward; prison. 4. Charged Joseph; gave him the care of them. Served them ; supplied their wants. 5. According to the interpretation; that is, the dreams were truly prophetic, and had each an interpretation, as was afterwards explained by Joseph. 12. Three branches are three days; not literally, but they represent or mean three days. So the three baskets, ver. 18. Compare also Matt. 26:26. 13. Lift up thy head; take thee out of prison. 15. Stolen; his brethren, in selling him, took what was not theirs, and appropriated it to their own use. This, Joseph called stealing. 16. Good; favorable. 62 11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: a.m. about and I took the grapes, and pressed them b. c. 171s. into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pha raoh's hand. 12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the inter pretation of it:k The three branches are thre§ days: 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift1 up thy head,1 and restore thee unto thy place; and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. 14 But * think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me,"1 and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house : 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews : and here also have I done noth ing that they should put me into the dungeon." 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpre tation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and behold, / had three § white bas kets on my head : 17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of "bake-meats for Pharaoh : and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head. 18 And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:0 19 Yet within three daysp shall Pharaoh "'lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree ; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee."- 20 T And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday ,r that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted* up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler unto his butler ship again, and he gave the cup into Pha raoh's hand;3 22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.1 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Jo seph, but forgat him.u 6:22. § Or, full of holes. Q Heb. meat of Pharaoh, the work of a baker, or cook, o ch. 41:26. P ver. 13; U Or, reckon thee, and take thy office from thee, ql Sam. 17:44; 2 Sam. 21:10. r Matt. 14:6; Mark 6:21. • Or, reck oned. »Neh.2:l. t ver. 19. » Psa. 31:12; Eccl. 9:15, 16; Amos 6:6. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. The present condition of men is no certain indication of their character. In the same dungeon may be very different men, and from very different causes — men who are serving different masters, and preparing to dwell for ever in different places. 8. Those who receive their blessings as the gift of God, and gratefully acknowledge him, will sympathize in the distresses of others, and be disposed, as far as may be consistent, to relieve them. 12. To insist on a literal interpretation where the mean ing is evidently figurative, is a gross perversion of Scrip ture. 15. The selling of a brother into bondage is not only palpable dishonesty, but aggravated theft. Ex. 21:16. 23. In prosperity men are apt to overlook and forget those who have aided them in adversity, and thus to show that their hearts are deceitful and desperately wicked. Jer. 17:9. Joseph interpreteth GENESIS XLI. Pharaoh's two dreams A. M. 2289. B. C 1715. CHAPTER XLI. 1 Pharaoh's two dreams. 25 Joseph interpreteth them. 33 He aiveth Pharaoh counsel. 38 Joseph is advanced. 50 He begetteth Manas seh and Ephraim. 51 The famine beginneth. AND it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed:" and behold, he stood by the river. 2 And behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favored kine and fat-fleshed ; and they fed in a meadow. 3 And behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed ; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill-favored and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank* and good. 6 And behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprang up after them. . 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8 And it came to pass in the morning, that his spirit was troubled ;° and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof:0 and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.4 9 T Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day : 10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants^ and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker : 11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the in terpretation of his dream/ 12 And there was there with us a young man, a Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard ; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams ; to each man according to his dream he did inter pret. 13 And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was ; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. 14 1 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they tbrought him hastily out of the dungeon :g and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. a Esth. 3:1; Dan. 2:1. • Heb./a(. bDan. 4:5,19; 7:2^; 8:27. c Exod. 7:11 ; Isa. 29:14; Dan. 2 :2. d 1 Cor. 1 :19. ech. 40:2 . f ch. 40:5. tHeb. made him run. B I Sam 2:8; Psa. 105:20. t Or, when thou hearest a dream thou cans interpret it. b Pea. 25:14 Dan . 5:16. i ch. 40:8; Dan 2:30; CHAPTER XLI. 1. The river; the Nile, upon the annual overflow of which the fertility of Egypt depends. 2. Kine; cows. Well-favored; good looking. So ill- favored means bad looking. Both the fat and the lean cows came out of the river, signifying that from it come both plenty and want in Egypt. 5. Ears of corn; heads of wheat. The so called Egyp tian wheat bears several heads on one stalk. 8. Magicians; the sacred scribes of Egypt, whose office 15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can in terpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.*" 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me : God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.1 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river :j 18 And behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well-favored ; and they fed in a meadow : 19 And behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill-favored and lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness : 20 And the lean and the ill-favored kine did eat up the first seven fat kine : 21 And when they had 6eaten them up, "it could not be known that they had eaten them ; but they were still ill-favored, as at the beginning. So I awoke. 22 And I saw in my dream, and behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good : 23 And behold, seven ears, withered,1 thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them : 24 And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians ;k but there was none that could declare it to me. 25 TT And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath showed Pharaoh what he is about to do.1 26 The seven good kine are seven years ; and the seven good ears are seven years : the dream is one. 27 And the seven thin and ill-favored kine that came up after them are seven years ; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine."1 28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: what God is about to do, he showeth unto Pharaoh. 29 Behold, there come seven years of great plen ty throughout all the land of Egypt:" 30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine;0 and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall con sume the land;" 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. T 32 And for that the dream was doubled unto 2 Cor. 3:5. j ver. 1. 5 Heb. come to the inward parts of them. Q Or, small. k ver. 8; Dan. 4:7. 1 Dan. 2:29, 45; Hev. 4:1. m 2 Kings 8:1. o ver. 47. o ver. 54. P ch. 47:13. T Heb. heavy. was to explain signs, interpret dreams, and reveal hidden things. 9 . My faults ; against Pharaoh, rather than against Joseph. 13. He restored; Pharaoh restored. The chief butler speaks of his monarch in the third person. 16. Bis not in me; he could not of himself interpret the dream, it must be by divine aid. An answer of peace; one that would remove his fears and promote his good. 25. Is one; both dreams mean the. same thing. 26. Are seven years; represent them. Chap. 40:12, 18. 28. This is the thing which I have spoken; this is the thing which I said before. See ver. 25. 63 L_ Joseph made chief ruler GENESIS XLI. Seven years of famine. Pharaoh twice;1 it is because the thing is estab lished by God,* and God will shortly bring it to 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers + over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years.0 35 And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. 36 And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land *perish not through the famine. 37 T And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh,4 and in the eyes of all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the spirit of God is?0 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art : 40 Thou shalt be over my house/ and according unto thy word shall all my people §be ruled : only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.8 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand," and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of 'fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck ; ' 43 And he made him to ride in the second char iot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee:11* and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.j 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath- paaneah;f and he gave him to wife Asenath the »Ch. 37:7, 9. • Or, prepared of God. b Num. 23:19; .Isa. 46:10. t Or, overseers. c Prov 6:6-8; 22:3. t Heb. be not cut off. d Acts 7:10. e Num. 27:18; Job 32:8; Prov. 2:6; Dan. 4:8, 18; 5:11. I Psa. 105:21. § Heb. be armed, or kiss. B Dan. 6:3. a Esth. 3: 10; 8:2, 8, 15. 1 Or, silk. ¦ Dan. 5:7, 29. 1 Or, Tender father. ' Heb. Abrech. j ch. 45:8,26; Acts 7:10. t Which in the Coptic signifies, A revealer of secrets, or The man to whom 34. Of the land; the produce of the land. 36. The land perish not; the inhabitants of it. 42. Put it upon Joseph's hand; in token of his being clothed with authority. 43. The second chariot; the chariot assigned to the man that stood next in rank to the king, and doubtless second to the king's chariot in splendor. 44. Lift up his hand or foot ; a proverbial expression, de noting that all the people should be under Joseph's control. 45. Zaphnath-paaneah ; supposed to mean, saviour of the world. Priest; a priest at that time, in Egypt, was a civil as well as an ecclesiastical ruler; and by this marriage Joseph became connected with one of the great men of the kingdom. On ; called by the Greeks Heliopolis, or the city of the sun. It was on the east of the Nile, in the land of Goshen, and not far from the modern Cairo. 47. By handfuls; in great abundance. 48. Laid up the food; that which was not wanted for present use. 51. Manasseh; that is, one causing forgetfulness. 64 2289.1715. daughter of Poti-pherah priest* of On. %%, And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. 46 IT And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt.k And Jo seph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. 47 And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. 48 And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. 49 And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea,1 very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number. 50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came:"1 which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest5 of On bare unto him. . 51 And Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh.' For God, said he, hath made me for get all my toil, and all my father's house. 52 And the name of the second called he Ephra im:1 For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction." 53 1 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. 54 And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said:0 and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. . 55 And when all the land of Egypt was famish ed," the people cried to Pharaoh for bread : and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph ; what he saith to you, do. 56 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened *all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians;4 and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. 57 And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands. secretsare revealed, t Or, prince; Exod. 2:16; 2 Sam. 8:18. * 1 Sam. 16:21 ; Dan. 1:19; Luke 21 :36. 1 oh. 22:17; Judg. 7.12; 1 Sam. 13:5; Psa. 78:27. m oh. 46:20; 48:5. { Or, prince; ver. 45. I That is, Forgetting. 1 That is, Fruitful, r. oh. 49:22. ° ver. 30. P Jer. 14:1, 2; Lam. 4:4. • Heb. all wherein was. q ch. 42:6: 47:14, 24. 52. Ephraim; fruitful. 55. Egypt was famished; the people had consumed all their food, and were in want. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. All future things are known to God, and as far as he sees best he makes them known to men. Before men had the Bible, God often communicated information to them in dreams and visions. But now we are not to expect information in those ways, but to give heed to the Bible, which is able to make us wise unto salvation, and furnish us thoroughly for every good work. 14. God never overlooks the trials of his people, or suf fers them to continue a moment too long. When the right time comes he delivers them, often suddenly, in ways, by means, and for purposes which they never expected. 25. Those who in all their ways acknowledge God, will find that he directs their paths ; and those things which they thought to be against them, they will see were order ed in such a way as to promote their highest good. Jacob's sons are sent GENESIS XL1I. to buy corn in Egypt. A. M. 2297. U. C 1707. CHAPTER XLII 1 Jacob sendeth his ten sons to buy corn in Egypt. 16 They are im prisoned by Joseph for spies. 18 They are set at liberty, on condi tion to bring Benjamin. 21 They have remorse for Joseph. 24 Sim eon is kept for a pledge. 25 They return with corn, and their money. 29 Their relation to Jacob. 36 Jacob refuseth to send Benjamin. NOW when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt," Jacob said unto his sons,' Why do ye look one upon another ? 2 And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt : get you down thither, and buy for us from thence ; that we may live, and not die.0 3 T And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4 But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest perad venture mischief befall him.0 5 And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan. 6 And Joseph was the governor over the land,4 and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. 7 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake * roughly unto them ; and he said unto them, Whence come ye ? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. 8 And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew #not him. 9 And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them,0 and said unto them, Ye are spies; to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 10 And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. 11 We are all one man's sons ; we are true men, thy servants are no spies. 12 And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land ye are come. 13 And they said, Thy servants are twelve breth ren, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan ; » Acts 7:12. b ch. 43:8; Psa. 118:17. « ver. 38. I ch. 41:41. 'Heb. hard things with them, e ch. 37:5,9.. f ch. 37:30; Jer. 31:15; Lam. 5:7; Matt. 2:li). s Deut. 6:13; 1 Sam. 1:26; 17:55; Jas. 5:12. t Heb. bound. t Heb. gathered, h ch. 20:11; Lev. 25:43; Neh. 5:15: Luke 18:2,4. i ver. 34; ch. 43:5; 44:23. j Num. 32:23; 1 Kings 17:18; Job 36:8, 9; Hos. 5:15; 33. The fact that men are dependent on God does not supersede the necessity, on their part, of wisdom and dis cretion; and those who have most of these qualities, will be most likely to be successful. 39. Those who know most of God and his ways will be the most wise and discreet. They can be most safely trusted, and in great and difficult services may be expect ed to do the most good. 44. He who shows the most kindness, patience, com passion, and benevolence in a dungeon, may be expected to show the most humility, meekness, equanimity, and loveliness on a throne. 52. God can, in this world, cause his people to forget their sorrows, or so to remember them as to heighten their joys, and make them feel that their sharpest trials were not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall follow. CHAPTER XLII. I. Look one upon another; in perplexity and despair. 5 and behold, the youngest is this day with our fa ther, and one is not.1' 14 And Joseph said unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies : 15 Hereby ye shall be proved: By the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth hence,g except your youngest brother come hither. 16 Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept f in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely ye are spies. 17 And he put* them all together into ward three days. 18 And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live ; for I fear God : " 19 If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison : go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses : 20 But bring your youngest brother unto me;1 so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. 21 1 And they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother,-* in that we saw the anguish of his soul, when he besought us, and we would not hear ;k therefore is this distress come upon us. 22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you,1 saying, Do not sin against the child ; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required."1 23 And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for §he spake unto them by an interpreter. 24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept ; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon, and bound him before their eyes. 25 1 Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack, and to give them provision for the way : " and thus did he unto them. 26 And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed thence. 27 And as one of them opened his sack to give Matt. 27:3. 4; Acts 19:18. t Prov. 21:13; 24:11, 12; Jer. 34:17: Matt. 7:2. 1 ch. 37:21'. men. 9:5; 1 Kings 2:32; 2 Chr. 24:22; Psa. 9:12; Ezek. 3:18; Luke 11:50,51; Acts 28:4; Rev. 13:10. § Heb. an interpreter -was between them. ¦¦ Matt. 5:44; Horn. 12:17, 20; Eph. 4:2. 6. That sold; directed as to the selling. Bowed down; chap. 37:7, 8. 7. Made himself strange ; acted as one that did not know them. 9. The dreams; chap. 37:5-9. Tlie nakedness qfthe land; its defenceless points, where and how a successful attack might be made upon it. 14. That is it that I spake unto you ; what I said to you before, ver. 9, is the truth. Compare above, chap. 41 : 28. 15. By tlie life of Pharaoh; as surely as Pharaoh lives. 17. Ward; prison. Three days; this gave them time to reflect upon their past conduct, their treatment of Joseph ¦and Jacob, and upon their present condition and pros pects. This was what Joseph intended, and he no doubt prayed that it might be for their good. 20. Be verified; be proved to be true. 21. Guilty concerning our brother ; conscience condemned them for their treatment of Joseph, more than twenty years before. Tlierefore is this distress; they viewed it as a punishment of their sins. 65 Jacob's sons return home, GENESIS XLIII. and are again sent to Egypt. his ass provender in fhe inn, he espied his money ; for behold, it was in his sack's mouth. 28 And he said unto his brethren, My money is restored ; and lo, it is even in my sack : and their heart "failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, What is this that God hath done unto us ? 29 1 And they came unto Jacob their father unto the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell unto them ; saying, 30 The man who is the lord of the land spake roughly+ to us," and took us for spies of the coun try. 31 And we said unto him, AVe are true men; we are no spies : 32 We be twelve brethren, sons of our father ; one is not, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan. 33 And the man, the lord of the country, said unto us, Hereby shall I know that ye are true men: leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone : 34 And bring your youngest brother unto me : then shall I know that ye are no spies, but that ye are true men : so will I deliver you your brother, and ye shall traffic in the land.0 35 1 And it came to pass, as they emptied their sacks, that behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack:0 and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid. 36 And Jacob their father said unto them, Me have ye bereaved of my children :d Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin away : all these things are against me.0 37 And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons if I bring him not to thee : de liver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. 38 And he said, My son shall not go down with you ; for his brother is dead,1 and he is left alone : if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.g ¦ Heb. went forth, t Heb. with us hard things a ver. 7, 12. b ch. 31:10. ° eh. 43:21. d ch. 43: 14. e 1 j^am. 27: 1 ; Job 7:7; Eccl. 7:8; Rom. 8:28. t ch. 37:33; 44:20, 28. 6 ch. 37:35; 44:29, 31; Isa. 3d: 10. b ch. 41:51; 28. They were afraid; lest they should be charged with having stolen the money, and be treated as thieves. God hath done; in his providence caused to come upon us as a punishment for our sin. 37. Slay my two sons; that is, you may slay them, if I bring not Benjamin back again ; a rash expression, but it showed Reuben's earnestness and sincerity. 38. His brother; that is, Joseph; his own brother by Rachel. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Iu seasons of danger and distress nothing is gained by despondency. The question should be, What shall we do? and having ascertained, we should, without delay, and in dependence on God, attempt to do it. He helps those who, in the right way, attempt to help themselves. 9. The efforts of men to thwart the plans of God are the means of fulfilling them ; yet they are as wicked in oppos ing him, as if he did not make what they do the occasion of promoting his cause. CHAPTER XLIII. i£35: 1 Jacob iB hardly persuaded to send Benjamin. 15 Joseph entertaineth his brethren. 31 He maketh them a feast. AND the famine was sore in the land.'1 2 And it came to pass, when they had eaten up the corn which they had brought out of Egypt, their father said unto them, Go again, buy us a little food. 3 And Judah spake unto him, saying, The man did solemnly protest* unto us, saying, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 4 If thou wilt send our brother with us, we will go down and buy thee food : 5 But if thou wilt not send him, we will not go down : for the man said unto us, Ye shall not see my face, except your brother be with you. 6 And Israel said, Wherefore dealt ye so ill with me, as to tell the man whether ye had yet a brother? 7 And they said, The man asked us§ straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor1 of these words. Could we certainly know' that he would say, Bring your brother down? 8 And Judah said unto Israel his father, Send the lad with me, and we will arise and go ; that we may live, and not die, both we, and thou, and also our little ones. 9 I will be surety for him;1 of my hand shalt thou require him: if I bring him not unto thee, and set him before thee, then let me bear the blame for ever : • 10 For except we had lingered, surely now we had returned this second4 time. 11 And their father Israel said unto them, If it must be so now, do this: take of the best fruits in the land in your vessels, and carry down the man a present,-1 a little balm, and a little honey, spices and myrrh,k nuts and almonds: 12 And take double money in your hand ; and the money that was brought again in the mouth of your sacks,1 carry it again in your hand ; per adventure it was an oversight. 13 Take also your brother, and arise, go again unto the man : Lam. 5:10. 1 Heb. protesting protested. 5 Heb. asking asked us. i Heb. mouth. 1 Heb. Knowing could we know? i ch. 44:32; Psa. 119: 122; Phile. 18,19. * Or. twice by this. 1 Prov. 18:16. k ch. 37:25. leh. 42:25. 16. Men are often strongly tempted to do evil that good may come, but it is never right ; and the success of a plan is no sure evidence of the righteousness of the means used in prosecuting it. 28. When men have done what they know to be wick ed, and evils come upon them, conscience links the two together, and views the one as a punishment for the other. CHAPTER XLIII. 7. According to the tenor of these words ; suited our an swers honestly to these questions of his. 11. Balm; balsam, like that of Gilead. Honey; proba bly here honey of grapes, made by boiling down new wine to a third or half. Myrrh; here probably a fragrant gum called ladanum. Nuts; the original word means pistacia-nuts. 12. Double money; that which they brought back, and enough more to buy the corn which they heeded. Joseph- maketh a feast GENESIS XLIII. for his brethren. B.'(\i7w7' 14 And God Almighty give you mercy before the man,11 that he may send away your other brother, and Benjamin. *If I be bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.0 15 T And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin ; arid rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. 16 And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house,0 Bring these men home, and slay,+ and make ready; for these men shall dine* with me at noon. 17 And the man did as Joseph bade ; and the man brought the men into Joseph's house. 18 And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph's house ; and they said, Be cause of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek occasion against us,§ and fall upon us, and take us for bondmen, and our asses. 19 And they came near to the steward of Jo seph's house, and they communed with him at the door of the house, 20 And said, 0 sir, we came indeed down1 at the first time to buy food : 21 And it came to pass, when we came to the inn, that we opened our sacks,d and behold, every man's money was in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight: and we have brought it again in our hand. 22 And other money have we brought down in our hands to. buy food : we cannot tell who put our money in our sacks. 23 And he said, Peace be to you, fear not:e your God, and the God of your father, hath given you treasure in your sacks: I had your money.11 And he brought Simeon out unto them. a Neh. 1:11: Psa. 37:5. • Or, And I, as I have been, etc. b Esth. 4:10. cch.4l:l. t Heb. kill a killing, t Heb. eat. 5 Heb. roll himself upon us; Job 30: 14. I Heb. coming down we came down, d ch. 42:27. e Judg. 0:23; 19:20; 1 Sam. 25:6; Luke 24:36. 1 Heb. your money came to me. f ch. 18:1; 21:32. ever. 11. h ch. 37:7, 10. * Heb. peace, t Heb. Is there peace 14. If I be bereaved — lam bereaved; an expression of de sponding resignation. 23. God — liath given you treasure; not without human agency ; but he had so ordered things in his providence that they had their money. I had your money; it was paid to me, and I acknowledge the receipt of it; of course you need not fear. He had himself, at the com mand of Joseph, without their knowledge, put it into their sacks. 24. Washed their feet; according to the custom of travel lers in those days. Chap. 18:4. 25. The present ; that which they had brought from the land of Canaan. 26. Bowed themselves; chap. 37:7. 31. Refrained; from weeping, and appeared as usual. 32. For that is an abomination; the Egyptians kept them selves separate from all strangers, and had a particular aversion to men whose occupation was that of shepherds. See chap. 46:34. 33. They sat before him ; they were seated according to their different ages. Marvelled; that he who seated them should know, in each case, which was oldest. 34. Messes; portions of food. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. As to the future doing of things which are left to our discretion, it is ordinarily not best to say positively what we will or will not do, but to feel our dependence on 24 And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet;r and he gave their asses provender. 25 And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon;8 for they heard that they should eat bread there. 26 If And when Joseph came home, they brought him the present which was in their hand into the house, and bowed themselves to him to the earth.11 27 And he asked them of iluir welfare,* and said, Is your father well/ the old man of whom ye spake?1 Is he yet alive? 28 And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, lie is yet alive. And they bow ed down their heads, and made obeisance. 29 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother's son,j and said, Is this your younger brother, of whom ye spake unto me? And he said, God be gracious unto thee, my son.k 30 And Joseph made haste ; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother;1 and lie sought where to weep ; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there. 31 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. 32 And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians which did eat with him by themselves : because the Egyp tians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is an abomination unto the Egyptians.™ 33 And they sat before him, the first-born accord ing to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth : and the men marvelled one at another. 34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him:n but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and §were merry with him.0 to your father? • ch. 42: 11, 13. j ch. 35: 1-7, 18. k Josh. 7:19; 2 Chr. 29:11 ; Matt. 9:2. I 1 Kings 3:26; Jer. 31:20; Phil. 1:8; 2:1; Col. 3:12. m oh. 40:34; Exod. 8:26. n 2 Sam. 11:8. 5* Heb. drank largely, o Prov. 31:6; Ecol. 9:7; 10:19; Cant. 5:1; Matt. 11:19; John 2:10 God ; and when the time to act comes, decide as truth and duty may then require. 7. When things seem to go against us, we are apt to overlook the controlling hand of God, and regard only the instruments ; but in blaming them, we often find fault with him. 11. When a man has promised to do what is wrong, instead of feeling that he is bound to fulfil his promise, his duty is to acknowledge his sin in making it, repent, and do what is right. There is always a law higher than any mere human promise, namely, the law of God. If a man does wrong because he has promised or sworn to do it, he adds sin to sin, and ripens for an aggravated con demnation. Matt. 14:9, 10. 18. A guilty conscience, when awakened, naturally fore bodes evil, producing a certain fearful looking for of judg ment and fiery indignation ; and unless men find the way of deliverance, it will make them wretched. 22. Property that has come into our hands *by oversight or mistake, as well as that which we have wrongfully ob tained, should be carefully and promptly returned to its rightful owners. 26. When events, long before made known, are accom plished by the voluntary actions of free moral agents, it shows that such actions were beforehand certain ; though that certainty does not lessen men's freedom, nor dimin ish their praise or blameworthiness in performing those actions. Acts 2:23. Joseph's policy GENESIS XLIV. to stay his brethren. CHAPTER XLIV 1 Joseph's policy to stay his brethren. 14 Judah's humble supplication to Joseph. AND he commanded the steward of his house," saying, Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's mouth. 2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn-money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken. 3 As soon as the morning was light, the men were sent away, they and their asses. 4 And when they were gone out of the city, and not yet far off, Joseph said unto his steward, Up, follow after the men;a and when thou dost over take them, say unto them, Wherefore have ye re warded evil for good?0 5 Is not this it in which my lord drinketh, and whereby indeed he divineth?t ye have done evil in so doing. 6 TT And he overtook them, and he spake unto them these same words. 7 And they said unto him, Wherefore saith my lord these words? God forbid that thy servants should do according to this thing :° 8 Behold, the money, which we found in our sacks' mouths, we brought again unto thee out of the land of Canaan:* how then should we steal out of thy lord's house silver or gold? 9 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die,0 and we also will be my lord's bondmen. 10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words : he with whom it is found shall be my servant ;f and ye shall be blameless. 11 Then they speedily took down every man his sack to the ground, and opened every man his sack. 12 And he searched, and began at the eldest, and left at the youngest : and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. 13 Then they rent their clothes,8 and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. 14 T And Judah and his brethren came to Jo seph's house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground.11 15 And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?* 16 And Judah said, What shall we say unto my lord? what shall we speak?1 or how shall we " Heb. him that was over his house. » Deut. 2:13. t> Prov. 17:13. t Or, maketh trial. <= Josh. 22:22; 2 Kings 8:13. d ch. 43:22. e ch. 31:32. 'Exod. 22:3. S ch. 37:23, 31; Num. 14:6; 2 Sam. 1: 11. h oh. 37:7. J Or. make trial; ver. 5. i Ezra 9:10; Job 40:4. j Num. 32:23; Josh 7:18; 30. Family, ties are tender and lasting ; and delightful, after long absence, is the meeting of affectionate family friends. As' their forcible and violent separation causes the intensest anguish, so their kind, providential restora tion gives inexpressible joy. CHAPTER XLIV. 5. Whereby — he divineth; in this, as in using an inter preter and swearing by the life of Pharaoh, Joseph con ducts himself towards his brethren as an Egyptian. We are not to understand that he actually practised- divina- 68 clear ourselves? God hath found out the I.e. 1707: iniquity of thy servants :s behold, we are my lord's servants, both we, and he also with whom the cup is found. 17 And he said, God forbid that I should do so ;k but tlie man in whose hand the cup is found, he shall be my servant ; and as for you, get you up in peace unto your father. 18 H Then Judah came near unto him, and said, 0 my lord, let thy servant, I pray thee, speak a word in my lord's ears, and let not thine anger burn against thy servant:1 for thou art even as Pharaoh. 19 My lord asked his servants, saying, Have ye a father, or a-brother? 20 And we said unto my lord, We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one ; and his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loveth him.m 21 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Bring him down unto me, that I may set mine eyes upon him." 22 And we said unto my lord, The lad cannot leave his father : for if he should leave his father, his father would die, 23 And thou saidst unto thy servants, Except your youngest brother come down with you, ye shall see my face no more. 24 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. 25 And our father said, Go again,. and buy us a little food.0 26 And we said, We cannot go down:p if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down ; for we may not see the man's face, except our youngest brother be with us. 27 And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons :q 28 And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces ;r and I saw him not since : 29 And if ye take this also from me, and mis chief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. 30 Now therefore when I come to thy servant my father, and the lad be not with us ; seeing that his life is bound up in the lad's life ;3 31 It shall come to pass, when he seeth that the lad is not with us, that he will die: and thy ser vants shall bring down the gray hairs of thy servant our father with sorrow to the grave. Prov. 2S:17; Luke 12:2 k Prov. 17 15. ch. 18 30, 32. m oh. 3 7:3 ¦>ch. 42:15 20. 0 ch. 43:2. p Luke 11 7. q oh 30:23 35:18 40: 10. r ch. 37:33 42:36 • 1 Sam. 18:1; 25 29 tion. The practice of divining by cups was common among the Egyptians. 14. Fell before him; in token of submission. Chap. 37:7,10. 16. The iniquity of thy servants; he might not mean by this to confess that they had stolen the cup, but that God in his providence was righteously punishing them for their sins, and that they meant to accept whatever he should lay upon them. 18. Even as Pharaoh; having full power to do as he should choose. Joseph maketh himself GENESIS XLV. known to his brethren. A. M. 2297. B. C. 1707. 32 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father,a saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. 33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord ;° and let the lad go up with his brethren. 34 For how shall I go up to my father, and the lad be not with me? lest peradventure I see the evil0 that shall "come on my father. d CHAPTER XLV. 1 Joseph maketh himself known to his brethren. 5 He comforteth them in Crod's providence. 9 He sendeth for his father. 16 Pharaoh con- firmeth it. 21 Joseph furnisheth them for their journey, and exhort- eth them to concord. 25 Jacob is revived with the news. THEN Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made him self known unto his brethren. 2 And he +wept aloud:0 and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. 3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Jo seph ; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him ; for they were troubled8 at his presence/ 4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you ; and they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.* . 5 Now therefore be not grieved,11 "nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither ; for God did send me before you to preserve life.1 6 For these two years hath the famine been in the land:5 and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. k 7 And God sent me before you T to preserve you a Ch. 43:9. o Exod. 32:32; Rom. 5:7-10; 9:3. » 2 Chr. 34:28. • Heb find my father, i Exod. 18:8; Job 31:29: Psa. 110:3; 119:143. t Heb. gave forth his voice in weeping, e Num. 14:1. 8 Or, terrified, f Job 4-5; 23:15; Matt. 14:26. S ch. 37:28. k 2Cor. 2:7. I Heb. neither let there be anger in your eyes. i.ch. 50:20; Psa. 105:16, 17. j ch. 47:18. k Exod. 33. Let thy servant abide instead of the lad; the feelings of the ten brethren towards their father and towards Benjamin, the trial of which seems to have been a chief object of Joseph's demeanor towards his brethren, were fully proved by this last self-sacrificing offer of Judah. INSTRUCTIONS. 9. Hasty decisions, and strong, confident assertions are often wrong, and bring those who make them into great perplexity and distress. Prov. 29:11. 16. Hearty acknowledgment of the justice of God in our trials, and humble submission to his will, indicate a preparation for approaching deliverance. 18. It is never wise or right, in a world of mercy and grace, to despair, or cease to use appropriate means ; however dark to human appearance may be the prospect, or feeble the means used, God can give speedy and tri umphant success. 32. The most touching and efficacious eloquence is often a simple narration of facts. God's ways are great, and a true recital of them is suited to produce great effects. His ways, like himself, are perfect, and a knowledge of them is suited to make men perfect, and lead them, in their measure, to imitate him. 34. An affectionate and tender regard for one's father, a readiness to sacrifice, and if need be suffer, to prevent a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.1 8 So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God :m and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh," and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt. 9 Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt : come down unto me, tarry not : 10 And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen," and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast : 11 And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine ; lest thou, and thy house hold, and all that thou hast, come to poverty. 12 And behold, your eyes see," and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. 13 And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen ; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.0- 14 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept;r and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 Moreover, he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them : and after that his brethren talked with him. 16 IT And the fame thereof was heard in Pha raoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come : and it pleased Pharaoh well,* and his servants. 17 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye ; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan ; 18 And take your father, and your households, and come unto me : and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.8 34:21. 1 Heb. to put for you a remnant. 1 1 Chr. 11:14; Psa. 18:50; 44-4 m John 19:11. n ch. 41:43; Judg. 17:10; Job 29:10. o ch. 46:29; 47:1-6- Exod. 8:22; 9:26. P ch. 42:23; Luke 24:39. q Acts 7:14. r ch. 33:4; 46:29. * Heb. was goodin the eyes of Pharaoh. > ch. 27:28; 47:6; Num. 18:29; Deut. 32:14. evils from coming upon him, and to prolong his life, pro mote his comfort, and cheer him in old age, is peculiarly pleasing to God, and is often followed by some of his richest blessings. CHAPTER XLV. 1. Then Joseph; in all his preceding conduct towards his brethren, which had the. appearance of harshness, Joseph had acted by a divine illumination; not for the gratification of his own private feelings, but for the accomplishment of the divine purposes, which included the humiliation of his brethren, and the trial of their feel ings towards their father and Benjamin. Now the way was fully prepared for making himself known to his brethren. _ 5. Be not grieved; indulge not excessive anguish, nor sink into despair, for God is to be seen and acknowledged in all these things. 6. Earing; an old English word for ploughing, or tilling. 8. Not you; that is, not you merely, or principally. You were instruments in fulfilling the infinitely wise and gra cious purposes of God. 9. God hath made me lord ; men had been the means, but God had been the cause, and to him belonged the glory. 10. Goshen; the north-east part of Egypt, nearest to the land of Canaan. G9 Jacob goeth into Egypt. GENESIS XLVI. His sons, and their children. 19 Now thou art commanded, this do ye: take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come. 20 Also "regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours. 21 And tlie children of Israel did so : and Jo seph gave them wagons, according to the f com mandment of Pharaoh,'"1 and gave them provision for the way.- 22 To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment ; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.0 23 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses * laden with the good tilings of Egypt, and ten she-asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. 24 So he sent his brethren away, and they de parted; and he said uuto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. 25 IT And they went up out of Egypt, and came into ttie land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, 26 And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's5 heart fainted, for he believed them not.0 27 And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them : and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.4 28 And Israel said, It is enough ; Joseph my son is yet alive : I will go and see him before I die. CHAPTER XLVI. 1 Jacob is comforted by G-od at Beer-sheba. 5 Thence he with his household goeth into Kgypt. 8 The number of his family that went into Egypt. 29 Joseph meeteth Jacob. 31 He instructeth his breth ren how to answer to Pharaoh. AND Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beer-sheba,0 and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac/ 2 And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night,g and said, Jacob, Jacob; and he said, Here am I.h ¦ Heb. let not your eye spare, etc t Heb. mouth, a Num 3:16. b ch. 43: 34. t Heb carrying. §Heb . his. ' Job 9 16; 29:2' ; Psa 126: 1 Luke 2<»"1, 41. d ?=sa. 85 6. e ch. 21:3:- ; 23:10. f ch. 31: 42, 53. e ch 15:1; Job3i 14 h 1 Sam. 3:1 10. ch. 12:2; Deut. 26:5. j ch. 15:16; 50:13, 20. Stuff; furniture ; such things as could not be easily carried. 24. Fall not out; not get into any dispute as to who was most guilty in selling Joseph, or deceiving his father, or about any thing else. 26. Fainted; in the original, was cold; that is, remained unmoved. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. A wise and good man will sometimes act towards those whom he loves in a way which he knows will give them pain, not because he takes pleasure in distressing them, but for the purpose of doing them good; and he will remove their sorrow as soon as he sees that he can do it consistently with their highest benefit. 8. God is not to be overlooked in any of the actions of men, but is to be acknowledged and adored as over all, perfect and blessed for evermore. However wicked those actions, or great the evils they occasion, he intends so to counteract and overrule them as to accomplish unspeak able good. 9. Whatever good we receive, and in whatever way, God is its author, and to him we should give the praise. 70 3 And he said, I am God, the God of _.%%_: thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation.1 4 I will go down with thee into Egypt ; and I will also surely bring thee up again :' and Jo seph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.k 5 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba : and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.1 6 And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him :m 7 His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt. 8 IT And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons:" Reuben, Jacob's first-born. 9 And the sons of Reuben ; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi. 10 1 And the sons of Simeon ; Jemuel," and Ja- min, and Ohad, and Jachin,* and Zohar,* and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman. 11 IT And the sons of Levi; Gershon,+ Kohath, and Merari. 12 IT And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah ; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.0 And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. 13 1 And the sons of Issachar; Tola, and Phu- vah, and Job,* and Shimron. 14 T And the sons of Zebulun ; Sered, and Elon, and Jahleel. 15 These be the sons of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob in Padan-aram, with his daughter Dinah ; all the souls of his sons and his daughters were thirty and three. 16 1 And the sons of Gad ; Ziphion,8 and Hag- gi, Shuni, and Ezbon," Eri, and Arodi,T and Areli. 17 T And the sons of Asher ; Jimnah, and Ish- uah, and Isui, and Beriah, and Serah their sis ter : and the sons of Beriah ; Heber, and Malchiel. 25; Exod. 3:8. * ch. 50:1 ; Acts 7:15. 1 ch. 45: 19. 27. m Num. 20: 15; Deut. 20:5; Josh. 24:4; Psa. 105:23; Isa. 52:4. n Exod. 1:1; 6:14. i Or, Nemuel. H Or, Jarib. * Or, Zerah. t Or, Gershom. ° oh. 38:3, 7, 10. t Or, Vuah, and Jashub. S Zephon; Num 20:15. i Or, Ozni. %Or,Arod. 22. It is sometimes right and best to bestow more of undeserved favors upon one than upon another ; and a truly penitent, grateful, and benevolent heart will not re pine at seeing this : it will not blame the giver nor envy the receiver, but will admire the one and rejoice with the other. 24. Criminations and contests among brethren are ex ceedingly injurious, and the truly wise and benevolent earnestly desire to prevent them. 28. When the friends of God see the ends he had in view, the ways he took to accomplish them, the results which have followed and are to follow, it will be enough — enough for life, enough in death, and enough for eternity. CHAPTER XLVI. 4. Bring thee up again; that is, thy posterity. Chap. 50:21. In view of this fact, both Jacob and Joseph, chap. 50:25, commanded that their bodies should be buried in the land of Canaan. Put his hand upon thine eyes; Joseph should be with his father, and close his eyes when he should die. Joseph meeteth Jacob. GENESIS XLVII. Jacob blesseth Pharaoh. k'a'17063' 18 These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter ; a and these she bare unto Jacob, even sixteen souls. 19 The sous of Rachel, Jacob's wife; Joseph, and Benjamin. 20 1 And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim,0 which Ase nath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest* of On bare unto him. 21 1 And the sons of Benjamin were Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera, and Naaman, Ehi,+ and Rosh, Muppim/ and Hnppim,8 and Ard. 22 These are the sons of Rachel, which were born to Jacob : all the souls were fourteen. 23 IT And the sons of Dan ; Hushim.1 24 % And the sons of Naphtali ; Jahzeel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shillem. 25 These are the sons of Bilhah, which Laban gave unto Rachel his daughter,0 and she bare these unto Jacob : all the souls were seven. 26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins,1 besides Ja cob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six. 27 And the sons of Joseph, which were borne him in Egypt, were two'souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.d 28 IT And he sent Judah before him unto Jo seph, to direct his face unto Goshen ;e and they came into the land of Goshen/ 29 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him ; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.g 30 And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die,h since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. 31 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and show Pha raoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me ; 32 And the men are shepherds, for "their trade hath been to feed cattle ; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have. 33 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?' »Ch. 29:24. b 0h. 41:50. 'Or,prince. t Ahiram; Num. 26:38. t Shu- pliam; Num. 26:39: Shuppim; 1 Clir. 7:12. § Hupham; Num. 26:39. I Or, Shuham; Num. 26:42. = ch. 29:29. II Heb. thigh, d Deut. 10:22; Acts7:14. «ch.31:2l. fch.47:l. Sch 45:14. h Luke 2:29, 30. "Heb. they are men of rattle. > ch. 47:3. j ch. 30:35; 37: 12. k ch. 43:32; Exod. 27. Threescore and ten; seventy; namely, the sixty-six mentioned ver. 26, with Jacob, Joseph, and his two sons. The Greek version of the Seventy here adds from Num. 26:28-37, and 1 Chron. 7:14-23, five grandsons of Joseph, making the number seventy-five. The same mode of computation seems to have been followed by Stephen. Acts 7 : 14. 30. Let me die; Luke 2:29, 30. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. In undertaking a journey, or entering upon any new plan, we should, feel our dependence upon God, seek his blessing, and commit ourselves to his guidance and care. 4. With the blessing of God we need not fear to under- 34 That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now,J both we, and also our fathers : that ye may dwell in tlie land of Goshen ; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians." CHAPTER XLVII. 1 Joseph presenteth five of his brethren, 7 and his father, before Pha raoh. 11 He giveth them habitation and maintenance. 13 He get- teth all the Egyptians' money, 16 their cattle, 18 their lands to Pha raoh. 22 The priests' land was not bought. 23 He letteth the land to them for a fifth part. 28 Jacob's age. 29 He sweareth Joseph to bury him with his fathers. fTTHEN Joseph came and told Pharaoh,1 and _L said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan ; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen."1 2 And he took some of his brethren, even 'five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh." 3 And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation?0 And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds,0 both we, and also our fathers. 4 They said moreover unto Pharaoh, Por to so journ in the land are we come ; « for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is sore in tlie land of Canaan : now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen. 5 And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee : 6 The land of Egypt is before thee ; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell ; in the land of Goshen let them dwell : and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle/ 7 And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh : and Jacob blessed Pha raoh.3 8 And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?1 9 And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage/ 10 And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. S:2S. leh. 46:31. m ch. 46:28. nActs7:13. °Johnl:S. PAmos7:14. q ch. 15:13; Deut. 26:5; Psa.- 105:23; Isa. 52:4. r 1 Chr. 27:29; Prov. 22:29. * 1 Sam. 15:30; 1 Ohr. 29:20; 1 Pet. 2:17. t Heb. How many are the days of the years of thy life ? t ch. 25: 7, 8, 35: 23. take any service, make any sacrifice, or endure any trial to which he may call us. 30. Men may receive such blessings as to desire no more on earth, and be willing at any time to leave it, and enter into heaven. Phil. 1 : 23. 34. A wise regard for our friends will ordinarily lead us to wish them to continue in the employment in which they have been educated and with which they are ac quainted, as promising greater happiness to themselves and greater usefulness to others. CHAPTER XLVII. 4. Sore; very grievous. 9. Pilgrimage; journey through this world. The years of famine. GENESIS XLVII Prosperity of Israel. 11 1 And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded/ 12 And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.* 13 1 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.0 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought : and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence ? for the money faileth. 16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. 17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph : and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses ; and he fedf them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not aught left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands : 19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh:0 and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them : so the land became Pharaoh's. a Ver. 6; Exod. 1:11. " Heb. according io the little ones; or, as a little child is nourished, b oh. 41:30, 31. t Heb. led. » Job 2:4; Lam. 1:11. » Or, princes. S Or, princes, i Ezra 7:24. e Exod. 1 :7, 12; Deut. 10:22; 11. Rameses; the capital of Goshen, about half way from the Nile to the Red sea. 21. Removed them to cities; where the food was stored, for the greater convenience of supplying them. 22. Priests; the priests of Egypt were a very powerful and influential body, and enjoyed many privileges above the common people. 23. Sow the land; as the seven years of famine were now drawing to a close. 26. The fifth part ; this is supposed to have been the tax which they paid for the use of the land and the sup port" of the government. 30. Their burying-place; chap. 23:20; 25:9. This Jacob did, not merely because he wished to be buried by the side of his fathers, but also as an expression of his faith in the promise of God that his posterity should inherit that land. 31. The bed's head; in Heb. 11:21, the Septuagint, or Greek translation, is followed : worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. Notwithstanding our dependence on God for all the 72 21 And as for the people, he removed v.^mi them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22 Only the land of the priests* bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them : wherefore they sold not their lands. 23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pha raoh : lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the, field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests8 only," which became not Pharaoh's. 27 1 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen ; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly/ 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seven teen years: so the whole age of Jacob5 was a hundred forty and seven years. 29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die:f and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh,g and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt : 30 But I will lie with my fathers,11 and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying-place. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. 31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.1 Neh. 9:23.- B Heb. days of the years of his life. f Deut. 31:14; 1 Kings 2:1; Job 7:1; 14:14. s ch. 24:2. h ch. 50:5-13; Heb. 11:22. i 1 Kings 1:47; Heb. 11:21. blessings we enjoy and hope for, it is as needful to use all suitable means to obtain these blessings, as it would be if success depended solely on our efforts. Compare Acts 27:22-25,30-32,44. 9. The longest life is but a journey through this world to another ; and as character is the chief thing, our great concern should be that it may be such as shall render us most useful and fit us for heaven. 20. Men will cheerfully give up their property to save the life of the body ; and yet, for the sake of property, they will sacrifice the life of their souls. 1 Tim. 6:9, 10 ; Jas. 5:3. 25. To be ungrateful to one who has saved our life, would be base ; how much more so not to be grateful to Him who, by Buffering and death for us, has opened a way to save the undying soul. 30. The pious at death wish to have such disposal made of their bodies as shall be most useful to survivors, and, if consistent, to have them laid with the bodies of pious ancestors ; that at the trump of the archangel they may rise and ascend together, and complete in body and soul, be ever with the Lord. 1 Cor. 15:51-55"; 1 Thess. 4:16, 17. Sickness of Jacob. GENESIS XLVIII. Joseph visiteth him. k&Et CHAPTER XLVIII. 1 Joseph with his sons visiteth his sick father. 2 Jacob strengtheneth himself to bless them. 3 He repeateth the promise. 5 He taketh Ephraim and Manasseh as his own. 7 He telleth Joseph of his mother's grave, 9 He blesseth Ephraim and Manasseh. 17 He preferreth the younger before the elder. 21 He prophesieth their return to Canaan. AND it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick : and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. 2 And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee : and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed. 3 And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan/ and blessed me, 4 And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people ; and will give this land to thy seed after thee /or an everlasting possession/ 5 1 And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Ma nasseh,0 which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. 6 And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance/ 7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Ra chel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath :e and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth-lehem. 8 And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, Who are these? 9 And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place.' And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them/ 10 Now the eyes of Israel were dim" for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him ; and he kissed them, and embraced them. 11 And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face :h and lo, God hath show ed me also thy seed.1 » Ch. 28:13-19; 35:6 etc. l>ch. 17:8: Deut 32:8; Amos 9:14. 15. ¦=ch. 41 50-52. i Josh 14:4. e ch. 35:16-19. ' ch. 33 5. K ch. 27:4 ; Heb. 11 21. • Heb. heavy. hoh. 37:33 35; 45:26. ; 24:40. m iEph 3:20 j Exod. 20:12; Lev..l9:32. t Yer .19. 1 ch . 17:1 Psa. 103:4, 5. n ch. 31:11; CHAPTER XLVIII. 3. Luz; chap. 28 : 13, 19. 5. They shall be mine; adopted as children and made heads of distinct tribes, like the other sons of Israel. 6. After the name of their brethren; they should not be heads of distinct tribes, but should be reckoned as be longing to the tribe of Ephraim or of Manasseh. 7. Rachel died; chap. 35:9, 16, 19. 8. Beheld; he could discern that they were present, though he could not distinguish them. 12. Bowed himself; in token of reverence for his father, from whom he was now to receive, in the persons of his sons, the paternal blessing. 14. Wittingly; knowingly, designedly. 16. The Angel; chap. 17:1; 28:15; 31:11, 13, 24. My name— and the name of my fathers; let them be called not Egyptians, but Israelites, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and heirs of the promises made to them. 18. Not so; he thought his father had made a mistake. 19. Be greater; have a more numerous and powerful posterity. 22. One portion; the Hebrew word rendered portion is 12 And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth/ 13 And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manas seh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him. 14 And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly ; for Manasseh was the first-born.1' 15 1 And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, be fore whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk,1 the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,™ 16 The Angel which redeemed me from all evil/ bless the lads:0 and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them fgrow into a multitude in the midst of the earth/ 17 And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him : and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. 18 And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the first-born; put thy right hand upon his head. 19 And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great : but truly his younger brother q shall be greater than he,r and his seed shall become a multitude* of nations. 20 And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless,s saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh. 21 And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die ; but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers/ 22 Moreover, I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren,11 which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow. Isa. 63:9. ° Psa. 34:22. t Heb. as fishes do increase, p Num. 26:34, 37. q Num. 1:33, 35; Deut. 33:17. r ch. 25:23. I Heb. fulness. » Ruth 4:11, 12. tch. 50:24; Josh,, 23:14. "Josh. 17:14. shechem, which signifies shoulder, and also, -is here, tract of land. Thus Jacob points out this tract as the inherit ance of Joseph. Compare John 4:5. Accordingly Joseph was buried here, Josh. 24:32, and the whole adjacent country fell to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. At the same time the words, " one portion above thy breth ren," seem to intimate the double inheritance which Jo seph should have in the land of Canaan through his two sons. 1 Chron. 5 : 2. With my sword and with my bow; by warlike force. There is an allusion here to the destruc tion of Shechem by Jacob's sons, which though disap proved by him, was yet, in the providence of God, de signed to foreshadow the future conquest of Canaan by his children, to which these prophetic words look forward. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. In sickness it is well gratefully to recount the past goodness of God to us and our families, and earnestly to recommend him and his salvation to all around us. 11. God is often better to us than our fears, and does more for us than we, in our ignorance and weakness, had dared to hope. This should lead us to trust in him at all times, and in well-doing, patiently wait for his salvation. 73 The sons of Jacob GENESIS XLIX. receive his blessing. CHAPTER XLIX. 1 Jacob calleth his sons to bless them. 3 Their blessing in particular. 29 He chargeth them about his burial. 33 He dieth. AND Jacob called unto his sons,a and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may teU you that which shall befall you0 in the last days.0 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob ; and hearken unto Israel your father. 3 1 Reuben, thou art my first-born, my might, and the beginning of my strength,4 the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power : 4 Unstable as water, "thou shalt not excel; be cause thou wentest up to thy father's bed;0 then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.+ 5 T Simeon and Levi are brethren ;f instru ments* of cruelty are in their habitations.5 6 0 my soul, come not thou into their secret;" unto their assembly, mine honor, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their self-will they digged down a wall.5 7 Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce ; and their wrath, for it was cruel : I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.1 8 1 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise :j thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee.k 9 Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up : he stooped down, he coucli- « Deut. 33:1, etc. b Num. 24:14; Deut. 4:30. <= Isa. 2:2; Jer. 23-20. d Deut. 21:17. * Heb. do not thou, e ch. 35:22; Deut. 5:21. t Or, my couch is gone, f ch. 29:33, 34. t Or, their swords are weapons of violence. B ch. 34:2.5-29. h Psa. 26:9; Prov. 1 :15. 16. S Or, houghed oxen. '• Josh. 21:3. 1 ch. 29:35; Psa. 76:1. t 1 chr. 5:2; Rev. 3:9. 1 Num. 23:24; Eev. 5:5. 15. However much we may have of this world, and however many may minister to our wants, our daily bread comes from God, and he is the giver of all the common as well as special mercies of life. 21. Strong confidence in the promises of God, and good hope through grace that when absent from the body we shall be present with the Lord, and that he will be the God of our children and children's children to coming generations, gives peace and joy in death. CHAPTER XLIX. 3. Excellency qf dignity, and — of power ; as the first-born, the blessings of the birthright belonged to Reuben, but on account of his sin it was taken from him. 4. Unstable as water; easily overcome by temptation, and rushing headlong into iniquity. Shalt not excel; neither he nor his posterity would ever be distinguished. Chap. 35 : 22. 5. Are brethren; not merely descended from the same parents, but alike in cruelty of disposition. Instruments of cruelty; he refers to their destruction of the Shechem ites, chap. 34:25-29. 6. Come not thou; in this verse Jacob expresses his deep abhorrence of their crimes. 7. J will divide them; this was a prophecy from God, that their posterity would be scattered among the other tribes. The Simeonites never attained to distinction among the tribes of Israel. They had their portion with in the inheritance of Judah, Josh. 19:1; and seem to have been gradually absorbed and lost in that powerful tribe. The Levites, as is well known, received no separate in heritance among the other tribes, but were distributed in cities throughout the land. 8. Thy brethren shall praise ; there is an allusion here to the meaning of the word Judah, that is, praise. Chap. 29:35. His descendants would be highly distinguished and honored by all the other tribes. In the neck; they would overcome their enemies. 9. A lion; as the lion is the king of the forest, and ter- 74 ed as a lion, and as an old lion j1 who shall 1'. a ffi rouse him up? 10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah,™ nor a lawgiver" from between his feet,0 until Shi loh come;p and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.* 11 Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass's colt unto the choice vine ; r he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes :s 12 His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.' 13 T Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea ; and he shall be for a haven of ships ; and his border shall be unto Zidon." 14 1" Issachar is a strong ass couching down be tween two burdens : 15 And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. 16 1 Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel/ 17 Dan shall be a serpent by the way, an adder1 in the path, that biteth the horse's heels, so that his rider shall fall backward. 18 I have waited for thy salvation, 0 Loed.w 19 T Gad, a troop shall overcome him : but he shall overcome at the last.x 20 1 Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and h? shall yield royal dainties. m Num. 24:17. n Psa. 60:7; Isa. Ezelt.21:27. 4 John 11:52; 12:32 5:10-10. " Josh. 19:10. v Judg. 40:1 ; Isa. 25:9; 26:S. * 1 Chr. 5 33:22. o Deut. 23:57. p Isa. r Matt. 21:2. ' Isa. 63:1-3. 13:2, etc. II Heb. arrowsnake. 13. 11:1-5; t Cant. w Psa. rible to other beasts, so the tribe of Judah would govern the other, tribes, and be a terror to their foes. 10. The sceptre; an emblem of power and authority. Shiloh ; the Messiah, Prince of peace, sent as a Saviour. Isa. 7:14; 9:6, 7; 11:1-10; Jer. 23:5, 6; Dan. 9:25-27; Matt. 1:21-23. To him ; to Shiloh. The gathering of the people; or, the obedience of the people. See Deut. 18:18, 19. They shall accept him as their King, and_ he shall reign over them. 12. Red with wine—white with milk ; his posterity would have a very fruitful country, and an abundance of the good things of life. 13. The haven of the sea; or, the shore of the sea. The possessions of Zebulun extended from the sea of Chin- nereth, afterwards called the sea of Galilee, on the east, to the Mediterranean on the west. Zidon; or Sidon, a very ancient city on the Mediterranean, north of the more modern city of Tyre. 14, 15. Issachar; the territory of Issachar lay south of Zebulun, and included the noble and fertile plain of Esdra- elon. Strong ass — bowed his shoulder to bear; his poster ity would be distinguished for their ability and readiness to labor, for their quiet, patient, and industrious habits, and their preferring to live at home rather than engage in wars or public affairs. 16. Judge his people; in allusion to the meaning of the word Dan, that is, one who judges. From the tribe of Dan came Samson. Judg. 15 : 7-20 ; 16 : 27-31. 17. A serpent — an adder; they would overcome their en emies by subtlety, stratagem, and surprise, rather than by courage and open force. Judg. 18:27. 19. Gad ; the possessions of the tribe of Gad lay on the east of the Jordan, and were peculiarly exposed to the assaults of hostile troops. See Deut. 33:20; Judg. 10:8; Jer. 49:1; 1 Chron. 5,: 18-22; 12:8. 20. Fat — royal dainties ; the inheritance of his posterity would yield in abundance, not merely the necessaries, but also the luxuries of life. Jacob's blessings and death. GENESIS L. The mourning for Jacob. A. M. 2315. B. C 1689. 21 1 Naphtali is a hind let loose : he giveth goodly words. 22 T Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches* run over the wall: 23 The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him :a 24 But his bow abode in strength,0 and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob;0 (from thence is the shepherd,4 the stone of Israel;)0 25 Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee;f and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts and of the womb : 26 The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors8 unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills:11 they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.1 27 T Benjamin shall raven as a wolf :j in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.11 28 1 All these are the twelve tribes of Israel : and this is it their father spake unto them, and blessed them ; every one according to his bless ing he blessed them.1 29 And he charged them, and said umto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,m • Heb. daughters. » ch. 37:4, etc.; 39:20. e Psa. 18:32, 31. i ch. 45:10, 11; 50:21. B Eph. 1:3. hHab.3:6. i Isa. 66:5. j Jud< b Job 20:20; Psa. 37:14, 15. i Isa. 23:16. f Deut. 33:27. .20:21,25. k Ezek. 39:8-10. 21. A hind let loose; a female deer roaming at large, dis tinguished for beauty and fleetness. But some render, Naphtali is a slender deer, slender being used in the sense of graceful. Goodly words; words graceful and pleasant. He is thus marked as excelling in the gift of speech. Of this the Song of Deborah and Barak, Judges 5, is an ex ample. 22. A fruitful bough; he would have a very numerous posterity. 24. From tlience ; some refer these words to Joseph, but they belong rather to God. We may render the whole passage thus : From thence [even from] the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel ; from the God of thy father, who helps thee ; and from the Almighty, who blesses thee, [shall be] blessings of heaven above, etc. 25. Blessings of heaven above; the sunshine, and fertiliz ing rain and dews. Blessings qfthe deep; the fertilizing springs and streams. Blessings of the breasts and of the womb; fruitfulness in his posterity, and in their flocks and herds. 26. Have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors; have exceeded the blessings which my ancestors pro nounced on their children. The spirit of prophecy has made to me a fuller revelation of the good things reserv ed for thee. Unto the utmost bound — everlasting hills; so long as they shall endure. But many prefer to render, " Unto the precious things of the everlasting hills ;" that is, my blessing extends so far as to include all these, and as long as they endure. Compare Deut. 33: 15. 27. Raven as a wolf; _his posterity would be warlike, fierce, and cruel. Judg. 19:22-27; 20:14-25. 28. Blessed them ; foretold the blessings God would be stow upon them, and what would take place in future times with regard to their posterity. 29. In the cave; chap. 47:30; 23: 19 5 25:9; 35:27,29. 30 In the cave that is in the field of Machpe lah,11 which is before Mamre in the land of Ca naan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite, for a possession of a burying- place. 31 There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. 32 The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth. 33 And when Jacob had made an end of com manding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost,0 and was gathered unto his people." CHAPTER L. 1 The mourning for Jacob. 4 Joseph getteth leave of Pharaoh to go to bury him. 7 The funeral. 15 Joseph comforteth his brethren, ¦who craved his pardon. 22 His age. 23 He seeth the third genera tion of his sons. 24 He prophesieth unto his brethren of their return. 25 He taketh an oath of them for his bones. 26 He dieth, and is embalmed. AND Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the phy sicians to embalm his father :q and the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 And forty days were fulfilled for him ; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalm ed : and the Egyptians mourned1, for him three score and ten days.r 4 Aud when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, I Rom. 12:0. etc. m ch. 47:30; 2 Sam. 19:37. n ch. 23:3. etc. o Job 14:10. p ver. 29. 4 ver. 26; 2 Chr. 16:14; Matt. 26:12; Mark 14:8; 16:1; John 12:7. tHeb. wept, r Num. 20:29; Deut. 34:3. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. We should desire not only to be useful in life, but in death to inculcate such truth, communicate such instruc tion, and set such an example as shall be most useful to coming generations. 7. We may feel the effects of our sins long after they have been committed. Even if they have been repented of and forgiven, we and our posterity may suffer evils in consequence of them to the end of time. 10. The fact that the sceptre has long ago departed from the tribe of Judah, who have ceased to govern Israel, shows that the Messiah has come, and that the expecta tion of a future Messiah is vain. . 18. The fulfilment of the prophecies uttered by Jacob on his death-bed shows that he spoke as directed by the Holy Ghost. But however highly favored a good man may be on earth, however numerous his blessings or those of his posterity, nothing will fully satisfy him but the sal vation of God. 26. The measures which men take in opposing God, are made the means of fulfilling his designs ; and those which are adopted to prevent the exaltation and glory of his people, are made the occasion of promoting them. 33. Men who have finished the work God gave them to do, and are through grace gathered in peace — their bodies to the grave and their souls to the assembly of just men made perfect — are unspeakably blessed. Rev. 14:13. CHAPTER L. 2. Embalm; prepare the body with spices, drugs, and gums, in order to preserve it. 3. Forty days; the time it took to embalm the body. Threescore and ten; seventy; the forty days in which they were embalming him, and thirty besides. 4. House of Pharaoh; his chief servants or princes. 75 Jacob is buried in Canaan. GENESIS L. Joseph dieth and is embalmed. If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 5 My father made me swear," saying, Lo, I die : in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me.0 Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. 6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. 7 IT And Joseph went up to bury his father : and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house : only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.0 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen : and it was a very great company. 10 And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan ; and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.a 11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim,* which is beyond Jordan. 12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:e 13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying-place of Eph ron the Hittite, before Mamre.1' 14 If And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after. he had buried his father. 15 IT And when Joseph's brethren saw that their »Ch. 47:29. b Isa. 22:16; Matt. 27:60. » Exod. 10:9, 26. d Deut. 34:8; 1 Sam. 31:13; 2Sam. 1:17; Job 2:13; Acts 8:2. * That is. The mourning of the Egyptians. « ch. 49:29. f ch. 23:16. S ch. 27:41; Lev. 26:36; Job 15:21; Prov. 23:1. t Heb. charged, h Prov. 28: 13; Matt. 6:12, 14; 18:35; 5. J have digged; it was common for men to prepare their burial-place long before their death, and Jacob is supposed to have prepared his in the cave of Machpelah, before he left Canaan. 7. All the servants of Pharaoh; the elders ; his principal men ; a great company. Ver. 9. 10. Beyond Jordan; on the west side; Moses having written this on the east of Jordan. 11. Abel-mizraim; mourning of the Egyptians. 17. The trespass of thy brethren; in selling Joseph into Egypt. Chap. 37:28. 18. Fell down; chap. 37:7, 10. 19. Am I in the place of God ? it was not his business to punish them ; that belonged to God. Rom. 12 : 19 ; Heb. 10:30. 20. Ye thought evil; in intending that Joseph should live and die a slave, and that his father should think that he had been torn in pieces. God meant it unto good; that he should be greatly exalted, and be the means of saving his father, his brethren, and multitudes of others from death, and of illustrating to all future generations the wonderful providence of a wonder-working God. 24. Hesware; chap. 15:14; 46:4; 48:21. father was dead, they said, Joseph will aapi: peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.g 16 And they sent+ a messenger unto Joseph, say ing, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin ; for they did unto thee evil : and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father.11 And Joseph wept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face ; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?1 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me ;j but God meant it unto good,k to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones.1 And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.* 22 T And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. 23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation :m the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh11 were brought up8 upon Joseph's knees. • 24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; and God will surely visit you,0 and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. 25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence." 26 So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. Luke 17:3,4; Eph. 4:32; Col. 3:13; Jas. 5:16. ¦ Deut. 32:35; 2 Kings 5:7; Job 34:29; Rom. 12:19; Heb. 10:30. j Psa. 56:5. k ch. 45:5. 7. lMatt.5:44. J Heb. to their hearts. mj0b42:16. n Num. 32:39. ' S Heb. borne. »Exod.3:10. P Exod. 13:19; Josh. 24:32; Acts 7:16; Heb. 11:22. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Divine grace does not destroy or lessen natural affec tion, but regulates, purifies, and exalts it. 3. The removal of the righteous, especially those who have had great influence, is not only a private, but a pub lic loss, and may well occasion public grief. 13. Decent and affectionate respect should be paid to the mortal remains of departed friends, and their dying requests, so far as may be consistent, should be faithfully complied with. 18. A guilty conscience naturally forebodes evil ; and duty, as well as interest, requires that suitable measures should be taken to escape it. Lev. 26 : 36, 40-45 ; Prov. 28 : 1. 20. The object of God in suffering men to commit wick edness is very different from their object in committing it. Whenever they intentionally do wrong, their object is evil, and they are evil. His design in suffering it to be committed is good, and he is good. 25. Living faith in God gives good hope, through grace, that when the soul is absent from the body it will be present with the Lord ; that in due time the body will be raised, immortal and glorious, to be united with the soul, and both be perfect in his likeness for ever. 76 THE SECOND BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED EXODUS. Exodus is a Greek word signifying departure, given as a name to this book because it records the departure of Israel from Egypt under Moses, of whose birth, education, and early history a brief narrative is given. After the miraculous deliverance of Israel from Egypt, Moses leads the people to Sinai. Here God by a voice from heaven proclaims the ten commandments, and adds, through the mediatorship of Moses, a brief code of laws. The'remainder of the book is mainly occupied with an account of the struc ture of the tabernacle and its furniture. Into the general course of the narrative are interwoven some interesting historical incidents ; as the establishment of the passover, the assault of Amalek upon Israel, the sin of the golden calf, etc. A. M. 2298. B. C. 1706. CHAPTER I. 1 The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, do multiply. 8 The more they are oppressed by a new kinjr, the more they multiply. 15 The godliness of the midwives, in saving the men-ehildren alive. 22 Pha raoh commandeth the male children to be cast into the river. 'XTOW these are the names of the children of _L\I Israel, which came into Egypt ;a every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Eeuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins* of Jacob were seventy souls:" for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died,0 and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 T And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty ;d and the land was fill ed with them. 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.0 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them/ lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our a Gen. 46:8. • Heb. thigh, b Deut. 10:22. = Gen. 50:26. d Gen. 46:3; Deut. 26:5; Psa. 105:24. e Eccl. 2:19; Acts 7:18. f Psa. 83:3, 4; Prov. 1:11; 21:30; Acts 23:12; 1 Cor. 3:19; Jas. 3:15. s ch. 3:7; Gen. 15:13; Deut. 26:6; Psa. 81 :6. h Gen. 47:11. t Heb. And as they afflicted them, so CHAPTER I. 5. Seventy souls; including Jacob himself, Joseph, and his two sons. Gen. 46:27. 8. Knew not Joseph; was ignorant of his eminent ser vices. Probably he belonged to a new dynasty. 10. Deal wisely; cunningly, in such a manner as to di minish their number and power. 11. Burdens; exactions of labor and money. Treasure- enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmas ters, to afflict them with their burdens/ And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom and Ra,amses.h 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.+ And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor : 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage,1 in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field :j all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor. k 15 1 And the king of Egypt spake to the He brew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah ; 16 And he said, When ye do the office of a mid wife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools, if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God,1 and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive. 18 And the. king of Egypt called for the mid- wives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive? they multiplied, i oh. 2:23; 6:9; Num. 20:15; Ruth 1:20; Acts 7:19, 34. j Psa. 81:0; Nah. 3:14. k T_,ev. 25:43: Isa. 5S:6; Jer. 50:33. 1 Neh. 5:15; Prov. 16:6; Dan. 3:18; 6:13; Acts 5:29. cities; fortified places for the keeping of military or other stores. Pithom and Raamses ; cities in the north-east part of Egypt, in or near Goshen. Gen. 45 : 10 ; 47 : 11. 13. With rigor; with great cruelty. 16. See them upon the stools; the Hebrew may be ren dered, " ye shall look upon the stones." The reference is supposed by some to be to a basin of stone, with a stone lid, used to wash the new-born infant. 17 Moses is born, and EXODUS II. fketh into Midian. 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Be cause the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women ; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives comejn unto them.a 20 Therefore God dealt well with the mid- wives:0 and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.0 22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. CHAPTER II. 1 Moses is born, 3 and in an ark cast into the flags. 5 He is found, and brought up by Pharaoh's daughter. 11 He slaveth an Egyptian. 13 He reproveth a Hebrew. 15 He fleeth into Midian. 21 He mar rieth Zipporah. 22 Gershom is born. 23 God respeeteth the Israel ites' cry. AND there went a man of the house of Levi, and took to wife a daughter of Levi.d 2 And the woman conceived, and bare a son : and when she saw him that he was a goodly child, she hid him three months.0 3 And when she could not longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river's brink. 4 And his sister stood afar off, to wit what would be done to him. 5 1 And the daughter of Pharaoh came down to wash herself at the river; and her maidens walked along by the river's side : and when she saw the ark among the flags, she sent her maid to fetch it. 6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child : and behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him/ and said, This is one of the Hebrews' children. 7 Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter, Shall I go and call to thee a nurse of the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for thee ? a Josh. 2:4; 2 Sam. 17:19. b Prov. 11:18; Eccl. 8:12; Isa. 3:10; Heb. 6:10. c 1 Sam. 2:35; 2 Sam. 7:11 ; 1 Kings 2:21; Psa. 127: 1. d ch. 6:20. « Acts 7:21; Heb. 11:23. I Neh. I : II ; Psa. 100:46. g Psa. 27:10. 'That 20. God dealt well with the midwives; blessed them be cause they would not obey the command of Pharaoh. 21. Made them houses; increased and prospered their families. INSTRUCTIONS. 6. No excellence of character, and no degree of author ity, influence, or usefulness among men can keep off death. It becomes all, therefore, to prepare for it, by setting their affections on things above, and laying up treasure, not on earth, but in heaven. 10. Tyrants often pretend that their unrighteous de- orees are needful to the welfare of the state. Were this true it would not excuse them, for the end does not jus tify the means. But it is not true ; the permanent good of individuals or communities is never promoted by doing wrong. 11. The providences of God often alarm men ; and to prevent evils, real or imaginary, and obtain good, they frame and execute wicked devices. CHAPTER II. 1. There went; had gone. Amram the father of Moses had been married a number of years, and had at least two 78 8 And Pharaoh's daughter said to her, ^c.ufi. Go. And the maid went and called the child's mother.. 9 And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, Take this child away, and nurse it for me, and I will give thee thy wages.B And the woman took the child, and nursed it. 10 And the child grew, and she brought him unto Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. And she called his name Moses:* and she said, Because I drew him out of the water. 11 1 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens:11 and he spied an Egyptian smiting a Hebrew, one of his brethren. 12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand. 13 And when he went out the second day, be hold, two men of tlie Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Where fore smitest thou thy fellow? 14 And he said, Who made thee a prince+ and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian ? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known. 15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well. 16 Now the priest* of Midian had seven daugh ters: and they came and drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock.1 17 And the shepherds came and drove them away : but Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. 18 And when they came to Reuel§ their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon to-day? 19 And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock. is, Drawn out. hch. 1:11; 3:7; 5:9-14; Isa. 58:6; I.uke 4:18; Acts 7:23, 24; Heb. 11:24-26. t Heb. a man, a prince. I Or, prince, i Gen. 21:11; 29: 10.; 1 Sam. 9:11. S CaUed also Jethro, or Jether; Num. 10:29. children, Miriam and Aaron, when Moses was born. Ver. 4; 6:20; 7:7. 2. Goodly child; beautiful, well-favored. Acts 7:20. 3. Slime and — pitch; to keep out the water. River's brink; the border of the river Nile. 10. Became her son; was adopted as her son. Moses; originally an Egyptian word, meaning saved from the wa ter ; but, by a slight change, made to signify in Hebrew drawn out. 11. Was grown; had arrived to years of maturity. He was forty years old ; was " learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians," and was " mighty in words and in deeds." Acts 7:22, 23. 12. Slew the Egyptian; Moses may have received from God an intimation that he should deliver Israel, Acts 7 : 25 ; but his present attempt was unauthorized and pre mature. 15. Midian; a country south and south-east of Canaan, and near the Red sea. 16. Priest of Midian ; the Hebrew word for priest sig nifies also prince. Gen. 41 : 45. 18. Reuel; probably the same as Jethro; or, as some think, the father of Jethro. Chap. 3:1; Num. 10: 29. God appeareth to Moses. EXODUS III. His message unto Israel. b.' aS3' 20 And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? why is it that ye have left the man? call him, that he may eat bread." 21 And Moses was content to dwell with the man:0 and he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter.0 22 And she bare him a son, and he called his name Gershom ;* for he Said, I have been a stran ger in a strange land. 23 ir And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died : and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage,3 and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.0 24 And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob/ 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had* respect unto them. CHAPTER III. 1 Moses keepeth Jethro's flock. 2 God appeareth to him in a burning bush. 9 He setideth him to deliver Israel. 14 The name of God. 15 His message to Israel. NOW Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father- in-law, the priest of Midian : and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.g 2 And the Angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush ; h and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 4 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses: and he said, Here am I.1 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet ; for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.j 6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. k And Moses hid his face ; for he was afraid to look upon God.1 » Gen. 31:51. t> Phil. 4:11. ' ch. 18:2. • That is, A stranger here. d Num. 20:10; Deut. 26:7; Psa. 12:5. e ch. 3:9; 22:23, 27; Gen. 18:20; Deut. 24:15; Isa. 5:7. ' Gen. 15:14; 40:4; Luke 1:72-74. t Heb. knew. t ch. li-:5; 1 Kings 19:S. h Deut. 31:16; Isa. 63:9; Acts 7:30. i Gen. 22:1,11; 40:2. j ch. 19:12; Josh. 5:15; Eccl. 5:1. k Gen. 28:13; 1 Kings 22. Gershom ; meaning, a stranger there. 24. His covenant; Gen. 15:14; 46:4. 25. Had respect; viewed them with compassion, and with the purpose to deliver them. INSTRUCTIONS. 15. The efforts of men to perpetuate oppression may prepare the way for the deliverance of the oppressed. 22. God has a work for each one of his people ; and he bestows upon them such mercies, and leads them through such trials as are best suited to fit them to perform it. 24. The measures which men adopt to thwart the pur poses of God or the good of his people, are often made the means of fulfilling them. CHAPTER III. 1. Jethro; chap. 2 : 18. Horeb; a mountain in Arabia be tween the two arms of the Red sea. 7 T And the Lord said, I have surely seen tlie affliction of my people which are in Egypt,"1 and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmas ters;" for I know their sorrows;0 8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians," and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large,0 unto a land flowing with milk and honey;1 unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and tlie Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children of Israel is come unto me : and I have also seen the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress them. 10 Come now, therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh,3 that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt. 11 T And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt ? * 12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee;u and this shall be a token unto thee, that I have sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon this mountain. 13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you ; and they shall say to me, What is his name ? what shall I say unto them ? 14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.v 15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you : this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.™ 16 Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, ap peared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt :* 18:36; Matt. 22:32. 1 Judg. 13:22; Isa. 6:5. m Neh. 9:9; Psa. 106:44; Isa. 63:9. n ch. 22:23; Psa. 145:19. o Poa. 142:3. P ch. 6:6-3; 12:51. q Num. 13:19; Deut. 1:25. r Deut. 26:9; Jer. 11:5: Ezek. 20:6. » Psa. 105:26; Mic. 6:4. tjer. 1:6. u Geo. 31 :3: Josh. 1:5; Rom. 8:31. »ch.6:3; Heb. 13:8. ir Psa. 102:12; 135:13; Hos. 12:5. * Gen. 50:24; Luke 1:68. 2. An igel of the Lord; ver. 4, 6; Gen. 16:7-14; 22:8-12; 24:7. Flame of fire— bush ; the manner of the vision was a striking symbol of the condition of Israel, burned in the furnace of persecutions, but not consumed. 5. Holy ground; to be treated with peculiar reverence, because of the manifestation of Jehovah there. 6. Look upon God; John 1:18; 14:9. 11. Who am I? expressing a sense of his insufficiency. 12. This shall be a token; the fulfilment of this prediction would be to Moses and Israel a sign that God had sent him. 14. I am that I am ; either, I am he who I am ; or, I am that which I am. In either case, the words denote the self-existent, eternal, and incomprehensible nature of Je hovah. As the only original Being, he is the ground of all created being. Compare John 8:58; Heb. 13:8; Rev. 1:8. 16. Elders of Israel; their head men. 19 Moses' rod becomes a serpent. EXODUS IV. He is loath to be sent 17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaan ites^ and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey." 18 And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath met with us:0 and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. 19 IT And I am sure that the king of Egypt will not let you go,0 no, not by a mighty hand.* 20 And I will stretch out my hand, and smite Egypt with all my wonders which I will do in the midst thereof:*1 and after that he will let you go.0 21 And I will give this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians :f and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty : 22 But every woman shall borrow of her neigh bor, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jew els of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment :g and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters:" and ye shall spoil the Egyptians/1 CHAPTER IV. 1 Moses' rod is turned into a serpent. 6 His hand is leprous. 10 He is loath to be sent. 14 Aaron is appointed to assist him. 18 Moses departeth from Jethro. 21 God's message to Pharaoh. 24 Zipporah circumciseth her son. 27 Aaron is sent to meet Moses. 31 The people believeth them. AND Moses answered and said, But behold, they will not believe me, nor hearken unto my voice: for they will say, The Lord hath not appeared unto thee. 2 And the Lord said unto him, What is that in thy hand ? And he said, A rod. 3 And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he * Gen. 15:13-20; 40:4. b Num. 23:3, etc. c ch. 5:2. * Or, but by a strong hand, d ch. 7:3; 11:9; Deut. 6:22; Neh. 9:10; Psa. 105:27; Jer. 32:20; Acts 7:36. c eh. 12:31. f ch. 11:3. B ch. 12:30. h Job 27:17; Prov. 13:22; Isa. 33:1. t Or, Egypt, i ch. 19:9. i Num. 12:10; 2 Kings 18. Met with us; appeared to us and given us direc tions. 19. No, not by a mighty hand; not though I deal with him by a mighty hand. He would withstand all God's mighty judgments, till the last great plague. 21. Give this people favor ; lead the Egyptians to furnish them the things they should ask for, and which they had doubtless earned. Chap. 12:35, 36. 22. Borrow; the word rendered borrow, means also, to request or demand, not expecting to make a return. Josh. 15 : 18 ; 1 Sam. 8 : 10 ; Psa. 2 : 8. Jewels ; the word rendered jewels means also furniture, utensils, and goods of various descriptions. Gen. 24 : 53 ; 27 : 3 ; Deut. 22 : 5 ; 1 Kings 6:7; 2 Chr. 34 : 12. Spoil the Egyptians ; carry away the rich treas ures which they shall give you. Chap. 12 : 36 ; Gen. 15 : 14. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. The place where God manifests himself has a pecul iar sanctity ; and if we would approach him acceptably, it must be with reverence and godly fear. 9. Jehovah is a just, and also a kind, compassionate, and merciful God. He tenderly sympathizes with all the distressed, especially such as wrongfully suffer; and in due time he will deliver the oppressed, and punish the oppressor. 12. However unworthy men may be, and however in sufficient in themselves for services to which God calls 80 • cast it on the ground, and it became a ac'.S serpent; and Moses fled from before it. 4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Put forth thy hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand : 5 That they may believe that the Lord God of their fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath appeared unto thee.1 6 1 And the Lord said furthermore unto him, Put now thy hand into thy bosom. And he put his hand into his bosom : and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous as snow.^ 7 And he said, Put thy hand into thy bosom again. And he put his hand into his bosom again ; and plucked it out of his bosom, and behold, it was turned again as his other flesh.k 8 And it shall come to pass, if they will not be lieve thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. 9 And it shall come to pass, if they will not be lieve also these two signs, neither hearken unto thy voice, that thou shalt take of the water of the river, and pour it upon the dry land; and the water which thou takest out of the river shall become* blood upon the dry land} 10 1" And Moses said unto the Lord, O my Lord, I am not eloquent,5 neither heretofore, nor since thou hast spoken unto thy servant;1 but I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Who hath made man's mouth ? or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing, or the blind ? have not I the Lord ?m 12 Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." 13 And he said, O my Lord, send, I pray thee, by the hand of him whom thou wilt1 send. 5:27. k Matt. 8:3. t Heb. shall be and shall be. 1 ch. 7:20; Psa. 78:44. 5 Heb. a man of words. B Heb. since yesterday, nor since the third day. m Psa. 94:9; Jer. 1:6, 9. n Isa. 50.4; Matt. 10:19. I Or, shouldest. them, if he grant them his presence they may fearlessly go forward, expecting to be crowned with success. Psa. 71:16; Phil. 4:13. 15. The eternal, unchanging perfections of Jehovah are a proper ground for implicit confidence in him, and prompt, persevering obedience to all his commands. 20. Neither the power of God, nor the truth of his promises, nor the certainty that they will be accomplish ed, renders the use of means unnecessary, or furnishes any ground to expect his blessing in the neglect of them. CHAPTEB IV. 2. A rod; a shepherd's crook or staff. 5. That they may believe; this was the object of the mir acle, to lead the people to believe what Moses should say, and that God had truly sent him. 6. Leprous as snow; white with leprosy, a loathsome disease, universally regarded as incurable, except by the immediate power of God. The twofold miracle of a sud den production and sudden cure of this disease would be to the Hebrews a most convincing proof of God's presence. 8. Believe the voice; its testimony to the fact that God had sent Moses to deliver his people from bondage. 10. Not eloquent ; not of ready utterance, or persuasive power of speech. 13. Send, I pray; by some one else, not by me. Moses returns to Egypt. EXODUS V, The people receive him. A. M. 2613, 11. C 1491. 14 And the anger of the Lord was kin dled against Moses, and he said, Is not Aaron the Levite thy brother ? I know that he can speak well. And also, behold, he cometh forth to meet thee : and when he seeth thee, he will be glad in his heart." 15 And thou shalt speak unto him, and put words inhis mouth:0 and I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. 16 And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people : and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him in stead of God.0 17 And thou shalt take this rod in thy hand,* wherewith thou shalt do signs. 18 1 And Moses went and returned to Jethro* his father-in-law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive. And Jethro said to Moses, Go in peace. 19 And the Lord said unto Moses in Midian, Go, return into Egypt : for all the men are dead which sought thy life.0 20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt : and Moses took the rod of God in his hand/ 21 And the Lord said unto Moses, When thou goest to return into Egypt, see that thou do all those wonders before Pharaoh which I have put in thy hand :e but I will harden his hearty that he shall not let the people go.11 22 And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord, Israel is my son, even my first-born:1 23 And I say unto thee, Let my son go, that he > Ver. 27. » Num. 22:38; 23:5, etc.; Deut. 18:18; Isa. 51:16; Jer. 1:9; Luke 21:15. c on. 7:1; 18:19. d Ter. 2. • Heb. Jether. e 0h. 2:15. 23; Matt. 2:20. f ch. 17:9; Num. 20.-8, 9. S ch. 3:20. 1 ch. 7:3, etc.; Deut. 2:30; Josh. 11:20; Isa. 0:10; 03:17; John 12:40; Rom. 9:18; 2 Thess. 2:10- 14. Against Moses; on account of his great and unrea sonable reluctance to do what God commanded. 15. Put words in his mouth ; tell him what to say. 16. Instead of God; make known to him the will of God, and direct him what to do. 20. His sons; Gershom and Eliezer, chap. 18:3, 4. Re turned; set out to return. The rod of God; ver. 2, 17. 21. Put in thy hand; directed, and would enable him to perform. Will harden his heart; by making known to him his duty and the reasons for doing it, and yet suffering him to take his own way, and thus obstinately and wickedly refuse to obey God's most wise, just, and reasonable commands. 22. My son — my first-born; greatly beloved, and greatly favored. 23. Slay thy son; chap. 12:29, 30. 24. Inn; the place where they stopped for the night. Kill him; threatened Moses with death, should he still continue to neglect to circumcise his son. As he was called to he the leader of Israel, it was preeminently im portant that he should be an example of obedience to all God's ordinances. He seems to have culpably delayed this rite out of regard to Zipporah's wishes. 25. Sharp stone; sharp flints were then used for knives. A bloody husband; in the original, a bridegroom of blood ; that is, a bridegroom to whom I was espoused under the necessity of performing upon my offspring the bloody rite of circumcision. 26. He let him go; the Lord ceased to threaten him with death for neglecting his duty. 27. In the mount; at mount Horeb. Chap. 3:1; 4:14. 28. Signs; miracles which God had commanded him to perform. 6 may serve me : and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, even thy first-born.-1 24 1 And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the Lord met him,k and sought to kill him.1 25 Then Zipporah took a sharp stone/ and cut off the foreskin of her son,"1 and cast* it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision. 27 T And the Lord said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him." 28 And Moses told Aaron all the words of the Lord who had sent him, and all the signs which he had commanded him. 29 1 And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of -Israel : 30 And Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses,0 and did the signs in the sight of the people. 31 And the people believed:" and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had looked upon their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped.0- CHAPTER V. 1 Pharaoh chideth Moses and Aaron for their message. 5 He increas- eth the Israelites' task. 15 He derideth their complaints. 20 They cry out upon Moses and Aaron. 22 Moses complaineth to God. AND afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness/ 12. i Deut. 14: 1; Jer. 31:9; Hos. 11:1; Eom. 9:4 j ch. 11:5 12 29. k Num 22:22 1 Gen. 17:14. t Or, knife. "i Josh. 5 2 3. t Heb. made it touch. n ch. 3:: . o ver. 10. P ch. 3:18; ver. 8. 9. q Gen 17:3 24 26; ch. 12:27; 1 Chr. 29:20; 2 Chr 20:18. r0h . 10:9. 31. Visited the children of Israel; appeared for them in mercy, and was about to deliver them from bondage. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. It is often exceedingly difficult to induce even the best of men in all things heartily to believe God ; and were it not for his boundless compassion and- grace, in stead of being saved by faith, they would perish through unbelief. 8. God in his mercy furnishes his people with all need ful aid for the services to which he calls them ; so that in reliance- on him they may safely follow his directions, expecting that he will give them success. 13. Men are very apt to start objections against doing what they dislike, and to desire that others may perform the labors and bear the trials of difficult services, rather than themselves. 14. God is angry with men when they are afraid or ashamed to obey him, or seek to excuse themselves from doing their duty. 18. In doing the will of God we should endeavor not needlessly to exasperate men, and should use all suitable means to secure their approbation and aid. 24. Those who are called to guide others in the path of duty should be careful to walk in it themselves, and in all things to set an example which others may safely follow. 31. God is often better to his people than their fears, and always better than their deserts. Difficulties in the way of duty, which may seem insuperable, when they en gage in it disappear or are readily overcome. The yoke which appeared to be so galling is easy, and the burden which seemed so heavy is light. Matt. 11 : 29, 30. 81 Pharaoh rejects Moses. EXODUS VI. The people are oppressed'. 2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go ?a I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go. 3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us :" let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the Lord our God ; lest he fall upon us with pesti lence, or with the sword.0 4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Where fore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens. 5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. 6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore : let them go and gather straw for themselves. 8 And the tale of the bricks which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them ; ye shall not diminish aught thereof:4 for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. 9 Let there more work be laid upon the men," that they may labor therein; and let them not regard vain words.0 10 1 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the peo ple, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. 11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not aught of your work shall be diminished. 12 So the people were scattered abroad through out all the land of Egypt to gather stubble in stead of straw. 13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks,+ as when there was straw. 14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, » 2 Kings 18:35; Job2l:15; Psa. 12:4. bch.3:18. c Deut. 29:21; Ezek. 0:11. d Psa, 106:41. * Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men. e 2 Kings H:20. t Heb. a matter ofa day in his day. ' Deut. 32:30; Eccl. 4: 1; 5:8 CHAPTER V. 3. The desert; the desert of Shur, lying between Egypt and Canaan. Fall upon us with pestilence; punish us with death for neglecting to obey his command. 4. Let the people; hinder their working. 6. Taskmasters ; Egyptians appointed to exact of the Is raelites the required labor. Officers; Israelites appointed to execute the directions of the taskmasters. Ver. 14^16. 7. Straw; to be mixed with the clay, to make the bricks more firm and durable. They were not burned, but dried in the sun. 8. The tale of the bricks; the full amount which was re quired. 9. Vain words; false pretences, about being required by God to go and worship. 21. Judge; judge you for the evil you have brought upon us, in occasioning an increase of our burdens. Made our savor to be abhorred; made us odious to Pharaoh and his people, and thus disposed them to deal more cruelly with us. Put a sword in their hand; giving them a pretext for killing us. 22. Returned unto the Lord; expressed to him his feel- were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore acliS?: have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore ? 15 1 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants ? 16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick : and behold, thy servants are beaten ; but the fault is in thine own people. 17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle ; therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord. 18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks. 19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case,1 after it was said, Ye shall not minisli aught from your bricks of your daily task. 20 T And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh : 21 And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge ; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred* in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.s 22 And Moses returned unto the Lord, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil-entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?h 23 Po» since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people ; neither hast thou delivered8 thy people at all. CHAPTER VI, 1 (rod reneweth his promise by his name JEHOVAH. 14 ogy of Reuben, lo of Simeon, 16 of Levi, of whom carr The geneal- came Moses and Aaron THEN the Lord said unto Moses, Now shalt thou see what I will do to Pharaoh:' for with a strong hand shall he let them go,J and with a strong hand shall he drive them out of his land.* t Hob. to stink. S Gen. 34:30; 1 Sam. 13:4; 27:12; 2 Sam. 10:6; 1 Chr. 10:6. h Jer. 20:7; Hab. 2:3. § Heb. delivering thou hast not delivered. i 2Chr. 20:17; Psa. 12:5. JPsa.80:13. kch. 11:1. ings, which were as unreasonable towards Jehovah as those of the Israelitish officers were towards him ; and much more inexcusable, as he had been expressly fore warned that Pharaoh would for a time resist his efforts. Chap. 3:19, 20. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. The commands of God are reasonable and binding on all who know them. If men do not obey them, it is because they have no disposition to obe}'. 8. Wicked men often imagine that the friends of Jeho vah have no real regard for him ; that their professions are mere pretence, and that if they were not hypocritical, selfish, and idle, they would not wish to spend time in worshipping him. 23. Good men in pursuing a good object in the right way, if not immediately successful, are liable to become discouraged, and to complain not merely of men, but also of God. CHAPTER VI. 1. Strong hand; under the judgments of God, Pharaoh would not only consent, but be very urgent to have them God reneweth his promise. EXODUS VI. The descent of Moses and Aaron. K.c'.um: 2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord:* 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty," but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.b 4 And I have also established my covenant with them, to give them the land of Canaan, the land of their pilgrimage, wherein they were strangers.0 5 And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians keep in bondage;4 and I have remembered my covenant.0 6 Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from un der the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage,' and I will redeem you with a stretched-out arm, and with great judg ments:8 7 And I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God : and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, which bringeth you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.11 8 And I will bring you in unto the land, con cerning the which I did swear+ to give it to Abra ham, to Isaac, and to Jacob ; and I will give it you for a heritage : I am the Lord. 9 And Mpses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish* of spirit, and for cruel bondage.1 10 IT Aild the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. 12 And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me ;j how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips ? k 13 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children • Or. Jehov ATI. a Gen. 1 7:1; 35 11; 43:3. bch. 3:14 ; Psa. 68:4 83:18; T*a 42:8; John 8:58; Rev. 1:4. = Gen. 17: 7. 8. i ch. 2:24; Psa. 100:44. e 1 sa. 105:S. 1 Deut. 20: 8; Psa. 81:6. B oh. 15 :13; Deut. 7:H: 1 Chr. 17: 21 ; Neh. 1 10 h Deut 4:20; 7 :6; 2 Sam. 7:24 Jer 31:33; Hos. 1:10; Re /. 21:3, 7. t Heb. lift up my hand, t Heb. shortness, or straitness. 2. I am the Lord ; in the Hebrew, I am Jehovah. This is the first time that the declaration, I am Jehovah, occurs in the Bible in this naked form. Its meaning is, that the name is a pledge that he who bears it will fulfil all his promises. The word Jehovah signifies HE IS, and, like the equivalent name, I AM, it denotes the self-existence, independence, immutability, and infinite fulness of the divine Being. 3. God Almighty; see Gen. 17:1; 35:11. By my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them. It had been known from the beginning that God's name was Jehovah, Gen. 2:4. We have reason to believe that God himself, who named man Adam, also named himself Jehovah. But in his revelations to the patriarchs, God had not appropri ated this name to himself in a peculiar way, as he now did. He had said to them, I am God Almighty ; I am Jeho vah, the God of Abraham, etc. ; but not simply, I am Jeho vah. The name of God comprehends the sum of all his attributes. To manifest God's name to men, is to manifest his true character. John 17:6. When it is said that God keeps believers through his name, the meaning is, that he keeps them through those divine attributes which his name comprehends. John 17:11. When God says-, I am Jehovah, he means that the fulness of divine perfec tions which that name includes, is a sure pledge that he will redeem all his promises to his covenant people. of Israel,1 and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. 14 T These be the heads of their fathers' houses : The sons of Reuben the first-born of Israel ; Ha- noch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi :m these be the families of Reuben. 15 And the sons of Simeon ; Jemuel, and Jamin, and Ohad, and Jachin, and Zohar, and Shaul the son of a Canaanitish woman:" these are the fam ilies of Simeon. 16 1 And these are the names of the sons of Levi according to their generations ; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari:0 and the years of the life of Levi were a hundred thirty and seven years. 17 The sons of Gershon ; Libni, and Shimi, ac cording to their families. 18 And the sons of Kohath ; Amram, and Izhar, and Hebron, and Uzziel :p and the years of the life of Kohath were a hundred thirty and three years. 19 And the sons of Merari ; Mahali and Mushi : these are the families of Levi according to their generations. 20 And Amram took him Jochebed his father's sister to wife ; and she bare him Aaron and Moses : and the years of the life of Amram were a hun dred and thirty and seven years. 21 1 And the sons of Izhar; Korah, and Ne- pheg, and Zichri." 22 And the sons of Uzziel ; Mishael, and Elza- phan, and Zithri.1' 23 And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife;3 and she bare him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.4 24 And the sons of Korah ; Assir, and Elkanah, and Abiasaph : these are the families of the Kor- hites. 25 And Eleazar, Aaron's son, took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare ¦ ch. 5:21. j ver. 9. k ver. 30; Lev. 20:41 ; Jer. 9:20; Acts 7:51. 1 Num. 27:19, 23; Deut. 31:14. m Gen. 40:9. etc.; 1 Chr. 5:3. 0 1 Chr. 4:24. ° Num. 3:17; 1 Chr. 0:1. P Num. 20:57. q Num. 16:1. r Lev. 10:4. ¦ Ruth 4:19. I 1 Chr. 6:3; 24:1. 8. I did swear; Gen. 15:18; 26:3; 28:13; 35:12. 12. Uncircumcised lips; not eloquent. Chap. 4:10. 14—27. The special design of this table is to show the descent of Moses and Aaron. It therefore proceeds no further than Levi, the third son of Jacob, and gives full details respecting his descendants. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. When men despair of help from themselves and from creatures, and look to God, he shows both his readiness and his power to do for them what they need. 8. Those attributes of God which are implied in the names that he appropriates to himself in his word, are made known to men in his providence. Both by what he says and by what he does, he shows that he is Je hovah. 12. Even the best of men are strongly tempted to walk by sight, not by faith ; and if appearances are against them, are liable to be discouraged, though all the perfec tions of Jehovah are pledged in their behalf. 29. The utter insufficiency of men, and their entire de pendence on God, instead of being a reason why they should not in all things obey him, are a reason why they should obey him ; and in doing his will they will find his grace to be sufficient for them, and his strength made perfect in their weakness. 2 Cor. 12:9 ; Heb. 11:34. 83 Moses and Aaron before Pharaoh. EXODUS VII. His heart is hardened. him Phinehas :a these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families. 26 These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the Lord said, Bring out the children of Israel from the land of Egypt according to their armies. 27 These are they which spake to Pharaoh king of Egypt,b to bring out the children of Israel from Egypt:0 these are that Moses and Aaron. 28 1" And it came to pass on the day when the Lord spake unto Moses in the land of Egypt, 29 That the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, I am the Lord : speak thou unto Pharaoh king of Egypt all that I say unto thee.cl 30 And Moses said before the Lord, Behold, I am of uncircumcised lips,6 and how shall Pharaoh hearken unto me ? CHAPTER VII. 1 Moses is encouraged to go to Pharaoh. 7- His age. 8 His rod is turned into a serpent. 11 The sorcerers do the like. 13 Pharaoh's heart is hardened. 14 Ood's message to Pharaoh. 19 The river is turned into blood. AND the Lord said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh ;f and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet. 2 Thou shalt speak all that I command thee;g and Aaron thy brother shall speak unto Pharaoh, that he send the children of Israel out of his land. 3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and mul tiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.11 4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch forth my hand upon Egypt, and bring out the children of Israel from among them.1 6 And Moses and Aaron did as the Lord com manded them, so did they. 7 And Moses was fourscore years old, and Aaron fourscore and three years old, when they spake unto Pharaoh. 8 IT And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 9 When Pharaoh shall speak unto you, saying, Show a miracle for you :j then thou shalt say unto aJosh.21:33. b oh. 5:1 ; 7: 10. c ch. 33:1 ; Psa. 77:20; Mic. 6:4. d Jer. 1:7, 8, 17; 23:28; 26:2; Ezek. 2:6, 7; 3:11 ; Matt. 23:20. e ver. 12. f Psa. 82:6; JohnlO:35. Kch.6:29. !>ch.ll:9. ¦ ch. 14:4, 18; Psa. 9:16. j Matt. 12:39; John 2: 18. k Dan. 2:2; 2 Tim. 3:8. 1 ver. 4. m ch. 8:15; 10:1, 27. CHAPTER VII. 1. I have made thee a god to Pharaoh — thy prophet; as God communicates to men his will through prophets, so Aaron should make known to Pharabh the messages which Mo ses, acting in God's name, should direct him to deliver. 3. Harden Pharaoh's heart; as a punishment for his sins, he was given up to hardness of heart and blindness of mind, so that God's dealings with him served only to in crease his obduracy and wickedness. 4. That I may lay my hand upon Egypt; this was not Pharaoh's object in refusing to obey God, but it was God's object in suffering him to do it. 5. The Egyptians shall know; that Jehovah is almighty, and able to do his pleasure. 84 Aaron, Take thy rod, and cast it before B".":*!!: Pharaoh, and it shall become a serpent. 10 1 And Moses and Aaron went in unto Pha raoh, and they did so as the Lord had commanded : and Aaron cast down his rod before Pharaoh, and before his servants, and it became a serpent. 11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers:11 now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments. 12 Por they cast down every man his rod, and they became serpents : but Aaron's rod swallowed up their rods. 13 And he hardened Pharaoh's heart, that he hearkened not unto them ; as the Lord had said.1 14 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh's heart is hardened:"1 he refuseth to let the people go." 15 Get thee unto Pharaoh in the morning ; lo, he goeth out unto the water ; and thou shalt stand by the river's brink against he come ; and the rod which was turned to a serpent shalt thou take in thy hand.0 16 And thou shalt say unto him, The Lord God of the Hebrews hath sent me unto thee,p saying, Let my people go, that they may serve me in the wilderness:4 and behold, hitherto thou wouldest not hear. 17 Thus saith the Lord, In this thou shalt know that I am the Lord :r behold, I will smite with the rod that is in my hand upon the waters which are in the river, and they shall be turned to blood.8 18 And the fish that is in the river shall die, and *the river shall stink ; and the Egyptians shall loathe to drink of the water of the river. 19 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Take thy rod, and stretch out thy hand upon the waters of Egypt, upon their streams, upon their rivers, and upon their ponds, and upon all their pools of water," that they may become blood; and that there may be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, both in vessels of wood, and in vessels of stone. 20 And Moses and Aaron did so, as the Lord commanded : and he lifted up the rod, and smote the waters that were in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh, and in the sight of his servants ; ' and all the waters that were in the river were turned to blood. n Jer. 8:5, Heb. 12:25. o ver. 10. I> ch. 3:18. q ch. 8:1, etc. 'ver. 5; 1 Sam. 17:46; 1 Kings 20:28; "Psa. 78:44; 105:29; Rev. 8:8; 2 Kings 19:10; Ezek. 29:!l; 30:8; 3?:23. 16:4, 6. • Heb. gathering of their waters. 'ch. 17:5; Num. 20:11. 11. The sorcerers — the magicians; men who pretended to supernatural power, and were accustomed to practise deceits upon their fellow-men. 2 Timothy 3:8. Pharaoh probably regarded Moses and Aaron as magicians, and wished to see whpther his own magicians could perform like wonders. With tlieir enchantments; certain mysteri ous forms of words by which they pretended to work wonders. 12. And they became serpents; this was probably done by sleight of hand. 13. He hardened Pharaoh's heart; this in the original is the same as in verse 22, where it is rendered, Pharaoh's heart was hardened. 19. Streams — rivers; the various branches of the Nile, and the canals leading from it. The plague of frogs. EXODUS VIII. The plague of lice. & ": 1T913' 2 1 And the fish that was in the river died ; and the river stank, and the Egyptians could not drink of the water of the river ;a and there was blood throughout all the land of Egypt. 22 And the magicians of Egypt did so with their enchantments :b and Pharaoh's heart was hardened, neither did he hearken unto them ; as the Lord had said. 23 And Pharaoh turned and went into his house, neither did he set his heart to this also.0 24 And all the Egyptians digged round about the river for water to drink ; for they could not drink of the water of the river. 25 And seven days were fulfilled, after that the Lord had smitten the river. CHAPTER VIII. 1 Frogs are sent. 8 Pharaoh sueth to Moses, 12 and Moses by prayer removeth them away. 16 The dust is turned into lice, -which the magicians could not do. 20 The swurms of flies. 25 Pharaoh in- clineth to let the people go, 32 but yet is hardened. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, Go unto Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs : 3 And the river shall bring forth frogs abun dantly, which shall go up and come into thy house, and into thy bedchamber, and upon thy bed, and into the house of thy servants, and upon thy peo ple, and into thine ovens, and into thy kneading- troughs :* 4 And the frogs shall come up both on thee, and upon thy people, and upon all thy servants. 5 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch forth thy hand with thy rod over the streams, over the rivers, and over the ponds, and cause frogs to come up upon the land of Egypt. 6 And Aaron stretched out his hand over the waters of Egypt; and the frogs came up, and covered the land of Egypt.d 7 And the magicians did so with their enchant- a Ver. 18. b 2 Tim 3:8. c Isa. 26:11; Jer. 5:3; 36:24; Has 1:5. *Or. dough. d Psa 78:45, 105:30; Rev. 10:13. e ch. ! :28, 10:17; Num. 21:7; 1 Kings 13:6; Acts 8 :24. t Or, Have this honor over me. i Or, against when. § Heb. to cut 'ff- a Or, Against to- morrow . 1 Deut. 3:. :31; 33:20; 22. Did so with their enchantments; imitated in appear ance the miracle of Moses. As Pharaoh did not love the truth, God suffered the magicians to deceive him to a cer tain point by their enchantments. 2 Thess. 2:11. Thus his heart was hardened, and he persisted in his obduracy. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. The Lord takes occasion, even from the obstinacy and wickedness of men, to manifest his character and show forth his glory, to the terror of his enemies and the joy of his friends. 13. Things which, in the course of divine providence, take place through the wickedness of men, are sometimes, in the Bible, ascribed to God. This shows his all-control ling agency, though he cannot be tempted, neither does he at any time tempt men Co commit sin. James 1: 13, 14. 22. When men dislike to obey God, and seek excuses for their neglect, they can generally find them ; and when they wish to harden themselves against him, he often suf fers them to do it, even to their ruin. ments, and brought up frogs upon the land of Egypt. 8 IT Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, Entreat the Lord, that he may take away the frogs from- me, and from my people ; and I will let the people go, that they may do sacrifice unto the Lord.0 9 And Moses said unto Pharaoh, Glory over me:f when* shall I entreat for (hee, and for thy servants, and for thy people, to destroy8 the frogs from thee and thy houses, that they may remain in the river only? 10 And he said, To-morrow.1 And he said, Be it according to thy word ; that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God.f 11 And the frogs shall depart from thee, and from thy houses, and from thy servants, and from thy people ; they shall remain in the river only. 12 And Moses and Aaron went out from Pha raoh; and Moses cried unto the Lord because of the frogs which he had brought against Pha raoh.8 13 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses ;h and the frogs died out of the houses, out of the villages, and out of the fields. 14 And they gathered them together upon heaps ; and the land stank. 15 But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart, and hearkened not unto them;1 as the Lord had said.J 16 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Say unto Aaron, Stretch out thy rod, and smite the dust of the land, that it may become lice throughout all the land of Egypt. 17 And they did so ; for Aaron stretched out his hand with -his rod, and smote the dust of the earth, and it became lice in man, and in beast; all the dust of the land became lice throughout all the land of Egypt.k 18 And the magicians did so with their enchant ments to bring forth lice, but they could not:1 so there were lice upon man, and upon beast. 19 Then the magicians said unto Pharaoh, This is the finger of God:"1 and Pharaoh's heart was 2 Sam. 7:23; 1 Chr. 17:20; Psa. 83:18; 86:8; Isa. 40:25; 46:9; Jer. 10:6, 7. S Jas. 5.16-18. h Deut 34:10-12. iEcol. 8:11. i ch. 7:4. k psa. 105:31. 1 Gen. 41:8; Isa. 19:12; 47:12; Dan. 2:10. m 1 Sam. 6:3, 9; Psa. 8:3; Matt. 12:28; Luke 11:20. CHAPTER VIII. 7. And brought up frogs; see chap. 7:12. 9. Glory over me; or, according to many, Appoint me a time. 13. Villages; yards, or grounds about the houses of the Egyptians. 15. He hardened his heart; by refusing to obey God. Here the hardening of his heart is ascribed to Pharaoh, and yet the process was probably the same as when it was ascribed to God. Chap. 7:13. In one sense it was ascribed to God, and in another to Pharaoh. 16. Lice; the word translated lice is by many supposed to mean gnats. 18. The magicians did so; smote the earth to bring forth lice. Some suppose that as they had no previous warning of this plague, and no time to prepare their deceptions, they could not imitate this miracle even in appearance ; and to hide their shame, confessed that it was the effect of divine power. 85 The plague of flies. EXODUS IX. The murrain upon beasts. liardened, and he hearkened not unto them; as the Lord had said. 20 1" And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh ; lo, he cometh forth to the water ; and say unto him, Thus saith- the Lord, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Else, if thou wilt not let my people go, be hold, I will send swarms of flies* upon thee, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people, and into thy houses : and the houses of the Egyptians shall be full of swarms of flies, and also the ground whereon they are. 22 And I will sever in that day the land of Goshen, in which my people dwell, that no swarms of flLs shall be there ;a to the end thou mayest know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth. 23 And I will put a division* between my peo ple and thy people : to-morrow* shall this sign be. 24 And the Lord did so ; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of Egypt: the land was corrupted8 by reason of the swarm of flies. 25 1 And Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron, and said, Go ye, sacrifice to your God in the land. 26 And Moses said, It is not meet so to do ; for we shall sacrifice the abomination of the Egyp tians to the Lord our God : lo, shall we sacrifice the abomination of the Egyptians before their eyes, and will they not stone us ?b 27 We will go three days' journey into the wil derness, and sacrifice to the Lord our God,0 as he shall command us.11 28 And Pharaoh said, I will let you go, that ye may sacrifice to the Lord your God in the wilder ness ; only ye shall not go very far away : entreat for me.e 29 And Moses said, Behold, I go out from thee, and I will entreat the Lord that the swarms of flies may depart from Pharaoh, from his servants, • Or, a mixture of n'oi-ome beasts, etc. a ch. 0:4, etc.; 10:23; 11:6, 7; 12:13. t Heb. a redemption, t Or by to-morrow. § Or. destroyed, b Gen. 43:32; 46:34; Deut. 7:2-5; 12:31; 1 Kings 11:5-7; 2 Kings 23:13. <= ch. 21. Smrms of flies; the word in the original, translated swarms of flies, means, according to some, a mixed multi tude of noisome insects ; according to others, a particular kind of insect. 22. Sever; separate. 24. Corrupted; destroyed, devoured. Psa. 78:45. This word is most naturally understood of the destruction of the products and wealth of the land. For this reason some suppose that it here denotes a species of beetle, common in Egypt, that devours whatever comes in its way. . 26. Meet; suitable, fit, proper. Sacrifice the abomination ; various animals were worshipped by the Egyptians, and should they see the Israelites sacrifice them they would be greatly offended. , . , . 'ii'. "Pliarabh hardened his heart; ver. 15. INSTRUCTIONS. 6. God can make even the meanest of his creatures in struments of punishment to those who rebel against him ; and none are eo exalted that they can resist him and pros per. Though for a time he waits upon them, not willing 86 and from his people, to-morroW : but let »'. *: S not Pharaoh deal deceitfully any more in not letting the people go to sacrifice to the Lord/ 30 And Moses Went out from Pharaoh, and en treated the Lord. 31 And the Lord did according to the word of Moses ; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, from his servants, and from his people ; there remained not one. 32 And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go.B CHAPTER IX. 1 The murrain of beasts. 8 The plague of boils and blains. 13 His message about the hail. 22 The plague of hail. 27 Pliaraoh sueth to Moses, 35 but yet is hardened. rF\HEN the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto _L Pharaoh, and tell him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 2 For if thou refuse to let them go, and wilt hold them still, 3 Behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thy cat tle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep : there shall be a very grievous murrain. 4 And the Lord shall sever between the cattle of Israel and the cattle of Egypt: and there shall nothing die of all that is the children's of Israel. 5 And the Lord appointed a set time, saying, To-morrow the Lord shall do this thing in tlie land. 6 And the Lord did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died :h but of the cat tle of the children of Israel died not one. 7 And Pharaoh sent, and behold, there was not one of the cattle of the Israelites dead. And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people go. 8 1 And the Lord said unto Moses and unto Aaron, Take to you handfuls of ashes of tlie fur nace, and let Moses sprinkle it toward the heaven in the sight of Pharaoh. 3:18. d ch. 34:11; Lev. 10:1; .., 13:6. f Psa. 78:34-37 ; Jer. 42:20 78:50. Matt. 28:20. e Ter. B; oh. 9:28; 1 Kings E ver. 15; oh. 4:21 ; Rorh. 2:5. b Psa. that they should perish, yet " he that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy." 15. Those misgiving's, confessions, resolutions, and prom ises which are extorted only by the endurance of present or the fear of future evils, are not to be depended on. When those evils or fears are removed, their apparent good effects will be like the morning cloud or early dew, which quickly pass away. Hos. 4> : 4. 22. However great the calamities which God brings upon his enemies, he is ever able and willing to protect his people and deliver them from temptations, while he re serves the wicked to the day of judgment to be punished. And though now they may often seem to be ih many re spects alike, yet hereafter all men will return and discern between him that serveth God and him that servieth him not. Mal. 3 : 18 ; 2 Peter 2:9. CHAPTER IX. 3. Murrain; a pestilence among cattle". 6. All the cattle; great numbers of all -kinds, as appears from a comparison with verse 19. The plague ef boils. EXODUS IX. Tlie plague of haU. B'&iii3' 9 And it shall become small dust in all the landV of Egypt, and shall be a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast, throughout all the land of Egypt.* 10 And they took ashes of the furnace, and stood before Pharaoh ; and Moses sprinkled it up toward heaven ; and it became a boil breaking forth with blains upon man, and upon beast. 11 And the magicians eould not stand before Moses because of the boils ;b for the boil was upon the magicians, and upon all the Egyptians. 12 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pha raoh, and he hearkened not unto them;0 as the Lord had spoken unto Moses.* 13 If And the Lord said unto Moses, Rise up early in the morning, and stand before Pharaoh, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, Let my people go, that they may serve me. 14 For I will at this time send all my plagues upon thy heart, and upon thy servants, and upon thy people;0 that thou mayest know that there is none like me in all tlie earth. 15 Por now I will stretch out my hand, that I may smite thee and thy people with pestilence;' and thou shalt be cut off from the earth. 16 And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up,* for to show in thee my power ;g and that my name may be declared throughout ali the earth. 17 As yet exaltest thou thyself against my peo ple, that thou wilt not let them go?h 18 Behold, to-morrow about this time1 I will cause it to rain a very grievous hail,1 such as hath not been in Egypt since the foundation thereof even until now. 19 Send therefore now, and gather thy cattle, and all that thou hast in the field ; for upon every man and beast which shall be found in the field, and shall not be brought home, the hail shall come down upon them, and they shall die.k 20 He that feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his cattle flee into the houses:1 a Deut. 28:27; Job 2:7; Rev. 10: . b Isa. 47:12, 14. « Psa. 81 :11. dch. 4:21. " Lev. 2o:L8; Deut. 28:15; 29:20; 32:39; 1 Sam 4:8; Jer 19:8; Rev. 18:8; 22:18. ' Prov. 2:22. ' Heb. made thee stand. B Prov 10:1 Rom. 9: l/; 1 Pet. 2:8. b Job 0:4; 15:25, 20. f 1 Kings 10:2; 20:6. 3. t Heb. set not his heart unto. JPsa. 83.1.5. k ver. 25. 1 Prov. 10:20, 22 m ch. 7:23. » Josh. 10:11; 1 Sam. 12: 7. 18; Job 38:22; Psa. In:13: 7*. 47; 9. It shall become small dust; the meaning of tnese words is, that in connection with this sign a fine irritating dust, produced by the power of Jehovah, filled the land, pror during painful sores in man and beast. The handful of ashes from -the furnaee is called this dust because it rep resents it symbolically. 10. Blains; violent and painful Inflammation. 12. The Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh; chap. 4:21 ; 7:3; 8:15. 16. Railed thee up ; caused thee to stand ; continued thee in life, notwithstanding all thy wickedness. My name may be declared; my character, as manifested in my won derful works, may be made known to all people. 23. Fire; lightning. 29. The earth ii the Lord's; he is its rightful owner and universal governor. 31. Was boiled; the bolls of flax are the round seed-cups at the summit of the stalks. Many prefer to render, the flax was in flower. 32. Rye; the Hebrew word means spelt — as it is trans lated in the margin of Isa. 28 : 25, and Ezek. 4: 9 — a species of beardless wheat common in Egypt. 21 And he that regarded not* the word of the Lord left his servants and his cattle in the field.1" 22 IT And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch forth thy hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt, upon man, and upon beast, and upon every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt. 23 And Moses stretched forth his rod toward heaven: and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and the fire ran along upon the ground ; and the Lord rained hail upon the land of Egypt." 24 So there was hail and fire mingled with the hail, very grievous, such as there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a na tion. 25 And the hail smote throughout all the land of Egypt all that was in the field, both man and beast ; and the hail smote every herb of the field, and brake every tree of the field.0 26 Only in the land of Goshen, where the chil dren of Israel were, was there no hail.p 27 IT And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time : the Lord is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.0- 28 Entreat the LoRDr (for it is enough) that there be no more mighty thunderings* and hail ; and I will let you go, and ye shall stay no longer. 29 And Moses said unto him, As soon as I am gone out of the city, I will spread abroad my hands unto the Lord ;s and the thunder shall cease, neither shall there be any more hail; that thou mayest know how that the earth is the Lord's.' JO But as for thee and thy servants, I know that ye will not yet fear the Lord God." 31 And the flax and the barley was smitten :T for the barley was in the ear, and the flax was boiled. 32 But the wheat and the rye were not smitten : for they were not grown up.§ 33 And Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh, and spread abroad his hands unto the Lord : and 105:32; Isa. 30:.i0; Ezek. 3-: 22; "Rev. b:7 ° P«t. 105:33. P ch. r-.'M, etc.; Isa. 32:18,19. q S Chr. 12:6; P*a. 9:16: 129:1; 141:17; i.am. l:lo; Dan. 0:14. r Acts fi:24. 1 Heb. voices of GoJ. = 1 Kings 8:3-; Psa. 1 3:0; Isa. 1:15. t Psa. 24:1: I "Cor. 10:20. u Isa. 26:10. v Amos 4:9; Hab. 3: 17. § Heb. hidden, or dark. " INSTRUCTIONS. 6. The brute creation often suffer through the wicked?- ness of man, and are visited with calamities as a punish ment of his sins. - 11. Whatever power the wicked claim, or whatever ijir fluence they may be able to exert over their fellow-men, they are entirely dependent upon God ; and if they con tinue in rebellion against him, nothing can shield them from his indignation. 16. AU men are under sacred obligations to honor God. If they will not, by obeying his commands, he will glorify his justice in their punishment, and ultimately in their ruin. 21. Men who believe God, will use the means which are needful to escape the evils he threatens ; while those who disbelieve, by neglecting the means of escape, will bring those evils upon them. • 27. However much the wicked may try to justify them selves and condemn Jehovah for bringing evils upon them, they will ultimately all confess that he is right and they are wrong ; and will feel that they are the cause of their own ruin. 34. The long.-suffering and patience of God, his kindness SI The plague of locusts EXODUS X. sent and removed. the thunders and hail ceased, and the rain was not poured upon the earth. 34 And when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunders were ceased, he sinned yet more, and hardened his heart,a he and his servants. 35 And the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, nei ther would he let the children of Israel go ; as the Lord had spoken by Moses.' CHAPTER X. 1 God threateneth to send locusts. 7 Pharaoh, moved by his servants, inclineth to let the Israelites go. 12 The plague of the locusts. 16 Pharaoh sueth to Moses. 21 The plague of darkness. 24 Pharaoh sueth unto Moses, 27 but yet is hardened. AND the Lord said unto Moses, Go in unto Pharaoh : for I have hardened his heart,6 and the heart of his servants, that I might show these my signs before him : 2 And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son's son,0 what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them ; that ye may know how that I am the LoRD.d 3 And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me?e let my people go, that they may serve me. 4 Else, if thou refuse to let my people go, behold, to-morrow will I bring the locusts into thy coast :f 5 And they shall cover the face1" of the earth, that one cannot be able to see the earth : and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped,8 which re maineth unto you from the hail, and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field : 6 And they shall fill thy houses, and the houses of all thy servants, and the houses of all the Egyp tians;11 which neither thy fathers, nor thy fathers' fathers have seen, since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day. And he turned himself, and went out from Pharaoh. 7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us ?' let the men go, that they may serve the Lord their God : knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed ? 8 And Moses and Aaron were brought again unto Pharaoh : and he. said unto them, Go, serve the Lord your God: but who* are they that shall go? »2 Ohr .33:23; 36:13 Rom. 2:4, 5. * Heb by the hand of Moses. bch. 7 13: 14. c Deut. 4:9; 6:20; Psa. 41:1 ; 71 :18; 78:5; Joel 1:3. d Psa. 54: 1 1 . e 1 Kings 21:29 2 Chr 7:14; 33:12.19; job 42:6; Jer. 13:18 ; Jas. 4 10. f Prov. 30:27; Rev. 9:: . t Heb eye. 6 ch. 9:32; Joel 1:4; 2:25. h ver 14, 1.5; ch. 8:3. ch. 23:33; Josh 23:13; 1 Sam. 18:21; Prov. 20:6; in removing evils and in bestowing new mercies, are often abused to the increase of transgression, and a preparation for more aggravated woe. CHAPTER X. 4. Locusts; a species of insect resembling our grass hopper, but much larger. They fly with the wind in im mense swarms that darken the air, and where they alight they cover the face of the ground, and devour every green thing. 10. Be so with you, as I will let you go ; may he deal with you just so as I shall let you go. He means, I will not let you go ; and if your God grants your requests in the same way that I do, you will fare hard. Look to it; for evil is before you; that is, according to our version, by per- 88 9 And Moses said, We will go with our . b.c:'h9i: young and with our old, with our sons and with our daughters, with our flocks and with our herds will we go ; for we must hold a feast unto the Lord. 10 And he said unto them, Let the Lord be so with you, as I will let you go, and your little ones : look to it; for evil is before you. 11 Not so: go now ye that are men, and serve the Lord ; for that ye did desire. And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence. 12 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts, that they may come up upon the land of Egypt, and eat every herb of the land, even all that the hail hath left.1 13 And Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt, and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all that day, aud all that night ; and when it was morning, the east wind brought the locusts.k 14 And the locusts went up over all the land of Egypt, and rested in all the coasts of Egypt :" very grievous were they; before them there were no such locusts as they, neither after them shall be such."1 15 For they covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened ; and they did eat every herb of the land, and all the fruit of the trees which the hail had left : and there remained not any green thing in the trees, or in the herbs of the field, through all the land of Egypt. 16 T Then Pharaoh called8 for Moses and Aaron in haste ; and he said, I have sinned against the Lord your God,11 and against you. 17 Now therefore forgive, I pray thee, my sin only this once, and' entreat the Lord your God,0 that he may take away from me this death only. 18 And he went out from Pharaoh, and entreated the Lord. 19 And the Lord turned a mighty strong west wind, which took away the locusts, and cast1 them into the Red sea;p there remained not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt. 20 But the Lord liardened Pharaoh's heart, so that he would not let the children of Israel go. 21 TT And the Lord said unto Moses, Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be dark ness over the land of Egypt,"1 even darkness which may be felt.' Eccl. 7:26. t Heb. who and who, etc. j ch. 7:19. k Psa. 78:26; 107:25; Matt. 8:27. 1 Psa. 78:46; 105:34. m Joel 2:2. § Heb. hastened to call. n ch. 9:27. o 1 Kings 13:6; Isa. 26:16. 1 Heb. fastened, p Joel 2:20. q Psa. 3j:6; 105:28; Prov. 4:19; Eccl. 2:14; 6:4; Isa. 8:22. 1 Heb. that one may feel darkness. sisting in your demand you will bring upon yourselves destruction. Compare ver. 28. But many prefer to ren der, Consider that your designs are evil. 13. East wind; locusts come to Palestine and Egypt from their breeding places in the Arabian desert on the east. 17. This death only; this deadly plague, implying that he would not give occasion to Jehovah to send another. 19. The Red sea; which lies east of Egypt. It is com mon for locusts to perish in this way. 21. Even darkness which may be felt; rather, so that one shall grope in darkness. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. The glory of God in the manifestation of his true Moses threateneth the EXODUS XI. death of the first-born. b.c!'i«i3' 22 And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven ; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days : 23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the chil dren of Israel had light in their dwellings." 24 1 And Pharaoh called unto Moses, and said, Go ye, serve the Lord ; only let your flocks and your herds be stayed : let your little ones also go with you. 25 And Moses said, Thou must give us* also sacrifices and burnt-offerings, that we may sacri fice unto the Lord our God. 26 Our cattle also shall go with us;b there shall not a hoof be left behind; for thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God ; and we know not with what we must serve the Lord, until we come thither. 27 IT But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart,0 and he would not let them go. 28 And Pharaoh said unto him, Get thee from me, take heed to thyself, see my face no more ; for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die.a 29 And Moses said, Thou hast spoken well, I will see thy face again no more.0 CHAPTER XI. 1 G-od's message to the Israelites to borrow jewels of their neighbors. 4 Moses threateneth Pharaoh with the death of the first-born. AND the Lord said unto Moses, Yet will I bring one plague' more upon Pharaoh and upon Egypt ; afterwards he will let you go hence : when he shall let you go, he shall surely thrust you out hence altogether/ » Isa. 49 16- Col. 1 :13; 1 Pet. 2 0. • Heb. into our hands. b Hos 5:6; Zech. 14:20 = ver. 1 20; ch. 14 H ,8. d 2 Chr. 10:10 25:10 Amos 7:13. « Heb. 11 - 27 f ch 12:31-39. B ch. 12:36; Psa. 100 :46. b 2 Sam. 7:9; Esth. 9 4; Rev .3:9. i Job 34:20 Mic. 2:10; Zech. 14:3. j Amos 4:10. character, is one great design of all his dispensations towards the children of men. 7. The wickedness and obstinacy of rulers are often the means of great calamities to the people. And when, in stead of being what they ought to be, ministers of God for good, they become ministers of 'evil, it is right for the people by suitable means to seek a change for the better. 11. When men become convinced that they must yield to God or perish, their yielding is often partial, or in pre tence merely; and when they find that their submission must be sincere, and that they must in all things follow the will of God, they sometimes become vexed and de termine that they will not regard him. 17. Increasing sin brings increasing misery; and men often earnestly seek deliverance, not from the love and practice of iniquity, but from its consequences. 28. However great the miseries which the sins of men bring upon them, if left without the grace of God to pur sue their own chosen way, they will grow worse and worse till they perish. CHAPTER XI. 1. The Lord said; or, the Lord had said, as the Hebrew may be rendered. Compare Gen. 12:1. Thus the first three verses of this chapter will form a sort of parenthe sis, ver. 4 being immediately connected with the last verse of the preceding chapter. Thrust you out; be exceedingly earnest to have them all immediately depart. Ver. 8. 2. Borrow; ask, solicit, or demand. Chap. 3:22. Jew els; the Hebrew word here used means also vessels, uten sils, garments, and weapons. Chap. 3: 22. 2 Speak now in the ears of the people, and let every man borrow of his neighbor, and every woman of her neighbor, jewels of silver, and jew els of gold. 3 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.8 Moreover, the man Mo ses was very great in the land of Egypt,11 in the sight of Pharaoh's servants, and in the sight of the people. 4 And Moses said, Thus saith the Lord, About midnight will I go out into the midst of Egypt.1 5 And all the first-born in the land of Egypt shall die,1 from the first-born of Pharaoh that sit- teth upon his throne, even unto the first-born of the maid-servant that is behind the mill ; and all the first-born of beasts. 6 And there shall be a great cry throughout all the land of Egypt,k such as there was none like it, nor shall be like it any more. 7 But against any of the children of Israel shall not a dog move his tongue, against man or beast :' that ye may know how that the Lord doth put a difference between the Egyptians and Israel. 8 And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow down themselves unto me,m say ing, Get thee out, and all the people that follow thee:+ and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.* 9 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you ; that my wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.11 10 And Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh : and the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart,0 so that he would not let the children of Israel go out of his land. kch. 12:30; Amos 5: 17. 1 Josh. 10:21. >» ch. 12:31, 33. t Heb. that is at thy feet; 1 Kings20:l0. 1 Heb. heat ofanger. nch. 7:3. ° ch. 10:20, 27; 1 Sam. 6:6; Rom. 2:5. 3. Gave the people favor ; inclined the Egyptians willing ly to give the Israelites what they asked, so as to hasten their departure. This, however, did not take place till after Moses had left Pharaoh, and brought upon him the judgment he had denounced. 5. Behind tlie mill; their grain was ground in a small hand-mill of two stones, by female servants who sat be hind the mill and turned the upper stone. The maid-ser vant suffers for the sin of Pharaoh. In respect to Israel, she may be innocent ; but in respect to God, she and her first-born both belong to a fallen and guilty race, and God may deal with them as he sees good. 7. Not a dog move his tongue; a proverbial expression denoting entire peace and safety. 9. Tlie Lord said; had said. He had foretold this, and all things had occurred according to his predictions. Chap. 3:19; 4:21; 7:3,4; 10:1. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. All hearts are in the hands of the Lord, and he can turn them as the rivers of waters are turned. When he sees best, he can influence his enemies to favor his people, and gladly to bestow upon them whatever they desire. 5. As God is the giver and preserver of life, he has a perfect right, at such times and by such means as he sees best, to take it away. 8. When God undertakes to deliver his people he will accomplish it ; and what men do to prevent this he will overrule to render their deliverance in due time mora complete, triumphant, and glorious. 89 The Passover EXODUS XII. is instituted. CHAPTER XII. 1 The beginning of the year is changed. 3 The pas=over is instituted. 11 The rite of the passover. 15 Unleavened bread. 29 The first born are slain. 31 The Israelites are driven out of the land. 37 They come to Succoth. 43 The ordinance of the passover. AND the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 This month shall be unto you the beginning of months : it shall be the first month of the year to yo„u.a 3 TT Speak ye unto all the congregation of Is rael, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb,* accord ing to the house of their fathers, a lamb for a house : 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish,0 a male of the first year:* ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats. 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month:0 and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening.*4 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side-posts and on the upper door-post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it. 8 And they shall eat the flesh in that night, »Ch. 13:4; 34:18; Deut. 16.1. • Or, kid. b Lev. 22: 19, 21 ; Deut. 17:1; Mal. 1:8, 14; 1 Pet. 1:19. t Heb. son of a year; Lev. 23:12. « Lev. 23:5; Num. 9:3; 23:10; Deut. 16:1, 6. t Heb. between the two evenings, d 0h. CHAPTER XII. 1. Spake; this command seems to have been given pre viously to the ninth plague, which lasted three days. The first thirteen verses contain particular directions for the observance of the first -passover ; the next seven, ver. 14-20, general directions for its observance in all coming generations. 2. This month; the month Abib or Nisan, answering to the last part of March and the first part of April. The beginning; of their ecclesiastical year. It had been the seventh month ; and Tishri, answering to the last part of September and the first part of October, had been the first month, and so in their civil concerns it still continued to be. 3. Lamb; the word in the original means either a sheep or a goat. It was to be one year old. Ver. 5. 4. According to the number; about the number that would at a meal consume a, lamb. 5. Witlwut blemish; perfect, sound, healthy. Of the first -year; literally a son of a year, that is, a year old. 6. In the evening; literally between the two evenings. The first evening began about the middle of tlie afternoon, when the daily evening sacrifice was offered ; the second at sunset. 7. Upper door-post; the lintel or beam that goes across over the door. 8. Fire ; as the paschal lamb was a type of Christ, 1 Cor. 5 : 7, the fire may be regarded as an emblem of the wrath of God which he endured in our stead. Unleavened bread; bread not raised with yeast, leaven, or any fermenting substance. As leaven works in secret and unseen, it is the emblem of hypocrisy and deceit. They were on these occasions to abstain from it, to impress on their minds the importance of worshipping God sincerely, in spirit and in truth. 1 Cor. 5:6-8. Bitter herbs; as a memorial of their bitter servitude in Egypt. But as this was a type of the 90 roast with fire, and unleavened bread;' b.&iS!: and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Eat not of it raw, nor sodden at all with water, but roast with fire ; his head with bis legs, and with the purtenance thereof. 10 And ye shall let nothing of it remain until the morning ; f and that which remaineth of it until the morning ye shall burn with fire. 11 TI And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand ; and ye shall eat it in haste : it is the Lord's passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the first-born in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the godss of Egypt I will execute judgment;6 I am the Lord. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you,* when I smite the land of Egypt. 14 And this day shall be unto you for a memo rial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations:11 ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. 15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread;1 even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses : for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israeli 16:12. e ch. 34:25; Deut. 16:3; 1 Cor. 5:8. f ch, 23:18. 5 Or. princes. e Num. a3:4; Psa. 62:1. I Heb. for a destruction. •> Lev. 23:4, 5; 2 Kinirs 23:21; 1 Cor. 5:8. i ch. 13:6. etc. ; Num. 28:17. JNum.9:13. worse bondage of sin, these bitter herbs may be taken to represent the bitter fruits of sin, and the necessity -of re=- pentance in order to salvation. 9. Sodden; boiled. Purtenance; head, legs, heart, liver, lungs, and kidney. The lamb after being dressed was to be roasted whole. 10. That which remaineth; which they did not eat. 11. Loins girded; they wore loose flowing garments, which, when they were about to travel, were fastened close by a girdle, strap, or belt around the body. This girdle was to be thus fastened, that they might be pre pared to start immediately on their journey towards Ca naan. The Lord's passover; that, out of regard to which the Lord, when he should slay the Egyptians, would pass over, spare, and not destroy the Israelites. The blood of this lamb, sprinkled by God's command on the door posts, typified the blood of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, out of regard to which God passes over, spares, and saves those who obey him. Hence Christ is said to be " our Passover." 1 Cor. 5:7. By eating of the lamb the Israelites were taught the necessity of union by faith to Jesus Christ, as well as of reliance on his blood for salva tion. John 6:48-58. 12. The gods of Egypt ; according to some, by their visible destruction, as afterwards in the case of Dagon, 1 Sam. 5:3, 4; or, as" others prefer; the gods (marg. prin ces) of Egypt may refer to the first-born of the ruling priests and princes, and of various animals worshipped there. See Num. 33:4. 13. A token; an evidence that they had complied with the Lord's directions, and were under his protection. The plague; that which destroyed the first-born of Egypt. 14. A memorial; a means of keeping in remembrance their preservation and deliverance when the Egyptians were destroyed. Ver. 27. 15. Seven days; from the evening of the fourteenth to The unleavened bread. EXODUS XII. The first-born are slain. A. M. 2513, B. C 1491. 16. And in the first day there shall be a hoiy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be a holy convocation to you;a no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man* must eat, that only may be done of you. 17 And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt : therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever. 18 1 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. 19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses :b for whosoever eateth that which is leavened, even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. 20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened ; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. 21 1 Then Moses called for all the elders of Is rael, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb,* according to your families, and kill the passover.0 22 And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and the two side-posts with the blood that is in the basin ; a and none of you shall go out at the door of his house until the morning. 23 For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side-posts,6 the Lord will pass over the door, and will not suffer the destroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you.( 24 And ye shall observe this thing for an ordi nance to thee and to thy sons for ever. 25 And it shall come to pass, when ye be come to the land which the Lord will give you, accord ing as he hath promised, that ye shall keep this service. 26 And it shall come to pass, when your chil dren shall say unto you, What mean ye by this service ?g 27 That ye shall say, It is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote "Num. 29:12. • Heb. soul, b ch. 23:15; 34: 18; Deut. 16:3. t Or. kid. c Josh. 5:10; 2 Kings 23:21; Ezra 6:20: Matt. 26:1s; Mark 14:12; Luke 22:7. etc. d Lev. 14:6,7; Psa. 51:7; Heb. 9:19; 11:28. e Heb. 12:24. ' 2Sam. 24:16; Ezek. 9:4, 6; Rev. 7:3: 0:4. B ch. 13:8. 14; Deut. 32:7; Josh. 4:6; -Psa. 73:6. h ch. 4:31. i Num. 3:13; 8: 17; 33:4; Psa. 78:51 ; the evening of the twenty-first day of the month. Ver. 18. Cut off from Israel; see note to Gen. 17:14. 16. Convocation ; an assembling together for public wor ship. -No manner of work; except of necessity and mercy. Compare Matt. 12:11. 17. For ever.; to the end of the Jewish state. 21. The passover; the lamb that was to be slain on that occasion. 22. Hyssop; a low shrub, or herb, common in eastern countries. 32. Bless me; seek of God a blessing for me. 33. We be all dead; we shall be, if we retain the Israel ites any longer. the Egyptians, and delivered our houses. And the people bowed the head and worshipped.11 28 And the children of Israel went away, and did as the Lord had commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 29 IT And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt,1 from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon;* and all the first-born of cat tle. 30 And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians ; and there was a great cry in Egypt :j for there was not a house where there was not one dead. 31 1 And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Is rael ; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said.k 32 Also take your flocks and your herds, as ye have said, and be gone ; and bless me also.1 33 And the Egyptians were urgent upon the people, that they might send them out of the land in haste;™ for they said, We be all dead men. 34 And the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs§ being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. 35 And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses ; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: 36 And the Lord gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians," so that they lent unto them such things as they required: and they spoiled the Egyptians. 37 If And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth,0 about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, besides children.1* 38 And a mixed multitude" went up also with them ;q and flocks, and herds, even very much cat tle. 39 And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened ; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victuals. 40 i Now the sojourning of the children of Is rael, who dwelt in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years/ 105:36 ; 135:8 136:11 ; Heb. 11:23. « Heb house of the pit. > ch ll:fi: Prov. •- 1:13; J, mos5:lt; Matt. 25:6 Jas. 2: 13. t ch. 11:1. 1 Gen. 27:34. m Psa. 105:38 4 Or, dough. n Gen . 39:21; ch. 3: 21; 11:3. o Num 33:3, 5. p Num. 1 46; 11 21. 1 Heb. a great mixture q Num. l: :4. Gen. 15:13; Acts 7: 6; Gal. 3:17. 34. Kneading-trouglis ; vessels containing their dough. 35. Borrowed; asked, requested. Chap.3:21, 22; 11:2, 3. 36. Lent unto them; granted them what they desired, in order to hasten their departure. Spoiled the Egyp tians; by carrying away much of their substance. Gen. 15:14. 37. Rameses; a city which the Israelites had built, and where they were now assembled. Chap. 1:11. Succoth; a place of encampment between Rameses and Suez. &'x hundred thousand — men; this shows that the whole number of souls was probably over two millions. Psa. 105:37. 40. Four hundred and thirty years; from the time the promise was made to Abraham. Gen. 15 : 13. About half 91 The law of the Passover. EXODUS XIII. The first-born set apart. 41 And it came to pass at the end of the four hundred and thirty years, even the selfsame day it came to pass, that all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt. 42 It iy a night to be much observed* unto the Lord for bringing them out from the land of Egypt : a this is that night of the Lord to be ob served of all the children of Israel in their gen erations. 43 1 And the Lord said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover :b there shall no stranger eat thereof: 44 But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof." 45 A foreigner and a hired servant shall not eat thereof.4 46 In one house shall it be eaten; thou shalt not carry forth aught of the flesh abroad out of the house ; neither shall ye break a bone thereof." 47 All the congregation of Israel shall keep it.+ 48 And when a stranger shall sojourn with thee, and will keep the passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it ; and he shall be as one that is born in the land: for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof. 49 One law shall be to him that is home-born, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you.f 50 Thus did all the children of Israel ; as the Lord commanded Moses and Aaron, so did they. 51 And it came to pass the selfsame day,g that the Lord did bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armies.11 ' Heb. a night of observations. *¦ Deut. 16:1,6. J> Num. 9:14. c Gen, 17:12. i Lev. 22:10; Eph. 2:12. e Num. 9:12; John 19:33, 36. t Heb. do it. t Num: 9:14; 15:15, 16; Gal. 3:2:); Col. 3:11. S ver. 41. h ch. 6:26. i ver. 12; ch. 22:29; 34:19; Num. 3:13. Deut. 15:19; Luke 2:23. j ch. this time was spent in Canaan, and the rest in Egypt. Gal. 3: 17. 43. Stranger; a foreigner who had not embraced the Jewish religion, and was not circumcised. Ver. 45, 48. 46. Neither — break a bone; for the symbolical and pro phetic meaning of this, see John 19:33, 36. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. The directions of God to his ancient people were suited to impress upon them the evil of sin, the necessity of an atonement, and the efficacy of that precious blood which was to be shed for many for the remission of sins. Matt. 26:28. 8. It was not enough for the deliverance of Israel that the paschal lamb should be slain and its blood struck upon the door-posts, but they must eat of the lamb, and thus a union be formed between it and them. So the blood of Christ will save none but such as are by faith united to him. John 6:53; 1 Cor. 6:17. 13. It is through the blood of Christ, typified by the blood of the paschal lamb, that God pardons men, and saves them from that destruction which as sinners they deserve. 1 Cor. 5:7. 24.- The ordinances which God appoints as memorials of his goodness should be carefully observed by his people, not in outward form merely, but in spirit and in truth, with repentance for sin, faith in the Redeemer, and gratitude for his infinite mercy. 27. The ordinances of God, when understood, are adapted to impress divine truth, especially upon the minds of children and youth. The meaning of them should therefore be carefully explained by parents and 92 CHAPTER XIII. A.M. 2513. B. C. 1491. 1 The first-born are sanctified to God. 3 The memorial of the passover is commanded. 11 The firstlings of beasts are set apart. 17 The Israelites go out of Egypt, and carry Joseph's bones with them. 20 They come to Etham. 21 God guidcth them by a pillar of a cloud, and a pillar of fire. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Sanctify unto me all the first-born, what soever openeth the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and of beast : ' it is mine. 3 I And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt,1 out of the house of bondage ;* for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. 4 This day came ye out in the month Abib.k 5 And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hit tites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee,1 a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. 6 Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread,™ and in the seventh day shall be a feast to the Lord. 7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days ; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters." 8 1 And thou shalt show thy son in that day," saying, This is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. 9 Andit shall beforasign unto thee upon thy hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes,p that the Lord's law may be in thy mouth : for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt. 12:42. t Heb. servants; ch. 20:2. k ch. 23:15; Deut. 16: 1-3. 1 Gen. 17:8; 22:16. mch. 12:15. n ch. 12:19. o ch. 12:26; ver. 14. P ver. 16; Deut. 6:8: 11:18; Prov. 1:9; 6:21; Cant. 8:6. teachers, that all may apprehend it, and receive the ben efit which it is suited to impart. 33. God can so order events in his providence, that oppressors will be anxious to get rid of those whom they oppress; and all will at length see that, under his righteous government, the condition of the oppressor is more dreadful than that of the oppressed. 41. If the oppressed believe and obey God, their de liverance from the power of their oppressors will not be delayed any longer than is needful to make such deliver ance most for the glory of God, and the final good of all who trust in him. CHAPTER XIII. 2. Sanctify; set apart for God, to be devoted peculiarly to his service. Ver. 12. All the first-born; as a memorial of the preservation of the first-born of man and beast among the Israelites when the first-born among the Egyptians were destroyed, all the first-born males of man and beast were devoted to the Lord. The male children were to be in all cases redeemed ; the first-born of unclean beasts to be redeemed or slain ; the first-born of clean beasts were to be offered in sacrifice, and when certain specified parts had been burned, the remainder belonged to the priests. The particular details are given in the Levitical law. 4. Abib; meaning, green corn. This was the seventh month, called also Nisan. Chap. 12:2. 9. A sign; a means of keeping their deliverance in re membrance, and making God's commands familiar to their minds. Ver. 16 ; Prov. 3:3. The Jews interpreted these directions literally, writing certain precepts of the law on parchment, and wearing them as evidences or orna ments of piety. Matt. 23:5. The Israelites go EXODUS XIV. forth out of Egypt. A. M. 2513. B. 0. 1491. 10 Thou shalt therefore keep this ordi nance in his season from year to year.11 11 IT And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, as he sware unto thee and to thy fathers, and shall give it thee, 12 That thou shalt set apart* unto the Lord all that openeth the matrix, and every firstling that cometh of a beast which thou hast ; the males shall be the Lord's. 13 And every firstling of an ass thou shalt re deem with a lamb ;+ and if thou wilt not redeem it, then thou shalt break his neck: and all the first-born of man among thy children shalt thou redeem. 14 T And it shall be when thy son asketh thee in time to come,* saying, What is this?b that thou shalt say unto him, By strength of hand the Lord brought us out from Egypt, from the house of bondage : 15 And it came to pass, when Pharaoh would hardly let us go, that the Lord slew all the first born in the land of Egypt, both the first-born of man and the first-born of beast : therefore I sac rifice to the Lord all that openeth the matrix, being males ; but all the first-born of my children I redeem. 16 And it shall be for a token upon thy hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt." 17 IT And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had let the people go, that God led them not through the way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near ; for God said, Lest peradventure a Ch. 12: 14, 24. * Heb. cause to pass over, t Or, kid. t Heb. to-morrow. b Deut. 6:20; Josh. 4:6, 21. <= Deut. 26:8. d ch. 14:11, 12; Num. 14:1-4. • Deut,17:16. fDeut.32:10. 5 Or, by five in a rank. B Gen. 50:25; Josh. 10. In his season; on the fourteenth day of Abib an nually. 13. Every firstling of an ass — and all the first-born of man — shalt thou redeem; Num. 3:46-51; 18:8-18. Shalt break his neck; that they- might not appropriate it unre deemed to their own use, this precept was added. 14. What is this? why are the first-born thus devoted to God and redeemed ? What is the meaning of it ? 15. Would hardly; refused. 17. Through the — land of the Philistines; the direct way from Egypt to Canaan. 18. Red sea; which separates Egypt from Arabia. It is about 1,400 miles long, and upon an average about 150 miles wide. It extends from the straits of Babelmandel on the south, which unite it with the Indian ocean, to the isthmus of Suez on the north, which separates it from the Mediterranean sea. At the north end it divides into two arms or gulfs, between which is the wilderness in which the children of Israel spent forty years. The western arm, called the gulf of Suez, is about 190 miles long and on an average 21 miles wide. It was near the head of this gulf, that the Hebrews passed and the Egyptians were drowned. Chap. 14:21-30. The eastern arm, called the gulf of Akabah, and anciently the iElanitic gulf or gulf of Elath, is about 100 miles long, and on an average about 15 miles wide. On this gulf was Eziongeber, a port from which Solomon sent his ships to Ophir for gold. 1 Kings 9 : 26. From Rameses to the Red sea was about forty or fifty miles. Harnessed; armed, equipped, and in order. 19. The bones of Joseph; Gen. 50:25. 20. Etham; a place near Suez, at the head of the west ern branch of the Red sea. The wilderness; of Etham. the people repent when they see war,a and they return to Egypt." 18 But God led the people about, through the way of the wilderness of the Red sea:f and the children of Israel went up harnessed8 out of the land of Egypt. 19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you ; and ye shall carry up "my bones away hence with you.g 20 1 And they took their journey from Succoth, and encamped in Etham, in the edge of the wil derness.11 21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way ; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light : to go by day and night.1 22 He took not away the pillar of the cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from before the people. CHAPTEB XIV. 1 God instructeth the Israelites in their journey. 5 Pharaoh pursueth after them. 10 The Israelites murmur. 13 Moses comforteth them. 15 God instructeth Moses. 19 The cloud removeth behind the camp. 21 The Israelites pass through the Red sea, 23 which drowneth the Egyptians. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pi-hahiroth,j be tween Migdol and the sea* over against Baal- zephon : before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Is rael, They are entangled in the land, the wilder ness hath shut them in.1 24:32 ; Acts 7:16 h Num 33:6 i Num 0 15 -23 ; 10:34; 14 :14; Deut. 1 :33; Neh. 9:12, 9 Psa. 7 9:14; 99 7; 105 ¦ii) ; 1 a. 4:5; 1 O or. 10:2 Rev. 10:1. j Num. 33 7. k Jer. 44:1. 1 Psa. 3: 2; 71 11 Jer 20 10 11. 21. Pillar of a cloud; a cloud in the form of a pillar, to shield them from the sun and guide them in the daytime, and to give them light by night. 22. Took not away the pillar; it continued with them through the wilderness, as the emblem of the divine presence. Chap. 14:24; 33:9-14. INSTRUCTIONS. 7. In the Bible the same or similar instructions are often repeated, that the truth may become familiar, and make a strong, abiding impression on the heart. 14. The ordinances of God are designed to increase the knowledge, perpetuate the remembrance, and extend the efficacy of his truth ; and the proper understanding of these ordinances is suited to benefit all, especially the young. 18. The way through this world in which God leads his people is often very different from what they expect or desire, and very different from what any finite mind at the time would think to be best. u But though they go far wandering round, 'T is the right way to Canaan's ground/' 22. God is the guide and protector of his people. To follow him is perfectly safe. And after he has, by the wisest means and in the best way, prepared them for heaven, he will receive them there. CHAPTER XIV 2. That they turn; to the south, and go down on the west side of the west arm of the Red sea, instead of passing northward round the head of the sea, as they might have done. Pi-hahiroth — Migdol and — Baal-zephon; places south of Etham, where they would be shut in be- 93 Pharaoh pursueth Israel. EXODUS XIV. Passage of the lied sea. 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart," that he shall follow after them ; and I will be honored upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host ; that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord. And they did so. 5 I And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled : and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people,15 and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us ? 6 And he made ready his chariot,' and took his people with him : 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them.0 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel : and the children of Israel went out with a high hand.4 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pi-hahiroth, before Baal-zephon. 10 1 And when Pharaoh drew nigh, tlie chil dren of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.6 11 And they said unto Moses, Because there were no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? Wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt ? 12 is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt/ saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians ? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness. 13 IT And Moses said unto the people, Pear ye not,g stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will show to you to-day : for the Egyp tians whom ye have seen to-day,* ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you,h and ye shall hold your peace. »Ch 4:21 etc. t> Psa. 105:25. » ch. 15 4. d Num. 33:3 ¦ Deut. 26:8. e Josh. 24:7; Neh 9:9; Psa. 34:17 2 Kinss 6:16; 106:44,107:6. f ch. 5:21 ; 0:9. sNum. 14:9; leut. 20:'3 2 Chr 20 15, 17; Psa. 27: 1. 2; 46:1-3; Isa. 41 . 10, 14. * Or, for whereas yt have seen the Egyptians to 'day. 1> Deut. tween the mountains and the sea ; so that should Pharaoh follow them with his army, they would, without a mira cle, have no way of escape. 4. Harden Pharaoh's heart ; chap. 4:21. I will be honor ed; in the destruction of Pharaoh and his host. 5. Turned against the people; against permitting them to escape. 8. With a high hand; by a high hand ; that is,. by the hand of Jehovah, lifted, up with might for their deliver ance. 19. Angel of God; the Angel of the covenant, who was afterwards made flesh and dwelt among men. Deut. 1:32, 33; Psa. 99:6, 7; Isa. 63:8-16; John 1:14; 1 Cor. 10:9, Compare ver. 24, 25. He was now present in the cloud ; and when he removed, the cloud removed with him. 20. To them; the Egyptians. These; the Israelites. 24. The morning-watch; the night was divided into three watches of four hours each. The morning-watch was the last, and began eight hours after sunset. Looked; his look was accompanied with visible signs of his displeas ure. See the following verse. 94 15 1" And the Lord said unto Moses, b.^.X Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward : 16 But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch out thy hand over the sea, and divide it: and the chil dren of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them : and I will get me honor upon Pharaoh, and upon ajl his host, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have got me honor upon Pharaoh, upon his chariots, and upon his horsemen. 19 1 And the Angel of God,1 which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them ; and the pillar of the cloud went from be fore their face, and stood behind them : 20 And it came between the camp of the Egyp tians and the camp of Israel ; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. 21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea ; and the Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.1 22 And the children, pf Israel went into the midst of the sea, upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left." 23 1 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pha raoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. 24 And it came to pass, that in the morning- watch the Lord looked unto the host of the Egyp tians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, 25 And took off their chariot-wheels, that they drave them heavily ;+ so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel ; for the Lord fighteth for them against the Egyptians. 26 IT And the Lord said unto . Moses, Stretch 1:30; 3:22; 20:4; Josh. 10:14; 23:3, 10; 2 Chr. 20.29; Neh 4:20; Isa. 30:15. i Num. 20:10: Isa. 63:9. j Josh 3:16; 4:23; Psa. 66.6. k 1 Cor. 10: 1 ; Heb. 11 :29. t Or, and made tliem to go heavily. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. If men would not have their hearts hardened, they must not continue knowingly to disobey God. If they thus disobey, all the blame will rest upon themselves. 9. When suffering the consequences of sin and fearing destruction, men often appear to be penitent and disposed to reform ; but if when they are relieved and their fears pass away, they rush again into sin, they not unfrequently become more hardened, reckless, and wicked than ever, till, given up of God, they sink into ruin. 15. It is the duty of men not merely to pray, but to act ; and unless they go forward in the way of duty, their prayers will not avail. God helps those who do what he requires to help themselves. 18. The dispensations of Providence, as well as the pub lication of divine truth, .are to some, by being improved, a savor of life unto life ; to others, by being abused, a savor of death unto death ; and God is honored in the salvation of the one and the destruction of the other. 20. Many things are very plain, and give great light and comfort to those who obey God, which appear ex- The Egyptians are drowned. EXODUS XV. Song of Moses and Israel, A. M. 2513. B. C. 1491 out thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. 27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared ; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the Lord overthrew* the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them ;a there remained not so much as one of them. 29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea ; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand , and on their 1 eft. 30 Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians ; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea-shore. 31 And Israel saw that great work+ which the Lord did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.b CHAPTER XV. 1 Moses' song. 22 The people want water. 23 The waters at Marah are bitter. 2-3 A tree sweeteneth them. 29 At Elim are twelve wells, and seventy palm-trees, f r\EEN sang Moses and the children of Israel _L this song unto the Lord,c and spake, saying, I will sing unto the Lord, for he hath triumphed gloriously : the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 2 The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation:'1 he is my God, and I will prepare him a habitation;0 my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 The Lord is a man of war : f the Lord is his name. 4 Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea : his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. 5 The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. 6 Thy right hand, 0 Lord, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, 0 Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy ? 7 And in the greatness of thine excellency thou • Heb. shook off. a ch. 15:10; Psa. 77:10-20; 73:53; 100:11. t Heb. hand, b oh. 4:13; 19:9; John 2: 11 ; 11:45. « Judg. 5:1; 2 Sam. 22:1 ; Psa. 106:12. d Psa. 18:2; 27:1; 62:6; 113:14; Isa. 12:2. e 1 Kings 8:13, 27. t Psa. 24:8; 45:3; Rev. 19:11. B Psa. 118:15, 16. h Deut. 33:26; Psa. 63:33. i Psa. 59:13; Isa. 5:24; 47:14; Matt. 3:12. j 2 Sam. 22:16; Job ceedingly dark and perplexing to those who knowingly disobey him. 28. The way of transgressors is hard. God is against them, and the time will come when they will see this. Happy will it be if they see it while he is waiting to be gracious, saying, " Turn ye, turn ye ; for why will ye die?" and hearken to his voice, instead of madly perse vering in rebellion against him. CHAPTER XV. 2. A habitation ; a place for his public worship. 8. Blast of thy nostrils ; the wind which made the sea go back, chap. 14:21, here represented as the breath of the Almighty. Ver. 10. The depths were congealed; made to stand upon either side like walls of ice. 10. Didst blow with thy wind; a wind opposite to that which made the sea retire, and which hastened its return to overwhelm the Egyptians. bast overthrown them that rose up against thee : h thou sen test forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.1 8 And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as a heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.j 9 The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil ; my lust shall be satisfied upon them ; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy* them. 10 Thou didst blow with thy wind,k the sea cover ed them : they sank as lead in the mighty waters. 11 Who is like unto thee, O Lord,1 among the gods?8 who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fear ful in praises, doing wonders? 12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. 13 Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed :™ thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation. 14 The people shall hear, and be afraid : sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. 15 Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away." 16 Fear and dread shall fall upon them;0 by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone ;p till thy people pass over, O Lord, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased." 17 Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance,1 in the place, O Lord, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in ; in the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.3 18 The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.* 19 For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the Lord brought again the waters of the sea upon them ; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea. 20 TT And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand ; a and all the women went out after her, with timbrels and with dances. 4:9; 2 Thess. 2:8. Or, repossess. k ch. 14 21 Psa. 147 1ft. 1 Isa 40:18. S Or, mighty ones. ' i Isa. 63:13. n Josh 5: 1. o Deut. 2 :25; 11:25 ; Josh. 2.9. P 1 Sam .25:37 i| Psa. 74:2; Acts 20:-. 5'. r Psa. 44 2. ¦ Psa 73:54. 1 Psa. 146:H ; Dan. 4:3; 7:27. " Judg. 11 31 2 Sam. 0:5 Psa. 68:25; 81:2 149:3; 150:4. 12. The earth; the sea in the depths of the earth. Psa. 77:14-20. 13. Thy holy habitation; the land of Canaan, where God would delight to dwell with his people. But perhaps here, and ver. 17, there is a prophetic allusion to mount Zion, which became God's special dwelling-place. 14. Palestina; that is, the country of the Philistines. See note, Isa. 14:29. 15. Dukes; leaders, princes. 16. Pass over; over the desert and through the inter vening countries, to take possession of Canaan. Pur chased; redeemed or delivered from bondage, to be his peculiar people. 17. The mountain of thine inheritance; the land of Ca naan, especially Zion, and the temple where he would dwell. See note, ver. 13. 20. The prophetess; appointed of God to instruct the women, anil lead them in their devotions. Num. 12:1, 2 ; 05 The waters of Marah. EXODUS XVI. The people murmur. 21 And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LoRD,a for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. 22 So Moses brought Israel from the Red sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur;b and they went three days in the wilderness, and found no water. 23 1 And when they came to Marah,0 they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter : therefore the name of it was called Marah.* 24 And the people murmured against Moses, saying, What shall we drink? 25 And he cried unto the Lord ; and the Lord showed him a tree, which when he had cast into the waters, the waters were made sweet :d there he made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there he proved them, 26 And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians:6 for I am the Lord that healeth thee/ 27 IT And they came to Elim, where were twelve wells of water, and threescore and ten palm- trees : and they encamped there by the waters. CHAPTER XVI. 1 The Israelites come to Sin. 2 They murmur for want of bread. 4 God promiseth them bread from heaven. 11 Quails are sent, 14 and manna. 16 The ordering of manna. 25 It was not to be found on the Sabbath. 32 An omer of it is preserved. ND they took their journey from Elim,g and all the congregation of the children of Is- A »Ver. 1. •> Sen. 16:7. " Num. 33:8. * That is, Bitterness; Ruth 1:20. d 2 Kings 2:21; 4:41. * Deut. 23:27, 68. f Psa. 41:4; 103:3. RNum.33:10. h Ezek. 30:15. ' oh. 15:24; Psa. 106:25; 1 Cor. 10:10. j Num. 11:1, 5. Micah 6:4. Timbrel; a musical instrument like the tam bourine. 21. Miriam answered; she led the women, who sung responsively with the men. 23. Marah; meaning bitterness; where was a fountain of bitter water. 25. Statute — ordinance ; rule, direction, or decree, men tioned ver. 26; Jer. 7:22, 23. Proved them; tried them by his providence, and thus gave them opportunity to show whether they would obey him. Gen. 22 : 1. 26. Healeth thee; removes all plagues, sicknesses, and infirmities, such as those which they had witnessed in Egypt. These are always regarded in the holy Scrip tures as chastisements for sin. See Deut. 28:59, 61. The outward healing of the body is a symbol of the more glorious healing and sanctifying of the soul by God's grace. 27. Elim ; a place south-east of Marah, and on the way to mount Sinai. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Those dispensations of Providence which excite our greatest fears, often so result as to call forth our loudest praises. 7. They that, being often reproved, continue to harden their hearts, will be suddenly destroyed, and that with out remedy. 2 Chron. 36 : 16 ; Prov. 6 : 14, 15 ; 29 : 1. 10. When the enemies of God are most confident of success, they are often the nearest to destruction. 16. That fear of coming evil which prevents exertion and leads to despair, instead of delivering from danger, only increases it, and prevents escape. 9fi rael came unto the wilderness of Sin,h ^g which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt. 2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness : ' 3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh-pots,j and when we did eat bread to the full ; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. 4 1 Then said the Lord unto Moses, Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you;k and the people shall go out and gather a certain rate every day/ that I may prove them,1 whether they will walk in my law, or no. 5 And it shall come to pass, that on the sixth day they shall prepare that which they bring in ; and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.111 6 And Moses and Aaron said unto all the chil dren of Israel, At even, then ye shall know that the Lord hath brought you out from the land of Egypt: 7 And in the morning, then ye shall see the glory of the Lord;11 for that he heareth your murmurings against the Lord : and what are we, that ye murmur against us? 8 And Moses said, This shall be when the Lord shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full ; for that the Lord heareth your murmurings which yemurmur against him: and what are we? your murmurings are not against us, but against the Lord.0 k Psa. 78: 24 ; John 6: 31, 32. t Heb. the portion of a day in his day. 1 TJeut. 8:16. m ver. 22. " ver. 10; ch. 40:34; Num. 14:10. o ] Sam. 8:7; Matt. 10:40; Luke 10:16. 21. Great deliverances should be celebrated with mani festations of hearty gratitude to God, and sincere devo tion of body and soul to his service. 26. The human heart cannot be safely trusted. At one time it will sing praises to God, and at another murmur against him. All true confidence in God, and all genuine love to him, are the fruit of his Spirit ; and to him belongs the glory of every thing spiritually good in men. CHAPTER XVI. 1. Fifteenth day of the second month; just one month after they started from Egypt. 3. Kill — with hunger; they had hitherto lived on pro visions which they brought with them, or obtained by the way ; but as they now entered the wilderness, where they thought they could not obtain any, they feared they should perish. 4. Prove them ; put them to trial. For the meaning of this, see Deut. 8:2, 3, 16. 5. The sixth day; the sixth working day, the day before the Sabbath. The Sabbath is spoken of as an institution already existing and well known. 6. Ye shall know; by the Lord's providing you a mirac ulous supply of flesh. Ver. 13. 7. See tlie glory qfthe Lord; in the miraculous provision of manna, ^er. 14. 8. Not against us; Moses and Aaron acted by God's direction. The murmurings of the Israelites against them, were therefore in realit}' murmurings against Him who sent them. Compare Matt. 10:40; Luke 10:16; John 12:44; 13:20. flpnpUf ifieusl " " PU0P "V "Hi WW. *W Deut. 27:16; Prov. 1:8; Jer. evil upon children, and often suffering children, through the wicked influence of parents, to imitate their example and live and die in sin, and bring upon themselves its awful guilt and punishment. 6. Showing mercy unto thousands — that love me; not only by forgiving their sins and saving their souls, but often making them instrumental in leading others, especially their children and children's children, to become pious, and the means of salvation to their posterity to many generations. 7. Take — in vain; the highest violation of this command is in false swearing. But it also prohibits every light and irreverent use of God's name. Not hold him guiltless; will view and treat him as he truly is, exceedingly guilty and deserving divine displeasure. 8. Remember; that God in six days made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and that the seventh day he made for rest and spiritual duties ; that on it he himself rested from all his work ; that he blessed it and sanctified it, or set it apart from other days, to be devoted from the beginning to the end of time, not to secular but to sacred duties. Gen. 2:1-3. Keep it holy; in accordance with the object for which God made it and gave it to men. As a day not to be devoted to worldly business, conversation, reading, travelling, visiting, or amusement, nor to sleep, idleness, or worldly thoughts and feelings, but to be employed in religious worship, and in the promotion of our own spiritual good and that of our fellow-men. 9. Six days — do, all thy work; all the worldly business which men do must be done in the six working days, and what cannot be done in those days must be left undone, except what is needful to the best discharge of the ap propriate duties of the Sabbath. 10. The Sabbath ; the day of rest for men and beasts of burden. 11. Hallowed it; devoted it to sacred, in distinction from secular duties. 12. Honor thy father and thy mother; love them, hearken to their teaching, and obey their commands. Treat them with respectful and kind attention, assist them when they need, labor to supply their wants, promote their comfort, increase their usefulness, and do them all the good in your power. Matt. 15:4-6; 19:19; Mark 7:10-13; 10:19; Luke 18:20; Eph. 6:1-3; Col. 3:20; 1 Tim. 5:4. Days- be long ; life be continued prosperous and happy. 102 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's bc.'S house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbor's.™ 18 1 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking : and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. 19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear : but let not God speak with us, lest we die. 20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. 21 And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was. 22 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. 23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold. 24 T An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt-offerings, and thy peace-offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen : 35:18,19; Matt. 15:4, 6; Eph. 6:2. i Sen. 9:6. j Matt. 5:27,28; 19:18; Rom. 13:9. k Eph. 4:28; 1 Thess. 4:6. 1 Psa. 52:3, 5; Rev. 22:15. m Hat>. 2:9; Rom. 7:7; 1 Cor. 6:10; Col. 3:5. 13. Not kill; nor take the life of any human being, ex cept when God requires it. Gen. 9:6; Deut. 25:17-19; 1 Sam. 15:1-3, 18, 19. This command forbids not only murder, but all those practices and kinds of business which tend to destroy human life ; and requires the per formance of those duties, and the pursuit of such courses as tend to preserve it and render it useful. 14. Not commit adultery; this command forbids all un- chastity in thought, word, or deed. It also forbids all those things which tend to this evil. It is the application of the great law of supreme love to God and impartial love to men with regard to purity in heart and life. Matt. 5 : 28. 15. Not steal; this command forbids us to appropriate to our own use what belongs to others. It is the appli cation of the law of love to property, and requires us to do to others, in respect to it, as we ought to wish them to do to us. Mic. 6:8; Col. 4:1; 2 Peter 2:9. 16. Not bear false witness; this is the application of the law of love to the reputation of others, and forbids us to speak differently of them from what, under similar cir cumstances, we ought to wish them to speak of us. Matt. 12:37; Rom. 13:10. 17. Not covet; not desire what does not rightfully be long to us, in any such sense as would incline us wrong fully to take or retain possession of it. Respect and treat the rights of all as you would wish them to respect and treat yours. All these ten commands express great moral obliga tions, arising from the nature and relations of things. When they prohibit the highest form of any sin, as mur der, adultery, and theft, they also forbid every thought and word that would lead to it. Thus they extend to the thoughts and feelings as well as the outward actions, and are binding in all countries and in all ages. 18. Saw; personally witnessed, the thunderings and lightnings. 19. Lest we die; Judg. 6:22; 13:22. 20. Fear not ; not fear immediate death, but fear to dis obey God. Prove you; give you opportunity to show whether you will or will not obey him. 22. Seen that I have talked ; they heard his voice, but they saw no likeness of him ; and this was designed to guard them against attempting to make any such likeness. Ver. 23. 24. Record my name; appoint to meet my people and receive their public worship. Laws respecting EXODUS XXI. men-servants. B.'ai49i3' in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee." 25 And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn* stone ; for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. 26 Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon. CHAPTER XXI. 1 Laws for men-servants. 5 For the servant whose ear is bored. 7 For women-servants. 12 For manslaughter. 16 For stealers of men. 17 For cursers of parents. 18 For smiters. 22 For a hurt by chance. 28 For an ox that goreth. 33 For him that is an occasion of harm. "VTOW these are the judgments which thou shalt _L\I set before them.b 2 If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he »2Chr.7:l6; Matt. 1R:-J0. • Heb. build them with hewing. b Deut. 6:1. 25. Thou hast polluted it; rendered it unfit for a place of public worship, by disobeying God in the manner of building it. One reason of this prohibition doubtless was, to guard against the superstitious and idolatrous de vices common to heathen altars. 26. Neither — by steps; they were to go up by a gradual ascent, and thus avoid such exposure as might result from their being dressed in loose flowing garments. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. By proclaiming the ten commandments to the Israel ites himself, and in circumstances of awful solemnity, God showed their fundamental importance, and took a course adapted to impress upon all men their obligations perfectly to obey them. 2. Deliverance from bondage is a great and precious blessing, and special praises should be rendered to God by those who enjoy it. 3. By forbidding men to regard any object more than God, or to worship any other, he would remove the temp tation, and prevent the inclination to break his command ments which supreme regard to creatures occasions. 5. To treat creatures, or the likenesses of creatures, as if they were divine, by bowing down to them and wor shipping them, is to act as if they were gods when they are not, and thus by actions to inculcate a falsehood suited to degrade, debase, pollute, and destroy the soul. 7. To use the name of God in a profane, light, or irrev erent manner, or to mention it without good reason, tends to lessen the reverence which the soul ought to feel for him, to render it reckless and increasingly wicked, and is a flagrant offence against the Ruler of the universe. 10. Men have no right to employ themselves, their children, servants, or cattle in worldly business more than six days in a week. If they take the Sabbath for worldly purposes, they take what is not theirs, and thus show themselves to be dishonest men, taking that which does not belong to them, and in opposition to the express command of Jehovah. 11. As God has hallowed the Sabbath, or set it apart for sacred purposes, and for this end has blessed it, he makes it a blessing to all who rightly keep it, and through them a means of rich benefits to others. 12. Children are bound to respect, love, and obey their parents, for the purpose of thus honoring and" obeying God ; and if they do not thus honor them, they dishonor and rebel against him. 13. By taking the life of a human being when not re quired by God, a man forfeits his own, and ought, in obe dience to the divine requirement, to be put to death. 14. Dnchastity is a sin which greatly corrupts the human soul, and exposes it to numerous evils in this world, and to the wrath of God in the world to come. Lev. 20 : 10 ; Prov. 6:25; Mal. 3:5; Matt. 5:28; 1 Cor. 6:9; Gal. 5:19: Heb. 13:4. shall serve: and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.0 3 If lie came in by himself,1 he shall go out by himself: if he were married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master hath given him a wife, and she have borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. 5 And if the servant shall plainly say,* I love my master, my wife, and my children ; I will not go out free : 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judg es ; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl ; and he shall serve him for ever. 7 IF And if a man sell his daughter to be a maid- c Deut. 15:12; Jer. 31:8-17. t Heb. with his body, i Heb. saying shall say. 15. Every man has certain things which God has given him, and which, by right from God, belong to himself. They are his property. To take them away, or without just cause deprive him of them, is theft, and exposes those who do it to be excluded from heaven. Isa. 10 : 1, 2 ; Luke 16:11; 1 Cor. 6:9; 2 Thess. 2:12. 16. To utter falsehood concerning others, or truth for the purpose of injuring them, is a violation of duty, and will be condemned by God when the secrets of all hearts shall be revealed. Matt. 12 : 37 ; Jas. 4:11. 17. The law of God forbids us not merely to take what belongs to others, but to desire to take it. It extends to the thoughts and feelings, requiring us to be content with such things as we have and can gain by doing right ; lov ing Jehovah supremely and our fellow-men as we love ourselves, and pursuing that course which, under the direction of his word, this love- requires. Psa. 119:96; Matt. 22:37-40; Rom. 13:7-10; 1 John 3:10; 4:8. CHAPTER XXI. 1. Judgments ; rules or laws by which their civil gov ernment was to be conducted. A collection of such rules is found in this and the two following chapters, to which this verse serves as an introduction. 2. If thou buy; God did not require or justify this, any more than the taking of two wives, ver. 10, but both were then common, and many evils sprung from them. God gave directions which would tend to lessen some of those evilsj and render the case of those servants and wives less distressing than it otherwise would be. The word translated buy, means to acquire, obtain, or possess. Gen. 4:1. The seventh; one Hebrew should not be bound to serve another more than six years ; about the time that an apprentice among us serves his master. For nothing ; however little work he had done during his time of ser vice, he was not to be required to pay any thing for his freedom, because at the close of six years it belonged to him, and his master was bound not only to let him go, but also liberally to supply him. So with a woman-ser vant. Deut. 15:12-15. 4. A wife; from his female servants. Shall be her mas ter's; neither her marriage nor the close of her husband's term of service shall release her from any previous obli gation to serve her master. 5. Plainly say; openly, freely, so as to make it manifest that it was his free, deliberate choice ; thinking that it would on the whole be better for him tq continue, than to take another course. 6. Bore his ear; this was to be the evidence, that from love to his master, his wife, and his children, he had vol untarily engaged to continue through life to work for his master. For ever ; through life. 7. Sell his daughter; under the expectation that the buyer or his son would marry her ; and his thus buying her was an engagement to do so, as it was then custom- 103 Concerning manslaughter, EXODUS XXI. and injuries by strife. servant,a she shall not go out as the men-servants do.b 8 If she please not* her master, who hath be trothed her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed: to sell her unto a strange nation he shall have no power,0 seeing he hath dealt deceit fully with her.d 9 And if he have betrothed her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters. 10 If he take him another wife, her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage shall he not diminish.0 11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out free without money. 12 IF He that smiteth a man, so that he die, shall be surely put to death/ 13 And if a man lie not in wait,8 but God de liver him into his hand ; then I will appoint thee a place whither he shall flee.h 14 But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor to slay him with guile,1 thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.j 15 1 And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death.1' 16 T And he that stealeth a man,1 and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.™ 17 1 And he that cur seth + his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.™ 18 1 And if men strive together, and one smite another* with a stone, or with his fist, and he die not, but keepeth his bed, 19 If he rise again, and walk abroad upon his staff, then shall he that smote him be quit : only he shall pay for the loss§ of his time, and shall cause him'to be thoroughly healed. 20 1 And if a man smite his servant, or his a Neh. 5:5. b ver 2, 3. * Heb. be evil in the eyes of. c Deut. 21:11 d Mal. 2: 14, 15. e 1 Cor. 7:5. I Lev. 24: 17; Num. 35:30. 31 Matt. 26:52. rDeut. 19:4,5. h Num 33:11. i Num. 15:30. j Gen. 9:6; Deut. 19:11- 13; IKings 2:29-34. It 1 Tim. 1:9. 1 Rev. 18:12, 13. m Deu .24:7. tOr, ary for a man to buy his wife. Not go out as tlie men- servants do; that is, in the seventh year, ver. 2. She should be better provided for, as specified, ver. 8-11. 8. Who hath betrothed her; by thus buying her. Let her be redeemed; cause her to be redeemed. Unto a strange nation; in the Hebrew, a strange people, which some understand to be a foreign nation. But the more proba ble meaning is, people who are strangers to him, not being of his family. So " a strange woman " means an other man's wife. He hath dealt deceitfully; in not marry ing her himself, or having her married in his family. 9. After the manner of daughters ; giving her a dowry, and treating her on her marriage as he should his own daughter. 10. Her food, her raiment, and her duty of marriage; those of the wife whom he had bought and married. 11. Go out free; free from all further obligations to him. She might be divorced and married, if she chose, to an other man. 12. Smiteth a man; intending to kill him. One who commits murder. Gen. 9:6; Lev. 24:17 ; Num. 35:30, 31. 13. Lie not in wait; had no malice against the man, and did not intend to kill him. God deliver him; if the act was wholly providential, without human intention. Whith er he shall flee; and stay till the matter could be duly ex amined and the man rightly treated. 14. Slay him with guile; intending to murder him. Take him from mine altar; even if he should flee there for ref uge. 1 Kings 2:28-34. 104 maid, with a rod, and he die under his a.™.!"!: hand, he shall be surely punished.1 21 Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished : for he is his money. 22 1 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart/rom her, and yet no mis chief follow, he shall be surely punished, accord ing as the woman's husband will lay upon him ; and he shall pay as the judges determine." 23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, 24 Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,p 25 Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. 26 T And if a man smite the eye of his servant, or the eye of his maid, that it perish;4 he shall let him go free for his eye's sake/ 27 And if he smite out his man-servant's tooth, or his maid-servant's tooth ; he shall let him go free for his tooth's sake. 28 IT If an ox gore a man or a woman that they die, then the ox shall be surely stoned, and his flesh shall not be eaten ;s but the owner of the ox shall be quit. 29 But if the ox were wont to push with his horn in time past, and it hath been testified to his owner, and he hath not kept him in, but that he hath killed a man or a woman ; the ox shall be stoned, and his owner also shall be put to death. 30 If there be laid on him a sum of money, then he shall give for the ransom of his life whatsoever is laid upon him.1 31 Whether he have gored a son, or have gored a daughter, according to this judgment shall it be done unto him. revileth. r. Prov. 20:20; 30:11, 17; Matt. 15:4. i Or, his neighbor. 5 Heb. his ceasing. U Heb. avenged, over. 30; Deut. 16:18. P Lev. 24:20; Deut 19:21: Matt. 5:38. q Eph. 6:9. r Col. 4:1. ' Gen. 9:5. t ch. 30:12; Prov. 13:8. 15, 17. Smiteth — curseth; rebellion against rightful pa rental authority was rebellion against God ; and to smite or curse parents, under that government of which God was the civil as well as moral ruler, was at his command punished with death. 16. Stealeth a man; taking him by force or guile, for the purpose of selling or enslaving him. The guilt would be the same, should one hire or induce others to do it. 18. If men strive; get into a quarrel. 19. Be quit; free from the guilt of killing the man, and be punished only as specified. 20. Surely punished; according to what, on judicial in vestigation, should appear to have been his intention and his crime. 21. Not be punished; not be punished, especially with death. He is his money; the master had such a monied interest in the continued life of his servant, that it was not to bcj concluded that he meant to kill him, unless there should be clear evidence of the fact. 22-25. Eye for eye; Lev. 24:17-22; Deut. 19:16-21. 28. His flesh shall not be eaten; this was designed to im press upon all the sacredness of human life. Be quit; not be held guilty of murder, nor suffer, except by the loss of the ox. This was on the supposition that he did not before know that the ox was unruly, and that its going at large would endanger the lives of men. But if he did know it, he was to be punished according to the circumstances and aggravations of the offence. Ver. 29-31. The ox that goreth. EXODUS XXII. Of theft, and damage. a &14913' 32 If the ox shall push a man-servant or a maid-servant, he shall give unto their master thirty shekels of silver," and the ox shall be stoned. 33 1 And if a man shall open a pit, or if a man shall dig a pit, and not cover it, and an ox or an ass fall therein ; 34 The owner of the pit shall make it good,b and give money unto the owner of them ; and the dead beast shall be his. 35 IT And if one man's ox hurt another's, that he die, then they shall sell the live ox, and divide the money of it ; and the dead ox also they shall divide. 36 Or if it be known that the ox hath used to push iu time past,0 and his owner hath not kept him in, he shall surely pay ox for ox; and the dead shall be his own. CHAPTER XXII. 1 Of theft. 5 Of damage. 7 Of trespasses. 14 Of borrowing. 16 Of fornication. 18 Of witchcraft. 19 Of bestiality. 20 Of idolatry. 21 Of strangers, widows, and fatherless. 25 Of usury. 26 Of pledges. 28 Of reverence to magistrates. 29 Of the first-fruits. IF a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep," and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.d 2 IF If a thief be found breaking up,e and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him/ 3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him ; for he should make full resti tution : if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft. 4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep ; he shall restore double.8 a Zech. 11:12, 13; Matt. 26:15; Phil. 2:7. b eh. 22:0. 14. c ver. 29. •Or, goat, i 2 Sam. 12:6; Prov. 6:31; Luke 19:8. e Job 24:14; Joel 2:9; 32. Thirty shekels ; supposed to be about fifteen dollars. Some have thought it to be more. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. God, as civil ruler among the Jews, did not at once abolish all existing evils, but suffered some for a time to continue, on account of the hardness of their hearts. Yet he adopted regulations which were suited to lessen some of the distressing consequences of those evils, and prepare the way, under the manifestations of increasing light and love, for their ultimate entire removal. Matt. 19:8 ; Mark 10:5; Acts 17:30. 10. The giving of regulations to lessen the evils of an existing practice does not sanction the continuance of that practice, or afford any evidence that it ought not to be abandoned. 14. As King of the Jews, God adopted into their civil code many of those moral laws which had been obliga tory on all men from the creation of the world, and among them was that which required the murderer to be put to death — a law binding on men under all dispensations. Gen. 9:6; Num. 35:31. 26. A Jew by maiming his servant forfeited all claim to his services; and God, by requiring him to be set at liberty, and in many other things, showed a regard to the persons, property, and rights of servants, and to the mutual good of all, far beyond what was then shown in the civil code, of any other nation. Deut. 4:5-9; Jer. 34:8-17. 29. When a man has reason to believe that any thing under his control, if sent out or suffered to go out, will endanger the lives of men, he is bound to keep it in. If he does not, and a man is killed by it, he is responsible 5 1 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field ; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.11 6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution. 7 1 If a man shall deliver unto his neighbor money or stuff to keep, and it be stolen out of the man's house ; if the thief be found, let him pay double. 8 If the thief be not found, then the master of the house shall be brought unto the judges, to see whether he have put his hand unto his neighbor's goods. 9 For all manner of trespass, whether it be for ox, for ass, for sheep, for raiment, or for any man ner of lost thing, which another challengeth to be his, the cause of both parties shall come before the judges;1 and whom the judges shall condemn, he shall pay double unto his neighbor. 10 If a man deliver unto his neighbor an ass, or an ox, or a sheep, or any beast, to keep ; and it die, or be hurt, or driven away, no man seeing it; 11 Then shall an oath of the Lord be between them both,j that he hath not put his hand unto his neighbor's goods ; and the owner of it shall accept thereof, and he shall not make it good. 12 And if it be stolen from him, he shall make restitution unto the owner thereof. 13 If it be torn in pieces, thin let him bring it for witness, and he shall not make good that which was torn. Matt. 24:43. f Num. 35:27. §r Jer. 16:18; Rev. 18:6. b0h. 21:34. 25:1; 2 Chr. 19:10. j Heb.«:16. i Deut. for the life of that man, and will be treated accordingly at the bar of God. 34. Carelessness is forbidden by the law of God, as well as malice and covetousness ; and if others suffer loss through our neglect, we are bound, as far as may be in our power, to remunerate them. CHAPTER XXII. 2. Breaking up; breaking into a dwelling in the night No blood be shed; the man who killed him was not to be deemed guilty of murder; or be punished. 3. If the sun be risen; if it was in the daytime, the man could be seen and secured. There was no need of killing him, and the wanton killing of him would be murder. Be sold for his theft; that thus restitution may be made to the man from whom he has stolen. Among the Jews, men were sometimes sold or bound out for a time, as a punishment for their crimes. Their services were sold till they had made compensation to those whom they had injured. A poor man sometimes sold his own services, or those of his children, or his creditors sold them for the payment of his debts. Chap. 21:2. 5. Restitution; a proper compensation to the person injured. 6. Make restitution; for the injury which his careless ness or neglect occasioned. 7. Stuff; furniture or articles of any kind. 8. Put his hand ; taken the article himself. 9. Cltallengeth ; affirms or declares. 12. Make restitution; on the ground of -his not having taken proper care to prevent the theft. 13. Bring it for witness; bring the animal, or some part of it, in proof of the fact. 105 Of borrowing and usury. EXODUS XXIII. Of justice and charity. 14 IT And if a man borrow aught of his neigh bor, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good. 15 But if the owner thereof be with it, he shall not make it good : if it be a hired thing, it came for his hire. 16 1 And if a man entice a maid that is not be trothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife." 17 If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay* money according to the dowry of virgins. 18 1 Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live.b 19 ir Whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death.0 20 T He that sacrificeth unto any god,d save unto the Lord only, he shall be utterly destroyed. 21 IT Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor op press him:0 for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 22 T Ye shall not afflict any widow, or father less child/ 23 If thou afflict them in any wise, and they cry at all unto me, I will surely hear their cry ; 24 And my wrath shall wax hot, and I will kill you with the sword; and your wives shall be wid ows, and your children fatherless.8 25 T If thou lend money to any of my people that is poor by thee, thou shalt not be to him as a usurer,11 neither shalt thou lay upon him usury. 26 If thou at all take thy neighbor's raiment to pledge,1 thou shalt deliver it unto him by that the sun goeth down : 27 For that is his covering only, it is his rai ment for his skin: wherein shall he sleep? and it a Deut. 22:28, 29. * Heb. weigh, b Lev. 20:27; Deut. 18:10; 1 Sam. 2S:3. 9; Rev. 21:15. ' Lev. 18:21,25. d Deut. 13:1-11. e Lev. 19:33; Zech. 7:10. f Deut. 24:17; Psa. 94:6, 7; Isa. 1:17; Ezek. 22:7; Jas. 1:27. E Jer. 15:8; 18:21; Lam. 5:3. h Neh. 5:7; Psa. 15:5; Ezek 18:8, 17. i Deut. 24:6, etc.; Job 22:6. j ver. 23. k 2 Chr. 30:9. t Or, judges. 1 Acts 23:3, 5; Jude 3. I Heb. thy fulness. mMic.7:l. i Heb tear. neh. 13:2. 14. Make it good; presuming he had not taken proper care of it. 15. Not make it good; because the owner could see how it was treated. It came for his hire; the price paid for the use of the beast was supposed to be enough not only to compensate for service, but also to cover the risk to which it would be exposed. Of course, should the beast be hurt or die, the owner was to bear the loss. 16. Endow her; marry her, and suitably provide for her as his wife. 17. According to the dowry; such as would be proper according to her rank and condition. 18. A witch; one who professed to have intercourse with evil spirits, and from them to receive supernatural power. 20. Sliall be utterly destroyed; he not only broke the first commandment of the moral law, but also committed trea son against the state, in ackno wledging another God instead of Jehovah, who was then the civil head of the Jews. 21. A stranger; one who came among them from another nation. 25. Usury; interest. 28. The gods; magistrates, judges, and other civil rul ers, officers under God. Curse; speak evil of. 30. Give it me; this was an acknowledgment of God as the rightful proprietor of all. Ex. 13:2. 31. Holy men unto me; separated from others to be peculiarly Jehovah's people. INSTRUCTIONS. 6. When one man injures another through design or 106 shall come to pass, when he crieth unto H'/oiiS!: me, that I will hear ;j for I am gracious.k 28 1 Thou shalt not revile the gods,+ nor curse the ruler of thy people.1 29 T Thou shalt not delay to offer the first* of thy ripe fruits,1" and of thy liquors ;§ the first-born of thy sons shalt thou give unto me.n 30 Likewise shalt thou do with thine oxen, and with thy sheep : seven days it shall be with his dam ; u on the eighth day thou shalt give it me. 31 TT And ye shall be holy men unto me:p nei ther shall ye eat any flesh that is torn of beasts in the field ;q ye shall cast it to the dogs. CHAPTER XXIII. 1 Of slander and false witness. 3, 6 Of justice. 4 Of charitableness. 10 Of the year of rest. 12 Of the sabbath. 13 Of idolatry. 14 Of the three feasts. 18 Of the blood and the fat of the sacrifice. 20 An Angel is promised, with a blessing, if they obey him. THOU shalt not raise1 a false report :r put not thy hand with the wicked to be an unright eous witness.3 2 If Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil ;l neither shalt thou speak1 in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment: 3 IT Neither shalt thou countenance a poor man in his cause." 4 1 If thou meet thine enemy's ox or his ass going astray, thou shalt surely bring it back to him again.v 5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.* 6 Thou shalt not wrest the judgment of thy poor in his cause.w °Lev.22:27. p Lev. 19:2; 1 Pet. 1: 15, 16. <1 Lev. 22:8; Ezek. 4:14 ; 44:31 . I Or. receive, r Psa. 15:3. » Prov. 19:5; Eph. 4:25. t 1 Kings 19: 10; Job 31:34. 1 Heb. answer. « ver. 6. v Matt. 5:44. * Or, wilt thou cease to help him? or, wouldest cease to leave thy business for him; thou shalt surely leave it to join with him. w ver. 3. heedlessness, he is bound, as far as may be in his power, to make him suitable compensation. 10. Fidelity in the safe preservation and good treat ment of whatever is committed to us, is required by the law of God. We should regard another's property as we ought to wish him to regard ours. 15. When a man hires property, giving a rent sufficient to compensate not only for its use, but also for the risk to which it is exposed, and the property without his fault is providentially injured or destroyed, the loss shall fall on the owner. 20. The restraints which are needful to keep men from outbreaking iniquity, show that their hearts are deprav ed ; and that all the holiness which there is among men is the fruit of divine grace. Jas. 1 : 17. 27. Strangers, widows, orphans, and poor persons are peculiarly exposed to be wronged by the wicked, and on this account God graciously makes them objects of his peculiar care, and with special severity will punish their oppressors. Psa. 68: 5 ; Prov. 22 : 22, 23 ; Jer. 49 : 11 ; Matt. 26:11. CHAPTER XXIII. 3. Countenance; unduly favor. In deciding causes, they were not to favor the rich, the great, or $he many ; nor were they to be partial towards the poor, but to decide according to evidence, right, and duty. 5. Lying under his burden; fallen, and not able to rise without help. Help with him ; assist the owner in getting the beast up. The three yearly feasts. EXODUS XXIIL The Angel of the Lord. A. M 2513. B. 0. 1491. 7 Keep thee far from a false matter; and the innocent and righteous slay thou not : for I will not justify the wicked." . 8 T And thou shalt- take no gift : b for the gift blindeth the wise," and perverteth the words of the righteous. 9 1 Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger : for ye know the heart f of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 10 And six years thou shalt sow thy land, and shalt gather in the fruits thereof:0 11 But the seventh year thou shalt let it rest and lie still; that the poor of thy people may eat: and what they leave the beasts of the field shall eat. In like manner thou shalt deal with thy vineyard, and with thy olive-yard.* 12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, and on the seventh day thou shalt rest: that thine ox and thine ass may rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed. 13 And in all things that I have said unto you be circumspect:11 and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth.6 14 1 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto me in the year. 15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread : thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib ; for in it thou earnest out of Egypt : and none shall appear before me empty : 16 And the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labors, which thou hast sown in the field : and the feast of ingathering, which is in the end of the year, when thou hast gathered in thy labors out of the field. 17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord God. a Ch. 34:7. b pr0v. 17:23; Isa. 33:15. * Heb. the seeing, t Heb. soul. c Lev. 25:3, 4; 26:34. t Or, olive-trees, d Deut. 4:9; Eph. 5:15. e Josh. 23:7; Psa. 16:4; Hos. 2:17. iOr.feast. Teh. 34:26. sGen. 4S:16; Isa. 63:9. b Gen. 12:3; Deut. 30:7; Zech. 2:8. U Or, / will afflict them that afflict thee. 1. Far from a false matter; not attempt to support a false accusation. Slay thou not; not be accessory to the death of an innocent person. 8. Gift; a bribe offered to induce a magistrate to favor one in judgment. 9. A stranger; a foreigner. They had learned by ex perience ih Egypt the liability of foreigners to be op pressed, and remembered how they felt under oppres sion. 11. Let it rest; this was to teach them their dependence on God, and the safety of trusting in him. 12. Thy work; all worldly business except what was needful in acts of mercy, and for the best discharge of the appropriate duties of the Sabbath. May be refreshed; one day's rest in a week from labor is, for man and beast, essential to the best refreshment, the greatest vigor, and longest life. Chap. 34:21. 13. Circumspect; very careful to obey his will. 15. Feast of unleavened bread; this followed the pass- over, instituted the night before they left Egypt. It was called the feast of unleavened bread because they were required, during that feast, to eat nothing leavened, and to have no leaven in their houses. Chap. 12:14-20. Empty; without an offering, or something devoted espe cially to the Lord. Chap. 34:18-20. 16. Feast of harvest ; so called because the wheatharvest was then finished. It was called also the feast Of weeks, or of sevens, because it was kept seven weeks after the passover; also the feast of Pentecost, which means the 18 Thou shalt not offer the blood of my sacri fice5 with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of my sacrifice remain until the morning. 19 The first of the first-fruits of thy land thou shalt bring into the house of the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk/ 20 1 Behold, I send an Angel before thee, to keep thee in the way, and to bring thee into the place which I have prepared.g 21 Beware of him, and obey his voice, provoke him not; for he will not pardon your transgres sions : for my name is in him. 22 But if thou shalt indeed obey his voice, and do all that I speak ; then I will be an enemy unto thine enemies,11 and an adversary unto thine ad versaries.1' 23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Cauaanites, the Hi- vites, and the Jebusites;1 and I will cut them off. 24 Thou shalt not bow down to their gods,j nor serve them, nor do after their works :k but thou shalt utterly overthrow them, and quite break down their images.1 25 And ye shall serve the Lord your God,m and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water;" and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.0 26 T There shall nothing cast their young, nor be barren, in thy land:p the number of thy days I will fulfil. 27 I will send my fear before thee, and will de stroy all the people to whom thou shalt come;q and I will make all thine enemies turn their backs' unto thee. 28 And I will send hornets before thee,r which shall drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before thee. ' ch. 33:2; Josh. 5:13 j ch 20:5 k Lev 18:3 Deut 12:30; Psa . 101:3. 1 ch. 32:20 Num. 33:52; 2 Chr. 34:7. m Josh. 22:5. n Deut. 7: 13; Isa. 33:10 ; Mal 3:10,11. ¦> Psa. 103.-: . P Dei t. 2d: I. q Josh. 2:9, 11 1 Fam. 14:15 ; 2 Chr. 14:14. 1 Heb neck, Psa. 18 40. ' Deut. 7:20; Josh. 21:12. fiftieth, because it commenced on the fiftieth day after the passover, and was commemorative of the giving of the law from mount Sinai, which took place fifty days after the departure of the Israelites from Egypt. Chap. 34:22 ; Lev. 23:14-21; Num. 28:26-31. The feast of ingathering; so called because it took place after the gathering in or completion of the harvests. It was called also the feast of tabernacles, in commemoration of their having dwelt forty years in tabernacles or tents in the wilderness. The feast was kept from the fourteenth to the twenty-first day of the month Tishri, answering to the last part of Sep tember and the first part of Octobei. It was the seventh month of their ecclesiastical, and the first of their civil year. Lev. 23 : 34-36 ; Deut. 16 : 13-15. 18. The blood of my sacrifice; or the feast of the pass- over. Chap. 12:7-10; 34:25; Lev. 2:11; Deut. 16:4. 19. Seeth§; boil or cook. Some suppose that this pre cept was intended to guard against a superstitious usage of the heathen ; others, that its design was to inculcate a humane spirit. 20. An Angel; he who dwelt in the pillar of cloud and of fire. Chap. 14:19; 32:34; ,33:2, 14; Num. 20: 16; Josh. 5:13-15; 6:2; Isa. 63:7-13. 21. My name is in him; he possessed and manifested the attributes of Jehovah. Mal. 3:1. 23. Mine Angel shall — bring thee in; Josh. 24:2-11. 26. Thy days I will fulfil; he would preserve their lives to a good old age. 28. Hornets; Deut. 7:20; Josh. 24:12. 107 Moses buildeth an altar, EXODUS XXIV. and ascendeth mount Sinai. 29 I will not drive them out from before thee in one year ; lest the land become desolate, and the beast of the field multiply against thee. 30 By little and little I will drive them out from before thee, until thou be increased, and inherit the land. 31 And I will set thy bounds from the Red sea even unto the sea of the Philistines,1 and from the desert unto the river :b for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand ; c and thou shalt drive them out before thee. 32 Thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.d 33 They shall not dwell in thy land, lest they make thee sin against me : for if thou serve their gods, it will surely be a snare unto thee.0 CHAPTER XXIV. 1 Moses is called up into the mountain. 3 The people promise obedi ence. 4 Moses buildeth an altar, and twelve pillars. 6 He sprin- kleth the blood of the covenant. 9 The glory of God appeareth. 14 Aaron and Hur have the charge of the people. 15 Moses goeth into the mountain, where he continueth forty days and forty nights. AND he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord/ thou and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu,8 and seventy of the elders of Israel ; " and worship ye afar off. 2 And Moses alone shall come near the Lord : but they shall not come nigh; neither shall the people go up with him. 3 1 And Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, a Num. 34:3, etc.; Deut. 11:24. b Num. 34:3; Josh. 1:4; Psa. 72:8. <= Josh. 21:44. d ch. 34:12, 15; Psa. 106:35; 2 Cor. 6:15. e Judg. 2:3. f ver. 15; ch. 34:2. Ech. 28:1. !>Num.ll:i6. i Deut. 5:27; Josh. 24:22. 29. Beast of the field; wild and ravenous beasts. Deut. 7:22. 31. Sea qfthe Philistines; the Mediterranean sea, on the eastern shore of which the Philistines lived. The desert; of Shur. The river; Euphrates. Josh. 1:4; 1 Kings, 4:21. 32. No covenant — with their gods; not worship them. 33. A snare; it would draw them away from the wor ship of Jehovah, and bring upon them his wrath. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. The majority as to numbers, wealth, and political influence are often wrong. If in such cases a person would do right, he must not be governed by public opin ion, however it may be expressed, but by the law of God. 7. The laws of Moses, as well as those of Christ, re quired men to love others as they loved themselves ; and, under all circumstances, to do to others as they ought to wish that others should do to them. Matt. 7:12; 19 : 19 ; 22:37-40. 9. Might never gives right ; and to oppress or wrong any one because he cannot defend himself, or bring to justice the aggressor, is mean, base, and wicked. 12. In requiring men to remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, God regards not only his own glory, but the comfort and highest good of all classes of men and of laboring animals. To deprive them of the rest of the Sabbath is robbery of God, and of man and beast. 17. Not only individuals but nations are bound to fol low the directions of God. Nor does their safety or their best interest ever require them, as nations or individuals, to break his commands. Ver. 22-27; chap. 34:24. 31. Jehovah claims and exercises the right to dispose of all parts of the earth according to his pleasure. 108 All the words which the Lord hath said b.c'.Sm. will we do.1 4 And Moses wr.ote all the words of the Lord,j and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the children of Is rael, which offered burnt-offerings, and sacrificed peace-offerings of oxen unto the Lord. 6 And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins ; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. 7 And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people : and they said, AH that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient. 8 And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people,k and said, Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord hath made with you concerning all these words. 9 IT Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel ; 10 And they saw the God of Israel:1 and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire-stone,"1 and as it were the body of heaven, in his clearness." 11 And upon the nobles of the children of Is rael he laid not his hand : also they saw God, and did eat and drink.0 12 IT And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there :p and I will give thee tables of stone,q and a law, and com mandments which I have written ;r that thou may est teach them. ) Deut. 31:9. k Heb. 9:19-21; 13:20; 1 Pet. 1:2. 1 1 Kings 22:19; Isa. 0:1,5. m Ezek. 1:26; 10:1; Rev. 4:3; 21:19. ¦> Matt. 17:2; Rev. 1:10. o Gen. 18:8. P ver. 2, 18. 1 Deut. 5:22. ' Neh. 9:13. CHAPTER XXIV. 1. Come up; this command was given to Moses while he was yet with God in the mount, chap. 20:21. The meaning is, that he should come up again with the per sons named, after he had first descended and done what is recorded in ver. 3-8. Nadab and Abihu; the two elder sons of Aaron. Chap. 6:23. 3. All the words of the Lord — the judgments; those con tained in the four preceding chapters. The ten command ments were spoken by God himself to all the people. 4. All the words of the Lord; those which he had pre viously communicated to the people. 7. The book qfthe covenant; that which he had written. Ver. 4. 8. The blood of the covenant; that by which the cove- nant.which they had made was ratified. Heb. 9:19; Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20. 9. Then went up Moses; as directed, ver. 1. 10. Saw the God of Israel; compare Isa. 6:1; Ezek. 1:26. A paved work of a sapphire; or, transparent sapphire. This is the " sea of glass like unto crystal," in Rev. 4:6. The sapphire is a precious stone of a sky-blue color. The elders of Israel did not see God face to face as Moses did, but only from the lower part of the mount, where they were commanded to worship " afar off." Ver. 1, 2. 11. He laid not his hand; they received no harm, though they saw God; not his essence or shape, but his visi ble glory. John 1:18; 5:37; 6:46; 14:9; 15:24; 1 John 4:12. 12. Come up to me; still nearer to the visible glory. Tables qf stone ; on which were the ten commandments. Chap. 31:18; 32:15, 16; Deut. 5:22. Offerings for the tabernacle. EXODUS XXV. The form of the ark. A. M. 2513. B. C. 1491. 13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua; and Moses went up into the mount of God. 14 And he said unto the elders, Tarry ye here for us, until we come again unto you : and behold, Aaron and Hur are with you : if any man have any matters to do, let him come unto them. 15 And Moses went up into the mount, and a cloud covered the mount." 16 And the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai,b and the cloud covered it six days: and the seventh day he called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 And the sight of the glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.0 18 And Moses went into the midst of the cloud, and gat him up into the mount : and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty night.s.d CHAPTER XXV. I What the Israelites must offer for the making of the tabernacle. 10 The form of the ark. 17 The mercy-seat, with the cherubim. 23 The table, with the furniture thereof. 31 The candlestick, with the instruments thereof. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me* an offering^ of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.0 » Ch. 19:9. b Lev. 9:23; Num. 14:10. » Deut. 4:36; Ezek. 1:27; Nah. l:e, Hab. 3:4, 5; Heb. 12:18, 29. d 0h. 34:25; Deut. 9:9. • Heb. take for 13. Minister; servant. Into the mount; towards the top of the mount, on which was the visible presence of Jehovah. It would seem that Moses with Joshua approached near to the cloud that covered the mount, and there abode six days. On the seventh day God called Moses into his immediate presence, while Joshua remained behind and waited for him. In chap. 32 : 17, we find him descending with Moses. 14. Matters to do; controversies to be settled, or cases to be decided. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. We should approach God not only with reverence and holy fear, but with filial respect, confidence, and love. 3. We often find that many who are forward to promise are backward to perform, and that nothing but the grace of God will make those who solemnly covenant with him steadfast and persevering in obeying his commands. Num. 14:11-35; Psa. 78:10-61; 106:8-43; 1 Cor. 10:5-12. 8. The blood which was shed in sacrifices under the Old Testament dispensation, was designed to impress upon all the necessity of an atonement, in order to the forgiveness of sin and acceptance with God. It pointed forward to the blood of Christ, who, in due time, was to take away sin by the sacrifice of himself; and who would enter the holy place with his own blood, and thus obtain eternal redemption for all who should believe on him. Heb. 9:6-28. 12. A right understanding of the law which God wrote with his finger on tables of stone, is essential to a right estimate of human character. Ministers should therefore be very explicit in teaching it. Without rightly under standing the law, men will not rightly understand the gospel, or their need of its blessings. 18. Moses received his directions from God, therefore all the children of Israel were bound to obey him. If they did not, they rebelled against God, andwere justly exposed to his wrath. How much more aggravated will be the sin and doom of men who refuse to obey Jesus Christ. Deut. 18:15, John 1:45; Acts 3:22-26; 7:37; Heb. 10:28-31. 3 And this is the offering which ye shall take of them; gold, and silver, and brass, 4 And blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen,* and goats' hair, 5 And rams' skins dyed red, and badgers' skins, and shittim-wood, 6 Oil for the light, spices for anointing oil, and for sweet incense, 7 Onyx-stones, and stones to be set in the ephod, and in the breastplate. 8 And let them make me a sanctuary ; that I may dwell among them.1' 9 According to all that I show thee,8 after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. 10 T And they shall make an ark of shittim- wood:'1 two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 11 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. 12 And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13 And thou shalt make staves of shittim-wood, and overlay them with gold. 14 And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. me. t Or, heave-offering, e 2 Cor. 8:12; 9:7. J Or, silk, f ch. 29:45; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 21:3. B Heb. 8:5. b Heb. 9:4. CHAPTER XXV. We come now to the tabernacle and its furniture. To guard against any intermixture of heathenish usages, as well as to impress upon the minds of the Israelites the truth that all acceptable worship of God must be in accordance with the rules of his appointment, Jehovah gave to Moses in the mount specific directions for the structure of the tabernacle and every thing pertaining to its service. He showed him, moreover, a pattern, by which he was enabled at once to apprehend the mean ing of all the directions he received, and to write them out in full, as is done in this and the six following chap ters. The tabernacle was God's visible dwelling-place. As such it represented to the Israelites the great truth that Jehovah dwells spiritually with his people as their king and protector. Thus the tabernacle, with all the services belonging to it, was " a shadow of good things to come." It typified the higher blessings of the Christian dispen sation, as is fully shown in the epistle to the Hebrews. 2. Tliat giveth it willingly; thus God taught the people that he will have willing worshippers. 4. Blue, and purple, and scarlet ; these colors were em ployed as being the most excellent. 5. Badgers' skins; according to some, the original word means the skin of a species of seal. Shittim-wood; a spe cies of acacia, an exceedingly fine and durable wood. Gum arabic is obtained from the living tree. 7. The ephod — breastplate; see the description of these, chap. 28:6-30. 10. An ark; this is a different word in the Hebrew from that rendered ark in Gen. 6:14, and means a chest. A cubit; about eighteen inches. 11. A crown; a cornice or border around the lid of the ark. 13. Staves; poles or rods to go through the rings of the ark, by which to carry it. 109 Of the mercy-seat, the EXODUS XXV. show-table, and the candlestick. 15 The staves shall be in the rings of the ark : they shall not be taken from it. 16 And thou shalt put into the ark the testi mony which I shall give thee.a 17 And thou shalt make a mercy-seat of pure gold:b two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18 And thou shalt make two cherubim o/gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy-seat. 19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end : even of the mercy-seat* shall ye make the cherubim on the two ends thereof. 20 And the cherubim shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy-seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another ; toward the mercy -seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.c 21 And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark ;d and in the ark thou shalt put the testi mony that I shall give thee.e 22 And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy-seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony/ of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. 23 T Thou shalt also make a table of shittim- wood :g two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 24 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold,h and make thereto a crown of gold round about. 25 And thou shalt make unto it a border of a handbreadth round about, and thou shalt make a golden crown to the border thereof round about. 26 And thou shalt make for it four rings of gold, and put the rings in the four corners that are on the four feet thereof. a Ch. 16:34; 31:18; 34:29; Num. 17:1; Deut. 10:2,5; 1 Kings 8:9; 2 Kings 11:12; 2Chr. 31:11; Horn. 3:2; Heb. 9:4. b ch. 37:6; 40:20; Lev. 16:13; Rom. 3:23; Heb. 9:5. ' Or, of the matter of the mercy-seat, c 2 Chr. 3:10. d oh. 20:31. e ver. 16. ' ch. 30:0; Lev. 10:2; Num. 7:89; 17:4; 1 Sam. 4:4; 2 Sam. 6:2; 2 Kings 19: 15; Psa. 80:1; 99:1; Isa. 37:16. B ch. 37:10; 16. The testimony; the tables of stone, on which were written the ten commandments, God's testimony as to the duty of men. 17. A mercy-seat; this was the golden covering or lid, the upper side of the sacred chest or ark, called the mercy-seat because on it was sprinkled the blood of atonement, and above it dwelt Jehovah in his visible glory, dispensing mercy to men. 18. Cherubim; representations of creatures intensely studying, for the purpose of doing the will of God. Some have supposed them to resemble the living crea tures described Ezek. 1 : 4-14. 20. One to another ; the cherub on one end looking towards the cherub on the other end of the mercy-seat, both looking towards the mercy-seat, and their wings stretched over it. Heb. 9:5. Between them, on the mercy-seat, was the she- kinah, or the visible glory of Jehovah. Hence, he is said to dwell between the cherubim. 1 Sam. 4:4; Psa. 80:1; 99:1. 24. A crown; cornice or rim. 25. Border; this was to be below the leaf, around the frame of the table. Handbreadth; the width of the four fingers; about three or four inches. A golden crown; a rim of gold around the border, like that around the leaf of the table. 29. Spoons; or bowls. Covers; or cans. To cover withal ; better, as in the margin, to pour out withal. 30. Sliow-bread; twelve loaves of bread, equal to the 110 27 Over against the border shall the b.c'.^: rings be for places of the staves to bear the table. 28 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim- wood, and overlay them with gold, that the table may be borne'with them. 29 And thou shalt make the dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof, to cover withal :+ of pure gold shalt thou make them.1 30 And thou shalt set upon the table show-bread before me always.1 31 T And thou shalt make a candlestick o/"pure gold :* of beaten work shall the candlestick be made : his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. 32 And six branches shall come out of the sides of it ; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side : 33 Three b'owls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch ; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. 34 And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. 35 And there shall be a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches that proceed out of the candlestick. 36 Their knops and their branches shall be of the same : all of it shall be one beaten work of pur e gold . 37 And thou shalt make the seven lamps there of: and they shall light* the lamps thereof,"1 that they may give light over against it.§ 38 And the tongs thereof, and the snuff-dishes thereof, shall be ofpure gold. 1 Kings 7:48; Heb. 9:2. h 1 Kings 6:20. t Or, to pour out withal. ' ch. 37:16; Num. 4:7. i Lev. 24:5, 0; 1 Sam. 21:6; Mal. 1:7, 12; Matt. 12:4. k ch. 37:17; 1 Kings 7:49; 2 Chr. 13:11; Zech. 4:2; Heb. 9:2; Rev. 1:12. 1 Zech. 4:2; Rev. 1 -A, 12. I Or, cause to ascend, m cTi. 27:20. 21; 30:7, 8; Lev. 21:3,4; Num. 8:2; 2 Chr. 13:11. 5 Heb. the face of it. number of the tribes. It was placed on the table, and called show-bread, or bread of the presence, because it always stood in the presence of the Lord. It was sprin kled with frankincense. On the Sabbath the bread was taken away, and new bread put in its place. The frank incense that was on it was burnt as an oblation to God, and the bread was eaten by the priests. Lev. 24:5-9. On one emergency mentioned in Scripture it was given to others. 1 Sam. 21:1-0; Matt. 12:2, 4. This show- bread, and all the articles and worship in the tabernacle, and afterwards in the temple, pointed forward to the Bread of God, which was to come down from heaven, and give life unto the world. John 6:32-58. 31. A candlestick; it consisted of an upright shaft, with. six branches coming out in pairs, three on each side, mak ing a line of seven lamps. Knops; knobs or embossed work. These and the bowls and flowers were omameijtal figures on the shaft and branches. 33. Like unto almonds; in the form of an almond. In the six branches; three bowls, knobs, and flowers on each branch, and four on the shaft of the candlestick, making twenty-two in all. 35. Of the same; the same material, pure gold. 37. Seven lamps; one for the shaft, and one for each branch of the candlestick. 38. The tongs; snuffers or scissors to trim the lamps. The various curtains EXODUS XXVI. of the tabernacle b.' cSwi3' 39 0/ a talent of pure gold shall he make it, with all these vessels. 40 And look that thou make them after their pattern," which was showed thee* in the mount. CHAPTER XXVI. 1 The ten curtains of the tabernacle. 7 The eleven curtains of goats' hair. 14 The covering of rams' skins. 15 The boards of the taber nacle, with their sockets and bars. 31 The veil of the ark. 36 The hanging for the door. MOREOVER thou shalt make the tabernacle with ten curtains of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet :b with cherubim of cunning work+ shalt thou make them. 2 The length of one curtain shall be eight and twenty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits : and every one of the curtains shall have one measure. 3 The five curtains shall be coupled together one to another ; and other five curtains shall be coupled one to another. 4 And thou shalt make loops of blue upon the edge of the one curtain, from the selvedge in the coupling; and likewise shalt thou make in the uttermost edge of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 5 Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one cur tain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge a Ch. 26:30; Num. 8:4; 1 Chr. 28:11; Acts7:44; Heb.8:5. • Heb. which thou, wast caused to see. b 1 Chr. 17:1. t Heb. the work of a cunning work- 39. A talent of pure gold; estimated by some to be equal to about twenty, and by others, thirty thousand dollars. The light of these lamps represented the spiritual light which God in Christ, by his word and Spirit, through the instrumentality of his people, especially his ministers, communicates to the world. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. God most justly requires of men that, whatever they do, they should seek to honor him and benefit their fellow-men. 8. Though God is in all places, yet he dwells especially in those which, according to his will, are consecrated to his worship ; and from them he bestows peculiar bless ings on his people. 16. What relates to the worship and glory of God, and to the redemption of men by Jesus Christ, is described in the Bible with greater minuteness, and treated as of greater importance, than the temporal interests of king doms, or all the mere worldly concerns of men. 22. All thing3 which, by divine appointment, are con nected with the sanctuary, were designed by God to im press upon the worshippers a conviction of his presence, and communicate something of those truths which relate to the bestowment of mercy and the gift of salvation through Christ. 30. It is not enough, in order to salvation, that Christ tasted death for every man, and was made a propitiation for the sins of the world ; but in order to be saved, men must receive from him spiritual life, be united to him, and receive from him permanently spiritual nourishment and support. Heb. 2:9; 1 John 2:2; John 6:32-58; 15:1-11. 37. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. All men, and especially his ministers, are bound to follow him, that they may not walk in darkness, but have the light of life ; and to let that light so shine in godly, beneficent conduct, that men shall be led to glorify their Father in heaven. John 8:12; Matt. 5:14-16. CHAPTER XXVI. 1. Tabernacle; the words tabernacle and tent are some times used in a general way to denote the whole structure of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second ; that the loops may take hold one of another. 6 And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches : and it shall be one tabernacle. 7 1 And thou shalt make curtains of goats' hair, to be a covering upon the tabernacle : eleven cur tains shalt thou make.c 8 The length of one curtain shall be thirty cubits, and the breadth of one curtain four cubits: and the eleven curtains shall be all of one measure. 9 And thou shalt couple five curtains by them selves, and six curtains by themselves, and shalt double the sixth curtain in the fore-front of the tabernacle. 10 And thou shalt make fifty loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outmost in the coupling, and fifty loops in the edge of the curtain which coupletli the second. 11 And thou shalt make fifty taches of brass, and put the taches into the loops, and couple the tent* together, that it may be one. 12 And the remnant that remaineth of the cur tains of the tent, the half curtain that remaineth, shall hang over the backside of the tabernacle. 13 And a cubit on the one side, and a cubit on the other side of that which remaineth8 in the length of the curtains of the tent, it shall hang over the man, or embroiderer, c ch. 30:14, etc. t Or, covering. § Heb in the re mainder, or surplusage. of the movable temple described in the present chapter. Psa. 78: 60. But in a strict sense, the tabernacle is always the inner set of curtains described in verses 1-6 ; while,. the tent is the covering above it of goats' hair. See verses 6, 11-13. Cherubim of cunning work; or rather, the work of a cunning deviser. It is generally agreed that these curtains were woven with different colors and fig ures of cherubim, while the hanging for the door of the tent, ver. 36, 37, was embroidered. 3. Coupled together; in the Hebrew simply joined. Hence a great curtain formed from the union of several smaller curtains is called a joining, or " coupling." 4. The edge qfthe one curtain; that is, of the one great curtain. From the selvedge in the coupling; rather, on the edge in the coupling. The coupling is the compound curtain made of five single curtains. In the uttermost edge — coupling of the second ; or, in the edge of the outer most curtain in the second coupling. The simple mean ing is, that in the edge of the outermost curtain of each coupling (compound curtain) on the adjacent sides should be loops, etc., corresponding to each other. 5. Coupling qfthe second; or, second coupling. See above. Take hold one of another ; or, be opposite one to another. 6. Taches; clasps to unite the loops, and thus the edges of the curtains. 9. Double ; double it over in an ornamental way. 10. Which coupleth the second; or, in respect to the sec ond coupling. See above. 12. The half curtain that remaineth; that is, the half of the second great curtain made of five single curtains. The framework of shittim-wood was thirty cubits long and ten cubits high. The two great curtains of. goats' hair, when united, made a covering 44 cubits long by 30 wide. Of this, 4 cubits were doubled over in front ; 30 more were needed to cover the framework; leaving 10 cubits, that is, just half of the second great curtain, to hang over in the rear. 13. That which remaineth in the length qf the curtains of the tent; that in which the curtains of the tent exceed in length those of the tabernacle. Here the sacred writer reckons according to the length of a single curtain. The 111 The boards, bars, and EXODUS XXVII. veil of the tabernacle. sides of the tabernacle, on this side and on that side, to cover it. 14 And thou shalt make a covering for the tent of rams' skins dyed red, and a covering above of badgers' skins. 15 IT And thou shalt make boards for the taber nacle of shittim-wood standing up. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and a cubit and a half shall be the breadth of one board. 17 Two tenons* shall there be in one board, set in order one against another : thus shalt thou make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 And thou shalt make the boards for the taber nacle, twenty boards on the south side southward.* 19 And thou shalt make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards ;b two sockets under one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons. 20 And for the second side of the tabernacle on the north side there shall be twenty boards, 21 And their forty sockets of silver ; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 22 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward thou shalt make six boards. 23 And two boards shalt thou make for the cor ners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 24 And they shall be coupled* together beneath, and they shall be coupled together c above the head of it unto one ring :d thus shall it be for them both ; they shall be for the two corners. 25 And they shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets ; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 26 T And thou shalt make bars of shittim-wood ; five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 And five bars for the boards of the other side of tlie tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the two sides westward. • Heb. hands, a Num. 3:36; 4:31, 32. b cn. 27:10. t Heb. twinned. ' Psa. 133:1; 1 Cor. 3:16; 1 Fet. 2:5. d Eph. 4: 16; Col. 2:19. ech.25:9, 40; 27:8; Acts 7:44; Heb. 8:5; 9:33. ' ch. 36:35; Lev. 16:2; 2 Chr. 3:14 curtains of the inner covering (tabernacle) were 28 cubits long; those of the outer covering (tent) were 30 cubits in length. When the two coverings were spread over the framework of shittim-wood, so that the curtains, re garded as single, lay across it and hung down on each side, the curtains of the tent must have extended just a cubit on each side below the curtains of the tabernacle, so as entirely to cover the latter. 15. Boards; with the exception of Ezek. 27 : 6, where the meaning is uncertain, the word here rendered " boards " is used only of the framework of the sanctuary. It does not denote common boards, but rather thick planks. See on ver. 22-25. 17. Tenons; projections to set into the sockets of silver. 22. Six boards; it is generally agreed that the width of the tabernacle on the inner side was ten cubits. The Jewish rabbins agree in representing the planks, or tim bers, of the tabernacle to have been one cubit in thick ness. As they were a cubit and a half in width, this would require just eight to reach from outside to outside on the western end. If they had a less thickness, then the two corner planks, ver. 23, must have extended just so far beyond the side. 24. Coupled together; in the Hebrew, twinned, that is, 112 28 And the middle bar in the midst of %% fgj; the boards shall reach from end to end. 29 And thou shalt overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars : and thou shalt overlay the bars with gold. 30 And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle accord ing to the fashion thereof which was showed thee in the mount.e 31 ir And thou shalt make a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cun ning work :f with cherubim shall it be made. 32 And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim-wood overlaid with gold : their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. 33 T And thou shalt hang up the veil under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the veil the ark of the testimony : and the veil shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.g - 34 And thou shalt put the mercy-seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35 And thou shalt set the table without the veil,h and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south : and thou shalt put the table on the north side. 36 And thou shalt make a hanging for the door of the tent, qf blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, wrought with needlework,1 37 And thou shalt make for the hanging five pil lars of shittim-wood, and overlay them with gold, and their hooks shall be of gold : and thou shalt cast five sockets of brass for them. CHAPTER XXVII. 1 The altar of burnt-offering, with the vessels thereof. 9 The court of the tabernacle inclosed with hangings and pillars. 18 The measure of the court. 20 The oil for the lamp. AND thou shalt make an altar of shittim- wood,j five cubits long, and five cubits broad ; the altar shall be four-square, and the height thereof shall be three cubits. Matt. 27:51 ; Heb. 9:3, 8; 10:20. B 1 Kings 8:8-10; 2 Chr. 5-7-10 ¦> ch. 40:22. ich.36:37. i ch 38:1 ; 2 Chr. 4:1 ; Ezek. 43:13; Heb. 13:10. made double. The meaning seems to be, that each cor ner-plank shall be joined above and below to the adjacent side-plank, so that the two shall make a pair. Unto one ring ; so that one ring shall serve to unite the two. 26. Bars; these were to run through the sides of the framework, to increase its strength. 33. The holy place and the most holy; these were the two divisions into which the tabernacle was divided ; the holy place being twenty cubits by ten, and the holy of holies, ten cubits square. Heb. 9 : 6-9. 36. The door; the entrance to the tabernacle, which was on the east. INSTRUCTIONS. 30. In order to be accepted, we must consecrate to God the best that we have, and be careful in all things to fol low his directions. 33. As the veil which separated the holy from the most holy place, in the tabernacle and afterwards in the tem ple, was at the crucifixion of Christ rent in twain, to show us that the way to the throne of mercy is open for all, all should, with believing and grateful hearts, draw near to Uod, in that new and living way opened by the death of Christ, that they may obtain mercy, and find grace to help m all times of need. Heb. 9 : 1-14, 20-22. The altar and court EXODUS XXVIII. of the tabernacle. A. M. 2513. B. C. 1491. 2 And thou shalt make the horns of it upon the four corners thereof:" his horns shall be of the same : and thou shalt overlay it witli brass. 3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basins, and his flesh-hooks, and his fire-pans : all the vessels there of thou shalt make of brass." 4 And thou shalt make for it a grate of network of brass ; and upon the net shalt thou make four brazen rings ia the four corners thereof. 5 And thou shalt put it under the compass of the altar beneath, that the net may be even to the midst of the altar. 6 And thou shalt make staves for the altar, staves of shittim-wood, and overlay them with brass.0 7 And the staves shall be put into the rings, and the staves shall be upon the two sides of the altar, to bear it. 8 Hollow with boards shalt thou make it : as it was showed* thee in the mount, so shall they make it.& 9 1 And thou shalt make the court of the tab ernacle:6 for the south side southward there shall be hangings for the court of fine twined linen of a hundred cubits long for one side : 10 And the twenty pillars thereof and their twenty sockets shall be of brass ; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets shall be of silver. 11 And likewise for the north side in length there shall be hangings of a hundred cubits long, and his twenty pillars and their twenty sockets of brass ; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 12 1 And for the breadth of the court on the west side shall be hangings of fifty cubits: their pillars ten, and their sockets ten. 13 And the breadth of the court on the east side eastward, shall be fifty cubits. 14 The hangings of one side of the gate shall be fifteen cubits : their pillars three, and their sock ets three. 15 And on the other side shall be hangings fif- »Ch. 29:12; Lev. 4:7, 18; 16:18; lKingsl:50; 2:28; Psa. 118:27; Heb. 6:18. b 1 Kings 7:45; Jer. 52:20. « ch. 30:4; Num. 4:14. • Heb. he showed, i ch. 26:30, etc. ; Heb. 8:5. e eh. 38:9; 1 Kings 6:36; 8:64; Psa. 92:13; Ezek. 40:20, etc. f ch. 36:37. S ch. 23:39; 39:29; Psa. 45:14. t Heb. fifty by fifty, b ver. 3. i Lev. 21:2. t Heb. to ascend up. i ch. CHAPTER XXVII. 2. Horns; projections of the four corners. 4. A grate of network of brass; the position and office of this it is difficult to determine. A common opinion has been, that it was suspended by the four rings in the hol low of the altar midway between the top and the bottom ; and that on it the sacrifices were burned, the ashes falling through upon the ground below. Others have supposed that all the hollow of the altar above the grate was filled with earth, upon which the sacrifices were placed. The common Jewish tradition is, that the whole interior of the altar was filled with earth, chap. 20:24, and that the grate went round the altar on the outside, which is favor ed by chap. 38:5, 7. 9. Court qfthe tabernacle; a large open inclosure around the tabernacle. 10. Fillets; rods passing from the top of one pillar to another. 13. On, the east side eastward; as this was the front, it had a gateway in the centre of twenty cubits, with a hang ing of richer materials, leaving just fifteen cubits on each side for the curtain of common materials. 17. Filleted with silver; connected at the top by silver fillets. 8 teen cubits: their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16 T And for the gate of the court shall be a hanging of twenty cubits, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen/ wrought with nee dle-work :s and their pillars shall be four, and their sockets four. 17 All the pillars round about the court shall be filleted with silver ; their hooks shall be of silver, and their sockets of brass. 18 1 The length of the court shall be a hundred cubits, and the breadth fifty everywhere/ and the height five cubits of fine twined linen, and their sockets of brass. 19 All the vessels of the tabernacle in all the service thereof, and all the pins thereof, and all the pins of the court, shall be of brass.11 20 T And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil-olive beaten for the light,1 to cause the lamp to burn always.* 21 In the tabernacle of the congregation with out the veil, which is before the testimony, Aaron and his sons shall order it from evening to morn ing before the Lord :'' it shall be a statute for ever unto their generations on the behalf of the chil dren of Israel.k CHAPTER XXVIII. 1 Aaron and hi^sons are set apart for the priest's office. 2 Holy gar ments are appointed. 6 The ephod. 15 The breastplate with twelve precious stones. 30 The Urim and Thummim. 31 The robe of the ephod, with pomegranates and bells. 36 The plate of the mitre. 39 The embroidered coat. 40 The garments for Aaron's sons. AND take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother,1 and his sons with him, from among the chil dren of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. 2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother,™ for glory and for beauty." 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise- hearted,0 whom I have filled with the spirit of 30:8; 1 Sam 3:3; 2 Chr. 13:11; Luke 12:35 k ch. 28:43 ; 29:9 2f ; Lev. 3:17; 16:34; 24:9; Num. 18:23 19:21 ; 1 Sam. 30:25. 1 Lev. 8:2; Num. 18:7; 2 Chr. 26:18-21; Heb. 5: , 4. « ch. 29:5 29; Lev . 8:7, 311 Num. 20:26 28; P= a. 132:16. n Isa. 61:3, 10; Rev. 5:10 19:8. ° ch. 31 ¦3- 35:30- 35; Prov. 2:6 ; 1 Cor. 12:11. 20. Oil-olive beaten; oil obtained from beating olives in a mortar, which was more pure than that obtained by pressing them in a mill. 21. Order it; see to the lighting of the lamp, according to divine direction. INSTRUCTIONS. 8. Every altar for sacrifice, erected by divine appoint ment under the Old Testament, pointed forward to the sacrifice of Christ ; who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot unto God, to purge our consciences from dead works to serve the living God. Heb. 9 : 10-21. 20. Intelligence and purity should ever characterize the followers, and especially the ministers of Christ. He is the light of the world, and in following him they will not walk in darkness, but have the light of life, and be instru mental in communicating it for the salvation of their fel low-men. Matt. 5:16; John 1:9; 8:12. CHAPTER XXVIII. 2. Holy garments; garments to be used not on ordinary occasions, but when engaged in the public worship of God. For glory and for beauty; the glory and beauty of the priestly garments represented the holiness, purity, 113 The holy garments EXODUS XXVIII. of the priests. wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 4 And these are the garments which they shall make ; a breastplate," and an ephod,0 and a robe,0 and a broidered coat,d a mitre,0 and a girdle :f and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 5 And they shall take gold, and blue, and pur ple, and scarlet, and fine linen. 6 IT And they shall make the ephod of gold, of blue, and of purple, of scarlet, and fine twined linen, with cunning work. 7 It shall have the two shoulder-pieces thereof joined at the two edges thereof; and so it shall be joined together. 8 And the curious" girdle of the ephod, which is upon it, shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; even of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 And thou shalt take two onyx-stones, and grave on them the names of -the children of Israel : 10 Six of their names on one stone, and the other six names of the rest on the other stone, accord ing to their birth. 11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like theengravings of a signet,8 shalt thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Is rael : thou shalt make them to be set*n ouches of gold. 12 And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel : and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord'1 upon his two shoulders for a memorial.1 13 1 And thou shalt make ouches of gold; 14 And two chains of pure gold at the ends ; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fas ten the wreathen chains to the ouches. 15 IT And thou shalt make the breastplate of a Ver. 15; ch. 39:8,21; Isa. 59:17; Eph. 6:14. b ver. 6. « ver. 31; ch. 39-22. d Lev. 8:7. e ch. 39:23; Zech. 3:5. f Isa. 11:5. " Or, embroidered. Sver.36. b ver. 29; ch. 39:6, 7. i Josh 4:7; Zech. 6:14. j ch. 39:8; Lev. and dignity of their office ; and, since their priesthood typified that of Christ, these holy and" glorious garments prefigured the infinite dignity, excellence, and spiritual beauty of Jesus Christ our great High-priest. 5. Gold; that is, golden threads. The manner of form ing them is described chap. 39 : 3. 6. The ephod; this, with the breastplate attached to it, was the outermost of the garments belonging to the high- priest. The ephod was a short garment reaching down, according to the testimony of the ancients, to the middle of the thighs. Originally it seems to have been without sleeves. Each shoulder-piece consisted of two projec tions from the body of the ephod, the one coming up from before and the other from behind, and united on the shoulder at their extremities by an onyx-stone aet in gold, which served also for a clasp. 8. Shall be of the same, according to the work thereof; these words seem to mean, that it shall be woven as a part of the ephod ; and be of the same materials and texture. 11. Signet; a seal. Ouches; sockets. 12. For a memorial; to put them in remembrance that Aaron, as priest, appeared in their behalf before the Lord. 14. Two cliains; these are generally thought to be the same chains mentioned ver. 24, 25, their connection with 114 judgment with cunning work;1 after the B.c'.u9i: work of the ephod thou shalt make it ; of gold, of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine twined linen, shalt thou make it. 16 Foursquare it shall be being doubled ; a span shall be the length thereof, and a span shall be the breadth thereof. 17 And thou shalt set in it settings of stones/ even four rows of stones: the first row shall be & sardius/ a topaz, and a carbuncle : this shall be the first row. 18 And the second row shall be an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 19 And the third row a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 20 And the fourth row a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper:" they- shall be set in gold in their inclosings.8 21 And the stones shall be with the names of the children of Israel,1 twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet ; every one with his name shall they be according to the twelve tribes. 22 IT And thou shalt make upon the breastplate chains at the ends of wreathen work o/pure gold. 23 And thou shalt make upon the breastplate two rings of gold, and shalt put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 24 And thou shalt put the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings which are on the ends of the breastplate. 25 And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains thou shalt fasten in the two -ouches, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod before it. 26 1 And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and thou shalt put them upon the two ends of the breastplate in the border thereof, which is in the side of the ephod inward. 27 And two other rings of gold thou shalt make, and shalt put them on the two sides of the ephod underneath, toward the fore part thereof, over 8:8. t Heb. fill in it fillings of stone. 5 Heb. fillings. 1 Rev. 21 : 12. 1 Or, ruby, k Rev. 4:3; 21:19, 20. the ephod being here considered, and there, their connec tion with the breastplate. 15. Breastplate of judgment ; so called because worn by the high-priest when he applied to the Lord for his judgment, or decision, in matters about which they inquired of him. 16. Four square — being doubled; after being doubled over so as to form a sort of bag or pouch, it was four square : consequently the whole piece, before doubling, was two spans in length. A span is half a cubit, that is, between nine and ten inches. 22. Chains at the ends; at the two upper corners on the outside were two rings of gold, to which these chains were attached, ver. 23, 24. 25. The two ouches; the two sockets of the onyx-stones on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod. 26. Two rings of gold; on the two lower corners of the breastplate on the inside, corresponding to the two rings in the ephod, ver. 27. 27. Two other rings of gold — ephod; this verse may be literally rendered thus : " And thou shalt make two rings of gold, and shall put them upon the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod below, in its forepart, over against its coupling, above the girdle of the ephod." The coupling is that of the shoulder pieces at the onyx-stones, ver. 7. These rings are to be directly opposite to this coupling The Urim and Thummim. EXODUS XXVIII. The plate of the mitre. kH:S against the other coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. 28 And they shall bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it may be above the curious gir dle of the ephod, and that the breastplate be not loosed from the ephod. 29 And Aaron shall bear the names of the chil dren of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goeth in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually." 30 1 And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim ;D and they shall be upon Aaron's heart, when he goeth in before the Lord : and Aaron shall bear the judg ment of the children of Israel upon his heart be fore the Lord continually.0 31 IT And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue. 32 And there shall be a hole in the top of it, in the midst thereof: it shall have a binding of woven work round about the hole of it, as it were the hole of a habergeon,* that it be not rent. 33 And beneath upon the hem* of it thou shalt make pomegranates of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, round about the hem thereof; and bells of gold between them round about : 34 A golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, upon the hem of the robe round about. 35 And it shall be upon Aaron to minister : and his sound shall be heard when he goeth in unto the holy place before the Lord/ and when he com eth out, that he die not. a Ver. t2. b Lev. 8:8; Num. 27:21; Deut. 33:8; 1 Sam. 23:6; Ezra 2:63; Neh. 7:65. = Heb. 9:24. d Neh. 4:16; Job 41:26. • Or, skirts, e Heb. 9:12. 'ch. 39:30; Zech. 14:20; Heb.7:26; 12: 14; Rev. 21:27. Ever.28,31; Num. 15:38. bVer.43; Lev 10:17; 22:9; Num. 18:1; Isa. 53:6, 11; Ezek. 4:4-6; John 1:29; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pet. 2:24. i Lev. 1:4; 22:27; below. The two upper corners of the breastplate being fastened to the onyx-stones by wreathed chains of gold, and the two lower corners to the rings here mentioned by a lace of blue, the breastplate is thus made firm over the heart, ver. 29 ; a beautiful and most expressive sym bol of the unchangeable love which Christ, our great High-priest, bears toward his people, and in which all his earthly ministers should strive to imitate him. It has been well said that Christ bears his people on his shoul ders by his almighty power and efficacious atonement, and on his heart by his everlasting love. 30. Urim — Thummim; that is, lights and perfections: ac cording to some, these were no other than the precious gems themselves, through which God, by a supernatural lustre, manifested his will; others think that they were precious stones placed in the pouch of the breastplate, and used in consulting God's will. The whole subject is involved in obscurity. 31. Robe qfthe ephod; worn underneath the ephod. 32. The hole of it; the hole through which the head passed when it was put on. 33. Pomegranates; balls in the form of pomegranates, a species of fruit shaped like an apple. 34. A golden bell and a pomegranate; one after the other, alternately, round the hem of the robe. The bell was an emblem of pleasant sound, and the pomegranate of abundant fruitfulness ; indicating the duty of making a good profession, and abounding in fruits of holiness. 38. Bear the iniquity of the holy things; typically make atonement for their sins, and thus obtain forgiveness through the atonement of Christ. 41. Anoint them; in token of their dedication to the 36 l And thou shalt make a plato o/pure gold/ and grave upon it, like the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD. 37 And thou shalt put it on a blue lace,g that it , may be upon the mitre ; upon the fore-front of the mitre it shall be. 38 And it shall be upon Aaron's forehead, that Aaron may bear the iniquity of the holy things,1' which the children of Israel shall hallow in all their holy gifts ; and it shall be always upon his forehead, that they may be accepted before the Lord.1 39 IT And thou shalt embroider the coat of fine linen, and thou shalt make the mitre of fine linen, and thou shalt make the girdle of needle work.5 40 1 And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty .k 41 And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him ; and shalt anoint them,1 and consecrate them/ and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office.111 42 And thou shalt make them linen bi^eches," to cover their nakedness;* from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach.8 . 43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place;" that they bear not iniquity, and die :p it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him.q 23:11; Isa. 56:7; 60:7; Eph. 1:6; 1 Pet. 2:5. j Psa. 45:14. k ver. 2. leh. 29:7; 30:30; 40:15; Isa 61:1. t Heb. fill their hand, m Lev. 8; Heb. 5:4. n Lev. 16:4; Ezek. 44:18. 1 Heb. flesh of their nakedness. 5 Heb. be. ° ch. 20:26. P Lev. 5:1, 17; 20:19, 20; 22:9; Num. 9:13; 18:22. q ch. 27:21; Lev. 17:7. sacred office. Sanctify them; set them apart, and devote them to their work. 43. Bear not iniquity; do not commit sin, by neglecting divine directions, thus exposing themselves to divine judgments. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The high-priest, among the Jews, was a striking type of the Messiah, who, as a priest, entered the holy place -frith his blood, and obtained eternal redemption for his people. .Heb. 9:11, 12. 3. The ingenuity of men, their genius and judgment, their ability to plan, and their power to execute, all-come from God, and should all be devoted to his service. Jas. 1:17. 9, 12. Our great High-priest, of whom Aaron was a type, bears all his people upon his heart, presents then- wants before his Father, and will save to the uttermost all who come unto God through him, seeing he ever liv eth to make intercession for them. 1 Pet. 2 : 24 ; Heb. 7 : 25. 21. The names of all his people are in the Lamb's book of life ; he will never blot them out, but will acknowledge them as his redeemed people, before his Father and the holy angels. Rev. 3:5; Matt. 10 : 32. 30. All spiritual illumination and perfection are in Jesus Christ, and he is able and willing to communicate accord ing to the wants of all who feel their need, and heartily apply to him. 38. Holiness to the Lord was the great and all-pervad ing characteristic of the Redeemer ; and it is his great design, by his word, his Spirit, and his providence, in all his dispensations to make his people like him. 1 Cor, 15:49; 1 John 3:2. 115 The consecration of EXODUS XXIX. Aaron and his sons. CHAPTER XXIX, 1 The sacrifice and ceremonies of consecrating the priests. 38 The continual hurnt-offering. 45 God's promise to dwell among the chil dren of Israel. AND this is the thing that thou shalt do unto them to hallow them/ to minister unto me in the priest's office : Take one young bullock, and two rams without blemish, 2 And unleavened bread/ and cakes unleavened tempered with oil, and wafers unleavened anointed with oil : of wheaten flour shalt thou make them. 3 And thou shalt put them into one basket, and bring them in the basket, with the bullock and the two rams. 4 And Aaron and his sons thou shalt bring unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and shalt wash them with water.0 5 And thou shalt take the garments/ and put upon Aaron the coat, and the robe of the ephod, and the ephod, and the breastplate, and gird him with the curious girdle of the ephod : 6 And thou shalt put the mitre upon his head, and put the holy crown upon the mitre. 7 Then shalt thou take the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.0 8 And1 thou shalt bring his sons, and put coats upon them.f 9 Ajid thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put* the bonnets on them : and the priest's office shall be theirs for a perpetual statute :g and thou shalt consecrate* Aaron and his sons. 10 And thou shalt cause a bullock to be brought before the tabernacle of the congregation; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the bullock.11 11 And thou shalt kill the bullock before the Lord, by the door of the tabernacle of the con gregation. 12 And thou shalt take of the blood of the bul lock,1 and put it upon the horns of the altar with thy finger, and pour all the blood beside the bot tom of the altar. 13 And thou shalt take all the fat that covereth .a Lev. 8:2, etc. b Lev. 2:4; 6:20-22. c ch. 30:19-21; 40:12; Lev. 8:6; Heb. 10:22; 1 Pet. 3.21. d 0h. 28:2-8 e Lev. 10:7; Psa. 133:2. ' <:h. 2-S:40, etc. * Heb. bind. S Num. 18:7 Heb. 5:4. t Heb. fill the hand of '. h Lav. 1:4; 3:2; 8:14; Isa. 53:0; 2 Cor. 5:21. i Lev. 8:15. 1 Or, midriff. CHAPTER XXIX. Aaron and his sons being sinners, it is necessary that they be first cleansed by washing and expiatory sacrifices, before they can minister to the Lord as his priests. Heb. 5:3. This typical cleansing represents the purity and holiness of the priestly office. The three different kinds of sacrifice — a sin-offering, a burnt-offering, and a peace- offering — signify the completeness of their consecration. 1. To hallow; set apart from secular to sacred duties. Without blemish; this was required in the case of every sacrifice. On the part of the offerer it signified his su preme love and devotion to God, Mal. 1:8; on the part of the -victim, it prefigured the perfection of Christ's sacri fice. 1 Pet. 1 : 19. 2. Wafers; thin cakes. 6. Holy crown; the plate of gold. Chap. 28:36, 37. 7. Anointing oil; an oil prepared with various spices. Chap. 30:23-33. 9. Tlie bonnets ; or turbans. Chap. 28:40. 116 the inwards, and the caul* that is above b.o.S the liver, and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and burn them upon the altar. 14 But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp :j it is a sin-offering. 15 1 Thou shalt also take one ram ; and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.k 16 And thou shalt slay the ram, and thou shalt take his blood, and sprinkle it round about upon the altar. 17 And thou shalt cut the ram in pieces, and wash the inwards of him, and his legs, and put them unto his pieces, and unto§ his head. 18 And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar : it is a burnt-offering unto the Lord : it is a sweet savor/ an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 19 1 And thou shalt take the other ram:"1 and Aaron and his sons shall put their hands upon the head of the ram.- 20 Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about." 21 And thou shalt take of the blood that is upon the altar, and of the anointing oil/ and sprinkle it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon the garments of his sons with him : and he shall be hallowed, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him. 22 Also thou shalt take of the ram the fat and the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidueys, and the* fat that is upon them, and the right shoul der ; for it is a ram of consecration. 23 And one loaf of bread, and one cake of oiled bread, and one wafer out of the basket of the un leavened bread that is before the Lord. 24 And thou shalt put all in the hands of Aaron, and in the hands of his sons ; and shalt wave them " for a wave-offering before the Lord.p JLev. 4:11. 13; Heb. 13:11. kver.10. § Or, upon. 1 Gen. 8:21 ; Eph. 5:2; Phil. 4:18.' m ver. 3. n Lev. 8:24; Heb. 9:22. ° ch. 30:25, etc. 1 Heb. sliake to and fro. p Lev. 7:30. 10. Put their liands upon the head of the bullock ; this ex pressed their conviction of guilt, and their hope that through the shedding of the blood of that victim, point ing forward to the blood of Christ, they should receive pardon. 12. The horns of the altar ; chap. 27 : 2. 18. Burn the whole; denoting the necessity of an entire consecration of the whole man to God, as well as the ne cessity of an atonement, in order to salvation. 19. The other ram; this was a peace-offering, on the flesh of which the offerer and his friends feasted, after the breast and right shoulder had been given to the priests. Lev. 7 : 28-34. On the present occasion, Moses, as performing the priestly office, received for his portion the breast, ver. 26. 20. Tip of the right ear — thumb — toe; this signified the completeness of their expiation and consecration. 24. Wave them ; move them to and fro. This, as well as heaving upward, was a sign that they were consecrated I to God. Consecration of the priests. EXODUS XXIX. The continual burnt-offering A. M. 2513. B. O. 1491 25 And thou shalt receive them of their hands, and burn them upon the altar for a burnt- offering, for a sweet savor before the Lord :a it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 26 And thou shalt take the breast of the ram of Aaron's consecration/ and wave it for a wave- offering before the Lord : and it shall be thy part. 27 And thou shalt sanctify the breast of the wave-offering/ and the shoulder of the heave-offer ing, which is waved, and which is heaved up, of the ram of the consecration, even of that which is for Aaron, and of that which is for his sons : 28 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' by a statute for ever from the children of Israel ; for it is a heave-offering: and it shall be a heave- offering from the children of Israel of the sacrifice of their peace-offerings, even their heave-offering unto the Lord. 29 And the holy garments of Aaron shall be his sons' after him, to be anointed therein, and to be consecrated in them.11 30 And that son* that is priest in his stead shall put them on seven days/ when he cometh into the tabernacle of the congregation to minister in the holy place. 311 And thou shalt take the ram of the conse cration, and seethe his flesh in the holy place. 32 And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket/ by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 33 And they shall eat those things wherewith tlie atonement was made/ to consecrate and to sanctify them : but a stranger shall not eat thereof^ because they are holy. 34 And if aught of the flesh of the consecrations, or of the bread, remain unto the morning, then thou shalt burn the remainder with fire:1 it shall not be eaten, because it is holy. 35 And thus shalt thou do unto Aaron, and to his sons, according to all things which I have a Vr r. 13. b Lev. 8 29. c Num.' 18 II. 18; Deut 18:3. d Num. 18:8. •Heb. he of his sons. • 1, ev. 8:35; 9:1 . 1 ver. 2 .3, 23. B Lev. 1(1:13-13: John 6 : 51. oo. h Lev 2- .11 i Lev 7: 8; 8:: 2. 1 Eze k 43:27; Heb 10:11. k ch. 30 26-29, 40 10 1 ch. 30:29 Matt 23:19. a Num. 28 :3, 4; 27, 28. Shalt sanctify the breast qfthe wave-offering; these two verses contain a general direction respecting all peace-offerings. The breast was waved and the shoulder heaved, and both went to the priests as their portion. On the signification of the different sacrifices see, in Leviticus, chap. 1-7. 30. That son ; the one who should succeed his father in the high-priest's office. When he cometh; before he should be permitted to discharge the duties of high-priest. 31. The ram of the consecration; the second ram, men tioned ver. 19-26. 33. Eat those things wherewith the atonement was made; denoting the necessity of union to Him by whom it was made. Matt. 26:26; John 6:53-55; 1 Cor. 6:17. 36. Sanctify it ; set it apart to the worship of God. 37. For the altar; upon it. Holy; devoted to God. Matt. 23:19; 38. Continually; each day. This is the morning and evening sacrifice, which was offered every day from year to year. 40. A tenth-deal; one tenth of an ephah. The ephah being about thirty-four and two-thirds quarts, a tenth- deal would be a little less than three quarts and a half; and a hin, which, according to the Jews, was the sixth part of an ephah, a little less than six quarts. commanded thee : seven days shalt thou conse crate them. 36 And thou shalt offer every day a bullock for a sin-offering for atonements and thou slialt cleanse the altar, when thou hast made an atone ment for it, and thou shalt anoint it, to sanctify it.k 37 Seven days thou shalt make an atonement for the altar, and sanctify it; and it shall be an altar most holy : whatsoever toucheth the altar shall be holy.1 38 1 Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar:"1 two lambs of the first year day by day continually. 39 The one lamb thou shalt offer in the morn ing ; and the other lamb thou shalt offer at even : 40 And with the one lamb a tenth-deal of flour mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil ; and the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink-offering. 41 And the other lamb thou shalt offer at even, and shalt do thereto according to the meat-offer ing of the morning, and according to the drink- offering thereof, for a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 42 This shall be a continual burnt-offering through out your generations at the door of the taberna cle of the congregation before the Lord, where I will meet you/1 to speak there unto thee. 43 And there I will meet with the children of Isra el, and thetabernaclef shall be sanctified by my glory.0 44 And 1 will sanctify the tabernacle of the congregation, and the altar: I will sanctify also both Aaron and his sons, to minister to me in the priest's office. 45 And I will dwell among the children of Is rael/ and will be their God. 46 And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, that brought them forth out of the land of Egypt/ that I may dwell among them : I am the Lord their God. lChr.l6:40 2 Chr. 2 4; 31 3; Ezra3:3; Dan 9:21 ,27 ; 12: ll;.Iohnl:29 ;Rev. 5:9-12. "ch. 25:22 30:0 36; Num 17 :4. t Or, Israel. °cli. 40:31; 2 Chr 5:14; 7 1-3 Ezek. 43:5; Haz. 2^7 9; Ma . 3: . p ch 25:8; Lev. 26:12; Psa.. 68 18; Zech 2 10; John 14.17, 20 20 jr. 6 16 Ke\ .21:3. qch 20:2. 42. A continual burnt-offering ; representing their con tinual need of the constant efficacy of the atonement, righteousness, and intercession of Christ. 45. Dwell among the children of Israel; by his continual presence in the shekinah, or visible glory, on the merc}'- seat, where he was worshipped, and from which he made known his will. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. It is the will of God that those who minister in holy things, making known the will of God and leading the devotions of his people, should not only be called of him, but should be publicly set apart to their work. 10. Ministers of religion, as well as their people, are sinners, and need pardon through the atonement of Christ and the purifying influences of his Spirit, in order rightly to discharge their duties. 18. The evidence of genuine repentance for sin, faitli in Christ, and pardon through his atonement, is sincere and hearty consecration of body and soul to his service. 28. The effects of reconciliation to God are peace and communion with him, access to his mercy-seat, and graco to help in all times of need. 33. Continued union to Christ, by habitual trust in him, not only for pardon, but for wisdom, strength, consolation, 111 The altar of incense. EXODUS XXX. The brazen laver. CHAPTER XXX. 1 The altar of incense. 11 The ransom of souls. 17 The brazen laver. 22 The holy anointing oil. 34 The composition of the perfume. AND thou shalt make an altar to burn incense upon:a of shittim-wood shalt thou make it. 2 A cubit shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof; foursquare shall it be, and two cubits shall be the height thereof: the horns thereof shall be of the same. 3 And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold/ the top* thereof, and the sides+ thereof round about, and the horns thereof ; and thou shalt make unto it a crown of gold round about. 4 And two golden rings shalt thou make to it under the crown of it, by the two corners* there of, upon the two sides of it shalt thou make it; and they shall be for places for the staves to bear it withal. 5 And thou shalt make the staves of shittim- wood/ and overlay them with gold. 6 And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony/ before the mercy- seat that is over the testimony/ where I will meet with thee. 7 And Aaron shall burn thereon sweet incense8 every morning :f when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. 8 And when Aaron lighteth1 the lamps at even/ he shall burn incense upon it, a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. 9 Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon/ nor burnt-sacrifice, nor meat-offering; neither shall ye pour drink-offering thereon. 10 And Aaron shall make an atonement upon the horns of it once in a year with the blood of the sin-offering of atonements;11 once in the year shall he make atonement upon it throughout your generations : it is most holy unto the Lord. 11 IT And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 12 "When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number/1 then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord/ when thou numberest them ; that there be k£ um. no plague among them,k when thou numberest them . 13 This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary : (a shekel is twenty gerahs :) a half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord. 14 Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord. 15 The rich shall not give more/ and the poor shall not give less/ than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atone ment for your souls. 16 And thou shalt take the atonement-money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. 17 1 And the Lord spake tin to Moses, saying, 18 Thou shalt also make a laver of brass/ and his foot also of brass, to wash withal: and thou shalt put it between the tabernacle of the congre gation and the altar, and thou shalt put water therein. 19 For Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet thereat.1" 20 When they go into the tabernacle of the con gregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not ; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the Lord. 21 So they shall wash their hands and their feet, that they die not: and it shall be a statute for ever to them, even to him and to his seed throughout their generations. 22 1 Moreover the Lord spake unto Moses, say ing. • . . , . 23 Take thou also unto thee principal spices, of pure myrrh five hundred shekels,1' and of sweet cinnamon half so much, even two hundred and »Cb 37:25. b ch 25:11 • Heb. roof. t Heb. walls. t Heb. ribs . c ch. 25:13. d ch. 26 31 ; 40:3; Matt. 2 7:51; Heb. 9:3. e ch. 25:21. 5 Heb. incense of spices. f ver. 34 1 Sam. 2:28 1 Chr. 23:13 Luke 1:9. II Heb. caaseth to ascend, or setteth up. U Heb. between the two evens, s Lev. 10:1. and all needed good, is essential to progress in holiness and preparation for heaven. 42. Habitual acknowledgment of God as the author of all good, and daily supplication to him for the blessings which we need for ourselves, our friends, and all our fel low-men, are the duty of all. They are also a privilege, the enjoyment of which should not be sacrificed for any worldly good. CHAPTER XXX. 3. A crown; cornice or border. 6. The veil; which separated the holy from the most holy place, so that the altar stood directly over against the ark of the covenant, being separated from it by the veil. 7. Sweet incense; this represented the prayers of God's people made acceptable by the intercession of Christ, Rev. 8:3, 4, as the burnt-offering did his atonement. 9. Strange incense ; other than that prescribed, ver. 34-38. 10. Once in a year; on the great day of atonement. Lev. 16:18; 23 : 27, 28. Shall — make atonement ; this showed that atonement was necessary, in order to the efficacy of in tercession. 12. The-sum; the census; their number. A ransom for 118 xj b Lev. 16:18; 23:27; Heb. 9:7, 25. " Heb. them that are to be numbered. ' Num. 1:2; 26:2. j Num. 31:50. i 2 Sam. 24:2-15. t Heb. multiply. I Heb. diminish. 1 ch. 3S:8; 1 Kings 7:38. m Psa. 26:6. ¦> Psa. 45:8. his soul; a tribute paid to God for the preservation and blessings of life, and for the support of divine worship. 13. Haifa shekel; in value about twenty -five cents. 15. Not give more — not give less; teaching that before God the rich and poor are of equal worth, and equally need the same atonement. 16. That it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel; more literally, " that it may be to the children of Israel for a memorial before the Lord ;" that is, that it may re mind God in their behalf, Gen. 9 : 16, of the ransom they have paid for their souls. To make an atonement for your souls; so that God shall send no plague among them. Ver. 12. 18. A laver; large bowl or basin. 20. Wash with water; an emblem of the purifying influ ences of the Holy Ghost. 23. Principal spices; of the purest and most precious kind. Fivenundred shekels; the shekel has been estimated at from ten to ten and three quarters pennyweights. Five hundred shekels would then be from about nineteen to twenty-two and a third pounds, troy weight; or, from a little less than sixteen, to about eighteen and a half pounds, avoirdupois. The holy ointment and perfume. EXODUS XXXI. Bezaleel and Aholiab called. b.'c!'i!1l fifty ' shekels, and of sweet calamus two hundred and fifty shekels, 24 And of cassia five hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, and of oil-olive a hin : . 25 And thou shalt make it an oil of holy oint ment, an ointment, compound after the art of the apothecary:* it shall be a holy anointing oil.a 26 And thou shalt anoint the tabernacle of the congregation therewith/ and the ark of the tes timony. 27 And the table and all his vessels, and the can dlestick and his vessels, and the altar of incense, 28 And the altar of burnt-offering with all his vessels, and the laver and his foot. 29 And thou shalt sanctify them, that they may be most holy : whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.c 30 And thou shalt anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. 31 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, This shall be a holy anointing oil unto me throughout your generations. 32 Upon man's flesh shall it not be poured, neither shall ye make any other like it, after the composition of it : it is holy, and it shall be holy unto you.4 33 Whosoever compoundeth any like it, or who soever putteth any of it upon a stranger, shall even be cut off from his people. 34 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take unto thee sweet spices/ stacte, and onycha, and galba- num; these sweet spices with pure frankincense: of each shall there be a like weight: 35 And thou shalt make it a perfume, a confec tion after the art of the apothecary, tempered+ together, pure and holy : 36 And thou shalt beat some of it very small, and put of it before the testimony in the taberna cle of the congregation, where I will meet with thee : f it shall be unto you most holy. 37 And as for the perfume which thou shalt • Or, perfumer. » Psa. 89:20. b 0h. 40:9; Lev. 8:10. <: ch. 29:37. d ver. 38. e ver. 23; 1 Chr. 9:29, 30. t Heb. salted; Lev. 2:13. f ch. 29:42; Lev. 16:2. B ver. 33. b Isa. 45:3, 4. > 1 Chr. 2:20. j ch. 35:31; 25. The apothecary; perfumer, or maker of ointments. 30. Anoint Aaron and his sons ; in token of the necessity of their being endued with the Holy Spirit, to fit them for their duties. 32. Upon man's flesh; the flesh of men who were not priests. 34. Stacte — onycha, and galbanum; fragrant spices or gums. Some, however, suppose onycha to be a species of shell which, when burnt, yields a strong odor. 35. Confection; mixture, to burn on the altar of incense. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. In the Mosaic ritual we are continually reminded of the priesthood, sacrifice, and intercession of Christ, through the incense of whose merits alone our prayers can ascend with acceptance before God. 8. Our need of Christ's intercession is constant; and day by day, morning and evening, continually our suppli cations should ascend before him as incense, and the lift ing up of our hearts in prayer and praise as our habitual sacrifice. Heb. 13:15. 16. A portion of what God has given us should be gratefully devoted to the support of his worship, as a make, ye shall not make to yourselves according to the composition thereof: it shall be unto thee holy for the Lord. 38 Whosoever shall make like unto that, to smell thereto, shall even be cut off from his people." CHAPTER XXXI. 1 Bezaleel and Aholiab are called and made meet for the work of the tabernacle. 12 The observation of the sabbath is again commanded. 18 Moses receiveth the two tables. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 See, I have called by name11 Bezaleel the son of Uri/ the son of Hur, of the tribe of Ju dah: 3 And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in know ledge, and in all manner of workmanship/ 4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of work manship. 6 And I, behold, I have given with him Aho liab,1' the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan : and in the hearts of all that are wise-hearted I have put wisdom/ that they may make all that I have commanded thee:m 7 The tabernacle of the congregation, and the ark of the testimony, and the mercy-seat that is thereupon, and all the furniture* of the taber nacle, 8 And the table and his furniture, and the pure candlestick with all his furniture, and the altar of incense, 9 And the altar of burnt-offering with all his furniture, and the laver and his foot, 10 And the clothes of service, and the holy gar ments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office, 11 And the anointing oil, and sweet incense for the holy place: according to all that I have com manded thee shall they do. 1 Kings 3:9; 7:14. k ch. 35:34. 1 Prov. 2:6, 7. m chs. 37, 38; Num. ch. 4; 1 Kings chs. 6, 7, 8; 2 Chr. chs. 3, 4; Ezek. ch. 43. t Heb. vessels. memorial of his goodness and a testimony of our obliga tions for all the blessings of his providence and grace. 21. Purity of heart and life is as needful as the pardon of sin ; and for it we should look habitually to the Holy Spirit, the Author and Finisher of all that is spiritually good in the children of men. 31. All our services must be perfumed with the incense of Christ's merits, and be the fruit of his Spirit, working in us both to will and also to do, in order to be holy, or ascend before God with acceptance. John 15:5; Rev. 8:4. 38. While we rely on the atonement, righteousness, and intercession of Christ as the one only and all-sufficient Mediator, and look to his Spirit as the only Sanctifier, we should most carefully abstain from lookingto or depend ing on any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 4:12. CHAPTER XXXI. 6. Given with him; as his associate and assistant in making the tabernacle and its furniture, according to the pattern and directions which God had given to Moses. 119 The keeping of the Sabbath. EXODUS XXXII. A golden calf is made. 12 IT And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep:" for it is a* sign between me and you throughout your generations;6 that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you. 14 Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you.c Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death : for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. d 15 Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy* to the Lord : whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath-day, he shall surely be put to death.6 16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. 17 It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever:f for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth/ and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.11 18 1 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai/ two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God. CHAPTER XXXII. 1 The people,. in the absence of Moses, cause Aaron to make a calf. 7 G-od is angered thereby. 11 At the entreaty of Moses he is appeas ed. 15 Moses cometh down with the tables. 19 He breaketh them. 20 He destroyeth the calf. 22 Aaron's excuse for himself. 25 Moses canseth the idolaters to be slain. 30 He prayeth for the people. AND when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount,5 the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and > Lev. 19:3, 30; 26:2. b Neh. 9:14; Ezek. 20:12, 20. <= ch. 20:8: Deut. 5:12; Isa. 53:13; Ezek. 44:24. ch. 25:8; Num. 7:9; Heb. 8:2. j ch. 35:25,26; lChr.29:5. *lCor.3:10. 12Chr.24:13. n> 2 Cor. 8:2, 3; Phil. 4:17, 18. n 2 Chr. 31-10. o ch. 26:1, etc. offerings may be equally acceptable. If there be a will ing mind, it is accepted according to what any one hath, and not according to what he hath not. Mark 12 : 43, 44 ; 2 Cor. 8:12. 34. Mechanical skill, as really as divine grace, men receive from God; but they can obtain and confer the benefits of neither without their own efforts. And both, to be accepted, must be employed in the service and to the glory of the Giver. CHAPTER XXXVI. 1. Then wrought; rather, and Bezaleel and Aholiab shall work. Accordingly Moses calls them, ver. 2, to this service. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Those who are intrusted with public contributions should conscientiously appropriate them to the objects for which they are given, and avoid both the reality and the appearance of employing any part of them for other purposes. 7. The hearts of men, and all their powers, are so under the control of God, that he can at any time lead them to devote any portion of what he gives them to his service, and make them instrumental, in such ways as he sees best, of advancing his cause. The curtains, boaran, and bars. EXODUS XXXVII. The veil, ark, and mercy-seat. roI'iml another: and the other five curtains he coupled one unto another. 11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of one curtain' from the selvedge in the coupling: likewise he made in the uttermost side of another curtain, in the coupling of the second. 12 Fifty loop3 made he in one curtain/ and fifty loops made he in the edge of the curtain which was in the coupling of the second : the loops held one curtain to another. 13 And he made fifty taches of gold, and coup led the curtains one unto another with the taches : so it became one tabernacle." 14 1 And he made curtains of goats' hair for the tent over the tabernacle :c eleven curtains he made them. 15 The length of one curtain was thirty cubits, and four cubits was the breadth of one curtain: the eleven curtains were of one size. 16 And he coupled five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves.. 17 And he made fifty loops upon the uttermost edge of the curtain in the coupling, and fifty loops made he upon the edge of the curtain which coup- leth the second. 18 And he made fifty taches of brass to couple the tent together, that it might be one. 19 And he made a covering for the tent of Tarns' skins dyed red/ and a covering of badgers' skins above that. 20 T And he made boards for the tabernacle6 of shittim-wood/ standing up. 21 The length of a board was ten cubits, and the breadth of a board one cubit and a half. 22 One board had two tenons, equally distant one from another: thus did he make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 23 And he made boards for the tabernacle; twenty boards for the south side southward : 24 And forty sockets of silver he made under the twenty boards ; two sockets under" one board for his two tenons, and two sockets under another board for his two tenons. 25 And for the other side of the tabernacle, which is toward the north corner, he made twenty boards, 26 And their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 27 And for the sides of the tabernacle westward he made six boards. 28 And two boards made he for the corners of the tabernacle in the two sides. 29 And they were coupled* beneath, and coupled together at the head thereof, to one ring : thus he did to both of them in both the corners. a 3h. 26:5. b 1 Cor. 12 20; Eph. 2:20-22; 1 Pet. 2:4, 5 . c ch 26:7. dch 26 14. e ch . 26:15. I ch . 25:5 10; Num. 25:1 Deut. 10:3. • Heb. twinned t Heb. two sockets. two sockets under one board. B ch. 26:26. bch 28:31; 30:0 Matt. 27 .51 Heb. 10:20. ¦ oh. 26:36. t Heb. the work CHAPTER XXXVII. 2. He overlaid it with pure gold ; some have supposed that this was done with thin plates, others that it was gilt. INSTRUCTIONS. As the dwelling of God in the tabernacle, and the sacri fices of his people, were preparatory to and emblematical 30 And there were eight boards ; and their sock ets were sixteen sockets of silver, under every board two sockets .+ 31 1 And he made bars of shittim-wood ;g five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 32 And five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle for the sides westward. 33 And he made the middle bar to shoot through the boards from the one end to the other. 34 And he overlaid the boards with gold, and made their rings of gold to be places for the bars, and overlaid the bars with gold. 35 1 And he made a veil of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen : with cherubim made he it of cunning work.h 36 And he made thereunto four pillars of shit tim-wood, and overlaid them with gold: their hooks were of gold ; and he cast for them four sockets of silver. 37 1 And he made a hanging for the tabernacle door of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen/ of needle-work ;*j 38 And the five pillars of it with their hooks ; and he overlaid their chapiters and their fillets with gold : but their five sockets were of brass. CHAPTER XXXVII. 1 The ark. 6 The mercy-seat with cherubim. 10 The table with his vessels. 17 The candlestick with his lamps and instruments. 25 The altar of incense. 29 The anointing oil and sweet incense. AND Bezaleel made the ark of shittim-wood :k two cubits and a half was the length of it, and a cubit and a half the breadth of it, and a cubit and a half the height of it : 2 And he overlaid it with pure gold within and withou t, and made a crown of gold to it round about. 3 And he cast for it four rings of gold, to be set by the four corners of it ; even two rings upon the one side of it, and two rings upon the other side of it. 4 And he made staves of shittim-wood, and over* laid them with gold. 5 And he put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, to bear the ark. 6 T And he made the mercy-seat of pure g'old :] two cubits and a half was the length thereof, and one cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 7 And he made two cherubim of gold,™ beaten out of one piece made he them, on the two ends of the mercy-seat ; 8 One cherub on§ the end on this side, and an other cherub on " the other end on that side : out of the mercy-seat made he the cherubim on the two ends thereof. 9 And the cherubim spread out their wings on of a needle-worker, or embroiderer, j Psa. 45:14. k ch. 25:10; 40:3, 21; Num. 10:33, 35. 1 ch. 25:17. m 1 Kings 6:23; Psa. 80:1. i Or, out of. I Or, out of._ of his tabernacling in human flesh, and by one offering of himself opening the treasures of his grace to mankind, every thing relating to them is recorded with minute ex actness, and the fact carefully stated that all was done ac cording to the pattern shown to Moses in the mount ; thus indicating that redemption is peculiarly the work of God, and reflecting special honor on Christ as Redeemer. 12? The table, candlestick, and altars. EXODUS XXXVIII. The. laver, and the court. high/ and covered with their wings over the mercy- seat, with their faces one to another ; even to the mercy-seat-ward were the faces of the cherubim.b 10 T And he made the table of shittim-wood :c two cubits was the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof: 11 And he overlaid it with pure gold, and made thereunto a crown of gold round about. 12 Also he made thereunto a border of a hand breadth round about ; and made a crown of gold for the border thereof round about. 13 And he cast for it four rings of gold, and put the rings upon the four corners that were in the four feet thereof. 14 Over against the border were the rings, the places for the staves to bear the table. 15 And he made the staves of shittim-wood, and overlaid them with gold, to bear the table. 16 And he made the vessels which were upon the table, his dishes, and his spoons, and his bowls, and his covers to cover withal,* o/pure gold." 17 1 And he made the candlestick of pure gold •" of beaten work made he the candlestick; his shaft, and his branch, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, were of the same : 18 And six branches going out of the sides thereof; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side thereof, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side thereof: 19 Three bowls made after the fashion of al monds in one branch, a knop and a flower ; and three bowls made like almonds in another branch, a knop and a flower : so throughout the six branch es going out of the candlestick. 20 And in the candlestick were four bowls made like almonds, his knops, and his flowers : 21 And a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, and a knop under two branches of the same, according to the six branches going out of it. 22 Their knops and their branches were of the same : all of it was one beaten work o/pure gold. 23 And he made his seven lamps, and his snuff ers, and his snuff-dishes, o/pure gold. 24 Of a talent of pure gold made he it, and all the vessels thereof. 25 T And he made the incense-altar of shittim- wood:'' the length of it was a cubit, and the breadth of it a cubit ; it was foursquare ; and two cubits was the height of it ; the horns thereof were of the same. 26 And he overlaid it with pure gold, both the top of it, and the sides thereof round about, and the horns of it : also he made unto it a crown of gold round about. 27 And he made two rings of gold for it under the crown thereof, by the two corners of- it, upon a Gen. 3:24; Isa. 6:2; Ezek. ch. 10. b ch. 25:20. « ch. 25:23; 35:13; 40-4, 22; Ezek. 40:39; Mal. 1:12. * Or, to pour out withal, d ob. 25:29; 2 Tim. 2:20. « ch. 25:31; 40:24,25; 1 Chr. 26:15; 2 Chr. 13:11; Zech. 4:2, 11; Heb. 9:2; Rev.l:12,20; 2:1,5. 'ch.30:l; 40:27; Lukel:9,10; Rev. CHAPTER XXXVIII. 1. The altar; chap. 27:1-8. 8. The laver; chap. 30:18-21. Looking-glasses; mirrors 128 the two sides thereof, to be places for the %% S staves to bear it withal. 28 And he made the staves of shittim-wood, and overlaid them with gold. 29 1 And he made the holy anointing oil/ and the pure incense of sweet spices/1 according to the work of the apothecary. CHAPTER XXXVIII. 1 The altar of burnt-offering. 8 The laver of brass. 9 The court. 21 The sum of that the people offered. AND he made the altar of burnt- offering of shittim-wood:' five cubits was the length thereof, and five*cubits the breadth thereof; it was foursquare ; and three cubits the height thereof. 2 And he made the horns thereof on the four corners of it ; the horns thereof were of the same : and he overlaid it with brass. 3 And he made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, and the shovels, and the basins, and the flesh- hooks, and the fire-pans: all the vessels thereof made he of brass. 4 And he made for the altar a brazen grate of network, under the compass thereof, beneath unto the midst of it. 5 And he cast four rings for the four ends of the grate of brass, to be places for the staves. 6 And he made the staves of shittim-wood, and overlaid them with brass. 7 And he put the staves into the rings on the sides of the altar, to bear it withal; he made the altar hollow with boards. 8 T And he made the laver of brass/ and the foot of it of brass, of the looking-glasses* of the women assembling/ which assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 9 IT And he made the court :k on the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, a hundred cubits : 10 Their pillars were twenty, and their brazen sockets twenty ; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver. 11 And for the north side the hangings were a hundred cubits, their pillars were twenty, and their sockets of brass twenty; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 12 And for the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver. 13 And for the east side eastward fifty cubits. 14 The hangings of the one side of the gate were fifteen cubits ; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 15 And for the other side of the court gate, on this hand and that hand, were hangings of fifteen cubits ; their pillars three, and their sockets three. 16 All the hangings of the court round about were of fine twined linen. 8:3,4. sch. 30:23; Psa. 23:5; 92:10; Isa. 61:1, 3. h0h. 30:34. ich. 37:1. j ch. 30:18. t Or, brazen glasses, t Heb. assembling by troops, k ch. 27:9; 40:8, 33; 1 Kings 6:36; Psa. 84:2, 10. of polished metal. Which assembled; for religious pur poses, and to unite in the worship of God. 9. Tlie court; chap. 27.: 9. The sum of the offerings. EXODUS XXXIX. The holy garments. bo'h9i3' 17 And the sockets for the pillars were of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets of silver ; and the overlaying of their chapiters of silver ; and all the pillars of the court were fillet ed with silver. 18 And the hanging for the gate of the court was needle-work, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen :a and twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, answerable to the hangings of the court. 19 And their pillars were four, and their sockets of brass four ; their hooks of silver, and the over laying of their chapiters and their fillets of silver. 20 And all the pins of the tabernacle, and of the court round about, were o/brass.b 21 1 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony/ as it was counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar/ son to Aaron the priest. 22 And Bezaleel the son of Uri/ the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that the Lord commanded Moses. 23 And with him was Aholiab/ son of Ahisa- mach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a cun ning workman, and an embroiderer in blue, and in purple, and in scarlet, and fine linen. 24 All the gold that was occupied for the work in all the work of tlie holy place, even the gold of the offering, was twenty and nine talents-; and seven hundred and thirty shekels/ after the shekel of the sanctuary.11 25 And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was a hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred and threescore and fifteen shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary : 26 A bekah for every man,* that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered/ from twenty years old and upward/ for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty men. 27 And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil;k a hundred sockets of the hundred talents, a talent for a socket. 28 And of the thousand seven hundred seventy and five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, and overlaid their chapiters, and filleted them.1 29 And the brass of the offering was seventy tal ents, and two thousand and four hundred shekels. a 2 Chr. 3:14. b ch. 27:19; 2 Chr. 3:9; Ezra 9 S; Isa 22 23. » Num. 1 50,53; 9:15; 0:11; 17:7 K; 18:2; 2 Chr 24:0; Acts 7:44 Rev. 11:19. d Num. 4: •i8, 33 e ch 31: , o 35:31 . 'ch . 35:3< . el Chr 22: 14 ; 29:2, 18:16. 7 Hag. ¦- :8. b ch. 30 :13, 21 Lev. 5:15; 27:3, 25 ; Num. 3:47; 18. The height in the breadth ; the height of the gate, or entrance, was equal to the breadth of the curtain, or hang ing, which closed it. 21. The sum; enumeration or statement of the various articles for the tabernacle. 24. Talents — sliekels ; a shekel was half an ounce avoir dupois, and a talent equal to three thousand shekels, or ninety-three pounds and twelve ounces. In value, a shekel was about fifty cents, and a talent of silver about fifteen hundred dollars. A talent of gold was equal, it is sup posed, to about twelve times that amount. INSTRUCTIONS. 8. Religion has ever taken a strong and permanent hold 9 30 And therewith he made the sockets to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the brazen altar, and the brazen grate for it, and all the vessels of the altar, 31 And the sockets of the court round about, and the sockets of the court gate, and all the pins of the tabernacle, and all thepinsof the court round about. CHAPTER XXXIX. 1 The clothes of service and holy garments. 2 The ephod. 8 The breastplate. 22 The robe of the ephod. 27 The coats, mitre, and girdle of fine linen. 30 The plate of the holy crown. 32 All is viewed and approved by Moses. AND of the blue, and purple, and scarlet,™1 they made clothes of service, to do service in tlie holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron ;n as the Lord commanded Moses.0 2 And he made the ephod o/gold, blue, and pur ple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.p 3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and iu the fine linen, with cunning work. 4 They made shoulder-pieces for it, to couple it to gether : by the two edges was it coupled together. 5 And the curious girdle of his ephod, that was upon it, was of the same, according to the work thereof; o/gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen ; as the Lord commanded Moses. 6 IT And they wrought onyx-stones inclosed in ouches of gold, graven, as signets are graven, with the names of the children of Israel."1 7 And he put them on the shoulders of the ephod, that they should be stones for a memorial to the chil dren of Israel ;r as the Lord commanded Moses. 8 H And he made the breastplate of cunning work, like the work of the ephod ; of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen.8 9 It was foursquare ; they made the breastplate double : a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being doubled. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones:' the first row was a sardius/ a topaz, and a carbuncle : this was the first row. 11 And the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. 12 And the third row, a ligure, an agate, and an amethyst. 13 And the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper: they were inclosed in ouches of gold in their inclosings. •Heb a poll. ich 30:13, 15. J Num. 1 :46 26:51 ken. 26:19-32 1 ch. 27:17. m ch 95-4 ¦ 35 :23. ¦> ch. 31:10 35 19. o ch. 2^ : 4 ; Kxek. 42 14 P ch. 28:6; Lev. f 7. q ch 23:9- 12. r ch. 28:29; Josh. 4:7. » ch. 28 15, etc. Rev. ¦> :19, 20. t Or ruby upon the heart of woman; and while it has greatly ele vated, adorned, and ennobled her character, increased her enjoyments, and extended her usefulness, it has been greatly promoted by her prayers, her example, her sacri fices, and her efforts. 24. However much property, at the direction of God, is devoted to the promotion of his glory, in the establish ment and support of his worship, instead of being lost, as many suppose, it is employed to the greatest advantage, both to the possessors and to the world. CHAPTER XXXIX. 2-31. The high-priest's dress. Chap. 28. 129 The breastplate, robe, and mitre. EXODUS XL. The tabernacle completed. 14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve/ according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one with his name, according to the twelve tribes. 15 And they made upon the breastplate chains at the ends, of wreathen work of pure gold. 16 And they made two ouches o/gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings in the two ends of the breastplate. 17 And they put -the two wreathen chains of gold in the two rings on the ends of the breastplate." 18 And the two ends of the two wreathen chains they fastened in the two ouches, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, before it. 19 And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, upon the border of it, which was on the side of the ephod inward. 20 And they made two otlier golden rings, and put them on the two sides of the ephod under neath, toward the forepart of it, over against the otlier coupling thereof, above the curious girdle of the ephod. 21 And they did bind the breastplate by his rings unto the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be above the curious girdle of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod ; as the Lord commanded Moses. 22 1 And he made the robe of the ephod of wo ven work, all of blue.0 23 And there was a hole in the midst of the robe, as the hole of a habergeon, with a band round about the hole, that it should not rend. 24 And they made upon the hems of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. 25 And they made bells o/pure gold/ and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the hem of the robe/ round about between the pomegranates ; 26 A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pome granate, round about the hem of the robe to min ister- m; as the Lord commanded Moses. 27 If And they made coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons/' 28 And a mitre of fine linen/ and goodly bonnets o/fine linen, and lineii breeches o/fine twined linen/1 29 And a girdle q/"fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, of needle-work ; as the Lord commanded Moses.' 30 IF And they made the plate of the holy crown o/pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like to the engravings of a signet, HOLINESS TO THE LORD/ 31 And they tied unto it a lace of blue, to fasten » Rev. 21:12. b Cant. 1:10. c ch. 23:31. d ch. 23:33. ' Cant. 4:13. I ch. 23:39, 40. B ch. 28:4, 39. b ch. 23:42; Ezek. 44:18. i ch. 28:39. ) Zech. 14:20. k ver. 42, 43; ch. 25:40; Deut. 12:32; 1 Sam. 15:22; 1 Chr. 21:19; Matt. 23:20; Heb. 8:5. ' Heb. the incense of sweet spices. 1 ch. 37. To be set in order ; or, arranged in order, that is, in a row. INSTRUCTIONS. 32. When numbers unite earnestly and perseveringly in a good work, much, with the blessing of God, may be accomplished in a short time. 42. When things are undertaken and accomplished ac cording to the directions of God, they will be done in the best manner. 43. When others have done well we should show our- 130 it on high upon the mitre; as the Lord u^kfm. commanded Moses. 32 T Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished ; and the chil dren of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they.k 33 1 And they brought the tabernacle unto Mo ses, the tent, and all his furniture, his taches, his boards, his bars, and his pillars, and his sockets ; 34 And the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of badgers' skins, and the veil of the covering; 35 The ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the mercy-seat ; 36 The table, and all the vessels thereof, and the show-bread ; 37 The pure candlestick, with the lamps thereof, even with the lamps to be set in order, and ali the vessels thereof, and the oil for light; 38 And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense/ and the hanging for the tabernacle door ; 39 The brazen altar, and his grate of brass, his staves, and all his vessels, the laver and his foot ; 40 The hangings of the court, his pillars, and his sockets, and the hanging for the court gate, his cords, and his pins, and all the vessels of the service of the tabernacle, for the tentof the congregation ; 41 The clothes of service to do service in the holy place, and the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and his sons' garments, to minister in the priest's office.1 42 According to all that the Lord commanded Moses/" so the children of Israel made all the work. 43 And Moses did look upon all the work, and behold, they had done it as the Lord had com manded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them." CHAPTER XL. 1 The tabernacle is commanded to be reared, 9 and anointed. 13 Aaron and his sons to be sanctified. 16 Moses performeth all things accord ingly. 31 A cloud covereth the tabernacle. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 On the first day of the first month shalt thou set up the tabernacle of the tent of the con gregation.0 3 And thou shalt put therein the ark of the tes timony, and cover the ark with the veil. 4 And thou shalt bring in the table, and set in order + the things that are to be set in order upon it;p and thou shalt bring in the candlestick, and light the lamps thereof. 31:10. m ch. 35:10. n Gen. 14:19; Lev. 9:22, 23: Num. 6:23-27; Josh. 22:11; 2 Sam. 0:18; 1 Kings 8:14; 2 Chr. 30:27; Neh. 11:2; Luke 2:34. o ver. 17; ch. 12:2; 13:4; Num. 7:1. t Heb. the order thereof, p Lev. 24 :S. selves pleased, ask God to bless them, and give to him the glory. CHAPTER XL. 2. Thefirstdayofthefirstmonlh; they started from Egypt on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the fiftieth day after, the law was given from mount Sinai ; and Moses was eighty days in the mount. A number of other things were done, and several delays occasioned, which must have occupied about six months, before the tabernacle The tabernacle is set up. EXODUS XL. The cloud covereth it. b.'cI'iwi3' 5 And thou shalt set the altar of gold for the incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the hanging of the door to the tabernacle. 6 And thou shalt set the altar of the burnt-offer ing before the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation. 7 And thou shalt set the laver between the tent of the congregation and the altar/ and shalt put water therein. 8 And thou shalt set up the court round about, and hang up the hanging at the court gate. 9 And thou shalt take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle/ and all that is therein, and shalt hallow it, and all the vessels thereof: and it shall be holy. 10 And thou shalt anoint the altar of the burnt- offering, and all his vessels, and sanctify the altar : and it shall be an altar most holy.*0 1 1 And thou shalt anoint the laver and his foot, and sanctify it. 12 And thou shalt bring Aaron and his sons unto the door of the tabernacle of the congrega tion, and wash them with water.3 13 And thou shalt put upon Aaron the holy gar ments, and anoint him/ and sanctify him ;f that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. 14 And thou shalt bring his sons, and clothe them with coats: 15 And thou shalt anoint them as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office : for their anointing shall surely be an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations^ 16 Thus did Moses: according to all that the Lord commanded him, so did he. 17 IT And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.11 18 And Moses reared up the tabernacle, and fas tened his sockets, and setup the boards thereof, and put in the bars thereof, and reared up his pillars. 19 And he spread abroad the tent over the tab ernacle, and put the covering of the tent above upon it ; as the Lord commanded Moses. 20 T And he took and put the testimony into the ark/ and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy-seat above upon the ark :j 21 And he brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the covering/1 and covered > Ver. 30; ch. 30:18. b ch 30:26. • Heb. holiness of holine sses. ' ch. 29:36 37. d Lev. 3:1-13. e ch. 23:41; im . 61 : 1 ; 1 John 2:20. 'John 17:19 s I> am. 25 :13; Psa. 110:4; Heb 7: 17-24. h ver. 2; Num. 7:1. i r.h. 25:16. j ch. 37:6-9. k ch. 26:33 35 : 12. 1 ver. 4. rn ch. 26:35. n ver. 4; ch 25:37. o ch. 30:7. p ver. 0; ch. 27:1,2. q ver. 7 ch 30:18. was begun. As the first day of the first month would make a year from the time they left Egypt wanting fifteen days, they were probably employed not far from six months in preparing the tabernacle. 17. In the second year; after their departure from Egypt. 20. The testimony; the tables containing the ten com mandments, that solemn testimony of God with regard to the duty of men. 21. The veil of the covering; that which covered or closed the entrance into the holy of holies, and thus prevented the ark from being seen, except by the high-priest once a year. Chap. 30:10; Heb. 9:7. 32. As the Lord commanded; chap. 30:19-21, the ark of the testimony ; as the Lord commanded Moses. 22 1 And he put the table in the tent of the con gregation,1 upon the side of the tabernacle north ward,"1 without the veil. 23 And he set the bread in order upon it before the Lord ; as the Lord had commanded Moses. 24 T And he put the candlestick in the tent of the congregation, over against the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward. 25 And he lighted the lamps before the Lord ; as the Lord commanded Moses." 26 TT And he put the golden altar in the tent of the congregation before the veil : 27 And he burnt sweet incense thereon ; as the Lord commanded Moses.0 28 1 And lie set up the hanging at the door of the tabernacle. 29 And he put the' altar of burnt-offering by the door of the tabernacle of the tent of the congre gation, and offered upon it the burnt-offering and the meat-offering ; as the Lord commanded Moses. p 30 T And he set the laver between the tent of the- congregation and the altar, and put water there, to wash withal.'1 31 And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet thereat : 32 When they went into the tent of the congre gation, and when they came near unto the altar, they washed ; as the Lord commanded Moses/ 33 And he reared up the court round about the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the hanging of the court gate.8 So Moses finished the work. 34 IT Then a cloud covered the tent of the con gregation, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.' 35 And Moses was not able to enter into the tent of the congregation, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the taber nacle. 36 And when the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle/1 the children of Israel went on ward* in all their journeys : 37 But if the cloud were not taken up, then they journeyed not till the day that it was taken up.v 38 For the cloud of the Lord was upon the tab ernacle by day, and fire was on it by night,w in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. r ch. 30:19, 20; Psa. 73:13. "ver. 8; ch. 27:9, 16. t ch. 13:21,22; 29:43; 33:9; Lev. 16:2; Num. 9:15; 1 Kings 6:10; 2 Chr. 5:13; 7:2; Psa. 18:10- 12; Isa. 6:4; Ha». 2:7, 9; Rev. 15:8. u Neh. 9:19. t Heb. journeyed. v Psa. 31:15. w Tsa. 78:14; 105:39, Isa. 4:5. 33. The court; chap. 27:9-19. Finished the work; the work of preparing the tabernacle according to the pattern which God showed, and the directions he gave to Moses in the mount. 34. A cloud ; that in which Jehovah dwelt. The glory of tlie Lord ; the resplendent brightness which manifested his presence. 36. The cloud was taken up ; and moved forward in the way that they should go. Chap. 13: 21, 22 ; Num. 9 : 15-23 ; Neh. 9:19; Psa. 78:14; 105:39. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Tho return of the seasons is well adapted to remind 131 THE THIRD BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED LEVITICUS. Leviticus is so called from Levi, because the book is mainly occupied with the duties of the priests and Levites, who belonged to the tribe of Levi. It holds a most important place in the Pentateuch, since it contains specific directions for the various sacrifices, which formed the centre of the Mosaic ordinances, the priesthood of Aaron and his sons having been divinely appointed to prefigure the priesthood of Christ, who with his own blood made atonement for the sins of his people, and now intercedes for them at the right hand of God. Whatever belonged to the priestly and Levitical service — the different sacrifices and oblations ; the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood, with the various laws for its regula tion ; the death of Nadab and Abihu for violating a priestly ordinance ; the rules respecting ceremonial defilements and purifications, the plague of leprosy, incest, and the release of servants at the year of jubilee ; various other particulars that came under the supervision of the priests — this is all found in the book of Leviticus. Interspersed with these details are a few short historic notices. CHAPTER I. 1 The burnt-offerings, 3 of the herd, 10 of the flocks, 14 of the fowls. AND the Lord called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the con gregation/ saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering » Exod. 19:3: Num. 12:4,5. b ch. 22:13. " ch. 3:1; 22:20,21; Exod. 12:5; Deut. 15:'"21; Mal. 1:14; Luke 1:35; John 1:36; Eph. 5:27; Heb. us of the goodness of God, and our obligations to him for his mercies. And when, according to his will, we begin the year with devoutly acknowledging and adoring him, we may hope that whether we continue to its close in this world, or are removed to another, we shall still be happy in the service of God. 15 Such is the nature of men, and such the ways in which they are most usefully impressed, that the setting apart of particular places for public worship, and of par ticular men to conduct it, is suited to promote their high est good. 32. The doing of all things as the Lord commands, is the sure way of promoting his glory, and of obtaining his blessing. It is also the way to make our temporary so journ on earth a preparation for an eternal dwelling with God in heaven. 33. God's taking forty days to give directions about the tabernacle and its worship, and but six to create the world ; and his occupying many chapters of the Bible to describe the former, and but one to describe the latter, should increase our conviction of the superiority of re demption to creation, and lead us to regard principally not things seen and temporal, but things unseen and eternal. 38. All the preparation that was made to provide a dwelling-place for God, and institute his worship among the Israelites, the glory which filled the tabernacle, his guidance of them by the pillar of cloud and fire in all their journey through the wilderness, and his introduction of them into Canaan, prefigured his dwelling in human na ture and becoming the light of the world, that such as 132 unto the Lord/ ye shall bring your offer- ^; gj£ ing of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock. 3 If his offering be a burnt-sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish:0 he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord. 4 And he shall put his hand upon the head of 9:14; 1 Pet. 1:19. should follow him might be guided by his counsel and afterwards be received to glory. John 1:11; 8:12, Heb. 9:2-28. CHAPTER I. 1. Out of the tabernacle; the previous directions God gave to Moses from the mount ; the subsequent, from the tabernacle. 3. A burnt-sacrifice; all the sacrifices signified the expi ation of sin through the shedding of blood, Heb. 9:22; and since " it -is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins," Heb. 10:4, they typified the efficacious atonement of Christ's blood, Heb. 9:12-14. When he offered himself on Calvary for the sins of the world, the Levitical sacrifices ceased to have any further office. The first and most important sacrifice was the burnt-offering, which was wholly consumed on the altar, and is, for this reason, sometimes called a whole burnt- offering, Deut. 33:10; Psa.51:19. Onthepartof the offerer, this signified the entireness of his faith and devotion to God, and on the part of the sacrifice, the completeness of the expiation. Without blemish; this was required in all sacrifices. It indicated, on the offerer's part, that he gave to God the best he had ; and, on the part of the victim, the perfection of Jesus Christ, the great atoning sacrifice. Of his own voluntary will; or, that he may be accepted, as in Exod. 28 : 38, where the same word is used. 4. Put his hand upon tlie head of the burnt-offering; this also was required in the case of every sacrifice. Thus the offerer solemnly devoted it to God, and signified his Of tlie burnt-sacrifice. LEVITICUS II Of the meat-offerings. b."c!'S4' the burnt-offering ;" and it shall be accept ed for him" to make atonement for him.0 5 And he shall kill the bullock before the Lord : and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the con gregation.4 6 And he shall flay the burnt-offering, and cut it into his pieces. 7 And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire : 8 And the priests, Aaron's sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that w on the fire which is upon the altar : 9 But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water : and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt-sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord.0 10 IT And if his offering be of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt-sacrifice ; he shall bring it a male without blemish. 11 And he shall kill it on the side of the altar northward before the Lord : f and the priests, Aaron's sons, shall sprinkle his blood round about upon the altar. 12 And he shall cut it into his pieces, with his head and his fat : and the priest shall lay them in order on the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar: 13 But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burntfupon the altar : it is a burnt-sacrifice, an offer ing made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. 14 T And if the burnt-sacrifice for his offering to the Lord be of fowls, then he shall bring his offering of turtledoves, or of young pigeons.g 15 And the priest shall bring it unto the altar, »Ch. 3:2. 8,13 4:15; 8:14, bch 22; 16: 21; Exod. 29 10, 15, 19; Num. 8:12; Isa. 53:4-6; 2Coi . 5:21 22:21, 27; Isa. 56: ". c ch. 4 20, 26 9:7; 16:21; Num . 15:1 •.->; 2 Chr. 29 2,1 24 ; Heb. 10:4; 1 John 2:2 d ch .3:8; 2 Chr. 35:11 ; Isa. 52:15, Heb. 12: 24. e Gen. 8:21 Ezek. 20:23,41; Eph. desire that the death of the innocent victim might be a substitute for his own death. 6. Flay; take off the skin. 9. Wash in water; showing the necessity of internal purification. A sweet savor; acceptable to God, as pointing to the atonement of Christ. 11. Northward; the approach to the altar is supposed to have been from the south ; the ashes and refuse to have been cast on the east side, ver. 16 ; while the taber nacle stood on the west. This left the north side vacant. 14. Turtledoves; emblems of meekness, innocence, and purity. These were brought by the poor, who were not able to provide a more costly sacrifice. Compare chap. 5:7; 12:8. 17. Not divide it asunder; not entirely separate one part from the other. Chap. 5 : 8. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. We should be voluntary, cheerful, and hearty in all our offerings to God; for he looks upon the heart and loves a cheerful giver. 2 Cor. 9 : 7. 4. The great doctrine of atonement by the sufferings of the innocent for the guilty, has ever held a conspicuous place in the communications of God with men; and he has shown himself to be just, as well as merciful, in his bestowment of blessings upon them. 9. Purity of heart, as well as reliance on the atonement, is needful to acceptance with God. and wring off his head," and burn it on the altar ; and the blood thereof shall be wrung out at the side of the altar : 16 And he shall pluck away his crop with his feathers/ and cast it beside the altar" on the east part, by the place of the ashes. 17 And he shall cleave it with the wings thereof, but shall not divide it asunder:11 and the priest shall burn it upon the altar, upon the wood that is upon the fire : it is a burnt-sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord.1 CHAPTER II. 1 The meat-offering of flour with oil and incense, 4 either baken in the oven, 5 or on a plate, 7 or in a frying-pan, 12 or of the first-fruits in the ear. 13 The salt of the meat-offering. AND when any will offer a meat-offering unto the Lord/ his offering shall be of fine flour ; and he shall pour oil upon it; and put frankincense thereon. 2 And he shall bring it to Aaron's sons the priests : and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar/ to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord: 3 And the remnant of the meat-offering shall be Aaron's and his sons': it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. 4 T And if thou" bring an oblation of a meat offering baken in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, or unleavened wafers anointed with oil.1 5 IT And if thy oblation be a meat-offering baken in a pan/ it shall be of fine flour unleavened, min gled with oil. 6 Thou shalt part it in pieces, and pour oil thereon : it is a meat-offering. 5:2; Phil. 4:18. < Exod. 40:22; Ezek. 8:5. r ch. 5:7; 12:8; Luke 2:24. * Or, pinch off the head with ihe nail, t Or, the filth thereof, h Gen. 15: 10. i ver. 9, 13. } ch. 6:14; 9:17; Num. 15:4. k ver. 9; ch. 5:12; 24:7; Acts 10:4. 1 Exod. 29:2. t Or, on aflat plate, or slice. 13. The offering of innocent animals for guilty men typified the death of Christ for sinners, that God might be just and yet justify the ungodly. See the epistle to the Hebrews, a book which may be profitably read in connection with the books of Leviticus and Numbers. 17. The hearty offerings of the poor, though in the sight of men of small value, may through the atonement be. as acceptable to God as the most costly offerings of the rich, and may receive as great reward. CHAPTER II. 1. A meat-offering; meat, in the Bible, means any kind of food ; in this case, it means flour, and articles of food made of it. Of the burnt-offerings described in the pre ceding chapter, the whole was burnt with fire ; of the meat-offerings described in this chapter, a part, called the memorial, ver. 2, was burnt, and the rest was eaten by the priests, ver. 3. As the bloody offerings typified the expiation of sin through the blood of Christ, so these unbloody oblations signified that the offerer devoted him self and all that he had to God in holy love and obedience. From such oblations the priests had, in part at least, their maintenance. 2. Oil— frankincense ; emblems of the influences of tho Holy Spirit, and the acceptable intercession of Christ and the supplications of his people. Isa. 61:1 ; 1 John 2:27 ; Psa. 141:2; Rev. 8:3, 4. 4. Wafers; thin cakes. 133 The sacrifice of LEVITICUS III. the peace-offerhig. 7 T And if thy oblation be a meat-offering baken in the frying-pan, it shall be made o/fine flour with oil. 8 And thou shalt bring the meat-offering that is made of these things unto the Lord : and when it is presented unto the priest, he shall bring it unto the altar. 9 And the priest shall take from the meat-offer ing a memorial thereof, and shall burn it upon the altar : a it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. 10 And that which is left of the meat-offering shall be Aaron's and his sons' : it is a thing most holy of the offerings of the Lord made by fire. 11 No meatoffering which ye shall bring unto the Lord, shall be made with leaven :b for ye shall burn no leaven, nor any honey, in any offering of the Lord made by fire. 12 IT As for the oblation of the first-fruits, ye shall offer them unto' the Lord:0 but they shall not be burnt* on the altar for a sweet savor. 13 And every oblation of thy meat-offering shalt thou season with salt;d neither shalt thou suffer the salt of the covenant of thy God to be lacking from thy meat-offering: with all thine offerings thou shalt offer salt. 14 And if thou offer a meat-offering of thy first- fruits unto the Lord, thou shalt offer for the meat offering of thy first-fruits green ears of corn dried by the fire, even corn beaten out of full ears.0 15 And thou shalt put oil upon it, and lay frank incense thereon : it is a meat-offering. 16 And the priest shall burn the memorial of it, part of the beaten corn thereof, and part of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof: it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord. CHAPTER III. 1 The peace-offering of the herd, 6 of the flock, 7 either a lamb, 12 or a goat. ND if his oblation be a sacrifice of peace-offer ing/ if he offer it of the herd, whether it be A "Ch, 6:15. b cli. 0:17; Exod 12: ill, 20; Ma«. 10:11; Mark 8:13; Luke 12:1; 1 Cor. 5:0-8. c ch. 23:10, 11; Exod. 22:29. * Heb. ascend, d Num. Mark 9:49. e 2 Kings 4:42. f ch. 7:11, 13:10; Ezra 7:21. Ezek. 43:24 29; 22:21. S Num. 0:14; Mil. 1:B, 14; Heb. 10:22. h ch. 1:4, 5; 8:22; 11.. Wo leaven, nor — honey; leaven was an emblem of hypocrisy, and honey of sensual indulgence, both of which are offensive to God. 13. Salt; an emblem of purity, integrity, and perpetuity. Mark 9:49; Col. 4:6. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. God has ever required that a support be provided for his ministers. Under the Old Testament, he ordained that those who waited at the altar should be partakers with the altar ; and under the New, that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 1 Cor. 9 : 13, 14. 9. Christ, as our great High-priest and Intercessor, must present all our offerings perfumed with the incense of his merits, in order to have them rise with acceptance before God. Rev. 8:3, 4. 13. Pride, hypocrisy, and sinful indulgence of every sort must be avoided, and humility, sincerity, and self- denial assiduously cultivated, if wc would meet the ap probation and obtain the blessing of the Most High. 14. With the first-fruits of our time, talents, property, and all that we possess, God is well pleased; and our own highest interests, as well as his glory, will be pro moted by our devpting them to him. 134 a male or female, he shall offer it without tc'S blemish before the Lord." 2 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering,11 and kill it at the door of the taber nacle of the congregation : and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about. 3 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace- offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord ; the fat+ that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards,' 4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys,* it shall he take away. 5 And Aaron's sons shall burn it on the altar upon the burnt sacrifice, which is upon the wood that is on the fire :j it is an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. 6 1 And if his offering for a sacrifice of peace- offering uuto the Lord be of the flock, male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.k 7 If he offer a lamb for his offering, then shall he offer it before the Lord.1 8 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of his offering,™ and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation : and Aaron's sons shall sprinkle the blood thereof round about upon the altar. 9 And he shall offer of the sacrifice of the peace- offering an offering made by fire unto the Lord ; the fat thereof, and the whole rump, it shall he take off hard by the backbone;" and the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 10 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away.° 11 And the priest shall burn it upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire unto the Lord.p 12 1 And if his offering be a goat, then he shall offer it before the Lord. 10:21; Exod. 29.10. t Or, suet, i ch 4:8, 9; Exod. 29:13. 22. J Or, mid riff over the liver, and over the kidneys, j ch. 0:12; 2 Chr. 35:14; Ezek. 44:15. kver. 1. II Kings S:62. m ch. 4:4. 15, 24. n Exod. 29:22. o Ver. 4 Pch. 21:6, 22; Num. 28:i; Ezek. 41:7; Mal. 1:7, 12; 1 Cor. 10:21. CHAPTER III. 1. A sacrifice of peace-offering ; the Hebrew word trans lated peace-offering signifies a rendering or paying to God of that which is his due, with the accessory idea that thus the offerer comes into a state of peace and com munion with God. The peace-offerings were of three kinds : thank-offerings, voluntary offerings, and offerings upon the payment of vows. Chap. 7 : 11-16. Certain por tions only were burned on the altar ; the breast and the right shoulder were given to the priests, chap. 7:30-34; then the offerer and his friends feasted on the remain der : an expressive symbol of peace and communion with God through the blood of Christ, and of holy and joyous fellowship with each other. 2. Sprinkle the blood; typifying that blood which purifies the conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Heb. 9:11-14; 12:24. 5. Upon the burnt-sacrifice; the daily burnt-sacrifice, to consume which a fire was kept constantly burning upon the altar. Chap. 6:13. 9. Rump; it is generally agreed that the Hebrew word signifies the very large and fat tail of the eastern sheep. 11. The food; that part of the beast or offering which The sin-offering LEVITICUS IV. of ignorance. A. M. 25U h. c. uaa. 13 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of it, and kill it before the tabernacle of the congregation : and the sons of Aaron shall sprin kle the blood thereof upon the altar round about. 14 And he shall offer thereof his offering, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord ; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 15 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away. 16 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar : it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savor : all the fat is the Lord's." 17 It shall be a perpetual statute for your gener ations throughout all your dwellings," that ye eat neither fat nor blood.0 CHAPTER IV. 1 The sin-offering of ignorance, 3 for the priest, 13 for the congregation, 22 for the ruler, 27 for any of the people. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a soul shall sin through ignorance against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning thin-rs which ought not to be done, and shall do against any of them ; d 3 If the priest that is anointed do sin according to the sin of the people ; then let him bring for his sin, which he hath sinned, a young bullock without blemish unto the Lord for a sin-offering.e 4 And he shall bring the bullock unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord ; r and shall lay his hand upon the bullock's head, and kill the bullock before the Lord. 5 And the priest that is anointed shall take of the bullock's blood,5 and bring it to the tabernacle of ths congregation : 6 And the priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle of the blood seven times before the Lord," before the veil of the sanctuary. 7 And the priest shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar of sweet incense before »Ch. 7:23,25; 1 Sam. 2:15; 2 Chr. 7:7. b ch. 0:18; 7:36; 17:7; 23:14. « Gen. 9:4; Daut. 12:10 1 Sam. 14:32, 33; Ezek. -44:7, 15; Acts 15:20. 29. :22; Psa. 19:12; Heb. 5:2. e ch. 16:6. t Exod. Num. 19:4. h ch. 14:10,27. i ch. 8:15; 9:9; d ch. 5: 15, 17; Nam. l.» 29:10, 11. S ch. 10:11 was presented to God. Ver. 16 ; chap. 21:6, 8, 17, 21, 22 ; Num. 28:2; Ezek. 44:7; Mal. 1:7, 12; Rev. 3:20. 17. Neither fat nor blood; the fat of the inwards and the blood above-mentioned. The one was to be burnt, and the other sprinkled upon the altar. Ver. 13, 16. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. The comfort of our thanksgivings to God, the peace we have through faith in Christ, and the joy of commun ion with him and his people, we should ever remember are mercies which come to us through the Saviour's blood. Eph. 2:13-22. 11. The kindness and condescension of God, in commun ing with his people, and permitting them to feast with him ou the riches of his grace, are unspeakably great. 17. While we receive with thanksgiving the mercies which God bestows, we should conscientiously abstain from using, and should sacredly consecrate to him, that portion which he requires. CHAPTER IV. 2. Through ignorance; not sensible at the time of doing the Lord,1 which is in ihe tabernacle of the con gregation; and shall pour all the blood of the bullock at the bottom of the altar of the burnt- offering/ which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And he shall take off from it all the fat of the bullock for the sin-offering ; the fat that covereth the inwards, and all the fat that is upon the inwards, 9 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, which is by the flanks, and the caul above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away, 10 As it was taken off from the bullock of the sacrifice of peace-offerings : and the priest shall burn them upon the altar of the burnt-offering. 11 And the skin of the bullock, and all his flesh, with his head, and with his legs, and his inwards, and his dung, ] 2 Even the whole bullock shall he carry forth without the camp* unto a clean place, where the ashes are poured out, and burn him on the wood with fire:k where the ashes are poured out* shall he be burnt. 13 1 And if the whole congregation of Israel sin through ignorance,1 and the thing be hid from the eyes of the assembly,"1 and they have done somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done, and are guilty;" 14 When the sin, which they have sinned against it, is known, then the congregation shall offer a young bullock for the sin, and bring him before the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the elders of the congregation shall lay their hands upon the head of the bullock before the Lord ;° and the bullock shall be killed before the Lord. 16 And the priest that is anointed shall bring of the bullock's blood to the tabernacle of the con gregation.1' 17 And the priest shall dip his finger in some of the blood, and sprinkle it seven times before the Lord, even before the veil. 16:18; Exod. 30:1 -10 Psa. 118:2" . ich. 5:9. • Heb. to without the camp. k Exod 29:14 Num. 19:5 Heb. 13:11. t Heb . at the pouring out of the ashes. 1 Num 15 21 Josh 7:11 1 Tim 1:13. m ch. 5:2-4, 17. n Ezra 10:19. "ch. 1 4. P ver. 5; Heb. 1:12-14. what was wrong, but becoming convinced of it afterwards. Ver. 23, 28. 3. Tlie priest that is anointed; the high-priest. Exod. 29 : 7, 29, 30; Lev. 8:12; 21:10-12. According to the sin qfthe people; or to bring guilt upon the people ; for he acted as their representative, and his sin involved them in its con sequences. For a sin-offering; in the burnt-offering and peace-offering there was an acknowledgment of general sinfulness which needed expiation. But the sin-offering was for particular transgressions of the law. 4. Lay his hand upon tlie bullock's head ; solemnly conse crating the victim to God as an offering for sin ; thus con fessing his own sin, and his desire to have the liability to suffer transferred from himself to the sacrifice of God's appointment. 6, Seven; a number signifying fulness, completeness. 12. The whole bullock; except the fat, which was burnt, and the blood. Ver. 6-10. With fire; a fire made upon the ground for that purpose. 15. The elders; their chief men, magistrates, representa tives of the people, 135 The sin-offering LEVITICUS V. of ignorance. 18 And he shall put some of the blood upon the horns of the altar which is before the Lord," that is in the 'tabernacle of the congregation, and shall pour out all the blood at the bottom of the altar of the burnt-offering, which is at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 19 And he shall take all his fat from him, and burn it upon the altar. 20 And he shall do with the bullock as he did with the bullock for a sin-offering,b so shall he do with this : and the priests shall make an atone ment for them,0 and it shall be forgiven them. 21 And he shall carry forth the bullock without the camp, and burn him as he burned the first bul lock:4 it is a sin-offering for the congregation. 22 1 When a ruler hath sinned, and done some what through ignorance against any of the com mandments of the Lord his God concerning things which should not be done, and is guilty;0 23 Or if his sin, wherein he hath sinned, come to his knowledge ;f he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a male without blemish : 24 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the goat,g and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt-offering before the Lord : it is a sin-offering. 25 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering, and shall pour out his blood at the bottom of the altar of burnt- offering.11 26 And he shall burn all his fat upon the altar, as the fat of the sacrifice of peace-offerings : l and the priest shall make an atonement for him as concerning his sin,j and it shall be forgiven him. 27 ir And if any one* of the common people + sin through ignorance* while he doeth somewhat against any of the commandments of the Lord concerning things which ought not to be done, and be guilty ;[ 28 Or if his sin, which he hath sinned, come to his knowledge;"1 then he shall bring his offering, a kid of the goats, a female without blemish, for his sin which he hath sinned. 29 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering," and slay the sin-offering in the place of the burnt-offering. * Ver. 7. b ver. 3. « Num. 15:25; Dan. 9:24; Rom. 5:11; Gal. 3:13; Heb. 2:17; 10:10, 12; 1 John 1:7; 2:2; Rev. 1:5. d ver. 11, 12. e ver. 2, 13. I ver. 14; ch. 5:4. B ver. 4, etc.; Isa. 53:0. h ver. 7, 30. i ch. 3:5. j ver. 20; Num. 15:23. * Heb. any soul, t Heb. people of the land, k Num. 15:27. 1 Num. 5:6. m ver. 23. " ver. 4, 24. ° ch. 3:3, 14. P ch. 1:9; 20. Make an atonement — be forgiven ; he who, in the spirit of true faith and penitence, presented to God his sin-offer ing, was saved not only from the temporal punishment of his sin, but also, through the atonement of Christ which this offering typified, from its eternal consequences. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. There is no man or body of men on earth infallible, or perfect. All are liable to sin, through carelessness, inattention, and the influence of temptation. All need repentance and pardon through faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ. Psa. 19 : 12-14. 12. The way in which God pardons sin is suited to mike a deep impression of its evil, and lead men to ab hor and forsake it. 21. Nations, as well as individuals, may commit great iniquity ; and without national repentance, reformation, and pardon through the atonement of Christ, such iniquity will draw down upen them the sore judgments of God. 130 30 And the priest shall take of the blood %% SiS: thereof with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar. 31 And he shall take away all the fat thereof,0 as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace-offerings ; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor unto the Lord;" and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him. 32 And if he bring a lamb for a sin-offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish." 33 And he shall lay his hand upon the head of the sin-offering, and slay it for a sin-offering in the place where they kill the burnt-offering. 34 And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin-offering with his finger, and put# upon the horns of the altar of burnt-offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar : 35 And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sac rifice of the peace-offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offer ings made by fire unto the LoRD:r and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed,8 and it shall be forgiven him. CHAPTER V. 1 He that sinneth in concealing his knowledge, 2 in touching an un clean thing, 4 or in making an oath. 6 His trespass-offering, of the flock, 7 of fowls, 11 or of flour. 14 The trespass-offering in sacri lege, 17 and in sins of ignorance. AND if a soul sin,* and hear the voice of swear ing," and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity .v 2 Or if a soul touch any unclean thing,w whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast, or a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things, and if it be hidden from him ; he also shall be unclean, and guilty .x 3 Or if he touch the uncleanness of man,y what soever uncleanness it be that a man shall be defiled withal, and it be hid from him ; when he knoweth of it, then he shall be guilty.2 Exod. 29:18; Ezra 0:10; Isa. 42:21. q ver. 28. r ch. 3:5. » ver. 20, 31. t Ezek. 18:4,20. u 1 Kings 8:31; Prov. 20:24; Matt. 26:63. v ver. 17; ch. 7:18; 17:10; 19:S; 20:17; Num. 9:13; Psa. 38:4; Isa. 53:11; 1 Pet. 2:24. "Num. 19:11-16; Hag. 2:13. * ver. 17. y ch. 12, 13, 15. * ver. 4. 26. Rulers and teachers, ecclesiastical and civil, often fall into sin like other men ; and without repentance and forgiveness, in the way that God has provided and made known, they will perish. 35. Pardon of all transgressions is as free to the com mon people, to the poor and despised, as to the rich and the great. Acts 2:21; 10:34; Rom. 10:11-13. CHAPTER V. . 1. Hear the voice of swearing ; literally, " the voice of an oath ;" that is, an oath administered by the magistrate, when one is summoned to testify, under oath, as to what he knows about a matter in question. If he do not utter it ; does not tell what he knows. He shall bear his iniquity ; has sinned, and is exposed to punishment. 3. He shall be guilty; of violating that ceremonial law, when he knows what he has done. The trespass-offering LEVITICUS VI. for sins of ignorance. A. H. 2514 B. 0. 1490. 4 Or if a soul swear, pronouncing with his lips to do evil, or to do good,a whatsoever it be that a man shall pronounce with an oath, and it be hid from him ; when he knoweth of it, then lie shall be guilty in one of these. 5 And it shall be, when he shall be" guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:* 6 And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto the Lord for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb, or a kid of the goats, for a sin-offering ; and the priest shall make an atone ment for him concerning his sin. 7 And if he be not able to bring a lamb,* then he shall bring for his trespass, which he hath com mitted, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, unto the Lord; one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering.0 8 And he shall bring them unto the priest, who shall offer that which is for the sin-offering first, and wring off his head from his neck,d but shall not divide it asunder : 9 And he shall sprinkle of the blood of the sin- offering upon the side of the altar ;e and the rest of the blood shall be wrung out at the bottom of the altar: it is a sin-offering. 10 And he shall offer the second for a burnt-of fering, according to the manner:1 and the priest shall make an atonement for him for his siu which he hath sinned/ and it shall be forgiven him.g 11 1 But if he be not able to bring two turtle doves, or two young pigeons, then he that sinned shall bring for his offering the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a sin-offering;11 he shall put no oil upon it, neither shall he put any frankin cense thereon:1 for it is a sin-offering. 12 Then shall he bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it, even a memorial thereof,3 and burn if on the altar, according to the • Judg. 11:31: 1 Sam. 25:22; 2KingsO:31; Mark 6:23; Acts23:12. b cn. 28:40; Num. 5:7; Joshua 7:19; Ezra 10:11; Psalm 32:5; Dan. 9:4; Rom. 10: 10. ' Heb. his hand cannot reach to the sufficiency of a lamb. c chap. 12:8; 14:21. d ch. 1:15. e Exod. 12:22, 23; Heb. 12:24. t Or, ordinance. i. A soul swear; rashly, as to what he will or will not do, and when it may be wicked, or not in his power to do it. It be hid from him; if he was not aware at the time that it was wicked, or was not in his power. 7. Sin-offering; chap. 4:24-26, 32-35. Burnt-offering; chap. 1:14-17. 10. According to the manner; the manner predfcribed in the previous chapters. 11. A sin-offering ; in this case, from consideration of the offerer's poverty, an exception was made to the rule that an expiatory offering must be made through blood. 12. A memorial; chap. 2:2. 13. A meat-offering ; chap. 2:1-3. 15. Holy things of .the Lord; by withholding from God something which he required to be devoted to his minis ters, or his worship and service. Thy estimation; of the value of the things withheld, or perverted from the use which God required. A trespass-offering; the exact dis tinction between a sin-offering and a trespass-offering it is difficult to determine. The particular cases in which it was prescribed are enumerated in this book. . See chap. 5:15-19; 6:1-7; 14:12-21; 19:20-22; to which may be added, Num. 5:5-8; 6:9, 12. 17. Wist; knew. Guilty; liable to suffer evil, and must, when he knows that he has broken the divine command, present the required offering. offerings made by fire unto the Lord :'it is a sin- offering. 13 And the priest shall make an atonement for him as touching his sin that he hath sinned in one of these, and it shall be forgiven him: and the remnant shall be the priest's, as a meat-offering.k 14 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, savins:, 15 If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord ;• then he shall bring for his trespass unto the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks,"1 with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary," for a trespass-offering : 16 And he shall make amends for the harm that he hath done in the holy thing, and shall add the fifth part thereto, and give it unto the priest: and the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass offering,0 and it shall be forgiven him. 17 IF And if a soul sin,p and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the Lord; though he wist it not," yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity. 18 And he shall bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a tres pass-offering, unto the priest : and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his igno rance wherein he erred and wist it not, and it shall be forgiven him. 19 It is a trespass offering: he hath certainly trespassed against the Lord/ CHAPTER VI. 1 The trespass-offering for sins done "wittingly. 8 The law of the burnt- offering, 14 and of the meat-offering. 19 The offering at the^conse- cration of a priest. 24 The law of the sin-offering. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the Lord, and lie unto his neighbor,3 in f ch. 4:20. B Jas. 5:15. hver. 7. i Num. 5:15. J ch. 2:2; Num. 5:26; Acts 10:4. k ch. 7:6. 1 ch. 22:14. m Ezra 10:19. " Exod. 30:13; ch. 27:25. over. 10. P ch. 4:2, 22. 1 ch. 4:2, 13, 27; Psa. 19:12; Luke 12:48. r Ezra 10:2. > ch. 19:11 ; Acts 5:4; Col. 3:9. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. We should hate sin in ourselves, and by all suitable means endeavor to prevent it in others. When called in providence to testify before a magistrate, or in a court of justice, we should let nothing hinder us from doing it with fidelity. 4. We should be careful never to declare what is false, or promise to do what is impracticable or wicked. Es pecially should we avoid all rash and profane oaths. 5. We may do wrong without at the time being aware of it. When we see the wrong, we should be ready to confess and forsake it. 10. No sins, not even those of ignorance or careless ness, even when truly repented of, can be forgiven except through the atonement of Jesus Christ. 11. It is not the greatness of the offerings which we present to God, but the spirit with which we offer them, that he principally regards. 16. True repentance will lead a man not only to forsake his sins, but to make suitable restitution to those whom he has injured. 19. We need the teaching of the Holy Spirit to see what is right, and be disposed heartily to do it. We cannot faithfully review the past without perceiving that in many things we have done wrong, and need pardoning mercy through the atonement of Christ. 137 For sins done wittingly. LEVITICUS VI. Burnt- a,nd meat- offering.': that which' was delivered him to keep,a or in fel lowship,* or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbor ;b 3 Or have found that which was lost,c and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely ;d in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein : 4 Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceit fully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found, 5 Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely ; he shall even restore it in the principal,0 and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass-offering.* 6 And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto the Lord, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass-offering, unto the priest : 7 And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord : f and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in tres passing therein.g 8 IT And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 9 Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt-offering : It is the burnt-offer ing, because of the burning* upon the altar all night unto the morning,11 and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen gar ment,1 and his linen breeches shall he put upon his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire hath consumed with the burnt-offering on the altar, and he shall put them beside the altar. 11 "And he shall put off his garments, and put on other garments/ and carry forth the ashes with out the camp unto a clean place. 12 And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt- offering in order upon it ; and he shall burn there on the fat of the peace-offerings. 13 The fire shall ever be burning upon the altar ; it shall never go out. 14 T And this is the law of the meat-offering :k The sons of Aaron shall offer it before the Lord, before the altar. a Exod. 22:7, 10. * Heb. putting of the hand, or dealing. b Prov. 24:23; 20:19; Jer. 9:5. = Deut. 22:1-3. d ch. 19:12; Jer. 5:2; 7:9; Zech. 5:4. e ch. 5:16; Num. 5:7; I Sam. 12:3; 2 Sam. 12:0; Luke 19:8. t Heb. in the day of his trespass, or in the day of his being found guilty. I ch. 5: 15, 10. B Isa. 1:18; Matt. 12:31; 1 Cor. 0:9-11. t Or, for the-burning. h ver. CHAPTER VI. 2. In fellowship ; or, in a deposit. 5. Add the fifth part ; this was the case when he volun tarily confessed his crime and restored that which was taken. If he did not confess, but was convicted of the crime, he was to pay more. Exod. 22:9-15. 6. Thy estimation ; of the amount which, according to the direction, ver. 5, he was to restore. Chap. 5:15. 11. His garments ; the holy garments which he wore in the sanctuary. These he was not allowed to wear elsewhere. 13. The fire— shall never go out ; this fire was first kindled from heaven; and the priests, by timely application of fuel, were to keep it continually burning. Chap. 9:24. 14-17. Meat-offering ; chap. 2:1-16. 138 15 And he shall take of it his handful, t™;S of the flour of the meat-offering, and of the oil thereof, and all the frankincense which is upon the meat-offering, and shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savor, even the memorial of it, unto the Lord. 16 And the' remainder thereof shall Aaron and his sons eat:1 with unleavened bread shall it be eaten in the holy place ; in the court of the taber nacle of the congregation they shall eat it. 17 It shall not be baken with leaven. I have given it unto them for their portion of my offer ings made by fire; it is most holy, as is the sin- offering, and as the trespass-offering. 18 All the males among the children of Aaron shall eat of it. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations concerning the offerings of the Lord made by fire : every one that toucheth them shall be holy."1 19 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 20 This-w the offering of Aaron and of his sons," which they shall offer unto the Lord in the day when he is anointed ; the tenth part of an ephah of fine flour for a meat-offering perpetual, half of it in the morning, and half thereof at night. 21 In a pan it shall be made with oil, and when it is baken, thou shalt bring it in : and the baken pieces of the meat-offering shalt thou offer for a sweet savor unto the Lord. 22 And the priest of his sons that is anointed in his stead shall offer it : it is a statute for ever unto the Lord;0 it shall be wholly burnt. 23 For every meat-offering for the priest shall be wholly burnt : it shall not be eaten. 24 H And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 25 Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, saying, This is the law of the sin-offering : p In the place where the burnt-offering is killed shall the sin-of fering be killed before the Lord : it is most holy.q 26 The priest that offereth it for sin shall eat it : in the holy place shall it be eaten/ in the court of the tabernacle of the congregation. 27 Whatsoever shall touch the flesh thereof shall be holy :s and when there is sprinkled of the blood thereof upon any garment, thou shalt wash that whereon it was sprinkled in the holy place. 28 But the earthen vessel wherein it is sodden shall be broken : and if it be sodden in a brazen pot, it shall be both scoured, and rinsed in water. «. — . 12,13. i ch. 16:4; Rxod. 23:39-43; Ezek. 44:17, 18. J Ezek. 44:19. kch. 2:1; Num. 15:4. 1 Num. 18:10; Ezek. 44:29; 1 Cor. 9: 13, 14. » ch 22:3- 7; Exod. 29:37. n Exod. 29:1, 2; Heb. 7:27. ° Exod. 29:23-25. p ch. 4:33. <1 ver. 17; ch. 21:22. r ch. 10:17, IS; Num. 18:10; Ezek. 14:29. ¦Exod. 29:37; 30:29; Matt. 9:21; 14:30. 18. Shall be holy; none but consecrated persons should touch them, and they must be free from ceremonial defile ment. 19-23. Offering of Aaron ; Exod. 25:1-25. 25-30. Sin-offering; chap. 4:24-31. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. When we wrong our fellow-men, we sin against God. 3. He who finds lost property, and does not wish to restore it to its rightful owner, when known, is dishonest. 7. Though repentance, confession, and restitution are all needful in order to pardon, neither nor all of them can atone for sin, or of themselves obtain forgiveness. There must also be application to that blood which was shed for many for the remission of sins. Matt. 26 : 28. Trespass-offerings. LEVITICUS VII. Peace-offerings. A. M. 2514. B. II. 1J90. 29 All the males among the priests shall eat thereof: it is most holy. 30 And no sin-offering, whereof any of the blood is brought into the tabernacle of the congregation to reconcile withal in the holy place, shall be eaten : a it shall be burnt in the fire. CHAPTER VII. 1 The law of the trespass-offering, 11 and of the peace-offerings. 12 whether it be for a thanksgiving, 16 or a vow, or a freewill-offering. 22 The fat, 26 and the blood, are forbidden. 28 The priests1 portion in the peace-offerings. I IKE WISE this is the law of the trespass-offer- _J ing :b it is most holy. 2 In the place where they kill the burnt-offer ing shall they kill the trespass-offering:0 and the blood thereof shall he sprinkle round about upon the altar.d 3 And he shall offer of it all the fat thereof;6 the rump, and the fat that covereth the inwards, 4 And the two kidneys, and the fat that is on them', which is by the flanks, and the caul that is above the liver, with the kidneys, it shall he take away: 5 And the priest shall burn them upon the altar for an offering made by fire unto the Lord : it is a trespass-offering. 6 Every male among the priests shall eat there of^ it shall be eaten in the holy place : it is most holy. 7 As the sin-offering is, so is the trespass-offer ing:8 there is one law for them: the priest that maketh atonement therewith shall have it. 8 And the priest that offereth any man's burnt- offering, even the priest shall have to himself the skin of the burnt-offering which he hath offered. 9 And all the meat-offering that is baken in the oven, and all that is dressed in the frying-pan, and in the pan," shall be the priest's that offereth it. 10 And every meat-offering, mingled with oil, and dry, shall all the sons of Aaron have, one as much as another. 11 And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace- offerings,11 which he shall offer unto the Lord. a Ch. 10:18; 10:27; Heb. 9:12. b ch. 6:17, 25; 21:22. ' Num. 0:12; Ezek. 40:39. J ch. 3:2; 5:9. e ch. 4:8. 9; Exod. 29:13. f ch. 6:10, 18. Ech. 6:25, 26; 14:13. • Or, on the flat plate, or slice, h ch. 3:1 ; 22:21 ; 12. As the priest was every morning to put wood on the altar, 'that -the fire might never go out ; so we, who are called to be kings and priests unto God, should every morning kindle anew the flame of divine love in our hearts, that it may warm all our services, and shine brightly through all the duties and events of the day. Matt. 5 : 16 ; Jude 21. 17. Often, and in various ways, God warns men against insincerity and hypocrisy, and urges upon them the ha bitual practice, in all things, of perfect sincerity and truth. 1 Cor. 5:7,8. 28. AU the directions of God with regard to things con nected with his worship, are suited to impress upon men the conviction of his purity and their pollution, and that without holiness no man can see his face in peace. Chap. 19:2; 20:7; Heb. 12:14; 1 Pet. 1:16. CHAPTER VII. 7. Shall have it; that portion of it which was not burnt on the altar. 13. Leavened bread; that which was offered to the Lord 12 If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving un leavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil,1 and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried. 13 Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offer ing leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanks giving of his peace-offerings.j 14 And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for a heave-offering unto the LoRD,k and it shall be the priest's that sprinkleth the blood of the peace-offerings. 15 And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace- offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered ; l he shall not leave any of it until the morning. 16 But if the sacrifice of his offering be a vow, or a voluntary offering, it shall be eaten the same day that he offereth his sacrifice ; and on the mor row also the remainder of it shall be eaten : 17 But the remainder of the flesh of the sacrifice on the third day shall be burnt with fire."1 ¦ 18 And if any of the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings be eaten at all on the third day, it shall not be accepted, neither shall it be imputed unto him that offereth it : it shall be an abomination," and the soul that eateth of it shall bear his iniquity. 19 And the flesh that toucheth any unclean thing shall not be eaten ; it shall be burnt with fire : and as for the flesh, all that be clean shall eat thereof. 20 But the soul that eateth of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offerings, that pertain unto the Lord, having his uncleanness upon him,0 even that soul shall be cut off from his people. 21 Moreover the soul that shall touch any un clean thing? as the uncleanness of man,11 or any unclean beast, or any abominable unclean thing,' and eat of the flesh of the sacrifice of peace-offer ings, which pertain unto the Lord, even that soul shall be cut off from his people.8 22 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 23 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat. Ezek. 45:15. i ch. 2:4; Num. 6:15. j Amos 4:5. k Num. 18:8; 11:19. 1 ch. 22:30. m ch. 19:7. ¦> ch. 11:10, 41 ; 19:7. ° ch. 15:3; 1 Cor. 11:28. Pch. 11:24, 28. q ch. 12, 13, 15. r Ezek. 4:14. ¦ ver. 20. was to be unleavened, as before prescribed, ver. 12 ; but that which the priest ate himself, in token of thanksgiving for mercies, might, like common bread, be leavened. 15. The same day that it is offered; this was probably to prevent its being reserved by the offerer for his private use. He had devoted it to Jehovah, and now it was no longer his own. Of it he was to make a feast for his friends, and especially for the poor of his people. 16. A vow ; a sacrifice offered upon the paying of a vow. The flesh of this, and of the voluntary offering, might be eaten the second day; but what remained till the third day was to be burnt with fire. In those warm regions it is difficult to keep flesh over the second day in perfect purity, which may have been one reason for this injunc tion. 18. It; his offering. If he ate any of the flesh after the second day, his offering would be rejected. Bear his iniquity; be held guilty, and exposed to punishment. 20. Cut off; Gen. 17 : 14. 23. No manner of fat; of that fat of beasts which was to be offered in sacrifice to God. Ver. 3-5, 25. 139 The priests' portion. LEVITICUS VIII. Aaron and his sons consecrated. 24 And the fat of the beast* that dieth of itself, and the fat of that which is torn with beasts, may be used in any other use : but ye shall in no wise eat of it.a 25 For whosoever eateth the fat of the beast, of which men offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord, even the soul that eateth it shall be cut off from his people. 26 Moreover ye shall eat no manner of blood," whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings. 27 Whatsoever soul it be that eateth any manner of blood, even that soul shall be cut off from his people. 28 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 29 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace-offerings unto the Lord,0 shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace-offerings. 30 His own hands shall bring the offerings of the Lord made by fire,4 the fat with the breast; it shall he bring, that the breast may be waved for a wave-offering before the Lord.0 31 And the priest shall burn the fat upon the altar : but the breast shall be Aaron's and his sons'. 32 And the right shoulder shall ye give unto the priest for a heave-offering of the sacrifices of your peace-offerings/ 33 He among the sons of Aaron, that offereth the blood of the peace-offerings, and the fat, shall have the right shoulder for his part. 34 For the wave-breast, and the heave-shoulder have I taken of the children of Israel from off the sacrifices of their peace-offerings, and have given them unto Aaron the priest and unto his sons, by a statute for ever, from among the children of Israel. 35 IT This is the portion of the anointing of Aa ron, and of the anointing of his sons, out of the offerings of the Lord made by fire, in the day when he presented them to minister unto the Lord in the priest's office ; 36 Which the Lord commanded to be given them of the children of Israel, in the day that he anointed them,g by a statute for ever throughout their gen erations. 37 This is the law of the burnt-offering, of the • Heb. carcass. » ch. 17:15; Deut. 14:21; Ezek. 44:31. ° ch. 3:17; 1710-14; (Jen. 9:4; 1 Sam. 14:31; Ezek. 33:25; John 6:53; Acts 15:20, 29. c ch. 3. d John 10: 18. <= ch. 8:27; 9:21; Exod. 29:24, 27. ' Num. 6:20. e ch. 8:12, 30; Exod. 40:13. 15. h ch. 6:9, 14. 25. i ver. 1. j ch. 0:20; 26. No manner of blood; that which flows from the arte ries and veins, called the life, or the blood of the life. The blood which mingled with the flesh when cooked, was not forbidden. Gen. 9 : 4, 5. 34. Wave-breast — heave-shoulder; that had been conse crated to Jehovah by waving and heaving. 35. The portion of the anointing of Aaron; his portion in consequence of his having been anointed as high-priest. Ver. 36. 37, 38. The law of the— offerings ; Exod. 29:1-44. INSTRUCTIONS. 10. While God requires his ministers to devote their time and talents to his immediate service, he also re quires that their temporal wants be supplied by those for whose spiritual good they labor. Ver. 31-36; chapter 10:13-15. 140 meat-offering, and of the sin-offering,11 and ^.c.S of the trespass-offering,1 and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace-offerings ;j 38 Which .the Lord commanded Moses in mount Sinai, in the day that he commanded the children of Israel to offer their oblations unto the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai. CHAPTER VIII. 1 Moses consecrateth Aaron and his sons. 14 Their sin-offering. 18 Their bumt-offering. 22 The ram of consecration. 31 The place and time of their consecration. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Take Aaron and his sons with him,k and the garments,1 and the anointing oil™ and a bul lock for the sin-offering, and two rams, and a bas ket of unleavened bread ; 3 And gather thou all the congregation together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congrega tion. 4 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him ; and the assembly was gathered together unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 5 And Moses said unto the congregation, This is the thing which the Lord commanded to be done. 6 And Moses brought Aaron and his sons, and washed them with water.11 7 And he put upon him the coat, and girded him with the girdle, and clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod upon him, and he girded him with the curious girdle of the ephod, and bound it unto him therewith. 8 And he put the breastplate upon him : also he put in the breastplate the Urim and the Thummim.0 9 And he put the mitre upon his head;p also upon the mitre, even upon his forefront, did he put the golden plate, the holy crown; as the Lord commanded Moses.0- 10 And Moses took the anointing oil, and anoint ed the tabernacle and all that was therein, and sanctified them.1' 11 And he sprinkled thereof upon the altar sev en times, and anointed the altar, and all his ves sels, both the laver and his foot, to sanctify them." 12 And he poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him.1 Exod. 29:1; ver. 11. k Exod. 29:1, 3. 1 Exod. 2S:2. 4. m Exod. 30:24, 25. »Exod. 29:4. o Exod. 28:15-30; 39:8-21; Ezra 2:63. p Exod. 29:6; Zech. 3:5. q Exod. 28:37, etc. r Exod. 30:20-29. » oh. 4:6: Isa. 52:15; Ezek. 36:25; Tit. 3:0. t ch. 21: 10, 12; Exorl. 29:7; 30:30; Psa. 133:2. 16. While we are called to mourning on account of our sins, we are also called to rejoicing on account of the good ness of God ; and our joy may sometimes be appropriately expressed by feasting on the bounties of his providence and grace. 30. Each individual, while he relies on the great atone ment for salvation, must also himself be voluntary and active in presenting his offerings to God, and in doing what he requires. CHAPTER VIII. 1. The Lord spake unto Moses; after the tabernacle was finished, and the way prepared for the consecration of Aaron and his sons to the priesthood. 5. The thing which the Lord commanded; Exod. 28:29. 12. Sanctify him; set him apart, or consecrate him to his sacred office. Moses consecrateth LEVITICUS IX. Aarcn and his sons. b.' &S' IB And Moses brought Aaron's sons, and put coats upon them,a and girded them with gir dles, and put* bonnets upon them; as the Lord commanded Moses. 14 And he brought the bullock for the sin-offer ing: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the bullock for the sin-offering. 15 And he slew it; and Moses took the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about with his finger,0 and purified the altar, and poured the blood at the bottom of the altar, and sanctified it, to make reconciliation upon it.0 16 And he took all the fat that was upon the inwards, and the caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and Moses burned it upon the altar. 17 But the bullock, and his hide, his flesh, and his dung, he burnt with fire without the camp;" as the Lord commanded Moses. 18 IT And he brought the ram for the burnt-of fering: and Aaron and his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. 19 And he killed it; and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about. 20 And he cut the ram into pieces; and Moses burnt the head, and the pieces, and the fat. 21 And he washed the inwards and the legs in water; and Moses burnt the whole ram upon the altar: it was a burnt-sacrifice for a sweet savor,0 and an offering made by fire unto the Lord; as the Lord commanded Moses. 22 1" And he brought the other ram, the ram of consecration:'' and Aaron and .his sons laid their hands upon the head of the ram. 23 And he slew it; and Moses took of the blood of it, and put it upon the tip of Aaron's right ear, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot.8 24 And he brought, Aaron's sons, and Moses put of the blood upon the tip of their right ear, and upon the thumbs of their right hands, and upon the great toes of their right feet : and Moses sprinkled the blood upon the altar round about.1' 25 And he took the fat,1 and the rump, and all the fat that was upon the inwards, and tlie caul above the liver, and the two kidneys, and their fat, and the right shoulder: 26 And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the Lord, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder : » Exod. 29:9, 9. * Heb. bound, b ch. 4:7; Ezek. 43:20, 20; Heb. 9:18-23. ¦oi 13:211: 2 Chr. 29:21; Ezek. 45:20; Dan. 9:24; 2 Cor. 5:18, 21; Eph. 2:10; Col. "1:20-22; Heb. 2:17. d ch. 4:11, 1-2; Exod. 29:14; Heb. 13: 11-13. » Sen. 8:2'J, 21; Eph. 5:2. f Exod. 29: 19-31. g ch. 14:14, 17, 23. h Heb. 17. As the Lord commanded; chap. 4:11, 12. 31. As he hath done this day; or, as it hath been done this day. Each of the seven days he was to offer sacrifice, as he had the first day. INSTRUCTIONS. 9. If ths ministers of religion are comely in the sight of God, or in any measure fitted for their work, it must be through the comeliness which he puts upon them — cloth ing them with his righteousness, and adorning them with the graces of his Spirit. 27 And he put all upon Aaron's hands, and upon his sons' hands, and waved them /or a wave-offer ing before the Lord. 28 And Moses took them from off their hands, and burnt them on the altar upon the burnt-offer* ing : they were consecrations for a sweet savor : it is an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 29 And Moses took the breast, and waved it for a wave-offering before the Lord :' for of the ram of consecration it was Moses' part ; as the Lord commanded Moses. 30 And Moses took of the anointing oil, arid of the blood which was upon the altar, and sprinkled it upon Aaron, and upon his garments, and upon his sons, and upon his sons' garments with him; and sanctified Aaron, and his garments, and his sons, and his sons' garments with him.k 31 If And Moses said unto Aaron and to his sons, Boil the flesh at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation;1 and there eat it with the bread that is in the basket of consecrations, as I commanded, saying, Aaron and his sons shall eat it. 32 And that which remaineth of the flesh and of the bread shall ye burn with fire. 33 And ye shall not go out of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation in seven days, until the days of your consecration be at an end: foi seven days shall he consecrate you."1 34 As he hath done this day, so the Lord hath commanded to do, to make an atonement for you. 35 Therefore shall ye abide at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation day and night seven days, and keep the charge of the Lord, that ye die not:11 for so I am commanded. 36 So Aaron and his sons did all things which the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. CHAPTER IX. 1 The first-offerings of Aaron, for himself and the people. 8 The sin- offering, 12 and the burnt-offering for himself. 15 The offerings for the people. 23 Moses and Aaron bless the people. 24 Fire cometh from the Lord upon the altar. AND it came to pass on the eighth day,0 that Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel ; 2 And he said unto Aaron, Take thee a young calf for a sin-offering,11 and a ram for a burnt-offer ing," without blemish, and offer them before the Lord. 3 And unto the children of Israel thou shalt speak, saying, Take ye a kid of the goats'" for a sin- 9:22. ' Exod. 29:22, etc. j Exod. 29:26. k ch. 10:3; Num 3:3. 1 Exod 29:31, 32; 1 Sam. 2:13-17. m Ezek. 43:25, 20. a Num. 3:7; 0:10; Deut 11:1; 1 Kings 2:3; 1 Tim. 1:18; 5:21 ; 6:20; 2 Tim. 4:1. ° Ezek. 43:27. Pch. 4:3; 8:14; Exod. 29:1. qch.8:18. r ch. 4:23; Ezra 6:17. 14. Even those who are the most solemnly consecrated to the service of God are themselves sinners, and need the cleansing of atoning blood. 30. In every thing sinners need the purifying influences of the Holy Spirit, in order to offer acceptable sacrifice to a holy God, or be prepared for his presence. Heb. 10:22. 36. Ministers of religion who have a right spirit, will feel deeply the responsibilities of their office ; that they are called to it not merely by men, but by God ; and will labor first of all to please him by seeking his glory and doing his will. Ml Aaron's first offerings. LEVITICUS X. Nadab and Abihu slain. offering;" and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a burnt-offering ; 4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace-offerings, to sacrifice before the Lord; and a meat-offering mingled with oil :° for to-day the Lord will appear unto you. 5 1 And they brought that which Moses com manded before the tabernacle of the congregation : and all tho congregation drew near and stood before the Lord. 6 And Moses said, This is the thing which the Lord commanded that ye should do: and the glory of the Lord shall appear unto you.0 7 And Moses said unto Aaron, Go unto the altar, and offer thy sin-offering, and thy burnt-offering,d and make an atonement for thyself, and for the people:0 and offer the offering of the people, and make an atonement for them;1' as the Lord com manded. 8 T Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin-offering, which icas for himself. 9 And the sons of Aaron brought the blood unto him: and he dipped his finger in the blood, and put it upon the horns of the altar ,s and poured out the blood at the bottom of the altar. 10 But the fat, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver of the sin-offering, he burnt upon the altar ;'' as the Lord commanded Moses. 11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp. 12 And he slew the burnt-offering ; and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled round about upon the altar.1 13 And they presented the burnt-offering unto him, with the pieces thereof, and the head: and he burnt them upon the altar. 14 And he did wash the inwards and the legs, and burnt them upon the burnt-offering on the altar. 15 1 And he brought the people's offering, and took the goat, which was the sin-offering for the people, and slew it, and offered it for sin, as the first.3 a \m. «¦' ¦10- Heb. 9:26. b N lm. 15:9. c ver. 23 Exod. 24 :10; 2 Chr. 5 13 14 d ver 2; 1 Sam 3:14. e Heb. 5.S ; 7:27 9 7. 'Heb 5:1. Sob. 4 7- Heb 9:22 83. h ch. 8:16. i ch. 1:5; 8:19. J Isa. 53:10; Heb 2:17; o 3.' •Or ordinance t Heb. filled his hand out of it. k Exod. 20: 33 leh. CHAPTER IX. 4. The Lord will appear; in a special manner, and show his approbation of their services. Ver. 23, 24. 5. Before the Lord; before the tabernacle, or sanctuary, in which he dwelt. 7. Go unto the altar; the altar of burnt-offerings ; in the court, near the door of the tabernacle. Exod. 27 : 1-8. 9. The sons of Aaron; Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ith- amar. Chap. 10 : 1-6. 16. According to the manner; the manner that God had prescribed. Chap. 1:10-13. 21. As Moses commanded; Exod. 29:21-26. 24. From before the Lord; from his visible presence in the tabernacle. INSTRUCTIONS. 7. Ministers, after being duly consecrated to their office, should without delay enter upon the faithful discharge of its duties. 8. Atonement through the blood of Christ, and purifica- 142 16 And he brought the burnt-offering, B.c'.iSa and offered it according to the manner.* 17 And he brought the meat-offering, and took a handful thereof,1 and burnt it upon the altar, beside the burnt-sacrifice of the morning.* 18 He slew also the bullock and the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings,1 which was for the peo ple : and Aaron's sons presented unto him the blood, which he sprinkled upon the altar round about, 19 And the fat of the bullock and of the ram, the rump, and that which covereth the inwards, and the kidneys, and the caul above the liver : 20 And they put the fat upon the breasts, and he burnt the fat upon the altar : 21 And the breasts and the right shoulder Aaron waved for a wave-offering before the Lord;"1 as Moses commanded. 22 And Aaron lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them ;n and came down from offering of the sin-offering, and the burnt-offering, and peace-offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the taber nacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the people.0 24 And there came a fire out from before the Lord,p and consumed upon the altar the burnt-of fering and the fat : which when all the people saw, they shouted,0- and fell on their faces. CHAPTER X. 1 Nadab and Abihu, for offering of strange fire, are burnt by fire. 6 Aa.ron and his sons are forbidden to mourn for them. 8 The priests are forbidden wine when they are to go into the tabernacle. 12 The law of eating the holy things. 16 Aaron's excuse for transgress ing thereof. AND Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord,' which he commanded them not. 2 And there went out fire from the Lord,8 and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.' 3:1. 3, etc. m ch. 7:30-34. ¦> Num. 6:23-27; Deut. 21:5; 2 Chr. 6:3; Psa. 72:17; Luke 24:50. over.6; Num.l4:10; 10:19,42. P Judg. 6:21; 13:19,20; 1 Kings 18:33; 2 Chr. 7:1-3. qEzra3:ll. r ch. 16:12; Exod. 30:9; Num. 10:0,etc. »ch. 9:24; Num. 16:35; 2Kings 1:10, 12. I Num. 3:4; 26:61. tion by the Holy Spirit, are among the first great doc trines which a minister should preach ; and which, in their various relations, he should continue to inculcate through the whole of his ministry. 22. He should not confine himself to the preaching of a few of the many doctrines of the gospel, but should, in due time, order, and proportion, labor to inculcate the whole ; and in such a manner as shall be most profitable to the people. 24. True love and devotion to God in the human heart are enkindled by the Holy Spirit ; and the manifestation of his approval is a just cause of rejoicing. CHAPTER X. 1. Censer; a fire-pan for sacred uses. Strange fire; common fire — not that which was kindled by the Lord on the altar. Chap. 9 : 24. This event seems to have taken place in the sanctuary, whither they had gone in an irrev' erent and presumptuous manner to burn incense. 2. From the Lord ; from his visiblo glory on the mercy. seat. Devoured; killed. Of wine and strong drink. LEVITICUS X. Eating the sin-offering A. M 2514. B. C. 1490. 3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the Lord spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me," and before all the people I will be glorified.0 And Aaron held his peace.0 4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp. 5 So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp ;d as Moses had said. 6 And Mose3 said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes ;c lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people : f but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the Lord hath kindled. 7 And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,15 lest ye die : for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you.11 And they did according to the word of Moses. 8 1 And the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, 9 Do not drink wine nor strong drink,1 thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tab ernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your genera tions : 10 And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean ;j 1 1 And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lokd hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses." 12 TAnd Mose3 spake unto Aaron, and unto E leazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat-offering that remaineth of the offer- a Exod. 19:22; ch. 21:6, 8, 15; 1 Sam. 6:20; 1 Chr. 15:12, 13; Psa. 89:7; Isi. 52:11; Heb. 12:23. b Ial. 49:3; Ezek. 23:22; John 12:23. c Psa. 39:9; 41:10. d Acts 5:6,10. » ch. 21:10; Ezek. 21:17. ' Num. 16:46; Josh. 7:1; 22:13, 2D; 2 Sam. 21:11, 15. 5 ch. 21:12. !> Exod. 28:41; 40:15. 3. I'he Lord spake; Exod. 19:22; 29:43. Them that come nigh me; especially those who conduct religious worship. Held his peace; submitted without a murmur to the right eous judgment of God. 5. Out qfthe camp; for burial. 6. Uncover not — inither rend; avoid all appearance of mourning. 7. Not go out; not suspend any of the duties of the min istry, but continue to discharge them. 9. Di not drink wine nor strong drink ; it is supposed that Nadab and Abihu had been drinking, and became excited; that this was one cause of their transgression; and that God enjoined on his ministers, when about to engage in public worship, entire abstinence from the use of intoxicating drink, that they might not be unfitted for their work. 10. Holy and unholy— unclean and clean; things which God fornfiTs in his worship, and those which he requires. 12. Meat-offering; chap. 2:3; 6:16; 7:29-34. 18. Ye should— have eaten it ; if its blood had been brought into that part of the tabernacle called the sanctuary, or holy place, they were to burn it without the camp ; if not, they were to eat it. Chap. 6 : 26-30. 19. This day — they offered; chap. 9:8-21. Such things; the death of his two sons. If I had eaten ; joined with his family in feasting, while thus heavily afflicted. Should it have been accepted ? would it, under those peculiar circum stances, have been suitable or, pleasing to God? 20. He was content; satisfied that God would not be displeased with Aaron and his sons for what they had done. ings of the Lord made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar : for it is most holy. 13 And ye shall eat it in the holy place,1 because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the Lord made by fire : for so I am command ed. 14 And the wave-breast and heave-shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee : for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace-offerings of the children of Israel. 15 The heave-shoulder and the wave-breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave-oflering before the Lord ; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever ; as the -Lord hath commanded. 16 T And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering, and behold, it was burnt : and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying, 17 Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin-offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the con gregation, to make atonement for them before the Lord? 18 Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.™ 19 And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin-offering and their burnt-offering before the Lord ; and such things have befallen me : and if I had eaten the sin-offer ing to-day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the Lord?" 20 And when Moses heard that, he was content. i Isa. 28:7; Ezek. 44:21; Luke 1:15; 1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 1:7. j ch. 11:47; 20:25, 26; Jer. 15:19; Ezek. 44:23. k Neh. 8:2, 8; Mal. 2:7. 1 Num. 18:10. m ch. 6:26, 30. » Isa. 1:11-15; Jer. 0:20 14:12; Hos. 9:4; Mal. 1:10,13. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Recklessness in divine worship, and the offering of our own excited and proud emotions instead of that hum ble and obedient spirit which he requires, are peculiarly offensive to God. 2. Great sins and great trials may speedily follow the reception of great mercies. 3. Prompt and cheerful submission to God, and hearty acquiescence in his will, under trials, however great, is a fruit of the Spirit which peculiarly honors him, and is useful to men. 7. Regard for our friends, or sorrow on account of their death, must not lead us improperly to manifest grief, or to neglect our appropriate duties. 11. The use of wine or strong drink is exceedingly dan gerous, and should be abstained from, especially by min isters when about to engage in sacred public duties ; that they may rightly conduct the worship of God, and make known his will to the people. 14. A cheerful reception of the good things of Provi dence, and at proper times and in suitable circumstances even feasting with our families on the fruits of divine kindness, is not only allowable, but is a duty, the right performance of which will promote the divine glory and our own highest good. 19. Some things which on ordinary occasions would be right, proper, and useful, may without sin be omitted on occasions of great affliction and distress ; and some things which on ordinary occasions would not be proper, may at such times be done. 1 Sam. 21:6; 2 Chron. 30:18-20; Matt. 9:15; Mark 2:19, 25, 26; Luke 5:34 143 Of clean and unclean LEVITICUS XI. beasts, fishes, and fowls CHAPTER XI. 1 What beasts may, 4 and what may not be eaten. 9 What fishes. 13 What fowls. 29 The creeping things which are unclean. AND the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron, saying unto them, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, These are the beasts which ye shall eat among all the beasts that are on the earth.a 3 Whatsoever parteth the hoof, and is cloven- footed," and cheweth the cud, among the beasts, that shall ye eat. 4 Nevertheless, these shall ye not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the hoof: as the camel, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 5 And the coney, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 6 And the hare, because he cheweth the cud, but divideth not the hoof; he is unclean unto you. 7 And the swine, though he> divide the hoof, and be cloven-footed, yet he cheweth not the cud ; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their car cass shall ye not touch;0 they are unclean to you. 9 1 These shall ye eat of all that are in the wa ters:4 whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat. 10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in tlie waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:0 11 They shall be even an abomination unto you ; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcasses in abomination. 12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you. 13 TT And these are they which ye shall have in abomination among the fowls;1' they shall not be eaten, they are an abomination : the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 14 And the vulture, and the kite after his kind ; a Dent. 14:3, etc.; Ezek. 4:14; Dan. 1:8; Matt. 15:11 ; Rom. 14:14; Heb. 9:10; 13:9. » Psa. 1:1,2. e I,a. 52:11 ; Acts 10:10-15; 2 Cor. 0:17; Co',. 2:11. J Deut. 14:9. ech.7:18. f Deut. 14:12. S Matt. 3:4; Mark 1 :0. CHAPTER XI. This chapter treats of the distinction between clean and unclean meats, which entered largely into Jewish habits of thinking and acting. It cannot be reasonably doubted that the clean animals here allowed were those which, to the people of that region, furnished the most wholesome diet. But the distinction had a much deeper meaning. It typified the inward difference which God's servants should make between clean and unclean affections, and the holy or unholy acts that proceed from them. Another end of these distinctions was to keep the Hebrews separate from all other nations, as a people devoted to Jehovah. 3. Cloven-footed; having the hoof divided into two parts, like that of the ox and sheep. 4. .Unclean; not to be eaten. 5. Coney; a small animal inhabiting high, rocky places. Prov. 30:26. 10. An abomination; to be loathed and rejected. 13. Among the fowls; it is plain that the unclean birds here named are mostly, if not entirely, birds of prey, or such as feed on carrion. But the particular species can not, in all cases, be determined. 144 A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. 15 Every raven after his kind; 16 And the owl, and the nighthawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, 17 And the little owl, and the cormorant, and the great owl, 18 And the swan, and the pelican, and the gier- eagle, 19 And the stork, the heron after her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 20 All fowls that creep, going upon all four, shall be an abomination unto you: 21 Yet these may ye eat of. every flying creep ing thing that goeth upon all four, which have legs above their feet, to leap withal upon the earth ; 22 Even these of them ye may eat;g the locust: after his kind, and the bald locust after his kind, and the beetle after his kind, and the grasshopper after his kind. 23 But all other flying creeping things, which have four feet, shall be an abomination unto you. 24 And for these ye shall be unclean : whosoever toucheth the carcass of them shall be unclean until the even.h 25 And whosoever beareth aught of the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even.1 26 The carcasses of every beast which divideth the hoof, and is not cloven-footed, nor cheweth the cud, are unclean unto you: every one that toucheth them shall be unclean. 27 And whatsoever goeth upon his paws, among all manner of beasts that go on all four, those are unclean unto you : whoso toucheth their carcass shall be unclean until the even. 28 And he that beareth the carcass of them shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even :j they are unclean unto you. 29 IT These also shall be unclean unto you among the creeping things that creep upon the earth ; the weasel, and the mouse,k and the tortoise after his kind, liver. 8; ch. 17:15, 16. ich. 14:8; 15:5; Num. 19:10, 22; 31:24; Psa. 51:2. 7; Zech.l3:l; John13:8; Acts 22:10; Heb. 9:10; 10:22; 1 Fet. 3:21; Rev. 7:14. j ver. 24. k Isa. 00.17. 20. Fowls that creep; winged insects. See ver. 21-23. 21. Legs above their feet; those which, in addition to the feet on which they walk, have long legs with which to jump ; as locusts and grasshoppers. 23. Flying creeping things; as flies, wasps, and bees. 24. For tiiese; the creatures mentioned verses 26-28. Unclean until the even; not admitted to unite in public worship, or associate with others who uniteoMn it. 29. Creeping things; by these the Hebrews understand small animals that move with a low or a crawling motion, as well as serpents and worms. Few of the particular species here mentioned can be determined with any cer tainty. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. In eating and drinking, we should seek not merely to gratify appetite or preserve life, health, and reason, but to fit ourselves for the best discharge of our duties. Whatever as to kind, quality, or quantity, tends to unfit us for this, should be rejected. 1 Cor. 10:31. 8. Great attention and care are needful to avoid the commission of sin, and exposure to its punishment. 25. Pollution by sin, and need of spiritual cleansing by the Holy Ghost, were taught abundantly in the Jewish Unclean creeping things. LEVITICUS XII. Purification of women. RaS!' 30 And the ferret, and the chameleon, and the lizard, and the snail, and the mole. 31 These are unclean to you among all that creep ; whosoever doth touch them, when they be dead, shall be unclean until the even." 32 And upon whatsoever any of them, when they are dead, doth fall, it shall be unclean ; whether it be any vessel of wood, or raiment, or skin, or sack, whatsoever vessel it be, wherein any work is done, it must be put into water, and it shall be unclean until the even;" so it shall be cleansed. 33 And every earthen vessel whereinto any of them falleth, whatsoever is in it shall be unclean ; and ye shall break it.0 34 Of all meat which may be eaten, that on which such water cometh shall be unclean: and all drink that may be drunk in every such vessel shall be unclean. 35 And every thing whereupon any part of their carcass falleth shall be unclean ; whether it be oven, or ranges for pots, they shall be broken down -.for they are unclean, and shall be unclean unto you. 36 Nevertheless a fountain or pit, wherein there is plenty of water,* shall be clean : but that which toucheth their carcass shall be unclean. 37 And if any part of their carcass fall upon any sowing seed which is to be sown, it shall be clean. 38 But if any water be put upon the seed, and any part of their carcass fall thereon, it shall be unclean unto you. 39 And if any beast, of which ye may eat, die ; he that toucheth the carcass thereof shall be un clean until the even. 40 And he that eateth of the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even:d he also that beareth the carcass of it shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even. 41 And every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth shall be an abomination ; it shall not be eaten. 42 Whatsoever goeth upon the belly, and what soever goeth upon all four, or whatsoever hath more feet* among all creeping things that creep upon the earth, them ye shall not eat ; for they are an abomination. 43 Ye shall not make yourselves* abominable with any creeping thing that creepeth,e neither » Ver. 8; Hag. 2:13. bch. 15:12. = ch. 6:28; Psa. 2:9; Jer. 48:38; 2Tim. 2:21; Rev. 2:27. ' Heb. a gathering together of waters. <*ch. 17:15; 22:8; Deut. 14:21; Ezek. 4:14; 44:31; 1 Cor. 10:21. t Heb. doth multiply feet. JHeb. your souls, ach. 20:35. 'ch. 19:2; 20:7,26; Exod. 19:6; Amos3:3; ritual ; and none who understand its teaching, can be igno rant of the doctrine of human depravity and the necessity of being born again in order to see the kingdom of God. John 3:10. 45. Holiness is to all men the one thing needful. In every heart where it exists, it is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. . Hence, the reason why all men should hearken diligently to his voice speaking to them in the Bible, receive his teachings as infallible truth, and cordially obey them. t CHAPTER XII. 2. Unclean; ceremonially; not allowed to enjoy society, attend public ordinances, or eat of the offerings of which she might otherwise partake. Chap. 15 : 19-25. 4. Three and thirty days; during this time she might 10 shall ye make yourselves unclean with them, that ye should be defiled thereby. 44 For I am the Lord your God : ye shall there fore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy ; for I am holy : f neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 45 For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God :B ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. 46 This is the law of the beasts, and of the fowl, and of every living creature that moveth in the waters, and of every creature that creepeth upon the earth : 47 To make a difference between the unclean and the clean,11 and between the beast that may be eaten and the beast that may not be eaten. CHAPTER XII. 1 The purification of women after childbirth. 6 Her offerings for her purifying. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying. 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If a woman have conceived seed, and borne a man-child, then she shall be unclean seven days;1 according to the days of the separation for her infirmity shall she be unclean .J 3 And in the eighth day the flesh of his fore skin shall be circumcised." 4 And she shall then continue in the blood of her purifying three and thirty days; she shall touch no hallowed thing, nor come into the sanc tuary, until the days of her purifying be fulfilled. 5 But if she bear a maid-child, then she shall be unclean two weeks, as in her separation : and she shall continue in the blood of her purifying three score and six days. 6 And when the days of her purifying are ful filled,1 for a son, or for a daughter, she shall bring a lamb of the first year8 for a burnt-offering, and a young pigeon, or a turtledove, for a sin-offer ing, unto the door of the tabernacle of the con gregation, unto the priest: 7 Who shall offer it before the Lord, and make an atonement for her ; and she shall be cleansed from the issue of her blood. This is the law for her that hath borne a male or a female. Matt. 5:48 ; 1 Thess. 4:7; 1 Pet. 1:15, 16; Rev. 22:11 14. s Exod 6:7; 20:2; Psa. 105:43-45 Hos . 11:1. h ch. 10:10; Ezek. 44:23; Mal. 3:18. 1Jobl4:4; Psa. 51:5; Luke 2:22. i ch. 15:19. k Gen. 17:12; Luke 2:21; John 7:22, 23; Rom. 3 :19; Gal. 5:3. 1 Luke 2: 32 5 Heb. a son of his year. have society, but not attend public worship or partake of ordinances. 6-8. A burnt-offering — a sin-offering; these were to ex press her need of pardon, her gratitude to God for his mer cies, her faith in his great atonement, and her devotion of herself and all that she had to his service. Luke 2: 22-24. INSTRUCTIONS. 7. Parents have always been bound gratefully to recog nize the goodness of God in the birth of their children, to acknowledge their need of his mercy, and to train them for his service and glory. 8. The poor, as well as the rich, may have access to God, and be accepted of him. As to property, opportu nities, and capacities, God requires according to what men have, or may have, and not according to what they have not, or cannot have. 145 The tokens for discerning LEVITICUS XIII. the plague of leprosy. A 8 And if she be not able to bring a lamb* then she shall bring two turtles, or two young pigeons ;a the one for the burnt-offering, and the other for a sin-offering : and the priest shall make an atone ment for her, and she shall be clean. CHAPTER XIII. 1 The laws and tokens whereby the priest is to be guided in discerning the leprosy. ND the Lord spake unto Moses and Aarou, saying, 2 When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising,* a scab," or bright spot, and it be in the skin of his flesh like the plague of leprosy ; then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest,0 or unto one of his sons the priests : 3 And the priest shall look on the plague in the skin of the flesh : and when the hair in the plague is turned white, and the plague in sight be deeper than the skin of his flesh, it is a plague of leprosy : and the priest shall look on him, and pronounce him unclean. 4 If the bright spot be white in the skin of his flesh, and in sight be not deeper than the skin, and the hair thereof be not turned white ; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague seven days:3 5 And the priest shall look on him the seventh day : and behold, if the plague in his sight be at a stay, and the plague spread not in the skin ; then the priest shall shut him up seven days more : 6 And the priest shall lo.ok on him again the seventh day : and behold, if the plague be some what dark, and the plague spread not in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him clean : it is but a scab : and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 7 But if the scab spread much abroad in the skin, after that he hath been seen of the priest for his cleansing, he shall be seen of the priest again : 8 And if the priest see that, behold, the scab spreadeth in the skin, then the priest shall pro nounce him unclean : it is a leprosy. 9 1 When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought unto the priest ; 10 And the priest shall seehim:e and behold, if the rising be white in the skin, and it have turned the hair white, and there be quick raw flesh* in the rising ; 11 It is an old leprosy in the skin of his flesh, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean, and shall not shut him up : for he is unclean. • Heb. her hand find not sufficiency of a lamb, a ch. 5:7. t Or, swelling b Deut. 28:27; La. 3:17. e Deut. 17:8, 9; 21.8; Mal. 2:7; Luke 17:14. <1 Num. 12:15. e Num. 12: 10, 12; 2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chr. 26:19, 20. 1 Heb. CHAPTER XIII. 2. Leprosy; a foul disease covering the body with a kind of white scales ; from its loathsome and incurable character, it is often referred to as an emblem of sin. The terms, "arising, a scab, or bright spot," describe three different varieties in its form of appearing. 3. Unclean; leprous, and therefore to be excluded from divine ordinances and from society. 6. Dark.- or pale, dim, in opposition to bright. 146 12 And if a leprosy break out abroad bc S4' in the skin, and the leprosy cover all the skin of him that hath the plague from his head even to his foot, wheresoever the priest looketh ; 13 Then the priest shall consider: and behold, if the leprosy have covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague : it is all turned white :f he is clean. 14 But when raw flesh appeareth in him, he shall be unclean. 15 And the priest shall see the raw flesh, and pronounce him to be unclean : for the raw flesh is unclean : it is a leprosy. 16 Or if the raw flesh turn again, and be changed unto white, he shall come unto the priest ; 17 And the priest shall see him: and behold, if the plague be turned into white ; then the priest shall pronounce him clean that hath the plague: he is clean. 18 1 The flesh also, in which, even in the skin thereof, was a boil,8 and is healed, 19 And in the place of the boil there be a white rising, or a bright spot, white, and somewhat red dish, and it be showed to the priest ; 20 And if, when the priest seeth it, behold, it be in sight lower than the skin, and the hair thereof be turned white; the priest shall pronounce him unclean : it is a plague of leprosy broken out of the boil. 21 But if the priest look on it, and behold, there be no white hairs therein, and if it be not lower than the skin, but be somewhat dark; then the priest shall shut him up seven days :h 22 And if it spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a plague. 23 But if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not, it is a burning boil;1 and the priest shall pronounce him clean .J 24 1 Or if there be any flesh, in the skin whereof there is a hot burning,81' and the quick fksh that burnetii have a white bright spot, somewhat red dish, or white ; 25 Then the priest shall look upon it : and be hold, if the hair in the'bright spot be turned white, and it be in sight deeper than the skin ; it is a leprosy broken out of the burning: where fore the priest shall pronounce him unclean : it is the plague of leprosy. 26 But if the priest look on it, and behold, there be no white hair in the bright spot, and it be no lower than the other skin, but be somewhat dark ; then the priest shall shut him up seven days: the quickening of living flesli. f Isa. 04:0; John 9:41. g Exod. 9-9; 15:26. MCor.5:5 i Job 34:31 ; Prov. 2S:13; 1 Peter 4:3. J2Cor.2:7. I Heb. a burning of fire, k rsa,, 3. 21. 9. The plague of leprosy; another variety in its form, namely, the rising, ver. 10. 13. He is clean; either it is not a true, leprosy, or the lep rosy has in this way healed itself. 24. A hot burning; in the original, a burning of fire; which seems to mean a sore made by fire in which the plague of leprosy appears. Some, however, suppose that it is an inflamed sore. And tlie quick flesh that burneth have; or, "and the mark of the burning be," that is, break out into. Concerning leprosy in the LEVITICUS XIII. head, or in a garment. A.M. B.C. "'S' 27 And the priest shall look upon him the seventh day : and if it be spread much abroad in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean : it is the plague of leprosy. 28 And if the bright spot stay in his place, and spread not in the skin, but it be somewhat dark ; it is a rising of the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him clean : for it is an inflammation of the burning. 29 1 If a man or woman have a plague upon the head or the beard ;a 30 Then the priest shall see the plague : and be hold, if it be in sight deeper than the skin, and there be in it a yellow thin hair ; then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is a dry scall, even a leprosy upon the head or beard. 31 And if the priest look on the plague of the scall, and behold, it be not in sight deeper than the skin, and that there is no black hair in it ; then the priest shall shut up him that hath the plague of the scall seven days :D 32 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the plague : and behold, if the scall spread not, and there be in it no yellow hair, and the scall be not in sight deeper than the skin; 33 He shall be shaven, but the scall shall he not shave; and the priest shall shut up him that hath the scall seven days more : 34 And in the seventh day the priest shall look on the scall : and behold, if the scall be not spread in the skin, nor be in sight deeper than the skin ; then the priest shall pronounce him clean : and he shall wash his clothes, and be clean. 35 But if the scall spread much in the skin after his cleansing ;° 36 Then the priest shall look on him: and be hold, if the scall be spread in the skin, the priest shall not seek for yellow hair ; he is unclean. 37 But if the scall be in his sight at a stay, and tltat there is black hair grown up therein; the scall is healed, he is clean: and the priest shall pronounce him clean. 38 IT If a man also or a woman have in the skin of their flesh bright spots, even white bright spots ;d 39 Then the priest shall look : and behold, if the bright spots in the skin of their flesh be dark ish white, it is a freckled spot that groweth in the skin : he is clean. 40 And the man whose hair is fallen off his head," he is bald ; yet is he clean. 41 And he that hath his hair fallen off from the part of his head toward his face, he is forehead- bald ; yet is he clean. a 1 Kinjrs 8:38; 2 Chr. 6:29; Isa. 1:5 b ver 4-0. c verse. 7, 27; 2 Tim. 2:17; 3:13. d Eccl. 7:20; Eom. 7: 22, 23; Jas 3:2. • Heb. head is pilled. e Isa. 1:5. ' 2 Sam. 13:19; Ezra 9:3; Job :20; Jer. 36 24; Joel 2:13. S ch. 10:6; 21:10. a Ezek. 21:17, 22; Micah 3:7. i Job 42:6; Psa. 51:3, 5 Isa . 6:5 64:0; Rom. 3:23; 1 Cor. 0:11. j Prov . 30:12. k Num. 5:2; 12:14 2 Kings 7:3; 15:5; 2Chr. 26 21 Psa. 38:11; Lam. 1 : ; Luke 17:12; 30. Beard ; a disease in the part from which the beard grows, and affecting the beard itself. 31. There is no black liair in it ; the presence of this would be a favorable sign, ver. 37. Its absence makes the case doubtful. 39. Darkish white; or dullish white, in opposition to bright white spots. 45. A covering upon his upper lip; this was a sign of 42 And if there be in the bald head, or bald forehead, a white reddish sore; it is a leprosy sprung up in his bald head, or his bald fore head. 43 Then the priest shall look upon it : and be hold, if the rising of the sore be Avhite reddish in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, as the lep rosy appeareth in the skin of the flesh ; 44 He is a leprous man, he is unclean : the priest shall pronounce him utterly unclean ; his plague is in his head.0 45 And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent/ and his head bare,s and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip,11 and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.1 46 All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled ;j he is unclean : he shall dwell alone ;k without the camp shall his habita tion be. 47 1 The garment also that the plague of lep rosy is in,1 whether it be a woollen garment, or a. linen garment; . 48 Whether it be in the warp, or woof, of linen, or of woollen ; whether in a skin, or in any thing made* of skin ; 49 And if the plague be greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing* of skin; it is a plague pf leprosy, and shall be showed unto the priest : 50 And the priest shall look upon the plague, and shut up it that hath the plague seven days : 51 And he shall look on the plague on the sev enth day : if the plague be spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in a skin, or in any work that is made of skin ; the plague is a fretting leprosy ;™ it is unclean. 52 He shall therefore burn that garment," wheth er warp or woof, in woollen or in linen, or any thing of skin, wherein the plague is : for it is a fretting leprosy ; it shall be burnt in the fire. 53 And if the priest shall look, and behold, the plague be not spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin ; 54 Then the priest shall command that they wash the thing wherein the plague is, and he shall shut it up seven days more : 55 And the priest shall look on the plague, after that it is washed :° and behold, if the plague have not changed his color, and the plague be not spread, it is unclean ; thou shalt burn it in the fire ; it is fret inward, whetlier it be bare within or without.3 lCor.5:5,13; 2Thess.3:6; lTim.6:5; Rev. 21:27; 22:15. 1 Josh. 7:21; Eccl. 9:8; Isa. 01:10; 04:6; Zech. 3:3, 4; Jas. 5:2; Judo 23; Rev. 4:4; 16:15. t Heb. work of . t Heb. vessel, or instrument, rn ch. 14:44. n ch. 11:33; Deut. 7:25, 26; Isa. 30:22; Acts 19:19, 20. » Ezelc. 24:13; Heb. 0:4-8; 2Pet.l:9; 2:20-22. 5 Heb. bald in the head thereof, or in thefore- head thereof. mourning and humiliation. Ezek. 24:17, 22; Micah 3:7. Unclean, unclean; as a warning to others not to approach him. 47. The plague of leprosy; some infection that had a general resemblance to leprosy. 51. A fretting leprosy; corroding and destroying the cloth. 55. Bare; deprived of its nap. Within or without; on the inner or outer side of the garment. Rites and sacrifices LEVITICUS XIV. in cleansing the leper. 56 And if the priest look, and behold, the plague be somewhat dark after the washing of it ; then he shall rend it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof : 57 And if it appear still in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in any thing of skin; it is a spreading plague: thou shalt burn that wherein the plague is with fire." 58 And the garment, either warp, or woof, or whatsoever thing of skin it be, which thou shalt wash, if the plague be departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and shall be clean. 59 This is the law of the plague of leprosy in a garment of woollen or linen, either in the warp, or woof, or any thing of skins, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean. CHAPTER XIV. 1 The rites and sacrifices in cleansing of the leper. 33 The signs of leprosy in a house. 43 The cleansing of that house. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 This shall be the law of .the leper in the day of his cleansing: He shall be brought unto the priest:" 3 And the priest shall go forth out of the camp; and the priest shall look, and behold, if the plague of leprosy be healed in the leper ; 4 Then shall the priest command to take for him that is to be cleansed two birds* alive and clean, and cedar-wood,0 and scarlet, and hyssop:4 a Isa. 33:11; Matt. 3:12; 25:41 ; Rev. 21:8. b Matt. 8:2, 4; Mark 1:44; Luke 5:12, 14; 17:14. • Or, sparrows. ' Num. 19:6; Heb. 9:19. d Psa. 51:7. ever. 50. ' Num. 19:18. 19; Isa. 52: 15; Ezek. 36:25; John 19:31; Heb. 9:13, 21; 12:21; 1 John 5:6. B 2 Kings 5:10, 14; Psa. 51:2. t Heb. 56. Out of the warp, or out of the woof; as neither the warp nor the woof could be removed separately, the meaning seems to be, that by rending out the part affected, he shall remove the leprosy, whether it have its seat in the warp or the woof. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Sin occasions a great variety of diseases, and will finally consign the body to the grave, and the soul, unless cleansed from its pollution, to perdition. All should therefore be solicitous to know whether they are under its power ; and if so, to apply without delay to Him who can say with effect, I will ; be thou clean. Matt. 8 : 3. 7. In doubtful cases, persons should not be hasty in deciding upon their own spiritual state. They should obtain all the light they can from experienced ministers and Christians ; from self-examination, from the Scriptures, and religious books. Above all, they should go habitually to God, earnestly praying, Search me, 0 God, and know my heart ; try me, and know my thoughts ; and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way ever lasting. Psa. 139 : 23, 24. 11. Old habits of sin, unless they are effectually re nounced and forsaken, will revive and break out at times into flagrant transgression, and the last state of a man be worse than the first. Matt. 12:45. 17. Ministers of the gospel, and those who are called not only to judge of their own state, but to give directions to others, need great wisdom. They should be familiar with the Scriptures, well acquainted with themselves, and accustomed in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, to make known their requests unto God. Eph. 6:18; Phil. 4:6. 28. Not every sin of which a man may have been guilty, of itself merely, proves him to be in an unregenerate state ; while no transgression of God's law, known, allowed, and persevered in, or not repented of and forsaken, can con sist with a gracious and safe state. 148 5 And the priest shall command that one b. c! urn. of the birds be killed in an earthen vessel over running water .e 6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar-wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water : 7 And he shall sprinklef upon him that is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times,8 and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose into the open field.* 8 And he that is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes,11 and shave off all his hair, and wash him self in water/ that he may be clean: and after that he shall come into the camp, and shall tarry abroad out of his tent seven days. 9 But it shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off:j and he shall wash his clothes, also he shall wash his flesh in water, and he shall be clean. 10 And on the eighth day he shall take two he- lambs without blemish," and one ewe-lamb of the first year* without blemish, and three tenth-deals of fine flour for a meat-offering,1 mingled with oil, and one log of oil : 11 And the priest that maketh him clean shall present the man that is to be made clean,™ and those things, before the Lord, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. upon the face of the field, b ch. 13:6. i ch. 11:25; Eph. 5:26; Heb. 10:22; IPet. 3:21; Rev. 1:5, 6. j Num. 6:9; 8:7. t ver. 23. t Heb. the daughter of her year. 1 ch. 2:1 ; Num. 15:4, 15. m Num. 8:11, 21 ; Eph. 5:26, 27; Jude 21. 44. Persons may be free from one kind of sin, and yet deeply involved in another ; and we are not to conclude that we are not under condemnation becanse we are not guilty of all sorts of transgressions, of sins which others practise, or which are known to our fellow-men ; but we are to search out and forsake all iniquity; crying unto God, Cleanse thou me from secret faults, as well as, Keep me back from presumptuous transgressions. Psa. 19 : 12-14. 46. Sin is contagious, and all suitable efforts should be made to prevent one wicked person from corrupting others ; we should not have for our companions any who lead us into sin. 1 Cor. 15 : 33 ; Psa. 1:1; Prov. 4 : 1 4, 15 ; 13 : 20. 57. We should avoid not only the commission of sin, but the occasions of it ; and make' whatever sacrifice is needful to be delivered from its power. Matt. 5: 29, 30 ; 6: 13. CHAPTER XIV. 4 Scarlet ; wool dyed red. Hyssop ; a bushy plant of a spicy, fragrant smell, much used in ceremonial cleansings. Exod. 12:22. 5. Running water ; living, fresh water, in distinction from that which is stagnant, or has been long standing. 6, 7. Shall dip them — shall sprinkle — shall let the living bird loose; the fragrant hyssop and cedar wood, the bright scarlet, and the running water, are all symbols of purity, as the blood is of cleansing. The sprinkling of the man with these is a sign of his purification. The living bird is first symbolically purified by being dipped in the blood and water, along with the hyssop, cedar wood, and scarlet. Then it is let go free, to signify that the leper thus purified is set free and restored to the camp. But he needs a fur ther expiation before he can be restored to the privileges of the sanctuary, as the sacred writer proceeds to state. 10. Three tenth-deals; a tenth-deal, or an omer, is the tenth of an ephah. Exod. 16 : 36. One log; somewhat moro than half a pint. 11. Maketh him clean; cleanses him ceremonially, as described in the following verses. Cleansing the leper. LEVITICUS XIV. Leprosy in a house. A. M. 2514. B. C 1490. 12 And the priest shall take one he-lamb, and offer him for a trespass-offering,11 and the log of oil, and wave them for a wave-offering before the Lord." 13 And he shall slay the lamb in the place where he shall kill the sin-offering and the burnt- offering, in the holy place : for as the sin-offering is the priest's,0 so is the trespass-offering : it is most holy : 14 And the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass-offering, and the priest shall put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed,"1 and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 15 And the priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand : 16 And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle of the oil with his finger seven times before the Lord : 17 And of the rest of the oil that is in his hand shall the priest put upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed,0 and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass-offering: 18 And the remnant of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall pour upon the head of him that is to be cleansed : and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord/ 19 And the priest shall offer the sin-offering, and make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed from his uncleanness ; and afterward he shall kill the burnt-offering : 20 And tlie priest shall offer the burnt-offering and the meat-offering upon the altar: and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and he shall be clean. 21 And if he be poor,8 and cannot get* so much ; then he shall take one lamb for a trespass-offer ing to be waved/ to make an atonement for him, and one tenth-deal of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering, and a log of oil ; 22 And two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get ; and the one shall be a sin-offering, and the other a burnt-offering. 23 And he shall bring them on the eighth day for his cleansing unto the priest, unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, before the Lord. 24 And the priest shall take the lamb of the tres pass-offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave-offering before the Lord:11 25 And lie shall kill the lamb of the trespass- offering, and the priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass-offering,1 and put it upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot. 26 And the priest shall pour of the oil into the palm of his own left hand : »Ch. 5:18; 6:0. b Exod. 29:24. <=ch.7:7. d ch. 8.23. e ver. 14. fch. 4:28; 5:0. 8 ch. 5:7; 12:8. • Heb. his hand reach not. t Heb. for a wav ing. !• ver. 12. i ver. 14, 17. j ver. 22; ch. 15:14, 15. k Psa. 72: 12-14; 17, 18. Ear — thumb — toe — head; in token that allhis mem bers and faculties need cleansing through the efficacy of the atonement, by the Holy Spirit; and should all be con secrated to the service of God. 27 And the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before the Lord : 28 And the priest shall put of the oil that is in his hand upon the tip of the right ear of him that is to be cleansed, and upon the thumb of his right hand, and upon the great toe of his right foot, upon the place of the blood of the trespass-offering : 29 And the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand, he shall put upon the head of him that is to be cleansed, to make an atonement for him be fore the Lord. 30 And he shall offer the one of the turtledoves,1 or of the young pigeons, such as he can get ; 31 Even such as he is able to get, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, with the meat-offering : and the priest shall make an atonement for him that is to be cleansed be fore the Lord. 32 This is the law of him in whom is the plague of leprosy, whose hand is not able to get that which pertaineth to his cleansing.1' 33 IT And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 34 When ye be come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession,1 and I put the plague of leprosy in a house of the land of your possession;111 35 And he that owneth the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, It seemeth to me there is as it were a plague in the house :n 36 Then the priest shall command that they empty* the house, before the priest go into it to see the plague, that all that is in the house be not made unclean : and afterwards the priest shall go in to see the house : 37 And he shall look on the plague, and behold, if the plague be in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, which in sight are lower than the wall ; 38 Then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days:" 39 And the priest shall come again the seventh day, and shall look : and behold, if the plague be spread in the walls of the house ; 40 Then the priest shall command that they take away the stones in which the plague is, and they shall cast them into an unclean place with out the city :p 41 And he shall cause the house to be scraped within round about, and they shall pour out the dust that they scrape off without the city into an unclean place: 42 And they shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and. shall plaster the house. 43 And if the plague come again,0- and break Matt. 11:5. ¦ Gen. 12:7; 13:17; 17:8; Deut. 32:49. "> Prov. 3:33; Amos 6:11. n Psa. 91:10; Prov. 3:33; Zech. 5:4. 1 Or, prepare. ° ch. 13:50. P Rev. 22:15. q Heb. 6:4-3; 2 Pet. 2:20, 22; Jude 12. 37. If the plague be in the walls; this has been supposed to be something corrosive, which caused the walls to moulder away. Lower than the wall; indentations or hol low places in the wall. 149 The leprous house. LEVITICUS XV. Uncleanness of men. out in the house, after that he hath taken away the stones, and after he hath scraped the house, and after it is plastered ; 44 Then the priest shall come and look, and be hold, if the plague be spread in the house, it ts a fretting leprosy in the house:" it is unclean. 45 And he shall break down the house," the stones of it, and the timber thereof, and all the mortar of the house; and he shall carry them forth out of the city into an unclean place. 46 Moreover, he that goeth into the house all the while that it is shut up shall be unclean until the even.0 47 And he that lieth in the house shall wash his clothes ; and he that eateth in the house shall wash his clothes. 48 And if the priest shall come in,* and look upon it, and behold, the plague hath not spread in the house, after the house was plastered ; then the priest shall pronounce the house clean,d because the plague is healed. 49 And he shall take to cleanse the house two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop;0 50 And he shall kill the one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water : 51 And he shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times : 52 And he shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, and with the living bird, and with the cedar wood, and with the hyssop, and with the scarlet : 53 But he shall let go the living bird out of the city into the open fields, and make an atonement for the house ; f and it shall be clean. >Ch. 13:51; Zech. 5:4. b 1 Kings 9:6-9; 2 Kings 10:27; 18:4; Jer. 52:13; Matt 24:2. c ch. 22:0; Num. 19:22. * Heb. in coming in shall come in, etc d 1 Cor. 6:11. e ver. 4. f ver. 20. B Deut. 24:8. b ch. 13:30. i ch. 13-47 j ver. 34. k 0h. 13:2. 1 Ezek. 44:23. t Heb. ra the day of the 44. Fretting leprosy; eating away the walls, or causing them to decay. 53. Let go the living bird ; signifying that the house, thus purified, is free to the use of its owner. See above on ver. 6, 7. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. When any one has reason to believe that he is deliv ered from the reigning power of sin, he should make it known, and seek admission to the fellowship of the church. 8. He who is really cleansed from the pollution of sin, will gratefully acknowledge his indebtedness for the bless ing to the grace of God in Jesus Christ, and will seek to purify himself more and more, and to perfect holiness in the fear of God. 12. The change which has been wrought in a sinner when he becomes pious, is never to be ascribed to him self or to creatures, but always to God, and the glory to be given to Him. 21. Although a man who repents and forsakes his sins, is pardoned through faith in Christ, yet, to be saved, he must devote his powers of body and mind as an offering of gratitude to his service. 32. None are excluded from the benefits of Christ's sal vation on account of their poverty ; nor can any be saved except through faith in him, and consecration to his ser vice and gloiy. 45. Not only our souls, but our bodies, and all that we possess, are affected by sin. Moth and rust corrupt; 150 54 This is the law for all manner of plague Vel lSa of leprosy,8 and scall,h 55 And for the leprosy of a garment,' and of a house,j 56 And for a rising,k and for a scab, and for a bright spot : 57 To teach when it is unclean,1 and when it is clean/ this is the law of leprosy. CHAPTER XV. 1 The uncleanness of men in their issues. 13 The cleansing of them. 19 The uncleanness of women in their issues. 28 Their cleansing. AND the Lord spake unto Moses and to Aaron> saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When any man hath a running issue* out of his flesh,"1 because of his issue he is unclean. 3 And this shall be his uncleanness in his issue : whether his flesh run with his issue, or his flesh be stopped from his issue, it is his uncleanness. 4 Every bed, whereon he lieth that hath the issue, is unclean : and every thing,8 whereon he sitteth, shall be unclean. 5 And whosoever toucheth his bed shall wash his clothes," and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 6 And he that sitteth on any thing whereon he sat that hath the issue shall wash his clothes,0 and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 7 And he that toucheth the flesh of him that hath the issue shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 8 And if he that hath the issue spit upon him that is clean ; then he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. unclean, awl in the day of the clean I Or, running of the reins, tn ch. 22:4; Num. 5:2; 2 Sam. 3:29; Matt. 9:20; Mark 7:20-23. i Heb. vessel. "ch. 11:25; 17:15. ° Isa. 1:16; Jas. 4:8. thieves break through and steal. The earthly house of this tabernacle must be dissolved ; the earth and all in it burnt up. Happy they, and they only, who have a build ing of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. CHAPTER XV. 1. The Lord spake; the evils about which he speaks in this chapter, and which have prevailed more or less in all ages and countries, may some of them have resulted from natural diseases, and others from diseases occasioned by vicious indulgence. All either directly or indirectly spring from sin ; and should teach us the necessity, in order to escape endless death, of being delivered from the power of sin. 3. Be stopped; he speaks not of a healthy, but of an un natural stoppage. INSTRUCTIONS. 7. With depraved hearts, and in a, world of temptation, we are always exposed to contract moral pollution ; and need to be kept, by the restraining and purifying grace of God, from its defiling power. 15. Nothing can avail to the pardon of sin, and the sanc tification of the soul, but the atoning blood of Christ effi caciously applied by the Holy Ghost. 22. Sin is contagious ; and all occasions of being defiled with it, in thought, word, or deed, should be carefully guarded against, and the prayer offered to God continually, " Lead us not into temptation ; but deliver us from eviL" Ceremonial LEVITICUS XVI. purifications. k ?•» 9 And what saddle soever he rideth upon that hath the issue shall be unclean. 10 And whosoever toucheth any thing that was under him shall be unclean until the even : and he that beareth any of those things shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be un clean until the even. 11 And whomsoever he toucheth that hath the issue, and hath not rinsed his hands in water, he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 12 And the vessel of earth," that he toucheth which hath the issue, shall be broken :b and every vessel of wood shall be rinsed in water. 13 And when he that hath an issue is cleansed of his issue, then he shall number to himself seven days for his cleansing,0 and wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in running water, and shall be clean. 14 And on the eighth day he shall take to him two turtledoves, or two young pigeons,"1 and come before the Lord unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and give them unto the priest: 15 And the priest shall offer them, the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him before the Lord for his issue. 16 And if any man's seed of copulation go out from him, then he shall wash all his flesh in water, and be unclean until the even.0 17 And every garment, and every skin, whereon is the seed of copulation, shall be washed with water, and be unclean until the even. 18 The woman also with whom man shall lie with seed of copulation, they shall both bathe them selves in water,' and be unclean until the even. 19 T And if a woman have an issue,6 and her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart* seven days : and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even. 20 And every thing that she lieth upon in her separation shall be unclean : every thing also that she sitteth upon shall be unclean. 21 And whosoever toucheth her bed shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be un clean until the even. 22 And whosoever toucheth any thing that she sat upon shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 23 And if it be on her bed, or on any thing whereon she sitteth, when he toucheth it, he shall be unclean until the even. 24 And if any man lie with her at all, and her flowers be upon him,11 he shall be unclean seven »Ch. 6:28; 11:33. b Psa. 2:0. c ver. 28: ch. 14:22-31. • eh. 22:4; Deut. 23:10. f Exod 14:8; Num. 19:11, 12. d ch. 19:15; 1 Sam. 21:4; Psa. 51:5; 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:3-5; Heb. 13:4. E ch. 12:2. • Heb. in her separation, h ch. 20:18; Ezek. 18:0; 22:10. i Mark 5:25; Luke 8:43. 31. The great object of God in his regulations is, that men may be holy in body and spirit, and offer unto him acceptable service, through Jesus Christ, their strength and Redeemer. CHAPTER XVI. In this chapter are described the solemn rites con nected with the great day of atonement. On this day alone days ; and all the bed whereon he lieth shall be unclean. 25 And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation,' or if it run beyond the time of her separation ; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation : she shall be unclean. 26 Every bed whereon she lieth all the days of her issue shall be unto her as the bed of her sepa ration : and whatsoever she sitteth upon shall be unclean, as the uncleanness of her separation. 27 And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even. 28 But if she be cleansed of her issue,j then she shall number to herself seven days, and after that she shall be clean. 29 And on the eighth day she shall take unto her two turtles, or two young pigeons, and bring them unto the priest, to the door of the taber nacle of the congregation. 30 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin- offering, and the other for a burnt-offering ; and the priest shall make an atonement for her before the Lord for the issue of her uncleanness. 31 Thus shall ye separate the children of Israel from their uncleanness ;k that they die not in their uncleanness, when they defile my tabernacle that is among them.1 32 This is the law of him that hath an issue, and of him whose seed goeth from him, and is defiled therewith ; 33 And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is un clean. CHAPTER XVI. 1 How the high-priest must enter into the holy place. 11 The sin- offering for himself. 15 The sin-offering for the people. 20 The scape-goat. 29 The yearly feast of the expiations. AND the Lord spake unto Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron,1" when they offered before the Lord, and died ; 2 And the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the veil before the mercy-seat, which is- upon the ark;11 that he die not : for I will appear in the cloud upon the mer cy-seat.0 3 Thus shall Aaron come into the holy place ;p with a young bullock for a sin-offering, and a ram for a burnt-offering. q 4 He shall put on the holy linen coat, and he j ver 13-15. k ch. 11:47; Ezek. 44:23; Heb. 12:15. 1 ch. 19:30; 21:23; Num 5:3; 19:13,20; Ezek. 5:11; 23:38; 44:5-7; Dan. 9:27; 1 Cor. 3:17. 10:1,2. n Exod. 30:10; Heb. 9:7, 8; 10:19. ° Exod. 25:22; 1 Kings m ch. 8:10; Psa. 18:11. P Heb. 9:7, etc. qch.4:3. the high-priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. Thus the people were constantly reminded that the way by which sinners can approach a holy God was not yet made manifest. Heb, 9:8, At our Lord's cruoifixion the veil that covered the Most Holy place was rent in twain from the top to the bottom, Matt. 27:51; the Holy Ghost thus signifying that now the way of approach to God was laid open to all through the blood of Christ. 151 The high-priest's yearly LEVITICUS XVI. entering the Holy of Holies. shall have the linen breeches upon his flesh, and shall be girded with a linen girdle, and with the linen mitre shall he be attired:11 these are holy garments; therefore shall he wash his flesh in water, and so put them on.b 5 And he shall take of the congregation of the children of Israel two kids of the goats for a sin- offering, and one ram for a burnt-offering.0 6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin- offering, which is for himself, and make an atone ment for himself, and for his house.4 7 And he shall take the two goats, and present them before the Lord at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 8 And Aaron shall cast lots upon the two goats ; one lot for the Lord, and the other lot for the scape-goat.* 9 And Aaron shall bring the goat upon which the Lord's lot fell,+ and offer him for a sin-offering. 10 But the goat, on which the lot fell to be the scape-goat, shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make an atonement with him,0 and to let him go for a scape-goat into the wilderness. 11 And Aaron shall bring the bullock of the sin-offering, which is for himself, and shall make an atonement for himself, and for his house, and shall kill the bullock of the sin-offering which is for himself. 12 And he shall take a censerf full of burning coals of fire from off the altar before the Lord,s and his hands full of sweet incense beaten small,11 and bring it within the veil : 13 And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord,1 that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy-seat that is upon the testi mony^ that he die not: 14 And he shall take of the blood of the bul lock,11 and sprinkle it with his finger upon the mercy-seat eastward; and before the mercy -seat shall he sprinkle of the blood with his finger seven times. 15 1 Then shall he kill the goat of the sin-offer ing,1 that is for the people, and bring his blood within the veil,"1 and do with that blood as he did with the blood of the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat, and before the mercy-seat. «Ch. 0:10; Exod. 23:39-13; Ezek. 44:17; Matt. 22:11, 12. b ch. 8:0; Exod. 30:20. c ch. 4:14. d 0h. 9:7; Heb. 5:2, 3; 7:27, 28; 9:7. • " Heh. Azazel. t Heb. went up. e Isa. 53:5, 6; 2 Cor. 5:21 ; Heb. 7:27; 9:23, 25. ' eh. 10:1; Num. 16:18, 46. e Isa. 6:6, 7. h Exod. 30:34-38; Rev. 8:3, 4. >Exod.30:8. j Exod. 25: 21 . k ch. 4:5, 0; Heb. 9:13-25. 1 ver. 5-9. m ver. 2; Heb. 6:19; 9:3, 7, 12. » Exod. 29:36; Ezek. 45:18; Heb. 9:22, 23. 5. Two kids— for a sin-offering; both the goats consti tuted together one expiatory offering, though but one of them was sacrificed. 6. Shall offer his bullock; this is spoken by anticipation; its actual sacrifice is described ver. 11. 8. For tlie Lord; that is, to be sacrificed to the Lord. 9. Offer him for a sin-offering ; this also is spoken by anticipation. See ver. 15. 10. To make an atonement with him ; in the Hebrew, to make an atonement upon him, namely, by typically laying upon his head the sins of the people, to be borne away by him. Ver. 20-22. 11. Make an atonement for himself; being a sinner, he must first offer his own sin-offering, before he could pre sent that of the people. Heb. 7 : 27. 15. Bring his blood within the veil ; into the Holy of Holies. 152 16 And he shall make an atonement for b'.c:uso: the holy place? because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgres sions in all their sins : and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth* among them in the midst of their uncleanness. 17 And there shall be no man in the tabernacle of the congregation when he goeth in to make an atonement in the holy place,0 until he come out, and have made an atonement for himself, and for his household, and for all the congregation of Israel. 18 And he shall go out unto the altar that is before the Lord, and make an atonement for it ;p and shall take of the blood of the bullock, and of the blood of the goat, and put it upon the horns of the altar round about. 19 And he shall sprinkle of the blood upon it with his finger seven times, and cleanse it, and hallow it from the uncleanness of the children of Israel.11 20 If And when he hath made an end of recon ciling the holy place? and the tabernacle pf the congregation, and the altar, he shall bring the live goat: 21 And Aaron shall lay both his hands upon the head of the live goat, and confess over him all the iniquities of the children of Israel,8 and all their transgressions in all their sins, putting them upon the head of the goat,1 and shall Send him away by the hand of a fit man§ into the wilder ness: 22 And the goat shall bear upon him all their iniquities11 unto a land not inhabited :,v and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness. 23 And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen gar ments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there: 24 And he shall wash his flesh with water in the holy place, and put on his garments, and come forth, and offer his burnt-offering, and the burnt- offering of the people, and make an atonement for himself, and for the people. 25 And the fat of the sin-offering shall he burn upon the altar .w I Heb. dwelleth. ° Exod. 34:3; Heb. 9:7. P Exod. 30:10. q Ezek. 43:18- 22. r Ezek. 45:20; Col. 1:20. ' ch. 26:40; Psa. 32:5; Prov. 2f:13; Rom. 10:10. t Isa. 53:6. § Heb. aman of opportunity, u Isa. 53:11. 12; John 1:29; Heb. 9:28; 1 Pet. 2:24. 1 Heb. of separation, v Psa. 103:12. » ch. 4:S-10. This beautifully typifies Christ entering into the presence of God with his own blood, and presenting it before the Father as a perfect atonement for the sins of his people. . Heb. 9:23, 24. 16-19. Because of the uncleanness qfthe children of Israel; thus signifying that so deep and universal is the pollution of sinners, that all their services, and every thing with which they have to do, needs purifying by the blood of Christ. 20. Reconciling the holy place — the tabernacle — tlie altar; making atonement for them, according to ver. 16. 21. Putting them upon the head of the goat ; typically trans ferring them to him ; as if he were to carry them away, and thus the people be delivered from them and their consequences : thus pointing to Christ and his salvation. Isa. 53:4-12; John 1:29; Rom. 4:25; 1 Pet. 2:24; 3:18,; 1 John 2:2. A fit man; or, a man ready at hand. The day of atonement. LEVITICUS XVII. The offering of blood. B.aS4- 26 And he that let go the goat for the scape-goat shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water,a and afterward come into the camp. 27 And the bullock for the sin-offering, and the goat for the sin-offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, shall orie carry forth without the camp;0 and they shall burn in the fire their skins, and their flesh, and their dung. 28 And he that burneth them shall wash his clothes, and bathe his flesh in water, and after ward he shall come, into the camp. 29 *\\ And this shall be a statute for ever unto you : that in the seventh month,0 on the tenth day of the month, ye shall afflict your souls,4 and do no work at all, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger that sojourneth among you : 30 For on that day shall the priest make an atonement for you, to cleanse you,0 that ye may be clean from all your sins before the Lord. 31 It shaU be a sabbath of rest unto you,f and ye shall afflict your souls, by a statute for ever. 32 And the priest,8 whom he shall anoint, and whom he shall consecrate* to minister in the priest's office in his father's stead, shall make the atonement, and shall put on the linen clothes, even the holy garments : 33 And he shall make an atonement for the holy sanctuary,11 and he shall make an atonement for the tabernacle of the congregation, and for the altar: and he shall make an atonement for the priests, and for all the people of the congregation. 34 And this shall be an everlasting statute unto you,1 to make an atonement for the children of Israel for all their sins once a year.j And he did as the Lord commanded Moses. i Ver. 23; ch. 15:5 bch. 4:12. 2 ;0:30; Heb. 13: 11. cch. 23 27; Exod. 30:10; Num 29:7. i Isa. 53:3, 5; Han. IO:! , 12. e Psa. 51 2; Jer . 33-.S; Ezek. 36:25 Eph. 5 20; Heb. 9:13 14; 10:1, 2; 1 John 1:7.9 ch 23:32. 5 ch. 4:3-10 •Heb fill his hand. b ver. 16; Exod 29:36,37 ch 23:31. 26. Stall wash his clothes; being typically defiled by con tact with the scape-goat upon which the sins of the peo ple had been laid. So, ver. 28, he that burns the flesh of the two sin-offerings without the camp, is commanded to do the same thing. 29. Seventh month; Tishri; answering to the last part of September and the first part of October. It was the first month of the civil, and the seventh of the ecclesiastical year. 31. Afflict your souls; mourn over, confess, and forsake their sins. 34. An everlasting statute; perpetual, to the end of the Jewish dispensation. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. In the dealings of God with men, his justice is no less conspicuous than his mercy. Those who approach him must do it not only with filial confidence, but with rever ence and holy fear — in the way of his appointment, and for the purpose of honoring him as well as of obtaining benefits for themselves and their fellow-men. 6. Often are we taught that the most holy men, in their most holy duties, need the influence of atoning blood, and the life-giving communications of the Holy Ghost. 15. Christ has not only made a full atonement for sin, and procured the blessings of the Holy Spirit, but has entered into heaven itself, and there ever lives to make effec tual intercession for all who come unto God through him. 22. As far as the east is from the west, so far he removes the transgressions of all who trust in him ; so CHAPTER XVII. 1 The blood of all slain heasts must be- offered to the Lord at the door of the tabernacle. 7 They must not offer to devils. 10 All eating of blood is forbidden, 15 and all that dieth alone or is torn. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, sayiDg, 2 Speak unto Aaron, and unto his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, This is the thing which the Lord hath commanded, saying, 3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel,11 that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp, 4 And bringeth it not unto the door of the taber nacle of the congregation, to offer an offering unto the Lord before the tabernacle of the Lord ; blood shall be imputed unto that man;1 he hath shed blood ; and that man shall be cut off from among his people : 5 To the end that the children of Israel may bring ^Jieir sacrifices, which they offer in the open field,1" even that they may bring them unto the Lord, unto the door of the tabernacle of the con gregation, unto the priest, and offer them for peace-offerings unto the Lord. 6 And the priest shall sprinkle the blood upon the altar of the Lord at the door of the taber nacle of the congregation," and burn the fat for a sweet savor unto the Lord.0 7 And they shall no more offer their sacrifices unto devils," after whom they have gone a whor ing.0- This shall be a statute for ever unto them throughout their generations. 8 IT And thou shalt say unto them, "Whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel,1" or of the strangers which sojourn among you, that offereth a burnt-offering or sacrifice, j Exod. 30:10; Heb. 9:7. 25. k Deut. 12:5. 6, 21. 1 Rom. 5:13. " Gen. 31:54; 2 Chr. 28:4; Ezek. 20:28; 22:9. nch.3:2. oExod.29:13. P Dsut. 32:17; 2 Chr. 11:15; Psa. 100:37; 1 Cor. 10:20; Rev. 9:20. q ch. 20:5; Ezek. 23:8. rVer. 4. that they will never rise in this world to their shame, nor in the future to their condemnation. 28. The perpetual offerings of blood, and the perpetual applications of water, under the Old Testament dispensa tion, show our perpetual need of pardoning mercy through Christ, and of the cleansing influences of his Spirit, in order to preparation for heaven. 34. Stated seasons, according to divine appointment, of rest from worldly business, cares, and amusements, to search out and confess their sins, acknowledge and adore Jehovah, and seek his blessing on themselves and others, have been observed by the people of God, and been sea sons of great comfort and benefit to them in all ages of the world. CHAPTER XVII. 3. That killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat; some understand these words to mean, that whoever would kill for food any animal used in sacrifice, should bring it to the door of the tabernacle, and offer to the Lord that part pre scribed for a peace-offering ; the object of this law being to prevent Secret sacrifices to devils, ver. 7. But since it is expressly said that this shall be " a statute for ever," while, in Deut. 12 : 4-16, they are required, after their en trance into Canaan, to bring only their sacrifices to the tabernacle, and have full liberty to " kill and eat flesh in all their gates," others suppose that the present passage also refers only to sacrifices. 4. He hath shed blood; is to be accounted as a murderer. Compare Isa. 66:3. 153 Eating of blood forbidden. LEVITICUS XVIII. Unlawful marriages. 9 And bringeth it not unto the door of the tab ernacle of the congregation, to offer it unto the Lord ; even that man shall be cut off from among his people. 10 If And whatsoever man there be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, that eateth any manner of blood;" I will even set my face against that soul that eateth blood,0 and will cut him off from among his people. 11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood;0 and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls :d for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.0 12 Therefore I said unto the children of Israel, No soul of you shall eat blood, neither shall any stranger that sojourneth among you eat blood. 13 And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth* and catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even ppir out the blood thereof/ and cover it with dust.g 14 For it is the life of all flesh ;h the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh; for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off. 15 And every soul that eateth that+ which died of itself1 or that which was torn with beasts, whether it be one of your own country, or a stranger,j he shall both wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until the even : then shall he be clean. 16 But if he wash them not, nor bathe his flesh ; then he shall bear his iniquity .k CHAPTER XVIII. 1 Unlawful marriages. 19 Unlawful lusts. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the Lord your God.1 3 After the doings of the land of Egypt,"1 wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do : and after the doings of tlie land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do : neither shall ye walk in their ordinances. 4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordi nances, to walk therein :n I am the Lord your God. 5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my » Gen. 9:4; ch. 7:23, 27; Deut. 12: 10, 23; Ezek. 44:7. b Ezek. 11:8. c ver. 14. d Matt. 26:28; Rom. 5:9; Eph. 1:7; Heb. 13:12; Rev. 1:5. e Heb. 9:22. • Heb. that hunteth any hunting. ' Deut. 15:23. B Ezek. 21:7. h ver. 11. I Heb. a carcass. ' ch. 22:8; Deut. 14:21; Ezek. 4:14; 41:31. ich. 11:25. k Num. 19:19, 20. 1 Exod. 6:7. m Psa. 106:35; Ezek. 10. Eateth any manner of blood; the eating of blood was forbidden, to produce a more sacred regard to human life, and to the atonement of which blood was the emblem. Ver. 11-14. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. In all things, especially things connected with the worship of God, we should be careful to follow his direc tions, and avoid both the reality and the appearance of worshipping any one but Jehovah. 7. Worship presented to any but Jehovah is peculiarly offensive in his sight, and exposes those who render it to his indignation. 12. God requires, and in various ways inculcates, a sa cred regard to human life ; and especially to the great atone ment which he has made by the shedding of that blood 154 judgments: which if a man do, he shall B.c:i49o: live in them : I am the Lord. 6 1 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin * to him, to uncover their nakedness : I am the Lord. 7 The nakedness of thy father,0 or the naked ness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother ; thou shalt not uncover her naked ness. 8 The nakedness of thy father's wife shalt thou not uncover :p it is thy father's nakedness. 9 The nakedness of thy sister," the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their naked ness thou shalt not uncover. 10 The nakedness of thy son's daughter, or of thy daughter's daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover : for theirs is thine own naked ness. 11 The nakedness of thy father's wife's daugh ter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 12 Thou shalt notuncover the nakedness of thy father's sister : she is thy father's near kinswoman. 13 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister : for she is thy mother's near kins woman. 14 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father's brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife : she is thine aunt. 15 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter-in-law :r she is thy son's wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. 16 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother's wife :s it is thy brother's nakedness. 17 Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter, neither shalt thou take her son's daughter, or her daughter's daughter, to uncover her nakedness; for they are her near kinswomen : it is wickedness. 18 Neither shalt thou take a wife to her sister3 to vex her,1 to uncover her nakedness, besides 1he other in her lite-time. 19 Also thou shalt not approach uiito a woman to uncover her nakedness, as long as she is put apart for her uncleanness." 20 Moreover thou shalt not lie carnally with thy neighbor's wife, to defile thyself with her.v 20:7, 8; Eph. 5:11. n Deut. 4:1, 2; 6:1; Psa. 119:4; Ezek. 36:27 t Heb. remainder of his flesh. »ch. 20:11, etc.; Ezek. 22: 10. PlCor.5:l. <;2Sam. 13:11,12. r Gen. 33:18. > Deut. 25:5; Matt. 22:24. ! Or, one wife to an. otlier t 1 Sam. 1:0^3; Mal. 2:14, 15. u Ezek. 18:6; 22:10. v Exod 20:14; Prov. 6:25, 33; Matt. 5:27. without which there ooulcl be no remission of sin. Heb. 9:22. 16. In this world of impurity, we must have recourse to the great Purifier, whom clean water represents, or we shall live and die in pollution, and bear for ever the sad consequences of our sins. CHAPTER XVIII. 3. The doings; the sinful practices. 4. Judgments ; Exod. 21:1; Deut. 4:1, 2; 6:1. 7. The nakedness of thy father, or — of thy mother, the Hebrew may be rendered, the nakedness of thy father, and the nakedness of thy mother ; because they were one flesh, and the dishonor done to her was done to him also. Compare verse 8. AbomincUe lusts. LEVITICUS XIX. Sundry laws repeated, k cifflof" 21 And thou shalt not let any of thy seed pass through thefirea to Molech,* neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord. 22 Thou shalt not lie with mankind,0 as with womankind : it is abomination. 23 Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith ; neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie down thereto : it is confusion. 24 Defile not ye yourselves in any of these things :° for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you : 25 And the land is defiled :a therefore I do visit the iniquity thereof upon it,e and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants/ 26 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments, and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you ; 27 (For all these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is denied ;) 28 That the land spue not you out also,8 when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. 29 For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. 30 Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any one of these abominable cus toms," which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein:1 I am the Lord your God.j CHAPTER XIX. A repetition of sundry la"ws. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy : for I the Lord your God am holy.* a Deut. 12:31; 18:10; 2 Kings 10:3; Psa. 106:37; Jer. 7:31. - Called Mo- loch, Acts 7:43. b Rom. 1:27. e ver. 6, etc. d Deut. 18:12. e Jer. 5:9, 29; Hos. 2:13; 9:9. f ver. 28. S ver. 25; ch. 20:22. b Deut. 18:9. ¦ ver. 24. i ver. 2, 4. k ch. 11 :44; 20:7, 26; Amos 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:16. 1 Exod. 20:12. in Exod. 20:8; 31:13; Isa. 58:13. n ch. 26:1; Exod. 20:4; 1 Cor. 10:14; 21. Thy seed; children or posterity. Pass through tlie fire to Molech ; be offered to that idol. Profane the name of thy God; by giving that worship to another which is due to Him alone. 24. The nations — which I cast out; the Canaanites, which he would cast out. 25. Vomiteth out her inhabitants; a strong expression, to denote their loathsomeness in the sight of God. 28. It spued out; would spue out or eject the inhabitants. 30. I am the Lord your God ; this is often mentioned as a strong and conclusive reason why they should in all things obey him. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. The sinful maxims and customs of this world we must forsake, and be guided, in our connections and inter course with others, by the revealed will of God, or be shut out of heaven. 6. Marriage. is an institution of God, and when it is en tered into, and its duties discharged according to his will, it is honorable in all, a means of rich blessings' to the per sons concerned, and of great usefulness to others ; and the violation of his will with regard to it, is a crime tend ing to the greatest guilt, debasement, and wretchedness in this life and the life to come. 3 T Ye shall fear every man his mother, and his father,1 and keep my sabbaths:"1 I am the Lord your God. 4 IF Turn ye not unto idols," nor make to your selves molten gods : I am the Lord your God. 5 1 And if ye offer a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the Lord,0 ye shall offer it at your own will. 6 It shall be eaten the same day ye offer it, and on the morrow: and if aught remain until the third day, it shall be burnt in the fire. 7 And if it be eaten at all on the third day, it is abominable ; it shall not be accepted. 8 Therefore every one that eateth it shall bear his iniquity, because he hath profaned the hal lowed thing of the Lord ; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 9 IT And when ye reap the harvest of your land," thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, nei ther shalt thou gather every grape of thy vine yard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger : I am the Lord your God. 11 ^T Ye shall not steal,0- neither deal falsely, neither lie one to anather.1" 12 If And ye shall not swear by my name falsely,8 neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God:' I am the Lord. 13 IT Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbor, nei ther rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning." 14 TThou shalt not curse the deaf, nor put a stumbling-block before the blind,v but shalt fear thy God :,v I am the Lord. 15 1 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judg ment^ thou shalt not respect the person of the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty 7 but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbor. 1 John 5:41. o0h. 7:16,17. P ch. 23:22; Deut. 24:19-21; Ruth 2:15-17. q Exod. 20:15. r Eph. 4:25; Col. 3:9. » ch. 6:3; Exod. 20:7; Jas. 5:12. t ch. 18:21; Ezek. 36:20-23. n Mal. 3:5; Jas. 5:4. v Deut. 27:18. w 0b. 25:17. i Deut. 16:19. y Prov. 24:23: Jas. 2:9. 21. The strong tendency to idolatry, and its great preva lence for so long a time and in so many nations, is con clusive evidence that men do not naturally like to retain the knowledge and worship of Jehovah, or to walk in his ways. 25. That it should ever be needful for God to prohibit practices so unnatural and detestable as are here referred to, or that men should be disposed to degrade and sink themselves so low, is demonstration that madness, defile ment, and death are in their hearts ; and that except they be quickened, justified, and sanctified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of God, they can never see the kingdom of heaven. CHAPTER XIX. ,3. Fear — mother— father ; honor, reverence, esteem, and in all things right, please them. Exod. 20 : 12 ; Matt. 19 : 19. 5. At your own will ; or, that ye may be accepted, namely, when ye comply with all the divine precepts concerning it. 7. It is abominable; the eating of it in opposition to the command of God was wicked, and incurred the divine dis pleasure. 15. In judgment ; in deciding cases of right between man and man. 155 A repetition LEVITICUS XIX. of sundry laws. 16 1 Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale bearer among thy people ;a neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbor : ° I am-the Lord. 17 1 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy heart :° thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neigh bor,"1 and not suffer sin upon him.*0 18 1" Thou shalt not avenge/ nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself :g I am the Lord. 19 IT Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind:" thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and wool len come upon thee. 20 *H And whosoever lieth carnally with a wom an, that is a bondmaid, betrothed + to a husband, and not at all redeemed, nor freedom given her ; she* shall be scourged:5 they shall not be put to death, because she was not free. 21 And he shall bring his trespass-offering unto the Lord,1 unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, even a ram for a trespass-offering. 22 And the priest shall make an atonement for him with the ram of the trespass- offering before the Lord for his sin which he hath done ; and the sin which he hath done shall be forgiven him. 23 H And when ye shall come into the land, and shall have planted all manner of trees for food, then ye shall count the fruit thereof as uncircum cised: three years shall it be as uncircumcised unto you: it shall not be eaten of. 24 But in the fourth year all the fruit thereof shall be holy to praise the Lord b withal.' 25 And in the fifth year shall ye eat of the fruit * Prov. 20:19. b Exod. 21:7. c 1 John 2:9, 11; 3: 15. d Prov. 27:5; Eph. 5:11; 1 Tim. 5:20. * Or, that thou bear not sin for him. e 1 Cor. 5:2. I Rom. 12:17, 19. , 5 Matt. 22:39, 40. h Deut. 22:9-11. t Heb. reproached by, or for man, or abused by any. t Or, they. 5 Heb. there shall be a scourg- 16. Stand against the blood; take a course suited to pro cure the death of the innocent. 1 Sam. 22:9, 18; 1 Kings 21:13; Mark 14:57. 17. Hate thy brother in thy heart — rebuke thy neighbor ; in stead of cherishing a secret grudge against our neighbor, it is our duty frankly to reprove him, wherein we think he has done wrong. Not suffer sin upon him; better, as in the margin, not bear sin on his account, that is, by neglect ing our duty towards him. 20. She shall be scourged ; literally, there shall be scourg ing — as is supposed, of the man, as well as the woman. Not be put to death; Deut. 22:23-27. 23. As uncircumcised; that is, unclean and not suitable to be eaten by them. Ver. 24. 26. Observe times; or, practise magic arts. See note to ver. 31. 27. Round — mar the corners; according to the supersti tious observances of the heathen. 28. Cuttings in your flesh; in mourning for the dead. 31. Them that have familiar spirits ; those who profess to have intercourse with demons or the spirits of the dead, and by their aid to foretell future events and do other supernatural things. Wizards; who profess to have supernatural power by the aid of magic arts. Sorcery and witchcraft existed among the ancients in a great va riety of forms. Those who practised them are called in the holy Scriptures, wizards, diviners, enchanters, sooth sayers, etc. Of these, some professed simply to interpret signs and omens, and thus to draw from them a know ledge of the future ; others, by means of certain mysteri ous words and forms, to call up demons or the spirits of the dead, that they might obtain from them supernatural 156 thereof, that it may yield unto you the ro'.S increase thereof: I am the Lord your God. 26 \ Ye shall not eat any thing with the blood,k neither shall ye use enchantment,1 nor observe times. 27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard."1 28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you : I am the Lord. 29 1" Do not prostitute T thy daughter, to cause her to be a whore; lest the land fall to whore dom, and the land become full of wickedness. 30 \ Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary:" I am the Lord. 31 1 Kegard not them that have familiar spirits,0 neither seek after wizards, to be defiled by them : I am the Lord your God. 32 1 Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man,p and fear thy God:q I am the Lord'. 33 1 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land,1' ye shall not vex* him. 34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt : I am the Lord your God. 35 1 Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judg ment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure. 36 Just balances,3 just weights/ a just ephah, and a just hin, shall ye have: I am the Lord your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt. 37 Therefore shall ye observe all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them :' I am the Lord, ing. ch.6:6. H Heb. holiness of praises io the Lord. JProv.3:9. k Deut. 12:23. 1 Deut. 18:10-14. m ch. 21:5. V Heb. profane, n Eccl. 5:1. o Deut. 18:10, 11. P Job 32:4, 0. ql Pet. 2:17. ' Exod. 22:21. " Or, oppress. 'Prov 11:1. t Heh. stones, t Deut. 5:1; Psa. 119:4, 34. revelations, or accomplish through their aid supernatural deeds: All such practices are essentially idolatrous, as they withdraw men's faith and love from God and his word to things that cannot profit them. See Instruction to ver. 28. 35. Meteyard; measure of lengths. Measure; of liquids. 36. Ephah — hin; names of different measures. Chap. 5:11; Exod. 16:36; 29:40. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. As God is holy, so must we be in order to meet his approbation or enjoy his presence. 3. Due subordination and affection in families is insep arably connected with the right keeping of the Sabbath ; and the neglect of the one tends directly and powerfully to the destruction of the other. 4. That men should ever forsake Jehovah for gods of their own making, is demonstration of their strong and active opposition to him. 8. To meet the approbation of God, men must not only be cheerful and hearty in serving him, but must be guided in their efforts by his directions. 10. God requires, and holiness leads men, to be not only pious, but benevolent ; to be disposed, as there is oppor tunity and ability, to help the poor ; and one of the best ways of helping them, is to lead them to help themselves. 12. Falsehood is intimately connected with theft; and profane swearing with both. Let a man be guilty of one of these sins, and you have no security that he will not commit any sin to which he may be tempted. 13. Refusing promptly to pay just wages for labor, and robbing men by fraud or violence of their dues, are sins Of Molech, and wizards. LEVITICUS XX. Of unlawful lusts. A. M. 2514. B. C 1190. CHAPTER XX. 1 Of him that giveth of his seed to Molech. 4 Of him that favoreth such a one. 6 Of going to wizards. 7 Of sanctification. 9 Of him that curseth his parents. 10 Of adultery. 11, 14, 17, 19 Of incest. 13 Of sodomy. 15 Of beastiality. 18 Of uncleanness. 2'2 Obedi ence is required "with holiness. 27 Wizards must he put to death. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Again, thou shalt say to the children of Israel, Whosoever he be of the children of Israel," or of the strangers that sojourn in Israel, that giveth any of his seed unto Molech; he shall surely be put to death: the people of the land shall stone him with stones. 3 And I will set my face against that man,0 and will cut him off from among his people ; because he hath given of his seed unto Molech, to defile my sanctuary, and to profane my holy name. 4 And if the people of the land do any ways hide their eyes from the man, when he giveth of his seed unto Molech, and kill him not ; ° 5 Then I will set my face against that man, and against his family,"1 and will cut him off, and all that go a whoring after him,e to commit whore dom with Molech, from among their people. 6 T And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits/ and after wizards, to go a whor ing after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.3 7 T Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy:11 for I am the Lord your God. 8 And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them :' I am the Lord which sanctify you.j 9 T For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death ;k he hath a Ch. 18:21. b ch. 17:10; Ezek. 14:S. e Deut. 17:2-5. d Exod. 20:5. e ch. 17:7; Jer. 3:2; Hos. 2:5, 13. f ch. 19:31. 5 Eev. 22:15. » ch. 19:2. i ch. 19:37. j ch. 21:8; Exod. 31:13; Ezek. 37:28; 1 Cor. 1:30. k Exod. which God abhors, and against which he denounces his dreadful curse. Jas. 5:2-5. 14. To reproach or despise men, or to bring any evil upon them, on account of any natural infirmity or calam ity, is mean, ungrateful, and wicked. 15. Partiality in judicial decisions, and injustice under the cover of law, are an abomination in the sight of Jeho vah, aad expose those who are guilty of them to his ven geance. 16. Tattlers, those who go about retailing scandal, and delight in accusing, ridiculing, or depreciating others, especially the good, are following Satan the great accuser, and in a way which leads to his place of torment. 18. Real love, such as God requires and holiness of heart produces, leads men to desire and strive to deliver others from all evil, especially from sin, and to do them all the good in their power. Let this love fill all hearts, and it will make earth resemble heaven. 22. Without repentance and faith in the atoning blood of Christ, none to whom he is made known can be for given, or escape the just punishment of their sins. 25. Jehovah is the God of providence as well as of grace ; the giver of all temporal as well as spiritual bless ings, which should be received as from him, and used for his glory and the good of his kingdom. 28. There are means of sin, as well as of holiness. Among them are all pretended intercourse with evil or departed spirits, sorcery, enchantments, jugglery, fortune- telling, and every thing which tends to lead men away from God as their portion, from his word as their guide, from his service as their employment, and his favor as their reward. All such things should be avoided, and cursed his father or his mother ; his blood shall be upon him.1 10 1 And the man that committeth adultery with another man's wife, even lie that committeth adul tery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death."1 11 And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness:11 both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. 12 And if a man lie with his daughter-in-law,0 both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought confusion ; their blood shall be upon them. 13 If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman,p both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to- death; their blood shall be upon them. 14 And if a man take a wife and her mother,'1 it is wickedness : they shall be burnt with fire, both he and they ; that there be no wickedness among you. 15 And if a man lie with a beast,r he shall surely be put to death ; and ye shall slay the beast. 16 And if a woman approach unto any beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman, and the beast : they shall surely be put to death ; their blood shall be upon them. 17 And if a man shall take his sister ,s his father's daughter, or his mother's daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he. hath uncovered his sis ter's nakedness ; he shall bear his iniquity. 18 And if a man shall lie with a woman having her sickness,1 and shall uncover her nakedness; 21 17; Prov. 20:20. 1 ver 11, 13. ¦n Deut 22 22 n Deut. 27:20. 0 oh la 15. P ch. 18:22; Deut. 23:17. q ch. IH 17, r r.h. 18:23 Deut. 27 21 sDeut 27:22 . tch. 15:24 18:19; Ezek 18 6. only such occupy the attention of men as tend to make them holy, and lead them to love, trust in, and obey God. 30. Stated, regular, conscientious attendance on public worship, when God gives opportunity, is an essential part of the right keeping of the Sabbath ; and highly promo tive of all the social, civil, and religious interests of men. 31. Those who pretend to wisdom they do not possess, especially to receiving it from disembodied spirits, or intercourse with invisible agents, and thus to be able to reveal secrets and foretell future events, are morally defiled and defiling, and should be treated accordingly. 32. Respect to the aged is a mark of wisdom, and essen tial to virtue ; a source of comfort, and a means of useful ness ; an ornament to character, and a passport to influ ence, reputation, and honor. 34. Kindness to strangers is a, dictate of true religion, and peculiarly grateful to persons in a strange country. It so much resembles the kindness of God, that it is one of the best means of leading men to love him, and thus show their gratitude to him for his love. Eph. 2 : 19. 36. Strict honesty in trading, and in all business trans actions, and the doing to others as we ought to wish others to do to us, is a duty required by God, by our own good, and the good of all. CHAPTER XX. 2. Molech ; an idol of the Ammonites to whom children were sacrificed. According to the Rabbins his statue was of brass and hollow ; and this being heated from be low, the children to be sacrificed were put into its arms. 8. Sanctify you; separate them from other nations, and set them apart for himself. Ver. 24, 26. 157 Of the priests' LEVITICUS XXI. mourning and marriages. he hath discovered* her fountain, and she hath uncovered the fountain of her blood : and both of them shall be cut off from among their people. 19 And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother's sister," nor of thy father's sister ; for he uncovereth his near kin : they shall bear their iniquity. 20 And if a man shall lie with his uncle's wife, he hath uncovered his uncle's nakedness: they shall bear their sin ; they shall die childless.0 21 And if a man shall take his brother's wife,0 it is an unclean thing :+ he hath uncovered his brother's nakedness ; they shall be childless. 22 1 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them:4 that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.e 23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you : for they com mitted all these things, and therefore I abhorred them/ 24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it,' a land that floweth with milk and honey :g lam the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people.11 25 Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean : ' and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any man ner of living thing that creepeth* on the ground, which I have separated. from you as unclean. 26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the Lord am holy,j and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.1' 27 T A man also or woman that hath a familiar spirit,1 or that is a wizard, shall surely be put to death: they shall stone them with stones; their blood shall be upon them. CHAPTER XXI. 1 Of the priests1 mourning. 6 Of their holiness. 8 Of their estimation. 7, 13 Of their marriages. 17 The priests that have blemishes must not minister in the sanctuary. ND the Lord said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto A • Heb. made naked. » oh. 18:12, etc. b Jer. 22:30. « Mitt. 14:3, 4. I Heb. a separation, d ch. 19:37. « oh. 18:25, 28. f Deut. 9:5. B Exod. 3:17; 6:8. b ver. 26; Exod. 19:5; 33:16; 1 Kings 8:53. > ch. 11:47. I Or, moveth. iver.7; oh. 19:2; lPet.l:l(i. k ver. 21; Deut. 7:6; 14:2; 26:18, 19; Tit. 2:14. ' ver. 6; 1 Sam. 28:9. ¦» Ezek. 44:25. i Or, being a hus- 23. Cast out ; shall cast out. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Capital punishment by the hand of magistrates is sometimes not only right, but a duty which they owe to God and their fellow-men. It is a needful means of re straining iniquity ; and the people, when God commands it, are bound to see that it is executed. 5. If the magistrates and people neglect to prosecute criminals, and to punish the guilty, they encourage crime, incur guilt, and expose themselves to divine judgments. 9. That laws should be needful to keep parents from destroying children, and children from cursing parents ; and people to whom Jehovah is known from forsaking him for idols, and committing the most polluting and de grading abominations, shows the strength and malignancy of sin, and the necessity, in order to salvation, of being 158 them, There shall none be defiled for the "b. ch. 15:16. o ch. 11:24, 43. P ch. 15:7, 19. q Hag. 2:13. r ch. 15:5; 22. He shall eat the bread of his God; though the blemishes mentioned disqualified them from offering sacrifices, they did not exclude them from performing such duties as were suited to their condition, and receiving a support. INSTRUCTIONS. 6. Ministers of religion should be distinguished for sobriety, purity, and elevation of character, and for the faithful discharge of their appropriate duties ; that to their instructions they may add the weight of their ex ample. 13. Ministers of religion, even those most distinguished, should in all ordinary cases be married ; and their wives should in all cases be examples of purity, propriety, and excellence. 23. All should avoid engaging in duties for which they are disqualified, and be diligent in the discharge of such as are suited to their condition, and by which they may honor God, and benefit themselves and their fellow-men. 5 Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing,0 whereby he may be made unclean," or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever un cleanness he hath ; 6 The soul which hath touched any such shall be unclean until even," and shall not eat of the holy things, unless he wash his flesh with water.r 7 And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; be cause it is his food.3 8 That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts,1 he shall not eat to defile himself there with: I am the Lord. 9 They shall therefore keep mine ordinance, lest they bear sin for it," and die therefore, if they pro fane it : I the Lord do sanctify them. 10 There shall no stranger eat qfthe holy thing : a sojourner of the priest, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. 11 But if the priest buy any soul with his money,* he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house : they shall eat of his meat.v 12 If the priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger,5 she may not eat of an offering of the holy things. 13 But if the priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father's house,1" as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's meat : but there shall no stfanger eat thereof. 14 IT And if a man eat of the holy thing unwit tingly ,x then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing. 15 And they shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel/ which they offer unto the Lord ; 16 Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of tres pass^ when they eat their holy things : ¦ for I the Lord do sanctify them. 17 TAnd the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 18 Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel," that will offer his oblation for Heb. 10:22. > ch. 21:22; Num. 18:11, 13. 1 Exod 22:31; Ezek. 44:31. u Exod. 23:43. t Heb. the purchase of his money, v Num. 18:11. 1-3. i Heb. a man, a stranger. "Gen. 38:11. x ch. 5:15, 16. 1 Num. 18:32. z ver. 9. \ Or, bade themselves with the iniquity of trespass in tlieir eating. a Num. 15:14. CHAPTEB XXII. 2. Separate themselves from the holy things ; abstain from partaking of them when they were ceremonially unclean, and could not partake without defiling them. Ver. 3-7. 3. Hallow; consecrate. 7. Eat of the holy things ; that part of them which be longed to the priests. 11. He shall eat of it; because he belonged to the family, and was entitled to its privileges. 14. Unwittingly; not knowing that it was holy, or conse crated to God. The fifth — give it unto the priest; he should pay for what he ate and one fifth part more. This was designed to make them careful not to offend ignorantly. 16. Or suffer them io bear the iniquity; more literally, lade them with the iniquity of trespass, namely, by eating of their offerings in an unlawful way. For the priests acted in behalf of the people, and their sins would bring God's displeasure upon the congregation of Israel. 159 Sacrifices must be perfect. LEVITICUS XXIII. The Sabbath and the Passover. all his vows, and for all his freewill-offerings, which they will offer unto the Lord for a burnt-offering ; 19 Ye shall offer at your own will a male with out blemish," of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. 20 But whatsoever hath a blemish,0 that shall ye not offer : for it shall not be acceptable for you. 21 And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace- offerings0 unto the Lord to accomplish his vow,d or a freewill-offering in beeves or sheep," it shall be perfect to be accepted : there shall be no blem ish therein. 22 Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto fhe Lord, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the Lord. 23 Either a bullock or a lamb+ that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts,0 that mayest thou offer for a freewill-offering ; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. 24 Ye shall not offer unto the Lord that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut ; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land. 25 Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these ;f because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them:8 they shall not be accepted for you. 26 H Aud the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 27 When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam ; h and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 28 And whether it be cow or ewe,* ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day.1 29 And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanks giving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will. 30 On the same day it shall be eaten up ; ye shall leave none of it until the morrow : I am the Lord.j 31 Therefore shall ye keep my commandments, and do them:" I am the Lord. »Ch. }-.X b Deut 15 :21 Mal. 1 8, 14 Eph 5:27; 1 Pet. 1 19. c ch. 3:1, 6. d Num. ,5:3, 8. • Or, goals. t Or, kid. e ch. 21:18. Num. 16:40. B Eph. 2:12 1 John 5 10. b Exod. 22:30. t Or, she-goat. 1 Deut 22:6. i ch. 7 12-15; Psa. 107:22 ; Amos 4:5. k ch 19:37; Num 15:40; Deut. 19. At your own will; rather, for your acceptance ; and so ver. 29. The expressions, for acceptance, for your ac ceptance, it shall be accepted, etc., are often added to sig nify that the offerer is to comply with the rules of the Levitical law. So in the present chapter, in the Hebrew, ver. 19, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29. 27. Under the dam; with its mother. 32. Profane my holy name; by disregarding his direc tions. Hallowed; reverenced, honored, obeyed. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Known and allowed iniquity, secret or open, unfits a man for the acceptable discharge of sacred duties; and without repentance and reformation he will be excluded from the holy society and worship of heaven. 9. Neglect of the ordinances of God, or a profane attend ance on them, exposes men to punishment for their in iquity. 13. Those who minister in holy things have a right to support, not only for themselves, but for their families. 16. Ministers of religion should labor to enlighten the people as to the will of God, that they may not sin igno- rantly ; and if they have so sinned, should use all suitable 160 A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. 32 Neither shall y« profane my holy name ;* but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel:1™ I am the Lord which hallow you," 33 That brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God :° I am the Lord. CHAPTER XXIII. 1 The feasts of the Lord. 3 The sabbath. 4 The passover. 9 The sheaf of first-fruits. 15 The feast of Pentecost. 22 Gleanings to be left for the poor. 23 The feast of trumpets. 26 The day of a tone- ment. 33 The feast of tabernacles. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the Lord," which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations,0- even these are my feasts. 3 Six days shall work be done :r but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, a holy convocation ; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings. 4 IT These are the feasts of the Lord, even holy con vocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons. 5 In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord's passover.8 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the Lord: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day ye shall have a holy convoca tion : ye shall do no servile work therein. 8 But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord seven days : in the seventh day is a holy convocation : ye shall do no servile work therein. 9 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf* of the first-fruits of your harvest unto the priest:4 11 And he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord* to be accepted for you : on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. 4:40. 1 ch. 18:21. m oh. 10:3. n ch. 20:8. o ch. 11:45. P ver. 4, 37. q Exod. 32:5; Psa. 81:3. r oh. 19:3; Exod. 20:9. > Exod. 12:6, etc.; 13:3, 10; 34:18; Num. 9:2.3; Deut. 16:1-8; Josh. 5:10. S Heb. omer, or hand ful, t Exod. 22:29; 23:19; 34:26; Prov. 3:9; Ezek. 44:30. u Exod. 29:24. means to reclaim them, and bring them in future to know and obey the truth. 21. God justly requires that which is perfect ; and the best that we offer can be accepted only through the atone ment, righteousness, and intercession of Christ. 31. Notwithstanding all that Christ has done, no one is or can be saved by him, unless as he is made willing heartily to obey God's commands. CHAPTER XXIII. 2. Holy convocations; assemblies for religious purposes. 5. First month ; Abib or Nisan, the first month of the ecclesiastical and the seventh of the civil year ; answer ing to the last part of March and the first part of April. The Lord's passover ; Exod. 12:3-17. 10. Shall bring a sheaf qf the first-fruits ; this sheaf, as well as the accompanying offerings, ver. 12, 13, was pre sented to the Lord by the priest in the name of the whole congregation. It is thought to have been a sheaf of bar ley, which begun to be ready for the harvest at the pass- over. 11. Wave tlie sheaf; as a sign of consecration to the Lord. On the morrow after the sabbath; the Jews under- Pentecost, Day of Atonement, LEVITICUS XXIII. and Feast of Tabernacles fca'im 12 And ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf a he-lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt-offering unto the Lord. 13* And the meat-offering thereof shall be two tenth-deals of fine flour mingled with oil," an offer ing made by fire unto the hORD for a sweet savor : and the drink-offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin. . 14 And ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your gener ations in all your dwellings. 15 T And ye shall count unto you from the mor row after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave-offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete :D 16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sab bath shall ye number fifty days;0 and ye shall offer a new meat-offering unto the Lord. 17 Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave-loaves of two tenth-deals : they shall be of fine flour ; they shall be baken with leaven ; they are the first-fruits unto the Lord." 18 And ye shall -offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams:0 they shall be for a burnt-offering unto the Lord, with their meat offering, and their drink-offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savor unto the Lord. 19 Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin-offering/ and two .lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace-offerings. 20 And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the first-fruits for a wave-offering before the Lord, with the two lambs : they shall be holy to the Lord for the priest.8 21 And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be a holy convocation unto you : ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. 22 1 And when ye reap the harvest of your land,11 thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor,1 and to the stranger : I am the Lord your God. 23 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, »Ch. 2:14-16. bch. 25:8; Exod. 31:22; Deut. 16:9. ' Acts 2:1. 4 ver. 10; Num. 15:20; 23:26, etc. • Mal. 1 : 13, 14. ' ch. 4:23. B Num. 18:12; Dent. 18:4; 1 Cor. 9:14. h ch. 19:9; Deut. 21:19. ¦ Ruth 2:15. etc.; Psa. 11:1-3; 112:9, Prov. 11:21, 25; Isa. 58:7, 8, 10; Luke 11:41; 2 Cor. 9:5-12. 1 Num. 10.10; 29:1; Psa. 81:3,4; 93:6. koh. 25:9; Isa. 27:13. leh. 16:30; stood the Sabbath here to mean not the weekly Sabbath, but the first day of unleavened bread, which was kept as a Sabbath, ver. 7. As this fell on the fifteenth of the month Abib, the sheaf was presented on the sixteenth. 14. Bread— pdrclied corn — green ears; that is, of the new crop. 16. From the morrow after the sabbath; see note to ver. 11. Seven sabbaths; seven weeks or forty-nine days. These with the preceding day, the first day of unleavened bread, made fifty days. Hence this was called the feast of Pentecost, a Greek word meaning, Tlie fiftieth. It was a feast of thanksgiving at the close of the harvest, which began about the time of the passover. It also coincided with the giving of the law on Sinai, and was afterwards made memorable by the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2 : 1. 11 24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month,1 in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets,k a holy convocation. 25 Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 26 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement:1 it shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your soul§,m and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 28 And ye shall do no work in that same day : for it is a day of atonement, to make an atone ment for you before the Lord your God. 29 For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day," he shall be cut off from among his people.0 30 And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I de stroy from among his people." 31 Ye shall do no manner of work : it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. 32 It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye cele brate* your sabbath. 33 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the Lord.0- 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation : ye shall do no servile work therein. 36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord ; on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you,r and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord : it is a solemn assembly ; + s and ye shall do no servile work therein. 37 These are the feasts of the Lord, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer *an offering made by fire unto the Lord, a burnt-offer ing, and a meat-offering, a sacrifice, and drink- offerings, every thing upon his day :* 38 Beside the sabbaths of the Lord,11 and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill-offerings, which ye give unto the Lord. Num. 29:7. m Ezra 8:21; Dan 10:3. n Isa. 22:12; Jer. 31:9 ; Ezek. 7:16. ° Gen 17:1. . P ch . 20:3-6. ' Heb. rest, q Exod. 2J :16; 34:22; Num. 29:12; Deut. 16:13; Ezra 3:4; Neh 8:14 Zech. 14.16-19; John 7:2; Heh. 11:9. r Num. 29:35; Neh. 8 i>; John 7:37. t Heb. day of restraint. • Deut 16:8; 2 Chr. 7:9; Joel 1 14; 2:15. t Eccl. 3:1. u Num. 29:39. 16. A new meat-offering ; made of the new flour. 17. Bring out of your habitations; the people seem to have generally brought, on this occasion, offerings of flour made from the new corn. * From a portion of these, two loaves were made and offered by the priest, with the accompanying sacrifices and oblations, ver. 18, 19, in the name of the whole congregation. 24. The seventh month; Tishri. Chap. 16:29. 27. Afflict your souls; by fasting and oonfession of sin. 31. A statute; a law that the tenth day of Tishri should be observed as a sabbath, or day of atonement, of rest, and of religious worship. It was a day of annual fasting humiliation, and prayer. 34. Feast of tabernacles; in commemoration of their having dwelt in tabernacles during forty years in the wilderness. 161 Of the lamps, and show-bread. LEVITICUS XXIV. The law of blasphemy. 39 Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land," ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days : on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall, be a sabbath. 40 And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs* of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook ; and ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God seven days." 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto* the Lord seven days in the year:0 it shall be a statute for ever in your generations ; ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days ; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths : 43 That your generations4 may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt : I am the Lord your God. 44 And • Moses declared unto the children of Israel the feasts of the Lord.0 CHAPTER XXIV. 1 The oil for the lamps. 5 The show-bread. 10 Shelomith's.son blas- phemeth. 13 The law of blasphemy. 17 Of murder. 18 Of dam age. 23 The blasphemer is stoned. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel/ that they bring unto thee pure oil-olive beaten for the light, to cause' the lamps to burn continually.5 3 Without the veil of the testimony, in the tabernacle of the congregation, shall Aaron order it from the evening unto the morning before the Lord continually : it shall be a statute for ever in your generations. 4 He shall order the lamps upon the pure candle stick before the Lord continually.11 5 IT And thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof:1 two tenth-deals shall be in- one cake. 6 And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the Lord.-" 7 And thou shalt pu', pure fraiikinoense upon each A. M. 2514. B. C 1190. i Exod. 23:16. 'Heb. fruit. t> Deut. 16:14, 15. » Num. 29:12. d Exod. 13:14; Deut. 31:13; Psa. 78:5, 6. e ver. 2. t Exod. 27:20, 21. t Hub. lo cause to ascend, s Matt. 25:3-3; Luke 12:35. h Exod. 31:8; 37:17-24; 39:37; Zech. 4:2, II; Rev. 1:20. ¦ Exod. 25:30. J 1 Kings 7:48; Heb. 9:2. «lChr.9:32; 2Chr.2:4. Uh. 8:31; Exod. 29:32; 1 Sam. 21: 6; Matt. 12:4. row, that it may be on the bread for a m& morial, even an offering made by fire unto the Lord. 8 Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the Lord continually,11 being taken from the chil dren of Israel by an everlasting covenant. 9 And it shall be Aaron's and his sons' ; and they shall eat it in the holy place :l for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the Lord made by fire by a perpetual statute. 10 T And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the chil dren of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp ; 11 And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the LORD, and cursed.1" And they brought him unto Moses:" and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan : 12 And they put him in ward,0 that the mind of the Lord might be showed them.*p 13 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 14 Bring forth him that hath cursed without the oamp ; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him.9 15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. 16 And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to deatV and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the LORD shall be put to death. 17 IT And he that killeth any man§ shall surely be put to death.3 18 And he that killeth a beast shall make it good;' beast for beast." 19 And if a man cause a blemish in his neighbor ; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him :u 20 Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth : as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. 42. Booths; temporary dwellings, made of boughs or other slight materials. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. No other seasons or occasions of public worship are ever to set aside, supersede, or lead any to neglect the habitual and holy observance of the weekly Sabbath. 5. The reasons why believers in Christ are passed over or spared, and made partakers of the riches of grace, should ever be remembered, and the love which procured their salvation be celebrated according to his command, with gratitude and joy. Luke 22 : 19 ; 1 Cor. 5:7; 11 : 24. 14. The blessings of providence, as well as of grace, are from the Lord. They should all be acknowledged as his gifts, and used to his glory. 21. After gathering in the fruits of the earth, a day of annual thanksgiving, appropriately observed by all the people in commemoration of the goodness of God, is suited to honor him and benefit them. 31. A day annually, of humiliation, fasting, and prayer, 162 m Job 1:5, 11,22; Isa. 8:21. n Exod. 18:20. o Num. 15:34. t Heb. Io ex pound unto them according to the mouth of the Lord, p Num. 27:5. q Deut. 13:9; 17:7. ' Exod. 20:7; 1 Kings 21 : 10-13; Psa. 71:10, 18; 139:20; Matt. 12:31. S Heb. smiteth the life of aman. s Exod 21:12; Num. 35:31 ; Deut. 19:11,12. t ver. 21. I Heb. life for life, u Deut. 19:21 ; Matt. 5:38; 7:2. when labor and amusements are suspended, and the peo ple unite in confessing and forsaking their sins and im ploring divine mercy, is highly proper, and has often been blessed. 40. Deliverances from great evils, as well as the recep tion of great favors, call for peculiar gratitude to God, and should be celebrated with special thanksgiving. CHAPTER XXIV. 5. Two tenth-deals ; two omers, or tenths of an ephah; between six and seven quarts. Exod. 16:36. , 8. Every sabbath ; the bread was taken away and eaten by the priests, and the frankincense was burnt as an offer ing by fire to the Lord ; and new bread and frankincense were put in their place. 12. Ward; prison, or safe custody. 17. Killeth; murdereth. 20. Breach for breach; this was a law for the magistrate in punishing crimes, not for private persons. It was in Of the seventh year. LEVITICUS XXV. The year of Jubilee. b.'c!'iwo4' 21 And he that killeth a beast, he shall restore it : and he that killeth a man, he shall be put to death. 22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country :a for I am the Lord your God. 23 IF And Moses spake to the children of Israel, that they should bring forth him that had cursed out of the camp, and stone him with stones : and the children of Israel did as the Lord commanded Moses. CHAPTER XXV. 1 The sabbath of the seventh year. 8 The jubilee in the fiftieth year. 14 Of oppression. 18 A blessing of obedience. 23 The redemption of land. 29 Of houses. 35 Compassion of the poor. 39 The usage of bondmen. 47 The redemption of servants. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, in mount Sinai, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land which I give you, then shall the land keep* a sabbath unto the Lord. 3 Six years thou shalt sow thy field, and six years thou shalt prune thy vineyard, and gather in the fruit thereof;0 4 But in the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest unto the land, a sabbath for the Lord : thou shalt neither sow thy field, nor prune thy vineyard. 5 That which groweth of its own accord of thy harvest thou shalt not reap,0 neither gather the grapes of thy vine+ undressed : for it is a year of rest unto the land. 6 And the sabbath of the land shall be meat for you; for thee, and for thy servant, and for thy maid, and for thy hired servant, and for thy stranger that sojourneth with thee, 7 And for thy cattle and for the beast that are in thy land, shall all the increase thereof be meat. 8 T And thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years ; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. a Num. 15:16. • Heb. rest, b Exod 23:10; 2 Chr. 36:21. = 2 Kings 19.29. t Heb. separation t Heb. loud of sound, d ch 23:24,27. e Num. 10:10. ' Isa. 61:1, 2; 63:4; Jer. 31:i5-i7, Zeoh. 9:11,12; Luke 4:16-21. accordance with the general usage pf those times, and applied only to malicious injuries. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. Ministers of religion should constantly endeavor, from the word, the Spirit, and the providences of God, to enlighten the minds of men as to their duty, and set before them the motives to obedience which God has revealed. 16. Blasphemy against God is great and aggravated wickedness ; and under the- Jewish dispensation, was, as treason, punished with death. 23. The execution, at the command of God, of notorious criminals, is a solemn duty, the performance of which is suited to give timely warning to the wicked and exercise upon them salutary restraint. By commanding that some should thus be put to death in this world, God gives indi cations of the terrible punishment which awaits the per- seveiingly wicked in the world to come. Hence a reason why some who deny punishment in the future world, are opposed to capital punishment in this : because one fore shadows the other. 9 Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubi lee* to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month,3 in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land.0 10 And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and pro claim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: ' it shall be a jubilee unto you ; and ye shall return every man unto his possession ,g and ye shall return every man unto his family. 11 A jubilee shall that fiftieth year be unto you : ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. 12 Por it is the jubilee ; it shall be holy unto you : ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. 13 In the year of this jubilee ye shall return every man unto his possession." 14 And if thou sell aught unto thy neighbor, or buyest aught of thy neighbor's hand, ye shall not oppress one another : i 15 According to the number of years after the jubilee thou shalt buy of thy neighbor, and accord ing unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee : 16 According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it : for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee. 17 Ye shall not therefore oppress one another ; but thou shalt fear thy God:j for I am the Lord your God. 18 1 Wherefore ye shall do my statu tes,k and keep my judgments, and do them ; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety.1 19 And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety. 20 And if ye shall say, What shall we eat the seventh year? behold, we shall not sow, nor gather in our increase : 21 Then I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year,™ and it shall bring forth fruit for three years. ver. 17; oh. 19:13; Mic. B ver 13; Num. 36:4. n ver. JU; en. 2/:17-a4. i ver. 1Y; en. iy:13; Mic. 2:2, 3; 1 Cor. 6:8. i Gen. 42:18; Jer. 22:16. kPsa.103:l8. !Deut.l2:10; 1.TJ. T«. Ol.fi. T? — 1. Q.I. OS Oa mfi... OQ.O h ver. 10; ch. 27:17-24 . -an. 42:18; Jer. 22:16. ^i?*. nw.jo. Psa. 4:8; Prov. 1:33; Jer. 23:6; Ezek. 31:25-28. m Deut. 23:8 CHAPTER XXV. 5. Not reap, neither gather; as in other years, but share what grew with others as they might need, and with the beast of the field. Ver. 6, 7, 11, 12. 6. The sabbath of the land; the spontaneous produce of the sabbatical year. 9. The day of atonement ; chap. 23:27-32. 10. Hallow ; keep sacred as a season of rejoicing. 16. According to the multitude — and — the fewness; the price of what they sold was to be regulated according to the distance of time from the year of jubilee, when it would revert to its former owner. Ver. 10, 23. 21. For three years; these words refer not to the year of jubilee, but to the regular sabbatical year. This must have begun, not in the spring, when the crops were yet standing, but in the fall, after the fruits of the year had been gathered in. The day for its commencement seems to have been the tenth of the seventh month, Tishri, when the jubilee plainly began, ver. 9. But Moses here com putes the years from the first month Abib, Exod. 12:2. The crop, then, sown on the sixth year, which is the one that 163 Redemption of land. LEVITICUS XXV. Usage of bondmen. 22 And ye shall sow the eighth year,a and eat yet of old fruit until the ninth year; until her fruits come in ye shall eat of the old store. 23 IT The land shall not be sold for ever :* for the land is mine;0 for ye are strangers and sojourn ers with me.0 24 And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land. 25 1 If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it,d then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. 26 And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it;+ 27 Then let him count the years of the sale thereof,11 and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession. 28 But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubilee : and in the jubilee it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession/ 29 And if a man sell a dwelling-house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold ; within a full year may he redeem it. 30 And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations : it shall not go out in the jubilee. 31 But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country : they may be redeemed,* and they shall go out in the jubilee. 32 Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites,8 and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time. 33 And if a man purchase of the Levites,§ then the house that was sold, and the city of his pos session, shall go out in the year of jubilee : for the a 2 Kings 19:29. ' Heb. for cutting off, or to be quite cut of. b 2 Chr. 7:20. c Psa. 39:12. d Ruth 2:20; Jer. 32:7, 8. t Heb. his hand hath attained and found sufficiency; ch. 5:7. e ver. 50-52. f ver. 13. t Heb. redemption belongelh unto it. B Num. 35:2; Josh. 21:1, etc. § Or, one of the Levites redeem them, h Acts 4 :36 37. i Gal. 2: 10 ; 1 John 3: 17. I Heb. God promises shall serve for three years, would be reaped at the beginning of the seventh year. The sabbatical year beginning in the fall of the same year, there would be no sowing, and consequently no harvest at the begin ning of the next, the eighth year. But in the fall of the eighth year, after the sabbatical year was closed, they would sow, and gather the harvest at the beginning of the ninth year, using the corn sown on the sixth year till this work was accomplished. For the year of jubilee no special directions are given. As it occurred but once in fifty years, special provision could be easily made for it as it approached. 23. Not be sold for ever; so as to be alienated from its original owner for ever. It must return to him at the year of jubilee ; for it belongs to Jehovah, and he will not allow any one to take perpetual occupation of it. 27. Count the years; from the time he sold it to that date, and also to the year of jubilee, and give accordingly. If he sold it twenty years before the year of jubilee, and ten of them had expired, he would, for the redemption, give half as much as he sold it for ; if but five years had passed, he would give three quarters ; and so in propor tion for any length of time. Ver. 50-55. 164 houses of the cities of the Levites are aawJa their possession among the children of Israel. 34 But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold;h for it is their perpetual possession. 35 1 And if thy brother be waxen poor,1 and fallen in decay1 with thee; then thou shalt re lieve1 him :> yea, though he be a stranger ,k or a sojourner ; that he may live with thee. 36 Take thou no usury of him,1 or increase : but fear thy God ;m that thy brother may live with thee. 37 Thou shalt not give him thy money upon usury, nor lend him thy victuals for increase. 38 I am the Lord your God," which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. 39 1 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poorj and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant :* 40 But as a hired servant,0 and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubilee: 41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. 42 For they are my servants, which I brought forth out of the land of Egypt :p they shall not be sold as bondmen.* 43 Thou shalt not rule over him with rigor;'1 but shalt fear thy God.r 44 Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt' have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you ; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. 45 Moreover, of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you,3 of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land : and they shall be your pos session. 46 And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you,' to inherit them for a pos- his hand faileth. 1 Heb. strengthen, j Deut. 15:7, 8. k Heb. 13:2. I Dent. 23:19; Psa. 15:5. m Neh. 5:9, 15. n oh. 22:32, 33. • Heb. serve thyself with him with the service. ° Exod. 21:2,3. p ver. 55; 1 Cor. 7:22, 23. t Heb. with the sale of a bondman, q ver. 46; Eph. 6:9. ' Mal. 3:5. 'Isa. 56:0. t Isa. 14:2. 35. Relieve him ; by taking no interest, or increase, for what was needful for the poor .man's support. Ver. 36, 37. 39. Sold unto thee; becomes obligated to yield service. Ver. 42. INSTRUCTIONS. 6. God requires that we should in all things feel our constant dependence on him ; and he so orders things in his providence as to supply the wants of those who trust in and obey him. 17. God is the friend of justice and mercy, and the eter nal enemy of covetousness and oppression. None can obtain his favor without doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with him. Micah 6:8. 22. For individuals and for nations, obedience to God is the sure means of competence and safety. 37. God has special regard for the poor, sympathizes with them in distress, and requires that such as have the means, and know their condition, should relieve their wants. 53. Jehovah is a God of kindness and compassion. These traits of character he requires in all his people; and without them none can meet his approbation or en joy the blessings of his everlasting favor. Redemption of servants. LEVITICUS XXVI. A blessing and a curse. A. M. 2514. B C 1491). session; they shall be your bondmen" for everTbut over your brethren the children of Is rael, ye shall not rule one over another with rigor." 47 T And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich + by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or so journer by thee,0 or to the stock of the stranger's family ; 48 After that he is sold he may be redeemed again ; one of his brethren may redeem him : 49 Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may re deem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him ; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. 50 And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubilee : and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of a hired servant shall it be with him.0 51 If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he«shall give again the price of his re demption out of the money that he was bought for. 52 And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubilee, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption. 53 And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him : and the other shall not rule with rigor over him in thy sight. 54 And if he be not redeemed in these years,* then he shall go out in the year of jubilee, both he, and his children with him. 55 Por unto me the children of Israel are ser vants ; they are my servants whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt :aIaHi the Lord your God. CHAPTER XXVI. 1 Of idolatry. 2 Religiousness. 3 A blessing to them that keep the commandments. 14 A curse to those that break them. 40 God promiseth to remember them that repent. YE shall make you no idols nor graven image,6 neither rear you up a standing image,8 nei ther shall ye set up any image of stone' in your land, to bow down unto it : for I am the Lord your God. 2 IT Ye shall keep my sabbaths,' and reverence my sanctuary : I am the Lord. 3 Tlf ye walk in my statutes,g and keep my commandments, and do them ; 4 Then I will give you rain in due season,11 and • Heb. ye shall serve yourselves with them; ver. 39. a ver. 43. t Heb. his hand obtain; vet. 26. b Neh. 5:5,8. « Job 7:1 ; Isa. 16:14. 1 Or, by these means, d ver. 42. e Deut. 16:22; 27:15. § Or. pillar. 1 Heb. a stone of picture, or figured stone. < ch. 19:30. B Deut. 11:13—15; 28:1-14. 1" Isa. 30:23; Ezek. 34:26. i Psa. 67:6. i Amos 9:13. kPsa.l47:14. 1 Heb. cause lo cease. 1 2 Kings 17:2); Ezek. 5: 17. "• Deut. 32:30. o Exod. 2:25; CHAPTER XXVI. In this chapter and the twenty-eighth of Deuteronomy, is recorded a most wonderful prophecy of the future his tory of God's covenant people, the fulfilment of which through so many centuries is an irrefragable proof of the divine inspiration of the record that contains it. 8. Five — a hundred — ten thousand; definite numbers are here used for indefinite. 10. Bring forth the old ; from their granaries, to make room for the new crop. 11. Set my tabernacle; continue to dwell among them the land shall yield her increase,1 and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vin tage/ and the vintage shall reach unto the sow ing-time : and ye shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6 And I will give peace in the land,k and ye shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid : and I will ridT evil beasts out of the land,1 nei ther shall the sword go through your land. 7 And ye shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 And five of you shall chase a hundred,™ and a hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight : and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9 For I will have respect unto you,n and make you fruitful,0 and multiply you,p and establish my covenant with you. 10 And ye shall eat old store,0- and bring forth the old because of the new. 11 And I will set my tabernacle among you :r and my soul shall not abhor you.8 12 And I will walk among you,* and will be your God, and ye shall be my people." 13 I am the Lord your God,v which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, that ye should not be their bondmen ; and I have broken the bands of your yoke,w and made you go upright. 14 T But if ye will not hearken unto me,x and will not do all these commandments ; 15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant ;J 16 I also will do this unto you : I will even ap point over* you terror, consumption, and the burn ing ague, that shall consume the eyes, and cause sorrow of heart; and ye shall sow your seed in vain,z for your enemies shall eat it." 17 And I will set my face against you, and ye shall be slain before your enemies :D they that hate you shall reign over you; and ye shall flee when none pursueth you.0 18 And if ye will not yet for all this hearken unto me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 And I will break the pride of your power ;d and I will make your heaven as iron, and your earth as brass : 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain : e 2 Kings 13:23. o Neh. 9:23. P Psa. 107:38. q ch. 25:22. r Psa. 76:2: Ezek. 37:26-28; Rev. 21:3. • Deut. 32:19; Psa. 78:59. t 2 Cor. 6:16! u Ezek. 11:20. v ch. 25:38, 42. w Jer. 2:20. * Deut. 23:15, 68. J Ezek. Heb. upon. ' Mic. 6:15. a Neh. 9:36, 37. b Jer. 19:7. 'Prov. <= Psa. 127:1. 16:59.23:1. dlsa 25:11. with his visible presence on the mercy-seat, and to do them good. 13. Made you go upright; delivered you from bowing down under oppression or in despondency. 16. Appoint over you; as the executioners of my wrath. 18. Seven times; the number seven is a symbol of com pleteness. Out of the inexhaustible storehouse of his omnipotence, God will continually bring upon them new plagues in full measure. 19. As iron, and — as brass; the clouds would give ro rain, any more than if they were iron, and the earth no fruit, any more than if it were brass. Ver. 20. 165 Curses on the disobedient. for your land shall not yield her increase, neither shall the trees of the land yield their fruits. 21 T And if ye walk contrary unto me,* and will not hearken unto me ; I will bring seven times more plagues upon you according to your sins. .22 I will also send wild beasts among you,a which shall rob you of your children, and destroy your cattle, and make you few in number; and your highways shall be desolate.0 23 And if ye will not be reformed by me by these things, but will walk contrary unto me ; 24 Then will I also walk contrary unto you,0 and will punish you yet seven times for your sins. 25 And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of my covenant :d and when ye are gathered together within your cities, I will send the pestilence among you;6 and ye shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. 26 And when I have broken the staff of your bread/ ten women shall bake your bread in one oven, and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.8 27 And if ye will not for all this hearken unto me, but walk contrary unto me ; 28 Then I will walk contrary unto you also in fury ; and I, even I, will chastise you seven times for your sins. 29 And ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, and the flesh of your daughters shall ye eat.11 30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcasses upon the carcasses of your idols,1 and my soul shall abhor you.j 31 And I will make your cities waste* and bring your sanctuaries unto desolation,1 and I will not smell the savor of your sweet odors.1" 32 And I will bring the land into desolation : n and your enemies which dwell therein shall be astonished at it.0 33 And I will scatter you among the heathen," and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste. 34 Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths,0- as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies' LEVITICUS XXVI. Mercy for the penitent. • Or, at all adventures with me. a 2Kings 17:25; Ezek. 5:17. b Lam. 1:4. cPsa. 18:20; Isa. 63:10. 4 Deut. 32:35; Ezek. 20:37. <=Jer.21:10. f Psa. 105-16. eHag.l:6. k Lam. 4:10. I Ezek. 0:3-13. j ch. 20:23. k Neh. •2-3 1 2 Chron. 36:19; Matt. 24:2. mlsa.l:13. n Jer. 25:11, 18. o Jer. 19-8 P Psa. 44:11. q 2 Chr. 36:21. r Ezek. 21:7. 15. t Heb. driven. ¦ Job 15:21. t Isa. 10:4. » Judg. 2:14. v Lam. 4:9; Ezek. 4:17. w 1 Kings 22. Your highways shall be desolate ; men would not travel in them, on account of the danger. Judges 5 : 6 ; 2 Chron. 15:5; Isa. 33:8. 25. Avenge the quarrel of my covenant; in the Hebrew, avenge the avenging of my covenant, that is, execute ven geance upon you for breaking it. 26. Ten women — bake — in one oven; on account of the small quantity they would have to bake. By weight ; each man shall have a small portion weighed out to him, as is the custom in extreme want. 29. Eat the flesh of your sons, and — daughters; on account of the scarcity of food. 2 Kings 6:29 ; Lam. 4:10; Jose- phus, Jewish Wars, B. 7, c. 2. 35. It shall rest, because it did not rest ; in four hundred and ninety years, the time from the reign of Saul to the Babylonish captivity, there would be seventy years of sabbaths, and also seventy sabbatical years — equal to the number of years the land lay desolate during their captiv ity in Babylon ; and, as some have supposed, equal to the 166 land; even then shall the land rest, and b.&hso. enjoy her sabbaths. 35 As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest ; be cause it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it. 36 And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies ;r and the soundof a shaken f leaf shall chase them ; 3 and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword ; and they shall fall when none pursueth. 37 And they shall fall one upon another,' as it were before a sword, when none pursueth : and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies." 38 And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. 39 And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies' lands ; v and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them. 40 If they shall confess their iniquity,'"' and the iniquity of their fathers, with their trespass which they trespassed against me, and that also they have walked contrary unto me ; 41 And that I also have walked contrary unto them, and have brought them into the land of their enemies ; if then their uncircumcised hearts" be humbled, y and they then accept of the punishment of their iniquity;2 42 Then will I remember my covenant with Ja cob, and also my covenant with Isaac, and also my covenant with Abraham will I remember ;a and I will remember the land.0 43 The land also shall be left of them, and shall enjoy her sabbaths,0 while she lieth desolate with out them : and they shall accept of the.punishment of their iniquity;11 because, even because they despised my judgments,0 and because their soul abhorred my statutes. 44 And yet for all that, when they be in the land of their enemies, I will not cast them away,f nei ther will I abhor them, to destroy them utterly, and to break my covenant with them : B for I am the Lord their God. 45 But I will for their sakesh remember the cov- 8:a3 etc.; Neh. 9:2, etc.; Prov. 28:13 Luke 15:18; 1 John 1:9. * Jer. 9:26 Acts 7:51; Rom 2:29. y 2 Chron 12:6,7 ,12. 2 Psa 39:9; 51:3,4; Dan 9:7. a Psa. 106:45; Ezek. 16:60. b Joel 2:18. c ver. 34, 35. d ver. 41. e 2 Chron. 30:16. f Psa. 94:14; Lam. 3:31 Rom 11:2 E Psa . 89:33, 34. b Rom .11:28. number of sabbatical years the observance of which they had neglected. 2 Chron. 36:21; Jer. 25:8-11. 38. Eat you up ; consume them : many would die in their enemies' country. 41. Accept of the punishment ; feel and acknowledge that God was just in punishing them, and humbly submit them selves to his disposal. 42. Remember my covenant ; granting them the blessings promised in it. Remember the land; cause it again to be inhabited by the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. One of the most effectual means of preservation from idolatry, and all sins, secret and open, personal and na tional, is the due observance of the Sabbath, with habitual attendance on public worship. 12. Obedience to divine commands is not only the surest, but the only way to personal and national excels lencc, and permanent prosperity, happiness, and glory. Of the estimation LEVITICUS XXVII. of things vowed. iV&'S' enant of their ancestors,1 whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the heathen, that I might be their God : I am the Lord. 46 These are the statutes and judgments and laws, which the Lord made between him and the children of Israel in mount Sinai by the hand of Moses. CHAPTER XXVII. 1 He that maketh a singular vow must be the Lord's. 2 The estima tion of the person. 8 Of a beast given by vow. 14 Of a house. 16 Of a field, and the redemption thereof. 28 No devoted thing may be redeemed. 32 The tithe may not be changed. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When a man shall make a singular vow,b the persons shall be for the Lord by thy esti mation.0 3 And thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old,d even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary.0 4 And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels. 5 And if it be from five years old even unto twen ty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 6 And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy esti mation shall be three shekels of silver. 7 And if it be from sixty years old and above ; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. 8 But if he be poorer than thy estimation, then he shall present himself before the priest, and the priest shall value him; according to his ability that vowed shall the priest value him.f 9 And if it be a beast, whereof men bring an offering unto the Lord, all that any man giveth of such unto the Lord shall be holy. 10 He shall not alter it, nor change it, a good » Luke 1:72, 73. b Num. 6:2; Judg. 11:30, etc. ; 1 Sam. 1:11, 29. » Eccl. 5:4,5. d Num. 18:16. e Exod. 30:13. ' Lev. 5:7. * Heb. according to thy estimation, O priest, s ver. 15, 19. b Psa. 101:2-7. " ver. 12. j ver. 13. God speaks of deliverance from bondage as a bless ing which lays those who receive it under peculiar obli gations to love and obey him. 24. The reason why God sets himself against individ uals or nations, or ever punishes them, is because they appose him, and act in opposition to what he directs, and what their good and the great interests of his kingdom require. 29. The dreadful evils which sin often occasions in this world, are indications of evils still more dreadful which it will occasion in the world to come ; but neither in this nor the future world will any sinners suffer more or greater evils than their iniquities deserve. 35. The desecration of Sabbaths, or the neglect to ob serve them according to divine appointment, is highly offensive to God and injurious to men. It is treasuring up wrath agamst the day of wrath, and exposes both in dividuals and nations to desolating judgments. 39. Children often suffer greatly in consequence of the sins of their parents ; but not more than their own sins deserve, nor more than, if they repent of and forsake them, will be overruled for their good. 45. A deep conviction and hearty confession of the righteousness of God in all the evils he brings upon us, humble submission to his will, and true devotion to his for a bad, or a bad for a good : and if he shall at all change beast for beast, then it and the exchange thereof shall be holy. 11 And Hit be any unclean beast, of which they do" not offer a sacrifice unto the Lord, then he shall present the beast before the priest: 12 And the priest shall value it, whether it be good or bad : as thou valuest it, who art the priest,* so shall it be. 13 But if he will at all redeem it,g then he shall add a fifth part thereof unto thy estimation. 14 IT And when a man shall sanctify his house to be holy unto the Lord ,h then the priest shall estimate it, whether it be good or bad: as the priest shall estimate it, so shall it stand.1 15 And if he that sanctified it will redeem his house, then he shall add the fifth part of the money of thy estimation unto it,j and it shall be his. 16 And if a man shall sanctify unto the Lord some part of a field of his possession, then thy esti mation shall be according to the seed thereof: a homer + of barley -seed shall be valued at fifty shek els of silver. 17 If he sanctify his field from the year of jubi lee, according to thy estimation it shall stand. 18 But if he sanctify his field after the jubilee, then the priest shall reckon unto him the money according to the years that remain,k even unto the year of the jubilee, and it shall be abated from thy estimation. 19 And if he that sanctified the field will in any wise redeem it,1 then he shall add the fifth part pf the money of thy estimation unto it, and it shall be assured to him. 20 And if he will not redeem the field, or if he have sold the field to another man, it shall not be redeemed any more. 21 But the field, when it goeth out in the jubi lee,™ shall be holy unto the Lord, as a field devot ed;" the possession thereof shall be the priest's." 22 And if a man sanctify unto the Lord a field 13. t Or, the land of a homer, k ch. 25:15, 16. 1 vor. 13. m ch. 25: 10, 23. nver.28. o Num. 18:14; Ezek. 44:29. service, will end in deliverance from all evil, and the ever lasting enjoyment of all needed good. CHAPTER XXVII. 2. Make a singular vow; in the Hebrew, set apart avow; that is, set apart one's self or any thing belonging to him by a vow, as given to the Lord. Men might thus devote them selves to Jehovah, or their children, as Hannah did Samuel, 1 Sam. 1 : 28, or a portion of their property. By a wise reg ulation they had the right of redeeming themselves, or the person or thing vowed, at a certain estimation, as given in this chapter. The persons— for the Lord by thy estimation; the persons thus devoted shall belong to the Lord, to be re deemed at the estimation ordered by Moses in God's name. 9. Shall be holy; it could not be reclaimed, but must con tinue devoted to the object to which it was consecrated, provided it was a thing suitable to be offered in sacrifice to God. If not, then he must pay the value of it, accord ing to the estimation of the priest, and one fifth part more. Ver. 13-15, 19, 27. 14. Sanctify; set apart, to be devoted to the service of the sanctuary. 16. According to the seed; the seed that it would take to sow the field, or which the field would produce. A homers ten ephahs, or a little less than eleven bushels. ?!57 Of things devoted, LEVITICUS XXVII. and of tithes. which he hath bought, which is not of the fields of his possession;1 23 Then the priest shall reckon unto him the worth of thy estimation,0 even unto the year of the jubilee : and he shall give thine estimation in that day as a holy thing unto the Lord. 24 In the year of the jubilee the field shall return unto him of whom it was bought,0 even to him to whom the possession of the land did belong. 25 And all thy estimations shall be according to the shekel of the sanctuary : twenty gerahs shall be the shekel. 26 T Only the firstling* of the beasts, which should be the Lord's firstling,4 no man shall sanc tify it, whether it be ox or sheep : it is the Lord's. 27 And if it be of an unclean beast, then he shall redeem it according to thine estimation, and shall add a fifth part of it thereto: e or if it be not re deemed, then it shall be sold according to thy esti mation. 28 Notwithstanding, no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the Lord of all that he » Ch. 25:25 b ver. 18. » ch. 25:28. * Heb. first-born, d Exod. 13:2, 12; 22:311; Num. IS: 17;' Heut. 15:19. ever. 11-13. fjoshua0:19. B Num. 21:2, 3; 1 Sam 15:18-23. b Gen. 23:22; Num. 18:21, 24; 2 Chr. 31 :5, 6, 25. Twenty gerahs; a gerah was about two and a half cents. 26. It is the Lord's; Exod. 13:2, 12-15. 28. Devoted thing; a thing irrevocably devoted by the offerer to God, which could not be redeemed, but must be applied to the object to which it was devoted. In this respect it differed from the things previously mentioned, and is expressed in the original by a different word. 29. Devoted of men; it is not to be understood that a private person could thus devote to destruction a mem ber of his family. The cases mentioned in Scripture are such as that recorded in Numbers 21:2, 3, where the Israel ites devoted to destruction a Canaanitish people that had made war upon them ; or where God himself ordered such a devotion to be made, as in the case of Jericho and all its possessions. Josh. 6:17-19. 31. Tithes; a tenth part of the products of the land, after the first-fruits had been deducted. This the Israel ites were bound to give for the support of the minis ters of religion. Ver. 30-33; Num. 18:21-32. Another tenth of what remained was to be brought to Jerusalem and used for offerings and for the support of the worship pers while there. Deut. 12:5-7; 14:22-29. 32. The rod; which had some coloring matter on the end, by which one tenth part was marked as a tithe to be devoted to the Lord. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. It is good to be ready and zealous in good things, but hath, both of man and beast, and of the acluS field of his possession, shall be sold or redeem ed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the Lord/ 29 None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed;8 but shall surely be put to death. 30 And all the tithe of the land," whether of the seed of the land, or of the fruit of the tree, is the Lord's : it is holy unto the Lord. 31 And if a man will at all redeem aught of his tithes, he shall add thereto the fifth part thereof.' 32 And concerning the tithe of the herd, or of the flock, even of whatsoever passeth under the rod,j the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. 33 He shall not search whether it be good or bad, neither shall he change it:k and if he change it at all, then both it and the change thereof shall be holy ; it shall not be redeemed. 34 These are the commandments,1 which the Lord commanded Moses for the children of Isra el"1 in mount Sinai." 12; Neh. 13:12; Mal. 3:8, 10. i ver. 13. i Jer. 33:13; Ezek. 20:37 ; Mic. 7:14. * ver. 10. 1 ch. 26:46. m Mal. 4:4. n Exod. 19:2, 3, 25. wisdom and discretion are also needful. Persons some times devote themselves or others to services for which they are not wanted, or are unfit. In such cases it is bet ter for them to aid the cause of Christ in some other way. Their money may be more useful than their personal ser vice, or their services more useful in some other employ ment than that to which they aspire. 10. Rash promises, and inconstancy in performing such as are right, should be carefully avoided. 19. All our possessions belong to the Lord, and should be used in such a manner as will please him ; some part of them should be devoted especially to the support and extension of his worship. The proportion which should be thus devote.d is not now definitively prescribed, and the manner in which persons feel, judge, and act in the use of property, is one of the prominent indications and evidences of their character, and one which will have a momentous influence on their future condition. Matt. 25 : 35-46. 25. Strict integrity towards God and men is a duty, the desire and conscientious endeavor to practise which, is essential, in the sight of God, to the character of an honest man. 33. An honest man will not retain, or appropriate to his own use, what he knows of right belongs to another, in opposition to the known will of the owner, whether human or divine ; but he will be disposed to render to all what rightfully belongs to them. It is a great thing to be truly honest. Mic. 6:8; Matt. 22:21; Luke 16:10-13. 168 THE FOURTH BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED NUMBEES. This book receives its name from the two numberings of the Israelites which it records. In it are found the rules for the order of marching and encamping in the wilderness, with various repetitions of laws previously recorded, and some new enactments. The book also contains many interesting narra tives : as the murmuring of Israel at Taberah ; the sedition of Miriam and Aaron ; the mission of the twelve spies, and the consequent rebellion of Israel ; the rebellion of Korah and his company ; the sin of Moses and Aaron at Zin ; the prophecies of Balaam ; the destruction of the Midianites, etc. The narrative is brought down to the fortieth year of the sojourn in the wilderness. kZEt CHAPTER I. 1 G-od commandeth Moses to number the people. 5 The princes of the tribes. 17 The number of every tribe. 47 The Levices are exempted for the service of the Lord. A ND the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilder- XI ness of Sinai,a in the tabernacle of the con gregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel,b after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their nameM, every male by their polls ; 3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to. war in Israel : thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe ; every one head of the house of his fathers.0 5 T And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of tlie tribe of Reuben; Eli- zur the son of Shedcur.d 6 Of Simeon ; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 7 Of Judah ; Nahshon* the son of Amminadab.e » Ch. 10:12; Exod. 19:1. b ch. 26:2, 63; Exod. 30:12; 2 Sam. 24:2; 1 Chr. 21:2. « Exod. 18:25; Josh. 22:14. d ch. 2:10, ate; 7:30, etc.; 10:18, etc. * Called, Naasson, Matt. 1:4; l.uke 3:32. e Euth 4:20. t Call- 8 Of Issachar ; Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 9 Of Zebulun ; Eliab the son of Helon. 10 Of the children of Joseph : of Ephraim ;' Elishama the son of Ammihud : of Manasseh ; Ga maliel the son of Pedahzur. 11 Of Benjamin ; Abidan the son of Gideoni. 12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran. 14 Of Gad ; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.+ 15 Of Naphtali ; Ahira the son of Euan. 16 These were the renowned of the congrega tion, princes of the tribes of their fathers,' heads of thousands in Israel.6 17 IT And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names : '¦ 18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.1 19 As the Lord commanded Moses,5 so he num bered them in the wilderness of Sinai. ed Reuel, ch. 2:14. t ch. 7:2; 1 Chr. 27:16, etc. e Exod. 18:31, 25. h Rev. 7:4, etc. ; Isa. 43:1 ; John 10:3. i ver. 20, etc. j ver. 2. CHAPTER I. 1. The second month; called Zif; answering to the last part of April and the first part of May. 2. Take ye the sum cf all the congregation; the Hebrew civil division was into thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, Exod. 18:25 ; Deut. 1: 15 ; and this served also as the basis of the military division, 1 Sam. 8:12; 22:7. The present numbering was an enrolment of the men of war in regular military array. A numbering had been made of the people a few months before. Exod. 30 : 11, 12 ; 38 : 25, 26. The tables prepared on that occasion seem to have served for the present enrolment, the men appointed to ... oversee it simply filling up the vacancies occasioned by death from those who had in the meanwhile reached the age of twenty years. Hence the sum is in both cases tho same, namely, six hundred and three thousand five hun dred and fifty. It is to be noticed further, that with the single exception of the tribe of Gad, ver. 25, no divisions lower than hundreds are reckoned. 16. Renowned of the congregation; rather, "the called of the congregation ;" that is, men of standing and influence, who were regularly called to the assemblies of the people ; for these assemblies consisted not of the whole mass of the people, but of certain representatives from each family. IS. Their pedigrees; the line of their forefathers. 169 1 The number in each tribe NUMBERS I. able to go forth to war. 20 And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the num ber of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred. 22 1 Of the children of Simeon, by their gener ations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, accord ing to the number of the name's, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 24 1 Of the children of Gad, by their genera tions, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward,, all that were able to go forth to war ; 25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty. 26 1 Of the children of Judah, by their genera tions, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah,a were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 28 1 Of the children of Issachar, by their gener ations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 30 T Of the children of Zebulun, by their gener ations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; 31 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 32 T Of the children of Joseph," namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, accord ing to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 33 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred. » 2 Chr. 17:14. » Deut. 33:17. = ch. 26:64. d ch. 2:32; 26:51; Exod. 20-25. Reuben — Simeon— Gad; the tribes are grouped in threes, according to their encampment, as described in the following chapters, these three tribes having their place on the south side of the tabernacle. KO 34 1" Of the children of Manasseh, by 1£ ?& their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thou sand and two hundred. 36 T Of the children of Benjamin, by their gener ations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 37 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thou sand and four hundred. 38 T Of the children of Dan, by their genera tions, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 39 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thou sand and seven hundred. 40 IT Of the children of Asher, by their genera tions, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 41 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 42 1 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war ; 43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thou sand and four hundred. 44 These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered,0 and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers. 45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel ; 46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty .d 47 1 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.e 48 For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, saying, 49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel : 50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels 12:37; 38:26; Deut. 10:22. e ch. 2:33; chs. 3, 4; 1 Chron. ch. 6; 21:6. 45, 46. All that were able to go forth to war in Israel — were six hundred thousand; the number able for war shows that the whole people must have amounted to more than two millions. The order of the NUMBERS II. tribes in their tents. a'aiS' thereof, and over all things that belong to it:" they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.11 51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down ; ° and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up : and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.d 52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp,0 and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts. 53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony,1' that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel:6 and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tab ernacle of testimony.11 54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so did they. CHAPTER II. The order of the tribes in their tents. AND the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard,1 with the ensign of their father's house : far off about* the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.j 3 And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nah- shon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah. k 4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 5 And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar. 6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 7 Then the tribe of Zebulun : and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zeb ulun. 8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred. 9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were a hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies: these shall first set forth.1 » Ch. 3:6, etc.; Exod. 38:21. t> ver. 53. <= ch. 10:17-21. d ch. 18:22 « ch.' 2:2; 21:2. ' ver. 50. B ch. 8:10; 16:46; 18:5; 1 Sam. 6:10. 1> ch. 3:7, 8; 31:30, 47; 1 Chr. 23:32; 2 Chr. 13: 1<>: i ch. 1:52. * Heb. over 53. Keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony; guard the tabernacle from the approach of all improper persons, and thus keep them from the punishment threatened in ver. 51. i. INSTRUCTIONS. 46. From the great increase of the Israelites in their bondage, and from their deliverance according to the di vine prediction, we have evidence of the faithfulness of God, and are encouraged to trust in him for the fulfilment of all his promises. 10 1 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies : and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur. 1 1 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hun dred. 12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon : and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishad- dai. 13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred. 14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel .f 15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hun dred and fifty. 16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reu ben were a hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies: and they shall set forth in the second rank."1 17 ir Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp:" as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards. 18 1 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies : and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud. 19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred. 20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh : and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred. 22 Then the tribe of Benjamin : and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. 23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred. 24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephra im were a hundred thousand and eight thousand and a hundred, throughout their armies : and they shall go forward in the third rank." 25 1 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the cap- against. j Josh. 3:4. It ch. Luke 3:32, 33. ' ch. 10:14. n>ch. 10:18. n oh. 10:17, 21. 1:7, etc.; 10:14; 1 Chron. 2:10; Matt. 1:4; t Called Deuel, ch. 1:14; 7:42, 47; 10:20. och. 10:22. CHAPTER II. 2. Standard — ensign ; the standard was that belonging to each grand division, embracing three tribes : the ensigns are generally understood to have been those of single tribes, perhaps also of the subdivisions of these tribes. 9. The camp of Judah; a division of the main host, con sisting of three tribes, of which Judah was the head. 16. The camp of Reuben; the division of which this tribe was the head. 24. Of Ephraim; of which Ephraim was the head. IU Number of the people. NUMBERS III. Families of the Levites. tain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred. 27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. 28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 29 1 Then the tribe of Naphtali : and the cap tain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. 30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were a hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred: they shall go hind most with their standards." 32 IT These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers : all those that were numbered of the camps through out their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty." 33 But the Levites were not numbered, among the children of Israel; as the Lord commanded Moses. 34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses:0 so they pitched by their standards,"1 and so they set for ward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers. CHAPTER III. 1 The sons of Aaron. 5 The Levites are given to the priests for the service of the tabernacle, 11 instead of the first-born. 14 The Levites are numbere! by their families. 21 The families, number, and charge of the Grershonites, 27 of the Itohathites, 33 of the Merarites. 38 The place and charge of Moses and Aaron. 40 The first-born are freed by the Levites. 44 The overplus are redeemed. THESE also are the generations of Aaron and Moses, in the day that the Lord spake with Moses in mount Sinai. 2 And these are the names of the sons of Aaron ; Nadab the first-born,0 and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the • Ch. 10:25. bch. 1:45,47; 11:21; ExoJ. 33:26. c Psa. 119:0. d ch. 21:2,5,6. e Exod. 6:23. f Exod. 23:41 ; Lev. 8:2, etc. • Heb. whose hand he filled. S ch. 28:51; Lsv. 10:1, 2; 1 Chr. 21:2. h ch. 8:6f 18:2. etc.; J-but. 33:10; Mal. 2:4. • 1 Chr. 20:20, 22. joh. 1:50. k ch. 8:10; 18:6, 7. 31. The camp of Dan; this made four divisions into which the tribes were divided, and they were arranged in the order above mentioned. 33. Not numbered; not numbered as men of war, from which they were exempted by their office. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. The Lord appoints the habitation and circumstances of all as seems good in his sight. If these are favorable, we should be grateful ; if trying, submissive ; and in all things seek to honor him. 34. .Jehovah is a God of order, requiring each one to take and to keep his proper place, by the faithful dis charge of duty. Thus he will not only most honor God, but be most happy himself and most useful to others. 172 M. 2S14 C. 1490. priests which wsre anointed,1 whom he AB consecrated* to minister in the priest's office. 4 And Nadab and A bii u died before the Lord,* when they offered strange fire before the Lord, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children : and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father. 5 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Bring the tribe of Levi near,11 and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. 7 And they shall keep his charge,' and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tab ernacled 8 And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons : k they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. 10 And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office :'and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.1 11 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 12 And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the first born that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel :m therefore the Levites shall be mine ; 13 Because all the first-born are mine;nybr on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the first-born in Israel, both man and beast: mine they shall be: I am the Lord. 14 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families : every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.0 16 And Moses numbered them according to the word+ of the Lord, as he was commanded. 17 And these were the sons of Levi by their names ;p Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari. 18 And these are the names of the sons of Ger shon by their families;'1 Libni, and Shimei. 19 And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 1 ver. 33; Eph. 2:19; Heb. 10:19. 22. m ver. 41 12 ; Lev. 27:26; Luke 2:23. o ver. 39; ch. 26:65 46:11; Exod. 6:16. q. Exod. 6:17-19. ch. 8:16. ¦> Exod. 13:2, t Heb. mouth, p Gen. CHAPTER III. 4. In the sight of Aaron; under his direction. 6. Minister unto him ; wait upon and assist him in the service of the sanctuary. Ver. 7-9. 7. And tliey shall keep his charge; shall perform, under his direction, the services entrusted to their care. The charge qfthe whole congregation; the services of the sanc tuary which belonged to the whole congregation, being performed by the Levites in their behalf. 10. The stranger; not of the seed of Aaron, and not appointed by God to the priest's office. 12. Be mine; consecrated to the service of the Banc- tuary. 13. Hallowed unto me; set apart for hie particular ser vice. Exod. 12 : 29, 30 ; 13 : 11-15. The number of the Levites, NUMBERS III. and their several charges. b' c'S' 20 And the sons of Merari, by their fam ilies ; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers. 21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites. 22 Those that were numbered of them, accord ing to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred. 23 The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.* 24 And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael. 25 And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation11 shall be the tabernacle,0 and the tent,d the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 26 And the hangings of the court,6 and the cur tain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it/ for all the service thereof. 27 T And of Kohath was the family of the Am- ramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uz- zielites:6 these are the families of the Kohathites. 28 In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hun dred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.11 30 And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 And their charge1 shall be the ark,j and the table,k and the candlestick, and the altars,1 and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging,"1 and all the service thereof. 32 And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary. 33 1" Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites:" these are the families of Merari. 34 And those that were numbered of them, accord ing to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred. 35 And the chief of the house of the father of the =¦ Ch. 1:53. b oh. 4:24- 26. » Exod 25:9 d Exod. 26:1, etc. e Exod. •"> ":9, e r„ f Exod. 35: If . B 1 Chron. 26:23. !¦ ch 1:53 i oh 4 15. 1 Exod. 25:10 . k Exod. 25:23, 31. 1 Exod 27 1; 30: 1. m Exod. 26 32. 11 1 Chr 6:19. ° ch 1:53. • Heb. the office of the cliarge. p ch 4 31 32. 25. Tlie charge of the sons of Gershon; the things com mitted to their particular care. 31. Tlie hanging; the veil that hung immediately before the ark, and separated the inner from the outer sanctuary. Exod. 26:31-33. 39. Twenty and two thousand ; the sum of the Gershon ites, Kohathites, and Merarites, as separately given above, ver. 22, 28, 34, amounts to twenty-two thousand three hundred. It is supposed that from these Moses deducted the first-born, amounting to three hundred, who, as already devoted to God, could not be taken in ex change for an equal number of first-born- from the other tribes. families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail : these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.0 36 And under the custody and charge* of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the taber nacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto, 37 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.p 38 1 But those that encamp before the taber nacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel;" and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. r 39 All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at th»commandment of the Lord, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.3 40 1" And the Lord said unto Moses. Number all the first-born of the males of the^ children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the num ber of their names.' 41 And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the Lord) instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel : and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.11 42 And Moses numbered, as the Lord commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel. 43 And all the first-born males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen. 44 lAnd the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 45 Take the Levites instead of all the first-born among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle ;v and the Levites shall be mine: I am the Lord. 46 And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the first-born of the children of Israel,1" which are more than the Levites ;x 47 Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them;y (the shekel is twenty gerahs:2) q ver. 7, 8. r ver. 10. s ch. 20:62. t ver. 15. " ver. 12, 45. " ir ch. 18:15; Exod. 13:13. * ver. 39-13. y ch. 18:16; Lev. 27:6. 30:13; Lev. 27:25; Ezek. 45:12. ver, 41. 2 Exod. 43. All the first-born males; that is, since the destruction of the first-born in Egypt ; as the smallness of the number, in comparison with the sum of the whole congregation, shows. It was from that event that the first-born were to be reckoned as devoted to God. 47. Five shekels ; about two dollars and a half. INSTRUCTIONS. * 12. The ministers of religion should be in a peculiar sense devoted to God ; not entangling themselves with the affairs of this life, but employing their time and tal ents in the discharge of the appropriate duties of their office. ITS The age and time NUMBERS IV. of the Levites1 service, 48 And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons. 49 And Moses took the redemption-money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites : 50 Of the first-born of the children of Israel took he the money ; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary :a 51 And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons,6 according to the word of the Lord, as the Lord commanded Moses.0 CHAPTER IV. 1 The age and time of the Levites' service. 4 The carriage of the Kohathites, when the priests have taken down the tabernacle. 16 The charge of Ele»zar. 17 The office of the priests. 21 The car riage of the Gershonites. 2E1 The carriage of the Merarites. 34 The number of the Kohathites, 38 of the Gershonites, 42 and of the Me rarites. AND the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 2 Take the sum. of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 3 From thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old,d all that enter into the host, to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 4 This shall be the service of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation,6 about the most holy things.' 5 T And when the camp setteth forward, Aaron shall come, and his sons, and they shall take down the covering veil,B and cover the ark of testimony with it:11 6 And shall put thereon the covering of badg ers' skins, and shall spread over it a cloth wholly of blue, and shall put in the staves thereof.1 7 And upon the table of show-breadj they shall spread a cloth of blue,u and put thereon the dishes, and the spoons, and the bowls, and covers to cover" withal : and the continual bread shall be thereon : 8 And they shall spread upon them a cloth of scarlet, and cover the same with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put in the staves thereof. ' Ver. 46, 47. b ver. 48. » Mal. 4:4. d oh 8:24; 1 Chr 23:3, 24, 27. e ver. 15 f ver. 19. B Jxod 26:31 ; Isa. 25:7; Heb. 9:3; 10:20. h Exod. 25:10-16 il Kinas8:7 8. Exod. 25:23-30. k Lev 24:5- 3. • Or, pour out. 1 Exod. 25:31-38 m Exod. 30:1 -5. n Exod. 25:9; 1 Chr. 9:29. 38. The Lord appoints to all their places and their work ; and as it is his will that there should be division of labor, each one should strive to fill the place assigned him, and faithfully perform the duties to which he is called. 51. Different persons are called to promote the cause of God in different ways ; some by their personal services, others by their property, and all by their prayers, their influence, and their example. If from love to him they employ what he gives them in his service, they will all be accepted in Christ, and receive an abundant reward. ^ CHAPTER IV- 3. From thirty years old and upward; in chap. 8:24 it is said, "From twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service of the tabernacle of the congregation." But this seems to have been an introduc tory admission to a sort of apprenticeship, while the full service was reserved for the age between thirty and fifty. 174 A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. 9 And they shall take a cloth of blue, and cover the candlestick of the light,1 and his lamps, and" his tongs, and his snuff-dishes, and all the oil- vessels thereof, wherewith they minister unto it : 10 And they shall put it and all the vessels thereof within a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put it upon a bar. 11 And upon the golden altar they shall spread a cloth of blue,"1 and cover it with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put to the staves thereof: 12 And they shall take all the instruments of ministry,11 wherewith they minister in the sanctu ary, and put them in a cloth of blue, and cover them with a covering of badgers' skins, and shall put them on a bar. 13 And they shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth thereon : 14 And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof,0 wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the flesh-hooks, and the shovels, and the basins/ all the vessels of the altar ; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it. 15 And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the son's of Kohath shall come to bear it:v but they shall not touch any holy thing ,q lest they die.r These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congrega tion.8 16 1 And to the office of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest pertaineth the oil for the light,* and the sweet incense," and the daily meat-offer ing/ and the anointing oil,w and the oversight of all the tabernacle, and of all that therein is, in the sanctuary, and in the vessels thereof. 17 T And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 18 Cut ye not off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites : 19 But thus do unto them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach unto the most holy things:31 Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them every one to his service and to his burden : o Exod. 38:3; 2 Chron. 4:19. t Or, bowls. P ch. 7:9; 10:21 ; Deut. 31:9; Josh 4:10; 2 Sam. 6:13; 1 Chr. 15:2, 15. q 2 Sam. 6:6, 7; 1 Chr. 13:9, 10. ¦¦Heb. 12:29. »ch.3:31. t Exod. 25:6; Lev. 24:2. «¦ Exod. 30:34. v Exod. 29:40. w Exod. 30:23-33. I ver. 4. 4. About the most holy things ; rather, even the most holy things ; that is, the charge and bearing of them ; for these were committed to their care. 5. The covering veil; between the Holy and Most Holy places. See note to chap. 3: 31. Cover the ark; the cover ing of the ark, with other things committed to their care, was designed to hide them from the eyes of the people. Thus was signified their sacredness as devoted to God's immediate service, and reverence was fostered in the hearts of the Israelites. 7. Covers to cover withal ; or, vessels for libation. 15. The burden of the sons of Kohath; the things con nected with the tabernacle, which they were to carry. Chap. 3:31. 16. The daily meat-offering ; see Exod. 29:40. 18. Cut ye not off— the Kohathites; by suffering them to see the holy things which they were to carry, and thus incur the penalty of death. Ver. 20. Charge of the Gershonites, NUMBERS IV. Merarites, and Kohathites. A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. 20 But they shall not go in to see when the holy things are covered," lest they die. 21 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 22 Take also the sum of the sons of Gershon, throughout the houses of their fathers, by their families ; 23 From thirty years old and upward until fifty years old shalt thou number them;b all that enter in to perform the service,* to do the work in the tabernacle of the congregation. 24 This is the service of the families of the Ger shonites, to serve, and for burdens :f 25 And they shall bear the curtains of the tab ernacle,0 and the tabernacle of the congregation, his covering, and the covering of the badgers' skins that is above upon it,d and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, 26 And the hangings of the court,6 and the hang ing for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and by the altar round about, and their cords,f and all the instruments of their service, and all that is made for them : so shall they serve. 27 At the appointment* of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershon ites, in all their burdens, and in all their service: and ye shall appoint unto them in charge all their burdens. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation : and their charge shall be under the hand of Itha mar the son of Aaron the priest.8 29 \ As for the sons of Merari, thou shalt num ber them after their families, by the house of their fathers ; 30 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old shalt thou number them,11 every one that entereth into the service,8 to do the work of the tabernacle of the congregation. 31 And this is the charge of their burden, ac cording to all their service in the tabernacle of the congregation ; ' the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and sockets thereof,j 32 And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments,* and with all their ser vice : and by name ye shall reckon the instruments of the charge of their burden. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the tabernacle of the congregation, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.1 • Exod. 19:21 ; Lev. 10:2; I Sam. 6:19. b ver. 3. • Heb. war the war fare,- 1 Cor. 9:7; 1 Tim. 1:18. t Or, carriage. « ch. 3:25, 26. d Exod. 28:14. • Exod. 27:9. 'Exod. 35:18. t Heb. mouth. B ver. 33. b ver. 3. 32. By name ye sliall reckon the instruments — of their bur den; keep an exact inventory of them. This was espec ially necessary in respect to the pins, cords, and sockets, which were very numerous, and needed to be carefully counted upon each removal. 47. Service qfthe ministry; all the other labor belonging to the charge of the Merarites distinct from that of bear ing the burdens. As their service included the heaviest articles, four wagons were assigned to them, while the Gershonites had but two. Chap. 7:7, 8. 34 1 And Moses and Aaron and the chief of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 35 Prom thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the con gregation:"1 36 And those that were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred and fifty. 37 These were they that were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all that might do ser vice in the tabernacle of the congregation, which Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 38 And those that were numbered of the sons of Gershon, throughout their families, and by the house of their fathers, 39 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the con gregation, 40 Even those that were numbered of them, throughout their families, by the house of their fathers, were two thousand and six hundred and thirty. 41 These are they that were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon," of all that might do service in the tabernacle of the congregation, whom Moses and Aaron did number according to the commandment of the Lord. 42 1 And those that were numbered of the fam ilies of the sons of Merari, throughout their fam ilies, by the house of their fathers, 43 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old, every one that entereth into the service, for the work in the tabernacle of the con gregation, 44 Even those that were numbered of them after their families, were three thousand and two hundred. 45 These be those that were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.0 46 All those that were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chief of Israel numbered, after their families, and after the house of their fathers, 47 From thirty years old and upward even unto fifty years old,p every one that came to do the ser vice of the ministry, and the service of the burden in the tabernacle of the congregation," 5 Heb. warfare; ver. 23. i ch. 3:36, 37. j Exod. 26:15. k Exod. 25:9. 1 ver. 23; Josh. 3:6. m ver. 47. a ver. 22. o ver. 29. P ver. 3, 23," 30; 1 Chr. 21:3, 27. q Rom. 12:6-8; 1 Cor, 12:4-31. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Maturity of body and mind, and thorough prepara tion, are needful to the proper discharge of the duties of the ministry; and none unprepared or uncalled should assume the responsibilities of the sacred office. 1 Tim. 3:6. 15. Sacred things should be treated with reverence, and we should not attempt to reveal or discover what God designed to conceal. 19. We should use all suitable means to prevent others 175 Separating the unclean. NUMBERS V. The trial of jealousy.. 48 Even those that were numbered of them, were eight thousand and five hundred and fourscore. 49 According to the commandment of the Lord they were numbered by the hand of Moses, every one according to his service, and according to his burden:" thus were they numbered of him, as the Lord commanded Moses.b CHAPTER V. 1 The unclean are removed out of the camp. 5 Restitution is to be made for trespasses. 11 The trial of jealousy. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel that they put out of the camp every leper,0 and every one that hath an issue,4 and whosoever is defiled by the dead:* 3 Both male and female shall ye put out, with out the camp shall ye put them;1' that they defile. not their camps, in the midst whereof I dwell.g 4 And the children of Israel did so, and put them out without the camp: as the Lord spake unto Moses, so did the children of Israel. 5 IT And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Speak unto the children of Israel, When a man or woman shall commit any sin that men commit, to do a trespass against the Lord,11 and that per son be guilty ; 7 Then they shall confess their sin which they have done : l and he shall recompense his trespass with the principal thereof/ and add unto it the fifth part thereof, and give it unto him against whom he hath trespassed. 8 But if the man have no kinsman to recompense the trespass unto, let the trespass be recompensed unto the Lord, even to the priest ; beside the ram of the atonement, whereby an atonement shall be made for him. 9 And every offering* of all the holy things of the children of Israel, which they bring unto the priest, shall be his.k 10 And every man's hallowed things shall be his : whatsoever any man giveth the priest, it shall be his. » Ver. 15. 24, 31. b ver. 1,21. c ch. 12: 11; Lev. 13:3, 46; Deut. 21:8, 9. d Lev. 15:2. " ch. 9:6, 10; 19:11-13; 31:19; Lev. 21:1. f 2 Kings 7:3; 2 Chr. 26:21. S Lev. 26:11, 12; 2 Cor. 6:16. b Lev. 6:2. i Lev. 5:5; 26:40; Josh. 7:19; Job 33:27; Psa. 32:5; Prov. 2S:13; 1 John 1:9. i Lev. 6:5-7; 7:7. • Or, heave-offering, k ch. 18:8, 9, 19; Exod. 29:28; Lev. from committing sin, lest, by our neglect, we become the occasion of their ruin. 47. While men should not enter the ministry too young, they should also not continue to sustain its responsibili ties, and attempt to discharge its duties, when they are too old ; but the Scriptures do not fix the age at which the public ministry now should cease. Different duties are suited to different periods of life, and wisdom from above is needful in order to judge rightly as to what are appropriate duties, and also as to the time and manner of performing them. CHAPTER V. 6. A trespass against the Lord; by defrauding his fellow- men. 8. If the man have no kinsman ; if the injured man were dead, and he had no relative to receive restitution, then it was to be made to the Lord by being given to the priest. Ver. 9, 10. 10. Shall be his; shall be at the disposal of the offerer to 176 11 lAnd the Lord spake unto Moses, b.c;S: saying, 12 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man's wife go aside, and com mit a trespass against him, 13 And a man lie with her carnally,1 and it be hid from the eyes of her husband, and be kept close, and she be defiled, and there be no witness against her, neither she be taken with the manner; 14 And the spirit of jealousy come upon him,m and he be jealous of his wife, and she be defiled ; or if the spirit of jealousy come upon him, and he be jealous of his wife, and she be not defiled : 15 Then shall the man bring his wife unto the priest, and he shall bring her offering for her," the tenth part of an ephah of barley-meal ; he shall- pour no oil upon it, nor put frankincense thereon ; for it is an offering of jealousy, an offering of me morial, bringing iniquity to remembrance.0 16 And the priest shall bring her near, and set her before the Lord : 17 And the priest shall take holy water in an earthen vessel ; and of the dust that is in the floor of the tabernacle the. priest shall take, and put it into the water. 18 And the priest shall set the woman before the Lord,p and uncover the woman's head, and put ihe offering of memorial in her hands, which is the jealousy-offering : and the priest shall have in his hand the bitter water that causeth the curse. 19 And the priest shall charge her by an oath,0- and say unto the woman, If no man have lain with thee, and if thou hast not gone aside to unclean ness with another instead of thy husband,* be thou free from this bitter water that causeth the curse : 20 But if thou hast gone aside to another in stead of thy husband, and if thou be defiled, and some man have lain with thee besides thy husband : 21 Then the priest shall charge the woman with an oath of cursing,1, and the priest shall say unto the woman, The Lord make thee a curse and an oath among thy people,s when the Lord doth make thy thigh to rot,+ and thy belly to swell ; 6:17,18; 7:6-14; Deut. 18:3,4; Ezek. 44:29, 30 ; Mal. 3:8-10; lCor.9:13. lLev.!8:20. mProv. 6:34, &5; Cant. 8:6; Zeph. 3:8. nLev.5:ll. « 1 Kings 17:18; Ezek. 29:16; Heb. 10:3. P Heb. 13:4; Rev. 2:19-23. qMatt.26:63. t Heb. under, or beins in the power of thy husband, r Josh. 6:26; 1 Sam. 1 Heb. " " 14:24; Neh. 10:29. » Jer. 29:22. ¦. fall. give to the priest who presents his offering. It shall be his; shall be the priest's. 15. Barley-meal — no oil — nor put frankincense; the coarse ness of the material and the absence of oil and frankin cense well represent the design of the offering, which is not to give thanks for past mercies nor obtain future blessings ; but to bring upon the woman, if guilty, a dreadful curse. Bringing iniquity to remembrance ; that is, before the Lord, by appealing to him to punish the wom an if guilty. 16. Near; near to the holy place, where the Lord dwelt upon the mercy-seat. 17. Holy water; water from the laver in the tabernacle ; called holy because devoted to a sacred or religious use. Exod. 30:18. 18. The bitter water; so called from its effects. 21. Charge the woman with an oath of cursing; lay upon her an oath which brings with it an awful curse if she swear falsely. A curse and an oath; an accursed person by whom men shall swear, saying, The Lord make thee like that woman. Compare Jer. 29:22. The law of jealousies. NUMBERS VI. The vote of Nazariteship. B."ai«o4' 22 And this water that causeth the curse shall go into thy bowels," to make thy belly to swell, and thy thigh to rot. And the woman shall say, Amen, amen." 23 And the priest shall write these curses in a book, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water : 24 And he shall cause the woman to drink the bitter water that causeth the curse : and the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter. 25 Then the priest shall take the jealousy-offer ing out of the woman's hand, and shall wave the offering before the Lord,0 and offer it upon the altar : 26 And the priest shall take a handful of the offering, even the memorial thereof,d and burn it upon the altar, and afterward shall cause the woman to drink the water. 27 And when he hath made her to drink the water, then it shall come to pass, that, if she be defiled., and have done trespass against her hus band, that the water that causeth the curse shall enter into her, and become bitter, and her belly shall swell, and her thigh shall rot : and the wom an shall be a curse among her people.6 28 And if the woman be not defiled, but be clean ; then she shall be free, and shall conceive seed.1' 29 This is the law of jealousies, when a wife goeth aside to another instead of her husband,g and is defiled ; 30 Or when the spirit of jealousy cometh upon him, and he be jealous over his wife, and shall set the woman before the Lord, and the priest shall execute upon her all this law. 31 Then shall the man be guiltless from iniquity, and this woman shall bear her iniquity.11 » Psa. 109:18. b Deut. 27: 15. « Lev. 8:27. 4 Lev. 2:2, 9. "Deut 23:37; Isa. 65:15; Jer. 21:9; 29:18. 22; 42:18; Zech. 8:13. f Psa. 113:9. B ver. 19; Isa. 57:8. h Lev. 20:17-20. * Or, make themselves Nazarites. ¦ Judg. 13:5; Acts 21:23,24. j Jer. 35:6-8; Amos 2:12; Luke 1:15. t Or, Naza- 22. Amen; be it so. 23. In u, book; on parchment, or on something from which it could be washed off. Shall blot them out with the bitter water; the original Hebrew implies that he does this by dipping the writing into the water, and thus symboli cally infusing the curse into it, that she may drink it down with the water. Compare Psa. 109 : 18. 28. She shall be free; from all harm. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. As Jehovah is holy, and requires men to be holy, all causes of mental and moral defilement, and especially whatever tends to increase and extend it, should be care fully avoided. 7. Unjustly to obtain or keep possession of another's property, is a sin which God abhors. No professed re pentance, which does not lead a man who is conscious of this sin to forsake it, and, if in his power, make restitu tion, will deliver him from divine wrath. 13. Adulterers ana adulteresses are highly criminal, and exposed to the vengeance of God. Though their crime may be known only to him and themselves, he will reveal it — if not in this world, in the world to come — and will visit them with his terrible indignation. 27. The diseases which the licentious often suffer, and with which they infect and torment each other, are a manifestation of divine wrath against their sin, and a warning that, unless they repent and become pure and 12 CHAPTER VI. 1 The law of the Nazarites. 22 The form of blessing the people. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When either man or woman shall sep arate themselves to vow a vow of a Nazarite,* to separate themselves unto the Lord ; ' 3 He shall separate himself from wine and strong drink,j and shall drink no vinegar of wine, or vin egar of strong drink, neither shall he drink any liquor of grapes, nor eat moist grapes, or dried. 4 All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine-tree,* from the kernels even to the husk. 5 All the days of the vow of his separation there shall no razor come upon his head :k until the days be fulfilled, in the which he separateth himself unto the Lord, he shall be holy,. and shall let the locks of the hair of his head grow. 6 All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body.1 7 He shall not make himself unclean for his father, or for his mother, for his brother, or for his sister, when they die: because the consecra tion9 of his God is upon his head. 8 All the days of his separation he is holy unto the Lord."1 9 And if any man die very suddenly by him, and he hath defiled the head of his consecration; then he shall shave his head in the day of his cleans ing,11 on the seventh day shall he shave it. 10 And on the eighth day he shall bring two turtles,0 or two young pigeons, to the priest, to the door of the tabernacle of the congregation : 11 And the priest shall offer the one for a sin- offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, and riteship. J Heb. vine of the wine, k Judg. 16:17,19; 1 Sam. 1:11. 1 ch. 9:6; 19:11, 16; Lev. 21:1, 2, 11. i Heb. separation, m 2 Cor. 6:17. 18. n Acts 18:18. °Lev.5:7; 14:22; 15:14,29. holy, the curses of God will sooner or later overwhelm them. 31. Satan tries hard to promote domestic jealousy, be cause it tends to destroy family peace, religion, and use fulness ; all should therefore avoid occasions of producing it, and withstand all temptations to indulge it. If any are unjustly suspected, they should in calmness, patience, and well-doing, commit themselves to the disposal of God, and in due time he will remove suspicions, or over rule them for the advancement of his glory and the good of his kingdom. CHAPTER VI. 2. A Nazarite; the Nazarite was one specially conse crated to God by his parents or himself, and that either for life or for a limited term. See note to Lev. 27 : 2. In this chapter the case of those only whose Nazariteship continued for a limited time is considered. i. Eat nothing that is made of the vine-tree; this was a symbol of sobriety, and of abstinence from all the intoxi cating pleasures of sin. 7. He shall not make himself unclean ; by approaching the dead body. The Jews add that he was required to ab stain from the customary signs of mourning, as in the case of the high-priest. This and all the other regula tions were designed to impress upon his mind the sacred ness of his peculiar relation to God, and the deadness to worldly joys and sorrows demanded by it. 177 The law of the Nazarites. NUMBERS VII. The form of blessing. make an atonement for him, for that he sinned by the dead, and shall hallow his head that same day. 12 And he shall consecrate unto the Lord the days of his separation, and shall bring a lamb of the first year for a trespass-offering :° but the days that were before shall be lost,* because his separa tion was defiled. 13 IT And this is the law of the Nazarite : when the days of his separation are fulfilled," he shall be brought unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation : 14 And he shall offer his offering unto the Lord, one he-lamb of the first year without blemish for a burnt-offering, and one ewe-lamb of the first year without blemish for a sin-offering,0 and one ram without blemish for peace-offerings,a 15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil,e and wafers of unleav ened bread anointed - with oil/ and their meat offering, and their drink-offerings.8 16 And the priest shall bring them before the Lord, and shall offer his sin-offering, and his burnt-offering : 17 And he shall offer the ram for a sacrifice of peace-offerings unto the Lord, with the basket of unleavened bread: the priest shall offer also his meat-offering, and his drink-offering. 18 And the Nazarite shall shave the head of his separation at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,11 and shall take the hair of the head of his separation, and put it in the fire which is under the sacrifice of the peace-offerings. 19 And the priest shall take the sodden shoulder of the ram,1 and one unleavened cake out of the baskets and one unleavened wafer, and shall put them upon the hands of the Nazarite, after the hair of his separation is shaven : 20 And the priest shall wave them for a wave- offering before the Lord: this is holy for the priest, with the wave-breast and heave-shoulder: and after that the Nazarite may drink wine. 21 This is the law of the Nazarite who hath vowed, and of his offering unto the Lord for his separation, besides that, that his hand shall get according to the vow which he vowed, so B.ausa he must do after the law of his separation. 22 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses1, saying, 23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel," saying unto them, 24 The Lord bless thee,1 and keep thee:m 25 The Lord make his face shine upon thee," and be gracious unto thee:0 26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee," and give thee peace." 27 And they shall put my name upon the chil dren of Israel,1" and I will bless them.8 CHAPTER VII. 1 The offering of the princes at the dedication of (he tabernacle. 10 Their several offerings at the dedication of the altar. 89 God speak- eth to Moses from the mercy-seat. AND it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle,' and had anointed it,u and sanctified it, and all the instru ments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them; 2 That the princes of Isracl,v heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were+ over them that were numbered, offered : 3 And they brought their offering before the Lord, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox : and they brought them before the tabernacle. 4 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 5 Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation ; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to eVery man according to his service. 6 And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites. 7 Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service : w 8 And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari ,x according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest. a Lev. 5:6. 'Heb. fall, b Acts 21:26. c Lev. 4:3, 28 32; Mal. 1:13, 14; 1 Pet. 1:19. d Lev. 3:6. e Lev. 2:4. ' Exod. 29:2. B ch. 15:5, 7, 10. b Acts 21:21. il Sam. 2:15. J Exod. 29:23-18. k Lev 9:22; Deut. 10:3; 21:5; Joah. 8:33; 1 Chr. 23:13. 1 Psa. 131:3. m Psa. 121:7; John 17:11. n Psa. 31:16; 67:1; 80:3,7, 19; 119:135; Dan. 9:17. o Gen. 43:29; Exod. 12. Days — shall be lost; they would not be counted as a part of the time of his Nazariteship, but he must begin again. 14. His offering; these offerings were an acknowledg ment that in his best services he needed the efficacy of atoning blood and of the purifying Spirit, and also tokens of gratitude for the goodness of God. 15. Meat-offering — drink-offerings ; those accompanying the sacrifices mentioned in the preceding verse. See . chap. 15 : 3-10. 19. Sodden shoulder ; the boiled shoulder, which was the left shoulder, the right with the wave-breast having been given to the priest by a general law. Lev. 7 : 32, 33. 21. That his hand shall get; such freewill-offerings as he shall be able to make. 24-26. This threefold divine benediction is supposed by many interpreters to contain an intimation of the Trin ity in the godhead. 27. Put my name; call Israel by my name, and teach them to obey me as my peculiar people. 178 33:19 Mal. 1 :9. P Psa. 4:6; 89:15. q Psa 29 11; Isa 26:3, 12; John 14:27 ; Phil. -1 :7 2 Thess 3:16 r Deut . 28 10; 2 Chr. 7:14; sa. 43:7; Dan. ):18, 19. 3 ch. 23:20 ; Gen 12:2, 3; Psa. 5:12; 67:7; 115:12 13 ; Acts 3:20; Eph. 1: 3. t Exod. 40:18. u Lev. 8:10 11. » oh. :4, etc t Heb. who s tood. w ch 4:24-28 x ch 4-29-33. INSTRUCTIONS. 8. Holiness to the Lord is the badge of his people, and should ever be their peculiar characteristic. They should abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul, moderate their desires for earthly things, place their affections on things above, and regulate all their acts by the will of God. 20. We are always exposed in this world to moral defile ment, and in our best services need the application of the blood of Christ and the purifying influences of his Spirit, in order that our offerings may be acceptable in his sight. 27. The blessing of Jehovah, in the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, bestowed upon his believing, obedient people, will make them all for ever truly and perfectly blessed. CHAPTER VII. 2. The princes of Israel; chap. 1:16. 3. Their offering; these were voluntary offerings in ad dition to those which were commanded. Offerings of the princes at NUMBERS VII. the dedication of the altar. A. B.C c!'S4' 9 But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none : because the service of the sanctuary belong ing unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders." 10 1 And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed,6 even the princes offered their offering before the altar. 11 And the Lord said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar. 12 1 And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab,0 of the tribe of Judah : 13" And his offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary;4 both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : e 14 One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense : f 15 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering :g 16 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering:'1 17 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings,1 two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 18 1 On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar,j prince of Issachar, did offer : 19 He offered for his offering one silver charger ,k the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shek els, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering. 20 One spoon of gold often shekels,full of incense : 21 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 22 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 23 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 24 1 On the third day Eliab the son of Helon,1 prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer: 25 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 26 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 27 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 28 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 29 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon. aCh. 4:4-15. b Deut. 20:5; 1 Kings 8:63; 2 Chron. 7:5.9; Ezra 6:16; Neh. 12:27; Psa. 30, title, c ch. 1:7; 2:3. d Exod. 30:13. e Lev. 2:1. I Exod. 30:34. e Lev. 1:2, 3. h Lev. 4:23. i Lev. 3:1. j ch. 1:8; 2:5. 9. Bear upon their shoulders; the ark and the sacred things which they were to carry. Chap. 3: 31. 11. Each prince on his day; by this orderly arrangement increased solemnity was given to the transaction, and the great truth that God notices and rewards the gifts of his servants individually was taught in a very forcible way. 30 1 On the fourth day Elizur the son of Slie- deur,m prince of the children of Reuben, did offer: 31 His offering was one silver charger oi the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ;n both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 32 One golden spoon often shekels, full of incense : 33 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 34 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 35 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur. 36 1 On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zuri- shaddai,0 prince of the children of Simeon, did offer : 37 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary;5 both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 38 One golden spoon of ten sAe/cefc, full of incense : 39 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 40 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 41 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 42 IT On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel,*q prince of the children. of Gad, offered: 43 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ;r both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 44 One golden spoon of ten shekels,fu\\ of incense : 45 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 46 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 47 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five ranis, live he-goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 48 T" On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud,3 prince of the children of Ephraim, 49 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ; ' both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 50 One golden spoon often shelcels, full of incense : 51 One young bullock, one ram, ®ne lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : k ver. 13, etc. 1 ch. 1:9; 2:7. " ch. 1:5; 2:10. 2:12. V ver. 13, etc. * Called Reuel, ch. 2:14. 13, etc. .ch. 1:10; 2:18. 1 ver. 13, "etc. n ver. 13, etc. o ch. 1:6; q ch. 1:14; 2:14. r ver. 13. His offering was one silver charger; the word in the original denotes a deep dish or bowl. Its weight shows it to have been of a large size. A hundred and thirty shekels ; nearly five and a half pounds. Exod. 38 : 24. One silver bowl; a sacrificial bowl for receiving the blood of the victims. 179 Offerings of the princes at NUMBERS VII. the dedication of the altar. '52 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 53 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud. ,. , ., 54 1 On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur,a prince of the children of Manasseh : 55 His offering was one silver charger of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver Dowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ;b both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 56 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense : 57 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 58 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 59 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 60 IT On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni,0 prince of the children of Benjamin, offered: 61 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof too* a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ;a both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 62 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense : 63 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 64 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 65 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni. 66 1 On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Am- mishaddai,e prince of the children of Dan, offered: 67 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty she/eels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ; f both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 68 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense: 69 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 70 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 71 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 72 T On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran,g prince of the children of Asher, offered: 73 His offering was one silver charger, the weight a Ch. 1:10; 2:20. b ver. 13, etc. « ch. 1:11 ; 2:22. d ver. 13, etc. e oh. .1:12; 2:25. f ver. 13,>etc. g oh. 1:13; 2:27. h ver. 13, etc. > ch. 1:15; 89. Him; God, to whom the altar and tabernacle had been dedicated. The voice of one; Exod. 25:22. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Those who are truly devoted to God, and thankful for his mercies, will not be satisfied with doing merely what is specifically commanded, but will make voluntary offerings of time, talents, and property, from love to him and his cause, and to promote his glory and the good of their fellow-men. 5. None need be discouraged when called to great and 180 . 2514. !. 1490. whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, Va _... one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ;h both of themfull of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 74 One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense : 75 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 76 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering: 7 7 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran. 78 1 On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan,1 prince of the children of Naphtali, offered: 79 His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary ;J both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering : 80 One golden spoon often shekels, full of incense : 81 One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt-offering : 82 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering : 83 And for a sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five lambs of the first year : this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan. 84 This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel : twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold : 85 Each charger of silver weighing a hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hun dred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary : _ 86 The golden spoons were twelve, full of in cense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary : all the gold of the spoons was a hundred and twenty shekels. 87 All the oxen for the burnt-offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat-offering: and the kids of the goats for sin-offering twelve. 88 And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace- offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he-goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.11 89 And when Moses was gone into the taber nacle of the congregation to speak with him,"1 then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy-seat that was upon the ark of testimony,"1 from between the two cherubim : and he spake unto him. 2:29. Jver. 13, etc. m Exod. 25:22. kvcr. 1. -That is, God. 1 ch. 12:8; Exod. 33:9, 1 1. laborious services ; God will provide for them, that as their duties are, their strength and all needful mercies may be. 11. Jehovah would have all things, especially with re gard to his worship, conducted with propriety, and in such a way that the personal responsibility of each wor shipper shall be made manifest, and thus the greatest blessing upon the whole be secured. 13. They whom God has blessed with wealth, or ele vated to stations of honor and influence, should esteem it not only their duty but their privilege to be examples of hberality in his service. Lighting of the lamps. NUMBERS VIII. Consecration of the Levites. A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. CHAPTER VIII. 1 How the lamps are to be lighted. 5 The consecration of the Levites. .23.. The age and time of their service. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto Aaron, and say unto him, When thou lightest the lamps," the seven lamps shall give light over against the candlestick. 3 And Aaron did so ; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the Lord com manded Moses. 4 And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold ;b unto the shaft thereof, . unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work;0 according unto the pattern which the Lord had showed Moses,d so he made the candlestick. 5 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 6 Take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them. 7 And thus shalt thou do unto them, to cleanse them: Sprinkle water of purifying upon them,0 and let them shave* all their flesh, and let them wash their clothes, and so make themselves clean/ 8 Then let them take a young bullock with his meat-offering,g even fine flour mingled with oil, and another young bullock shalt thou take for a sin- offering. 9 And thou shalt bring the, Levites before the tabernacle of the congregation:11 and thou shalt gather the whole assembly of the children of Israel together.1 10 And thou shalt bring the Levites before the Lord : and the children of Israel shall put their hands upon the Levites :j 11 And Aaron shall offer + the Levites before the Lord * for an offering* of the children of Israel, that they may execute5 the service of the Lord. 12 And the Levites shall lay their hands upon the heads of the bullocks: and thou shalt offer the one for a sin-offering, and the other for a burnt-offering, unto the Lord, to make an atone ment for the Levites. 13 And thou shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for an offering unto the Lord. .aExod. 25:37; 40:25. bExod.25:31. »Exod.2o:18. <1 Exod. 25:40. =ch. 10:9,17,otc. * Hob. cause a razor to pass aver, etc. [Lev. 14:8,9. B Lev. 2:1. h Exod. 29:4, etc.; 40:12. i Lev. 8:3. j Lev. 1:4. ' t Heb. wave. It ver. 15, t Heb. wave-offering. S Heb. be io execute. 1 ch. 16:9. rn ch. 84. That which is publicly given for God's service and the advancement of his cause, should be managed in an orderly way, and a careful account kept of it, that nothing may be lost, and no scandal given to the cause of truth. John 6:12; 2 Cor. 8:20, 21. 88. Jehovah is a bountiful God, and is delighted with liberality in his people. Much may be devoted to tho support of his worship, and when so used, it is not wasted or unprofitably employed, but is spent to the highest ad vantage. Psa. 145:16; Prov. 11:25; Isa. 32:8; 2 Cor. 9:13. CHAPTER VIII. 2. Over against the candlestick; the meaning of these words, which occur also in Exod. 25 : 37, is doubtful. The candlestick stood on the south. side of the sanctuary over against the table of show^bread on the north side. Exod. 40:24. Some suppose the direction to be, that the lamp- cups should be so arranged that their wicks should incline towards the north, and thus throw their light towards the table of show-bread ; others, that the six wicks of the 14 Thus shalt thou separate the Levites from among the children of Israel:1 and the Levites shall be mine."1 15 And after that shall the Levites go in to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation : and thou shalt cleanse them, and offer them for an offering." 16 For they are wholly given unto me from among the children of Israel ; instead of such as open every womb, even instead of the first-born of all the children of Israel, have I taken them unto me.0 17 Por all the first-born of the children of Israel are mine, both man and beast :p on the day that I smote every firstborn in the land of Egypt I sanctified them for myself. 18 And I have taken the Levites for all the first-born of the children of Israel. 19 And I have given the Levites as a gift1 to Aaron and to his sons from among the children of Israel," to do the service of the children of Israel in the tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement for the children, of Israel : that there be no plague among the children of Israel,1, when the children of Israel come nigh unto the sanctuary. 20 And Moses, and Aaron, and all the congre gation of the children of Israel, did to the Levites according unto all that the Lord commanded Moses concerning the Levites, so did the children of Israel unto them. 21 And the Levites were purified, and they washed their clothes;8 and Aaron offered them as an offering before the Lord ;' and Aaron made an atonement for them to cleanse them. 22 And after that went the Levites in to do their service in the tabernacle of the congregation be fore Aaron, and before his sons:11 as the Lord had commanded Moses concerning the Levites,v so did they unto them. 23 IF And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 24 This is it that bclongeth unto the Levites : from twenty and five years old and upward they shall go in to wait upon the service' of the tabernacle of the* congregation : 1T 3:45. n verses 11, 13.- ¦ o ch. 3:12, 45. I> ch. 3:13; Exod. 13:2, 12-15; Luke 2:23. .1 Heb. given. , q ch. 3:9. r ch. 1:53; 16:46; 18_:5; 2 Chr. 23:16. s Ver. 7. ' ver. 11, 12. u ver. 15. v ver. 5, etc. T Heb. war the warfare; 1 Cor. 9:7. v oh. 4:3; 1 Chr. 23:3, 27. • 'I branches should all incline towards the central lamp, called here the candlestick by way of distinction. 6. Levites; those of the tribe of Levi not descended from Aaron. These assisted the priests, Aaron's sons, in various services about the tabernacle, and afterwards about the temple. 7. Sprinkle water of purifying upon them ; the preparation of which is described in ch. 19 : 1-19. Compare Heb. 9:13, 14. 11. Offer the Levites ; consecrate them to the serviceofthe Lord in the various duties of the sanctuary. Ver. 14-19. 19. To make an atonement for the children of Israel; to make propitiation for the children of Israel, in whose be half they acted; that- is, to avert from them the judgments that would come upon them if they should presume to meddle with the sacred things. Chap. 1:53; 18:1-5. 24. Twenty and five years old; at this age they began to wait upon the priests, learn their duties as Levites, and do some things about the tabernacle ; but they did not enter fully on their work as Levites till they were thirty. See note to chap. 4:3. 181 Of the Passover. NUMBERS IX. The pillar of cloud. 25 And from the age of fifty years they shall cease waiting upon the service thereof and shall serve no more: 26 But shall minister with their brethren in the tabernacle of the congregation, to keep the charge," and shall do no service.11 Thus shalt thou do unto the Levites touching their charge. CHAPTER IX. 1 The passover is commanded again. 6 A second passover allowed for them that were unclean or absent. 15 The cloud guideth the remov- ings and encamping* of the Israelites. AND the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilder ness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 Let the children of Israel also keep the pass- over at his appointed season.0 3 In the fourteenth day of this month,a at even,+ ye shall keep it in his appointed season : accord ing to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it. 4 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, that they should keep the passover. 5 And they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month at even in the wilderness of Sinai :c according to all that theLoRD commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel. 6 IT And there were certain men, who were de filed by the dead body of a man/ that they could not keep the passover on that day : and they came before Moses and before Aaron on that day.8 7 And those men said unto him, We are defiled by the dead body of a man: wherefore are we kept back, that we may not offer an offering of the Lord in his appointed season among the chil dren of Israel? 8 And Moses said unto them, Stand still, and I will hear what the Lord will command concern ing you. • Heb return from the warfare of the service ; 2 T im 4:7. a ch. 1:53; 18:4; 1 3hron. 23 32; Ezek .41:8, 11. b l Tim. 4:15. c Exod 12:3; Dent. 16:1. d 2 Chron. 30:2, 15. t Heb. between the two evenings, Exod 12:6. e Josh 5 10. ' ch 5: >: 19: 11,16; John 18:28. 6 ch. 27 2,5; Exod. 18:15, 26. Keep the charge, and — do no service; after the age of fifty, they had the general charge of the sanctuary, assisted their younger brethren in various ways, and instructed the people ; but were released from the most laborious duties of their offices, especially the bearing of the sacred things. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Ministers of the gospel who communicate a know ledge of God and his will to men, shine as lights in the world holding forth the word of life ; and multitudes who were in darkness, are, through their instrumentality, made light in the Lord, and prepared to shine as the brightness of the firmament and as the stars for ever. 6. The best of men need cleansing through faith in the blood of Christ, and by the influence of his Spirit, in order that their services may be accepted of God. 21. Though God is the author of spiritual. cleansing, he ¦ accomplishes it through the means of his appoint ment ; and men are bound to use these means according to his will, and thus cleanse themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor. 7:1; Isa. 1:16, 17; Ezek. 18:31. 26. After ministers of the gospel have become too old fo perform the laborious duties of their office, they may still be very useful by wise counsel, judicious instruction, 182 9 lAnd the Lord spake unto Moses, B.aim saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If any man of you or of your posterity shall be un clean by reason of a dead body, or be in a journey afar off, yet he shall keep the passover unto the Lord. 11 The fourteenth day of the second month at even they shall keep it,11 and eat it with unleaven ed bread and bitter herbs.1 12 They shall leave none of it unto the morn ing^ nor break any bone of it : k according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it. 13 But the man that is clean, and is not in a jour ney, and forbeareth to keep the passover, even the same soul shall be cut off from among his people:1 because he brought not the offering of the Lord in his appointed season,"1 that man shall bear his sin." 14 And if a stranger shall sojourn among you, and will keep the passover unto the Lord ; accord ing to the ordinance of the passover, and accord ing to the manner thereof, so shall he do : ye shall have one ordinance, both for the stranger, and for him that was born in the land.0 15 1 And on the day that the tabernacle was reared up, the cloud covered the tabernacle,p name-, ly, the tent of the testimony : and at even there was upon the tabernacle as it were the appear ance of fire,q until the morning. 16 So it was alway : the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night.1 17 And when the cloud was taken up from the tabernacle, then after that the children of Israel journeyed :" and in the place where the cloud abode, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. 18 At the commandment of the Lord the chil dren of Israel journeyed, and at the command ment of the Lord they pitched: as long as the cloud abode upon the tabernacle they rested in their tents.* 19 And when the cloud tarried* long upon the 19. h ver. 3. i Exod. 12:8 j Exod. 12:10. * Exod. 12.46; John 19:36. 1 Exod. 12:15. m ver. 7. n ch. 5:31. o Exod. 12:49. P Exod. 40:34. q Exod. 13:21; 40:33; Neh. 9:12, 19; Psa. 78:14. r Deut. 1:33. » ch. 10:11, 33; Exod. 40:36-38. t 1 Cor. 10:1. I Heb. prolonged. habitual prayer, and a holy example ; and should be pro vided for to the end of life. CHAPTER IX. 1. The first month; Abib. 2. The passover; Exod. 12:2-14. 11. The fourteenth day of the second month; this was in the month Zif, and one month after the usual time of keep ing the passover. 13. Forbeareth to keep the passover; at the usual time. 18. At the commandment of the Lord; as manifested by the moving or resting of the cloud. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. As the death of Christ is the procuring cause of the salvation of his people, it is his will that they should from time to time celebrate it according to his appointment, with humility, penitence, gratitude, and joy. Matthew 26:26-28; Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:23-26. 13. To obey God, we must neither neglect to commemo rate the death of Christ, nor do it in an unholy manner ; but must examine ourselves and see whether we believe on him, feel our need of his salvation, and make it our great object in all things to do his will. 1 Cor. 11 : 27-30. Of the silver trumpets. NUMBERS X. The Israelites leave Sinai. aaiMol" tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the charge of the Lord,11 and jour neyed not. 20 And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle ; according to the com mandment of the Lord they abode in their tents, and according to the commaudment of the Lord they journeyed. 21 And so it was, when the cloud abode" from even unto the morning, and that the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether it was by day or by night that the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 22 Or whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed." 23 At the commandment of the Lord they rested in their tents, and at the commandment of the Lord they journeyed : they kept the charge of the Lord,0 at the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses.d CHAPTER X. 1 The use of the silver trumpets. 1 1 The Israelites remove from Sinai to Paran. 14 The order of their march. 29 Hobab is entreated by Moses not to leave them. 33 The blessing of Moses at the removing and resting of the ark. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Make thee two trumpets of silver ; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou mayest use them for the calling of the assembly,0 and for the journeying of the camps. 3 And when they shall blow with them/ all the assembly shall assemble themselves to thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 4 And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the thousands of Israel,8 shaU gather themselves unto thee. 5 When ye blow an alarm,11 then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.1 6 When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side shall take their journey :j they shall blow an alarm for their journeys. 7 But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not sound an alarm. 8 And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets ;k and they shall be to you for » Ch. 1:53; 3:8; Zech. 3:7. • Heb was. b Exod. 40:36, 37. » ver. 19. d Psa. 77:20. e Isa. 1:13. f Jer. 4:5; Joel 2: 15. I oh. 1:16; Exod. 18:21. li Joel 2:1. i ch. 2:3. J ch. 2:10. k ch. 31:0;- Josh. 6:4; 1 Chr. 15:24; 2Chr.l3:12. 1 Judg. 2: 18 ; 10:8, 12; Psa. 106:42. m2Chr,13:14. » Gen. 8:1; Psa. 106:4; 136:2-1. o Luke 1:70, 71. P oh. 29:1; Lev. 23:24; 1 Chr. 23. If we are disposed to obey God, he will, by his word, his Spirit, and his providence, make so plain the path of duty, that in walking in it we shall be safe, useful, and happy. CHAPTER X. 5. Blow an alarm; this was done by blowing long and loud with a broken, interrupted sound. 10. May be to you for a memorial before your God ; may, as it were, remind him of his engagements to you as his covenant people. Compare ver. 9. 12. Paran; between Sinai and Palestine, west and south- an ordinance for ever throughout your genera tions. 9 And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you,1 then ye shall blow an alarm with the trumpets;1" and ye shall be remem bered before the Lord your God," and ye shall be saved from your enemies.0 10 Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt- offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace- offerings;11 that they may be to you for a me morial before your God:q I am the Lord your God. 11 1 And it came to pass #n the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony/ 12 And the children of Israel took their journeys out of the wilderness of Sinai ; s and the cloud rested in the wilderness of Paran.' 13 And they first took their journey according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses." 14 1" In the first place went the standard of the camp of the children of Judah according to their armies:1' and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 15 And over the host of the tribe of the chil dren of Issachar was Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 16 And over the host of the tribe of the chil dren of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon. 17 And the tabernacle was taken down;11' and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set forward, bearing the tabernacle.x 18 TT And the standard of the camp of Reuben set forward according to their armies :y and over his host was Elizur the son of Shedeur. 19 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 20 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 21 And the Kohathites set forward, bearing the sanctuary :l and the other*1 did set up the taber nacle against they came. 22 1" And the standard of the camp of the chil dren of Ephraim set forward according to their armies:" and over his host was Elishama the son of Ammihud. 23 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh icas Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. , 15:24; 2 Chr. 5:12; 7:6 20 26; Ezra. 3: It : Neh Exod. 12:35 Tsa 81:3; 69:15. 1 Exod 28:2E ; Act 10: 1. r ch 9:17-20; 40:36, 37. »Exod. 19:1. t ch. 12:16. " ch. 2:1)- a. v ch. 2:3-9. *v ch. 1:51. x ch 4:24; 7:6-3. J' ch. 2 10, 16. z ch .4:4 -15. t That is, the Gershonites and the Merarites ; ver. 17 »ch. 2: IS, 21. west of Edom, there were two intervening encampments. Chap. 11:35; 12:16; 33:16-18. 14. The standard qf the camp of — Judah; that of the first grand division of three tribes. See chap. 2. 17. Set forward, bearing the tabernacle; the Gershonifes and Merarites followed immediately after the first division, that they might have time to set up the tabernacle before the Kohathites came. 21. Bearing the sanctuary; that is, the most holy things, as the ark, the altar of incense, the candlestick, etc. See chap. 3:31. The other; the Gershonites and Merarites. - 1&3 Rising and resting of the ark. NUMBERS XI. The burning at Taberah. . 24 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni. 25 If And the standard of the camp of the chil dren of Dan set forward,*1 which was the rearward of all the camps throughout their hosts :b and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 26 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran. 27 And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan. 28 Thus* were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward. 29 1 And Moses said unto Hobab, the son of RagueP the Midianjte, Moses' father-in-law, We are journeying unto the place of which the Lord said, I will give it you : c come thou with us, and we will do thee good : for the Lord hath spoken good concerning Israel,* 30 And he said unto him, I will not go; but I will depart to mine own land, and to my kin dred. 31 And he said, Leave us not, I pray thee; for asmuch as thou knowest how we are to encamp in the wilderness, and thou mayest be to us instead of eyes.c , , 32 And it shall be, if thou go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the Lord shall do unto us, the same will we do unto thee.f 33 T And they departed from the mount of the -Lord three days' journey:8 and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days' journey, to search out a resting-place for them.11 34 And the cloud of the Lord was upon them by day,1 when they went out of the camp. 35 And it came to pass, when the ark set for ward, that Moses said. Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered ;j and let them that hate thee flee before thee. 36 And when it rested, he said, Return, 0 Lord, unto the many thousands* of Israel. » Ch. 2:25, 31. b Josh. 6:9; Isa. 58:8. * Heb. These, t Reuel; Exod. 2:18. c Gen. 12:7. d Exod. 6:7, 8. e Job 29:15. I Judg. 1:16; 4:11. B Exod. 3:1. h Deut. 1:33; Josh. 3:3-6. i Exod. 13:21; Neh. 9:12, 19. j Psa'. 68:1, 2; 132:8. I Heb. ten thousand thousands; Deut. 1:10! « Or, wereas it were complainers. * Deut. 9:22. B Heb. it was evil in the ears of. CHAPTER XI. A. J». 251'i B. C. 1190. 29. RagUel; supposed- to be the same as Reuel and Jethro. /Exod. 2:18; 3:1; 18:1. 31. Be to us instead of eyes; Hobab was acquainted with the country, and could assist on their journey. 33. Three days' journey ; namely, from Sinai to the wil derness of Paran. Ver. 11-13. INSTRUCTIONS. 8. Christian ministers are placed as watchmen, and should give the people counsel and warning from God. When they speak, it should be with such plainness as to be understood, and with such affection as is best suited to persuade the people to follow their directions. 1 Cor. 14:6-19; Eph. 4:15. 13. All men are on a journey through this world. Je- hoVah offers to be their guide, and if they follow him he will direct them to the Canaan, of eternal rest. If they reject him,. and continue to walk in their own way, they will wander in darkness and find no rest for ever. . 29. Those who have chosen God for their guide, and are on their way to heaven, should urge others, especially their relatives and, friends, to accompany them, and pre- 184 1 The burning at Taberah quenched by Moses' prayer. 4 The peopje lust for flesh, and loathe manna. ID Moses complaineth pf hi? charge". 16 &od divideth his 'burden .unto .seventy -elders. 31 Quails are given in wrath at Kibroth-hattaavah. — - - AND when the people complained,8^ it dis pleased ' the Lord : and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled;1 and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp.m 2 And the people cried unto Moses ; and when Mo^ ses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched .T 3 And he called the name of the place Taberah :* because the fire of the Lord burnt among them. 4 1 And the mixed multitude that was among them fell a lusting :tn and the children of Israel also wept again,* and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat?0 5 We remember the fish; which we did eat in Egypt freely ; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic : 6 But now our soul is dried away :p. there is noth ing at all, besides this manna, before, our eyes. .. 7 And the manna was as coriander-seed, and the color thereof as the color! of bdellium.'1 8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it : and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil/ 9 And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.8 10 1 Then Moses heard the people weep through out their families, every man in the door of his tent : and the anger of the Lord was kindled greatly;* Moses also was displeased." 11 And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou lay- est the burden of all this people upon me? 12 Have I conceived all this people? have I be gotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom,v as a nursing-father beareth the I Psa. 78:21. ro Lev. 10:2; 2 Kings 1 :12. 11 Heb. sunk. • That is, A burn ing, t Heb. lusted a lust, n Exod. 12:38. -t Heb. returned and wept. °lCor.10:6. pch.2l:5. SHeb. eye of it as the eye. qGen.2:12. 'Exod. 16:31. s Exod. 16.14. I ver. 1 ; Isa. 5:25. uPsa,139:21. 'Isa. 40:11. sent as a motive the good which God has promised to those who follow him. 32. Those who are journeying towards heaven need help not only from God; but also from one another ; and they may be of great assistance to each other in guarding from dan ger, and guiding in the way of safety, usefulness, and peace. 36. However much assistance, the people of God may receive from men, their desires can never be fully met, nor their wants satisfied, without the permanent presence and favor of God. . CHAPTER XI. 1. The fire of the Lord; a miraculous fire proceeding from Jehovah's presence. Compare Lev. 10:2. 3. Taberah ; a burning. 4. Mixed multitude; Exod. 12:38. Fell a lusting; impa tiently desired other kinds of food. 6. Our soul is dried away; we languish and. are suffering for want of other food. 1. As coriander-seed; a small round seed. Bdellium; ac cording to some, the pearl ; according to others, a gummy secretion of. a yellowish- white color. Seventy elders' appointed. NUMBERS XI. The people lust for flesh. a&iMft sucking child,". unto the land which thou swaresfrunto their fathers?" 13 Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people?0 for they weep unto me,. saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14 lam not able to bear all this people alone,d because it is too heavy for me. 15 And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee,e out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight;. and let me not see my wretchedness. 16 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel/ whom thou knowest to be the elders of the people, and officers over them ; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. 17 And I will come down and talk with thee there:8 and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee,h and will put it upon them ; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. 18 And say thou unto the people, Sanctify your selves against to-morrow,1 and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the Lord,j saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat?k for it was well with us in Egypt: therefore the Lord will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. 19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 20 Rut even a whole month,* until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you:1 because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before hir% saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? 21 And Moses said, The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen ;m and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. 22 Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them?n or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? 23 And the Lord said unto Moses, Is the Lord's hand waxed short?0 thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee -or not.p » Isa. 49:23; 1 Thess. 2:7. b Gen. 13:15; 26:3. ' Matt. 15:33. d Exod. 18:13; Deut. 1 :9-12. = 1 Kings 19:4; Jon. 4:3. ' Exod. 24:1,9. B ver. 25; Gen.ll:5; 18:21; Exod. 19:20. h 2 Kings 2:9, 15; Isa. 44:3; Joel2:23. i Exod. 19:10. J'Exod. 16:7. k ver: 4, 5. • Heb. month of days. l'Psa. 78:29; 106:15. m oh. 1:40; Exol. 12:37. « 2 Kings 7:2; Mark 8:4; John 15. Out of hand; at once, now. 17. Put it upon them; furnish them with the special in fluences of my Spirit, as I have furnished thee, to fit them for their work. 18. Smctify yourselves; by the customary rites, Exod. 19: 10. These signified and demanded of the people inward purification. 20. Come out at your nostrils; they would eat flesh till they were not only satisfied, but made sick by it and loathed it. 23. Waxed short; is God unable to do what he has prom ised? 25. Prophesied; prophecy- is here used in the widest sense, as often in the New Testament, to denote all relig ious discourse delivered under immediate inspiration. Compare 1 Cor. 12:10; 14:3-5. In the same sense it is also employed elsewhere in the Old Testament. 1 Sam. 10:9-13. 28. Forbid them ; Joshua seems to have thought that, in 24 *\\ And Moses went out, and told the people the words of the Lord, and gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people, and set them round about the tabernacle. 25 And the Lord came down in a cloud," and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders : and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied/ and did not cease. 26 But there remained two of the men in the camp, the name of the one was Eldad, and the name of the other Medad : and the spirit rested upon them ; and they were .of them that were writ ten, but went not out unto the tabernacle: and they prophesied in the camp.s 27 And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad do prophesy in the camp. 28 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, one of his young men, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them.1 29 And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the Lord's people were prophets," and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them! - - ¦> ' 30 And Moses gat him into the camp, he and the elders of Israel. 31 T And there went forth a wind ' from the Lord, and brought quails from the sea,v and let them fall by the camp, as it were a day's journey* on this side, and as it were a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and as it were two cubits high upon the face of the earth. ¦ 32 And the people stood up nil that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers :w and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth* ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague. 34 And he called the name of that plate Kib- roth-hattaavah:* because there they buried the people that lusted. 6:7,9. olsa. 50:2; 59:1. P Ezek. 12:25; 24:14. q ver. 17. ' 1 S?am. 10.5, 6, ete. ' Jer. 36:5, 6. t Luke 9:49: John 3:26. « 1 Cor. 14:5. » Exod. 16:13; Psa. 78:26-29; 105:40. t Heb. the way of a day. w Exod. 16:36. x Psa. 78:30, 31. J That is, the graves of lust; Deut. 0:22: remaining behind, they had been guilty of disrespect towards Moses. But Moses rejoiced in every gift of God's Spirit, though some irregularity might be connected with it. Compare Luke. 9: 49, 50. . 31. From the sea; that is, from Africa beyond the Red sea, where quails are found at the present day in prodig ious numbers. Two cubits high; that is, in heaps about two cubits high. . . - i 32. Ten homers; an ephah is estimated to have, contained about one and one-twelfth bushels, and a homer was ten ephahs. We are not, however, to understand ten homers for each individual, but rather, for each head of a house hold. Some propose to render <" ten heaps," as the word is elsewhere used, Exod. 8:14; but the sacred writer plainly means to indicate a definite quantity. This immense pro vision showed not only the abundance of the quails, but also the inordinate lust for which God punished the peo ple 34. Kibroth-hattaavah; that is, the graves of lust. 185 The murmuring of Miriam NUMBERS XII. and Aaron rebuked. 35 And the people journeyed from Kibroth-hat- taavah unto Hazeroth ;a and abode at* Hazeroth. CHAPTER XII. 1 God rebuketh the sedition of Miriam and Aaron. 10 Miriam's lepro sy is healed at the prayer of Moses. 14 God commandeth her to be shut out of the host. AND Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses becauseof theEthiopiant woman whom he had married : for he had married* an Ethiopian woman.b 2 And they said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us?c And the Lord heard it.& 3 (Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.) 4 And the Lord spake suddenly unto Moses,e and unto Aaron, and unto Miriam, Come out ye three unto the tabernacle of the congregation. And they three came out. '5 And the Lord came down in the pillar of the cloud/ and stood in the door of the tabernacle, and called Aaron and Miriam: and they both came forth. 6 And he said, Hear now my words : If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make my self known unto him in a vision,8 and will speak unto him in a dream.11 7 My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful1 in all my house.j a Ch. 33:17. • Heb. they were in. t Or, Cushite. t Heb. taken. 'Exod. 2:21. « Exod. 15:20; Mieah 0:4. d ch. II :1; Psa. 91:7-9; Isa. 37:4; Ezek 35:12,13. iP,a. 76:9. 'oh. 11:25. B Gen. 15: 1 ; 46:2; Job a3:15; Ezek. 1:1; Luke 1:11,22; Acts 10:11, 17. h Gen. 31:11; 1 Kings 3:5; Job 33.15. 35. Hazeroth; a place still farther on the way towards Canaan. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Discontentment with the dealings of God is unwise and wicked. Those who indulge in it provoke him, and expose themselves to his wrath. 2. The wicked are more indebted to the righteous than they are apt to imagine, and in their distresses they often feel this, and look to them for help. 6. We are apt to depreciate and undervalue the bless ings we have, and to magnify and overrate those which we desire. 11. The best of men are but partly sanctified ; and not unfrequently in their hearts, and sometimes in words, they find fault with God. 15. Those who kill themselves, or ask God or men to kill them, are not in a proper state to die. Did they feel right, whatever their trials, they would say, All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Not my will, but thine be done. Job 14:14; Luke 22:42. 17. God is often kind and gracious in withholding from men what in their wickedness they desire, and in giving them what they need. If he calls them to great and diffi cult services, they have no reason to complain or to de spond ; if they trust in him he will provide for them, that as their duties are, their ability may also bo. 20. What people impatiently and wickedly desire, God sometimes suffers them to have, and to abuse to their ruin. 23. It needs stronger faith than good men often have, or without the influences of the Holy Spirit would ever have, to believe that God will do all that he has promised. 29. It is natural for men to envy others on account of the blessings which God gives them ; but divine grace teaches us to rejoice in the blessings of others, and to desire that, if consistent, such blessings may he given to all. 33. God may in wrath give men what they desire, to show them and others the wickedness and folly of wish- 186 8 With him will I speak mouth to mouthy i.^;?^; even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the Lord shall he behold : where fore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?1 9 And the anger of the Lord was kindled against them ; and he departed. 10 And the cloud departed from off the taberna cle; and behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow :m and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and be hold, she was leprous. 11 And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee, lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned." 12 Let her not be as one dead, of whom the flesh is half consumed when he cometh out of his moth er's womb. 13 And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, Heal her now, O God, I beseech thee.0 14 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut out from the camp seven days,p and after that let her be received in again. 15 And Miriam was shut out from the camp seven days: and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again. 16 And afterward the people removed from Ha zeroth, and pitched in the wilderness of Paran. i Heb.3:2,5. j 1 Tim. 3:15; 1 Peter 2:4, 5. k Exod. 33: 11; Dent. 31:10. 1 2 Peter 2:10. m Deut. 24:9; 2 Kings 5:27; 2 Chr. 26:19-21. n 2 Sam. 24:10; Prov. 30:32. o Jas. 5:15. P Lev. 13:46. ing to have their own way, and refusing to be guided and governed by him. 34. Lust, and the use of things lusted after, are plagues which have opened and filled many graves. CHAPTER XII. 1. Miriam ; the sister of Moses and Aaron. Exod. 15 : 20. Ethiopian woman; supposed by some to be Zipporah, called an Ethiopian, or, as in the original, a Cushite, be cause a native of that part of Arabia which was settled by the descendants of Cush. Exod. 2:16, 21. Other6sup- pose that she was a Cushite woman whom Moses had married after the death of Zipporah. 3. Meek; not easily provoked or disposed to complain, not proud or self-sufficient, but humble, patient, and sub missive. 6. In a vision — in a dream ; that was the usual way in which he communicated with prophets. 8. Mouth tomouth; the same as face to face, Exod. 33:11; Deut. 34:10. Apparently; in open vision. Similitude; form, Exod. 33:23; 34:5-8; Ezek. 1:26. 14. Spit in her face; an eastern way of administering a very severe rebuke. Be ashamed seven days; manifest her sense of shame and humiliation by a separation of seven days from the ordinary privileges and society of the family. The inference is, that much more should Miriam be separated seven days from God's household— the camp of Israel — when he has so rebuked her. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The most inoffensive character, and the most useful life, may not secure persons from being blamed, even by their nearest relatives ; but, if humble, patient, and sub missive, the Lord will plead their cause, and in due time bring forth their righteousness as the light, and their judgment as the noonday. Psa. 51 : 1-11. 2. The Lord hears all that men say ; and he is espec ially displeased with those who, without good reason, talk against and find fault with his people. The twelve spies are sent. NUMBERS XIII. Their evil report of Canaan •CHAPTER XIII A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490. 1 The names of the men who were sent to search the land. 17 Their instructions. 21 Their acts. 26 Their relation. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Send thou men, that they may search the land of Canaan," which I give unto the children of Israel : of every tribe of their fathers shall ye send a man, every one a ruler among them. 3 And Moses by the commandment of the Lord sent them from the wilderness of Paran :b all those men were heads of the children of Israel. 4 And these were their names : Of the tribe of Reuben, Sb.aram.ua the son of Zaccur. 5 Of the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat the son of Hori. 6 Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Je phunneh. 7 Of the tribe of Issachar, Igal the son of Joseph. 8 Of the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea the son of Nun.0 9 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Palti the son of Ra- phu. 10 Of the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel the son of Sodi. 11 Of the tribe of Joseph, namely, oi the tribe of Manasseh, Gaddi the son of Susi. 12 Of the tribe of Dan, Ammiel the son of Ge- malli. 13 Of the tribe of Asher, Sethur the son of Mi chael. 14 Of the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi the son of Vophsi. 15 Of the tribe of Gad, Geuel the son of Machi. 16 These are the names of the men which Moses sent to spy out the land. And Moses called Hoshea the son of Nun Jehoshua.* 17 lAnd Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan and said unto them, Get you up this way south ard,c and go up into the mountain :f 18 And see the land, what jt is; and the people that dwelleth therein, whether they be strong or weak, few or many ; 19 And what the land is that they dwell in, whether it be good or bad ; and what cities they be that they dwell in, whether in tents, or in strong holds ; » Ch. 32:8. b Deut. 1:23. c ver. 16. d ver. 8; Exod. 17:9. » ver. 22. I Gen. 14:10; Deut. 1:24; Judges 1:9, 19. S Neh. 9:25,35; Ezek. 34:14. h Deut. 31:6, 7, 23. ¦ Josh. 15:1. j Josh. 19:23. k Josh. 11:21. 1 Josh. 21:11. m Psa. 73:12; Isa. 19:11. • Or, valley, t That is, a cluster of grapes. 8. Those who wickedly oppose such as God loves and pe culiarly favors, have great cause to fear ; for he views what is done to them as in a sense done to him. Matt. 25:40. 10. Sin is sometimes visited with immediate punishment. 11. To commit known sin is foolish, because it always tends not only to dishonor God, but also to injure those who commit it. 14. However great the sins of transgressors, when they truly repent and turn to the Lord he will forgive them. His people, so far as they have his Spirit, will do the same ; and desire for such the greatest blessings. Matt. 18:21-35. CHAPTER XIII. 2. Send thou men; this was no command originally given by Jehovah. He would have had the people go imme diately forward under his- all-sufficient guidance, Deut. 1:20, 21. But when the people proposed first to search the land, he was pleased to permit the measure, and to 20 And what the land is, whether it be fat or lean,g whether there be wood therein, or not. And be ye of good courage,11 and bring of the fruit of the land. Now the time was the time of the first ripe grapes. 21 1 So they went up, and searched the land from the wilderness of Zin1 unto Rehob,j as men come to Hamath. 22 And they ascended by the south, and came unto Hebron ; where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Tal- mai, the children of Anak,k were. Now Hebron ' was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.1™ 23 And they came unto the brook* of Eshcol,* and cut down from thence a branch with one clus ter of grapes, and they bare it between two upon a staff; and they brought of the pomegranates, and of the figs. 24 The place was called the brook* Eshcol,5 be cause of the cluster of grapes which the children of Israel cut down from thence. 25 And they returned from searching of the land after forty days. 26 1 And they went and came to Moses, and to Aaron, and to all the congregation of the children of Israel, unto the wilderness of Paran, to Ka desh;" and brought back word unto them, and unto all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey ;° and this is the fruit of it.11 28 Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land,' and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there/ 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the south:3 and the Hittites, and the Jebusites, and the Amorites, dwell in the mountains : and the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and by the coast of Jordan. 30 And Caleb stilled the people before Moses,' and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.u 31 But the men that went up with him said, We 1 Or, valley. S That is. a cluster of grapes. *n ch. 20:1, 16. o Exod. 33:3. P Deut. 1:25, etc. q Deut. 9:1, 2. ' ver. 33. » ch. 14:43; Exod. 17:8. I Josh. 14:7, 8. " Rom. 8:37 give directions respecting the manner of executing it. Deut. 1:22, 23. 16. Hoshea; salvation. Jehoshua; Jehovah is salvation. The Greek form of this name is Jesus, of whom Joshua was appointed to be an eminent type. 20. Fat or lean; fruitful or barren. Time of the first ripe grapes; about the month of August. 21. Wilderness of Zin; lying south of Canaan. Rehob; a city near the north part of Canaan. Hamath; a city of Syria, lying still further north. 22. Hebron; a city in the south part of Canaan, about twenty miles from Jerusalem. Anak; son of Arba, a dis tinguished man, after whom Hebron was called Kirjath- Arba, or the city of Arba. Gen. 23:2 ; Josh. 14:15. 23. Eshcol; a fruitful valley near Hebron. 24. Called the brook Eshcol; Eshcol meaning a cluster. 26. Kadesh; Kadesh-barnea, Deut. 1:19. It lay on the south border of Canaan, towards Edom. 28. Children of Anak; a family of giants. 181 Murmuring of the people. NUMBERS XIV. Moses expbstulateth with God. be not able to go up against the people ; for they are stronger than we. 32 And they brought up an evil report of the land which they had searched unto the children of Israel, saying, The land, through which we have gone to search it, is a land that eateth up the inhabitants thereof ;a and all the people that we saw in it are men of a great stature.*'" 33 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anakj0 which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers,"1 and so we were in their sight. CHAPTER XIV. 1 The people murmur at the news^ 6 Joshua and Caleb labor to still them. 11 God threateneth them. 13 Moses persuadeth &od, and ohtaineth pardon. 26. The murmurers are deprived of entering into the land. 36 The men who raised the evil report die by a plague. "40 The people that would. invade the land against the will of (iod are smitten. ND all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried ; and the people wept that night.6 2 And all the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron :f and the whole congregation said unto them, Would God that we had died in the land of Egypt ! or would God we had died in this wilderness! 3 And wherefore hath the Lord brought us unto thi3 land, to fall by the sword, that our wives and our children should bo a prey ? were it not better for us to return into Egypt? 4 And they said one to another, Let us make a captain, and let us return into Egypt.15 5 Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces be fore all the assembly of the congregation of the children of Israel.11 6 1 And Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh,1 which were of them thatsearched the land, rent their clothes: 7 And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an- exceeding good land. 8 If the Lord delight in us,j then he will bring a Deut. 1:28. * Heb. statures. » Deut. 9:2. ' ver. 22. d Isa. 40:22. e ch. 11:4. f Psa. 106: 24, 25 s Deut. 17: 16; Neh. 9:17; Acts 7:39. h oh. 1(1:4, 22. i verses 30. 38. j Deut. 10:15; 2 Sam. 15:25, 20; 22:20; 1 Kings 10:0; Psa. 147:11. * ch. 13:27. 1 Deut. 9:23. m Deut. 20:3. nch.24:8. t Heb. shadow; Psa. 121:5. ° Gen. 48:21; Deut. 29:1-1; 31:6, 8; Judg. 1:22; 2 Chr. 15:2; 32:3; Psa. 46:7, 11; Isa. 8:9, 10; 41:10; Amos 5:14; us into this land, and give it us; a land b.o.iSo. which floweth with milk and honey. k 9 Only rebel not ye against the Lord,1 neither fear ye the people of theland ; m for they are bread for us:11 their defence1: is departed from them, and the Lord is with us:0 fear them not.p 10 But all the congregation bade stone them with stones."1 And the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle of the congregation before all the children of Israel/ 111 And the Lord said unto Moses, How long will this people provoke me?3 and how long will it be ere they believe me,' for all the signs which I have showed among them? 12 I will smite them with the pestilence, and dis inherit them, and will make of thee a greater nation and mightier than they.u 13 1 And Moses said unto the Lord,v Then the Egyptians shall hear it,™ for thou broughtest up this people in thy might from among them ; . 14 And they will tell it to the inhabitants of this land : for they have heard that thou Lord art among this people* that thou Lord art seen face to face/ and that thy cloud standeth over them,z and that thou goest before them, by daytime in a pillar of a cloud, and in, a pillar of fire by night.11 15 Now if thou shalt kill all this people as one man, then the nations which have heard the fame of thee will speak, saying, 16 Because the Lord was not able to bring this people into the land which he sware unto them, therefore he hath slain them in the wilderness." 17 And now, I beseech thee, let the power of my Lord be great,0 according as thou hast spoken,3 saying, 18 The Lord is long-suffering, and of great mer cy, forgiving iniquity and transgression,"5 and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.1 19 Pardon, I beseech thee, the iniquity of this people, according unto the greatness of thy mercy, and as thou hast forgiven this people,* from Egypt even until now.* 32. Eateth up the inhabitants; causing them to die from the unhealthiness of the climate, or some other cause. If this were so, it must have been strange that they were so large and strong. INSTRUCTIONS. , 3. God deals with men according to the measure of their faith ; those counsels that have their origin in an unbe lieving spirit must be expected to have a disastrous issue. 27. Those who trust the promises of God and follow his directions, will find that what he has promised is true, and their own experience will realize its fulfilment. 29: Men may do externally what God directs, and yet with such a spirit and for such a purpose as may tend to their ruin. 30. Different men may unite externally in doing the same things, and yet with a very different spirit and for totally different ends. Thus what is done may be to one a savor of life unto life, and to another a savor of death unto death. 2 Cor. 2:16. 188 Zeob. 8:23; Rom. 8:31. Pisa. 41:14. qExod.17:4. r ch. 16: 19, 42; 20:6. »Zech.8:14; Heb.3:16. t Psa. 106:24; John 12:37. "Exod. 32:10. v Deut. 9:26-28. w Deut. 32:27; Ezek. 20:9, 14. * Josh. 2:9, 10. J Exod. 33:11. r. ch. 10:34. »Exod. 13:21, 22; Psa. 73:14. b Deut. 9:28; Josh. 7:9. »Mic. 3:8; Matt. 9:6, 8. d Exod. 34:6, 7. e Micah 7:18. ' Exod. 20:5; Jor. 23:2. B Psa. 73:33. t Or. hitherto. 32. In making excuses for not doing their duty, and say ing that they are not able to do what God requires and js ready to enable them to perform, men are often very in consistent and contradict themselves. CHAPTER XIV. 5. Fell on their faces; as a sign of their deep grief for the sin of the people, and their earnest intercession with God in their behalf. 6. Rent their. clothes; thus they expressed deep sorrow and holy indignation for the unbelieving and rebellious spirit of the people. 9. Are bread for us; food for our swords. Compare chap. 24:8. 16. Therefore he hath slain them; this, Moses thought, would be greatly to God's dishonor. 17. Let the power of my Lord be great; be greatly mani fested in forgiving their iniquity, and bringing them into the land of promise. The murmurers excluded. NUMBERS XIV. The invaders discomfited. u.'o!'H9u*' 20 And the Lord said, I have pardoned according to thy word:" 21 But as truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." 22 Because all those men which have seen my glory, and my miracles, which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have tempted me now these ten times, and have not hearkened to my voice ; 23 Surely they shall not see* the land which I sware unto their fathers,0 neither shall any of them that provoked me see it : 24 But my servant Caleb,4 because he had an other spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went ; and his seed shall possess it. 25 (Now the Amalekites and the Canaanites dwelt in the valley.) To-morrow turn you, and get you into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea. 26 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 27 How long shall I bear with this evil congre gation,0 which murmur against me? I have heard the murmurings of the children of Israel/ which they murmur against me. 28 Say unto them, As truly as I live, saith the Lord, as ye have spoken in mine, ears, so will I do to you : 29 Your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness, and all that were numbered of you,g according to your whole number, from twenty years old and upward, which have murmured against me. 30 Doubtless ye shall not come into the land, concerning which I sware + to make you dwell therein, save Caleb tho son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, which ye said should be a prey, them will I bring in, and they shall know the land which yc have despised.11 32 But as for you, your carcasses, they shall fall in this wilderness.1 33 And your children shall wander* in the wil- »Psa. 106:23; Jas. 5:16. b Psa. 72:19; Isa. 66:18, 19. ' Heb. if they see. Deut. 1:35, etc.; Psa. 9.1:11; Ezek. 20:15; Heb. 3:17, 18. d oh. 32:11, 12. Matt. 17:17. 'Exod. 16:13. Sell. 1:15. t Heb. lifted up my hand; Gen. 1:22. 1> Psa. 106:21. i I Cor. 10:5. J Or, feed, i ch. 32: 13; Psa. 107:40. 20. According to thy word; God so far hearkened to Mo ses as to spare the people for a time, and to bring their children into the promisedjand. Ver. 31. 21. But as truly as Hive— filled with the glory of the Lord; though Jehovah, upon the intercession of Moses, would spare the people from immediate destruction, he would yet deal with them in such a way as to manifest to all the earth his glorious attributes, mingling justice with mercy. 22. Ten times; that is, often, a definite number for an in definite. 25. Dwelt in the valley; probably the valley at the foot of the hill mentioned ver. 40, 41, whence they could easily take possession of the hill-top. Ver. 43. These words are inserted by Moses in a parenthetical way, to explain the reason of the command that follows. 31. Ye said; ver. 3. 33. Bear your whoredoms; suffer the effects of their sins. Exod. 20:5. Apostasy from God is spiritual whoredom. Deut. 31: 16. Forty years; from the time they left Egypt. 34. Know my breach of promise; or my turning away from you ; that is, experience its bitter effects in your destruction. 39. Tliese sayings; what God had told him. Ver. 29-35. 40. The mountain; which lies north-west of Kadesh. e Matt 14:22 derness forty years,1 and bear your whoredoms," until your carcasses be wasted in the wilderness. 34 After the number of the days in which ye searched the land, even forty days,1 each day for a year, shall ye bear your iniquities, even forty years, and ye shall know my breach of promise.8 m 35 I the Lord have said," I will surely do it Unto all this evil congregation,0 that are gathered together against me : in this wilderness they shall be consumed, and there they shall die. 36 And the men which Moses sent to search the land, who returned, and made all the congregation to murmur against him, by bringing up a slander upon the land,p 37 Even those men that did bring up the evil report upon the land, died by the plague before the Lord."1 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, which were of the men that went to search the land, lived still.1 39 And Moses told these sayings unto all the chil dren of Israel : and the people mourned greatly.8 40 IT And they rose up early in the morning, and gat them up into the top' of the mountain, saying, Lo, we be here, and will go up unto the place which the Lord hath promised : for we have sinned. 41 And Moses said, Wherefore now do ye trans gress the commandment of the LoRD?t'but it shall not prosper. 42 Go not up, for the Lord is not among you ; that ye be not smitten before your enemies. 43 For the Amalekites and the Canaanites are there before you, and ye shall fall by the sword : because ye are turned away from the Lord," there fore the Lord will not be with you. 44 But they presumed to go up unto the hill-top : nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord,v and Moses, departed not out of the camp. 45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.lv kjer. 3 1. 2; Ezek. 23:35; Hos. 9:1. 1 ch.13 25. 8 Or altering of mv pur- pose. rojer. 8:9,10; Lam.3:31-33. neh. 23: 19. o ver 27. Poh. 13:31 32. q 1 .Cor 10:11 ; Heb. 3:17; Jude 5. r oh. 26:65 Josh. 14 0, 10 •Exod. 33:4; Isa. 26 16. ver. 25. u 2 Chr. 15:2 vch. 10:33. woh. 21 3; Judg. 1 17. 45. Hormah; a place in the south part of Canaan, not many miles from Kadesh. It was before called Zephath. Chap. 21:3; Judg. 1 : 17. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. A long course of bondage, whether bodily or spirit ual, is suited to produce a weak arid cowardly spirit ; to degrade and debase the human mind, and unfit it for great and noble deeds. 9. Rebellion against God is the great cause of human sorrow. By trusting in him and doing his will, men may obtain all needed blessings, in the best way, at the right time, and with only those sacrifices which will in the end promote their highest good. 10. The most unreasonable men are most ready to use mob violence. Instead of answering their opponents, they attempt to kill them. Sometimes they for a time succeed, but often they bring ruin on themselves. Acts 7:59. 11. Men may see the most stupendous miracles, and re ceive the greatest temporal mercies, and yet remain ene mies to God. No means, without the converting influences of his Spirit, will ever lead them to love and serve him. 16. Good men dread what will dishonor God more than 189 Law of the meat-offering, NUMBERS XV. and of the drink-offering. CHAPTER XV 1 The law of the meat-offering and the drink-offering. 13, 29 The stranger is under the same law. 17 The law of the first of the dough for a heave-offering. 22 The sacrifice for sins of ignorance. 30 The punishment of presumption. 32 He that violated the sabbath is stoned. 37 The law of fringes. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land of your habitations, which I give unto you, 3 And will make an offering by fire unto the Lord,11 a burnt-offering, or a sacrifice in perform ing* a vow,D or in a freewill-offering, or in your solemn feasts,0 to make a sweet savor unto the Lord," of the herd, or of the flock : 4 Then shall he that offereth his offering unto the Lord bring a meat-offering of a tenth-deal of flour,e mingled with the fourth part of a hin of oil.f 5 And the fourth part of a hin of wine for a drink-offering shalt thou prepare with the burnt- offering or sacrifice, for one lamb. 6 Or for a ram, thou shalt prepare for a meat offering two tenth-deals of flour, mingled with the third part of a hin of oil. 7 And for a drink-offering thou shalt offer the third part of a hin of wine, for a sweet savor unto the Lord. 8 And when thou preparest a bullock/or a burnt- offering, or*/or a sacrifice in performing a vow, or peace-offerings unto the Lord;s 9 Then shall he bring with a bullock a meat offering of three tenth-deals of flour, mingled with half a hin of oil.h 10 And thou shalt bring for a drink-offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. 11 Thus shall it be done for one bullock, or for one ram, or for a lamb, or a kid.1 12 According to the number that ye shall pre pare, so shall ye do to every one according to their number. 13 All that are born of the country shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. » Lev. 1:2,3. • Heb. separating; Lev. 27:2. b Lev. 7:16; 22:18, 21. e Lev. 23:8, 12. d Exod. 29:18. = Exod. 29:40; Lev. 23:13. ' ch. 23:5, etc.; Lev. 14:10. B Lev. 7:11. h ch. 23:12, etc. • ch. 28. 1 ver. 29; ch. 9:14; Exod. 12:49. k Deut. 26:1, etc. 1 Josh. 5: 11, 12. m Prov. 3:9. 10. any temporal evils, and desire the promotion of his glory more than the reception of all temporal mercies. 20. The righteous are often the means of averting great calamities from the wicked, and bringing upon them un speakable good. 21. God will bestow mercy only in such a way as is consistent with justice, wisdom, goodness, and truth — only in such a way as will glorify himself, give a correct view of his character, and fill the hearts of all holy beings with admiration and delight. 24. Steadfastness in duty, however unpopular or dan gerous, is the way to glory, honor, and blessedness. 28. God sometimes takes men at their word, and evils which they wickedly imprecate, he in righteous judgment brings upon them. 33. Many evils come upon children in consequence of the sins of parents ; but, if they do not imitate their par ents, nor disobey God, he will overrule these evils for their highest good. Ver. 31. 38. In due time, all will see the difference between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. 190 14 And if a stranger sojourn with you, b.c:m«: or whosoever be among you in your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord ; as ye do, so he shall do. 15 One ordinance shall be both for you of the con gregation, and also for the stranger that sojourn- eth with you,' an ordinance for ever in your gen erations : as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the Lord. 16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sqjourneth with you. 17 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 18 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land whither I bring you,k 19 Then it shall be, that, when ye eat of the bread of the land,1 ye shall offer up a heave-offer ing unto the Lord. 20 Ye shall offer up a cake of the first of your dough for a heave-offering:"1 as ye do the heave- offering of the threshing-floor," so shall ye heave it. 21 Of the first of your dough ye shall give unto the Lord a heave-offering in your generations. 22 1 And if ye have erred,0 and not observed all these commandments, which the Lord hath spoken unto Moses, 23 Even all that the Lord hath commanded you by the hand of Moses, from the day that the Lord commanded Moses, and henceforward among your generations ; 24 Then it shall be, if aught be committed by ignorance without the knowledge* of the congre gation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bullock for a burnt-offering, for a sweet savor unto the Lord, with his meat-offering,11 and his drink-offering, according to the manner,* and one kid of the goats for a sin-offering." 25 And the priest shall make an atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and it shall be forgiven them ; for it is ignorance :r and they shall bring their offering, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord, and their sin-offering before the Lord, for their ignorance : n Lev. 23:10. ° Lev. 4:2, etc. t Heb. from the eyes. P ver. 8-10. t Or, ordinance, q ch. 28:15; Lev. 4:23; Ezra 6:17; 8:35. ' Acts 3:17, 19; ITim. 1:13; Heb. 5:2. 41. As the Lord never brings evils upon any but for the wisest and best reasons, when he does bring them, none should murmur against him, but all should cheerfully sub mit, feeling that he afflicts them less than their iniquities deserve, and saying, It is the Lord ; let him do as seemeth good in his sight. CHAPTER XV. 2. Ye; the children of those who were to die in the wilderness. Chap. 14:31. The land of your habitations; Canaan. In the wilderness, which was a land not sown nor planted with vineyards, they would not all be able to comply with these requirements. 4. A tenth-deal — a hin; an ephah contained between thir ty-four and thirty-five quarts. A tenth-deal was the tenth, and a hin the seventh part of an ephah. 14. As ye do, so lie shall do; not only to prevent the introduction of heathenish rites, but to convey the idea that there is one religion and one way of salvation for Jews and Gentiles. 24. According to the manner; the manner above directed for the meat-offering, ver. 9, 10. One is stoned for NUMBERS XVI. violating tlie Sabbath. ka'S' 26 And it shall be forgiven all the con gregation of the children of Israel, and the stran ger that sojourneth among them; seeing all the people were in ignorance. 27 1 And if any soul sin through ignorance,0 then he shall bring a she-goat of the first year for a sin-offering. 28 And the priest shall make an atonement for the soul that sinneth ignorantly, when he sinneth by ignorance before the Lord, to make an atone ment for him ;b and it shall be forgiven him. 29 Ye shall have one law for him that sinneth* through ignorance, both for him that is born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them.c 30 II But the soul that doeth aught presumptu ously ,+ whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the Lord; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.4 31 Because he hath despised the word of the Lord,6 and hath broken his commandment, that so"ul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be upon him/ 32 T And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a. man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath-day.g 33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation. 34 And they put him in ward,11 because it was not declared what should be done to him. 35 And the Lord said unto Moses, The man shall be surely put to death :* all the congregation shall stone him with stones without the camp.j 36 And all the congregation brought him with out the camp, and stoned him with stones, and he died;k as the Lord commanded Moses. • Lev. 4:27, 28. ° Lev. 4:35. • Heb. doeth. c Rom. 3:29, 30. t Heb. with a high hand, d Beat. 17:12; Psa. 19:13; Heb. 10:26; 2 Pet. 2:10. ' 2Sam. 12:9; Prov. 13: 13; Acts 13:41; Heb. 10:28,29. ' Lev. 5:1; Psa. 38:4; Ezek. 1S:20; 2 Pet. 2:21. B Exod. 35:2. 3. h Lev. 24:12. i Exod. 31:14, 15. j Lev. 24:14. k Josh. 7:25. 1 Deut.'22: 12; Matt. 23:5. "> Deut. 28. Sinneth ignorantly ; through carelessness or inatten tion, violating some law without at the time being aware of it. 30. Doeth aught presumptuously ; violates a known law by design, and in defiance of Jehovah. 31. His iniquity shall be upon him; shall rest upon him unforgiven, requiring his punishment. 32. Gathered sticks upon the sabbath-day ; presumptuously, in open defiance of God and his laws. Ver. 30, 31. 38. A ribbon of blue; to distinguish them as the true worshippers of God from their heathen neighbors, and to remind them of the law of God and their duty to keep it. In our Lord's day the Pharisees made this precept the occasion of vain ostentation ; keeping it in the letter, but breaking it in the spirit. Matt. 23:5. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Though ever so many prove unfaithful to God, and cut themselves off from his blessings, it will not annul his faithfulness, or render his promises of no effect. Rom. 3:3,4. 16. Persons of all nations may have access to God through Jesus Christ, and by faith in him may be freely pardoned, sanctified, and saved ; whether they be Jews or Gentiles, high or low, bond or free. 21. God is the giver of all our mercies, and in partaking of them we should gratefully acknowledge and adore him. Prov. 3:G; Phil. 4:6. 37 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations,1 and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribbon of blue : 39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the com mandments of the Lord, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes,"1 after which ye use to go a whoring:" 40 That ye may remember, and do all my com mandments,0 and be holy unto your God.p 41 I am the Lord your God," which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God : r I am the Lord your God. CHAPTER XVI. 1 The rebellion of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 23 Moses separateth the people from the rebels' tents. 31 The earth swalloweth up Ko- . rah, and a fire consumeth others. 36 The censers are reserved to holy use. 41 Fourteen thousand and seven hundred are slain by a plague for murmuring against Moses and Aaron. 46 Aaron hy in cense stayeth the plague. "Vj"OW Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Ko- J_N hath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abi ram, the sons of Eliab,s and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: 2 And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congrega tion, men of renown : * 3 And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron," and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you,* seeing all the congre gation are holy,v every one of them, and the Lord is among them;w wherefore then lift ye up your selves above the congregation of the Lord ? 29:19; Job 31:7; Jer. 9:14; Ezek. 6:9. n psa. 73:27; 106:39. ° Psa. 119:4. p Lev. 11:44, 45. q Lev. 22:33. r Heb. 11:10. ' ch. 26:9; Exod. 6:21; Judell. t oh. 26:9. u psa. 106:16. t Heb. It is much for you. " Exod. 19:6. w Exod. 29:45. 26. The" law of God is exceeding broad. We often vio late it through inattention, without at the time being aware of it ; and are in continual need of pardoning mer cy through Christ. Psa. 19 : 13. 30. The open transgression of known divine laws is a reproach upon their Author, and brings upon the soul his awful displeasure. 36. Wilful sabbath-breaking, in opposition to the known command of God, is a sin of presumption, and exposes those who practise it to be cut off for ever from his favor. 39. The disciples of Christ should be continually mind ful of their high calling ; and should endeavor to be so distinguished from the men of this world in their daily spirit and conduct, that all may recognize them as the true children of God. 40. All the directions of God are designed and adapted to make his people holy, to remind them of their obliga tions, and lead them so to keep his commandments as to receive the blessings of his everlasting love. CHAPTER XVI. 2. Famous in the congregation; rather, "the called of the congregation." See note to chap. 1 : 16. 3. Are holy; they mean to say that they all stand in as near a relation to God as Aaron and Moses, and ought not to be excluded from priestly offices. Above the congrega tion; by acting as rulers and taking the direction of their concerns. Ver. 10, 13, 28. 191 The rebellion, of Korah, NUMBERS XVI. it, he fell upon his l)athan, and Abiram. 4 And when Moses heard face:a 5 And he spake unto Korah and unto all his company, saying, Even to-morrow the Lord will show who are his, and who is holy ;b and will cause him to come near unto him:0 even him whom he hath chosen4 will he cause to come near unto him.0 6 This do : Take you censers, Korah, and all his company ; 7 And put fire therein, and put incense in them before the Lord to-morrow : and it shall be that the man whom the Lord doth choose, he shall be holy :f yetake too much upon you,8 ye sons of Levi. 8 And Moses said unto Korah, Hear, I pray you, ye sons of Levi : 9 Seemeth it but a. small thing unto you,h that the God of Israel hath separated you from the congre gation of Israel,1 to bring you near to himself to do the service of the tabernacle of the Lord, and to standbefore the congregation to minister unto them? 10 And he hath brought thee near to him, and all thy brethren the sons of Levi with thee : and seek ye the priesthood also ? 11 For which cause both thou and all thy com pany are gathered together against the Lord: and what is Aaron, that ye murmur against him?j 12 1 And Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab ; which said, We will not come up : 13 Is it a small thing that thou hast brought us up out of a land that floweth with milk and honey,k to kill us in the wilderness, except thou make thy self altogether a prince over us?1 14 Moreover, thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey,"1 or given us in heritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out* the eyes of these men? we will not come up. 15 And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the Lord, Respect not thou their offering:11 I have not taken one ass from them,0 neither have I hurt one of them. 16 And Moses said unto Korah, Be thou and all thy company before the Lord, thou, and they, and Aaron, to-morrow : 17 And take every man his censer, and put in cense in them, and bring ye before the Lord every man his censer,p two hundred and fifty censers ; thou also, and Aaron, each of you his censer. 18 And they took every man his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood in the door of the tabernacle of the congregation with Moses and Aaron. A. M. 2533. B. C. about 1471. » Ch. 14:5; 20:6. ° Lev. 21:6, etc. « Heb. 12.14. d ch. 17:5. « ch. 3:10; Lev. 10:3; 21:17, 18; Ezek. 40:46; 44:15, 16. fEph.1:4. s Heb. 5:4. h ver. 13; Isa. 7:13. I ch. 3:41. 45; 8:14; Dent. 10:8. j Exod. 16:8; I Sam. 8:7; Acts 5:4; 1 Cor. 3:5. k ver. 9. 1 Exod. 2:14. m Exod. 3:8; Lev. 20:21. * Heb. bore out. n Gen. 4:5; Isa. 1:10-15. o 1 Sam. 12:3; Acts 20:33; 2 Cor. 7:2. P 1 Sam. 12:7. q ch. 14:10. r ver. 45 ; Rev. 18:4. 4. He fell upon his face; expressing his deep sense of their guilt and danger. 5. Will he cause to come near; God would show whom he had chosen to be priest and leader in his worship. 7. Tlie man whom the Lord doth choose; that is, as priest. This he will do by giving some token of approbation of his conduct. He shall be holy; acknowledged and treated as high-priest. 11. Against the Lord; their conduct was rebellion against his arrangement, and of course against him. 192 19 And Korah gathered all the congre gation against them unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation : and the glory of the Lord appeared unto all the congregation."1 20 And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying, 21 Separate yourselves from among this congre gation,1" that I may consume them in a moment.6 22 And they fell upon their faces,' and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh," shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the con gregation?1' 23 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 24 Speak unto the congregation, saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. 25 And Moses rose up and went unto Dathan and Abiram ; and the elders of Israel followed him. 26 And he spake unto the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men,w and touch nothing of theirs, lest ye be con sumed in all their sins. • 27 So they gat up from the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side : and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood in the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little children. 28 And Moses said, Hereby ye shall know that the Lord hath sent me to do all these works ;x for J have not done them of mine own mind/ 29 If these men die the common death of all + or if they be visited after the visitation of men, all men ;z then the Lord hath not sent me. 30 But if the Lord make a new thing,* and the earth open her mouth, and swallow them up,a with all that appertain unto them, and they go down quick into the pit;0 then ye shall understand that these men have provoked the Lord. 31 IT And it came to pass, as he had made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground clave asunder that was under them : 32 And the earth opened her mouth, and swal lowed them up,c and their houses, and all the men that appertained unto Korah, and all their goods. 33 They, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into the pit, and the earth closed upon them : and they perished from among the congre gation. 34 And all Israel that were round about them fled at the cry of them : for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up also. » Heb. 12:28, 29. t ch. 14:5. " ch. 27:16: Job 12:10; Eocl. 12:7; Isa. 57:16; Zech. 12:1; Heb. 12:9. v Gen. 18:32; Josh. 7:1, etc.; Eom. 5:18. " Gen. 19:12, 14; Isa. 52:11; 2 Cor. 6:17; 1 Tim. 5:22; Rev. 18:4. * Exod. 3:12; Zeoh. 2:9; John 5:36. y Jer. 21:16. t Heb. as every man dieth. r- Isa. 10:3. I Heb. create a creature. » Job 31:3. ° ver. 33; Psa. 55:15. o ch. 26:10, 11 ; Deut. 11:6; Psa. 106:17, 18. 14. Put out the eyes of these men ; treat them as blind, and attempt to lead them at pleasure. 15. Respect not thou their offering; regard it not with favor, but with just indignation. 30. Quick; alive. Ver. 33. 33. All that appertained to them; all that belonged to them and were with them. The children of Korah, who were manifestly not present in this seditious assembly, died not. Chap. 26:11. His posterity are subsequently men tioned among the servants of God. 1 Chr. 9:19; 26:1. The people murmuring, NUMBERS XVII. the plague slayeth many. a. m. 2533. 35 And there came out a fire from the b. a^bout j^j^a anfl consumed the two hundred and fifty men that offered incense.0 36 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 37 Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burn ing, and scatter thou the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.0 38 The censers of these sinners against their own souls,4 let them make them broad plates for a covering of the altar : for they offered them be fore the Lord, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the children of Israel.0 39 And Eleazar the priest took the brazen cen sers, wherewith they that were burnt had offered ; and they were made broad plates for a covering of the altar : 40 To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, that no stranger,*1 which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before the Lord ; that he be not as Korah, and as his company : as the Lord said to him by the hand of Moses. 41 ir But on the morrow all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron,8 saying, Ye have killed the people of the Lord. 42 And it came to pass, when the congregation was gathered against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the tabernacle of the congregation: and behold, the cloud covered it," and the glory of the Lord appeared.1 43 And Moses and Aaron came before the taber nacle of the congregation. 44 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 45 Get you up from among this congregation,3 that I may consume them as in a moment. And they fell upon their faces.k »Ch. 11:1; Lev. 10:2. b Ter. 17. cLev.27:28. d Prov. 8:36; 20:2; Hab. 2:10. «ch. 17:10; Ezek. 14:8. ' ch. 3:10; 2 Chr. 26:18. B ch. 14:2; Psa. 106.23, etc. h Exod. 40:34. i ver. 19. j ver. 21,24. k Ter. 22; ch. 20:6. 35. Two hundred and fifty men; verses 2, 17. 37. Out qfthe burning; from the fire that had destroyed the men. They are hallowed; the censers, or pans for in cense, were set apart for the sacred purpose mentioned in verses 38-40. 46. Make an atonement for them; by offering the incense to the Lord, and supplicating his mercy ; thus typifying the atonement and intercession of Christ. 48. The plague was stayed ; expressive of the efficacy of the great atoning sacrifice and the all-prevalent interces sion of Christ. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. When some are raised to power and influence, others often overlook the hand of God in their elevation, and as cribe it all to men ; and instead of being contented with the place which he assigns them, and seeking to discharge its duties, they envy and blame those above them, and, in so doing, find fault with God. 7. Servants of God, in the use of suitable means, are disposed to refer their cause, and that of their friends, to him; and in faith, patience, and prayer, to wait for his decision. 11. Men who ungratefully overlook the goodness of God to them, neglect the appropriate duties of their station, and ambitiously strive to usurp the places of those above them, are under the influence of pride and ripening for ruin. 15. When falsely charged with baseness and crime, conscious integrity, and the expectation that God will vindicate those who trust in and obey him, give unfailing 13 46 T And Moses said unto Aaron, Take a cen ser, and put fire therein from off the altar, and put on incense, and go quickly unto the congre gation, and make an atonement for them : for there is wrath gone out from the Lord;1 the plague is begun. 47 And Aaron took as Moses commanded, and ran into the midst of the congregation ; and be hold, the plague was begun among the people:"1 and he put on incense, and made an atonement for the people." 48 And he stood between the dead and the liv ing;" and the plague was stayed." 49 Now they that died in the plague were four teen thousand and seven hundred, besides them that died about the matter of Korah. 50 And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation : and the plague was stayed. CHAPTER XVII. 1 Aaron's rod among all the rods of the tribes only flourisheth. 10 It is left for a monument against the rebels. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and take of every one of them a rod according to the house of their fathers,1 of all their princes accord ing to the house of their fathers, twelve rods: write thou every man's name upon his rod. 3 And thou shalt write Aaron's name upon the rod of Levi : for one rod shall be for the head of the house of their fathers. 4 And thou shalt lay them up in the tabernacle of the congregation before the testimony, where I will meet with you.r 5 And it shall come to pass, that the man's rod, whom I shall choose,3 shall blossom : and I will 1 oh. 11:33; 18:5; Lev. 10:6; 1 Chr. 27:24. n> Psa. 106:29. ¦> Deut. S3:10. ° Heb. 7:24. 25. P 1 Chr. 21:26. 27; Psa. 106:30. q Ezek. 37:16. r Exod 25:22; 29:42, 43; 30:36. ¦ ch. 16:5. support, and prepare the soul to go forward in duty with firmness, courage, and success. Psa. 37:3-9. 26. All such connection with the wicked as tends to en courage them in sin, and all appearance of conniving at their transgressions, should be carefully avoided. 2 Cor. 6:17. 33. Though this is a state of trial rather than of retri bution, God sometimes manifests his hatred of sin in such a manner as to show that he is a God that judgeth in the earth, and that the wages of sin is death. Psa. 58:11; Rom. 6 : 23. 41. Punishment of itself will not change the hearts of the wicked, or lead them to love and serve God. Such a change, whenever it takes place, is by the grace of God, through the influences of the Holy Spirit. 48. A good man is kind, compassionate, and forgiving ; and does not desire the destruction of the wicked, how ever much they may have injured him. 49. No finite mind can fully comprehend the evil of sin. It has slain not only thousands, but millions and hundreds of millions. Deliverance from it is the greatest of bless ings, and all who receive this blessing will be for ever in debted for it to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. None who continue to love and practise sin can escape perdition. Ezek. 33:11. CHAPTER XVII. 5. Whom I shall choose; to be high-priest. Make to cease— the murmurings; about the priesthood, by showing his will with regard to it. 193 Aaron's rod buddelh. NUMBERS XVIII. The charge of the Levites. make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, whereby they murmur against you.a 6 1 And Moses spake unto the children of Israel, and every one of their princes gave him a rod apiece, for each prince one,* according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods : and the rod of Aaron was among their rods. 7 And Moses laid up the rods before the Lord in the tabernacle of witness." 8 And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness ; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was bud ded,0 and brought forth buds, and bloomed blos soms, and yielded almonds. 9 And Moses brought out all the rods from be fore the Lord unto all the children of Israel : and they looked, and took every man his rod. 10 T And the Lord said unto Moses, Bring Aaron's rod again before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the rebels ;td and thou shalt quite take away their murmurings from me, that they die not. 11 And Moses did so: as the Lord commanded him, so did he. 12 And the children of Israel spake unto Moses, saying, Behold, we die, we perish, we all perish.e 13 Whosoever cometh f any thing near unto the tabernacle of the Lord shall die:8 shall we be consumed with dying? , CHAPTER XVIII. 1 The charge of the priests and Levites. 8 The priests' portion. 21 The Levites' portion. 25 The heave-offering to the priests out of the Levites' portion. AND the Lord said unto Aaron, Thou and thy sons and thy father's house with thee shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary : h and thou and thy sons with thee shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood. 2 And thy brethren also of the tribe of Levi, the a Ch. 16:11. * Heb. a rod for one prince, a rod for one prince, b Exod. 38:21; Acts7:44. ° Psa. 110:2; Ezek. 19:12, 14. t Heb. children of rebel lion, d Heb. 9:4. e Psa. 90:7; Isa. 57:16. f ch. 1:51, 53; 18:4, 7. g Eph. 2:13; Heb. 10:19-22. h Exod. 28:33; Isa. 53:6, 11; I Pet. 2:24. i Gen. 10. Their murmurings; on account of the priesthood's being confined to the family of Aaron. 12. We die — we all perish; words of terror and despond ency, in view of the severe and oft-repeated judgments which had fallen upon them. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. To the clear manifestations of the divine will all should cheerfully submit ; and they who do not, incur the guilt of rebelling against God. 8. God is the author of nature as well as of grace. All its laws are under his direction, and subject to his control. 10. God uses all reasonable and proper means to pre vent men from continuing in sin ; but his mercies, if per verted and abused, will increase their guilt and aggravate their ruin. CHAPTER XVIII. 1. Thou and thy sons and thy father's house; this includes the Levites with the priests ; for by his father's house are meant the sons of Levi. Bear the iniquity of ihe sanctuary; of all the service pertaining to the sanctuary. It was now shown that Aaron and his sons were confirmed in the honors of the priesthood, and the Lord informed him 194 tribe of thy father, bring thou with thee, {.j.a that they may be joined unto thee,' and min- wi* °u ister unto thee:j but thou and thy sons with thee shall minister before the tabernacle of witness." 3 And they shall keep thy charge, and the charge of all the tabernacle: only they shall not come nigh the vessels of the sanctuary and the altar,1 that neither they, nor ye also, die. 4 And they shall be joined unto thee, and keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, for all the service of the tabernacle : and a stran ger shall not come nigh unto you. 5 And ye shall keep the charge of the sanctuary, and the charge of the altar;"1 that there be no wrath any more upon the children of Israel." 6 And I, behold, I have taken your brethren the Levites from among the children of Israel : to you they are given as a gift for the Lord,0 to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation. 7 Therefore thou and thy sons with thee shall keep your priest's office for every thing of the altar," and within the veil ;°- and ye shall serve: I have given your priest's office unto you as a ser vice of gift: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death. 8 T And the Lord spake unto Aaron, Behold, I also have given thee the charge of my heave-offer ings of aU the hallowed things of the children of Israel ;r unto thee have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to thy sons, by an ordinance for ever.8 9 This shall be thine of the most holy things, re served from the fire : every oblation of theirs, every meat-offering of theirs,4 and every sin-offering of theirs," and every trespass-offering of theirs,v which they shall render unto me, shall be most holy for thee and for thy sons. 10 In the most holy place shalt thou eat it;iv every male shall eat it : it shall be holy unto thee. 11 And this is thine ; the heave-offering of their gift,x with all the wave-offerings of the children 29:34. jch 3:6, 7. koh. 3:10, etc. 1 oh 16:40. m Exod 30:7, etc. Lev. 24:3. n oh 16:46 o oh. 8:19. P ver 5. q Heb. 9:3, 6. r ch. 5:9, Lev. 7:32. • Exod. 29:2! ; 40:13,15. 'Lev 2 2,3; 10:12,13. nLev. 6:25, 26 'Lev 7:7; 14:13. "Lev 6:16 etc. eut. 21 3; 1 Sam . 6:7. « Lev, 4:12, 21 16:27, He! . 13:11 d Lev. 4 (i 16 14. IS ; Heb. 9:13; 12:24. o Exod. 29:14. ' Lev 14:4,6 49. B Lev. 11 25; 15 5. hHeb 9:13. i verse. 13,20,21 ; ch.31 23. •Heb. soul of man jch 5: 2; 9:6,10 Lev. CHAPTER XIX. 9. Water of separation ; with which to purify those who had been separated from the congregation on account of ceremonial uncleanness. 12. It; the water of separation. Ver. 9. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. In the Old Testament, as well as tho New, we are often reminded of the prevalence and evil of sin, and the necessity of the atonement of Christ, and of purification by the Holy Spirit, in order to acceptance with God_ and preparation for heaven. 10. Though God is the author of spiritual purification, men do not obtain it without the use of means. They 196 tabernacle of the Lord ; ' and that soul shall a. m. skss. be cut off from Israel : because the water of wi! separation was not sprinkled upon him, he shall be unclean;"1 his uncleanness is yet upon him." 14 This is the law, when a man dieth in a tent: all that come into the tent, and all that is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days. 15 And every open vessel, which hath no cover ing bound upon it, is unclean." 16 And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days. 17 And for an unclean person they shall take of the ashes* of the burnt heifer of purification for sin, and running water shall be put* thereto in a vessel : 18 And a clean person shall take hyssop," and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it upon the tent, and upon all the vessels, and upon the persons that were there, and upon him that touched a bone, or one slain, or one dead, or a grave : 19 And the clean person shall sprinkle upon the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day ;" and on the seventh day he shall purify himself, and wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even. 20 But the man that shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from among the congregation, because he hath defiled the sanctuary of the Lord : r the water of separation hath not been sprinkled upon him ; he is unclean. 21 And it shall be a perpetual statute unto them, that he that sprinkleth the water of separation shall wash his clothes ; and he that toucheth the water of separation shall be unclean until even. 22 And whatsoever the unclean person toucheth shall be unclean;" and the soul that toucheth it shall be unclean until even.1 CHAPTER XX. 1 The children of Israel come to Zin, ¦where Miriam dieth. 2 They murmur for "want of water. 7 Moses smiting the rock bripgeth forth water at Meribah. 14 Moses at Kadesh desireth passage through Edom, which is denied him. 22 At mount Hor Aaron resigneth his place to Eleazar, and dieth. THEN came the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, into the desert of Zin in the first month :u and the people abode in Kadesh ; and Miriam died there, and was buried there/ 2 And there was no water for the congregation : w 21:1; Lam. 4:14; Hag. 2:13. k oh. 31:19. 1 Lev. 15:31 . "> ver. 9 : ch. 8:7. "Lev 7:20; 22:3. ° Lev 11:32. t Heb. dust. t Heb. living waters shall be give n; Gen. 26:19 John 4:10. P Psa. 5 ¦ 7. I Lev. 140 " r ver 13. >Ha.S. 2:13. 'Lev. 15:5. "ch 33:36. vExnd 15:20. w Exod 17:1, etc. must make efforts according to his directions, or they will fail of his blessing. 20. Sin is the cause of death, and the putrefaction of a dead body may well remind us of the pollution of a cor rupt soul. All the washings and sprinklings under Le vitical institutions were designed to teach the necessity of the washing of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Titus 3:3-7. CHAPTER XX. 1. Desert of Zin; a desert south of Canaan, and west of Edom. Ver. 16. Tlie first month ; of the fortieth year after they left Egypt, having during that time wandered in the wilderness, as God foretold, chap. 14:27-35; 33:19-36. A list of places visited in these wanderings is given in ch. 33. Water floweth from the rock. NUMBERS XX. Edom refuseth a passage. b:*"i^" and they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.* 3 And the people chode with Moses, and spake, saying, Would God that we had died when our brethren died before the LoRDlb 4 And why have ye brought up the congregation of the Lord into this wilderness, that we and our cattle should die there? 5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? It is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates ; c neither is there any water to drink. 6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces : and the glory of the Lord appeared unto them. 7 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes ; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock:d so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink. 9 And Moses took the rod from before the Lord, as he commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congre gation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?6 11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice : and the water came out abundantly/ and the congregation drank, and their beasts also. 12 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not,g to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel,1* therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them. 13 This is the water of Meribah ; * because the children of Israel strove with the Lord, and he was sanctified in them.1 14 T And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom,3 Thus saith thy brother Israel,k Thou knowest all the travail that hath befallen us:f 15 How our fathers went down into Egypt,1 and » Ch. 16:42. b ch. 11:2, etc. » ch. 16:14. d ver. 11; Neh. 9:15; Psa. M:15, 16; 105:41; 114:8; Isa. 43:20; 48:21. e Psa. 106:33. f Exod. 17:6; Deut. 8:15; 1 Cor. 10:4. S ch. 27:14; Beat. 3:26; 32:51. h Lev. 10:3; Ezek. 36:23; 1 Pet. 3:15. 'That is, Strife; Exod. 17:7. i Ezek. 20:41. 11, 12. Smote the rock twice; this repetition of the stroke seems to have been unauthorized, and to have proceeded from a mixture of impatience and unbelief. Believed me not, to sanctify me; they were guilty of an impatient spirit, ver. 10; Psa. 106:33; of a rebellious temper, ver. 24 ; chap. 27:14; and did not manifest full confidence in God, or suitably honor him before the people as the author of the miracle. 14. Travail; labor, hardship, suffering. 16. An Angel; the Angel of his presence ; the Messen ger of the covenant; the Word of God. John 1:1. 22. Mount Hor; one of the summits of Seir, a chain of mountains running through Edom towards the eastern gulf of the Red sea. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. Inclination to sin is common to all men. No dispen- we have dwelt in Egypt a long time;1" and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers : 16 And when we cried unto the Lord," he heard our voice,0 and sent an Angel,p and hath brought us forth out of Egypt: and behold, we are in Ka desh, a city in the uttermost of thy border. 17 Let us pass, I pray thee, through thy country : we will not pass through the fields, or through the vineyards, neither will we drink of the water of the wells : we will go by the king s high-v?&y, we will not turn to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed thy borders.9 18 And Edom said unto him, Thou shalt not pass by me, lest I come out against thee with the sword. 19 And the children of Israel said unto him, We will go by the highway : and if I and my cattle drink of thy water, then I will pay for it :r I will only, without doing any thing else, go through on my feet. 20 And he said, Thou shalt not go through.3 And Edom came out against him with much peo ple, and with a strong hand.' 21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border : wherefore Israel turned away from him. 22 1 And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor.u 23 And the Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, 24 Aaron shall be gathered unto his people :v for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye re belled against my word* at the water of Meri- bah.w 25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up unto mount Hor : 26 And strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son : and Aaron shall be gathered unto his people, and shall die there. 27 And Moses did as the Lord commanded : and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. 28 And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son ; and Aaron j Judg. 11:16, 17. k Deut. 2:4. t Heb. found us. I Gen. 46:6. m Exod. 12:40. n Exod. 2:23. ° Exod. 3:7. p Exod. 3:2; 14:19; 23:20; 33:2. 1 ch. 21:22; Deut. 2:27. r Deut. 2:6, 28. > Judg. 11:17. ' Obad. 10-15. "ch. 33:37. v Gen. 25:8; Deut. 32:50. J Heb. mouth. » Ver. 12. sations of Providence, without the teaching of the Holy Spirit, will prevent their indulging it, or keep them from rebelling against God. 12. The best of men are defective, even in those vir tues for which they are most distinguished. Abraham was wanting in faith, Moses in meekness, and Job in pa tience : and if any are saved, it must be by grace through faith ; and that not of themselves, it is the gift of God. Eph. 2:8; James 1:17. 21. The Israelites were not at liberty to engage in war with any nation, except as directed by God. In destroy ing the Canaanites, and taking possession of their coun try, they were the appointed instruments of his wrath against those nations on account of their sins. 24. The sins of good men are peculiarly offensive to God, and lead him often to visit them with sore calami ties. 191 The serpent of brass. died there in the top of the' mount:8 and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. 29 And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel. CHAPTER XXI. 1 Israel with some loss destroy the Canaanites at Hormah. 4 The peo ple murmuring are plagued with fiery serpents. 7 They repenting are healed hy a hrazen serpent. 10 Sundry journeys of the Israelites. 22 Sihon is overcome, 33 and Og. AND when king Arad the Canaanite,6 which dwelt in the south, heard tell that Israel came by the way of the spies;0 then he fought against Israel, and took some of them prisoners. 2 And Israel vowed a vow unto the Lord,11 and said, If thou wilt indeed deliver this people into my hand, then I will utterly destroy their cities.6 3 And the Lord hearkened to the voice of Is rael,'' and delivered up the Canaanites ; and they utterly destroyed them and their cities: and he called the name of the place Hormah.* 4 1 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea,g to compass the land of Edom :h and the soul of the people was much dis couraged* because of the way. 5 And the people spake against God,' and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness V for there is no bread, neither is there any water ;k and our soul loatheth this light bread. 6 And the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people ;' and much people of. Israel died. 7 1" Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned,™ for we have spoken against the Lord," and against thee ; pray unto the Lord,0 that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. p 8 And the Lord said unto Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole ; and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live.. NUMBERS XXI. Journeys of the Israelites. a Ch. 33:33, 39. - b oh. 33:40; Judg. 1:16. ' ch. 13:21. d Gen. 2,3:20, Judg. 11:30. « Lev. 27:23; Deut. 13:15. f Psa. 22:4, 5. • That is, Utter destruction, g ch. 20:22; 33:41. r. Judg. 11:18. t Or, grieved; Heb. short ened; Exod. 6:9. i J'sa. 78:10. j Exod. 16:3; 17:3. k ch. 11:6; Psa. 63:6. ' Deut. 8:15; 1 Cor. 10:9. m paa. 7S:3l. n ver. 5. o Exod. 8:P, 23; Deut. 9:20. 26; 1 Sam. 12:19; 1 Kings 13:6; Job 42:8, 10; Jer. 15:1; 29. The most distinguished and useful must soon die. Their death is a public calamity, and a just cause of gen eral grief and mourning. CHAPTER XXI. 1. In the south; the south part of Canaan. By the way of the spies; the way by which the spies had entered the land of Canaan, namely, by the south, chap. 13:22. Some, however-, render, " by the way of Atharim." 3. Hormah ; meaning, utter destruction. 5. Th is light bread; the manna. John 0:31. 6. Fiery; probably so called from the burning heat of their bite. 10. Set forward; to go round the land of Edom, and up north, through its eastern border, to the land of Moab. Deut. 2:1-8. 12. The valley of Zered; a valley north-east of the Red sea, on the way towards Canaan. The Zered empties into the Dead sea. 198 A. M. 2552. B. C. 1462. 9 And Moses made a serpent of brass,9 and put it upon a pole; and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived. 10 1 And the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in Oboth.r 11 And they journeyed from Oboth, and pitched at Ije-abarim,* in the wilderness which is before Moab, toward the sunrising. 12 1 From thence they removed, and pitched in the valley of Zered.8 13 Prom thence they removed, and pitched on the other side of Arnon,1 which is in the wilder ness that cometh out of tlie coasts of the Amorites : for Am on is the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites. 14 Wherefore it is said in the book of the wars of the Lord, What he did in the Red sea,8 and in the brooks of Arnon, 15 And at the stream of the brooks that goeth down to the dwelling of Ar,u and lieth ' upon the border of Moab. 16 And from thence they went to Beer:v that is the well whereof the Lord spake unto Moses, Gather the people together, and I will give them water.w 17 f Then Israel sang this song,x Spring' up, O well ; sing* ye unto it : 18 The princes digged the well, the nobles of the people digged it, by the direction of the lawgiver/ with their staves. And from the wilderness they went to Mattanah : 19 And from Mattanah to Nahaliel: and from Nahaliel to Bamoth: 20 And from Bamoth in the valley, that is in the country + of Moab, to the top of Pisgah,* which looketh toward Jeshimon.8 z 21 T And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites/1 saying, 22 Let me pass through thy land : we will not turn into the fields, or into the vineyards ; we will not drink of the waters of the well : but we will go along by the king's high-w&y, until we be past thy borders.1* Acts 8:24; Jas. 5:16. P Psa. 106:23. 1 2 Kings 18:4 ; John 3:14, 15. reh. 33:43,44. t Or, Heaps of Abarim. »Deut.2:13. I ch. 22:36 J Judg. 11 :18. S Or, Vahebin Suphah. u Deut. 2:18, 29. I Heb. leaneth. " Judg. 9:21. wch. 20:8. * Exod. 15:1; Judg. 5:1; Psa. 106:12. 1 Heh. Ascend. 'Or, answer, y Deut. 33:4; Isa. 33:22. 1 Or, field, t Or. The hill, t Or, The wilderness. * ch. 23:23. " Deut. 2:28, 27; Judg. 11:19, 20. b ch. 20:17. 13. Arnon; a small stream which empties into the Dead sea from the east. 14. The book; some book describing the wars referred to. In the Red sea; or as the margin, "in Suphah ;" appar ently designed to confirm the statement just made, that the Amon was the northern boundary of Moab. 15. Ar; the capital of Moab. Ver. 28. 16. Beer; meaning a well. Ver. 18. 20. And from Bamoth — to the top qf Pisgah; or, "and from Bamoth to the valley that is in the country of Moab by the top of Pisgah." Pisgah; the summit of Nebo, one of the range of mountains called Abarim, between the mountains of Gilead on the north and the mountains of Seir on the south. Deut. 32:49. Jeshimon; meaning, the wilderness. 21. The Amorites; the tribes so called inhabited the south of Palestine, Gen. 14:7, 13; Num. 13:29; also the region beyond the Jordan, as far south as the river Ar non. Sihon is overcome, and Og. NUMBERS XXII. Balak sendeth for Balaam. A. M. 2552. B. 0. 1452. 23 And Sihon would not suffer Israel to pass through his border: but Sihon gathered all his people together, and went out against Israel into the wilderness : a and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 24 And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land from Arnon unto Jabbok, even unto the children of Ammon:1 for the border of the children of Ammon was strong. 25 And Israel took all these cities: and Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Hesh- bon, and in all the villages* thereof. 26 Por Heshbon was the city of Sihon the king of the Amorites,0 who had fought against the for mer king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon. 27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say,a Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared : 28 Por there is a fire gone out of Heshbon, a flame from the city of Sihon : ° it hath consumed Ar of Moab/' and the lords of the high places of Arnon. 29 Woe to thee, Moab! thou art undone, 0 peo ple of Chemosh:8 he hath given his sons that escape!, and his daughters, into captivity unto Sihon king of the Amorites. 30 We have shot at them; Heshbon is perished even unto Dibon,11 and we have laid them waste even unto Nophah, which reacheth unto Medeba. 311 Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amo rites. 32 And Moses sent to spy out Jazer ; ' and they took the villages thereof, and drove out the Amo rites that were there. 33 T And they turned and went up by the way » Deut. 29:7. b Josh. 12, 1, 2; 24:8. • Heb. daughters. <= Song 7:1; Isa. 15:4. d Hab. 2:(i. e Jer 4S-.45, 46. t Deut. 2:9,18; Isa. 15:1, 2. B Julg. 11:24; 2 Kings 23:13. h Jer. 4S:1S, 22. i ch. 32:1. j Deut. 3:1, 23. Jahaz; a city near the northern border of Moab. 26. Heshbon; the city in which Sihon lived, about six teen miles north of the Arnon. Ver. 34. 27. In proverbs; that is, in a figurative and poetic style. The words that follow seem to be a triumphal song of the Amorites, celebrating their victory over Moab. 28. A fire gone out of Heslibon; a fire, that is, a desolat ing force, has gone out from Sihon, to whom Heshbon now belongs, and who has made it his residence. 29. Cliemosh; one of the idols of Moab. 30. Dibon — Medeba; cities between Heshbon and the Arnon. 33. Bashan; a country east of the Jordan, between mount Gilead and mount Lebanon. Edrei; one of the chief cities of Bashan. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. However much men may suffer on account of their sins, they frequently repeat them ; and under the calami ties which come upon them, they often find fault not only with men, but with God, and thus multiply and increase their troubles. Prov. 19 : 3. 9. Jehovah answers prayer in a manner suited to try the faith of his people. Though he is the great efficient Cause, they must use the means appointed in order to avail themselves of his blessings. If they do this as he has directed, through grace they will live; if they do not, they will die, and the blame be all on them. John 3:14; G:29; 11:25, 26. 13. Life is like a journey through a wilderness. We are never stationary, but constantly passing onward to our final and everlasting abode. of Bashan : and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he, and all his people, to the battle at Edrei.j 34 And the Lord said unto Moses, Pear him not : for I have delivered him into thy hand, and all his people, and his land ; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites, which dwelt at Heshbon. 35 So they smote him,k and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they possessed his land. CHAPTER XXII. 1 Balak's first message for Balaam is refused. 15 His second message obtaineth him. 22 An angel -would have slain him, if his ass had not saved him. 36 Balak entertaineth him. AND the children of Israel set forward, and pitched in the plaiiis of Moab on this side Jordan by Jericho.1 2 IT And Balak the son of Zippor™ saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. 3 And Moab was sore afraid of the people, be cause they were many : and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel." 4 And Moab said unto the elders of Midian,0 Now shall this company lick up all that are round about us, as the ox licketh up the grass of the field. And Balak the son of Zippor was king of the Moabites at that time. 5 He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor,p which is by the river of the land of the children of his people, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt: behold, they cover the face1' of the earth, and they abide over against me. m Judg. 11:25. - .t,.™. ..,..„, ^D^.. «.««. - w. P Deut. 23:4; Josh. 24:9; Neh. 13:1, 2; Micah 6:5. 1 ch. 33:48. etc.' t Deut. 29:7; Josh. 13.12; Psa. 135:10, 11; 136:20. ... . n Exod. 15.15; Deut. 2:25. o ch. 31:8; Josh. 13:21, 22. tHeb. • eye. 16. Though we have many and great trials in this world, yet they are never as many or great as our sins deserve, and the Lord graciously bestows many and great mercies, which, if gratefully received and rightly used, will eventually prepare us for deliverance from all trouble, and the reception of unmingled eternal joy. Eph. 3:10-21. 31. In this world we have many enemies, and if we would be saved we must fight, not with flesh and blood only, but with principalities and powers, with the rulers of the darkness of this world, and with spiritual wicked ness in high places. 34. Those who trust in God and do his will have no reason to fear any enemies, however numerous or power ful. He will in due time make them conquerors and more than con'querors, through Him that loved them and gave himself for them ; and to him they will for ever give all the glory. CHAPTER XXII. 1. The plains of Moab; in the Jordan valley; so called because they had once belonged to Moab. They had afterwards been taken by the Amorites, and now by the children of Israel. This side; the east side of Jordan. Jericho; a city of Canaan on the west side of Jordan. 4. Elders; the word translated elders means also princes or rulers. Ver. 8, 14, 15. Midian; a people living near the Moabites, and who on this occasion acted in concert with the Moabites, ver. 7. Lick up all; overcome and swallow us up. 5. Balaam; a noted sorcerer or soothsayer, of Mesopo tamia. Ver. 7; Joshua 13:22. Pethor; a place near the Euphrates. Chap. 23:7; Deut. 23:4. 199 Balak's second message. NUMBERS XXII. Balaam meeteth the angel. 6 Come now therefore, I pfay thee, curse me this people;" for they are too mighty for me: perad venture I shall prevail, that we may smite them, and that I may drive them out of the land : for I wot that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he Avhom thou cursest is cursed. 7 And the elders of Moab and the elders of Mid ian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand;0 and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak. 8 And he said unto them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the Lord shall speak unto me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. 9 And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee? 10 And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying, 11 Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth : come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them,* and drive them out. 12 And Go'd said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them ; thou shalt not curse the people : for they are blessed.0 13 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said unto the princes of Balak, Get you into your land : for the Lord refuseth to give me leave to go with you.a .14 And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us. 15 1 And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honorable than they. 16 And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee+ from coming unto me: 17 Por I will promote thee unto very great honor, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me : come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people.e 18 And Balaam answered and said unto the ser vants of Balak, If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold/ I canuot go beyond the word of the Lord my God, to do less or more.g 19 Now therefore, I pray you, tarry ye also here this night, that I may know what the Lord will say unto me more. 20 And God came unto Balaam at night,h and said unto him, If the men come to call thee, rise up, and go with them; but yet the word , which I shall say unto thee, that shalt thou do.1 21 And Balaam rose up in the morning, and sad- »Ch.23:7. b 1 Sam. 9:7, 8; Micah 3:11; Jude 11. * Heb. I sluill prevail infighting against him. e Gen. 22:16-18; Deut. 33:29. d Deut. 23:5. t Heb. Be not thou letted. ' ver. 6. ' ch. 24:13. S oh. 23:26; 24:13; 1 Kings 22:14. b ver. 9. ¦ ver. 35; ch. 23:12. j Exod. 4:24. t 2 Kings 6:17; Dan. 10:7; Acts 22:9; 1 Cor. 1:27-29. '2Pet.2:16. m Prov. 12:10. 6. Wot; know. 7. Rewards qf divination; money or presents to induce him to come and curse Israel. 8. As the Lord shall speak; this shows that Balaam had some knowledge of Jehovah, and of his obligations to fol low his guidance. 9. God came unto Balaam; whether he had ever done this before we are not informed. 13. Refuseth to give me leave; the Lord not only did this, but told Balaam not to go. 200 died his ass, and went with the princes of b. c. wl Moab. 22 1 And God's anger was kindled because he went : and the angel of the Lord stood in the way for an adversary against him.j Now he was rid ing upon his ass, and his two servants were with him. 23 And the ass saw the angel of the Lord stand ing in the way,k and his sword drawn in his hand ; and the ass turned aside out of the way, and went into the field ; and Balaam smote the ass, to turn her into the way. 24 But the angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, a wall being on this side, and a wall on that side. 25 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she thrust herself unto the wall, and crushed Ba laam's foot against the wall : and he smote her again. 26 And the angel of the Lord went further, and stood in a narrow place, where was no way to turn either to the right hand or to the left. 27 And when the ass saw the angel of the Lord, she fell down under Balaam : and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote the ass with a staff. 28 And the Lord opened the mouth of the ass,1 and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times? 29 And Balaam said unto the ass, Because thou hast mocked me: I would there were a sword in my hand, for now would I kill thee.m 30 And the ass said unto Balaam, Am not I thine ass, upon which thou hast ridden* ever since Iwass thine unto this day? was I ever wont to do so unto thee? And he said, Nay. 31 Then the Lord opened the eyes of Balaam," and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the way, and his sword drawn in his hand: and he bowed down his head," and fell flat1 on his face. 32 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Wherefore hast thou smitten thine ass these three times ?p Behold, I went out to withstand thee,1 because thy way is perverse9 before me:r 33 And the ass saw me, and turned from me these three times : unless she had turned from me, surely now also I had slain thee, and saved her alive. 34 And Balaam said unto the angel of the Lord, I have sinned ;s for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me : now therefore, if it dis please thee,* I will get me back again.* 35 And the angel of the Lord said unto Balaam, i Or, who hast ridden upon me. § Or, tlwu wast, n Gen. 21:19; 2 Kings 6:17; Luke 24:16, 31. o Exod. 34:8. 1 Or, bowed himself, p Psa. 145:9. 1 Heb. to be an adversary unto thee. q 2 Pet. 2:14. r Prov. 14:2; 23:18. • 1 Sam. 15:24, 30; 26:21. • Heb. be evil in thine eyes. 1 Job 31:31, 32. 18. J cannot go beyond the word of the Lord; it was true that he could not, consistently with his duty, though it seems he earnestly desired to do so. 20. Rise up, and go with them ; in this, God suffered Ba laam, from the love of unrighteous gain, to follow his own inclinations. 2 Pet. 2:13-16. 22. Because lie went; Balaam's object and course were wrong and displeasing to God. Ver. 32-34. The angel of the Lord ; supposed to be the same which spoke to him, ver. 12, 20, and who is spoken of, ver. 31-35. Balaam cometh tb Balak. NUMBERS XXIII. Balaam's first prophecy B-'cSua Go with the men:a but only the word that I shall speak unto thee, that thou shalt speak." So Balaam went with the princes of Balak. 36 1 And when Balak heard that Balaam was come, he went out to meet him unto a city of Moab, which is in the border of Arnon, which is in the utmost coast. 37 And Balak said unto Balaam, Did I not ear nestly send unto thee to call thee? wherefore earn est thou not unto me? am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor?0 38 And Balaam said unto Balak, Lo, I am come unto thee : have I now any power at all to say any thing? the word that God putteth in my mouth, that shall I speak.4 39 And Balaam went with Balak, and they came unto Kirjath-huzoth.* 40 And Balak offered oxen and sheep, and sent to Balaam, and to the princes that were with him. 41 And it came to pass on the morrow, that Ba lak took Balaam, and brought him up into the high places of Baal,e that thence he might see the utmost part of the people. CHAPTER XXIII. 1, 13, 28 Balak's sacrifice. 7, 18 Balaam's parable. AND Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams.f 2 And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram.g 3 And Balaam said unto Balak, Stand by thy burnt- offering, and I will go : h peradventure the Lord will come to meet me, and whatsoever he showeth me I will tell thee. And he went to a high+ place. » Isa. 47:12. b ver. 20. c ver 17; ch. 24:11; Psa. 75:6; John 5:44. 4 ver. 18. * Or, A city of streets, e Deut. 12:2. t ver. 29. B ver. 14, 30. b ver. 15. t Or, solitary, i ver. 16. j ch. 22:35; Deut. 18:18; Jer. 1:9. kver.18; ch. 24:3, 15, 23; Job 27:1 ; 29:1; Psa. 78:2; Ezek. 17:2; Mic 2:4; 36. Utmost coast; boundary of his kingdom. 39. Kirjath-huzoth; meaning, a city of streets; probably of many streets — a large city. 40. Balak offered oxen; as is supposed, to his idols. Sent to Balaam; to come and feast on the sacrifice. 41. Baal; an idol worshipped by many eastern nations. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Those who know not Jehovah and do not trust in him, are always exposed to distressing fears, and to many evils from which no human wisdom or power can save them. 6. The wicked place that confidence in men which should be placed only in God, and hope for that from them which can come only from him. 9. God has sometimes held communications with wicked men, and given them a knowledge of his will. But know ledge alone, without love, will not lead them so to obey him as to obtain his blessing. 12. All whom God blesses will in the end be truly bless ed ; and all whom he curses, will in the end be wretched. 17. Those who supremely regard this world often think that other men, like themselves, for a sufficient reward, can be persuaded to do what they wish. 19. To love the reward of iniquity and desire to do wrong to obtain it, is exceedingly dangerous. It exposes men to be given up to the practice of iniquity till they sink into irremediable ruin. 27. Men are often angry with dumb beasts and cruelly beat them, when the fault is all in themselves. 30. God could speak through the mouths of dumb ani- 4 And God met Balaam :• and he said unto him, I have prepared seven altars, and I have offered upon every altar a bullock and a ram. 5 And the Lord put a word in Balaam's mouth ,j and said, Return unto Balak, and thus thou shalt speak. 6 And he returned unto him, and lo, he stood by his burnt-sacrifice, he, and all the princes of Moab. 7 And he took up his parable,k and said, Balak the king of Moab hath brought me from Aram, out of the mountains of the east, saying, Come, curse me Jacob,1 and come, defy Israel.™ 8 How shall I curse whom God hath not curs ed?" or how shall I defy whom the Lord hath not defied? 9 For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him : lo, the people shall dwell alone,0 and shall not be reckoned among the nations.? 10 Who can count the dust of Jacob," and the number of the fourth part of Israel? Let me* die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his!r 11 And Balak said unto Balaam, What hast thou done unto me? I took thee to curse mine enemies,8 and behold, thou hast blessed them altogether. 12 And he answered and said, Must I not take heed to speak that which the Lord hath put in my mouth?4 13 And Balak said unto him, Come, I pray thee, with me unto another place," from whence thou mayest see them: thou shalt see but the utmost part of them, and shalt not see them all: and curse me them from thence. 14 1 And he brought him into the field of Zo- phim, to the top of Pisgah,§ and built seven altars,v and offered a bullock and a ram on every altar ,w Hab. 2:6; Matt. 13:33, 35. 1 Prov. 26:2. ¦» 1 Sam. 17:10. » Isa. 47 .12, 13. o Deut. 33:28. P Exod. 33:16; Ezra 9:2; Eph. 2:14. q Gen. 13:16. IHeb. my soul, or my life, r psa. 37:37; Prov. 14:32; 2 Cor. 5:1. s ch. 22:11. t ch. 22:38. « 1 Kings 20:23. i Or, The hill, v ver. 1,2. w Isa. 1 11. mais, and cause them to tell a tale which would make the hearts of their owners quake with fear, and show that, through sin, man has sunk below the beasts that perish. 33. Beasts sometimes see what men do not, and by do ing that for which they are abused, save their owners from death. 34. To have God for an adversary is an unspeakable calamity, and one that should by all needful sacrifices and labors be avoided. 41. All expectations from men, in opposition to the pur poses and will of God, are vain, and will end in disap pointment. CHAPTER XXIII. 3. Peradventure; perhaps; it may be. 5. Put a word in Balaam's mouth; directed him what to say. 7. Took up his parable; began to speak in solemn, figu rative, prophetic style. Aram; afterwards called Meso potamia ; a mountainous country north-east of Moab, be tween the rivers Euphrates and Tigris. Curse — defy; devote to destruction. . 9. Dwell alone — not be reckoned; they should continue to be a distinct people, and not be united with, swallowed up, or lost in other nations. 10. Who can count — the number f they would be exceed ingly numerous. The righteous; those whom God accepts and blesses as his redeemed people. 14. Field of Zophim ; that is, watchers, because thence they could see to a great distance. Pisgah; chap. 21:20. 201 Balaam 's second prophecy. NUMBERS XXIV. Israel's happiness foretold. 15 And he said unto Balak, Stand here by thy burnt-offering, while I meet the LORD yonder. 16 And the Lord met Balaam, and put a word in his mouth," and said, Go again unto Balak,.and say thus. 17 And when he came to him, behold, he stood by his burnt-offering, and the princes of Moab with him. And Balak said unto him, What hath the Lord spoken ?b 18 And he took up his parable, and said, Rise up,c Balak, and hear ; hearken unto me, thou son of Zippor : 19 God is not a man, that he should lie ; neither the son of man, that he should repent :a hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?0 20 Behold, I have received commandment to bless : and he hath blessed ;f and I cannot reverse it.s 21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nei ther hath he seen perverseness in. Israel:11 the Lord his God is with him,1 and the shout of a king is among themJ 22 God brought them out of Egypt ;k he hath as it were the strength of a unicorn.1 23 Surely there is no enchantment against* Ja cob, neither is there any divination against Israel : according to this time it shall be said of Jacob and of Israel, What hath God wrought!"1 24 Behold, the people shall rise up as a great lion, and lift up himself as a young lion :" he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the slain.0 25 1 And Balak said unto Balaam, Neither curse them at all, nor bless them at all. 26 But Balaam answered and said unto Balak, Told not I thee, saying, All that the Lord speak- eth, that I must do?p 27 IT And Balak said unto Balaam, Come, I pray A. M. 2552. B. C. 1452. * Ver. 5. b 1 Sam. 3:17; Jer. 37:17. ' Judg. 3:20. d [ Sam 15:29, Psa. 89:35; Rom. 11:29; Tit. 1:2; Heb. 6:18; Jas. 1:17. e 1 Chr. 17:27; Mic. 7:20. ' ch. 22:12. B John 10:2S, 29; Rom. 8:38, 39. h Psa. 10.1:12 Isa. 1:18; 38:17; Mic. 7:19; Rom. 4:7, 8; 8:1. i Exod. 29:45, 46; 33:10 Psa. 19. God is not a man ; he is unchangeable and almighty. Make it good; do as he has declared. 21. He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob; the nation of Is rael as a whole was free from idolatry and faithful in God's service. Shout of a king; of one who will conquer all his foes. 22. Unicorn; in the Hebrew, reem. This word, in our English translation, which agrees with that of the Greek Seventy and other ancient versions, means one-horned; that is, a one horned animal of great strength, a view which some prefer : but many understand it of the east ern buffalo, an animal of great size and strength. 23. Enchantment — divination; arts by which heathen sor cerers and magicians sought to deceive and overcome their enemies. What hath God wrought! he hath wonder fully delivered them, and caused them to overcome their enemies. 24. As a great lion; Conquer his enemies as a lion does beasts of the forest. 28. Peor; a high'place in Moab. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Wicked men often take much pains, perform many labors, and are at great expense, to induce God to favor their selfish designs. Ver. 14, 30; chap. 24:12. 4. Evil-doers often boast of what they have done, and ¦jeem to think that their hypocritical, proud, and wicked 202 thee, I will bring thee unto another place ; „ peradventure it will please God that thou mayest curse me them from thence. 28 And Balak brought Balaam unto the top of Peor, that looketh toward Jeshimon. 29 And Balaam said unto Balak, Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven bullocks and seven rams. 30 And Balak did as Balaam had said, and of fered a bullock and a ram on every altar. CHAPTER XXIV. 1 Balaam, leaving divinations, prophesieth the happiness of Israel. 10 Balak in anger dismisseth hirn. 15 He prophesieth of the Star of Jacob, and the destruction of some nations. AND when Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for + enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. 2 And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes ; and the Spirit of God came upon him.q 3 And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open* hath said : 4 He hath said, which heard the words of God, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open : 5 How goodly are thy tents, 0 Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! 6 As the valleys are they spread forth, as gar dens by the river's side,r as the trees of lign-aloes which the Lord hath planted, and as cedar-trees beside the waters.8 7 He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted. 46:11. J Psa. 118:15. k ch. 24:8. I Deut. 33:17; Psa. 92:10. • Or. tn; Matt. 12:25, 27. "Psa. 31:10. n Gen. 49:9; Micah 5: S. » Gen. 49:27. P ver. 12. 13. t Heb. to the meeting of. ql Sam. 10:10. I Heb. who had his eyes shut, but now opened, r psa. J :3; Jer. 17:8. s Psa. 92:12-14. services entitle them to the special favor of God. 2 Kings 10:16; Luke 18:11. 10. Many have a conviction of the reality, excellence, and importance of true religion, and wish to die the death, who refuse to live the life, of the righteous. 16. God can speak by the mouth of a wicked man, or ol a dumb beast, and communicate momentous truth without changing the nature of the one or the character of the otlier. Ver. 20, 26; chap. 24:13. 23. No enchantment, divination, devices, or efforts of men or devils can injure those who please God, and have him for their guide, protector, and friend. CHAPTER XXIV. 1. Enchantments; this word seems to describe the super stitious means which Balaam employed to obtain revela tions from God. Wilderness; where flie Israelites camped. 3. Whose eyes are open; the eyes of whose mind are opened to see God's revelation. 6. Lign-aloes; an oriental tree remarkable for the fra grance of its wood. 7. He shall pour the water out of his buckets ; or, " water shall flow from his buckets," that is, in a full stream. Water is here an emblem of the divine blessing which shall make Israel strong and numerous." In many waters; or, by many waters, ver. 6. His posterity shall flourish like trees planted by many waters. The Star and Sceptre NUMBERS XXV, of Jacob foretold, bc-uk 8 God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of a unicorn : he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones,* and pierce t/iem through with his arrows." 9 He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion :° who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee.a 10 T And Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he smote his hands together: and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies, and behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times.6 11 Therefore now flee thou to thy place: I thought to promote thee unto great honor ; but lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor. 12 And Balaam said unto Balak, Spake I not also to thy messengers which thou sentest unto me, saying, . 13 If Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the commandment of the Lord, to do either good or bad of mine own mind; but what the Lord saith, that will I speak? 14 And now, behold, I go unto my people : come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this peo ple shall do to thy people in the latter days. 15 f And he took up his parable, and said, Ba laam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said : 16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the Most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open : 17 I shall see him/ but not now : I shall behold »Psa. 2:9. b psa. 45:5. e ch. 23:24. d Gen. 12:3. e Neh. 13:2. 'Rev. 1:7. B Rev. 22: 16. b psa. 110: 2. • Or, through the princes, i Psa. 60:8-12. r Or, the nations that warred against Israel; Exod. 17:8, 16. t Or, even to 8. Eat up the nations; overcome and destroy them. 14. Advertise; inform. 15. Whose eyes are open; to see and foretell many things that will hereafter take place. 17. See him — behold him; the Star and the Sceptre that shall rise out of Israel. The reference is undoubtedly to the Messiah, but in such a way that it includes David's kingdom also, which was perpetuated and received a spir itual form in Christ. Luke 1:32, 33. David's victories over the Moabites and other enemies of Israel were but anticipations and pledges of the final victory which Jesus Christ, his son according to the flesh and sitting upon his throne, should gain over all the enemies of His people. See Psalms 2, 110 ; Isa.ll:10-16. The children of Sheth ; or, as many prefer, the children of tumult, the tumultuous war riors of Moab. So the word is explained, Jer. 48:45. . 21. The Kenites; apparently a Midianitish people dwell ing in near connection with the Amalekites. 1 Sam. 15: 6. 22. Asshur; the Assyrians. 23. Who shall live? who can escape destruction in the midst of such desolations ? 24. Ships; armed forces coming in ships. The coast of Chittim; the countries of the west lying on the Mediter ranean. This prophecy was fulfilled in the conquests of the Greeks and Romans over the Bast. Eber; the pos terity of Eber living on the east of the Euphrates. To this people and region Abraham belonged, and thence he migrated to the land of Canaan. To this country Balaam also belonged, so that lie who was called to curse Israel was compelled to foretell the doom of " the children of his Eeople." He also; probably, the power that comes from hittim, but some understand the words of Eber. Balaam him, but not nigh : there shall come a Star out ol Jacob,8 and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel,11 and shall smite the corners* of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. 18 And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies ;' and Israel shall do valiantly. 19 Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city. 20 H And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations ;+ but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever.* 21 And he looked on the Kenites,3 and took up his parable, and said, Strong is thy dwelling-place, and thou puttest thy nest in a rock. 22 Nevertheless the Kenite5 shall be wasted, until1 Asshur shall carry thee away captive. 23 And he took up his parable, and said, Alaa, who shall live when God doeth this !k 24 And ships shall come from the coast of Chit tim,1 and shall afflict Asshur,1" and shall afflict Eber," and he also shall perish for ever. 25 And Balaam rose up, and went and returned to his place : and Balak also went his way. CHAPTER XXV. 1 Israel at Shittim commit whoredom and idolatry. 6 Phinehas killeth Zirnri and Cozbi. 10 G-od therefore giveth him an everlasting priest hood. 16 The Midianites are to be vexed. AND Israel abode in Shittim,0 and the people began to commit whoredom with the daugh ters of Moab.p 2 And they called the people unto the sacrifices destruction; Exod. 17:14; 1 Sam. 15:3. j Gen. 15:19. 5 Heb. Kain. I Or, how long sbM.it be ere. kMal.3:2. 'Dan. 11:30. m Gen. 10:11. "Gen. 10:21, 25. ° ch. 33:49; Mic. 6:5. P ch. 31 :16; ICor. 10:8. having thus foretold the perpetual triumph of God's peo ple and the overthrow of all their enemies, ceases and departs. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The Lord will cause all men to see that it is his un changeable purpose to bless his people. Those who re joice in it will be partakers of his joy, and those who are grieved at it be filled with ever-growing sorrow. 4. However much men may know of God and his ways, and however much they may see of the blessedness of his people, if they do not love and obej' him, their know ledge will but increase their guilt and aggravate their ruin. 9. God will treat men in some measure as they treat his people. The blessings which they bestow, or the curses which they heap upon them, will return upon themselves. 11. By refusing to please the wicked, men often fail of those worldly honors which by doing wrong they might obtain. 13. Men may feel their dependence on God, that they are under his control and cannot escape out of his hands, without rejoicing in their dependence, receiving mercies with gratitude, or giving him the glory of what they enjoy. 23. A view of the future, while it awakens gladness in the righteous, fills the wicked with apprehension and dis may. CHAPTER XXV- 1. Shittim; a place in the plains of Moab, east of Jor dan. Commit whoredom ; this was in consequence of the advice of Balaam. Chap. 31:15. 16; 2 Pet. 2:15, 16; Rev. 2:14. 203 Phinehas killeth Zimri. NUMBERS XXVI. The numbering of Israel. of their gods :a and the people did eat, and bowed down to their gods.b 3 And Israel joined himself unto Baal-peor :c and the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel. 4 And the Lord said unto Moses, Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord against the sun,d that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel .e 5 And Moses said unto the judges of Israel, Slay ye every one his men that were joined unto Baal-peor/ 6 1 And behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought uuto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.8 7 And when Phinehas,11 the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand ; 8 And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel. 9 And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand.' 10 H And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 11 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel/ while he was zealous for my sake* among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy .k 12 Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace i1 13 And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood;"1 because he was zealous for his God," and made an atonement for the children of Israel.0 14 Now the name of the Israelite that was slain, even that was slain with the Midianitish woman, was Zimri, the son of Salu, a prince of a chief house+ among the Simeonites. 15 And the name of the Midianitish woman that was slain was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur ;p he was head over a people, and of a chief house in Midian. 16 H And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, » Exod. 31:15, 16. b Exod. 20:5. c Josh. 22:17: Psa. 106:28, 29; Hos. 9-10. d Deut. 13:6-9. e Deut 13:17. < Exod. 32:27. K Joel 2:17. bPsi, 100-30. < Deut. 4:3; 1 Cor. 10:8. i Psa. 106:23; John 3:36. •Or,withmy zeal, k Exod. 20:5; Deut 32:16, 21; 1 Kings 14:22; Psa. 78:58; Ezek. 16-38; Zeph. 1:18; 3-8. 1 Mal. 2:4,- 5. m Exod. 40:15. n Psa. 69:9. 3. Baal-peor ; an idol worshipped by the Moabites. 4. Take all the heads of the people, and hang them up before the Lord; these words have been interpreted in two dif ferent ways: either, Take all the heads of the people who are involved in this sin and hang them, (the heads of the people ;) or, Take with thee all the heads of the people as assistants, and hang them, (the guilty persons.) The lat ter interpretation seems to be favored by ver. 5. 7. Javelin; a kind of spear. 9. Twenty and four thousand ; supposed to include twen ty-three thousand mentioned in 1 Cor. 10:8, and one thou sand who were slain, ver. 4, 5. 13. Everlasting priesthood ; to continue till the end of fhe Jewish state. Made an atonement; did that out of regard to which God spared the rest of the people. 17. Vex— and smite; destroy them. 204 17 Vex the Midianites, and smite them:" laiili: 18 Por they vex you with their wiles, where with they have beguiled you in the matter of Peor,r and in the matter of Cozbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister, which was slain in the day of the plague for Peor's sake.8 CHAPTER XXVI. 1 The sum of all Israel is taken in the plains qf Moab. 52 The law of dividing among them the inheritance of the land. 57 The' families and number of the Levites. 63 None were left of them which were numbered at Sinai, but Caleb and Joshua. AND it came to pass after the plague, that the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying, 2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and up ward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.' 3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jeri cho," saying, 4 Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward ; as the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt. 5 1 Reuben,v the eldest son of Israel : the chil dren of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites : of Pallu, the family of the Palluites : 6 Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites. 7 These are the families of the Reubenites : and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand, and seven hundred and thirty. 8 And the sons of Pallu ; Eliab. 9 And the sons of Eliab ; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram,. which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah,w when they strove against the Lord : 10 And the earth opened her mouth, and swal lowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men : and they became a sign." 11 Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.y o Heb. 2:17. t Heb. house of a father. P ch. 31:8; Josh. 13:21. q ch. 31:2. r0h. 31:16; Rev. 2:14. ¦ ver. 8. t ch. 1:2, 3; Exod. 30:12; 38:25, 26. u ver. 63; ch. 35:1. v Gen. 46:8. w ch. 16:1, etc. x ch. 16:38; 1 Cor. 10:6; 2 Pet. 2:6. y Exod. 6:24. 18. For Peor's sake; because they worshipped Baal-peor. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. The greatest evil which any one can do to his fellow- men is to induce them to commit sin, and thus provoke the Lord to destroy them. 5. It is the will of God that great transgressors against him and against the laws of the state, should in some cases, by the magistrates, be put to death. 8. The death of notorious criminals is often a great blessing to survivors. 15. The higher the station and the greater the influenoe of those who commit iniquity, the greater the evil and the more necessary their punishment. 18. Tempters to iniquity are among the most dangerous and destructive enemies, and, as far as may be consistent, should be avoided and put away. The numbering of Israel. NUMBERS XXVI. in the plains of Moab. kluof 12 IF The sons of Simeon after their fam ilies Tof Nemuel,* the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites : of Jachin,+ the family of the Jachinites . 13 Of Zerah,* the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. 14 These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred. 15 i The children of Gad after their families : of Zephon,5 the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites : of Shuni, the family of the Shuni tes: 16 Of Ozni,' the family of the Oznites : of Eri,. the family of the Eri tes : 17 Of Arod,"1 the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites. 18 These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred. 19 T The sons of Judah were Er and Onan :" and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 And the sons of Judah after their families were ; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites : of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites : of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites. 21 And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites : of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites. 22 These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred. 23 1 Of the sons of Issachar after their families :b of Tola, the family of the Tolaites : of Pua,* the family of the Punites : 24 Of Jashub/ the family of the Jashubites : of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred. 26 1 Of the sons of Zebulun after their families :" of Sered, the family of the Sardites : of Elon, the family of the Elonites : of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites. 27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred. 28 1 The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.d 29 Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir,0 the family of the Machirites : and Machir begat Gil ead: of Gilead come the family of the Gilead- ites. 30 These are the sons of Gilead : of Jeezer,* the family of the Jeezerites : of Helek, the family of the Helekites : 31 And o/Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites : 32 And of Shemida, the family of the Shemida- ites : and of Hepher, the family of the Hepher- ites„ 33 T And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters : f and the names of the daugh ters of Zelophehad were Mahlah,and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thou sand and seven hundred. 35 1 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families : of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthal- hites : of Becher,§ the family of the Bachrites : of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah : of Eran, the family of the Eranites. 37 These are the families of the sons of Ephra im according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their fami lies. 38 1 The sons of Benjamin after their families:15 of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites : of Ahiram,1 the family of the Ahiramites : 39 Of Shupham,T the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. 40 And the sons of Bela were Ard* and Naa man : of Ard, the family of the Ardites : and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites. 41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred. 42 1 These are the sons of Dan after their fami lies:11 of Shuham/ the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their fami lies. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, accord ing to those that were numbered of them were threescore and four thousand and four hundred. 44 T Of the children of Asher after their fami lies:1 of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites. 45 Of the sons of Beriah : of Heber, the family of the Heberites : of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites. 46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah. 47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them ; who were fifty and three thousand and four hun dred. 48 l Of the sons of Naphtali after their fami lies :j of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites : of Guni, the family of the Gunites: 49 Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites : of Shil- lem,* the family of the Shillemites. 50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families : and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred. 51 These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.15 • Jemuel, Gen. 411-10; Exod. 6:15. t Jarib; 1 Chr. 4.21. 1 Zohar; Gen 46:10. i Ziphion; Gen. 46:16. I Or, Ezbon; Gen. 46:16. 1 Arodi ; Gen. 46:16. » Gen. 3S:2-10; 1 Chr. 2:3, etc. b Gen. 46:13; 1 Chr. 7:1. • Or. Phuvah. t Or, Job. ' Gen. 46:14. a Gen. 46:20. * Josh. 17:1; 1 Chr. 7 11, 15. t Called Abiezer. Josh. 17 2; Jud". 6:11. 24, 91. f ch. 27-1; 36:11. I Ehi; Gen. Addar; i Bered; 1 Chr. 720. B Gen. 46:21; 1 Chr. 46:21: Aharah; 1 Chr. 8:1. \Muppim,and Huppim; Oen.ib-.-a.. Aaaar 1 Chr. 8:3. b Gen. 46:23. t Or, Hushim. i Gen. 46:17; lCnr. , ..;0. I Gen. 46:24; 1 Chr. 7:13. 1 Shallum ; 1 Chr. 7:13. * ch. 1:40. 205 The families of the Levites. NUMBERS XXVII. The law of inheritances. 52 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 53 Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names." 54 To many thou shalt give the more* inheri tance, and to few thou shalt give the less+ inheri tance:1' to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him. 55 Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot : according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few. 57 1" And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families:0 of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites : of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites : of Merari, the family of the Merarites. 58 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebron- ites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Ko hath begat Amram. 59 And the name of Amram's wife was Joche- bed,d the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram, Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister. 60 And unto Aaron was born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.0 61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they of fered strange fire before the LoRD.f 62 And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward:8 for they were not numbered among the children of Israel,11 because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.1 63 IT These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho .j 64 But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wil derness of Sinai.k 65 Por the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness.1 And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephun neh, and Joshua the son of Nun. CHAPTER XXVII. A. M. 2552- B. C. 1452. a Josh. 11-23; 14:1. * Heb. multiply his. t Heb. diminish his. b ch. 33-54. « Gen. 46:11; Exod. 0:16-19; 1 Chr. 6:1,16. d Exod. 2:1, 2; 6:20. » ch. 3:2. ' ch. 3:4; Lev. 10:1,2; 1 Chr. 24:2. E ch. 3:39. b ch. 1:49. ! ch. 18 20-24; Deut. 10:9; Josh. 13:14,33; 14:3. j ver. 3. t Deut. 4:3, 1. 1 ch. 14:28-30; 1 Cor. 10.5, 6; Jude 5. m ch. 26:83; 36.1-11; Josh. 1 The daughters of Zelophehad sue for an inheritance. 6 The law -of inheritances. 12 Moses being told of his death, sueth for a successor. 13 Joshua is appointed to succeed him. rpHEN came the daughters of Zelophehad,111 the _L son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of Manasseh the son of Joseph: and these are the names of his daughters ; Mahlah, Noah, and Hog- lah, and Milcah, and Tirzah. 2 And they stood before Moses, and before Elea zar the priest, and before the princes and all the congregation, by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, 3 Our father died in the wilderness," and he was not in the company of them that gathered them selves together against the Lord in the company of Korah;0 but died in his own sin,p and had no sons. 4 Why should the name of our father be done away* from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father."1 5 And Moses brought their cause before the Lord/ 6 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 7 The daughters of Zelophehad speak right: thou shalt surely give them a possession of an inheritance among their father's brethren ;s and thou shalt cause the inheritance of their father to pass unto them. 8 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, If aman die, and have no son, then ye shall cause his inheritance to pass unto his daughter. 9 And if he, have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren. 10 And if he have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his father's brethren. 11 And if his father have no brethren, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his kinsman that is next to him of his family, and he shall possess it : and it shall be unto the children of Israel a statute of judgment,' as the Lord commanded Moses. 12 1 And the Lord said unto Moses, Get thee up into this mount Abarim," and see the land which I have given unto the children of Israel. 13 And when thou hast seen it, thou also shalt be gathered unto thy people,v as Aaron thy brother was gathered.™ 17:3. neh. 14:35; 26:64, 65. o oh. 16:1, 2. p Ezek. 18:4 ; J6hn 8:21, 24; Rom. 6:23. t Heb. 'diminished, q Josh. 17:4. ' Exod. 18:15, 19; Job 23.4. » ch. 36:2. t 0h. 35:29 u ch. 33:47; Deut. 3:27; 32:49; 34:1. v ch. 20:24; 31:2. w ch. 20:28; Deut. 10:6. CHAPTER XXVI. 53. The land; Canaan. 65. Not left a man; except the two mentioned, and also some of the tribe of Levi, who were not included in the numbering referred to in ver. 64. INSTRUCTIONS. 64. As the murder of one man is a sin so great as justly to incur the penalty of death, how great must be the evil of sin, which has caused the death of millions, and will cause the death of millions more ; and how great the guilt of those who love and practise it, and thus unite with 206 him who was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth. John 8 : 44. 65. The declarations of God will in due time all be ac complished, and those who cleave to him and obey his commands will be graciously remembered and receive an abundant reward. CHAPTER XXVII. 11. A statute of judgment; a permanent regulation. 12. Abarim; a range of mountains on the east of Jor dan ; one of these was mount Nebo, a summit of which it is supposed was Pisgah, where Moses stood when he viewed the land of Canaan. Chap. 21:20; Deut. 3:27. Joshua is appointed leader. NUMBERS XXVIII. Offerings to be observed. b.' a usa 14 For ye rebelled against my command ment in the desert of Zin,a in the strife of the con gregation, to sanctify me at the water before their eyes : that is the water of Meribah in Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.b 15 T And Moses spake unto the Lord, saying, 16 Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh,0 set a man over the congregation,4 17 Which may go out before them, and which may go in before them,0 and which may lead them out, and which may bring them in ; that the con gregation of the Lord be not as sheep which have no shepherd/ 18 IT And the Lord said unto Moses, Take thee Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit,g and lay thy hand upon him ;h 19 And set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation ; and give him a charge in their sight.1 20 And thou shalt put some of thine honor upon him,] that all the congregation of the children of Israel may be obedient.k 21 And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him1 after the judgment of Urim before the Lord :m at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation. 22 And Moses did as the Lord commanded him : and he took Joshua, and set him before Eleazar the priest, and before all the congregation : 23 And he laid his hands upon him, and gave him a charge, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses." CHAPTER XXVIII. 1 Offerings are to he observed. 3 The continual burnt-offering. 9 The offering on the sabbath, 11 on the new moons, 16 at the passover, 26 in the day of first-fruits. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, My offering, and my bread for my sac rifices made by fire,0 for a sweet savor unto me," shall ye observe to offer unto me in their due season. 3 And thou shalt say unto them, This is the offer- » Ch. 20:10-12. b Exod. 17:7. » ch. 16:22; Heb. 12:9. d Jer. 3:15. e Deut. 31:2; I.Sam. 8:20; 18:13: 2 Chr. 1:10; John 10:9. I 1 Kings 22:17; Zech. 10:2; Matt. 9:36; 1 Pet. 2:25. e Gen. 41:33; Judg. 3:10; 11:29; 1 Sam. 16:13, 18; Dan. 5:14; Acts 6:3. b Deut. 34:9; Acts 6:6. ' Deut. 31:7. i 2 Kings 2:9, 15. " Josh. 1:16, 17. 1 Judg. 20:18, etc.; 14. Ye rebelled; chap. 20:8-13. 16. Set a man over the congregation; to succeed Moses as their leader. 18. The spirit; the Spirit of God. Lay thy hand upon him ; in token of his being appointed as leader of Israel, and endued with the Holy Spirit to fit him for his office. 23. Gave him a charge; instructed him as to his duties, and exhorted him to the faithful discharge of them. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. As the cause of every death and of all our evils is sin, all our sufferings should lead us more and more to abhor and forsake it. 5. In all cases of difficulty we should look to God, and seek that direction from him which we need. 13. However much any one may be favored of God, however useful he may be, or however long he may live, ing made by fire which ye shall offer unto the Lord:" two lambs of the first year without spot day by day ?for a continual burnt-offering. 4 The one lamb shalt thou offer in the morning, and the other lamb shalt thou offer at even;*q 5 And a tenth part of an ephah of flour for a meat-offering,1 mingled with the fourth part of a hin of beaten oil.3 & It is a, continual burnt-offering which was or dained in mount Sinai for a sweet savor, a sacri fice made by fire unto the Lord. 7 And the drink-offering thereof shall be the fourth part of a hin for the one lamb : in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the Lord for a drink-offering. 8 And the other lamb shalt thou offer at even : as the meat-offering of the morning, and as the drink offering thereof, thou shalt offer it, a sacri fice made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord. 9 1 And on the sabbath-day two lambs of the first year without spot, and two tenth-deals of flour for a meat-offering, mingled with oil, and the drink-offering thereof: 10 This is the burnt-offering of every sabbath, beside the continual burnt-offering,* and his drink- offering. 11 IT And in the beginnings of your months" ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto the Lord;v two young bullocks, and one ram, seven lambs of the first year without spot ; 12 And three tenth-deals of flour for a meat offering, mingled with oil, for one bullock; and two tenth-deals of flour for a meat-offering, min gled with oil, for one ram ; 13 And a several tenth-deal of flour mingled with oil for a meat-offering unto one lamb ; for a burnt-offering of a sweet savor, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord : 14 And their drink-offerings shall be half a hin of wine unto a bullock, and the third part of a hin unto a ram, and a fourth part of a hin unto a lamb : this is the burnt-offering of every month through out the months of the year. 15 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering unto the Lord shall be offered,w beside the con tinual burnt-offering,x and his drink-offering. 1 Sam. 22:10; 23:9; 30:7. m Exod. 23:30. nver.19. °Lev.3:ll. • Heb. a savor of my rest, p Exod. 29:38. t Heb. in a day. t Heb. betweenthe two evenings, q Exod. 12:6. r ch. 15:4; Lev. 2:1. » Exod. 29:40, etc. t Ezek. 46:4. u ch. 10:10; 1 Chr. 23:31; 2 Chr. 2:4; Neh. 10:33; Isa. 1:13, 14; Ezek. 45:17; Col. 2:16. v oh. 15:3-11. "ch. 15:24. * ver- 10. the time will soon come when he must die, and leave all the concerns of this world to others. 16. A pious man earnestly desires the spiritual benefit of those who may survive him, and will be much in prayer that, after his decease, God will continue to bless them with all needed good. 21. Rulers who seek the teaching of the Holy Spirit, who know their duties, and are faithful in the discharge of them, are great blessings to the people. CHAPTER XXVIII. 2. In their due season; according to the will of God, heretofore or hereafter made known. 5. An ephah — a hin; Exod. 29:40. 10. Continual; daily. 11. Months; these began with each new moon. 13. A several tenth-deal; one for each lamb. Ver. 21, 29. 207 The passover, and first-fruits. NUMBERS XXIX. Offerings for the holy days. 16 And in the fourteenth day of the first month is the passover of the Lord.0, 17 And in the fifteenth day of this month is the feast : seven days shall unleavened bread be eaten. 18 In the first day shall be a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work therein: 19 But ye shall offer a sacrifice made by fire for a burnt-offering unto the Lord ; two young bul locks, and one ram, and seven lambs of the first year : they shall be unto you without blemish .b 20 And their meat-offering shall be of flour min gled with oil : three tenth-deals shall ye offer for a bullock, and two tenth-deals for a ram ; 21 A several tenth-deal shalt thou offer for every lamb, throughout the seven lambs: 22 And one goat for a sin-offering,0 to make an atonement for you. 23 Ye shall offer these beside the burnt-offering in the morning, which is for a continual burnt- offering. 24 After this manner ye shall offer daily through out the seven days, the meat of the sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord : it shall be offered beside the continual burnt-offering, and his drink-offering. 25 And on the seventh day ye shall have a holy convocation ; ye shall do no servile work. 26 1 Also in the day of the first-fruits," when ye bring a new meat-offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have a holy convoca tion ; ye shall do no servile work : 27 But ye shall offer the burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto the Lord ; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year ; 28 And their meat-offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth-deals unto one bullock, two tenth- deals unto one ram, 29 A several tenth-deal unto one lamb, through out the seven lambs ; 30 And one kid of the goats, to make an atone ment for you. 31 Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt- offering,6 and his meat-offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish,) and their drink-offerings. CHAPTER XXIX. 1 The offering at the feast of trumpets, 7 at the day of afflicting their souls, 12 and on the eight days of the feast of tahernacles. ND in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have a holy convocation ; A a Ch. 9:3; Exod. 12:6, IS; Lev. 23:5, 6; Ezek. 45:21. b ver. 31; ch. 29:8; Lev. 22:20; Deut. 15:21; Mal. 1:13, 14; 1 Pet. 1:19. c ver. 15. d Exod. 23:16; 34:22; Lev. 23:10, etc.; Deut. 16.10; Acts 2:1. ever 19. f Lev. 23:24; Psa. 81:3, 4. S ch. 23:11. b ch. 28:3; Heb. 10:1. i ch. 26. After your weeks; after seven weeks from the second day of the passover, when the feast of weeks, or Pente cost, was celebrated. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. No engagements for this world should induce us to neglect the ordinances of religion, or to fail to observe, at the proper time, the divinely appointed means of grace. 9. While it is our duty daily to read the Scriptures and pray, as individuals and families, we should on the Sab bath give special attention to these duties, and also wor ship God in public with the assembly of his people. 11 The Lord has appointed the sun and moon for sea- 208 ye shall do no servile work: it is a day aaiSI of blowing the trumpets unto you.f 2 And ye shall offer a burnt-offering for a sweet savor unto the Lord; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish : 3 And their meat-offering shall be of flour min gled with oil, three tenth-deals for a bullock, and two tenth-deals for a ram, 4 And one tenth-deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs : 5 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering, to make an atonement for you : 6 Beside the burnt-offering of the month,8 and his meat-offering, and the daily burnt-offering,h and his meat-offering, and their drink-offerings, according unto their manner,1 for a sweet savor, a sacrifice made by fire unto the Lord. 7 1 And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month a holy convocation^ and ye shall afflict your souls : k ye shall not do any work therein: 8 But ye shall offer a burnt-offering unto the Lord for a sweet savor ; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year ; they shall be unto you without blemish.1 9 And their meat-offering shall be of flour min gled with oil, three tenth-deals to a bullock, and two tenth-deals to one ram, 10 A several tenth-deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs : 11 One kid of the goats for a sin-offering; be side the sin-offering of atonement,"1 and the con tinual burnt-offering, and the meat-offering of it, and their drink-offerings. 12 1 And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have a holy convocation ;n ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days : 13 And ye shall offer a burnt-offering,0 a sacri fice made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord : thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish : 14 And their meat-offering shall be of flour min gled with oil, three tenth-deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth-deals to each ram of the two rams, 15 And a several tenth-deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs : 16 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; 15:11, 12; Ezra 3:4; 1 Cor. 14:40. i Lev. 16:29; 23:27. t Psa. 35:13; Isa. 58:5. 1 ch. 28:19. m Lev. 16:3, etc. » Lev. 23:34; Deut. 16:13; Ezek. 45:25. o Ezra 3:4. sons ; and the beginning of every day, month, and year, should remind us of our obligations to him, and lead us to devote ourselves anew to his service. 16. In all our religious exercises we Bhould have refer ence to the atonement of Christ, and place our reliance on him and what he has done for acceptance with God. CHAPTER XXIX. 1. The seventh month; Lev. 23:23-43. 11. Beside the sin-offering of atonement; that is, besides the special sin-offerings appointed for this day, which was the great day of atonement. See Lev. 16 : 3, etc., compared with ver. 29-34 Of the feast of tabernacles. NUMBERS XXX. Vows not to be broken. b.'cS«22' beside the continual burnt-offering, his meat-offering, and his drink-offering. 17 IT And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot : 18 And their meat-offering and their drink-offer ings for the bullocks, for "the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according- to their number, after the manner:" 19 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering; beside the continual burnt-offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink-offerings. 20 1 And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish : 21 And their meat-offering and their drink-offer ings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 22 And one goat for a sin-offering ; beside the continual burnt-offering, and his meat-offering, and his drink-offering." 23 H And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish : 24 Their meat-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the man ner: 25 And one kid of the goats for a sin-offering ; beside the continual burnt-offering, his meat-offer ing, and his drink-offering. 26 TAnd on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: 27 And their meat-offering and their drink-offer ings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 28 And one goat for a sin-offering ; beside the continual burnt-offering, and his meat-offering, and his drink-offering. 29 IT And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish : 30 And their meat-offering and their drink-offer ings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 31 And one goat for a sin-offering; beside the continual burnt-offering, his meat-offering, and his drink-offering. » Ver. 3,4,9, 10; ch. 15:12; 28:7, 14. b Psa. 16:4; Joel 1:9, 13; 2:14. ' Lev. 23:36; John 7:37. * Or, offer, d Lev. 23:2, etc. ; 1 Chr. 23:31; 2 Chr. 31:3; Ezra 3:5; Neh. 10:33; In. 1:14. e Lev. 7:11,16; 22:21,23; Deut. 12:6. INSTRUCTIONS. 11. The frequency with which the atonement of Christ is brought to view, in both the Old Testament and the New, shows its importance in the system of mercy which God has devised for the salvation of men, and the neces sity of relying upon it in order to obtain pardon and eternal life. 39. True love to God will lead men not only to attend habitually and conscientiously on the appointed means of grace, but cheerfully to present to him freewill-offerings of prayer, alms, thanksgiving, and praise. U 32 IT And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish : 33 And their meat-offering and their drink-offer ings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner : 34 And one goat for a sin-offering ; beside the continual burnt-offering, his meat-offering, and his drink-offering. 35 T On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly :c, ye shall do no servile work therein: 36 But ye shall offer a burnt-offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the Lord : one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish : 37 Their meat-offering and their drink-offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the man ner: 38 And one goat for a sin-offering; beside the continual burnt-offering, and his meat-offering, and his drink-offering. 39 These things ye shall do* unto the Lord in your set feasts,3 beside your vbws,e and your free will-offerings, for your burnt-offerings, and for your meat-offerings, and for your drink-offerings, and for your peace-offerings. 40 And MoseS told the children of Israel accord ing to all that the Lord commanded Moses. CHAPTER XXX. 1 Vows are not to be broken. 3 The exception of a maid's vow. 6 Of a wife's. 9 Of a widow's, or her that is divorced. AND Moses spake unto the heads of the tribes concerning the children of Israel,' saying, Thisw the thing which the Lord hath commanded. 2 If a man vow a vow unto the LoRD,g or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond ; h he shall not break1 his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.1 3 If a woman also vow a vow unto the Lord, and bind herself by a bond, being in her father's house in her youth ; 4 And her father hear her vow, and her bond wherewith she hath bound her soul, and her father shall hold his peace at her ; then all her. vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she hath bound her soul shall stand. 5 But if her father disallow her in the day that he heareth, not any of her vows, or of her bonds fch. 1:4-16. sLev. 27:2; Deut. 23:21; Judg. 11:35,36; Psa. 15:4; Eccl. 5:4. h Lev. 5:4; Matt. 5:33; 14:7-9; Acts 23.14. t Heb. profane j Psa. 55:20. I Job 22:27; Psa. 22:25; 50:14; 66:13.14; 116.14.18; Nah. 1:15. CHAPTER XXX. 2. He shall not break his word; provided the thing which he vowed or promised to do is practicable, and not mor ally wrong : but if the thing promised is wicked, he must repent of his sin in promising ; for the sin in this case is in the promise, and not in breaking it. Matt. 14:7-10: Acts 23:12. 4. Shall stand; be binding on her. 5. TheLord shall forgive her; for not doing as she had promised. 209 The law of vows. NUMBERS XXXI. The Midianites spoiled. wherewith she hath bound her soul, shall stand ; and the Lord shall forgive her, because her father disallowed her. 6 And if she had at all a husband, when she vowed,* or uttered aught out of her lips, where with she bound her soul ; 7 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her in the day that he heard it; then her vows shall stand, and her bonds wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 8 But if her husband disallowed her on the day that he heard it? then he shall make her vow which she vowed, and that which she uttered with her lips, wherewith she bound her soul, of none effect ; and the Lord shall forgive her. 9 But every vow of a widow, and of her that is divorced, wherewith they have bound their souls, shall stand against her. 10 And if she vowed in her husband's house, or bound her soul by a bond with an oath ; 11 And her husband heard it, and held his peace at her, and disallowed her not ; then all her vows shall stand, and every bond wherewith she bound her soul shall stand. 12 But if her husband hath utterly made them void on the day he heard them; then whatsoever proceeded out of her lips concerning her vows, or concerning the bond of her soul, shall not stand : her husband hath made them void ;b and the Lord shall forgive her.0 13 Every vow, and every binding oath to afflict the soul, her husband may establish it, or her hus band may make it void. 14 But if her husband altogether hold his peace at her from day to day ; then he establisheth all her vows, or all her bonds, which are upon her : he confirmeth them, because he held his peace at her in the day that he heard them. 15 But if he shall any ways make them void after that he hath heard them; then he shall bear her iniquity. 16 These are the statutes, which the Lord com- ¦ Heb. her vows were upon her; Psa. 56:12. a Gen. 3:16; 1 Cor. 7:4; 14:34; Eph. 5:22-24. b 1 Cor. 11:3. c ver. 5, 8; ch. 15:25, 28. d ch. 25:17. e ch. 27:13. t Heb. A thousand of a tribe, a thousand of a tribe. 9. Shall stand; because she had a right to bind herself, and no one had a right to forbid it. 10. If she vowed; if the widow or divorced wife vowed before her separation from her husband. 15. Make them void; by hindering her from performing what he had previously allowed her to promise. Bear her iniquity; be punished as the woman would have been if she had wilfully broken her promise. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. A man may solemnly engage to do a wicked thing, but no engagement can lay him under any obligation to do it ; and if he does it, it will be at the peril of his soul. But if the thing which he has engaged to do is not wicked, and is practicable, he must not break his engagement, even if the fulfilment of it should injure himself. Psa. 15:4. 8. It is the will of God that there should be in all fami lies conjugal and parental government and control; and relative duties are so important, that no vows or cove nants into which any one can enter, can release him or her from obligations to perform them. Those, therefore, who induce persons to shut themselves up in nunneries, or to neglect relative duties, that they may control their persons or their money, are blind leaders of the blind — 210 manded Moses, between a man and his B.a?l! wife, between the father and his daughter, being yet in her youth in her father's house. CHAPTER XXXI. 1 The Midianites are spoiled, and Balaam slain. 13 Moses is wroth with the officers, for saving the women alive. 19 How the soldiers, with their captives and spoil, are to be purified. 25 The proportion whereby the prey is to be divided. 48 The voluntary oblation unto the treasury of the Lord. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Avenge the children of Israel of the Mid ianites;4 afterward shalt thou be gathered unto thy people.0 3 And Moses spake unto the people, saying, Arm some of yourselves unto the war, and let them go against the Midianites, and avenge the Lord of Midian. 4 Of every tribe a thousand,* throughout all the tribes of Israel, shall ye send to the war. 5 So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand of every tribe, twelve thou sand armed for war. 6 And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Elea zar the priest, to the war, with the holy instru ments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.' 7 And they warred against the Midianites, as the Lord commanded Moses ; and they slew all the males.8 8 And they slew the kings of Midian,h beside the rest of them that were slain ; namely, Evi, and Re- kem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, five kings of Midian : Balaam also the son of Beor they slew with the sword. 9 And the children of Israel took all the women of Midian captives, and their little ones, and took the spoil of all their cattle, and all their flocks, and all their goods. 10 And they burnt all their cities wherein they dwelt,1 and all their goodly castles, with fire. 11 And they took all the spoil,j and all the prey, both of men and of beasts. f ch. 10:9. sDeut. 20:13; Judg. 21:11; 1 Kings 11:15, 16. b Josh. 13:21, 22. i Josh 6:24; Rev. 18:8. J Deut. 20:14; Josh. 8:2. men who make void the commandment of God through their traditions. Matt. 15 : 3-6. 15. No conjugal, parental, ecclesiastical, or civil author ity can in any case bind a person to commit sin ; and if any attempt it, they rebel against the authority of God, and expose themselves to his just indignation. CHAPTER XXXI. 2. Avenge — of the Midianites; punish them for tempting Israelites to sin, and thus causing their destruction. Chap. 25:1-9, 17, 18. 3. Avenge the Lord; execute his just indignation. 6. The holy instruments; what these were, aside from the trumpets, is uncertain. Some propose to render, "with the holy instruments, even the trumpets." 7. Slew all the males; that is, all the adult males taken in war. We cannot understand in this narrative a general extermination of the Midianites, since we find them after wards warring against Israel. The slaughter seems to have been confined to the five neighboring tribes that were involved in the sin of Baal-peor. Other and distant tribes may have been left unmolested. 8. Balaam; chap. 22:5. Moses divideth NUMBERS XXXI. the Midianites' spoil. k.c.:S' 12 And they brought the captives, and the prey, and the spoil, unto Moses and Eleazar the priest, and unto the congregation of the chil dren of Israel, unto the camp at the plains of Moab,a which are by Jordan near Jericho. 13 1 And Moses, and Eleazar tlie priest, and all the princes of the congregation, went forth to meet them without the camp. . 14 And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and cap tains over hundreds, which came from the battle." 15 And Moses said unto them, Have ye saved all the women alive?0 16 Behold, these caused the children of Israel,0 through the counsel of Balaam,4 to commit trespass against the Lord in the matter of Peor, and there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord.0 17 Now therefore kill every male among the lit tle ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him.+f 18 But all the women-children, that have not known a man by lying with him, keep alive for yourselves. 19 And do ye abide without the camp seven days : whosoever hath killed any person, and who soever hath touched any slain,B purify both your selves and your captives on the third day, and on the seventh day. 20 And purify all your raiment, and all that is made of skins,* and all work of goats' hair, and all things made of wood. 21 T And Eleazar the priest said unto the men of war which went to the battle, This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord commanded Moses ; 22 Only the gold, and the silver, the brass, the iron, the tin, and the lead, 23 Every thing that may abide the fire, ye shall make it go through the fire, and it shall be clean : nevertheless it shall be purified with the water of separation:11 and all that abideth not the fire ye shall make go through the water. . 24 And ye shall wash your clothes on the sev enth day,1 and ye shall be clean, and afterward ye shall come into the camp. 25 T And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 26 Take the sum of the prey that was taken,8 both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation : 27 And divide the prey into two parts ;j between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation. 28 And levy a tribute unto the Lord of the men of war which went out to battle :k one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep :' 29 Take it of their half, and give it unto Eleazar the priest, for a heave-offering of the Lord. a Ch. 22:1. • Heb.host of war. b Dent. 20:13; 1 Sam. 15:3. e 0h 25:1-3. d 2 Pet. 2:15; Rev. 2:14. e oh. 25:9. t Heb. a male. < Judg. 21:11. Sch. 5:2; 19:1], etc. t Heb. instrument, or vessel of skins, h ch. 19:9, 17. i Lev. 11:25. S Heb. of the captivity. ¦ 1 Josh. 22:8; 1 Sam. 16. Through tlie counsel of Balaam ,- ch. 25 : 1-3 ; 2 Pet. 2 f!5. 18. Keep alive for yourselves; to be their servants. 19. Purify — yourselves; chap. 19:11-22. 23. The water of separation ; chap. 8:7. 30 And of the children of Israel's half, thou shalt take one portion of fifty,1" of the persons, of the beeves, of the asses, and of the flocks," of all man ner of beasts, and give them unto the Levites," which keep the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord.0 31 And Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses. 32 And the booty, being the rest of the prey which the men of war had caught, was six hundred thousand and seventy thousand and five thousand sheep, 33 And threescore and twelve thousand beeves, 34 And threescore and one- thousand asses, 35 And thirty and two thousand persons in all, of women that had not known man by lying with him. 36 And the half which was the portion of them that went out to war, was in number three hun dred thousand and seven and thirty thousand and five hundred sheep : 37 And the Lord's tribute of the sheep was six hundred and threescore and fifteen. 38 And the beeves were thirty and six thousand ; of which the Lord's tribute was threescore and twelve. 39 And the asses were thirty thousand and five hundred ; of which the Lord's tribute was three score and one. 40 And the persons were sixteen thousand ; of which the Lord's tribute was thirty and two per sons. 41 And Moses gave the tribute which was the Lord's heave-offering, unto Eleazar the priest, as the Lord commanded Moses.p 42 And of the children of Israel's half, which Moses divided from the men that warred, 43 (Now the half that pertained unto the congrega tion was three hundred thousand and thirty thou sand and seven thousand and five hundred sheep, 44 And thirty and six thousand beeves, 45 And thirty thousand asses and five hundred, 46 And sixteen thousand persons,) 47 Even of the children of Israel's half,4 Moses took one portion of fifty, both of man and of beast, and gave them unto the Levites, which kept the charge of the tabernacle of the Lord ; as the Lord commanded Moses. 48 T And the officers which were over thousands of the host, the captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds, came near unto Moses : 49 And they said unto Moses, Thy servants have taken the sum of the men of war which are under our charge,^ and there lacketh not one man of us. 50 "We have therefore brought an oblation for the Lord, what every man hath gotten,* of jewels of gold, chains, and bracelets, rings, ear-rings, and 30:24;-Psa. 63:12. k Gen. 14:20; Josh. 6:19; 2 Sam. 8:11, 12; Prov. 3:9, 10. I ver. 30,47; ch. 18:26. m ver. 42-47. 1 Or, goats, n 1 Cor. 9:13 14. och. 3:7, etc. P ch. 18:8, 19. q ver. 30. II Heb. hand. 'Heb. found. 50. An oblation ; an offering of gratitude for their pres ervation and success. To make an atonement ; this offer ing of the officers prefigured the atonement of Christ, and showed their need of his salvation. 211 The, Reubenites and Gadites NUMBERS XXXII. claim their inheritance. tablets, to make an atonement for our souls before the Lord." 51 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of them, even all wrought jewels. 52 And all the gold of the offering* that they offered up to the Lord, of the captains of thou sands, and of the captains of hundreds, was sixteen thousand seven hundred and fifty shekels : 53 For the men of war had taken spoil,6 every man for himself. 54 And Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold of the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and brought it into the tabernacle of the congre gation, for a memorial for the children of Israel before the Lord.0 CHAPTER XXXII. 1 The Reubenites and Gadites sue for their inheritance on the east of Jordan. 6 Moses reproveth them. 16 They offer him conditions to his content. 33 Moses assigneth them the land. 39 They conquer it. NOW the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of cattle : and when they saw the land of Jazer,+ and the land of Gilead,4 that, behold, the place was a place for cattle;0 2 The children of Gad and the children of Reu ben came and spake unto Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and unto the princes of the congrega tion, saying, 3 Ataroth, and Dibon,r and Jazer, and Nimrah,* and Heshbon,8 and Elealeh, and Shebam,8 and Nebo, and Beon," 4 Even the country which the Lord smote before the congregation of Israel," is a land for cattle, and thy servants have cattle: 5 Wherefore, said they, if we have found grace in thy sight, let this land be given unto thy servants for a possession, and bring us not over Jordan. 6 1 And Moses said unto the children of Gad and to the children of Reuben, Shall your breth ren go to war, and shall ye sit here? 7 And wherefore discourage ^ ye the heart" of the children of Israel from going over into the land which the Lord hath given them? i Exod. 30:12, 10. " Heb. heave-offering, b Deut. 20:14. « Exod. 30:16. t Or, Jaazer; ver. 35; ch. 21:32; Josh. 13:25; 2 Sam.. 24:5; Isa. 16:8, 9. d Jer. 50:19; Micah 7:14. e Gen. 13:2, 5; 47:4. f Isa. 15:2, 4. J Beth- nimrah; ver. 36. K Ju.de. 11:23. S Shibmah; ver. 38. D Baal-meon; ver. M. h0h. 21:21, 34. T Heb. break; Acts 21:13. i ch. 13:3-20; Deut. 1:22. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Vengeance belongeth unto God. It is his preroga tive to punish the guilty ; and when he requires a magis trate to put the guilty to death, it is not the wrath of the magistrate which is manifested, but the wrath of God — designed for a terror to evil-doers, and a protection and encouragement to those who do well. 7. It is as really righteous in God to destroy wicked men by the sword of the magistrate as by earthquake, pestilence, fever, or any other calamity. 8. He who tempts men, or induces others to tempt men to commit sin, must expect a most fearful retribution. Rev. 2:11. 17. In putting men to death, magistrates may be obey ing God ; and not to do it when he commands, is rebellion against him. 24. Our best services, even our most hearty obedience to God, are imperfect and polluted with sin ; and we need in every thing the purifying influences of the Holy Ghost. 212 8 Thus did your fathers, when I sent b.c'.^ them from Kadesh-barnea to see the land.1 9 For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which the Lord had given them. 10 And the Lord's anger was kindled the same time,1 and he sware, saying, 11 Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:*k 12 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenez ite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the Lord. 13 And the Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years,1 until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of the Lord, was consumed.™ 14 And behold, ye are risen up in your fathers' stead, an increase of sinful men," to augment yet the fierce anger of the Lord toward Israel.0 15 For if ye turn away from after him,p he will yet again leave them in the wilderness;*1 and ye shall destroy all this people. 16 1 And they came near unto him, and said, We will build sheep-folds here for our cattle, and cities for our little ones : 17 But we ourselves will go ready armed before the children of Israel,r until we have brought them unto their place: and our little ones shall dwell in the fenced cities, because of the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return unto our houses,8 until the children of Israel have inherited every man his inheritance: 19 For we will not inherit with them on yonder side Jordan, or forward ; because our inheritance is fallen to us on this side Jordan eastward.' 20 1 And Moses said unto them, If ye will do this thing, if ye will go armed before the Lord to war," 21 And will go all of you armed over Jordan J ch. 14:11, 29; Dent. 1:35. • Heb. fulfilled after me. k ch. 14:24, 30; Josh. 14:8,9. 1 ch. 14:33-35. m ch. 26:61, 65; 1 Cor. 10:5; Heb. 3:10-19. n Psa. 78:57. ° Neh. 13:1S; Isa. 65:6, 7. P Deut. 30:17; Josh. 22:16, 1H; 2 Chr. 7:19; 15:2. i ch. 22:41. I Heb. they called by names thenames of the cities. over.3; Exod. 23:13; Josh. 23:7. P Josh. 13:29-31. q Judg. 10:4. r Exod. 12:37. * Exod. 13:4. t Exod. 14:8. u Exod. 12:29. vExod. 12:12; 18:11; Isa. 19:1; Rev. 12:7-9. v Exod. 12:37. and with good reasons, is an indication of sound judg ment, benevolent feeling, and an honest heart. 23. The idea that men may be selfish and continue in sin, and yet escape punishment, is vain. 27. In promoting the cause of God and of human wel fare, all should be disposed to bear their proportion of needful burdens, sacrifices, and labors. 33. When God in his providence deprives one people of their possessions and gives them to another, he only does what he will with his own. For all his dealings he has the wisest and best reasons, and he never afflicts in dividuals or nations beyond what their iniquities deserve. CHAPTER XXXIII. 1. Tlie journeys of the children of Israel; the places men tioned from the third to the forty-ninth verses of this chapter, are those through which the Israelites passed during their wanderings in the wilderness, and on their way from Egypt to Canaan. 213 Record of the journey NUMBERS XXXIII, of Israel out of Egypt. 6 And they departed from Succoth, and pitched in Etham," which is in the edge of the wilder ness. 7 And they removed from Etham, and turned again unto Pi-hahiroth, which is before Baal-ze- phon :b and they pitched before Migdol. 8 And they departed from before Pi-hahiroth, and passed through the midst of the sea into the wilderness," and went three days' journey in the wilderness of Etham, and pitched in Marah. 9 And they removed from Marah, and came unto Elim:4 and in Elim were twelve fountains of wa ter, and threescore and ten palm-trees ; and they pitched there. 10 And they removed from Elim, and encamped by the Red sea. 11 And they removed from the Red sea, and encamped in the wilderness of Sin.e 12 And they took their journey out of the wil derness of Sin, and encamped in Dophkah. 13 And they departed from Dophkah, and en camped in Alush. 14 And they removed from- Alush, and encamped at Rephidim,1 where was no water for the people to drink. 15 And they departed from Rephidim, and pitch ed in the wilderness of Sinai.8 16 And they removed from the desert of Sinai, and pitched at Kibroth-hattaavah.*11 17 And they departed from Kibroth-hattaavah, and encamped at Hazeroth.1 18 And they departed from Hazeroth, and pitch ed in Rithmah.-* 19 And they departed from Rithmah, and pitch ed at Rimmon-parez. 20 And they departed from Rimmon-parez, and pitched in Libnah. 21 And they removed from Libnah, and pitched at Rissah. 22 And they journeyed from Rissah, and pitched in Kehelathah. 23 And they went from Kehelathah, and pitched in mount Shapher. 24 And they removed from mount Shapher, and encamped in Haradah. 25 And they removed from Haradah, and pitch ed in Makheloth. 26 And they removed from Makheloth, and en camped at Tahath. 27 And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah. 28 And they removed from Tarah, and pitched in Mithcah. 29 And they went from Mithcah, and pitched in Hashmonah. 30 And they departed from Hashmonah, and encamped at Moseroth.+ 31 And they departed from Moseroth, and pitch ed in Bene-jaakan.k » Exod. 13:20. b Exod. 14:2, 9. e Exod. 14:22; 15:22, 23. d Exod 15:27. a Exod. 16:1. < Exod. 17: 1 ; 19:2. S Exod. 10:1 ; 19:1, 2. 'That is, The graves of lust, h oh. 11:34. i ch. 11:35. J ch. 12:16. t Motera; Deut. 10:6. k 1 Chr. 1:42. J Gudgodah; Deut. 10:7. ! Jotbath; Deut. 10:7. 1 Dent. 2:8; 1 Kings 9:26; 22:43. m ch. 20:1 ; 27:14. n ch. 20:22, 23; 21:4. o ch. 20:25-28; Deut. 10:6; 32:50. P ch. 21:1, etc. q ch. 21:4 32 And they removed from Bene-jaakan, b.c.iS! and encamped at Hor-hagidgad.* 33 And they went from Hor-hagidgad, and pitched in Jotbathah.§ ' 34 And they removed from Jotbathah, and en camped at Ebronah. 35 And they departed from Ebronah, and en camped at Ezion-geber.1 36 And they removed from Ezion-geber, and pitched in the wilderness of Zin,m which is Ka desh. 37 And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom." 38 And Aaron the priest went up into mount Hor at the commandment of the Lord, and died there,0 in the fortieth year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, in the first day of the fifth month. 39 And Aaron was a hundred and twenty and three years old when he died in mount Hor. 40 And king Arad the Canaanite,p which dwelt in the south in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the children of Israel. 41 And they departed from mount Hor," and pitched in Zalmonah. 42 And they departed from Zalmonah, and pitch ed in Punon. 43 And they departed from Punon, and pitched in Oboth.r 44 And they departed from Obo th. and pitched in Ije-abarim,1 in the border of Moab.s 45 And they departed from Iim, and pitched in Dibon-gad.' 46 And they removed from Dibon-gad, and en camped in Almon-diblathaim.u 47 And they removed from Almon-diblathaim, and pitched in the mountains of Abarim, before Nebo.v 48 And they departed from the mountains of Abarim, and pitched in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. 1T 49 And they pitched by Jordan, from Beth-jesi- moth even unto Abel-shittim T in the plains of Moab.x 50 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan mar Jericho, saying, 51 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye are passed over Jordan into the land of Canaan;3' 52 Then ye shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you,2 and destroy all their pictures, and destroy all their molten images, and quite pluck down all their high places : 53 And ye shall dispossess the inhabitants of the land, and dwell therein : for I have given you the land to possess it. 54 And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families :" and to the more ye shall give the more inheritance* and to the inheritance, Itiply /. 52. Pictures; sculptured figures used, as well as the "molten images" or idols, for idolatrous purposes. The borders of NUMBERS XXXIV. the promised land. B.'a'S' fewer ye shall give the less inheritance:* every man's inheritance shall be in the place where his lot falleth ; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit. 55 But if ye will not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you;a then it shall come to pass, that those which ye let remain of them shall be pricks in your eyes, and thorns in your sides, and shall vex you in the land wherein ye dwell. 56 Moreover it shall come to pass, that I shall do unto you, as I thought to do unto them. CHAPTER XXXIV. 1 The borders of the land. 16 Tlie names of the men which shall di vide the land. AND the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye come into the land of Ca naan ; this is the land that shall fall unto you for an inheritance, even the land of Canaan with the coasts thereof: 3 Then your south quarter shall be from the wilderness of Zin along by the coast of Edom,0 and your south border shall be the outmost coast of the salt sea eastward : ° 4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim, and pass on to Zin : and the going forth thereof shall be from the south to Kadesh-barnea,d and shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass on to Azmon : 5 And the border shall fetch a compass from Azmon unto the river of Egypt,6 and the goings out of it shall be at the sea. * Heb. diminish his inheritance. * Exod. 23:33; Josh. 23:12, 13; Judg. 1:21-36; Psa. 106:34-30; Ezek. 28:24. b Josh. 15:1, etc.; Ezek. 47:13, etc. = Gen. 14:3. d ch. 13:26; 32:3. e (Jen. 15:18; 1 Kings 8-65; Isa. 27:12. 55. Pricks — and thorns; sources of vexation and distress. 56. Bo unto you, as I thought to do unto them; expel you from your country and destroy you. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Human life is a journey from the cradle to the grave, and each day carries us one day nearer to our final, our eternal abode. 2. It is often useful to look back on the various stages of our past life, to recount the goodness of God, and some times to write down portions of our history for the benefit of others. 49. However long our journey, or whatever be our course through time, we shall soon come to its close and pass into eternity. 52. Occasions of sin, temptations to evil, and whatever tends to draw our hearts from God and unfit us for heaven, should be carefully avoided. 55. Our fleshly lusts and sinful habits of every kind are to our souls what the Canaanites were to the ancient Israelites. If we spare them, or continue to indulge them, they will continue to torment us, and ultimately prove our ruin. CHAPTER XXXIV. 3. From the wilderness of Zin — Edom; he begins with the south-eastern border where the wilderness of Zin lay. The outmost coast of the salt sea; rather, "from the outmost coast of the Salt sea," that is, starting from the extreme southern bay of the Dead sea. i. Ascent of Akrabbim; a line of cliffs six or seven miles south of the Dead sea. Kadesh-barnea ; about twenty-six 6 And as for the western border, ye shall even have the great sea for a border: this shall be your west border. 7 And this shall be your north border : from the great sea ye shall point out for you mount Hor:' 8 From mount Hor ye shall point out your border unto the entrance of Hamath ;g and the goings forth of the border shall be to Zedad:h 9 And the border shall go on to Ziphron, and the goings out of it shall be at Hazar-enan :' this shall be your north border. 10 And ye shall point out your east border from Hazar-enan to Shepham : 11 And the coast shall go down from Shepham to Riblah,j on the east side of Ain ; and the border shall descend, and shall reach unto the side* of the sea of Chinnereth eastward.1'- 12 And the border shall go down to Jordan, and the goings out of it shall be at the salt sea: this shall be your land with the coasts thereof round about. 13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the Lord commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe ¦} 14 For the tribe of the children of Reuben ac cording to the house of their fathers, and the tribe of the children of Gad according to the house of their fathers, have received their inheritance; and half the tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance : m 15 The two tribes and the half tribe have re ceived their inheritance on this side Jordan near Jericho eastward, toward the sunrising. 16 IT And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, f ch. 33:37. S ch. 13:21; 2 Kinjis 14:25; Ezek. 47:16. h Ezek. 47:15. i Ezek. 47:17. j 2 Kings 23:33; Jer. 3B.-5, 6. t Heb. shoulder. S Deut. 3:17: Josh. 11:2; 10:35; Luke 5:1. 1 ver. 1 ; Josh. 14:2. m ch. 32:33. miles a little west of south from the Dead sea. From this point the border turned westward, reaching the Med iterranean at the river of Egypt, that is, the modern El- Arish and ancient Rhinocolura, south-west of Gaza. See the maps of Palestine. 6. The western border; of Canaan, was the Mediterra nean, from the river of Egypt, in latitude about thirty-one degrees, to a point a little above Zidon, in latitude between thirty-three and thirty-four degrees north. Its average length was about- one hundred and sixty miles. 7-9. Your north border; from the Mediterranean sea to mount Hor; supposed to be a summit or spur of mount Lebanon. Hamath; a city and region of Syria on the Orontes, which was approached on the south by a pass in the mountain called the entering in of Hamath. 1 Kings 8:65. Zedad — Ziphron — Hazar-enan; places iurther east. 10, 11. East border — Riblah; on the Orontes, some dis tance south of Hamath. Chinnereth ; the lake of Gennes- aret, or sea of Galilee, which, with the river Jordan and Dead sea, formed the eastern border. The land of Canaan, upon an average, was about fifty miles wide. It lay be tween thirty-four and thirty-seven degrees east longitude, and contained- about eight thousand square miles. A por tion of the northern part, as here marked out, was never permanently possessed by the Israelites. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. God assigns to individuals and to nations the bounds of their habitation, and they possess no rights, privileges, or blessings, but what they receive from him. They hold them by his permission, and subject at all times to his disposal. 215 Cities for the Levites. 17 These are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you : Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun .a 18 And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.15 19 And the names of the men are these : Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh. 20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud. 21 Of the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad the son of Chislon. 22 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Dan, Bukki the son of Jogli. 23 The prince of the children of Joseph, for the tribe of the children of Manasseh, Hanniel the son of Ephod. 24 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Ephraim, Kemuel the son of Shiphtan. 25 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Zebulun, Elizaphan the son of Parnach. 26 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Issachar, Paltiel the son of Azzan. 27 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Asher, Ahihud the son of Shelomi. 28 And the prince of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, Pedahel the son of Ammihud. 29 These are they whom the Lord commanded to divide the inheritance unto the children of Israel in the land of Canaan.c CHAPTER XXXV. 1 Eight and forty cities for the Levites with their suburbs, and measure thereof. 6 Six of them are to he cities of refuge. 9 The laws of murder. 21 No satisfaction for murder. AND the Lord spake unto Moses in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying, 2 Command the children of Israel, that they give unto the Levites, of the inheritance of their possession, cities to dwell in ; a and ye shall give also unto the Levites suburbs for the cities round about them. 3 And the cities shall they have to dwell in; and the suburbs of them shall be for their cattle, and for their goods, and for all their beasts. 4 And the suburbs of the cities, which ye shall give unto the Levites,0 shall reach from the wall of the city and outward a thousand cubits round about. 5 And ye shall measure from without the city on the east side two thousand cubits, and on the south side two thousand cubits, and on the west NUMBERS XXXV. CUks of refuge. side two thousand cubits, and on the north VcS side two thousand cubits ; and the city shall he in the midst: this shall be to them the suburbs of the cities. 6 And among the cities which ye shall give unto the Levites there shall be six cities for refuge/ which ye shall appoint for the manslayer, that he may flee thither: and to them ye shall add* forty and two cities. 7 So all the cities which ye shall give to the Levites shall be forty and eight cities : them shall ye give with their suburbs.8 8 And the cities which ye shall give shall he of the possession of the children of Israel :h from them that have many ye shall give many ; but from them that have few ye shall give few:1 every one shall give of his cities unto the Levites according to his inheritance which he inheriteth.1' 9 1 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come over Jordan into the land of Canaan,5 11 Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you ;k that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares.* 12 And they shall be unto you cities for refuge from the avenger;1 that the manslayer dienot, until he stand before the congregation in judg ment. 13 And of these cities which ye shall give, six cities shall ye have for refuge.™ 14 Ye shaU give three cities on this side Jor dan, and three cities shall ye give in the land of Canaan, which shall be cities of refuge." 15 These six cities shall be a refuge, both for the children of Israel, and for the stranger, and for the sojourner among them;" that every one that killeth any person unawares may flee thither. 16 And if he smite him with an instrument of iron, so that he die, he is a murderer : the mur derer shall surely be put to death.5 17 And if he smite him with throwing a stone,8 wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a mur derer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 18 Or if he smite him with a hand-weapon of wood, wherewith he may die, and he die, he is a murderer: the murderer shall surely be put to death. 19 The revenger of blood himself shall slay the murderer:4 when he meeteth him, he shall slay him. a Josh. 14:1; 19:51. t> ch. 1:4-16. » ver. 18. d Josh. 14:3-5; 21:2, etc.; ete. • 2 Chr. 11:14. f ver. 13, 14 ; Deut. 4:41-43; Ezek. 45:1, etc.; 48:S, Josh. 20:2-9; 21:3, 13 etc.; Psa. G2:7, S; Heb. (3:18. ' Heb. above them ye shall give, s Josh. 21:41. h Josh. 21:3. > ch. 26:54. t Heb. they in- CHAPTER XXXV. 2. Suburbs; the land around and near a city. 4. A thousand cubits; about fifteen hundred feet. 5. Two thousand cubits; this maybe best understood of the extent of the sides of the suburb belonging to each city. 6. Cities for refuge; cities to which he who had killed a man might flee and be safe, till he could have a fair trial, and it be proved whether or not he intended to kill the man. If he did, he was to be put to death, ver. 30-33 j if 216 herit. i Deut. 19:2; Josh. 20:2. It Exod 21:13. i Heb. by error. 1 JJeut. 19:6; Josh. 20-3-6. m ver. 6. n Deut. 4:41 ; Josh. 20:3. » ch. 15:16; Lev. 24:22. P Exod. 21:12-14; Lev. 24:17; Deut. 19:11, 12. t Heb. a stone of the liand. q ver. 21, 24, 27; Deut. 19:6, 12; Josh. 20:3, 5. he did not, he must stay in the city of refuge till the death of the high-priest, and after that he might go at large. Ver. 11, 25-28. 11. At unawares ; without intending it. 12. The avenger; the nearest relative of him who was killed, and who, if he could find the manslayer out of the city of refuge, would kill him. Ver. 19. In judg for trial. Ver. 24. 14. This side; the east side, where the Israelites then were. In the land of Canaan ; on the west side of the Jor dan. . judgment; Of murder and manslaughter. NUMBERS XXXVI. The inheritance of daughters. tc.S 20 But if he thrust him of hatred,1 or hurl at him by laying of wait,b that he die ; 21 Or in enmity smite him with his hand, that he die : he that smote him shall surely be put to death ; for he is a murderer : the revenger of blood shall slay the murderer, when he meeteth him. 22 But if he thrust him suddenly without enmity, or have cast upon him any thing without laying of wait, 23 Or with any stone, wherewith a man may die, seeing Mm not, and east it upon him, that he die, and was not his enemy, neither sought his harm ; 24 Then the congregation shall judge between the slayer and the revenger of blood according to these judgments:0 25 And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of his refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high-priest, which was anointed with the holy oil.d 26 But if the slayer shall at any time come with out the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled ; 27 And the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the re venger of blood kill the slayer ; he shall not be guilty of blood : * 28 Because he should have remained in the city of his refuge until the death of the high-priest: but after the death of the high-priest the slayer shall return into the land of his possession. 29 So these things shall be for a statute of judg ment unto you throughout your generations in all your dwellings.6 30 Whoso killeth any person, the murderer shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses : f but one witness shall not testify against any person to cause him to die. 31 Moreover ye shall take no satisfaction for the life of a murderer, which is guilty of death : f but he shall be surely put to death. 32 And ye shall take no satisfaction for him that is fled to the city of his refuge, that he should come again to dwell in the land, until the death of the priest. a.Gen.4:5,S; 2 Sam.3:27; 20:10; 1 Kings 2:31, 32; Prov.20:24. b Exod. 21:14; Deut. 19:11. .» ver. 12; Josh. 2U:6. d Exod. 29:7; Lev. 21:10. • Heb. no blood shall be to him ; Exod. 22:2. e ch. 27:11. f Deut. 17:6; 19:15;. Matt. 18:16; 2 Cor. 13:1; Hob. 10:23. t Heb. faulty to die. t 2 Kings 24:4; Psa. 106:38; Micah 4:11; Matt. 23:31-35. t Heb. there 27. Not be guilty of blood; riot be punished as a murderer. 34. I the Lord dwell among the children qf Israel; this he did in a peculiar manner, and especially by the visible manifestations of his presence and glory. INSTRUCTIONS. 7. A comfortable maintenance for the ministers of relig ion and their families is required by God in the Old Tes tament and in the New. 1 Cor. 9 : 14. 12. He who is charged with killing a man, or is sup posed to have done it, should have a speedy and fair trial. If he with malice intended to kill him, he is a mur derer, and should himself be put to death. If he did not, he should be acquitted. 24. The intention and the feelings with which an action is done give it its character. Two men may sometimes perform the same outward set, and one be guilty and the 33 So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land:B and the land cannot be cleansed* of the blood that is shed there in, but by the blood of him that shed it.11 34 Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit,' wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.1 CHAPTER XXXVI. 1 The inconvenience of the inheritance of daughters, 5 is remedied by marrying in their own tribes, 7 lest the inheritance should be removed from the°tribe. 10 The daughters of Zelophehad marry their father's brothers' sons. AND the chief fathers of the families of the children of Gilead,k the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, of the families of the sons of Jo seph, came near, and spake before Moses, and be fore the princes, the chief fathers of the children of Israel : 2 And they said, The Lord commanded my lord to give the land for an inheritance by lot to the children of Israel :¦ and my lord was commanded by the Lord to give the inheritance of Zelophehad our brother unto his daughters."1 3 And if they be married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then shall their inheritance be taken from the inheritance of our fathers, and shall be put to the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are8 received: so shall it be taken from the lot of our inheritance. 4 And when the jubilee of the children of Israel shall be,n then shall their inheritance be put unto the inheritance of the tribe whereunto they are received : so shall their inheritance be taken away from the inheritance of the tribe of our fathers. 5 And Moses commanded the children of Israel according to the word of the Lord, saying, The tribe of the sons of Joseph hath said well.0 6 This is the thing which the Lord doth com mand concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, say ing, Let them marry " to whom they think best ; only to the family of the tribe of their father shall they marry .p 7 So shall not the inheritance of the children of Israel remove from tribe to tribe : for every one of the children of Israel shall keep himself to11 the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers.13 can be no expiation for the land, h Gen. 9:6. i Lev. 18:25; Deut. 21:23. JExod. 29:45, 46; 1 Kings 6:13; 2 Cor. 6:16. k ch. 26:29. 1 ch. 20:55; 33:54; Joih. 17:3. m ch. 27:1-7. S Heb. unto whom they shall be. » Lev. 25:10, ete. » eh. 27:7. 1 Heb. be wives, p ver. 12; Gen. 24:3; 2 Cor. 6:14. 1 Heb. cleave to. ql Kings 21:3. other innocent. Careful discrimination should therefore be made in such cases, and each treated according to the true character of his deeds. 33. Murder is a great crime, not only against the person who is killed, but against the community and against God. It pollutes the land, and exposes those who dwell in it to the judgments of God. This exposure cannot be removed without the death of the murderer. Hence, it becomes a public duty to put him to death. Instead of being, as some contend, wrong, it is required by God, and is essen tial in order to escape his judgments. By protecting criminals we become partakers in their guilt and expose ourselves to share in their punishment. CHAPTER XXXVI. 2, Commanded by the Lord; chap. 27:7. 217 Of the marriage NUMBERS XXXVI. of heiresses. 8 And every daughter, that possesseth an inheri tance in any tribe of the children of Israel," shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. 9 Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe ; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance. 10 Even as the Lord commanded Moses,b so did the daughters of Zelophehad : a I Chr. 23:22. b 2 Chr. 30:12. e ch. 27:1. * Heb. to some that were of 13. The judgments; decisions of God concerning the duties, rights, and privileges of his people. The plains of Moab; on the east side of Jordan, over against Jericho. The Moabites had once possessed this country. It was afterwards taken by the Amorites, and was now in the possession of the Israelites, yet it still retained its ancient name. Chap. 22:1. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. It is well ti foresee evils to which we aie exposed, 11 For Mahlah, Tirzah, and Hoglah, and t.^g Milcah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad,0 were married unto their father's brothers' sons : 12 And they were married into the families* of the sons of Manasseh the son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in the tribe of the family of their father. 13 These are the commandments and the judg ments, which the Lord commanded, by the hand of Moses, unto the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.? the families. Num. 13:28, 33. o Exod. 14:14, 25; Neh. 4:20; Rom. 8:37. p eh. 32:11, 12; Exod. 19:4; Isa. 40:11; 46:3; 63:9; Hos. 11:3; Acts 13:18. 1 Psa. 106:24; Heb. 19-21. Kadesh-barnea; Num. 13:26. 22-45. Ye would not go up; Num.' 14: 2-45. 44. The Amorites; here a general name for the Canaan- 220 and walled up to heaven; and moreover b.<|:mS we have seen the sons of the Anakim there." 29 Then I said unto you, Dread not, neither be afraid of them. 30 The Lord your God which goeth before you, he shall fight for you,0 according to all that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes ; 31 And in the wilderness, where thou hast seen how that the Lord thy God bare thee,p as a man doth bare his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place. * 32 Yet in this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God," " 33 Who went in the way before you,r to search you out a place to pitch your tents in," in fire by night, to show you by what way ye should go, and in a cloud by day. 34 And the Lord heard the voice of your words, and was wroth, and sware,' saying, 35 Surely there shall not one of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give unto your fathers,™ 36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his children, because he hath wholly followed1 the Lord. 37 Also the Lord was angry with me for your sakes,v saying, Thou also shalt not go in thither : 38 But Joshua the son of Nun, which standeth before thee, he shall go in thither :w encourage him;x for he shall cause Israel to inherit it. 39 Moreover your little ones,y which ye said should be a prey, and your children, which in that day had no knowledge between good and evil,z they shall go in thither, and unto them will I give it, and they shall possess it. 40 But as for you, turn you, and take your jour ney into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea." 41 Then ye answered and said unto me, We have sinned against the Lord,0 we will go up and fight, ac cording to all that the Lord our God commanded us. And when ye had girded on every man his weap ons of war, ye were ready to go up into the hill. 42 And the Lord said unto me, Say unto them, Go not up, neither fight ; for I am not among you ;c lest ye be smitten before your enemies. 43 So I spake unto you ; and ye would not hear, but rebelled against the commandment of the Lord, and went presumptuously up* into the hill. 44 And the Amorites, which dwelt in that moun tain, came out against you, and chased you, as bees do,d and destroyed you in Seir, even unto Hormah. 45 And ye returned and wept before the Lord ; but the Lord would not hearken to your voice, nor give ear unt.o you. 46 So ye abode in Kadesh many days,0 accord ing unto the days that ye abode there. 3:18; Jude 5. r Exod. 13:21, 22. ' Num. 10:33; Eiek. 20:6. t ch. 2:14, \: , " J,um-„J,'1i?' et0- 'Heb. fulfilled to go after, v „„, 3:23-26; 4:21 ; 34:4; Num. 20:12; 27:13,14; Psa. 100:32. w Num. 14:30; 27:18:23. * ch! 31:7,23. y Num. 14:31. "Eom. 9:11. » Num. 14:25. t> Num. 14:40, ?J„ , .? Jos»; 7: ia,> ,1:L T ,Heb- V wm presumptuous and went up d Psa. 118:12. « Num. 14:25; 20:1, 22; Judg. 11:17. itish tribes. In Num. 14:45, they are called Amalekites and Canaanites. 46. In Kadesli many days ; Num. 20 : 1-22. Moses continuelh the DEUTERONOMY II. story of their pilgrimage. A. M. 2553. B. C. 1451. CHAPTER II, 1 The story is continued, that they were not to meddle with the Edom ites, 9 nor with the Moabites, 17 nor with the Ammonites, 24 but Sihon the Amorite was subdued by them. THEN we turned, and took our journey into the wilderness by the way of the Red sea, as the Lord spake unto me:a and we compassed mount Seir many days. 2 And the Lord spake unto me, saying, 3 Ye have compassed this mountain long enough:0 turn you northward. 4 And command thou the people, saying, Ye are to pass through the coast of your brethren the children of Esau, which dwell in Seir ; ° and they shall be afraid of you : take ye good heed unto yourselves therefore : 5 Meddle not with them ; for I will not give you of their land, no, not so much as a footbreadth : * because I have given mount Seir unto Esau for a possession.11 6 Ye shall buy meat of them for money, that ye may eat ; and ye shall also buy water of them for money, that ye may drink. 7 For the Lord thy God hath blessed thee in all the works of thy hand :e he knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness: these forty years the Lord thy God hath been with thee ;f thou hast lacked nothing. 8 And when we passed by from our brethren the children of Esau,B which dwelt in Seir, through the way of the plain from Elath," and from Ezion- geber, we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab. 9 And the Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites,+ neither contend with them in battle : for I will not give thee of their land for a posses- a Ch. 1:40; Num. 14:25. b ver. 7, 14 c Num. 20:14. * Heb. even to the treading of the sole of the foot, d Gen. 36:8; Josh. 24:4. = Psa. 90:17. fch. 8:2-4; 29:5; Neh. 9:21; Luke 22:35. * Judg. 11:18. 1> 1 Kings 9:20. t Or, Use no hostility against Moab. ' Num. 21:28. j Gen. 19:36, 37. k Gen. 14:5. ' ch. 9:2; Num. 13:22, 33. n> Gen. 14:6. J Heb. inherited INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Men who have spent their life in the service of God, as they draw near its close may often with great advan tage recount the goodness of God, and repeat his com mands to those around them. 11. As good men draw near to heaven, they possess, and often manifest an unusual degree of the spirit of heaven, in earnest desires, fervent prayers, and benevolent efforts for the good of others. 17. Magistrates are God's ministers to execute that part of his government which concerns the temporal rights of men, and as such are bound to be candid and impartial ; to decide and act in the fear and love of God, and accord ing to truth and duty. 21. Great courage is needful in order to be willing, under all circumstances, to obey God. 30. None will have courage enough^to obey God, except those who put their trust in him. 34. God is angry with those who are afraid to obey him. 37. To please God, men must be careful not to boast of their own power ; or take the glory of what they do to themselves. As they have nothing good but what God gives them, the glory of their doing good all belongs to him. 39. Little children are objects of God's peculiar kind ness and care ; and though the sins of parents may occa sion them great trouble, yet by loving and obeying their Father in heaven they may be delivered from all sorrow, aad inherit pure and everlasting joys. sion ; because I have given Ar' unto the children of Lotybr a possession.-1 10 The Emim dwelt therein in times past,k a peo ple great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim;1 11 Which also were accounted giants, as the Anakim; but the Moabites call them Emim. 12 The Horim also dwelt in Seir beforetime;1" but the children of Esau succeeded them,* when they had destroyed them from before them, and dwelt in their stead ;§ as Israel did unto the land of his possession, which the Lord gave unto them. 13 Now rise up, said I, and get you over the brook ' Zered." And we went over the brook Zered. 14 And the space in which we came from Ka desh-barnea,0 until we were come over the brook ^ Zered, was thirty and eight years ; until all the generation of the men of war were wasted out from among the host," as the Lord sware unto thern.0- 15 For indeed the hand of the Lord was against them,r to destroy them from among the host,8 until they were consumed. 16 1 So it came to pass, when all the men of war were -consumed and dead from among the people, 17 That the Lord spake unto me, saying, 18 Thou art to pass over through Ar, the coast of Moab, this day : 19 And when thou comest nigh over against the children of Ammon, distress them not, nor med dle with them : for I will not give thee of the land of the children of Ammon any possession ; because I have given it unto the children of Lot for a possession.' 20 That also was accounted a land of giants: giants dwelt therein in old time-; and the Ammon ites call them Zamzummim,* them. 5 Or, room. « Or valley, n Num. 21 12. o Num. 13:20 . lOr, val- ley. P Num. 14:32 33; 2«:64. q ch. 1 31 35; Num. 14:35; Psa. 9f :11i Ezek 20:15. rPsa. 78:33; 100:26 ¦ 1 C or. 10:5 . t Gen 19:30-38. • Zu- zim; Gen. 14 :5. 45. Men often weep in view of the evils they have brought on themselves, when it is too late to escape them. They must trust in and obey God, if they would avoid deep and unavailing sorrow. CHAPTER II. 1. We turned; from Kadesh-barnea. Mount Seir; a range of mountains running from near the south end of the Dead sea, towards the eastern branch of the Red sea. 3-8. Turn you northward — passed by from our brethren — wilderness of Moab; at Kadesh-barnea, Moses requested of the king of Edom permission to pass through his country on the direct way to the plain of Jordan by Jericho. This would have greatly shortened the route. Being denied his request, he marched south through " the plain," that is, the valley of the Arabah — see note to chap. 1:1 — and passed around between mount Seir and the head of the eastern arm of the Red sea, on which Elath and Ezion-geber were situated. Then he turned northward and skirted along the desert east of mount Seir, here called " the wilderness of Moab." 9. Ar; the capital of Moab, about twenty-five miles south of the river Arnon. Num. 21 : 13-15. 10. Emim ; the ancient inhabitants of the country which was afterwards possessed by the Moabites. 14. Zered; a brook which empties into the south-east part of the Dead sea. 19. The children of Ammon ; on the east of Jordan, north of the Moabites. 221 Moses continueth the DEUTERONOMY III. story of their pilgrimage 21 A people great, and many, and tall, as the Anakim;" but the Lord destroyed them before them ; and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead : 22 As he did to the children of Esau, which dwelt in Seir, when he destroyed the Horim from before them;b and they succeeded them, and dwelt in their stead even unto this day : 23 And the Avim which dwelt in Hazerim," even unto Azzah,d the Caphtorim,e which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them, and dwelt in their stead. 24 1 Rise ye up, take your journey, and passover the river Arnon :f behold, I have given into thy hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land : begin to possess it* and contend with him in battle. 25 This day will I begin to put the dread of thee and the fear of thee upon the nations that are under the whole heaven,8 who shall hear report of thee, and shall tremble, and be in anguish because of thee. 26 If And I sent messengers out of the wilder ness of Kedemoth unto Sihon king of Heshbon with words of peace,h saying, 27 Let me pass through thy land:1 I will go along by the highway, I will neither turn unto the right hand nor to the left. 28 Thou shalt sell me meat for money, that I may eat ; and give me water for money, that I may drink ; only I will pass through on my feet : . 29 As the children of Esau which dwell in Seir,1 and the Moabites which dwell in Ar, did unto me : until I shall pass over Jordan into the land which the Lord our God giveth us. 30 But Sihon king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him :k for the Lord thy God hardened his spirit,1 and made his heart obstiaate, that he might deliver him into thy hand, as appeareth this day. 31 And the Lord said unto me, Behold, I have begun to give Sihon and his land before thee : begin to possess, that thou mayest" inherit his land. > Ver. 10. b Gen. 36:20, etc. c Josh 13:3. d Jer. 25:20. e Gen. 10:14; Amos 9:7. ' Num. 21:13, 14; Judg. h eh. 11:18, 2-2. * Heb. begin, possess. e Exod. 15:11-16; Josh. 2:9. 10. 20:10. i Num. 21:21,22. i Num. 20:18. k Num. 21:23. "Exod 4:21; 11:10, Josh. 11:20; Rom. 9:18, 22. 23. Hazerim; a country south and south-west of Gaza. Azzah; Gaza. Caphtorim; the Philistines. Caphtor; sup posed by some to be Crete, by others, Cappadocia. 24. The river Arnon; the northern boundary of the Mo abites. Heshbon; one of the cities of the Amorites. 26. The wilderness of Kedemoth ; a wilderness north of the river Arnon. 30. Hardened his spirit ; by leaving him to follow his own wicked inclinations in fighting against the Israelites. 32. Jahaz ; a city near the northern frontier of the Mo abites. 36. Aroer; a city on the north side of the river Arnon. Gilead; the country north of the Amorites. 37. The land of tlie chUdren of Ammon; east of the Amo rites. The river Jabbok; that empties from the east into the Jordan, about thirty miles below the sea of Galilee. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. Nations, as well as individuals, are bound in all things to obey God ; and rulers are to be governed, in public as well as private concerns, by his revealed will. 9. The Lord claims, and in his providence exercises, the 222 32 Then Sihon came out against us,m he b.c.'i«i: and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. 33 And the Lord our God delivered him before us ; and we smote him," and his sons, and all his people. 34 And we took all his cities at that time, and utterly destroyed the men, and the women, and the little ones,0 of every city,* and we left none to remain :p 35 Only the cattle we took for a prey unto our selves, and the spoil of the cities which we took. 36 From Aroer," which is by the brink of the river of Arnon, and from the city that is by the river, even unto Gilead, there was not one city too strong for us : the Lord our God delivered all unto us:r 37 Only unto the land of the children of Ammon thou earnest not, nor unto any place of the river Jabbok,8 nor unto the cities in the mountains, nor unto whatsoever the Lord our God forbade us.' CHAPTER III. 1 The story of the conquest of Og king of Bashan. 11 The bigness of his bed. 12 The distribution of those lands to the two tribes and half. 23 Moses' prayer to enter into the land. 26 He is permitted to see it. THEN we turned, and went up the way to Ba shan : and Og the- king of Bashan came out against us,u he and all his people, to battle at Edrei.v 2 And the Lord said unto me, Fear him not:w for I will deliver him, and all his people, and his land, into thy hand ; and thou shalt do unto him as thou didst unto Sihon king of the Amorites,x which dwelt at Heshbon. 3 So the Lord our God delivered into our hands Og also, the king of Bashan, and all his people: and we smote him until none was left to him remaining. 4 And we took all his cities at that time, there was not a city which we took not from them, three score cities, all the region of Argob,y the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 5 All these cities were fenced with high walls, m Num. 21, 23, 24. •> ch. 29:7. o ch. 20:16; 29:7. t Heb. every city of men, and women, and little ones, p ch. 7:2, 26. q ch. 3:12; 4:48; Josh. 13:9. r p3a. 44:3. ' Gen. 32:22. t ver. 5, 9, 19. » ch. 29:7; Num. 21:33-35. vch. 1:4. n- 2 Chr. 20:17. * Num. 21:24. yl Kings 4:13. right of giving any and all portions of the earth to whom soever he will. 12. When the sins of one nation are full, and have ri pened them for ruin, God in righteous judgment often suffers another nation to destroy them and take possession of their country ; though none have a right to do this, except at the direction and under the guidance of God. 23. As with individuals so with nations, they rise and fall in succession, according to the wise and good pur poses of God. While the heart of man deviseth his way, the Lord directeth his steps ; and though there be many human devices, the counsel of the Lord shall stand. Prov. 16:9; 19:21. 30. If men continue to rebel against God, he will finally give them up, and suffer them to pursue their own chosen way of iniquity to their utter ruin. CHAPTER III. 1. Bashan; a country north-east of Gilead. Edrei; a chief city of Bashan. 4. Argob; a district of Bashan. The conquest of Bashan. DEUTERONOMY III. The petition of Moses. b.'"'u5l' gates, and bars; beside unwalled towns a great many. 6 And we utterly destroyed them,tt as we did unto Sihon king of Heshbon, utterly destroying the men, women, and children, of every city. 7 But all the cattle, and the spoil of the cities, we took for a prey to ourselves.b 8 And we took at that time out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites the land that was on this side Jordan, from the river of Arnon unto mount Hermon ; 9 Which Hermon0 the Sidonians call Sirion;d and the Amorites call it Shenir;0 10 All the cities of the plain, and all Gilead, and all Bashan,f unto Salchah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan. 11 For only Og king of Bashan remained of the remnant of giants ;g behold, his bedstead was a bedstead of iron ; is it not in Rabbath of the chil dren of Ammon ?h nine cubits was the length thereof, and four cubits the breadth of it, after the cubit of a man. 12 And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer,' which is by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites. 13 And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh ;j all the region of Argob, with all Ba shan, which was called the land of giants. 14 Jair the son of Manasseh1' took all the coun try of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maa- chathi;1 and called them after his own name, Bashan-havoth-jair, unto this day. 15 And I gave Gilead unto Machir. 16 And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gad ites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Ar non half the valley, and the border even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;1" 17 The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast there of from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain," even the salt sea, under Ashdoth-pisgah* eastward. iCh.2:34; Psa. 135:10-12; 136:19-21. b Josh. 11:12, 14. = ch. 4:48, 49. d Psa. 29:6. e 1 Chr. 5:23; Ezek. 27:5. ' Josh. 12:5; 13:11. E Amos 2:9. 1> 2 Sam. 13:26. ' Josh. 12:2, etc.; 13:9, etc. i Josh. 13:29. kl Chr. 2:23; Num. 32:39-41. 1 Josh. 13:13 ; 2 Sam. 3:3; 10:6. m Josh. 12:2, 3. n Num. 31:11. * Or, under the springs of Pisgah, or the hill, o Num. 32:20, etc. 8. Mount Hermon ; mount Lebanon consists of two nearly parallel ranges, running over against the shore of the Med iterranean north of Palestine ; the eastern of these ranges is called Anti-Lebanon. Mount Hermon branches off from the south end of the Anti-Lebanon range, near the borders of Galilee. 11. Of giants; of the rephaim or giants here spoken of. Nine cubits; thirteen and a half feet. Four cubits; six feet. The cubit of aman; this expression seems to mean, the aver age fore-arm of a man from the elbow to the tip of the mid dle finger ; for from this came the measure of the cubit. 12-20. This land— gave I; Num. 32:1-33. 21. These two kings; Sihon and Og. 26. The Lord was wroth ; Num. 20:7-12. 27. Pisgah; the top of Nebo, one of the summits of mount Abarim. Num. 27 : 12-14. 29. Beth-peor ; meaning, house of Peor ; a place in Moab noted for the worship of Peor, or Baal. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. When men refuse to take warning from the destruc- 18 1 And I commanded you at that time, say ing, The Lord your God hath given you this land to possess it : ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel,0 all that are meet+ for the war. 19 But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you; 20 Until the Lord have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the Lord your God hath given them beyond Jordan : and then shall ye re turn every man unto his possession, which I have given you.p 21 1 And I commanded Joshua at that time,'1 say ing, Thine eyes have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto these two kings : so shall the Lord do unto all the kingdoms whither thou passest. 22 Ye shall not fear them:r for the Lord your God he shall fight for you.3 23 And I besought the Lord at that time, saying, 24 O Lord God, thou hast begun to show thy servant thy greatness, and thy mighty hand : ' for what God is there in heaven or in earth, that can do according to thy works, and according to thy might?" 25 I pray thee, let me go over, and see the good land that is beyond Jordan,v that goodly moun tain, and Lebanon. 26 But the Lord was wroth with me for your sakes, and would not hear me :w and the Lord said unto me, Let it suffice thee ; speak no more unto me of this matter. 27 Get thee up into the top of Pisgah,* and lift up thine eyes westward, and northward, and south ward, and eastward, and behold it with thine eyes : for thou shalt not go over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua,* and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see. 29 So we abode in the valley over against Beth- peor.3' t Heb. sons of power. P Josh. 22:4. q Num. 27:22, 23. r Isa. 43:1, 2. » ch. 1:30; 20:4; Exod. 14:14. t ch. 11:2. u Exod. 15:11; 2 Sam. 7:22; Psa. 71:19; 86:8; 89:6, 8; Isa. 40:28; Dan. 3:29. v Exod. 3:8. w Num. 20:12; 27:13, 14. t Or, The hill. * ch. 1:33; 31:3, 7; Num. 27:18, 23. ych. 4:46. tion of others, and rush on in the same course of trans gression, they may expect to come to the same dreadful end. 11. No human arm however strong, if employed against God, can ultimately succeed. God may suffer his opposers to prosper for a time, while he waits to be gracious ; but if his goodness does not lead them to repentance, they will perish. 18. However great the efforts of the people of God in obedience to his command, their successes are to be ascribed to him, not to their own wisdom, goodness, or power. 26. With such earthly good things as in the use of proper means God sees fit to bestow, we should be con tent, and pray that such evils as our sins here bring upon us, may wean us from the world, quicken us in duty, and prepare us for heaven. 28. The good which we cannot do or enjoy, we should rejoice to have done and enjoyed by others ; and we should be ready in all proper ways to aid them in doing and enjoying it. 223 Moses exhorteth the DEUTERONOMY IV. pee-ple to obedience. CHAPTER IV. 1 An exhortation to obedience. 41 Moses appointeth the three cities of refuge on the east of Jordan. "XTOW therefore hearken, 0 Israel, unto the IN statutes and unto the judgments," which I teach you, for to do them,h that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers giveth you. 2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I com mand you, neither shall ye diminish aught from it,c that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you. 3 Your eyes have seen what the Lord did be cause of Baal-peor :d for all the men that followed Baal-peor, the Lord thy God hath destroyed them from among you.0 4 But ye that did cleave unto the Lord your God are alive every one of you this day.f 5 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judg ments," even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations,11 which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.1 7 For what nation is there so great,-" who hath God so nigh unto them, as the Lord our God is in all things that we- call upon him for ? 8 And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law. which I set before you this day ?k 9 Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently,1 lest thou forget the things which thine ayes have seen,1" and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life ; but teach them thy sons," and thy sons' sons ; 10 Specially the day that thou stoodest before the Lord thy God in Horeb,0 when the Lord said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth," and that they may teach their children. 11 And ye came near and stood under the moun tain ; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst* of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. 12 And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire : ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude ; only ye heard a voice.+<1 • Lev. 19:37; Psa. 119:4. b Ezek. 20:11 ; Rom. 10:5. e ch. 12:32; Rev. 22:18, 19. d Num. 23:1-9; Psa. 106:28, 29. e Num. 20:64. I Josh. 23:8; Acts 11:23. E Prov. 22:19, 20. h Job 28:28; Psa. 19:7; 111:10; Prov. 1:7. i Psa. 119:99. i 2 Sam. 7:23. t Psa. 147:19, 20. 1 Prov. 4:23. m Prov. 3:1; 4:21. ¦> ch. 6:7; 11:19; Psa. 78:5-7; Eph. 6:4. " Exod. chs. 19, 20. P Eccl. 12:13. * Heb. heart, t Heb. save a voice. 1 1 Kings 19:12; Isa. 13 And he declared unto you his cove- aafSi: nant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments;1, and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.8 14 IT And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments,' that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to pos sess it. 15 Take ye therefore goodheed unto yourselves;" for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire; T 16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image,w the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,x 17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth,y the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, 18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth : 19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven,2 and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them,8 which the Lord thy God hath divided* unto all nations under the whole heaven. 20 But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace," even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance,0 as ye are this day. 21 Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes,d and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee/or an inheritance : 22 But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land. 23 Take heed unto yourselves,e lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee. 24 For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire,' even a jealous God.g 25 T When thou shalt beget children, and chil dren's children, and ye shall have remained long in the land, and shall corrupt yourselves, and make a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, and shall do evil in the sight of the Lord thy God, to provoke him to anger ;h CHAPTER IV. 1. Statutes and— judgments ; the laws which God gave the Israelites concerning his worship and their social and civil duties. Ver. 14. 3. What the Lord did ; Num. 25 : 1-9. 6. This is your wisdom and your understanding; it would promote their reputation for wisdom and understanding among other nations. 10-13. In Horeb; Exod. 19, 20. 14. Statutes and judgments ; Exod. 21, 22, 23. 224 30:21. r Exod. 34:28. 'Exod. 31:18. t Exod. ch. 21, etc. » Josh. 23:11 ; Psa. 119:9. v JSa. 40:18. vv Exod. 32:7. * Exod. 20:4, 5. y Rom. 1:23. z Job 3U26, 27. » ch. 17:3; 2 Kings 17:16. t Or, imparted, b 1 Kings 8:51; Jer. 11:4. c ch. 9:29; 32:9; Eph. 1 :18. d Num. 20:12. e ver. 15, 16. fch. 9:3; Heb. 12:29. s Exod. 20:5; Nah. 1:2; Zeph. 3:8. l>2Kings 17:17, etc.; 1 Cor. 10:22. 19. God hath divided; he had given the benefit of the heavenly bodies to all nations, as well as to -the Israelites. 20. The iron furnace; the great oppression and hard ship of their state of bondage. A people of inheritance; his peculiar people, and heirs of his favor. 22. This land; ver. 46. 23. The covenant; Exod. 20:4, 5. 24. Consuming fire — a jealous God; one who is greatly displeased with those who give to others what is due only to himself; and if they do not repent, will destroy them. Ver. 26. Warning against idolatry. DEUTERONOMY IV. Three cities of refuge. A. M. 2553. B. 0. 1451. 26 I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day,a that ye shall soon utterly perish from off the land whereunto ye go over Jordan to possess it; ye shall not prolong your days upon it, but shall utterly be destroyed. 27 And the Lord shall scatter you among the nations,b and ye shall be left few in number among the heathen, whither the Lord shall lead you. 28 And there ye shall serve gods,0 the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, nor hear, nor eat, nor smell. 29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God,d thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart aud with all thy soul.0 30 When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee* even in the latter days/ if thou turn to the Lord thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice ; 31 (For the Lord thy God is a merciful God f) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenaut of thy fathers, which he sware unto them. 32 For ask now of the days that are past,h which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it ? 33 Did ever people hear the voice of God speak ing out of the midst of the fire,1 as thou hast heard, and live ? 34 Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temp tations,1 by signs,k and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand,1 and by a stretched-out arm,™ and by great terrors," according to all that the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 35 Unto thee it was showed, that thou mightest know that the Lord he is God ; there is none else beside him. 36 Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice,0 that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he showed thee his great fire ; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 37 And because he loved thy fathers," therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee » Ch. 30:18, 19; Isa. 1:2; Micah 6:2. b ch. 28:62-04; Lev. 26:33; Neh. 1:3,9. cjer.16:13. d Lev. 20:39, 40; Jer. 3:12-14. ej0el2:12. 'Heb. have found thee, f Jer. 23:20. s Psa. 116:5; Jonah4:2. hJob8:8. i Exod. 19:18,19. j ch. 29:3. k Exod. 7:3. 1 Exod. 13:3. m Exod. 0:6. a ch. 34:12. o Hob. 12:25. P ch. 10: 15; Jer. 31:3. q Exod. 13:3, 9, 14. reh. 31. The covenant; Lev. 26:42-45 ; Gen. 15:14-21. 34. Assayed; attempted. Temptations; trials; the mighty works of God, intended to prove the faith of his people. 36. His great fire; Exod. 19:9-19. 41. Severed; set apart. 48. Sion; called also Sirion, which was another name for Hermon. Chap. 3:8, 9. 49. Sea of the plain; the Dead sea. Chap. 3:17. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Obedience to the laws of God is required by interest as well as by duty. 2. We should take the testimony of God in his word as he has given it, and not be disposed in any respect to alter it. 4. God often makes a difference in this world between the righteous and the wicked, and shows by his provi- out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;" 38 To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art,r to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. 39 Know therefore this day, and consider it in thy heart,3 that the Lord he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath : ' there is none else. 40 Thou shalt keep* therefore his statutes, and his commandments " which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee,v and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the Lord thy God giveth thee, for ever. 41 I Then Moses severed three cities on this side Jordan toward the sunrising ; 42 That the slayer might flee thither,w which should kill his neighbor unawares, and hated him not in times past; and that fleeing unto one of these cities he might live : 43 JVamely, Bezer in the wilderness,x in the plain country, of the Reubenites ; and Ramoth in Gilead, of the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, of the Ma- nassites. 44 IT And this is the law which Moses set before the children of Israel : 45 These are the testimonies,5' and the statutes,2 and the judgments," which Moses spake unto the children of Israel, after they came forth out of Egypt, 46 On this side Jordan, in the valley over against Beth-peor,b in the land of Sihon king of the Amo rites, who dwelt at Heshbon, whom Moses and the children of Israel smote,0 after they were come forth out of Egypt : 47 And they possessed his land, and the land of Og king of Bashan, two kings of the Amorites, which were on this side Jordan toward the sun- rising ; 48 From Aroer,4 which is by the bank of the river Arnon, even unto mount Sion, which is Hermon,e 49 And all the plain on this side Jordan east ward, even unto the sea of the plain, under the springs of Pisgah/ 7:1; 9:1. 2. ¦ Isa. 1 :3; Hos. 7:2. t Josh. 2:11 ; 1 Chr. 29:11. u Lev. 22:31. vch. 5:16; Eph. 0:3. w ch. 19:4; Num. 35:11. xjosh.20:8. yPsa.H9:2. zPsa.H9:5. »Psa.ll9:7. bch.3:29. » ch. 1:4; Num. 21:24, etc. dch. 2:30. » Psa. 133:3. fch. 3:17. dence that godliness with, contentment is great gain. 1 Tim. 4:8; 6:6. 6. Obedience to God is the height of human wisdom, and all who neglect his commandments are guilty of the greatest folly. Psa. 14: 1. 10. The object of God in the revelation of himself, is not only to lead the present generation to love and serve him, but also to communicate a knowledge of his will to their children and children's children, and thus perpetuate to all generations a people to his praise. 16. Men are strongly inclined to corrupt themselves by worshipping idols; serving the creature and neglecting the Creator. . 22. True benevolence will teach a man earnestly to desire and diligently to labor, that blessings of which he is de prived may, if consistent, be given to others.225 Moses rchecrzdk DEUTERONOMY V. t'te ten, commandments. CHAPTER V. ¦ The covenant in Horeb. 6 The ten commandments. 22 At the peo ple's request Moses receiveth the law from God. AND Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, 0 Israel, the statutes and judg ments which I speak in your ears this day, that ye may learn them, and keep and do them.* 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb." 3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers, but with us,b even us, who are all of us here alive this day. 4 The Lord talked with you face to face in the mount out of the midst of the fire,c 5 (I stood between the Lord and you at that time,4 to show you the word of the Lord ; for ye were afraid by reason of the fire, and went not up into the mount,) saying, Q Ham the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt,*5 from the house of bondage/ 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me/ 8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image,g or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth : 9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them : for I the Lord thy God am a jeal ous God,h visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,' 10 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. 11 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain :j for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. * Heb. keep to do them, a Exod. 19:5-8; Heb. 8:9. » oh. 29:10-15. c Exod. 19:9, 18, 19; 20:18-22. d Exod. 24:2, 3; Gal. 3:19. e Exod. 20:2- 17; Psa. 81:10. t Heb. servants, t Matt. 4:10. S ch. 4:15-19. h Exod. 31:14. i Exod. 34:7; Jer. 32:18; Dan. 9:4-9; Matt. 23:35, 36; Rom. 11:28, 29. i Lev. 19:12; Psa. 139:20; Jas. 5:12. k Isa. 58:13; Ezek. 20:12. 23. Men should be very careful to avoid every species of idolatry, and all appearance of worshipping images, or giving that honor to them which belongs only to God. 26. However great the goodness of God to any people, without obedience to his laws they cannot prosper, but will become as distinguished for 1heir calamities as they have been for his favors. 31. However great have been the iniquities of individ uals or nations, and however dreadful their sufferings, if they repent and turn heartily to the Lord, he will have mercy upon them and abundantly pardon. Isa. 55:7. 37. The piety of parents is often the means of great blessings to their children ; and if they are led to imitate their parents in loving and serving God, their blessings will be eternal. 40. All who wisely regard their own interest, or that of their posterity, will hearken diligently to the voice of God, and heartily obey his commands. CHAPTER V. 2. In Horeb; Exod. 19:3-6. 3. Our fathers ; Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 8. Any graven image, or any likeness; to bow down to, adore, or worship. 11. In vain; see note to Exod. 20:7. 12. As the Lord— commanded ; Exod. 20:8-11. 15. Therefore the Lord — commanded; this was to the Isra elites a reason, in addition to that mentioned, Exod. 20: 11, why they should keep the Sabbath ; and especially why their servants should enjoy its rest and privileges. 226 12 Keep the sabbath-day to sanctify it,k aciusf as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee. 13 Six days thou shalt labor, and do all thy work : 14 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God:1 in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, nor thy man-ser vant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thine ox, nor thine ass, nor any of thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates; that thy man-servant and thy maid-servant may rest as well as thou.™ 15 And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt," and that the Lord thy God brought thee out thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched-out arm : therefore the Lord thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath-day. 16 IT Honor thy father and thy mother,0 as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged," and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 17 Thou shalt not kill.*1 18 Neither shalt thou commit adultery/ 19 Neither shalt thou steal.3 20 Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbor.' 21 Neither shalt thou desire thy neighbor's wife, neither shalt thou covet thy neighbor's house, his field, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, his ox, or his ass, or any thing that is thy neighbor's." 22 1 These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice ; and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.v 23 And it came to pass, when ye heard the voice 1 G-en 2:2; Heb. 4:4. m Exod 23:12. n ch. 15:15 10:12; 24:18 22. o Lev. 19:3 Matt . 15:4-0; Eph. 6:1-3. P ch. 4:40. q Matt. 5:21 22. r Prov. 0:32, 33; Matt. 5:27, 2?; Jas. 2:11. s Rom 13:9; Eph. 4:28. IMal. 3:5. i Hab 2:9; Luke 12:15; Rom. 7:7; Heb. 13:5. v Exod. 31:18. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The great object of attending to and becoming ac quainted with the laws of God should be, that we may obey them. 6. The Lord ever speaks to his people as if their deliv erance from bondage was a great and precious blessing, and one which laid them under new and peculiar obliga tions to love and serve him. 14. Servants as well as masters have an inalienable right, and it is their indispensable duty, to rest from their labors on the Sabbath, and to keep it holy : masters are sacredly bound to grant servants liberty and opportunity for this. 15. The giving of a new reason ;vhy men should perform a duty, is no evidence that the duty was not binding before that reason was given or even existed ; nor that there are not many other reasons for the performance of the duty. Chap. 24: 17, 18. 16. Few duties are more intimately connected with or essential to the prosperity of children, than a kind, affec tionate, hearty obedience to their parents. 21. It is wrong not only to take what we ought not to have, but even to desire it. 22. The obligations expressed in the ten commands, which were written by God on tables of stone, are moral : they arise from the nature of men, and their relations to God and their fellow-men ; and are binding upon all who know them, in all ages and in all countries. 33. Obedience to all the commands of God is conducive to the highest good of men, in this world as well as in the world to come. The giving of the law. DEUTERONOMY VI. Exhortations to obedience t "'S' outof the midst of the darkness,* for the moun tain did burn with fire, that ye came near unto me, even all the heads of your tribes, and your elders ; 24 And ye said, Behold, the Lord our God hath showed us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the midst of the fire : we have seen this day that God doth talk with man, and he liveth/ 25 Now therefore why should we die?c for this great fire will consume us: if we hear* the voice of the' Lord our God any more, then we shall die. 26 For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived ? 27 Go thou near, and hear all that the Lord our God shall say ; and speak thou unto us all that the Lord our God shall speak unto thee:d and we will hear it, and do il. 28 And the Lord heard the voice of your words, when ye spake unto me ; and the Lord said unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this people, which they have spoken unto thee:6 they have well said all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me/ and keep all my command ments always,g that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!11 30 Go say to them, Get you into your tents again. 31 But as for thee, stand thou here by me, and I will speak unto thee all the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which thou shalt teach them,' that they may do them in the land which I give them to possess it. 32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you : ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.j 33 Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you,h that ye may live, and that it may Jewell with you,1 and that ye may pro long your days in the land which ye shall possess. CHAPTER VI. 1 The -end of the law is obedience. 3 An exhortation thereto. NOW these are the commandments, the stat utes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach -you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go+ to possess it:m 2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God,n to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son's son, all the days of thy life ; and that thy days may be prolonged." » Exod. 20:18, 19. b ch. 4:33; Judg. 13:22. » ch. 18:16. • Heb. add to hear, d Heb. 12:19. e oh. 18:17. ' eh. 32:29; Psa. 81:13; Isa. 48:18: Ezek. 33:31, 32; Matt. 23:37; Luke 19:42. Sch. 11:1. b 0h. 4:40. i GaL 3:19. J eh. 17:20; 28:14; Josh. 1:7; Prov. 4:27. k Psa. 119:6; Luke 1:0. ljer.7:23. t Heb. pass over, m Ezek. 37:24. nEoel.l2:13. o Prov. 3:1, 2. P Eccl. 8:12; Isa. 3:10. q Gen. 22:17. ' Mark 12:29-32; John 17:3; lCor.8:4,6. ¦ 2Kings 19:15. t 2 Kings 23:25. u Prov. 2:10, 11 ; 3:3, 5 CHAPTER VI. 1. Commandments — statutes — -judgments; in this and some other places, commandments seem to mean the moral law, statutes the ceremonial, and judgments the judicial, or civil law. In other cases they have a more general mean ing, and comprehend the whole of God's commandments. 8. Bind them for a sign — frontlets; figuratively spoken, 3 1 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee,p and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that flow eth with milk and honey .1 4 Hear, O Israel:1, The Lord our God is one Lord:3 5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.1 6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thy heart :u 7 And thou shalt teach* them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.v 8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thy hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.w 9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates/ 10 And it shall be, when the Lord thy God shall have brought thee into the land which he sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give thee great and goodly cities, which thou buildedst not/ 11 And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive-trees, which thou plant- edst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full ; 12 Then beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.§ 13 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God/ and serve him, and shalt swear by his name/ 14 Ye shall not go after other gods,b of the gods of the people which are round about you ; 15 For the Lord thy God is a jealous Godc among you;4 lest the anger of the Lord thy God be kindled against thee,e and destroy thee from off the face of the earth. 16 1 Ye shall not tempt the Lord your God,f as ye tempted him in Massah.8 17 Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee.11 18 And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the Lord ;' that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, 19 To cast out all thine enemies from before thee,j as the Lord hath spoken. 1 Heb. whet, or sharpen, v ch. 11:19; Psa. 78:4-6; Eph. 6:4. w Prov. 6:21; 7:3. x Hab. 2:2. y Josh. 24: 13; Psa. 105:44. § Heb. bondmen, or servants, z ch. 10:12, 20. a Isa. 05:16; Jer, 5:2; 12:16. b Jer. 25:6. cExod.20:5. oh. 28:1, etc. ; Lev. 26:3, etc. " Exod. 23:20, etc. 23. The land of Canaan, of which the children of Israel at the command of God took possession, was his gift to them. In taking it from the Canaanites and giving it to the Israelites, he only did what he saw to be best with his own. 25. The way for men to be treated for Christ's sake as righteous, is to obey God ; and they can have no evidence that they are accepted of him, any further than they are disposed to keep his commandments. CHAPTEB VII. 2. Thou shalt smite tltem, and utterly destroy them; the Israelites were the executioners of divine justice upon the Canaanites for their sins. 5. Their groves; or, their images of Astarte. 7. Fewest of all; when God selected them and made promises to Abraham and his seed, they were very few ; nor did they so greatly increase till near the time of their deliverance from Egypt. Acts 7 : 17. 10. Repay him to his face; promptly and openly punish him. Obedience urged from DEUTERONOMY VIII. regard of God's mercies. *¦« 15 And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt,* which thou knowest, upon thee ; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee. 16 And thou shalt consume all the people which the Lord thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them:b neither shalt thou serve their gods ; for that wiU be a snare unto thee.c 17 If thou shalt say in thy heart, These nations are more than I ; how can I dispossess them? 18 Thou shalt not be afraid of them:4 but shalt well remember what the Lord thy God did unto Pharaoh, and unto all Egypt;0 19 The great temptations which thine eyes saw, and the signs, and the wonders, and the mighty hand, and the stretched-out arm, whereby the Lord thy God brought thee out :f so shall the Lord thy God do unto all the people of whom thou art afraid.8 20 Moreover the Lord thy God will send the hornet among them," until they that are left, and hide themselves from thee, be destroyed. 21 Thou shalt not be affrighted at them : for the Lord thy God is among you, a mighty God and terrible.1 22 And the Lord thy God will put out* those nations before thee by little and little :j thou may est not consume them at once, lest the beasts of the field increase upon thee. 23 But the Lord thy God shall deliver them unto thee,+ and shall destroy them with a mighty de struction, until they be destroyed. 24 And he shall deliver their kings into thy hand,k and thou shalt destroy their name from un der heaven : ' there shall no man be able to stand before thee,1" until thou have destroyed them. 25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire :n thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them,0 nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein:" for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God. 26 Neither shalt thou bring an abomination into thy hoiise,q lest thou be a cursed thing like it : but thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it: for it is a cursed thing/ a Exod. 9:14. b ch. 13:8; 19:13, 21. » ch. 12:30; Exod. 23:33; Judg. 8:27; Psa. 106:30. A ch. 31:6. e Psa. 105:5. f oh. 4:34. E Josh. 3:10. h Exod. 23:28. "ch. 10:17. ' Heb. pluck off. j Exod. 23:29, 30. t Heb. before thy face, k Josh. 10:24, 42; 12:1. 1 ch. 25:19. n ch. 11:25; Isa. 54:17. n Exod. 32:20; 1 Chr. 14:12. ° Josh. 7:1, 21. p Judg. 8:27-. q Ezek. 19. Temptations; trials; miracles by which God proved both Pharaoh and his own people. 25. An abomination; having been used in idol- worship, the Israelites were to treat it with abhorrence, as a testi mony against that sin. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Inputting men to death according to God's directions, it is not needful or right to hate them, or have any unkind feelings towards them ; and the idea that capital punish ments spring from or imply any such feelings, is a great mistake. 4. Chosen and intimate connections with the openly wicked increase our danger of being drawn into sin, and should be carefully avoided. 9. The Lord will be faithful in fulfilling his promises to the righteous, and in executing his threatenings against the wicked. 14. Obedience to God will procure the greatest bless ings for this life and the life to come. CHAPTER VIII. An exhortation to obedience in regard of God's dealing with them. ALL the commandments3 which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do,' that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers. 2 And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee these forty years" in the wilderness/ to humble thee,w and to prove thee,x to know what was in thy heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no.y 3 And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hun ger, and fed thee, with manna/ which thou knew- est not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only/ but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live." 4 Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.0 5 Thou shalt also consider in thy heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son,d so the Lord thy God chasteneth thee. 6 Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, and to fear him.0 7 For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills ; 8 A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig-trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil-olive,* and honey ; 9 A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it ; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass/ 10 When thou hast eaten and art full/ then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee." 11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day : 12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full,1 and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein; 14:7. ' Josh. 6:17, 18. » Psa 119:6 tch. ¦>:3«, 33. tich.2:7; 29:5: Amos 2:10. * Psa. L36:16. » Job 33:17. x Exod 16:4 y 2 Chr. 32:31. z Exod. 16:15. a Matt. 4:4. 1> Psa. 104:27- -29. e Neh. 9:21. d Prov . 3:12 ; Heb. 12:5, 6 Rev 3:19. el Sam 12:21. tHeb . of olive-tree of oil. fob. 33:25. El Cor 10:31 . b 1 Chr 29:14; Psa. 103:2; Prov 3:9. iProv. 30:9. 23. Things which are done by God's direction, and which take place under his guiding and all-controlling providence, are in the Bible often spoken of as done by him. 24. The putting of criminals to death according to God's direction, is a proper expression of his just indignation against their sins ; and when he commands, it cannot be neglected without disobeying him. CHAPTER VIII. 2. To know; make known to themselves and to others. 3. By bread only; that is, food produced by natural means. By every word that proceedeth out of the mouth qf the Lord ; by food miraculously produced by God's pow erful word. The meaning is, that God can supply the wants of his people without the use of natural means, by simply speaking the word. He is therefore to be trusted for supplies in a desert, as well as in a fruitful land. See Matt. 4:4. 9. Brass ; or copper, of which brass is chiefly composed. 909 They must not trust in DEUTERONOMY IX. their own righteousness. 13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied,; 14 Then thy heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage ;a 15 Who led thee through that great and terrible wilderness, wherein were fiery serpents," and scor pions, and drought,0 where there was no water; who brought thee forth water out of the rock of flint ;d 16 Who fed thee in the wilderness with manna," which thy fathers knew not, that he might humble thee,f and that he might prove thee, to do thee good at thy latter end;8 17 And thou say in thy heart, My power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth." 18 But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God : for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth,' that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day. 19 And it shall be, if thou do at all forget the Lord thy God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish.-1 20 As the nations which the Lord destroyeth before your face, so shall ye perish;" because ye would not be obedient unto the voice of the Lord your God. CHAPTER IX. Moses dissuadeth them from the opinion of their own righteousness, by rehearsing their several rebellions. HEAR, 0 Israel : Thou art to pass over Jordan this day,1 to go in to possess nations greater and mightier than thyself, cities great and fenced up to heaven, 2 A people great and tall, the children of the Anakim, whom thou knowest, and of whom thou hast heard say, Who can stand before the children of Anak! m 3 Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee ; n as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face : so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly,0 as the Lord hath said unto thee/ 4 Speak not thou in thy heart, after that the a Jer. 2:0. b Nam 21 6. e Hos 13:5. d Num. 20:11 Psa. 78:15,16; 114:9; I Cor. 10:4. e ver 3. f ver 2. e Lam 3:26-33; Heb. 12:10, 11. l>ch.9:4; 1 Cor. 4:7. ' Prov. 10:22; Hos 2:8. J ch. 4:20: l:):23-3£ 30:1s . k2Chr. 3'i:10, 17; Dan. 9:11, 12. 1 Josh. 4: 19. m N urn . « !h. 31:3-6; Josh. 3:11. « ch. 7:21 P Exod. 23:31. q ch 8: 17; Rom. 11-0, 20; 1 Cor. Lord thy God hath cast them out from ^S before thee, saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land-/ but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee/ 5 Not for thy righteousness, or for the upright ness of thy heart,8 dost thou go to possess their land : but for the wickedness of those nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham,' Isaac," and Jacob/ 6 Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness ; for thou art a stiffnecked people." 7 1 Remember, and forget not, how thou pro- vokedst the Lord thy God to wrath in the wilder- from the day that thou didst depart out of 14. Thy heart be lifted up; become proud and self-confi dent. Ver. 17. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. One great object of God in all his dispensations, is to try men and lead them to see and to manifest their true character. 5. The Lord never sends trials because he delights in them, but for the profit of his people ; that they may be led to feel their dependence, and to exercise those feelings towards him which shall fit them for heaven. 10. In seasons of great prosperity we should feel under special obligations to God, and acknowledge his goodness with special thanksgiving. 14. Great prosperity is peculiarly apt to make men 230 ness: the land of Egypt/ until ye came unto this place, ye have been rebellious against the Lord. 8 Also in Horeb ye provoked the Lord to wrath/ so that the Lord was angry with you to have de stroyed you. 9 When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which the Lord made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights;2 I neither did eat bread nor drink water : 10 And the Lord delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God ;a and on them was written according to all the words which the Lord spake with you in the mount, out of the midst of the fire, in the day of the assembly/ 11 And it came to pass at the end of forty days and forty nights, that the Lord gave me the two tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant/ 12 And the Lord said unto me, Arise, get thee down quickly from hence; for thy people which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt have cor rupted themselves; they are quickly turned aside out of the way which I commanded them ; they have made them a molten image/ 13 Furthermore the Lord spake unto me,e say ing, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiffnecked people : f 14 Let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their name from under heaven:8 and I will make of thee a nation mightier and greater than they/ 4:7. r ch. 18:12; Gen. 15:10; Lev. 18:24, 25. » Titus 3:5. t Gen. 12:7; 17:8. u Gen. 26:4. v Gen. 28: 13. w Exod. 32:9; 33:3; 2 Chr. 30:8. * Exod. 14:11; 10:2; 17:2: Num. 11:4; 20:2; 2">:2. y Exod. 32:1-6. * Kxod. 34:2s. • Exod. 31:18. b Exod. 19:18,19. eHeb.8:6-10. d Judg. 2:17; Psa. 78:57; Hos.6:l. e Exod. 32:9. f ver. 6; Acts 7:51. s ch. 29:20. ' » Num. 14:12. proud, and lead them so to trust in themselves and neglect God and his service, as to harden their hearts and increase their exposure to ruin. Ver. 17. 18. Power to get wealth, and also liberty to keep and en joy it, are from the Lord. For this reason it should ever be viewed as his gift, and employed in promoting his cause. 20. However great the goodness of God, and however abundant his promises to any people, continued disobe dience will bring upon them irretrievable ruin. CHAPTER IX. 2. Anakim ; descendants of Anak, son of Arba, and dis tinguished for their size and strength. Num. 13:22. 10. The words which the Lord spake ; Exod. 19 : 18 ; 20 : 1-17. Moses recounteth DEUTERONOMY X. their rebellions. b.'c!'hm!" 15 So I turned and came down from the mount/ and the mount burned with fire/ and the two tables of the covenant were in my two hands. 16 And I looked, and behold, ye had sinned against the Lord your God, and had made you a molten calf: ye had turned aside quickly out of the way which the Lord had commanded you. 17 And I took the two tables, and cast them but of my two hands, and brake them before your eyes. 18 And I fell down before the Lord," as at the first, forty days and forty nights : I did neither eat bread nor drink water, because of all your sins which ye sinned, in doing wickedly in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger. 19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot dis pleasure, wherewith the Lord was wroth against you to destroy you/ But the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also/ 20 And the Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed him : and I prayed for Aaron also the same time. 21 And I took your sin,f the calf which ye had made, and burnt it with fire, and stamped it, and ground it very small, even until it was as small as dust: and I cast the dust thereof into the brook that descended out of the mount/ 22 And at Taberah,11 and at Massah,1 and at Kib roth-hattaavah,1 ye provoked the Lord to wrath. 23 Likewise when the Lord sent you from Ka desh-barnea ,k saying, Go up and possess the land which I have given you ; then ye rebelled against the commandment of the Lord your God, and ye believed him not,1 nor hearkened to his voice. 24 Ye have been rebellious against the Lord from the day that I knew you."1 25 Thus I fell down before the Lord forty days and forty nights," as I fell down at the first; be cause the Lord had said he would destroy you. 26 I prayed therefore unto the Lord,0 and said, 0 Lord God, destroy not thy people and thine inheritance," which thou hast redeemed through thy greatness, which thou hast brought forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand. » Exod. 32 15, etc. !> ch. 4:11; 5:23 : Exod 19:18. » Exod 32:10-11. J 1, n Ice 12:4, 5. e Exod 33:17 Psa. 106:23. f Isa. 31:7. B Exod. 32:20, II Nam 11:1 -4. » Exod. 17:7. J Num. 11:34. k Num. chs. 13, 14. 1 Psa. 78:22; 106:24, 25 . ra ch 31:27. a ver. 18. o Exod. 32:11 etc. P 1 Kings 17. Brake them; Exod. 32:18. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. In the discharge of duty, we should neither despise nor fear our enemies; but putting our trust in God, go forward in humble dependence on him, committing our selves and all our concerns to his wise and gracious guid ance and disposal. 6. Men do not receive blessings because of their own worthiness, but on account of the worthiness of Christ, and the abounding grace of God through him. 14. Should men receive from God their just deserts as sinners, they would all be destroyed. 19. Humble, believing, earnest, persevering prayer has great influence with God, and has often been the means of saving the wicked from destruction. 24. No mercies or trials will of themselves remove men's proneness to sin, or prevent their continued and persever ing rebellion against God. He must grant them the influ ences of his Spirit, or they will perish. 27 Remember thy servants, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ; look not unto the stubbornness of this peo ple," nor to their wickedness,r nor to their sin :9 28 Lest the land whence thou broughtest us out' say, Because the Lord was not able to bring them into the land which he promised them, and because he hated them, he hath brought them out to slay them in the wilderness/ 29 Yet they are thy people and thine inheri tance/ which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched-out arm. CHAPTER X. 1 God's mercy in restoring the two tables, 6 in continuing the priest hood, 8 in separating the tribe of Levi, 10 in hearkening unto Moses' suit for the people. 12 An exhortation to obedience. AT that time the Lord said unto me, Hew thee two tables of stone like, unto the first/ and come up unto me into the mount, and make thee an ark of wood/ 2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark. 3 And I made an ark of shittim-wood, y and hewed two tables of stone like unto the first, and went up into the mount, having the two tables in my hand. 4 And he wrote on the tables,2 according to the first writing, the ten commandments," which the Lord spake unto you in the mount," out of the midst of the fire, in the day of the assembly : and the Lorl gave them unto me. 5 And 1 turned myself and came down from the mount, and put the tables in the ark which I had made ; and there they be,b as the Lord command ed me. 6 T And the children of Israel took their jour ney from Beeroth of the children of Jaakan to Mosera:0 there Aaron died, and there he was buried ; and Eleazar his son ministered in the priest's office in his stead. 7 From thence they journeyed unto Gudgodah ; and from Gudgodah to Jotbath, a land of rivers of waters. 8:51. q Psa. 78:8. r Prov/21: 12. » Mic. 7:18. t Exod. 6:0-8. u Num. 14:10. v ver. 26; Neh. 1:10; Psa. 100:3. «¦ Exod. 34: 1, etc. * Exod. 25:10; Heb; 9:4. y Exod. 37:1. z Exod. 34:28. • 0eb. words, a Exod. 20:1-17. bl Kings 8:9. = Num. 33:31-38. 29. Prayers which spring from desires to have God hon ored, and reproaches against him prevented, are the fruit of his Spirit, and are peculiarly pleasing in his sight. CHAPTER X. 4. The first writing ; chap. 9:10; Exod. 34:28. 6. From Beeroth — Mosera; the Israelites twice marched northward along "the plain" of the Arabah to Kadesh. and thence southward from Kadesh towards the Red sea: first, in the second year of the exodus, Numbers 12, 13 ; secondly, in the beginning of the fortieth year of the exodus, Numbers 20. It is probable that the record of encampments in Num. 33 : 31-33, belongs to their journey in the second year; and that in the present passage, to their southern journey in the beginning of the fortieth year. It is to be noticed that when the same route is twice gone over, the sacred writer, as » general rule, names only the more prominent stations. Mosera, or Moseroth, being in the vicinity of mount Hor, probably at its foot, Aaron may well be said to havo died there. 231 The people are counselled DEUTERONOMY XI. to fear and obey God. 8 1 At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi/ to bear the ark of the covenant of the Lord," to stand before the Lordc to minister unto him,d and to bless in his name,6 unto this day. 9 "Wherefore Levi hath no part nor inheritance with his brethren ;f the Lord is his inheritance, according as the Lord thy God promised him. 10 And I stayed in the mount, according to the first time,* forty days and forty nights ; and the Lord hearkened unto me at that time also,5 and the Lord would not destroy thee. 11 And the Lord said unto me, Arise, take thy journey + before the people, that they may go in and possess the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give unto them. 12 1 And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee,11 but to fear the Lord thy God,1 to walk in all his ways,j and to love him,k and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul,1 13 To keep the commandments of the Lord, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for 'thy good ?m 14 Behold, the heaven" and the heaven of heav ens is the Lord's thy God,0 the earth also? with all that therein is. 15 Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day. 16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart,4 and be no more stiffnecked. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods/ and Lord of lords,3 a great God, a mighty,1 and a ter rible, which regardeth not persons," nor taketh reward : 18 He doth execute the judgment of the father less and widow/ and loveth the stranger, in giv ing him food and raiment. 19 Love ye therefore the stranger :w for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. 20 Thou shalt fear the Lord thy God ; him shalt thou serve, and to him shalt thou cleave/ and swear by his name/ 21 He is thy praise,z and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen. a Num. 3:0-9. b Num. 4:15. = Psa. 135:2. d cb. 18:5; 2 Chr. 29:11 Rom. 12:7. e ch. 21:5; Num. 6:23. I Num. 18:20, 24; Ezek. 44:23. 'Or former days. K Exod. 32:14. t Heb. go in journey, h Mic. 6:8. >ch.6:13 Psa. 31:9. j ch. 5:33. k 0h. 6:5; 11:13; 30:10, 20; Psa. 18:1; 145:20 Malt.22:37. 1 Job 36: II ; Zeph. 3:9 ; Rom. 1:9; Heb. 12:28. mch.6:24 • Psa. 115:16. o Psa. 148:4. p Gen. 14:19; Psa. 24:1; 50:12. q Jer. 4:4 8. At that time; while they were at Sinai. Num. 3, 4. 16. Circumcise — the foreskin of your heart; break off your sins, and engage heartily in doing the will of God. Ver. 20. 17. Regardeth not persons ; does not regard men accord ing to outward distinctions, or appearance merely, but according to their true character. 18. The judgment of the fatherless ; God decides and acts rightly, kindly, and graciously concerning them. He opens his hand and supplies their wants. 21. He is thy praise; the Giver of their mercies, whom they ought to praise. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. The ten commandments express the will of God and the duty of men, and the effect of divine grace is to lead men heartily to love them and strive in all things perfectly to obey them.- 232 22 Thy fathers went down into Egypt t£?Jf with threescore and ten persons;" and now the Lord thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude. CHAPTER XI. 1 An exhortation to obedience, 2 by their own experience of God's .great -works, 8 by promise of God's great blessings, 16 and by threatenings. 18 A careful study is required in God's words. 26 The blessing and curse is set before them. 1 THEREFORE thou shalt love the Lord thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, al- way. 2 And know ye this day: for I speak not with your children which have not known, and which have not seen the chastisement of the Lord your God,b his greatness, his mighty hand, and his stretched-out arm, 3 And his miracles, and his acts, which he did in the midst of Egypt unto Pharaoh the king of Egypt, and unto all his land ; 4 And what he did unto the army of Egypt, unto their horses, and to their chariots ; how he made the water of the Red sea to overflow them as they pursued after you,0 and how the Lord hath de stroyed them unto this day; 5 And what he did unto you in the wilderness, until ye came into this place ; 6 And what he did unto Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, the son of Reuben: how the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and their tents, and all the substance that was in their possession,* in the midst of all Israel : 7 But your eyes have seen all the great acts of the Lord which he did. 8 Therefore shall ye keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that ye may be strong, and go in and possess the land, whither ye go to possess it ; 9 And that ye may prolong your days in the land, which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give unto them and to their seed, a land that floweth with milk and honey. 10 1 For the land whither thou goest in to pos- Rom. 2:2?, 29. r Josh 22:22; Dan. 2:47. s Rev. 17:14; 19:16. < Neh. 9:32. u 2 Chr. 19:7; Job 34:19; Eph. 6:9. v psl. 68:5. w 1,»t. 19:33. * Acts 11:23. y Isa. 45:23. s Jer. 17:14. ' Gen. 46:27. b ch. 8:5. c Exod. 14:23-31. 1 Or, living substance which followed them. Heb. was at their feel. 8. It is the will of God that there should be an order of men set apart to minister for him, conduct his worship, proclaim his will, and set before men the motives which he has revealed to induce them to do it. 13. The fear and love of God which lead men cheerfully and heartily to obey him, promote not only his glory, but their highest good. 17-19. God is no respecter of persons. He looks with tender compassion on the stranger, the widow, and the fatherless. He delights to help them, and requires that all, in this, should imitate his example. CHAPTER XI. 9. Floweth with milk and honey ; is very fruitful. 10. Wateredst it with thy foot ; drawing up water from the rivers and fountains by tread wheels, with great labor, to keep the land from drying up for want of rain. God's word to be regarded. DEUTERONOMY XI. A blessing and a curse Biausf sess it, is not as the land of Egypt,8 from whence ye came out, where thou sowedst thy seed, and wateredst it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs : 11 But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven : 12 A land which the Lord thy God careth* for : the eyes of the Lord thy God are always upon it,b from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. 13 1 And it shall come to pass, if ye shall heark en diligently unto my commandments which I com mand you this day,0 to love the Lord your God, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul,4 14 That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season,e the first rain and the latter rain/ that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil. 15 And I will send* grass in thy fields for thy cattle,8 that thou mayest eat and be full.1' 16 Take heed to yourselves,1 that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve Other gods, and worship them ;j 17 And then the Lord's wrath be kindled against you," and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain,1 and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the Lord giveth you. 18 1 Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul,"1 and bind them for a sign upon your hand," that they may be as front lets between your eyes. 19 And ye shall teach them your children, speak ing of them when thou sittest in thy house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.0 20 And thou shalt Write them upon the door-posts of thy house, and upon thy gates : 21 That your days may be multiplied,1" and the a Zech. 11: 16 . * Heb. seeketh. 1 1 Kings 9 3. e ver. 22 eh 6:17. dt-h. 10:12. e Lev. 20:4. ' Joel 2:23; Jas. 5:7. t Heb. give. s Psa. 104:14; Hos. 2 21,22. !> Joel 2: 19. i Josh 23:11-16. 1 ch. 29 18; ,ler 4:18. kch. 6:15. 1 Kings 8:35; 2 Chr. 7:13. ¦n.ch. 6:6-9: Prov . S 1. n Prov 3:3. 12. Careth for; by granting seasonable rains and ren dering it fruitful. Ver. 14, 15. 18. Lay up these my words in your heart; remember and obey them. 20. Write them; to make them familiar not only to your selves, but to your children. 21. As the days of heaven upon the earth; that you may continue prosperous and happy to the end of time. 23. Possess greater nations; the countries of those na tions. 24. The wilderness; of Zin, the south border of Canaan. Lebanon; the north border. Euphrates; the east border. The uttermost sea; the Mediterranean, the west border of Canaan. Num. 34:1-12. 29. Put the blessing; cause it to be proclaimed. Chap. 27:12, 13; Josh. 8:30-35. Gerizim— Ebal ; these are two steep mountains lying near together: Between them was anciently the city Sychem, or Sichem, also called Sychar. Gen. 33:18; John 4:5. 30. Champaign; "the plain" of the Arabah. Gilgal; not the Gilgal where Joshua had his first encampment after crossing the Jordan, but another Gilgal further north, which is named in Josh. 12:23. The plains of Moreh; or the oaks of Moreh. See Gen. 12 : 6, note. days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers fo give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.0- 22 1 For if ye shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you, to do them, to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cleave unto him;r 23 Then will the Lord drive out all these na tions from before you,s and ye shall possess great er nations and mightier than yourselves. 24 Every place whereon the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours:' from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be.u 25 There shall no man be able to stand before you:v for the Lord your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon,w as he hath said unto you.* 26 1 Behold, I set before you this day a bless ing and a curse :y 27 A blessing,2 if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day; 28 And a curse," if ye will not obey the com mandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods," which ye have not known. 29 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount EbaL° 30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? 31 For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. 32 And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.a °ch.4:9, 10. pProv.4:10; 9:11 q Psa. 89:29. ' ch. 10:20; 30:20. »ch. 9:5; Psa. 78:55. t Josh. 1:3. u Gen. 15:18; Num. 34:3. » ch. 7:24. w Josh. 2:9, 24. * Exod. 23:27. y ch. 30:1, 15, 19. 2 ch. 28:2-13. a ch. 2ti: 15-63. i> 1 Sam. 12:21. "oh 27: 12, 13; Josh. 8:33. d 0h. 12:32. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Love to God and to men, a disposition to honor him and do good to them, is the essence of true religion. Matt. 22:36-39. 8. The dealings of God in past generations form a cogent reason why all men should obey him. 12. Temporal as well as spiritual blessings are the gift of God, and for them men are indebted to his unmerited favor. 17. Temporal as well as spiritual judgments are the fruit of sin, and should lead all to hate and forsake it, knowing that if they continue in it, it will prove their ruin. 21. Parents should take measures not only to become acquainted with the commands of God themselves, but to have them deeply impressed on the minds of their chil dren. 28. Life and death are set before men, and the strongest motives presented to induce them to choose life. If they do, and show this by taking the way that leads to it, they will live. If they do not, they will die, and the blame will rest wholly on them. Chap. 30:19; Josh. 24:15; Lzek. 33:10-16. 233 Moses continuelh his DEUTERONOMY XII. charge to the people. CHAPTER XII. 1 Monuments of idolatry are to be destroyed. 5 The place of God's service js to be kept. 15, 23 Blood is forbidden. 17, 20, 26 Holy things must be eaten in the holy place. 19 The Levite is not to be forsaken. 29 Idolatry is not to be inquired after. ""pHESE are the statutes and judgments, which _L ye shall observe to do in the land, which the Lord God of thy fathers giveth thee to possess it," all the days that ye live upon the earth.0 2 Ye shall utterly destroy all the places,0 where in the nations which ye shall possess* served their gods, upon the high mountains, and upon the hills, and under every green tree:d 3 And ye shall overthrow + their altars,e and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire;f and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. 4 Ye shall not do so unto the Lord your God.g 5 But unto the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there," even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come : 6 And thither ye shall bring your burnt-offer ings,1 and your sacrifices, and your tithes,j and heave-offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill-offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: 7 And there ye shall eat before the Lord your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put your hand unto,k ye and your households, wherein the Lord thy God hath blessed thee. 8 Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes.1 9 For ye are not as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance,™ which the Lord your God giveth you. 10 But when ye go over Jordan," and dwell in the land which the Lord your God giveth you to inherit, and when he giveth you rest from all your enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety ; a Ch.fl: 1. b ch. 4 10. » Exod 34 13. • Or, inherit, d 2 Kinrrs 17:10, 11 Jer. 3 0. t Heb break down. e Mum. 33:52 Judg. 2:2; 2Ch r. 31:1. f 1 Kinss 15:13. 5 ver. 31. b ver. U; 2 Chi . 7:12 Psa. 7o:68. ¦ Lev. 17:3, 4. i ch. 14 22 26. k verses 12 is ; ch. 16:11- 15; 26:11; Lev. 23:40. CHAPTER XII. 3. Their groves; or, images of Astarte. 4. Not do so unto the Lord; not worship him as the hea then worship their gods, at their own discretion, on moun tains and hills, and with images ; but carry all your sacri fices and offerings to the one place which he shall choose. 5. His habitation ; the place where he would dwell with his visible presence. 6. Your vows; that is, the offerings which they had vowed to Jehovah. 7. There ye shall eat; according to the directions which God had before given them. 8. Yesliallnotdo; as theyhad done while on their journey, when various things were neglected which they must at tend to after they should be settled in the land of promise. 15. Kill and eat flesh; for their ordinary food. Lusteth after; desireth, if not forbidden by the law of God. The unclean and the clean may eat; they might satisfy their hun ger on flesh, notwithstanding ceremonial uncleanness. As of the roebuck, and — hart; these, though clean animals, were not offered in sacrifice. The meaning is, that they were as free to kill and eat those animals which were offered in sacrifice, as those which were not offered. 234 11 Then there shall be a place which the j,-.?; ¥§ : Lord your God shall choose to cause his name to dwell there;0 thither shall ye bring all that I command you ; your burnt-offerings, and your sac rifices, your tithes, and the heave-offering of your hand, and all your choice vows* which ye vow unto the Lord : 12 And ye shall rejoice before the Lord your God,p ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and the Levite that is within your gates ; forasmuch as he hath no part nor inheritance with you." 13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings ia every place that thou seest:r 14 But in the place which the Lord shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings,s and there thou shalt do all that I command thee. 15 Notwithstanding, thou mayest kill and eat flesh in all thy gates, whatsoever thy soul lusteth after,1 according to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee : the unclean and the clean may eat thereof,0 as of the roebuck, and as of the hart. 16 Only ye shall not eat the blood; ye shall pour it upon the earth as water.v 17 TThou mayest not eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thine oil, or the firstlings of thy herds or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vowest, nor thy free will-offerings, or heave-offering of thy hand : 18 But thou must eat them before the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose,w thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates: and thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God in all that thou puttest thy hands unto* 19 Take heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou livest5 upon the earth.y 20 1 When the Lord thy God shall enlarge thy 1 Jndg. 17:6; 21:25. m Heb 4:9. n Josh. 3:17. ° Josh. 18:1; 1 Kings 8:29. t Heb. the choice of your vows. P ver. 7. 1 ch. 14:29. r Lev. 17:2-5. >ver 11. t ch. 14:26. "ver. 22; ch. 15:22. » Gen. 9:4; Lev. 7:26. w Yer. 11, 12; ch. 14:23. ¦! Cor. 10:31 S He b. all thy days, y ch . 1 4 : 27. 16. Not eat the blood; this was the means and emblem of life ; it was offered in sacrifice to God to make atonement for the sins of men, and was not to be eaten, but to be re garded as sacred, in order to increase their conviction of the evil of sin, the justice of God, and their need of pardon. 19. Forsake not the Levite; by withholding what belonged to him. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. We should put away all things which tend to draw us from the worship and service of God, and encourage all which lead us to cleave to and obey him. 7. To have our offerings accepted, we must bring them to God in the way of his appointment, in reliance on the atonement and intercession of Christ, and for the purpose of honoring him as well as benefiting ourselves and our fellow-men. 12. Sincere and hearty worship of Jehovah is not only highly pleasing to him, but a means of usefulness and happiness to those who present it, and to all connected with them. 16. A deep conviction of the evil of sin, of the justice and mercy of God, and of the necessity and value of the atonement, and a holy regard for divine institutions, should ever be cultivated by all the children of men. The place of God's service. DEUTERONOMY XIII, Enticers to idolatry. B.c!i45L border,1 as he hath promised thee," and thou shalt say, I will eat flesh, because thy soul longeth to eat flesh ; thou mayest eat flesh, what soever thy soul lusteth after. 21 If the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to put his name there be too far from thee, then thou shalt kill of thy herd and of thy flock, which the Lord hath given thee, as I have com manded thee, and thou shalt eat in thy gates what soever thy soul lusteth after. 22 Even as the roebuck and the hart is eaten,0 so thou shalt eat them : the unclean and the clean shall eat of them alike. 23 Only be sure* that thou eat not the blood : for the blood is the life ;d and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. 24 Thou shalt not eat it ; thou shalt pour it upon the earth as water. 25 Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee,0 and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord.' 26 Only thy holy things which thou hast,8 and thy vows, thou shalt take," and go unto the place which the Lord shall choose : 27 And thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the Lord thy God : ' and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out upon the altar of the Lord thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh. 28 Observe and hear all these words which I command thee,j that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God. 29 IF When the Lord thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee,k whither thou goest to possess them, and thou succeedest* them, and dwellest in their land; 30 Take heed to thyself that thou be not snared by following them,*1 after that they be destroyed from before thee ; and that thou inquire not after their gods, saying, How did these nations serve their gods ? even so will I do likewise. 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the Lord thy God : m for every abomination to§ the Lord which he hat- eth have they done unto their gods ; for even their sons and their daughters they have burnt in the fire to their gods." 32 What thing soever I command you, observe to do it:0 thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it." a I Chr. 4:10. b Gen. 2-):14; Exod. 31:24. » ver. 15, 10. • Heb. strong. d Lev. 17:11, 14. « oh: 4:40. f Exod. 15:26; 1 Kings 11:33; Eccl. 2:26. s Num. 5:9, 10. h Lev. 22:18, etc.; 1 Sara. 1:21-24. i Lev. 1:5,9, 13; 37:11. J Exod. 34:11; 2 Chr. 7:17; Ezek. 37:24; John 15:10, 14. k ch. 19:1; Exod. 23:23; Josh. 23:4. t Heb. inheritest, or possessest. t Heb. after thrm. 1 2 Kings 17:15; Psa. 100:34-38. " Exod. 21:2. i Heb. of. "Lev. 18:21; Jer. 32:35; Ezek. 20:31 ; 23:37; Mic. 6: 7. oJosh.l:7. pRev. 19. What belongs to God and his ministers should not be withheld or perverted to any other use. 25. Subjection of our desires to the revealed will of God, with habitual obedience to his commands, is the way to promote not only our own good, but that of all who come after us or may feel our influence. 32. We should not wish to add to or take from what God has said ; but should take it as it is, and let it have its proper influence on our hearts and livcp CHAPTER XIII. 1 Enticers to idolatry, 6 how near soever unto thee, 9 are to be stoned to death. 12 Idolatrous cities are not to be spared. IP there arise among you a prophet,0- or a dream er of dreams,r and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,8 2 And the sign or the wonder come to pass,' whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them ; 3 Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams : for the Lord your God proveth you,u to know whether ye love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 Ye shall walk after the Lord your God,v and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice,w and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him. x 5 And that prophet,y or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death ; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the Lord" your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and re deemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the Lord thy God com manded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.z 6 T If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom," or thy friend,0 which is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers ; 7 Jfamely, of the gods of the people which are- round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth ; 8 Thou shalt not consent unto him,0 nor hearken unto him ; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him : 9 But thou shalt surely kill him ; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death,4 and after wards the hand of all the people. 10 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he die; because he hath sought to thrust thee away from the Lord thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.1 11 And all Israel shall hear, and fear,0 and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is among you. 12 1 If thou shalt hear say in one of thy cities/ which the Lord thy God hath given thee to dwell there, saying, 22:18. q 1 Kings 13:18; Isa. 9:15; Jer. 0:13; 23:11; Ezek. 13:2. 3, 23; Zech. 13:1. r Zech. 10:2. » Matt. 24:24 ; 2 Thess. 2:9; Rev. 13:14. t ch. 18:22; Jer. 28:9; Matt. 7:22. u 1 Cor. 11:19. » 2 Chr. 34:31. w Jer. 7:23. x ch. 10:20. y Zech. 13:3. I Heb. revolt against thehxltv. z ch. 17:7; 1 Cor. 5:13. » ch. 2?:51; Mic. 7:5. t> 1 Sam. 20:17. « Prov. 1:10. d ch. 17:7. IHeb bondmen, ech. 19:20. 'Josh.22:ll. CHAPTER XIII. 3. Proveth you; by suffering the false prophets to do some strange and wonderful things, and thus to tempt them to forsake God and worship idols. 5. Turn you away from the Lord; as he was the King of the Jews, idolatry was treason, and punishable with death. 9. Kill him ; when proved to be guilty by legal process ac cording to divine directions. Be first upon him ; the accusers and witnesses were to cast the first stones. Chap. 17:7. 23J Idolatry to be punished. DEUTERONOMY XIV. Of meats clean and unclean. 13 Certain men, the children of Belial,* are gone out from among you, and have withdrawn the inhabitants of their city,a saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known ; 14 Then shalt thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently ; and behold, if it be truth, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought among you ; 15 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly,0 and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. 16 And thou shalt gather all the spoil of it into the midst of the street thereof, and shalt burn with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, for the Lord thy God: and it shall be a heap for ever;0 it shall not be built again. 17 And there, shall cleave naught of the cursed + thing to thy hand:4 that the Lord may turn from the fierceness of his anger,0 and show thee mercy/ and have compassion upon thee,g and multiply thee,n as he hath sworn unto thy fathers;1 18 When thou shalt hearken to the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep all his commandments which I command thee this day,j to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord thy God. CHAPTER XIV. 1 God's children are not to disfigure themselves in mourning. 3 What may, and what may not be eaten, 4 of beasts, 9 of fishes, 11 of fowls. 21 That which dieth of itself may not be eaten. 22 Tithes of divine service. 23 Tithes and firstlings of rejoicing before the Lord. 28 The third year's tithe of alms and charity. YE are the children of the Lord your God : k ye shall not cut yourselves,1 nor make any bald ness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God,m and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a pe culiar people unto himself," above all the nations that are upon the earth. 3 H Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.0 4 These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, 5 The hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow-deer, • Or, naughty men; Judg. 19:22; 1 Kings 21:10, 13. a Jude 19. t>Exod. 22:20; Josh. 6:17, 24. " Josh. 8:28; Jer. 49:2. t Or, devoted, d ch. 7:26; Josh. 6:18; 7:1. <= Josh. 7:26; Psa. 78:38. f Exod. 20:6. r Lam. 3:32. hEzek. 37:26. i Gen. 22:17. j Psa.119.0. a Jer. 3:19; Rom.8:16; 9:8, 26; Gal. 3:26. 1 Lev. 19:28; Jer. 16:6. ra Lev. 20:26. a 1 Pet. 2:9. 16. Burn — every whit ; this was to cut off all temptation to avarice, and to express the utmost abhorrence of the INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Wicked men who give themselves up to the service of the devil, may be suffered by God to do many strange and unaccountable things. But no one should hearken to them, or in any way give them encouragement. 3. God suffers many things to take place in this world to try men, andjlead them to show whether they will serve him or not. 8. We must not suffer our nearest relatives or most inti mate friends to lead us into sin, nor must we in any way connive at their transgressions. 11. One object of punishment is to express the wrath of God against crime, and thus restrain others from com mitting it. 17. Men should show a deep abhorrence of crime by suitably punishing it, and in executing God's wrath against 236 . and the wild goat, and the pygarg,* and b.&mm: the wild ox, and the chamois. 6 And every beast that parteth the hoof,p and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat. 7 Nevertheless these ye shall not pat, of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the clo ven hoof; as the camel, and the hare,and theconey : for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you. 8 And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you : ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass." 9 1 These ye shall eat,r of all that are in the waters : all that have fins and scales shall ye eat : 10 And whatsoever hath not fins, and scales ye may not eat ; it is unclean unto you. 11 1 Of all clean birds ye shall eat. 12 But these are they of which ye shall not eat:s the eagle, and the ossifrage, and the ospray, 13 And the glede, and the kite, and the vulture after his kind, 14 And every raven after his kind, 15 And the owl, and the nighthawk, and the cuckoo, and the hawk after his kind, 16 The littleowl,and the greatowl, and the swan, 17 And the pelican, and the gier-eagle, and the cormorant, 18 And the stork, and the heron after, her kind, and the lapwing, and the bat. 19 And every creeping thing that flieth is unclean unto you : they shall not be eaten. 20 But of all clean fowls ye may eat. 21 T Ye shall not eat of any thing that dieth of itself:' thou shalt give it unto the stranger that is in thy gates, that he may eat it ; or thou mayest sell it unto an alien: for thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God." Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk.T 22 Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed,w that the field bringeth forth year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat before the Lord thy God,* in the place which he shall choose to place his o Ezek. 4:14; Acts 10:12, 14; lCor.lO:28. 1 Heb. dishon, or bison, p Lev. 11:3, 4; Psa. 34:14. q Lev. 11:26, 27. r Lev. 11 -.9. ¦ Lev. 11:13. t Lev. 17:15; 22:8; Ezek. 4:14. u ver. 2. v Exod. 23:19; 34:26. »eh,12:6,17; Lev. 27:30; Num. 18:21; Neh. 10:37. x ch. 12:5, etc the guilty they should, both in reality and in appearance, be influenced only by holy and benevolent motives. CHAPTER XIV. 1. Not cut yourselves, nor make any baldness; as idolaters were accustomed to do in the worship of their gods. Lev. 19:28; 1 Kings 18:28. 5. Pygarg; a species of antelope or gazelle. Wild ox; or, according to some, a species of antelope or mountain goat. Chamois; a species of goat. 13. Glede; a species of kite. 15. The owl; or, the ostrich. Several of the names in this list of unclean birds, it is impossible to define with any degree of certainty. See above on Lev. 11:13-19. 22. Truly tithe; the first tithe or tenth part was devoted to the worship of God and the support of the Levites. There was a second tithe, a tenth of the nine remaining parts ; and once in three years it was to be devoted to the entertainment of the Levites, the stranger, the widow, and tho fatherless. Ver. 29. The seventh year, DEUTERONOMY XV. or year of release. bc'S name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks;8 that thou mayest learn to fear the Lord thy God always. 24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it ; or if the place be too far from thee,0 which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee ; 25 Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose : 26 And thou shalt bestow that money for what soever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth :* and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God,0 and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thy household,4 27 And the Levite that is within thy gates ; thou shalt not forsake him : for he hath no part nor inheritance with thee.e 28 1 At the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase the same year/ and shalt lay it up within thy gates : 29 And the Levite, because he hath no part nor inheritance with thee,8 and the stranger,11 and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hand which thou doest.1 CHAPTER XV. 1 The seventh year a year of release for the poor. 7 It must be no let of lending or giving. 12 A Hebrew servant, 16 except he will not depart, must in the seventh year go forth free and well furnished. 19 All firstling males of the cattle are to be sanctified unto the Lord. AT the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.5 2 And this is the manner of the release : Every creditor* that lendeth aught unto his neighbor shall release it; he shall not exacts of his neigh bor, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord's release. 3 Of a foreigner thou mayest exact it again:"1- but that which is thine with thy brother thy hand shall release ; 4 Save when there shall be* no poor among you ; for the Lord shall greatly bless thee in the a Ch. 15:19, 20. b ch. 12:21. * Heb. asketh of thee. ' ch. 12:7, 18. d Eccl. 9:7. «ch. 18:1, 2; Num. 18:20. f oh. 26:12; Amos 4:4. Sver.27; oh. 12:12. b Exod. 22:21-24; Jolj 31:16-22; Luke 14:12-14; Heb. 13:2. 1 ch. 15:10; Prov. 3:9, 10; 19:17; Mal. 3:10. J Exod. 23:10, 11; Lev. 25:2-4; Jer. 34:14-17. t Heb. master of the lending of his hand, k ch. 81:20. t Or, To the end that there be. 1 ch. 28:1-8, etc. m ch. 28:12, 44. 26. Thy soul desireth; in accordance with the revealed will of God. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. The people of God'are called in a peculiar manner to be holy, and should carefully avoid sinful conformity to the world, and all those practices which tend to draw them away from the word and ordinances of Jehovah. 6. The Lord allows us freely to partake of all things which will not injure us, and which tend to our highest good. 22. We should endeavor to be truly honest and faithful in devoting to God whatever he requires, and in using all we possess according to his will, remembering that he is the owner, and that we are stewards of what he intrusts to our care. land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it:1 5 Only if thou carefully hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all these commandments which I command thee this day. 6 For the Lord thy God blesseth thee, as he promised thee: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow;"1 and thou shalt reign over "many nations, but they shall not reign over thee. 7T If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart," nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother : 8 But thou shalt open thy hand wide unto him,0 and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth. 9 Beware that there be not a thought8 in thy wicked1 heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother,0 and thou givest him naught ; and he cry unto the Lord against thee,'1 and it be sin unto thee.r 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him :s because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works,' and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land : u therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thy hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. 12 IT And if thy brother ,v a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, and serve thee six years ; then in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from thee. 13 And when thou sendest him out free from thee, thou shalt not let him go away empty : 14 Thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock, and out of thy floor, and out of thy wine press : of that wherewith the Lord thy God hath blessed theew thou shalt give unto him.x 15 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt,y and the Lord thy God redeemed thee: therefore I command thee this thing to day. 16 And it shall be, if he say unto thee, I will n 1 John 3:17 o Lev . 25:35-37; Gal. 2:10. 5 Heb word. Heb. Belial. P ch. 28: 54-50 Prov. 23:6; Matt. 20:15. q ch. 21:15 Exod. 22:23. r Matt. 25:41-45 « 2 Cor. 9:5-7. t r.h 24:19 Psa 41:1, 2; Prov. 11:25 ; 22:9; Heb. 13 16, u Matt 26:11 V Exod. 21:2 Lev. 25:39-4 ; Jer. 34:14. wPsa. 68:10. x Prov. 10:22; Acts 20:35 y ch. 5:15 ; 16:12; Isa. 51 :1. 29. The ministers of religion, the stranger, the widow, the fatherless, and all who are destitute should be kindly remembered, and share in the blessings which God gra ciously gives us. CHAPTER XV. 3. Thy brother; an Israelite. 9. Givest him naught; dost not lend to him what he needs. 12. If thy brother— be sold unto thee; be bound to serve thee for the payment of a debt, according to the custom of that age. 16. Because he is well with thee; because,in his estimation, it would be better for him to stay than to go away. 237 Firstlings of thefioclc. DEUTERONOMY XVI. The feast of the passover. not go away from thee ;a because he loveth thee and thy house, because he is well with thee ; 17 Then thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear unto the door, and he shall be thy servant for ever. And also unto thy maid-servant thou shalt do likewise. 18 It shall not seem hard unto thee,0 when thou sendest him away free from thee ; for he hath been worth a double hired servant to thee, in serving thee six years : and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all that thou doest. 19 1 All the firstling males that come of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt sanctify unto the Lord thy God : ° thou shalt do no work with the firstling of thy bullock, nor shear the firstling of thy sheep. 20 Thou shalt eat it before the Lord thy God year by year in the place which the Lord- shall choose,d thou and thy household. 21 And if there be any blemish therein,6 as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the Lord thy God. 22 Thou shalt eat it within thy gates : the un clean and the clean person shall eat it alike/ as the roebuck, and as the hart. 23 Only thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it upon the ground as water. CHAPTER XVI. 1 The feast of the passover, 9 of weeks, 13 of tabernacles. 16 Every male must offer, as he is able, at these three feasts. 18 Of judges and justice. 21 Groves and images are forbidden. OBSERVE the month of Abib,g and keep the passover unto the Lord thy God : for in the month of Abib the Lord thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by night.11 2 Thou shalt therefore sacrifice the passover unto the Lord thy God, of the flock and the herd,1 in the place which the Lord shall choose to place his name there.j • Exod. 21:5,6. b ver. 10. e Exod. 13:2; Num. 3:13; 18:17. d ch. 12:5, 6,17. ech. 17:1; Lev. 22:20; Mal. 1:7, 8. f eh. 12:15, etc. s Exod. 34:18. h Exod. 12:31-42. i Num. 28:16-19. j ch. 15:20. k Exod. 13:6. 7. 1 Exod. 12:10;34:25. • Or, kill. » Exod. 12:6-9. n2Chr.35:13. «2Kings 23:23; 18. Worth a double hired servant; because he has served without wages. 22. Within thy gates; at home: not at the tabernacle or temple, as was the case with that which was without blemish. Chap. 12:15, 16. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. A debtor who without his fault is poor, and really not able to pay, should not be imprisoned, nor disabled from making efforts ; nor should payment be enforced till he is, or by suitable means may be able to meet it. 3. While we are bound, as we have opportunity and ability, to do good to all who are needy, we are under special obligations to do it to the friends of God. 10. The fact that a man is poor and may not be able to repay, is not to prevent us from lending to him, when it is necessary to relieve his wants and our doing so will be for his benefit; but we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, and do what such love, under the guidance of sound wisdom, requires. 11. God suffers the poor always to be among us, that compassion may be cultivated by exercise ; and that we may have opportunity to show whether or not we are dis posed to assist them, and thus to imitate our Father in heaven. Matt. 5:48; Luke 6:31-36. 238 A. M. 2553. B. C 1451. 3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread with it;k seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread of affliction ; for thou earnest forth out of the land of Egypt in haste : that thou mayest remember the day when thou earnest forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life. 4 And there shall be no leavened bread seen with thee in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh which thou sac- rificedst the first day at even, remain all night until the morning.1 5 Thou mayest not sacrifice* the passover with in any of thy gates, which the Lord thy God giv eth thee : 6 But at the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name in, there thou shalt sac rifice the passover at even,1" at the going down of the sun, at the season that thou earnest forth out of Egypt. 7 And thou shalt roast and eat.# " in the place which the Lord thy God shall choose:0 and thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. 8 Six days thou shalt eat unleavened bread ; and on the seventh day shall be a solemn+ assembly to the Lord thy God:p thou shalt do no work therein. 9 1 Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee:q begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. 10 And thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a tribute* of a freewill- offering of thy hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the Lord thy God hath blessed thee : r 11 And thou shalt rejoice before the Lord thy God,8 thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, John 2:13, 23; 11:55. t Heb. restraint; Lev. 23:36. pLev.23:8. q Exod. 23:16; 34:22; Lev. 23:15; Acts 2:1. 1 Or, sufficiency, r ver. 17; 1 Cor. 10:2. "ch. 12:7,12, 18. 14. Liberality to servants and those who have assisted us, and readiness in return to assist them, is an exhibition of excellence, and a source of blessings to both givers and receivers. 16. It is well so to treat servants as to secure their confidence, gratitude, and esteem, and that they will rather continue with us than go away. By so doing, their ser vices may be greatly prolonged, and rendered much more pleasant and useful to us and to themselves. 18. Kindness and liberality to servants are means of securing not only their good will and fidelity, but also the blessing of God. 22. Fidelity to God, in rendering to him what he re quires, is the way to secure his favors, and make them the means of the greatest enjoyment to ourselves and others. CHAPTER XVI. 1. The month of Abib — thepassover; Exod. 12:2, 18; 34:18. 3. Bread of affliction; in remembrance of their afflictions in Egypt. 9. To put tlie sickle; to reap the sheaf of first-fruits, which was offered on the first day of unleavened bread. 10. The feast of weeks; Exod. 34:22. Of the three feasts. DEUTERONOMY XVII. Idolaters to be stoned. B.'tJ'ua and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the Lord thy God hath chosen to place his name there. 12 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt : " and thou shalt observe and do these statutes. 13 1" Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days,b after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine:* 14 And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast,0 thou, and thy son, and thy' daughter, and thy man-ser vant, and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. 15 Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the Lord thy God in the place which the Lord shall choose:4 because the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thy hands, therefore thou- shalt surely rejoice. 16 TT Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose ;e in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tab ernacles: and they shall not appear before the Lord empty:' 17 Every man shall give as he is able,+s accord ing to the blessing of the Lord thy God which he hath given thee.h 18 IT Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates,' which the Lord thy God giveth thee, throughout thy tribes : and they shall judge the people with just judgment. 19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment ;j thou shalt not respect persons,k neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise,1 and pervert the words* of the righteous. 20 That which is altogether just§ shalt thou fol low,"1 that thou mayest live," and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 21 1 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the Lord thy God,0 which thou shalt make thee. 22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image ;,p which the Lord thy God hateth."1 » Ch. 15:15: Lam. 3:19, 20. b Lev. 23:34. ¦ Heb. floor, and thy wine press, e Neh. 8:9-12. d Lev. 23:39, 40. e Exod. 23:14; 34:23. f Exod. 23:15. t Heb. according io the gift of his hand, s Mark 12:41-44; 2 Cor. 8:12. hver. 10. ¦ ch. 1:15-17; Exod. 18:25, 26; I Chr. 23:4; 2 Chr. 19:5- 11. J Lev. 19:15. * Prov. 24:23. 1 Prov. 17:23. t Or, matters. S Heb. 13. The feast of tabernacles ; Exod. 23:14-17. 19. Wrest; pervert. A gift; a bribe, something given to make a judge partial. Both blind the eyes qfthe wise; to truth and equity. 21. Grove; the word in the original rather means a wood en image of Astarte, fixed in the ground. See 2 Kings 17:10. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. "We should not forget our past trials, nor the goodness of God in our deliverance, but should be encouraged by his kindness to put our trust in him, and with patient continuance in well-doing look to him for all we need. 6. Such is the unteachableness of men, that the Lord sees it needful often to repeat his instructions, especially with regard to their guilt as sinners, and their need of pardoning mercy through the atonement of Christ. 11. True religion is social in its character, and tends to make all who possess it grateful, kind, communicative, benevolent, and joyful. CHAPTER XVII. 1 The things sacrificed must be sound. 2 Idolaters must be slain. 8 Hard controversies are to be determined by the priests and judges. 12 The contemner of that determination must die. 14 The election, 16 and duty of a king. THOU shalt not sacrifice unto the Lord thy God any bullock, or sheep,T wherein is blem ish, or any evil-favoredness : r for that is an abomi nation unto the Lord thy God. 2 1 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the Lord thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the Lord thy God,8 in transgressing his covenant,* 3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not com manded ; 4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and inquired diligently, and behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel; 5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die. 6 At the mouth of two witnesses," or three wit nesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death ; but at the mouth of one witness he shall not be put to death. 7 The hands of the witnesses shall be first upon him to put him to death,v and afterward the hands of all the people. So thou shalt put the evil away from among you. 8 T If there arise a matter too hard for thee in judgment,1" between blood and blood, between plea and plea, and between stroke and stroke, being matters of controversy within thy gates; then shalt thou arise, and get thee up into the place which the Lord thy God shall cheose;* 9 And thou shalt come unto the priests the Le vites,7 and unto the judge that shall be in those days,2 and inquire; and they shall show thee the sentence of judgment: 10 And thou shalt do according to the sentence, Justice, justice, m Mic. 0:8; Phil. 4:8. n Ezek. 1S:5, 9. o 1 Kings 14:15. B Heb. statue, or pillar. P Lev. 26:1. q Jer. 44:4. 1 Or, goat, r Mal. 1:8, 13,14. »ch. 13:6, etc. t Josh. 7: 11, 15; Judg. 2:20; 2 Kings 18:12; Hos. 8:1. uNum.35:30; John 8:17; 2Cor. 13:1; lTim.5:19. v Acts 7:58, 59. "Exod. 21:12,etc. x Psa. 122:4, 5. y Jer. 18:18; Hag. 2:11 ; Mal. 2:7. *ch.l9:17. 17. Religious joy and gratitude to God may at suitable times be properly expressed by feasting on the bounties of his providence, and giving them liberally to the poor and destitute. 20. Civil government is God's institution to secure to men those rights and privileges which it is his will that they should enjoy ; and magistrates are bound, as far as practicable, to give to all what justly belongs to them. CHAPTER XVII. 7. First upon him; chap. 13:9. 8. Blood and blood; relating to the killing of a man. Plea and plea; concerning property, or civil rights. Stroke and stroke; personal quarrel. 9. Come unto the— judge; apply to a higher tribunal, at the head of which was God himself. Sentence of judg ment; right decision. 239 Duties of judges and kings. DEUTERONOMY XVIII. Dues of the Deciles. which they of that place which the Lord shall choose shall show thee ; and thou shalt observe to do according to all that they inform thee : 11 According to the sentence of the law which they shall teach thee, and according to the judg ment which they shall tell thee, thou shalt do : thou shalt not decline from the sentence which they shall show thee, to the right hand, nor to the left. 12 And the man that will do presumptously," and will not hearken* unto the priest that stand eth to minister there before the Lord thy God* or unto the judge,0 even that man shall die :d and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.0 13 And all the people shall hear, and fear,f and do no more presumptuously. 14 T When thou art come unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt possess it, and shalt dwell therein, and shalt say, I will set a king over me,8 like as all the nations that are about me ; 15 Thou shalt in any wise set him king over thee, whom the Lord thy God shall choose:11 one from among thy brethren shalt thou set king over thee:1 thou mayest not set a stranger over thee,j which is not thy brother. 16 But he shall not multiply horses to himself* nor cause the people to return to Egypt,1 to the end that he should multiply horses : forasmuch as the Lord hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.™ 17 Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away:" neither shall he greatly multiply to himself silver and gold. 18 And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites : 19 And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life ;° that he may learn to fear the Lord his God, to keep all the words of this law, and these statutes, to do them : 20 That his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the com mandment,1' to the right hand or to the left: to a Num. 15:30; Ezra 10:8; Hos. 4:4. Heb. not to hearken, b Jer. 25:3, •stc. «ch. 18:5, 7. d Heb. 10:23. e ch. 13:5. f oh. 13:11. s 1 Sam. 8:5, 19,29. b I Sam. 9:15-17; 10:12; k 1 Kings 10:26-23; Psa. 23:7; Hos IChr 22:10. i Jer. 30:21. i Jer. 2:25. . 14:3. 1 Isa. 31:1; Ezek. 17:15. ¦>¦ Exod. 12. Do presumptuously; refuse to comply with known law, enacted by God, who was then the chief magistrate of that people. 15. Shalt thou set king over thee; this did not require them to set a king over them, or imply that it would be right ; it only required, that if at any time they would do it, these directions should be followed. 1 Sam. 8:4-22. 18. This law; either the book of Deuteronomy, or more probably the five books of Moses, called the law, as con taining the laws of Jehovah for the government of Israel. Matt. 5:17; 7:12; Luke 16:16; 24:44. 19. All the days of his life ; daily, habitually. 20. Be not lifted up; do not become proud. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The best we have belongs to God, and it should be our delight cheerfully to render to him whatever he requires. 7. Idolatry in the Jewish commonwealth was treason, and as such, when proved by two or more witnesses, was punished with death ; but great care was taken that none should be punished except those who were really 240 the end that he may prolong his days in b.c:i«i: his kingdom, he, and his children, in the midst of Israel. °- CHAPTER XVIII. 1 The Lord is the priests' and Levites' inheritance. 3 The priest's due. 6 The Levite's portion. 9 The abominations of the nations are to be avoided. 15 Christ the Prophet is to be heard. 20 The presump tuous prophet is to die. r"T\HE priests the Levites,r and all the tribe of _L Levi, shall have no part nor inheritance with Israel : they shall eat the offerings of the Lord made by fire, and his inheritance.8 2 Therefore shall they have no inheritance among their brethren : the Lord is their inheritance,' as he hath said unto them. 3 1 And this shall be the priest's due from the people," from them that offer a sacrifice, whether it be ox or sheep ; and they shall give unto the priest the shoulder, and the two cheeks, and the maw. 4 The first-fruit also of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the first of the fleece of thy sheep, shalt thou give him.v 5 For the Lord thy God hath chosen him out of all thy tribes, to stand to minister in the name of the Lord, him and his sons for ever.w 6 1 And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned,* and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the Lord shall choose;3, 7 Then he shall minister in the name of the Lord his God, as all his brethren the Levites do, which stand there before the Lord. ' 8 They shall have like portions to eat,z besides that which cometh of the sale of his patrimony.1 9 If When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire,a or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, 11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. 13:17; Hos. 11:5. a 1 Kings 11:3, 4. o Josh. 1:8; Psa. 119:97. PlKings 15:5. q Prov. 10:27. r Num. 18:20. ¦ 1 Cor. 9:13, 14. t Psa. 16:5; Lam. 3:24. u Lev. 7:30-34. v Exod. 22:29. "Num. 3:10. * Num. 35:2, 3. yPsa.84:2. s 2 Chr. 31:4. t Heb. hissalesby the fathers. »Lev. 18:21, etc. 9. It is a great privilege that in cases of doubt and dif ficulty with regard to duty, we may appeal to an infallible standard, the Scriptures ; and look to Him who hath said, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, and it shall be given him. 12. To turn away and refuse to do the known will of God, is great presumption, wickedness, and folly; and justly exposes those who are guilty of it to his indigna tion. 15. The giving of directions for the regulation of the conduct of men, by no means proves that the conduct which needs such regulation is right. It may be wicked, and the object of the regulations be, to lessen somewhat its evils tiU it be done away. 20. God gives the people power to choose their own rulers and form of government ; and rulers are bound to take the Bible as their guide, and govern according to its precepts. CHAPTER XVIII. 8. Patrimony; other property besides what he received officially as a Levite. The great Prophet. DEUTERONOMY XIX, Cities of refuge. aauai!" 12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.a 13 Thou shalt be perfect* with the Lord thy God. 14 For these nations, which thou shalt possess/ hearkened unto observers of times, and unto divin ers : but as for thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.b 15 IT The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee,c of thy breth ren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken ;d 16 According to all that thou desiredst of the Lord thy God in Horeb in the day of the assem bly,0 saying, Let me not hear again the voice of the Lord my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, that I die not. 17 And the Lord said unto me, They have well spoken that which they have spoken. 18 I will raise them up a Prophef from among their brethren,8 like unto thee,11 and will put my words in his mouth ; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.1 19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name,j I will require it of him. 20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods,k even that prophet shall die.1 21 And if thou say in thy heart, How shall we know the word which the Lord hath not spoken?"1 22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the Lord," if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously ; thou shalt not be afraid of him.° CHAPTER XIX. 1 The cities of refuge. 4 The privilege thereof for the manslayer. 14 The landmark is not to be removed. 15 Two witnesses at the least. 16 The punishment of a false witness. WHEN the Lord thy God hath cut off the nations," whose land the Lord thy God giv- a Rev. 22:15. • Or, upright, or sincere y Gen. 17:1; Job 1:1. t Or, inherit. b Gen. 20:0; Psa. 117: (9, 20; Acts 14:10. » John 1:45; 0:14; Acts 3:22, 23. il Mitt. 17:5; Heb. 1:1,2; 2:1-3; 1 John 3:23. e Exod. 20:19. f Isa. 9:0; Zech 6:12, 13; Mal. 3:1. 6 Luke 24:19. b Num. 12:0-8; Heb. 3:2-0. i John 4:2>; 8:23; 12:49, 50; 15: 15. JMarkl6:16; Acts 3:23. 23; Heb. 2:3; 1-2:25. k ch. 13:1-5; Jer. 14:14, 15; Zech. 13:3. 1 Jer. 23:15-17; Rev. 13. Be perfect; sincerely, heartily, and wholly devoted to God. Job 1 : 1 ; Matt. 5 : 43-48. 15. A Prophet; referring to Jesus Christ. Ver. 18, 19; Acts 3:22, 23. Of thy brethren; one who shall have the same human nature with them. Compare Heb. 2:11, 12, 14. Like unto me ; standing, as Moses did, at the head of a new dispensation, and being, like him, a mediator be tween God and his people. Compare Heb. 3:2-6. 16. Thou desiredst ; Exod. 20:19; Heb. 12:19. 19. Require it of him; call him to account and punish him for his neglect. 22. Speaketh in the name of the Lord; pretends to do it, and to foretell future events. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. Often and in a variety of ways the Lord shows that, while it is not his will that his ministers should be rich, or engage in worldly business for gain, it is his will that they should receive a support for themselves and their families, and devote themselves cheerfully and faithfully to their appropriate work. 16 eth thee, and thou succeedest* them, and dwellest in their cities, and in their houses ; 2 Thou shalt separate three cities for thee in the midst of thy land,q which the Lord thy God giv eth thee to possess it. 3 Thou shalt prepare thee a way, and divide the coasts of thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee to inherit, into three parts, that every slayer may flee thither. 4 And this is the case of the slayer, which shall flee thither, that he may live : Whoso killeth his neigh bor ignorantly, whom he hated not in time past;5 5 As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbor to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head' slippeth from the helve,* and lighteth upon* his neighbor, that he die ; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live : 6 Lest the avenger of the blood pursue the slayer, while his heart is hot, and overtake him, because the way is long, and slay him;* whereas he was not worthy of death, inasmuch as he hated him not in time past.* 7 Wherefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt separate three cities for thee. 8 And if the Lord thy God enlarge thy coast,r as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, and give thee all the land which he promised to give unto thy fathers ;s 9 If thou shalt keep all these commandments to do them, which I command thee this day, to love the Lord thy God, and to walk ever in his ways ; then shalt thou add three cities more for thee,1 beside these three: 10 That innocent blood be not shed in thy land, which the Lord thy God giveth theejTor an inheri tance, and so blood be upon thee. 11 1 But if any man hate his neighbor," and lie in wait for him, and rise up against him, and smite him mortally8 that he die, and fleeth into one of these cities ; 12 Then the elders of his city shall send and fetch him thence, and deliver him into the hand of the avenger of blood, that he may die. 19:20. m 1 John 4:1-3. » Isa. 41:22, 23; Jer. 28:9. o prov. 20:2. P ch. 12:29. I Heb. inheritest, or possessest. q ch. 4:41, 42; Exod. 21 :13; Num. 35:10, etc.; Josh. 20:2-7. $ bleb, from yesterday the third day B Heb. iron. T Heb. wood. * Heb. findeth. 1 Heb. smite him in life. 1 Heb. from yes terday the third day. r Exod. 34:24. » Gen. 15:18-21. t Josh. 20:7, 8. u Gen. 9:6; Exod. 21 :12, etc. ; Prov. 28: 17. i Heb. in life. 12. Pretended intercourse with evil spirits,and all seeking of information or any good from those who pretend to have such, intercourse, are an abomination in the sight of God. 18. Moses was in various respects an eminent typo of Christ, especially in acting as mediator between God and the people, and making known to them his will. 19. If he who rejected the testimony of Moses and de spised his law died without mercy, of how much sorer pun ishment will he be thought worthy who rejects the testi mony of Christand despises his commands ? Heb. 10 : 28, 29. 22. God has given to men, in the holy Scriptures, the means of judging, and by these they arc bound to judge whether those who profess to speak in his name, do or do not declare his truth. Acts 17 : 11. CHAPTER XIX. 2. Separate three cities; to be cities of refuge on the west side of Jordan, as he already had done on the east side. Chap. 4:41-43. „ , , , 12. Deliver him into the hand of the avenger; alter he Had been proved guilty of murder. 241 The law of witnesses. DEUTERONOMY XX. Laws observed in war. 13 Thine eye shall not pity him, but thou shalt put away the guilt of innocent blood from Israel, that it may go well with thee. 14 1 Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor's land mark,3 which they of old time have set in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it. 15 T One witness shall not rise up against aman for any iniquity ,b or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth : at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established. 16 1 If a false witness rise up against any man to testify against him that which is wrong;* 17 Then both the men, between whom the con troversy is, shall stand before the Lord, before the priests and the judges, which shall be in those days; 18 And the judges shall make diligent inqui sition : and behold, if the witness be a false wit ness, and hath testified falsely against his brother ; 19 Then shall ye do unto him, as he had thought to have done unto his brother :° so shalt thou put the evil away from among you. 20 And those which remain shall hear, and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you. 21 And thine eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot." CHAPTER XX. 1 The priest's exhortation to encourage the people to battle. 5 The officers' proclamation who are to be dismissed from the war. 10 How to use the cities that accept or refuse the proclamation of peace. 16 What cities must be devoted. 19 Trees of man's meat must not be destroyed in the siege. . ' WHEN thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and cliariots,e and a people more than thou," be not afraid of them : for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 2 And it shall be, when ye are come nigh unto the battle, that the priest shall approach and speak unto the people, 3 And shall say unto them, Hear, 0 Israel, ye » Hos. 5:10. b 2 Cor 13:1. ' Or, falling away. Prov. 19:5, 9 ; Dan. 0:21 d Lev. 2 :I9, 20. e Psa. 20:7. tHeb. be tender 1 Heb. make haste,- Isa. 23:10. f 1 sa. 51:7 8. s r.h. 1 :30; 3:22; Josh. 23:10; 2 Chr. 13:12; 32:7 8. hNeh 12:27; Psa. 30 title. §Heb made il common; Lev. 19:23, 13. Shall not pity him; in any such way as to prevent his execution. 14. Landmark; that which showed the division line between the property of one man and another. 15. One witness shall not rise; a man shall not be con demned on the testimony of one witness only. 18. Inquisition; inquiry. 19. Do unto him; he shall receive the punishment which he sought to bring on another. INSTRUCTIONS. 7. Great care should be taken that men do not suffer for that of which they are not guilty. 13. If men are proved to be guilty of murder, no pity or compassion should save them from the punishment which God requires to be inflicted on them. 14. Every attempt of men to appropriate to themselves what belongs to others is a sin against God, and exposes those who are guilty of it to his wrath. 21. Few crimes are more offensive to God than bearing 242 approach this day unto battle against your b. a wS enemies : let not your hearts faint,+ fear not, and do not tremble,* neither be ye terrified because of them ; f 4 For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you,8 to fight for you against your enemies, to save you. 5 1 And the officers shall speak unto the people, saying, What man is there that hath built a new house, and hath not dedicated it?" let him go and return to his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man dedicate it. 6 And what man is he that hath planted a vine yard, and hath not yet eaten of it ? i let him also go and return unto his house,1 lest he die in the" battle, and another man eat of it. 7 And what man is there that hath betrothed a wife, and hath not taken her ? let him go and re turn unto his house, lest he die in the battle, and another man take her.j 8 And the officers shall speak further unto the people, and they shall say, What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted?" let him go and re turn unto his house, lest his brethren's heart faint1 as well as Ids heart.1 9 And it shall be, when the officers have made an end of speaking unto the people, that they shall make captains of the armies to lead the people.* 10 IT When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it.m 11 And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributa ries unto thee, and they shall serve thee.n 12 And if it will make no peace with thee, but will make war against thee, then thou shalt be siege it : 13 And when the Lord thy God hath delivered it into thy hands, thou shalt smite every male thereof with the edge of the sword:0 14 But the women, and the little ones, and the cattle, and all that is in the city, even all the spoil thereof shalt thou take* unto thyself; and thou shalt eat the spoil of thine enemies,*1 which the Lord thy God hath given thee. 25. i ch. 24:5. j ch. 28:30. k Judg. 7:3. 1 Heb. melt. 1 Num. 32:9. 1 Heb. to be in the head ofthepeople. "> 2 Sam. 20:19-22. n Lav. 25:41-46. oNum. 31:7-9. pJosh.b':2. * Heb. spoil, q Josh. 22:8. false witness ; and whether false accusers meet due pun ishment or not in this world, continuing impenitent they will not escape it in the world to come. CHAPTER XX. 1. Thine enemies; foreign nations who should make war upon the Israelites, or against whom God should call the Israelites to make war. 5. Dedicated it; by acknowledging the goodness of God in giving it, feasting on the bounties of his providence, and seeking his blessing. 7. Betrothed a wife; engaged to marry her. 8. Return unto his house; to free the army from all who were unwilling to go into the battle. 10. Proclaim peace; propose terms of peace. Ver. 11. 13. Smite every male ; this was directed by God as a pun ishment for their sins, and was designed so to weaken the nation that they would not be likely to make war upon the Israelites in future. Of murder, when the DEUTERONOMY XXI. slayer is unknown. b.- uS- 15 Thus shalt thou do unto all the cities which are very far off from thee, which are not of the cities of these nations. 16 But of the cities of these people, which the Lord thy God doth give thee for an inheritance, thou shalt save alive nothing that breatheth:" 17 But thou shalt utterly destroy them ; namely, the Hittites, and the Amorites, tho Canaanites, and the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; as the Lord thy God hath commanded thee : 18 That they teach you not to do after all their abominations," which they have done unto their gods ; so should ye sin against the Lord your God. 19 1 When thou shalt besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, thou shalt not destroy the trees thereof by forcing an axe against them: for thou mayest eat of them, and thou shalt not cut them down (for the tree of the field is man's life) to employ them* in the siege : + 20 Only the trees which thou knowest that they be not trees for meat, thou shalt destroy and cut them down ; c and thou shalt build bulwarks against the city that maketh war with thee, until it be subdued.* CHAPTER XXI. 1 The expiation of an uncertain murder. 10 The usage of a captive taken to wife. 15 The first-bom is not to be disinherited upon private affection. 18 A stubborn son is to be stoned to death. 22 The male factor must not hang all night on a tree. IP one be found slain in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee to possess it, lying in the field, and it be not known who hath slain him ; 2 Then thy elders and thy judges shall come forth, and they shall measure unto the cities which are round about him that is slain : 3 And it shall be, that the city which is next unto the slain man, even the elders of that city shall take a heifer, which hath not been wrought with, and which hath not drawn in the yoke ; 4 And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither »Ch. 7:1-4; Num. 21:2,3,35; Josh. 11: 14. b ch. 12:30, 31 ; Exod. 23:33; Psa. 100:31-40; 1 Cof. 15:33. ¦ • Heb. to go from before thee, t Or, for, O man, the tree of the field is to be employed in the siege, e Jer. 0:0. I Heb. comedown, d 1 Chr. 23:13. e Num. 0:22-27. 5 Heb. mouth, f ch. 17:8- 16. Tliese people ; the Canaanites, who were by God de voted to destruction, and whose land the Israelites were to possess. 19. Not destroy the trees; the fruit-trees. The tree — is man's life; its fruit is the means of his support. 20. Not trees for meat; not fruit-trees. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Men should not go to war except when God requires it ; and when he does, their dependence should be not on themselves or their fellow-men, but on him ; and their ob ject not their own gratification or aggrandizement, but the promotion of his glory and the highest good of mankind. 5. The Lord is disposed to gratify all the innocent and useful affections of men, and not to call them to arduous, self-denying, and dangerous duties, except when his glory and their good require it. 11. Peace, wherever it can consistently be maintained, is desired by God, and should be by all men. Matt. 5:9, 43-48; Rom. 12:18; 14:19; Heb. 12:14. 18. As it is wicked to kill any human being unless God require it, so it is wicked to spare any whom he requires to be slain. 1 Sam. 15:3, 8, 11, 23. eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley. 5 And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the Lord thy God hath chosen to minister unto him,d and to bless in the name of the Lord;0 and by their word5 shall every contro versy and every stroke be tried:1 6 And all the elders of that city, that are next unto the slain man, shall wash their hands over the heifer that is beheaded in the valley :g 7 And they shall answer and say, Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it. 8 Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel, whom thou hast redeemed, and lay not innocent blood unto thy people of Israel's charge.1'1 And the blood shall be forgiven them. 9 So shalt thou put away the guilt of innocent blood from among you,1 when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the Lord. 10 1 When thou goest forth to war against thine enemies, and the Lord thy God hath delivered them into thy hands, and thou hast taken them captive, 11 And seest among the captives a beautiful woman, and hast a desire unto her, that thou wouldest have her to thy wife ;' 12 Then thou shalt bring her home to thy house ; and she shall shave her head,k and pareT her nails ; 13 And she- shall put the raiment of her captiv ity from off her, and shall remain in thy house, and bewail her father and her mother a full month:1 and after that thou shalt go in unto her, and be her husband, and she shall be thy wife. 14 And it shall be, if thou have no delight in her, then thou shalt let her go whither she will ; but thou shalt not sell her at all for money,™ thou shalt not make merchandise of her, because thou hast humbled her.n 15 1 If a man have two wives, one beloved,0 and another hated,p and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated ; and if the first born son be hers that was hated ; 16 Then it shall be, when he maketh his sons to 10. sPsa. 20:0; Matt. 27:24. I Heb. in the midst of. 1> 2 Kings 24:4 ; Jon. 1:14. i oh. 19:13. j Num. 31:18. k l Cor. 11:6. T Heb. make, oi dress; or, suffer to grow. 1 Psa. 45: 10; Luke 14:20. m Exod. 21:8. n ch.' 82:29: Gen. 34:2. ° Gen. 29:18, 20. P Gen. 29:31-33. CHAPTER XXI. 4. A rough valley; or, a valley with a continually flow ing stream. Compare ver. G. Eared; ploughed. Gen. 45:7. 6. Shall wash their hands ; a profession of their innocence by actions. ' Ver. 7, 8. 9. The guilt of innocent blood; these transactions strik ingly showed God's abhorrence of murder and the guilt of committing it, and were designed as a safeguard to human life. 12. Pare her nails; the word rendered pare signifies to make or dress, and may mean to let them grow, as persons did in mourning. 14. Not sell her — for money; conquerors were accus tomed to sell those whom they took in war, but God in this case forbade the Israelites to do it; not to sanction as right in any case the practice here forbidden, but in some measure to lessen its evils while it continued ; and open the way for it, under increasing light and love, to be ultimately done away. 15. One beloved, and another hated; this regulation did not imply that it was right for a man to have two wives, or to hate either ; but, like the regulation in ver. 14,. was 243 The rebellious son. DEUTERONOMY XXII. Humane precepts. inherit that which he hath, that he may not make the son of the beloved first-born before the son of the hated,'1 which is indeed the first-born : 17 But he shall acknowledge the son of the hated for the first-born,b by giving him a double portion of all that he hath,* for he is the beginning of his strength ; the right of the first-born is his.0 18 IT If a man have a stubborn and rebellious son, which will not obey the voice of his father, or the voice of his mother,4 and that, when they have chastened him,e will not hearken unto them ; 19 Then shall his father and his mother lay hold on him. and bring him out unto the elders of his city, and unto the gate of his place ; 20 And they shall say unto the elders of his city/ This our son is stubborn and rebellious, he will not obey our voice;" he is a glutton, and a drunkard." 21 Andall the men of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die:1 so shalt thou put evil away from among you;] and all Israel shall hear, and fear. 22 1 And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death," and he be to be put to death, and thou ~ hang him on a tree ; 23 His body shall not remain all night upon the tree,1 but thou shalt in any wise bury him that- day ; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God ;+) that thy land be not defiled,"1 which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. CHAPTER XXII. 1 Of humanity towards brethren. 5 The sex is to be distinguished by apparel. G- The dam is not to be taken with her young ones. S The house must have battlements. 9 Confusion is to be avoided. 12 Fringes upon the vesture. 13 The punishment of him thatslandereth his wife. 20, 22 Of adultery, 25 of rape, 28 and of fornication. 30 Incest. THOU shalt not see thy brother's ox or his sheep go astray," and hide thyself from them :° thou shalt in any case bring them again unto thy brother. a 1 Chr. 5:2; 20:10; 2 Chr. 11:21, 22. bl Chr. 5:1,2. • Heb. is found with him; Gen. 49:3. c Gen. 25:31-11. d Exol. 20:12. e Prov. 13:21; 19:18. fch.25:7. 6 Prov. 29:17. h Prov. 19:20; 23:19-21. il'rov. 2»:1. i ch. 13:5, 11. k ch. 19:0: Acts 25:11, 25. 1 Josh. 8:29; 10:20, 27; John 19:31. t Heb. the curse of God; Num. 25:4; Gal. 3:13. m Num. 35:33, 34. designed to lessen the evils of a wrong practice, while men were so ignorant, wicked, debased, and cruel as to continue it. 20. Say unto the elders; concerning their son, that and that only which was true. 21. The men of his city shall stone him; to show God's abhorrence of the son's conduct, and prevent others from imitating his example. 23. He that is hanged is accursed of God; he is set forth as the object of God's curse. For this reason the degra dation of such an act ought not to be prolonged beyond the necessary ends of justice. Compare the use which the apostle Paul makes of this passage in Gal. 3:13. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. The great doctrine of atonement by the substitution of the death of the innocent for that of the guilty, is taught often, and in various ways, throughout the Bible, show ing the great importance of the right understanding and use of this truth. 9. The guilt of murder rests upon every land in which it is committed, if proper measures are not taken to acquit the innocent and punish the guilty. 17. Though all wrong practices among the Israelites, on account of their wickedness and hardness of heart, were not at once discontinued, or in the course of providence abolished, God was kind and gracious in giving them reg- 244 A. M. 2553. 2 And if thy brother be not nigh unto b'.c: thee, or if thou know him not, then thou shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him again. 3 In like manner shalt thou do with his ass ; and so shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost things of thy brother's, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do likewise : thou may est not hide thyself. 4 1 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them :p thou shalt surely help him to lift them, up again." 5 1 The woman shall not wear that which per taineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment : for all that do so are abomina tion unto the Lord thy God.r 6 1 If a bird's nest chance to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground, whetlier they be young ones,8 or eggs, and the dam sitting upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with the young : ' 7 But thou shalt in any wise let the dam go, and take the young to thee ; that it may be well with thee," and that thou mayest prolong thy days/ 8 If When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof,w that thou bring not blood upon thy house, if any man fall from thence. 9 IT Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds :x lest the fruit* of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled. 10 IT Thou shalt not plough with an ox and an ass together/ 111 Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woollen and linen together.2 12 1 Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters8 of thy vesture,11 wherewith thou coverest thyself. n Exoc . 23:4 o Is-a 58:7. p Exod. 23:5. 1 Heb. 12:12, 13. r ch. 18:12. » Luke 12:0. t Lev. 22:23. u ch. 4 40. » Prov. 22:4. * Isa. 22: ; Jer. 19:13; Matt. 10:27. x Lev 1919. i Heb. fulness, y 2 Col . 0:14-16. r. Lev. 19:19. SHeb wings. a Num .15:38 Matt. 23:5. ulations which, while those practices continued, lessened in some measure their evils. 20. Rebellion of children against the wise and good instruction and authority of parents is highly offensive to God, and exposes those who are guilty of it to be aban doned of him, and given up to vice, infamy, and ruin. CHAPTER XXII. 1. Hide thyself from them; pass by as if you did not see them ; refuse to care for them. 5. Shall not wear that; because it tended to impurity and wickedness. 6. Shalt not take the dam ; it would be cruel, and tend to sanction cruelty, and also to extirpate that species of birds. 7. Take tlie young; that is, the young only: not a com mand to take young birds from the nest, but a prohibition of their being taken with the parent bird. Prolong thy days; by showing a tender and kind spirit, even to the brute creation. 8. A battlement for thy roof; a wall or railing around the roof, to keep persons from falling off; as their roofs were flat, and were often resorted to for air and exercise. 9-12. Divers sorts; these directions may have been de signed to prevent the Israelites from imitating the hea then, and keep them a separate people. Some think that they have also a symbolical meaning, and forbid the mix- Of a suspected wife. DEUTERONOMY XXIII. Of adultery and rape. A. M. 2553. B. C 1151. 13 T If any man take a wife, and go in unto her," and hate her, 14 And give occasions of speech against her,b and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and when I came to her, I found her not a maid ; 15 Then shall the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth the tokens of the dam sel's virginity unto the elders of the city in the gate : 16 And the damsel's father shall say unto the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth her ; 17 And lo, he hath given occasions of speech against her, saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and yet these are the tokens of my daugh ter's virginity. And they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city. 18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise him ; 19 And they shall amerce him in a hundred shek els of silver, and give them unto the father of the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin of Israel ; and she shall be his wife : he may not put her away all his days.0 20 But if this thing be true, and the tokens of vir ginity be not found for the damsel; 21 Then they shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die ; because she hath wrought folly in Israel," to play the whore in her father's house:6 so shalt thou put evil away from among you.f 22 IT If a man be found lying with a woman mar ried to a husband,8 then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel. 23 l If a damsel that is a virgin be betrothed unto a husband," and a man find her in the city, and lie with her ; 24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the » Gen. 29:21. b I Tim. 5:11. e Matt. 111:8, 9. d Gen. 31:7; Judg. 2l. li, 10; 2 Sam. 13:12, 13. e Lev. 21 :9» f ch. 13:5. e Lev. 20:10; Num. 5:2-i- 27; Ezek. 2):45-l8; John 8:5; Heb. 13:4. h Matt. 1:18, 19. i ch. 21:14. J ver. 21, 22; 1 Cor. 5:2, 13. * Or, take strong hold of her; 2 Sam. 13:14. ture of things that are incongruous in morals and religion. Compare 2 Cor. 6 : 14-16. 13-21. Occasions of speech against her; these directions were designed to prevent unjust accusations, to protect .the innocent, and punish the guilty. 22. They shall both of them die; this was on the ground that both were consenting to the wickedness. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. The Old Testament as well as the New requires men to do to others as in like circumstances they ought to wish others to do to them. 3. Things which others have lost, and which we find, are not ours if by using suitable means we can find the owner. 4. The law of God requires us to exercise compassion not only towards our fellow-men, but also towards animals in distress, and to make all proper efforts to relieve them. 5. All practices which tend to impurity of heart or of life, in ourselves or others, should be avoided. 6. The directions of God are suited to lessen, and should they be perfectly followed, to do away the selfishness and cruelty of the human heart, and lead it to delight in the happiness of the whole sensitive creation. 7. The manifestation of a kind and compassionate dis position is favorable to the continuance of life, prosperity, and happiness. gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die ; the damsel, because she cried not, being in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbor's wife:1 so thou shalt put away evil from among you.j 25 1 But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her,* and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die : 26 But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing ; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbor, and slayeth him, even so is- this matter : 27 For he found her in the field, and the be trothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her. 28 IT If a man find a damsel that is a virgin,k which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found ; 29 Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife ; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days. 30 T A man shall not take his father's wife,1 nor discover his father's skirt."1 CHAPTER XXIII. 1 Who may or may not enter into the congregation. 9 Uncleanness to be avoided in the host. 15 Oi' t!ie fugitive servant. 17 Of filthiness. 18 Of abominable sacrifices. 19 Of usury. 21 Of vows. 24 Of tres passes. HE that is wounded in the stones," or hath his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. 2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord ;° even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord. 3 An Ammonite or Moabitep shall not. enter into the congregation of the Lord ;q even to their tenth generation shall they not enter into the congrega tion of the Lord for ever : k Exod. 22:16 17. 1 ch. 27:20; Lev. 18:8; 20:11; 1 Cor. 5:1-13. m Ruth 3:9; Ezek. 10:8. n Lev. 21 : 17, 21 ; 22:22-24. o Zech. 9:6. pRuth4:lO, etc. q Neh. 13:1,8; Isa. 50:3; Lam. 1:10. 8. Carelessness as well as cruelty is offensive to God, and tends to bring numerous evils upon men. If others suffer through our neglect, we shall be held responsible at the divine tribunal. 9-12. Jehovah delights in harmony, propriety, decency, and order. Every thing contrary to these, and tending to corrupt the imagination, pervert the judgment, or deprave the heart, is offensive in his sight. 21. Marriage is an institution of God, established at the creation, and to continue to the end of time. Its obliga tions are most sacred, and those who violate them are exposed to his awful curse. 25. By the penalty which God under the Jewish dis pensation affixed to adultery, he showed his deep and unchanging abhorrence of that crime, and the sore pun ishment which, without repentance awaits the guilty in the future world. CHAPTER XXIII. 1. Not enter into the congregation of the Lord; not be admitted to worship in the temple. This was designed to prevent Israelitish parents from mutilating their chil dren, as was often done among the heathen. 3. Ammonite — Moabite; these nations bordered upon that part of Canaan which lay east of the Jordan. 245 Laws concerning purity, DEUTERONOMY XXIV. usury, vows, and vineyards. 4 Because they met you not with bread and with water in the way," when ye came forth out of Egypt ; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor of Pethor of Mesopotamia, to curse thee.b 5 Nevertheless, the Lord thy God would not hearken unto Balaam; but the Lord thy God turned the curse into a blessing unto thee,c be cause the Lord thy God loved thee. 6 Thou shalt not seek their peace nor their pros perity* all thy days for ever.d 7 T Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite ; for he is thy brother:0 thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.1 8 The children that are begotten of them shall enter into the congregation of the Lord in their third generation/ 9 T When the host goeth forth against thine ene mies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." 10 H If there be among you any man, that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night,' then shall he go abroad out of the camp, he shall not come within the camp: 11 But it shall be, when evening cometh on,+ he shall wash himself with water ;j and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again. 12 1 Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad : 13 And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weap on; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself* abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee : 14 For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp,k to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee ; therefore shall thy camp be holy: that he see no unclean thing5 in thee, and turn away from thee. 15 .1 Thou shalt not deliver unto his master the servant which is escaped from his master unto thee :' 16 He shall dwell with thee, even among you, in that place which he shall choose in one of thy » Ch. 2:29. t> Num. 22:5, etc. <= Mic. 0:5. * Heb. good, d Uzra9:12. e Gen. 25:i4-2">; Obid. 10. 12; Mal. 1:2. ' ch. 10:19; Exod. 22:21 ; 2i:9; Lev. 19:31. e Rom. 3:29, 30; Eph. 2:12. b Josh. 0:18. i Lev. 15:10. t Heb. turneth tow-ird. j Lev. 15.5. t Heb. sittest down, k Lev. 20:12; 2 Cor. 6:H>-.- 4-Heb. nakedness of any thing. 1 1 Sam. 30:15. il Heb. is 7. Brother; relative, being descended like themselves from Abraham and Isaac. 8. Shall enter into the congregation; become entitled to all the privileges of an Israelite, if they embrace his religion. 9. The host; the army of Israel. 10-14. Wash himself; these regulations were designed to promote cleanliness and a conviction of the necessity of internal as well as external purity. 18. The hire; the wages of iniquity must not be offered to the Lord, as was done by the heathen. A dog; a male prostitute, a sodomite. 19. Usury; interest. This was designed to inculcate and increase the habit of assisting and doing good to one another as the people of God. 24. Eat grapes thy fill; enough to satisfy present want. Not put any in thy vessel; to carry it away. 25. Corn; grain. Matt. 12:1, 2. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Every thing should be avoided by parents which tends to deprive children of any of the privileges and blessings of the people of God. 3. Sins committed by parents may, long after they are dead, entail great evils on their children — and sins com mitted by rulers, great evils on the people. 246 gates, where it liketh him best : ' thou shalt ^S not oppress him.m 17 1 There shall be no whore' of the daughters of Israel," nor a sodomite of the sons of Israel.0 18 Thou shalt not bring the hire of a whore, or the price of a dog, into the house of the Lord thy God for any voW : for even both these are abomi nation unto the Lord thy God. 19 1 Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy broth er ;p usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury : 20 Unto a stranger thou mayest lend upon usury ;¦> but unto thy brother thou shalt not lend upon usury : that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all that thou settest thy hand to in the land whith er thou goest to possess it.r 21 1 When thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it:s for the Lord thy God will surely require it of thee ; and it would be sin in thee. 22 But if thou shalt forbear to vow, it shall be no sin in thee. 23 That which is gone out of thy lips thou shalt keep and perform;1 even a freewill-offering, ac cording as thou hast vowed unto the Lord thy God, which thou hast promised with thy mouth. 24 IT When thou comest into thy neighbor's vine yard, then thou mayest eat grapes thy fill at thine own pleasure ; but thou shalt not put any in thy vessel. 25 When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbor, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thy hand;" but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbor's standing corn. CHAPTER XXIV. 1 Of divorce. 5 A new married man goeth not to -war. 6, 10 Of pledges. 7 Of maristealers. 8 Of leprosy. 14 Tho hire is to be given. 16 Of justice. 19 Of charity. WHEN a man hath taken a wife, and married her, and it "come to pass that she find no good for him. m Exod. 22:21. 1 Or, sodomitess; Rom. 1 :26. n Lev 19:29. o Gen. 19:4, 5; i Kings 23:7: Bom. 1:27,-2-1. P Exod. 22:25; Lev. 25:35- 37; Neh. 5:2, 7; Psa. 15:5; Ezek. 18:8, 17; 22:12: Lnke 6:31, 35. q ch. 15:3. r oh. 15:10; Lev. 19:34. > Num. 30:2; Eccl. 5:4, 5. t psa. 60:13, 11; 110:ld. u Matt. 12:1. 9-14. The individuals of an army, even when going forth to battle, are all, from the commander-in-chief to the low est subaltern, sacredly bound to be holy in body and spirit ; to indulge no feelings and allow no actions which shall not be pleasing to God, and tend to fit them for the purity, the employments, and tlie bliss of heaven. 16. The oppression of servants, depriving them of their rights, or in any way injuring them, is forbidden by Je hovah. 18. The gains and the practices of iniquity are an abom ination to the Lord ; and no offerings are acceptable to him but those of honest, upright, believing, and affectionate hearts. 20. Proper compensation for the use of money or any other property is not in itself wrong ; but we should kindly assist the poor, and as we have opportunity and ability do good to all, especially to the friends of God and those who will use our kindness in honoring him. 23. What we promise, if it is not wicked or impracti cable, we should be very careful to do : it is better not to promise, than to promise and not perform. CHAPTER XXIV. 1-4. Send her out of his house; this was not a command, and it was a practice contrary to the original institution Laws concerning divorce, DEUTERONOMY XXIV. oppression, charity, etc. b'c'S favor in his eyes, because he hath found some uncleanness* in her ; then let him write her a bill of divorcement,*" and give it in her hand, and send her out of his house. 2 And when she is departed out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife. 3 And if the latter husband hate her, and write her a bill of divorcement, and giveth it in her hand, and sendeth her out of his house; or if the latter husband die, which took her to be his wife ; 4 Her former husband, which sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after that she is defiled ;b for that is abomination before the Lord : and thou shalt not cause the land to sin,0 which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance. 5 When a man hath taken a new wife," he shall not go out to war, neither shall he be charged with any business:* but he shall be free at home one year, and shall cheer up his wife which he hath taken.6 6 1 No man shall take the nether or the upper millstone to pledge : for he taketh a man's life to pled.se. 7 Tlf a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die;f and thou shalt put evil away from among you.8 8 IT Take heed in the plague of leprosy,11 that thou observe diligently, and do according to all that the priests the Levites shall teach you : as I commanded them, so ye shall observe to do. 9 Remember what the Lord thy God did unto Miriam by the way,1 after that ye were come forth out of Egypt. 10 T When thou dost lend§ thy brother any thing, thou shalt not go into his house to fetch his pledge. 11 Thou shalt stand abroad, and the man to whom thou dost lend shall bring out the pledge abroad unto thee. 12 And if the man be poor, thou shalt not sleep with his pledge : •H b. matter of nakedness. tHeb cutting off. a Matt. 5:31. dl. b Jer. 3 1. e Lev. If 25-28. d ab. 20:7. t Heb. not any thing shall pass upon h m. e P^ov. 5 :I8. f Exod. 21:16. s ch 19:19. h Lev. chs. 13, 11. i Num. 1210. 8 Heb. lend tlie loan of any thing to. i Exod. 22 ¦Iii 27. k Job J!): 11-13: 31:10. 20; 2 Cor. ft :.:). 11 1 Hen. 1 5:0; Psa. 100 ¦'*'; of marriage. UoJ always abuorred it. But on account of the wickedness and hardness of their hearts it was for a time suffered, and regulations were adopted to lessen its evils. Mal. 2:14-16; Matt. 5:31, 32; 19:3-9; Mark 10:2-12. 5. Free at home one year; this was suited to increase and render more permanent conjugal affection, and thus ren der the family state more useful and happy. 6. Netlier; lower. A man's life; that which was needful to prepare his food, and thus enable him to live. Each family then had a mill in their house, and ground their grain by hand. Exod. 11:5; Matt. 24:41. 7. Tliat thief s'wll die ; he that stole an ox was to restore double, but he that stole a man was to die ; so much more wicked was it to steal a man than an ox. Exod. 21:16; 22:4. 8. As I commanded; Leviticus 13, 14. 10. Not go into his house; this was designed to protect tho poor debtor against the violence of the creditor. 12. Not sleep with his pledge; it might be some covering which at night the poor man would need. 13. It s'uiil be rigliteousness ; doing what would be right; and when done with right motives, accepted of God. 15. At his day; at' the close of hi-s- day's service, or the time he had agreed to work. 13 In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge again when the sun goeth down,j that he may sleep in his own raiment, and bless thee:k and it shall be righteousness unto thee before the Lord thy God.1 14 Thou shalt not oppress a hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates : 15 At his day thou shalt give him his hire, nei ther shall the sun go down upon it ; for he is poor, and setteth his heart upon it : " lest he cry against thee unto the Lord,"1 and it be sin unto thee. 16 The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers:" every man shall be put to death for his own sin. 17 T Thou shalt not pervert the judgment of the stranger, nor of the fatherless;0 nor take a wid ow's raiment to pledge : 18 But thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt,p and the Lord thy God re deemed thee thence : therefore I command thee to do this thing. 19 T When thou cuttest down thy harvest in thy field, and hast forgot a sheaf in the field, thou shalt not go again to fetch it : it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow :q that the Lord thy God may bless thee in all the work of thy hands. 20 When thou beatest thine olive-tree, thou shalt not go over the boughs again:1 it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 21 When thou gatherest the grapes of thy vine yard, thou shalt not glean it afterward :* it shall be for the stranger, for the fatherless, and for the widow. 22 And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt :r therefore I com mand thee to do this thing. 112:9; Dan. 4:27; Jas. 2: 15--21. I Heb. lifteth his soul unto it ; Psa. 25:1; 80:1. mJas.5:4. n 2 Kings 11:5. 0; Jer. 31 :*9, 30; Kzek 18:^0. ° Exod. 22:22-27; Prov. 22:22. 23; Jer. 22:3; Zech. 7:10; Mal. 3:5. P ch. 10:12. q Lev. 19:9, 10; 23:22; Psa. 41:1. 1 Heb. bough hafier thee. * Heb. after thee. rver. IS. 16. Every man; who commits crimes for which death is the prescribed penalty. 18. Do this thing ; refrain from wronging the laborer, the stranger, the widow, or the fatherless. 20. It; what is left on the trees. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. God, as civil ruler among the Jews, suffered, and in his providential government he now suffers some things which are contrary to his moral law, which it is wicked for men to do, and which, if they do, will. draw down upon them his curse. 5. Great care should be taken not to interrupt or weaken affection between man and wife, but it should by aH proper means be cherished and perpetuated. Eph. 5:26^33. 6. Nothing should be taken from a poor man for debt which is needful to his subsistence. . 15. The oppression of the poor, and withholding from hired laborers what is due to them, is an aggravated ouence not only against them, but against God. . 16. No criminal should be punished except for his own sins. 18. The kindness of God to us should lead us to be kind to others, especially to the poor, the stranger, the widow, and the fatherless." ~ 241 Of the brot/ier's wife. DEUTERONOMY XXVI. Amalek to be destroyed. CHAPTER XXV. 1 Stripes must not exceed forty. 4 The ox is not to be muzzled. 5 Of raising seed unto a brother. 11 Of the immodest woman. 13 Of un just weights. 17 The memory of Amalek is to be blotted out. IP there be a controversy between men," and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them ; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.6 2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten,0 that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number. 3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed : lest, if he should exceed, and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile unto thee.d 4 T TIiou shalt not muzzle the ox when he tread- eth* out the corn." 5 T If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger : her husband's brother+ shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her.'' b And it shall be, that the first-born which she beareth shall succeed6 in the name of his brother which is dead,h that his name be not put out of Israel. 7 And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's* wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say, My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my hus band's brother : 8 Then the elders of his city shall call him, and speak unto him : and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her ; 9 Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders, and loose his shoe from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. 10 And his name shall be called in Israel, The house of him that hath his shoe loosed. » Ch. 19:17; Ezek. 41:21. b 2 Chr. 19:8; Prov. 17: 15. c Matt. 10:17; Luke 12:48; 2 Cor. 11:24. <1 Job 18:3. * Heb. tliresheth; Hos. 10:11. e 1 Cor.. 9:9; 1 Tim. 5:18. t Or, next kinsman; Gen. 38:8, 9; Ruth 1:12, 13. 'Matt. 22:24. (r Gen. 38:8. b Ruth 4: 10, etc. t Or, next kinsman's. A. M. 2553. 11 T When men strive together one with another, and the wife of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that smiteth him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the secrets ; 12 Then thou shalt cut off her hand, thine eye shall not pity her. 13 T Thou shalt not have in thy bag divers weights,5 a great and a small : 14 Thou shalt not have in thy house divers meas ures,1 a great and a small : 15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have:1 that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord thy God.j 17 T Remember what Amalek did unto thee by the way, when yo were come forth out of Egypt ; 18 How he met thee by the way, and smote ths hindmost of thee,k even all that were feeble behind thee, when thou wast faint and weary ; and he fear ed not God.1 19 Therefore it shall be, when the Lord thy God hath given thee rest from all thine enemies round about,m in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance to possess it, that thou shalt blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven;" thou shalt not forget it. CHAPTER XXVI. 1 The confession of him that offereth the basket of first-fruits. 12 The prayer of him that giveth his third year's tithes. 16 The covenant between G-od and the people. AND it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance, and possessest it, and dwellest therein ; 2 That thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth,0 which thou shaltbring of thy land that the Lord thy God giveth thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose to place his name there. CHAPTER XXV. 4. Muzzle tlie ox; to prevent his eating. The usual way of threshing grain at that time, was treading it out with oxen. 6. Succeed — his brother; to his inheritance, and to his name in the genealogical records. 10. Hath his shoe loosed; a sign of disgrace in view of the people. 13. A great and a small; so as to get more than just weight when he bought, and give less when he sold. 17. What Amalek did; Exod. 17:8; Num. 24:20. 19. Shalt blot out the remembrance; utterly destroy them. lSam. 15:1-3. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The acquitting of the guilty, and the condemning of the innocent, are both an abomination to the Lord. 4. The withholding of needful support and comfort even from oxen, is a sin against God ; much more is the with holding of them from servants and other human beings 248 ! Heb. a stone and a stone. 11 Heb. an ephah and an ephah. > Lev. 19: °5, 30; Prov. 11:1; Ezek. 45: 10; Amos8:5; Mic. 0:11. j 1 Thess. 4:6. k Exod. 17:8,eto. 1 Psa. 30:1; Prov. 10:0. m 1 Sam. 15:3. n Exod. 17:14. ° Exod. 23:19; Num. 18:13. who labor for our good, and especially from those who labor for our spiritual good. 1 Cor. 9:9-11; 1 Tim. 5:17, 18. 10. Various regulations were adopted by God to make the Israelites a peculiar people, and keep them separate from other nations. These regulations were binding on them till the introduction of the gospel dispensation, when they were abolished, and the Jews freed from all obliga tions to observe them. 16. Strict honesty in buying and selling, and a sacred regard to what is just and right in all our dealings with men, are essential to acceptance with God. 18. Taking advantage of those who are in distress, and wronging such as have not power to protect themselves, is mean and wicked. Those who do it incur the wrath of God, and may expect to be visited with his curse. CHAPTER XXVI. 2. Tlie place which the Lend thy God shall choose; as the place of his worship, and of the visible manifestation of his presence. First-fruits and tithes. DEUTERONOMY XXVII. The Lord's covenant. uchm" 3 -^nd taou slmlt &° unto tlie Priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, I profess this day unto the Lord thy God, that I am come unto the country which the Lord sware unto our fathers for to give us. 4 And the priest shall take the basket out of thy hand, and set it down before the altar of the Lord thy God. 5 And thou shalt speak and say before the Lord thy God, A Syrian a ready to perish was my father ;b and he went down into Egypt,0 and sojourned there with a few,4 and became there a nation, great, migh ty, and populous : 6 And the Egyptians evil-entreated us,c and af flicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage : 7 And when we cried unto the Lord God of our fathers, the Lord heard our voice/ and looked on our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression: 8 And the Lord brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand,g and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with signs, and with wonders :h 9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.1 10 And now, behold, I have brought the first- fruits of the land, which thou, 0 Lord, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the Lord thy God, and worship before the Lord thy God :j 11 And thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the Lord thy God hath given unto thee, and unto thy house, thou, and the Levite,1 and the stranger that is among you. 12 T When thou hast made an end of tithing all the tithes of thine increase the third year,1" which is the year of tithing," and hast given it unto the Levite, the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, that they may eat within thy gates, and be filled ; 13 Then thou shalt say before the Lord thy God, I have brought away the hallowed things out of my house, and also have given them unto the Le vite, and unto the stranger, to the fatherless, and a Hos. 12: 12. b Gen 4' :1, 2. cr en 48:1,0. d ch 7:7. Exod . 1:11- 14 f Exod chs. 2-1. K Exod. 12 37 51; 13:3, 10. b ch. 4 34. i Exod. 3:r . j Prov. 3:9; 1 Cor II :3I. k eh. 12 7. 12; 10 :ll. 1 Cor. 9:11. m Lev. 2!: 30: Num 18:21. n oh. 14:23 29. 0 Psa. 18:21-24; 2.S: 1, 1 ; Acts 21:10; 1 John 3:22. P Psa. lit :141. qLev. 7: 20: 21:1, 11; H o». 9:4. r Isa 03:15. 5. A Syrian ready to perish; or, a wandering Syrian, in reference to the nomade life of Jacob. In a wider sense Mesopotamia, the birthplace of Abraham, was reckoned to Syria, so that Jacob was of Syrian descent, in respect to his fathers Abraham and Isaac, as well as his mother Rebecca. 12. The year of tithing ; this was the second tithing, or the tithing of the remaining nine parts, after one tenth had been given to the Levites. Every third year this second tithing was to be given to the poor. Chap. 14:22- 29. 13. The hallowed things; those which God required to be set apart for the Levites, for the poor, and for religious purposes. 14. Thereof '; of the hallowed things, ver. 13. In my mourning; which was unlawful, as the food of mourners was regarded as unclean. Hosea 9 : 4. For the dead ; for funeral feasts, a use to which it was unlawful to put these hallowed things. There is probably an allusion here to a heathenish custom. 17. Avouched; affirmed, declared. to the widow, according to all thy commandments which thou hast commanded me : I have not trans gressed thy commandments,0 neither have I for gotten them? 14 I have not eaten thereof in my mourning," neither have I taken away aught thereof for any unclean use, nor given aught thereof for the dead : but I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me. 15 Look down from thy holy habitation,1 from heaven,8 and bless thy people Israel,1 and the land which thou hast given us, as thou swarest unto our fathers," a land that floweth with milk and honey. • 16 IF This day the Lord thy God hath command ed thee to do these statutes and judgments : v thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. 17 Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God,w and to walk in his ways, and to keep his statutes,* and his commandments, and his judg ments, and to hearken unto his voice : 18 And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people,5, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his command ments f 19 And to make thee high above all nations which he hath made," in praise, and in name, and in honor ; and that thou mayest be a holy people unto the Lord thy God,b as he hath spoken. CHAPTER XXVII. 1 The people are commanded to write the law npon stones, 5 and to build an altar of whole stones. 11 The tribes divided on G-erizim and Ebal. 14 The curses pronounced on mount Ebal. AND Moses with the elders of Israel command ed the people, saying, Keep all the command ments which I command you this day. 2 And it shall be, on the day when ye shall pass over Jordan unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee,0 that thou shalt set thee up great stones, and plaster them with plaster: slsa«0:l. t Psa. 23:9; 51:18. » Heb. 0:13-18. *ch. 11:8. w Exod. 24:7; 2 Chr. 34:31; Isa. 41:5; Zech. 13:9; 2 Cor. 8:5. * Psa. 117:19,20. y ch. 14:2; 28:9; Kxod. 19:5. 0; Titus 2: 14. i Psa. 119:0; Rom. 16:20. » Psa. 148:14. bl Pet. 2:9. '« Josh. 4:1, etc. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. However long the fulfilment of divine promises may be delayed, and however great the obstacles, they will in due time all be accomplished. 7. Those who are oppressed, and with humble, believ ing, and affectionate hearts, seek help from God, may expect that in due time he will deliver them. 10. As God is the author of all our blessings, we should as such acknowledge him; and should honor him with our substance and with the first-fruits of all our increase. Prov. 3:9. 14. Obedience to the commands of God is a good prep aration for seeking his favor with acceptance, and receiv ing his blessing on all our enjoyments. Neh. 5:19 ; 13:7- 31. 16. As God gives to men, heart, soul, mind, strength, and all mercies, it is reasonable that they should be de voted to his service. 19. Devotion to God, is the way to be truly great, noble, excellent, useful, and happy. 249 Curses to be pronounced. DEUTERONOMY XXVIII. Blessings for obedience. 3 And thou shalt write upon them all the words of this law,a when thou art passed over, that thou mayest go in unto the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, a land that floweth with milk and honey ; as the Lord God of thy fathers hath prom ised thee. 4 Therefore it shall be when ye be gone over Jordan, that ye shall set up these stones, which I command you this day, in mount Ebal,b and thou shalt plaster them with plaster. 5 And there shalt thou build an altar unto the Lord thy God, an altar of stones: thou shalt not lift up any iron tool upon them. 6 Thou shalt build the altar of the Lord thy God of whole stones: and thou shalt offer burnt-offer ings thereon unto the Lord thy God : 7 And thou shalt offer peace-offerings, and shalt eat there, and rejoice before the Lord thy God.0 8 And thou shalt write upon the stones all the words of this law very plainly. 9 T And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying. Take heed, and hearken, 0 Israel ; this day thou art become the people of the Lord thy God."d 10 Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the Lord thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day. 1 1 IT And Moses charged the people the same day, saying, 12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan ; Sime on, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin: 13 And these shall stand upon mount Ebal to curse;* Reuben, Gad, and Asher, and Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. 14 1 And the Levites shall speak,e and say unto all the men of Israel with a loud voice, 15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image/ an abomination unto the Lord, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place:3 and all the people shall answer and say, Amen. 16 Cursed be he that setteth light by his father or his mother :" and all the people shall say, Amen. a Josh. 3:31. b an. 11:29; Joan o-.-io-ll. = en. a>:10, II. (I ch. 2u:IS. ' Heb. for a cursing. ecli.31:lJ. f Exoi. 20:4, 23; Isa. 44:9; Hos. 13-2 3. s 2 Kings 17:9. 10; Jer. 23:21. h Lev. 19:3; Prov. 30: 17. ¦ ch. 19-14 J Lev. 19:14. k KicoJ. 22:21-21; Mal. 3:5. > Lev. 18:8; 20:11 : 1 Cor 5-1 •" Lev. 18:2); 20:15. n Lev. 18::); 20:17. ° Lev. 18:17; 20:14. p ch CHAPTER XXVII. 3. The words of this law; supposed to be the law or dec laration which follows, ver. 14-26. 4. Ebal; Gen. 12:6. 12. Gerizim; Gun. 12:6. Bless the people; add their Amen, in token of their concurrence, when the Levites should pronounce blessings on the obedient. 13. To curse; add their Amen when the Levites should pronounce curses on the disobedient. Ver. 14-26. 15. Graven or molten image; for the purpose of wor shipping it. Exod. 20:4-6. 16. Setteth light ; disregards and dishonors. Exod. 20-12 17. Landmark; chap. 19:14. 19. Perverteth the judgment of; commits injustice towards those mentioned. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. All proper methods should be adopted to make the law of God familiar to all the people, and to set before 250 17 Cursed be lie that removeth his neigh- ^iisf bor's landmark:' and all the people shall say, Amen. 18 Cursed be he that maketh the blind to wander out of the way :' and all the people shall say, Amen. 19 Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow : k and all the people shall say, Amen. 20 Cursed be he that lieth Avith his father's wife ; ' because he uncovereth his father's skirt : and all the people shall say, Amen. 21 Cursed be he that lieth with aDy manner of beast:™ and all the people shall say, Amen. 22 Cursed be he that lieth with his- sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his moth er:" and all the people shall say, Amen. 23 Cursed be he that lieth with his mother-in- law:0 and all the people shall say, Amen. 24 Cursed be he that smiteth his neighbor secret ly : p and all the people shall say, Amen. 25 Cursed be he that taketh reward to slay an in nocent person : q and all the people shall say, Amen. 2C Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them : r and all the people shall say, Amen.8 CHAPTER XXVIII. 1 The blessings for obedience. 15 The curses for disobedience. AND it shall come to pass, if thou shalt heark en diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God,' to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth : u 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee,v if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God.w 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. x 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of "thy sheep.y 5 Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store.* 6 Blessed shall thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out.2 10:11, U; Kxod. 2, : U-14. q Exod. -Si:,, t,; Vruv. l:il-iu; Ezek. 22:12. r,C,o ,:!:,'e,tc-APsa-II0:-1; G-*- r ch. 7:13; Gen. 49:25: Psa. 107:38; 12c J. t Or, dough, or kneading. troughs, i Psa. 121:8. them the motives which God has revealed to induce them to keep it. 10. Whenever God makes any his peculiar people, he lays them under special obligations to obey him; and if they do not, they incur peculiar guilt and expose them selves to an aggravated punishment. Chap. 28:14-CS. 15. By adding their solemn Amen to what is uttered, people profess to believe its truth. If it is a curse, they acknowledge its justice ; and if a blessing, their desire to receive it. 26. All the revelations and declarations of God are suited to deter men from transgression, and persuade them to obedience, showing that he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but great pleasure in their turning from their wickedness, that they may live. Chap. 28; Ezek. 33:11; Luke 15:10. CHAPTER XXVIII. 2. These blessings ; the blessings enumerated in ver. 3<-14. Blessings for obedience. DEUTERONOMY XXVIII. Curses for disobedience. A. M. 2553. H. C. 1451 7 The Lord shall cause thine enemies thatTise up against thee to be smitten before thy face:a they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways." 8 The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses,* and in all that thou settest thy hand unto ;c and he shall bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 9 The Lord shall establish thee a holy people unto himself,d as he hath sworn unto thee,0 if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. 10 And all people of the earthf shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord;8 and they shall be afraid of thee." 11 And the Lord shall make thee plenteous in goods/ in the fruit of thy body,* and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground,1 in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. 12 The Lord shall open unto thee his good treas ure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season/ and to bless all the work of thy hand : and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.k 13 And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail ; ' and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath ; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I com mand thee this day, to observe and to do them: 14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day,m to the right hand, or to the left," to go after other gods to serve them. 15 1" But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God,0 to observe to do all his commandments and his stat utes which I command thee this day ; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:p 16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.q 17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store. 18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed slmlt thou be when thou goest out. 20 The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexa tion,1- and rebuke,3 in all that thou settest thy hand unto for to do,3 until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly ;' because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me. 21 Tlie Lord shall make the pestilence cleave unto thee," until he have consumed thee from off the land, whither thou goest to possess it. > 2 Sam. 32:38-11. b Josh. 8:22; 2 Chr. 11:9-15. • Or, barns. 'Lev. 21:21. dPaa. 87:5; 2 Thess. 3:3; I Pet. 5:10. e Exod. 19:5, 0. f Mal 3: 12. e Dan. 9:18,19. h ch. 11:33 ; 1 Chr. 14:17. t Or. for good, t Heb. belli/. i Prov. 10:22. i Joel 2:2!. k oh. 15:0. 1 Isa. 9:14', 15. m0h. 5:32. n |..a. 3J:21 "Lev. 20:14, etc. P Lam. 2:17. q Mal. 2:2. r U, 28:19. » Isa. 30:17. § Heb. which thou wouldest do. I 1 Sam. 14:20; Zech. 14:13. 7. Seven; used for many. 10. Called; Jehovah's people. 23. Be brass, and — iron; the heaven would not give any more rain than if it were brass, nor the earth yield any more fruit than if it were iron. 22 The Lord shall smite thee with a consump tion, and with a fever, and with an inflammation, and with an extreme burning, and with the sword,v and with blasting,1 and with mildew; and they shall pursue thee until thou perish. 23 And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.w 24 The Lord shall make the rain of thy land powder and dust : from heaven shall it come down upon thee* until thou be destroyed. 25 The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten be fore thine enemies:3, thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them; and shalt be removed^ into all the kingdoms of the earth.2 26 And thy carcass shall be meat unto all fowls of the air, and unto the beasts of the earth," and no man shall fray them away. 27 The Lord will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the emerods," and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst notbe healed. 28 The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart :c 29 And thou shalt grope at noonday,4 as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not pros per in thy ways : and thou shalt be only oppress ed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee. 30 Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her:8 thou shalt build a house, and thou shalt not dwell therein :f thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather* the grapes thereof. 31 Thine ox shall be slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass shall le vio lently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored+ to thee: thy sheep shall be given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue them. 32 Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people,6 and thine eyes shall look, and fail with longing for them all the day long: and there shall be no might in thy hand. 33 The fruit of thy land, and all thy labors, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up ;n and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway : 34 So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. 35 The Lord shall smite thee in the knees, and in the legs, with a sore botch that cannot be healed, from the sole of thy foot unto the top of thy head.' 36 The Lord shall bring thee, and thy king which thou shalt set over thee, unto a nation which neither thou nor thy fathers have known ;J and there shalt thou serve other gods, wood and stone. u Jer. 21:10. v Amos 4:9, 10. I Or, drought, v Jer. 14:1-0. x ver. 12; Job 18:15-21. y ch. 32:30. 1 Heb. for a removing, z Jer. 15:4. • P.s. 79:2; Jer. 7:33. t> Uxod. 9:9, 11: I Sam. 5:0, 12. c Jer. 4:9. dJobJ:14; Isa. 59:10. e Jer. 8:10. f Amos 5:1 1 ; Mic. 0:15. • Heb. profane, or use it as common meat, as ch. 20:0. t Heb. return. 5 2 Chr. 29:9. b Neh. 9:30, 37; Jer. 5:17. i Isa. 1:0. j 2 Chr. 30:0, 17. 26. Thy carcass shall be meat; many of their dead bodies would be left unburied. Fray ; frighten, scare. 27. Botch ; painful ulcers. Ver. 35. 32. No might; no power to escape the evils or to pre vent them. 2.">1 Curses pronounced DEUTERONOMY XXVIII. for disobedience. 37 And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword," among all nations whith er the Lord shall lead thee. 38 Thou shalt carry much seed out into the field, and shalt gather but little in ;b for the locust shall consume it.0 39 Thou shalt plant vineyards, and dress them, but shalt neither drink of the wine, nor gather the grapes; for the worms shall eat them.d 40 Thou shalt have olive-trees throughout all thy coasts, but thou shalt not anoint thyself with the oil ; for thine olive shall cast his fruit. 41 Thou shalt beget sons and daughters, but thou shalt not enjoy them ;* for they shall go into captivity.6 42 All thy trees and fruit of thy land shall the locust consume.1, 43 The stranger that is within thee shall get up above thee very high; and thou shalt come down very low/ 44 He shall lend to thee, and thou shalt not lend to him : he shall be the head, and thou shalt be the tail.8 45 Moreover all these curses shall come upon thee, and shall pursue thee, aud overtake thee,11 till thou be destroyed;1 because thou hearkenedst not unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which he com manded thee: 46 And they shall be upon thee for a sign and for a wonder,j and upon thy seed for ever. 47 Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart,k for the abundance of all things;1 48 Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies,"1 which the Lord shall send against thee, in hun ger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things:11 and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.0 49 The Lord shall bring a nation against thee from far,p from the end of the earth, as swift as the eagle flieth j' a nation whose tongue thou shalt not understand;* 50 A nation of fierce countenance,8 which shall not regard the person of the old, nor show favor to the young :r 51 And he shall eat the fruit of thy cattle, and the fruit of thy land, until thou be destroyed: which also shall not leave thee either corn, wine, or oil, or the increase of thy kine, or flocks of thy sheep, until he have destroyed thee. 52 And he shall besiege thee in all thy gates,8 until thy high and fenced walls come down, where in thou trustedst, throughout all thy land : and he A. M. 2553. a 0. 1451. shall besiege thee in all thy gates through out all thy land, which the Lord thy God hath given thee. 53 And thou shalt eat the fruit of thine own body,1 the flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee,1 in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine ene mies shall distress thee : 54 So that the man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eye shall be evil toward his broth er,11 and toward the wife of his bosom,v and toward the remnant of his children which he shall leave: 55 So that he will not give to any of them of the flesh of his children whom he shall eat : because he hath nothing left him in the siege, and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee in all thy gates. 56 The tender and delicate woman among you, which would not adventure to set the sole of her foot upon the ground for delicateness and tender ness, her eye shall be evil toward the husband of her bosom, and toward her son, and toward her daughter, 57 And toward her young one,'1 that cometh out from between her feet, and toward her children which she shall bear ;w for she shall eat them for want of all things secretly in the siege and strait ness, wherewith thine enemy shall distress thee in thy gates.x 58 If thou wilt not observe to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that thou mayest fear this glorious3, and fearful name,2 THE LORD" THY GOD;0 59 Then the Lord will make thy plagues won derful,0 and the plagues of thy seed, even great plagues, and of long continuance, and sore sick nesses, and of long continuance. 60 Moreover, he will bring upon thee all the dis eases of Egypt,d which thou wast afraid of; and they shall cleave unto thee. 61 Also every sickness, and every plague, which is not written in the book of this law, them will the Lord bring*upon thee, until thou bedestroyed. 62 And ye shall be left few in number,0 whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude;' because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the Lord thy God. 63 And it shall come to pass, that as the Lord rejoiced over you to do you good, and to multiply you;g so the Lord will rejoice over you to de stroy you, and to bring you to naught;6 and ye shall be plucked from off the land whither thou goest to possess it. 64 And the Lord shall scatter thee among all » Psa. 44:14. b Mic. C:15: Hag. 1:6. ' Joel 1:4. d Amos 7:1, 2. 'Heb. they shall not be thine, e 2 Kings 24:14; Lam. 1:5. t Or, possess. f Judg. 2:11-15. S ver. 12,13. b ver. 15. i 2 Kings 17:20. i Ezek. 11:8; 1 Cor. 10:11. k Neh. 9:35-37. leh. 32:15. m 2 Chr. 12:8; Jer. 5:19; Ezek. 17:3, 7,12. » Lam. 5:2-0. o Jer. 23:14. p Jer. 5:15; 6:22, 23. <1 Lam. 4:19. 1 Heb. hear, i H'ib. strong of face; Prov. 7:13; Eccl. 8:1 ; "Dan. 8:23. ' 2Chr.30:17; Isa. 47:0. • 2 Kings 25:1-4; Isa. 1:7; 02:8. I Heb belly. 40. Cast his fruit ; it would drop off unripe. 42. Thy trees; their leaves. 46. For ever; so long as they should continue as a peo ple to transgress his commands. 48. A yoke of iron; afflict them with grievous bondage. 49. Swift as the eagle; rapid in their conquests. 252 1 2 Kings 0:28, 29; Jer. 19:9; Lam. 2:20; 4:10. u oh. 15:9; Matt. 20:15. vch. 13:0; Mic. 7:5. f Heb. afterbirth, w Isa. 49:15. * ver. 53. y Neh. 9:5; Psa. 72:19. * Psa. 111:9.' » Exod. 6:2, 3 ; Psa. 83:18. b Exod. 20:2; Psa. 50:7; Isa. 41:10. c Dan. 9:12. cl ch. 7:15. * Heb. cause to ascend. e Neh. 7:4; Isa. 1:9. t Neh. 9:23. s ch. 30:9; Jer. 32:41. 1> Prov. 1:26; Isa. 1:24. 67. She shall eat them; Josephus' Wars of the Jews, b. 5, c. 10, s. 3 ; b. 6, c. 2, s. 4. 63. Plucked from off the land; they were by the Romans carried off from their land and scattered among all nations ; and were forbidden again to come within sight of Jeru salem. An exhortation to obey DEUTERONOMY XXIX. in view of the past. a. ua people," from the one end of the earth even unto the other ; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone. 65 And among these nations shalt thou find no ease,b neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest : but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind : 66 And thy life shall hang in doubt before thee ; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life : 67 In the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning!0 for the fear of thy heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see. 68 And the Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships,4 by the way whereof I spake unto thee, Thou shalt see it no more again :° and there ye shall be sold unto your enemies for bondmen and bondwomen, and no man shall buy you. CHAPTER XXIX. 1 Moses exhorteth them to obedience, by the memory of the works they have seen. 10 All are presented before the Lord to enter into his covenant. - 18 The great wrath on him that flattereth himself in his wickedness. 29 Secret things belong unto G-od. THESE are the words of the covenant, which the Lord commanded Moses to make with tho children of Israel in the land of Moab, besides the covenant which he made with them in Horeb/ 2 1 And Moses called unto all Israel, and said unto them, Ye have seen all that the Lord did before your eyes in the land of Egypt unto Pha raoh/ and unto all his servants, and unto all his land; ' Ser. 10:13; 50:17; Ezek. 11:10, 17. b Amos 9:4. c Job 7:4. d Hos. 8:13:9:3. «ch.17:IO. fch. 5:2,3. S Exod. 8-12. boh. 4:34. i Isa. 0:9, 10; 03:17; John 8:43. j ch. 8:4. k Exod. 16:35; Psa. 78:21, 25. 1 1 Cor. 68. Ye shall be sold — and no man shall buy you ; many were sold into perpetual bondage, and many more were offered for sale for whom their conquerors could not find a mar ket, so great were their numbers; and multitudes were slain or left to perish. See Josephus, Patrick, Basnage, Newton, Keith, etc. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. No tongue can express nor finite mind conceive the number, greatness, variety, richness, or duration of the blessings which flow from obeying God. 15. The miseries comprehended in the curses which flow from continued disobedience to God, as much sur pass all finite conception as the blessings which flow from his favor. 24. As all the elements are under the control of God, he can at any time arm them against his foes, and pursue them with wrath till they perish. 28. Diseases of body and mind are God's servants. They go and come at his bidding, and fasten their deadly fangs on such as he commissions them to torment and destroy. 32. Few calamities are more dreadful than to see the misery of children and be unable to help them. 45. What renders calamities vastly more dreadful is, a conviction that we by our own wickedness have occa sioned them. 57. The horrors of famine can be but faintly conceived ; and if the sufferings occasioned by sin are so great in this world, what must they be in the world to come ? 67. The history of the Jews for more than eighteen 3 The great temptations which thine eyes have seen, the signs, and those great miracles:11 4 Yet the Lord hath not given you a heart to perceive,' and eyes to see, and ears to hear, unto this day. 5 And I have led you forty years in the wilder ness: your clothes are not waxen old upon you, and thy shoe is not waxen old upon thy foot :j 6 Ye have not eaten bread,1' neither have ye drunk wine or strong drink ;' that ye might know that I am the Lord your God. 7 And when ye came unto this place, Sihon the king of Heshbon,"1 and Og the king of Bashan, came out against -us unto battle, and we smote them: 8 And we took their land, and gave it for an inheritance unto the Reubenites, and to the Gad- ites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh. 9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them," that ye may prosper in all that ye do. 10 1 Ye stand this day all of you before the Lord your'God;0 your captains of your tribes, your el ders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel, 11 Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:5 12 That thou shouldest enter* into covenant with the Lord thy God, and into his oath,0- which the Lord thy God maketh with thee this day : 13 That he may establish thee to-day for a peo ple unto himself,1' and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee,s and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham,' to Isaac," and to Jacob.v 14 Neither with you only do I make this cove nant and this oath ; 9:25. "Num. 21:43. n Josh. 1:7, 8. ° 2 Chr. 23:16; 34:29-32; Neh. S:2. p Josh. 9:21, 27 • Heb. pass, q Neh. 10:29. r ah. 28:9. " Exod. 0:7. 1 Gen. 17:7. » Gen. 2(1:3, 4. v Gen 28:13-15. hundred years demonstrates the truth of the predictions contained in this chapter, and conclusively proves that in uttering them Moses spoke by the direction, and under the guidance of the Holy Ghost. CHAPTER XXIX. 1. The covenant; the declarations of God with regard to the duty of the Israelites, his blessings on the obedient, and his curses on the disobedient. In Horeb; Exod. 19:3-5; 24:2-8. 2. Ye have seen; many of the older ones had seen, and the rest had heard. 4. Toperceive; the spiritual beauty, excellence, and glory of God, and the supreme blessedness of loving, believing, and obeying him. This perception no one has without receiving it from God. The great body of the Israelites did not feel their need of this, did not seek it, nor desire it, nor obtain it. They rebelled, against God, and nearly all who when they came out of Egypt were over twenty years old, died in the wilderness. 5. Your clothes — thy shoe; these God so provided and preserved as to keep them from want. 6. Not eaten bread, neither — drunk wine; they lived on manna, and drank water from the rock. 12. Enter into covenant ; by engaging to obey him ; on the fulfilment of which engagements he promised to bless them. 14. Neither with you only; God made this covenant not only with them, but with their posterity and with all who should obey him. Heb. 6:13-20. 253 Judgments on the guilty. DEUTERONOMY XXX. Mercy for the penitent. 15 But with him that standeth here with us this day before the Lord our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day : " 16 (For ye know how we have dwell in the land of Egypt ; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by ; 17 And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols,* wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them :) 18 Lestthere should be amongyou man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations ; lest there should be among you a root that beareth galltb and wormwood;0 19 And it come to pass, when he heareth the words of this curse, that he bless himself in his heart, saying, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination* of my heart, to add drunken ness to thirst :§d 20 The Lord will not spare him, but then the anger of the Lord,0 and his jealousy shall smoke against that man,f and all the curses that are writ ten in this book shall lie upon him, and the Lord shall blot out his name from under heaven.s 21 And the Lord shall separate him unto evil out of all the tribes of Israel," according to all the curses of the covenant that are written1 in this book of the law : 22 So that the generation to come of your chil dren that shall rise up after you, and the stranger that shall come from a far land, shall say, when they see the plagues of that land, and the sick nesses which the Lord hath laid upon it;v 23 And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt,' and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth,J nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admali and »Acts2:39. 'Heb. dungy god*. tHeb.ros/t; or,a poisonous lurb. b Acts 8:i). 'Heb. 12: lo. t Or. stubbornness; Jer. 3: !7; 7:24. S Heb. the drunk en lo the thirsty. J Isa. 30:1 ; Eom. 2:5. cpsa.71-l ' P-.a 79-5 g ch 9:11; Kzek. 14:7, 8. h Matt. 21:51. I Heb. is written. 1 Heb. wherewith the Lord hath made it sick, i Jer. 17:0; Zeph. 2:9. j Psa. 107-34 k Gen 18. Gall and wormwood; bitter and poisonous plants, here representing the effects of sinful practices. 20. Blot out his name ; destroy him. 22. That land; the land of Canaan. 23. Brimstone, and salt ; utterly barren. 24. This great anger; of God against Canaan, in turning it from fertility to barrenness, and visiting its inhabitants with such awful calamities. 26. Whom he had not given; who had not done and could not do any thing for them. 29. Secret things; things not revealed, and which we do not and need not know. Things— revealed ; those which God makes known, or has given us the means of knowing, and which we need to know. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. So long as men continue to neglect what they know to be right and do what they know to be wrong, God will not give them hearts to perceive his spiritual glory, or to enjoy his infinite love. 9. A faithful survey of the past dealings of God with us and our friends, is well adapted to lead us to do his will, and thus to secure all needed good. 12. The course taken by parents deeply affects their children for both worlds, and may be a means of their salvation or of their destruction. 18. Apostasies from God begin in the heart; and in order to escape destruction, men must with all diligence keep their hearts in the love of God, with them believe 254 Zeboim, which the Lord overthrew in his Vault anger and in his wrath :k 24 Even all nations shall say, Wherefore hath the Lord done thus unto this land?' -what meaneth the heat of this great anger? 25 Then men shall say, Because they have forsak en the covenant of the Lord God of their fathers, which he made with them when he brought them forth out of the land of Egypt : 26 For they went and served other gods, and worshipped them, gods whom they knew not, and whom he had not given* unto them:+ 27 And the anger of the Lord was kindled agairist this land,"1 to bring upon it all the curses that are written iu this book : 28 And the Lord rooted ihem out of their land in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation," and cast them into another land, as it is this day. 29 The secret things belong unto the Lord our God ; ° but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever," that we may do all the words of this law. CHAPTER XXX. 1 Great mercies promised unto the repentant. 11 The commandment is manifest. 15 Death and life are set before them. AND it shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee, and thou shalt call them to mind among all the natrons, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee,q 2 And shalt return unto the Lord thy God,r and shalt obey his voice according to all that I com mand thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thy heart, and with all thy soul ; _3_That then the Lord thy God will turn thy cap tivity, and have compassion upon thee, and will 19:21; Jer. 20:10. 1 1 Kings 9:8. 9, Jer. 22:8, 9. • Heb. divided, t Or, who had not given to them an/ portion. " Dan 9: 11-14. n 1 Kings 14-15 ° Jer. 23:18; Dan. 2:22, 28; 1 Cor. 2:10. P P=a. 78:2-7; 2 Tim. 3:10. ql Kings 8:17, 48. r isa. 55:7; 1 John 1:9. unto righteousness, and from them make profession of their faith and love to salvation. 19. For a man to think that he shall be happy in a course of sinning, or can continue in it and escape destruction, is one of the surest ways to ruin. 23. The past and present state of Palestine, as well as of the Jews its ancient inhabitants, is a fulfilment of the word of God by Moses, uttered and recorded more than three thousand years ago ; and a proof that none of his declarations will fail, but all in due time come to pass. 28. Men of various nations, characters, and countries n°uV S£y' concerninS the Jews and the land of Canaan, what Moses here predicted that they would say ; and thus show that he was inspired by Him who sees the end from the beginning, and can describe things thousands of years before, with as much accuracy as after they have taken pitLCG. 29. God gives us the means of knowing all that we need to know; and for us to strive or wish to know what we cannot, ought not, and need not know, is foolish, hurtful, and wicked The more content we are without such knowledge the better ; while, by the revelation of God, to know him m such a manner as to love and obey him, is the whole of man's duty, excellence, blessedness, and glory. CHAPTER XXX. cha terT tUnSS; th6 thi"gS mentioned in the previous Death and life are DEUTERONOMY XXXI. set before the people. bc'S; return and gather thee from all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath scattered thee." 4 If any of thine be driven out unto the outmost parts of heaven," from thence will the Lord thy God gather thee, and from thence will he fetch thee : 5 And the Lord thy God will bring thee into the land which thy fathers possessed, and thou shalt possess it; and he will do thee good, and multiply thee above thy fathers. 6 And the Lord thy God will circumcise thy heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live. 7 And the Lord thy God will put all these curses upon thine enemies, and on them that hate thee, which persecuted thee.c 8 And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the Lord, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. 9 And the Lord thy God will make thee plen teous in every work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good:4 for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good,6 as he rejoiced over thy fathers ; 10 If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God,f to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law,8 and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul.'1 11 1 For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee,1 neither is it far off. 12 It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven,j and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou should- •est say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 14 But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it. 15 IT See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;k a Jer. 32:37, etc.; Ezek. 30:21. b Neh. 1:9. « Isa. 14:1-27; Obad. 10. J ch. 28:11. e Zeph. 3:17. f Isa. 55:1. 3. S 1 Cor. 7:19. b ver. 2; Lam. 3:10, 41; Ezek. 33:11, etc. i Psa. 147:19 Isa. 45:19. j Eom. 10:6, etc. k ver. 1, 19; oh. 11:23. 1 Matt. 22:37. 38. m John 14:21. ¦> Prov. 14:14. 6. Circumcise thy heart; turn it from the love and practice of sin to the love and practice of holiness. Mayest live; live a life of holiness and prosperity on earth, and of bless edness and glory in heaven. Rom. 2:29; Col. 2:11-13. 11. It is not hidden — neither is it far off; not difficult, but easy to be understood. What was wanted was humble, docile, obedient, and affectionate hearts. Rom. 10:6-11; 2 Tim. 3:14-17. 15. Life and good; temporal and eternal, to be obtained as the gracious gift of God, by obeying him. Death and evil; which they would bring upon themselves by diso beying him. Ver. 16-18. 19. Choose life; by choosing to obey God, and thus ob tain it. Ver. 20. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. However great or long continued the calamities which any suffer in this world on account of their sins, if they think upon their ways, repent, and turn heartily to the Lord, he will forgive them and bestow upon them freely, for Christ's sake rich and lasting blessings. Prov. 1:23; Isa. 55*7. 16 In that I command thee this day to love the Lord thy God,1 to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judg ments,™ that thou mayest live and multiply : and the Lord thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it. 17' But if thy heart turn away," so that thou wilt not hear, but shalt be drawn away, and worship other gods, and serve them ; 18 I denounce unto you this day, that ye shall surely perish,0 and that ye shall not prolong your days upon the land, whither thou passest over Jor dan to go to possess it. 19 I callp heaven" and earth to record this day against you,1 that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing : therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live : 20 That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him ; for he is thy life,8 and the length of thy days ; that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. CHAPTER XXXI. 1 Moses encourageth the people. 7 He encourageth Joshua. 9 He delivereth the law unto the priests to read it in the seventh year to the people. 14 G-od giveth a charge to Joshua, 19 and a song to tes tify against the people. 24 Moses delivereth the book of the law to the Levites to keep. 28 He maketh a protestation to the elders. AND Moses went and spake these words unto . all Israel. 2 And he said unto them, I am a hundred and twenty years old this day ;' I can no more go out and come in: also the Lord hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan." 3 The Lord thy God, he will go over before thee,v and he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them : and Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the Lord hath said.w 4 And the Lord shall do unto them as he did to Sihon and to Og,x kings of the Amorites, and unto the land of them, whom he destroyed. ° oh. 8:19. P ch. 4:20; 31:28. o. ch. 32:1 ; Isa. 1:2; Jer. 2:12, 13. r Jer. 22:29; Mic. 0:1, 2. "Psi. 27:! ; o0:5; John 11:25; Acts 17:28. t ch. 31:7; Exod. 7:7. " ch. 3:27; Num. 20:12. v ch. 9:3; Psa. 41:2, 3. ¦" Num. 27:18-21. * Num. 21:24, 33. 6-10. When men turn heartily to the Lord, it is because he by his Spirit turns them. Jer. 81 : 18. Of the necessity of this turning, circumcision under the Old Testament was a sign. Hence the reason why to love the Lord and to keep his commandments is spoken of as the circumcision of the heart. Ver. 6; Rom. 2:28, 29. 14. The way of salvation revealed in the Old Testament is the same as that revealed in the New. Hence Paul, in describing it, employed the language used by Moses, and to persuade men to embrace it, reasoned with them out of the Old Testament scriptures. 19. To be saved, men must choose to obey God ; and what is most efficacious in leading them to do this, will do the most towards their salvation. Josh. 24:15; Prov. 1:29. CHAPTER XXXI. 2. Go out and come in; perform the duties of leader of Israel. 3. He will go over; in his visible presence on the mer cy-seat. Ver. 8. 255 The people encouraged. DEUTERONOMY XXXI. Their apostasy foretold. 5 And the Lord shall give them up before your face," that ye may do unto them according unto all the commandments which I have commanded you. 6 Be strong" and of a good courage,0 fear not, nor be afraid of them : for the Lord thy God, he it is that doth' go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.d 7 1 And Moses called unto Joshua, and said unto him in the sight of all Israel, Be strong and of a good courage:0 for thou must go with this people unto the land which the Lord hath sworn unto their fathers to give them ; and thou shalt cause them to inherit it. 8 And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee;f he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee :s fear not, neither be dismayed. 9 1 And Moses wrote this law, and delivered it unto the priests the sons of Levi," which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and unto all the elders of Israel. 10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release,1 in the feast of tabernacles,5 11 When all Israel is come to appear before the Lord thy God in the place which he shall choose,u thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing.1 12 Gather the people together,™1 men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law : 13 And that their children," which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. 14 T And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thy days approach that thou must die:0 call Joshua, and present yourselves in the tabernacle of the con gregation, that I may give him a charge.11 And Moses and Joshua went, and presented themselves in the tabernacle of the congregation. 15 And the Lord appeared in the tabernacle in a pillar of a cloud:" and the pillar of the cloud stood over the door of the tabernacle. 16 T And the Lord said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep* with thy fathers ; and this people will rise up,r and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land,' whither they go to 1i.?;^; be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them,' and I will hide my face from them," and they shall be devour ed, and many evils and troubles shall befall f them ; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?v 18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods. 19 Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel. 20 For when I shall have brought them into the land which I sware unto their fathers, that floweth with milk and honey ; and they shall have eaten and filled themselves,w and waxen fat; then will they turn unto oilier gods, and serve them, and provoke me, and break my covenant. 21 And it shall come to pass, when many evils and troubles are befallen them,x that this song shall testify against* them as a witness; for it shall not be forgotten out of the mouths of their seed: for I know their imagination which they go about,8 even now,y before I have brought them into the land which I sware'. 22 1 Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel. 23 And he gave Joshua the son of Nun a charge, and said, Be strong and of a good courage: for thou shalt bring the children of Israel into the land which I sware unto them : and I will be with thee. 24 1 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished, 25 That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, saying, 26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.z 27 For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye a Ch. 7:2. 18. >> Josh. 10:25; 1 Chr. 22:13. c ch. 20:4; Isa. 43:1-5. d Josh. 1:5; Heb. 13:5. e 0h. 3:28; Josh. 1 :0; Eph. 6:10. f ver. 3; Exod. 13:21,22. ever. 0. h ver. 25, 26. 'ch. 15:1. j Lev. 23:34. k ch. 16:10. 1 Josh. 8:31; 2Kings23:2; Neh. 8:1-3. mch.4:10. ¦> Psa. 78:4-3. o oh. 34:5. p ver. 23; Num. 27: 19. q Exod. 33:9. • Heb. lie down; 2 Sam. 7:12. 9. This law; according to some, the book of Deuteron omy. But there seems to be no valid ground for thus limiting the words. Better, the whole law. See note, chap. 17 : 18. 13. Not known any thing; not witnessed what God had done for his people. 17. Hide my face; withdraw tokens of favor. 19. This song; as in the following chapter. 26. For a witness against tliee; when they should rebel against God. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. As the limit of human life is set, the aged, even if they enjoy good health, must soon die ; this they should feel, and endeavor so to live as to be prepared at any time to leave this world and enter heaven. 256 5. In destroying the Canaanites and taking possession of their country, the Israelites were only doing what God commanded them. Their example gives no authority to any nation to destroy another, take their country, or make war upon them, without a command from God. 8. With the presence and favor of God men may safely and properly undertake any service, however difficult, dangerous, or trying, to which he calls them. 13. The laws of God should be made known and be often inculcated upon all the people, young and old, rich and poor, bond and free, that all may understand them, and the reasons for obeying them which he has revealed. 18. God is perfectly acquainted with all the sins which any will ever commit ; and their iniquities alone lead him ever to withdraw from them the manifestations of his favor. The people gathered. DEUTERONOMY XXXII. The song of Moses. J-Jg have been rebellious against the Lord;" and how much more after my death ? 28 T Gather unto me all the elders of your tribes,0 and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to record against them.0 29 For I know that after my death ye will utter ly corrupt yourselves? and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you ; and evil will befall you in the latter days;0 because ye will do evil in the sight of the Lord, to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands. 30 And Moses spake in the ears of all the con gregation of Israel the words of this song, until they were ended. CHAPTER XXXII. 1 Moses' song, which setteth forth God's mercy and vengeance. 46 He exhorteth them to set their hearts upon it. 48 G-od sendeth him up to mount Nebo, to see the land, and die. GIVE ear, 0 ye heavens, and I will speak; and hear, 0 earth, the words of my mouth.1' 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass :e 3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord : ascribe ye greatness unto our God.h 4 He is the Bock,1 his work is perfect;1 for all his ways are judgment : k a God of truth and with out iniquity, just and right is he.1 5 They have corrupted themselves,* their spot is a Exod. 32:9. bGen. 49:1, 2. ech. 32:1. d Judg. 2:19. e 2 Chr. 34:24. f oh. 30:19; Psa. 5U:4. s. Psa. 72:6; Isa. 55:10, 11; Mic. 5:7. k 1 Chr. 29:11; Rev. 7:11, 12. i Psa. 18:2. J Keel. 3:14. k Dan. 4:37. 1 Psa. 92: 15. * Heb. He hath corrupted to himself, t Or, that they are not his 21. Prosperity often leads men to forget God, turn from him, and draw down upon themselves his desolating judgments. But their own consciences will testify against them, and if they turn not to him will mar their enjoy ments and ere long make them wretched. 29. A good man knows that no trust can safely be placed in the human heart; that without the constant keeping of God, however great its mercies or trials, it will show itself to be deceitful above all things and despe rately wicked ; and that there is no hope for the cause of God and holiness on earth but in the riches of his grace. CHAPTEB XXXII. 1. Give ear — hear; this mode of address was designed to awaken attention, and impress on the hearers the im portance of the subject. 2. Drop as the rain; be copious and refreshing. Distil as the dew; be gentle, penetrating, and efficacious. 3. Publish the name ; proclaim those perfections by the manifestation of which God makes himself known. As cribe ye greatness unto our God ; treat him according to his true character. 4. The Rock ; this is the first time God is called a rock, in the Bible. It expresses his durable and unchanging perfection, and the safety of trusting in him and reposing on him our hopes for eternity. Ver. 15, 18 ; Psa. 31 : 2, 3 ; Matt. 7 : 24, 25 ; 16 : 18. Judgment; just, and right. 5. Not the spot qf his children; do not possess their char acter, nor appear as his people. 6. Requite; repay, recompense. Thy father; one who treated them as children. Bought thee; by delivering them from Egyptian bondage. Made thee; made them a great people. Established thee; as an independent nation, with a regular and good government. 7. Remember the days qf old ; what God has done for your ancestors, and through them, for you. 17 not the spot of his children :+ they are a perverse and crooked generation. 6 Do ye thus requite the Lord, 0 foolish people and unwise ? is not he thy father m that hath bought thee?" hath he not made thee, and established thee? 7 IF Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations :* ask thy father, and he will show thee ; thy elders, and they will tell thee. 8 When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance,0 when he separated the sons of Adam,p he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel. 9 For the Lord's portion is his people ; "- Jacob is the lot§ of his inheritance/ 10 He foundhim in a desert land, and inthewaste howling wilderness ; he led ' him about, he instruct ed him, he kept him as the apple of his eye.8 11 As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, tak- eth them, beareth them on her wings;* 12 So the Lord alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him. 13 He made him ride on the high places of the earth," that he might eat the increase of the fields ; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock/ and oil out of the flinty rock ; 14 Butter of kine, and milk of sheep, with fat of lambs, and rams of the breed of Bashan, and goats, with the fat of kidneys of wheat ; and thou didst drink the pure blood of the grape. children, that is their blot, m Exod. 15:16; 1 Cor. 0:20. n ch. 28:64. t Heb. generation and generation, o Acts 17:26. p Gen. 11:8. 1 Exod. 19:5; Psa. 135:4. 5 Heb. cord, r Psa. 78:71; Eph. 1 :18. « Or, compassed. • Zech. 2:8. t ISa. 03:9. u Isa. 58:14. v Psa. 81:16. 8. He set the bounds of the people ; so ordered events in his providence, when he divided the earth among the nations, that the Canaanites, who for their sins were to be destroyed, should inherit the land that was to be pos sessed by the Israelites ; and thus prepare for them houses, cities, cultivated fields, and all needful things. According to the number of the children of Israel; a land just large and good enough for the best accommodation of the twelve tribes of Israel. Gen. 10:32; 11:9. 9. The Lord's portion; those whom he set apart espec ially for himself, treated as his peculiar treasure, and from whom he might rightfully expect a special revenue of glory. Jacob; who represents his descendants. 10. He found him in a desert land; he went, as it were, to look after his people in the wilderness, found them there, entered into covenant with them, and consecrated them as his people. Chap. 8:11-18. Led him about; Numbers 33:3-49. 11. Stirreth up her nest; that is, her young brood, excit ing them to fly. Fluttereth over her young; in cherishing and defending them. Spreadeth abroad her wings; to pro tect her young, assist them in flying, and if need be carry them, as a parent would a feeble or weary child. 12. So the Lord; excited his people to leave their bond age in Egypt, and protected and assisted them on their way to the promised land. No strange god with him ; none had assisted the Israelites or bestowed upon them any blessings except Jehovah. 13. Ride on the high places; expressive of their prosperity. Honey out of the rock, and oil; from the most rocky parts of the country, where these things would abound. 14. The breed of Bashan; in Bashan was found excellent pasturage, and its cattle and flocks were celebrated for their strength and fatness. Fat of kidneys of wheat ; a fig urative description of wheat whose kernels are all plump and of a fine quality. 251 The song of Moses, DEUTERONOMY XXXII. for the use of Israel. 15 *S But Jeshurun waxed fat," and kicked :b thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art cov ered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Bock of his salvation.0 16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods? with abominations provoked they him to anger. 17 They sacrificed unto devils,0 not to God;* to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared, not. 18 Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmind ful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee.f 19 And when the Lord saw it, hc.abhorredf them, because of the provoking of his sons, and of his daughters. 20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. 21 They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God ; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities : and I will move them to jeal ousy with those which are not a people ; g I will pro voke them to anger with a foolish nation. 22 For a fire is kindled in mine anger,11 and shall burn* unto the lowest hell, and shall consume5 the earth with her increase,1 and set on fire the foun dations of the mountains. 23 I will heap mischiefs upon them ; I will spend mine arrows upon them.5 24 They shall be burnt with hunger, and devour ed with burning heat,1 and with bitter destruc tion: I will also send the teeth of beasts upon them, with the poison of serpents of the dust.k a Isx. 44:2. b 1 Sam. 2:29; Acts 9:5. = Neh. 9:25, 20. d 1 Cor. 10:22. e 1 Cor. 10.20. • Or, which were not God; ver. 21. f Isa. 17:10. t Or, de spised. 6" Rom. 10:19. h Lam. 4:11. 1 Or, liath burned. 5 Or, hath con sumed, i Zeph. 3:8. J Ezek. 5:16. I Heb. coals; Hab. 3:5. k Ezek. 14:21. t Heb. from the chambers. ' Heb. bereace. I Isa. 63:16. t Or, 15. Jeshurun; that is, Israel; a term of endearment, meaning upright. 16. Provoked him to jealousy ; greatly offended him. 19. The provoking; the provocation which his rebel lious children gave him. His sons, and— his daughters; by birth and privileges. Yet they rebelled against him. Isa. 1:2-4. 21. .That which is not God; that is, by the worship of idols. Vanities; a common term for the heathen gods, which are nothing, and which disappoint the hopes of those who trust in them. Those which are not a people — a foolish nation; these words describe the heathen nations as being ignorant of God and having no covenant with him, and thus not deserving the name of peoples. Since God's people have provoked him to anger by worshipping " the gods of the heathen, he will provoke them to anger by taking away their privileges, and giving them to the heathen. This he has done, first, by setting heathen rulers over them, as the Babylonians and Romans ; sec ondly, by bringing the Gentiles into their place as his peculiar people. Rom. 10:19; 11:11-36. 22. Afire is kindled — set on fire the foundations of the moun tains; a figurative description of the awful effect of God's wrath, which nothing can withstand, and which follows the. sinner to the eternal world. 27. The wrath of the enemy; the anger of the enemies of Israel manifesting itself in blasphemous reproaches against the God of Israel. They would ascribe the destruction of Israel to the weakness of Jehovah and to their own strength. God fears not the power of the enemy to injure his people, but is concerned for the honor of his own name. Compare Exod. 32:12; Num. 14:13-16; Deut. 9:28; 2 Sam. 1 : 20. From regard to his own glory, in which the high- 258 25 The sword without, and terror with- aawif: in,*1 shall destroy* both the young man and the vir gin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs. 26 I said, I would scatter them into corners,1 1 would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men : 27 Were it not that I feared the wrath of the enemy, lest their adversaries should behave them selves strangely, and lest they should say, Our hand is high, and the Lord hath not done* all this. 28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. 29 Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end !m 30 How should one chase a thousand* and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Bock had sold them,n and the Lord had shut them up ? 31 For their rock is not as our Rock,0 even our enemies themselves being judges." 32 For their vine is of* the vine of Sodom," and of the fields of Gomorrah:1 their grapes are grapes of gall, their clusters are bitter : 33 Their wine is the poison of dragons,8 and the cruel venom of asps.' 34 Is not this laid up in store with me," and sealed up among my treasures? 35 To me belongeth vengeance,v and recompense ; their foot shall slide in due time:w for the day of their calamity is at hand,x and the things that shall come upon them make haste. 36 For the LoRDshall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants,7 when he seeth that their power5 is gone, and there is none shut up, or left. Our high hand and not the Lord, hath done, ui Psa. 81:13. n Isa 50:1. o 1 Sam. 2:2. p 1 Sam 4:8. 1 Or, wrrse than q Jer. 2:21. r Isa 1:10. > Psa. 58:4. t Rom 3:13. u Jer. 2:22; Rom. 2:5. > Heb. 10:30. w Jer. 13: 16. * 2 Pet 2:3. 7 Judg. 10:15,10. SHeb hand. est welfare of his church is involved, he will not utterly destroy his ancient covenant people, but will keep them, as he is now doing, distinct, with a view, when they shall repent and turn to him, of bringing them again into his church and adopting them, with all. believing Gentiles, as his people. Our hand is high; our high, strong hand, and not Jehovah, hath done this. 28. Void of counsel; they did not so understand their true interests as to take the way to secure them, but took that which ruined them. Matt. 27 : 25 ; Luke 13 : 34, 35. 29. Consider their latter end; in such a manner as to shun the course that will make it wretched, and take the course that will make it blessed. Chap. 30 : 19. 30. One chase a thousand; one of the enemies of Israel put to flight a thousand Israelites. Had they remained obedient to God, the opposite of this would have been true. Compare chap. 28:7 ; Lev. 26:8; Josh. 23:10, with chap. 28:25; Lev. 26:36, 37. 31. Their rock; the gods of the heathen. 32, 33. Their vine — their grapes— their clusters — their wine ; all their works, proceeding from their wicked hearts, are corrupt ; as if the vine should bear only poisonous and bitter fruit, and the wine that comes from its clusters should be filled with deadly venom. There seems to be an ¦ allusion here to certain fruits growing on the borders of the Dead sea, which are without fair to the eye, but within empty and worthless, yielding no food that can be eaten. 34. This; the Lord's indignation against their sins, and his purpose to punish them. 36. Judge his people, and repent himself for his servants; turn from his fierce anger, and be merciful to them. When he seeth ; when God sees their helplessness, and they repent of their Bins and turn to him. The song of Moses. DEUTERONOMY XXXII. He is to view Canaan. kc:™t 37 And he shall say, "Where are their gods, their rock in whom they trusted, 38 Which did eat the fat of their sacrifices, and drank the wine of their drink-offerings ? let them rise up and help you," and be your protection.* 39 See now that I, even I, am he," and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive;0 I wound, and I heal : neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. 41 If I whet my glittering sword," and my hand take hold on judgment ; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me. 42 I will make mine arrows drunk with blood,0 and my sword shall devour flesh; and that with the blood of the slain and of the captives from the beginning of revenges upon the enemy. 43 Bejoice, 0 ye nations, with his people:.1 for he will avenge the blood of his servants,' and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people.8 44 1 And Moses came and spake all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Hoshea,* the son of Nun. 45 And Moses made an end of speaking all these words to all Israel : a Judg. 10:14. 'Heb. a hiding for you. b Isa. 45:5, 13, 22. = Psa. 63:20; Rev. 1:17, 18. J. Ezek. 21:9-15. • Psa. 45:5. t Or, Sing ye; or, Praise his people, ye nations. f Rev. 19:2. ff Psa. 85:1. 1 Or, Joshua, b Prov. 37. Their gods; false gods, in whom they had trusted. 38. Eat the fat of their sacrifices; idols to whom they had sacrificed. Let them rise; if they can; but they cannot, and there is no help but in Jehovah. 42. From the beginning of revenges uponthe enemy; rather, from the head of the leaders of flie enemy. 43. With his people; in their repentance and deliverance from their oppressors, and in their restoration again in due time to the privileges of his chosen and redeemed people. Zech. 12:10; Rom. 11:15! Others prefer tb ren der, Rejoice, ye nations who are his people. 47. Your life ; that on which their continuance and pros perity would depend. 49. Abarim; Num. 27:12-14. 50. In mount Hor ; Num. 20:22-29. 51. Meribah-Kadesh; Num. 20:11-13. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The instructions of God through his inspired ser vants, as recorded in the Scriptures, are worthy of univer sal attention. 2. As the rain and the dew, so the truths of the Bible are perfectly adapted to produce their appropriate effects. Isa. 55 : 10-13. 4. Nothing could be added to or taken from the char acter, of God, which would make it more perfect ; and no change in his dealings could make them in any respect better. 5. Men are the authors of all their own wickedness, and they are wholly to blame for it. The more they have of it the more unlike they are to God, and the more guilty in his sight. 6. To live in sin, after all that God has done to deliver us from it, is the vilest and basest ingratitude, and exposes to the most fearful retribution. 8. The consideration that G°d thought kindly and gra ciously of us before we were born, and so ordered things that our wants of body and soul may all be supplied, is suited to impress our obligation to love and serve him, and to show our utter inexcusableness and great guilt if we neglect it. 11. God takes a variety of ways to influence men to 46 And ho said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law." 47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life:1 and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. 48 And the Lord spake unto Moses that self same day, saying, 49 Get thee up into this mountain Abarim,j unto mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, that is over against Jericho ; and behold the land of Ca naan, which I give unto tho children of Israel for a possession : 50 And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor,k and was gathered unto his people : 51 Because ye trespassed against me among the children of Israel at the waters of Meribah-Ka desh,8 in the wilderness of Zin ; i because ye sanc tified me not in the midst of the children of Is rael.1" 52 Yet thou shalt see the land before thee;" but thou shalt not go thither unto the land which I give the children of Israel. 3:1-1; Ezek. 40:4. i Lev. 18:5; Trov. 4:22. 1 Num. 27:12, 13. k Num. 20:21-29. § Or, Strife at Kadesh. 1 Num. 20:11, 12. m Lev. 10:3; Isa. 8:13. neh. 34: 1-1. work out their own salvation, and renders their efforts effectual to their mounting up on wings as eagles, going from strength to strength and holding on their way, till in heaven they stand, trophies of grace, perfect before God, to his infinite and everlasting joy. So should parents and ministers do, with regard to the young ; and if in this they imitate the divine example, or are as true to parental in stinct as the eagle, they may hope that the objects of their affection will much oftener fly upward towards heaven, and not downward towards hell. Chap. 6:7; Prov. 22:6. 12. The tenderness of God to his people, his unceasing care for them, and the variety and wisdom of the methods he takes to lead them to himself, demand their gratitude and renewed devotion to his service. 15. The facts that increasing prosperity so often occa sions increasing wickedness, and that the more outward blessings God bestows upon a people the more they for get him and become worldly, proud, sensual, and de.vilish, are conclusive proofs of the awful wickedness of the hu man heart. Ver. 17, 18. 19. For those who have experienced most of God's goodness, and especially for his redeemed people to rebel against him, is peculiarly wicked, and he will pursue them with his indignation till they repent or perish. 29. God desires that men should consider what will be. the end of their continuing in sin, and that they should' turn from it and live. Ezek. 33 : 11 ; Matt. 23 : 37. 43. The mercy of God to those who' repent, and the good which he bestows upon them, ought to occasion universal joy, and will give joy to all the good through out the universe. 44. Instruction conveyed in poetry is often more im pressive, more easily remembered, and more extensively useful, than when conveyed in prose. God has therefore manifested his wisdom and kindness in using it so much in the Bible. 46. To be benefited by God's communications, men must attend to them, treasure them up in their memories, and apply them to the regulation of their feelings, thoughts, words, and actions. 47. On the manner in which men treat the commands of God, and the book which contains them, depends their 259 The blessings of DEUTERONOMY XXXIII. the twelve tribes. CHAPTER XXXIII. 1 The majesty of Grod. 6 The blessings of the twelve tribes. 26 The excellency of Israel. AND this is the blessing, wherewith Moses the man of God blessed the children of Israel before his death. 2 And he said, The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them ; a he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with ten thou sands of saints :° from his right hand went a fiery* law for them. 3 Yea, he loved the people;0 all his saints are in thy hand:4 and they sat down at thy feet; every one shall receive of thy words.0 4 Moses commanded us a law, even the inheri tance of the congregation of Jacob. 5 And he was king in Jeshurun/ when the heads of the people and the tribes of Israel were gather ed together. 6 1 Let Reuben live, and not die;g and let not his men be few. 7 T And this is the blessing of Judah : and he said, Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah, and bring him unto his people: let his hands be sufficient for him ; and be thou a help to him from his ene mies.11 8 T And of Levi he said, Let thy Thummim and thy Urim be with thy holy one,1 whom thou didst prove at Massah, and with whom thou didst strive at the waters of Meribah ; 9 Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him ; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children :j for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.* 10 They shall teach Jacob thy judgments, and Israel thy law: they shall + put incense before i Exod. 19:18, 20; Judg. 5:4,5; Hab. 3:3. ' Psa. 08:17; Gal. 3:19. •Or, fire of. = Hos. 11:1 ; 1 John 4:19. d 1 Sam. 2:9; Psa. 31:15 ; John 17:11-15. e 1 Thess. 1:6. ' Exod. 18:10, 19. e Gen. 49:3. ete. h Psa. 140:5. i Exod. 23:30. j Exod. 32:25-28. It Mal. 2:5-7. t Or, let them. best good and that of their children, for this life and the life to come. 50. Death is always the fruit of sin. By one man sin entered, and death by sin. But to those who forsake sin and serve God, he turns it into a blessing. Often, as death approaches, the land of promise, the heavenly city, opens before them with a beauty, a grandeur, a glory which sur pass ' all conception. Earth and its glories they joyfully relinquish, though to live on it were Christ; because to die and be with Christ, like Christ perfectly and for ever, is unspeakable gain. Phil. 1:21 ; 1 John 3:2. CHAPTER XXXIII. 2. Carrie from . Sinai— Seir — Paran ; these mountains in and around the Arabian desert are here taken collectively, as the place whence God manifested himself in a special manner, first to Moses, and afterwards to the whole peo ple. Saints; his ministering angels are meant. Psa. 68:17; Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19. We may render more literally, He came from the myriads of his holy ones ; that is, from his secret dwelling-place, where he is surrounded by myriads of angels. 3. All his saints; all the holy ones of Israel his people. 4. Even the inheritance; the law is itself the inheritance of God's covenant people. 6. Reuben; his posterity; the tribe of Reuben, which had an ample and fertile territory on the east of the Jordan. Simeon is passed over in silence. ' 7. Bring him unto his people; bring him home safe from 260 thee,*1 and whole burnt sacrifice upon thine b. c! iSf: altar.™ 11 Bless, Lord, his substance, and accept the work of his hands:" smite through the loins of them that rise against him, and of them that hate him, that they rise not again. 12 1 And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him ; and the LORD shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders. 13 I And of Joseph he said, Blessed of the Lord be his land, for the precious things of heaven, for the dew,0 and for the deep that coucheth beneath, 14 And for the precious fruits brought forth by the sun, and for the precious things put8 forth by the moon,1 15 And for the chief things of the ancient moun tains, and for theprecious thingsof the lasting hills, 16 And for the precious things of the earth and fulness thereof, and for the good will of him that dwelt in the bush : p let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the head of him that was separated from his brethren. 17 His glory is like the firstling of his bullock,9 and his horns are like the horns of unicorns :,r with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth :s and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh. 18 IT And of Zebulun he said, Rejoice, Zebulun, in thy going out; and, Issachar, in thy tents. 19 They shall call the people unto the moun tain;* there they shall offer sacrifices of righteous ness :u for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid ih the sand.v 20 1 And of Gad he said, Blessed be he that en- largeth Gad : he dwelleth as a lion,w and teareth the arm with the crown of the head. 1 Heb. at thy nose. 1 Exod. 30:7, 8. m Lev. 1:9, 17; Psa. 51:19. » Job 42:8; Ezek. 20:40, 41. o Gen. 27:2S. S Or, thrust. I Heb. moons. P Exod. 3:2,4. ql Chr. 5:1. 1 Heb. a unicorn, r Psa. 92:10. "Psa. 44:5. 'Isa. 2:3. u Psa. 4:5. v Isa. 00:5, 16. v 1 Chr. 12:8. ' his conflicts with his enemies. Be sufficient for him ; or, as some render, strive for him; that is, let his hands, strengthened by thee, fight his battles successfully. 8. With thy holy one; the high-priest is meant, who bore the Urim and the Thummim, and was of the tribe of Levi. Massah— Meribah; Exod. 17:7; Num. 20:1-13. 9. Not seen — acknowledge — nor knew his own children ; he did not spare his own relatives, or favor any who were guilty, but executed divine justice upon them. Exod. 32 : 26-29. 12. By him; the Lord. Jerusalem was in the tribe of Benjamin. Between his shoulders; as a father bears a child upon his shoulders. God would be near him and protect him. 13. The deep that coucheth beneath; the subterranean wa ters, which break forth in springs. 14. By the sun, and — the moon; their influence in ripen ing the products of the earth. 16. Him that dwelt in the bush; Exod. 3:2-6. 17. Horns of unicorns ; see note on Num. 23:22. Ephra im, and — Manasseh; the two tribes which descended from Joseph. Thus he foretells to Ephraim a more numerous posterity than to Manasseh. Gen. 48:1, 17-19. 18. In thy going out ; for traffic. Gen. 49:13. Zebulun would be a commercial and enterprising tribe. In thy tents; abiding in quietness at home. 19. Treasures hid in the sand; or, hid treasures of the sand. The sand here represents the seashore, and then, generally, the wealth that comes to it through commerce. Blessings of the tribes. DEUTERONOMY XXXIV. The death of Moses. B.'c!i45i!' 21 And he provided, the first part for himself," because there, in a portion of the law giver, was he seated ;* and he came with the heads of the people, he executed the justice of the Lord, and his judgments with Israel.b 22 IT And of Dan he said. Dan is a lion's whelp : he shall leap from Bashan.0 23 1 And of Naphtali he said, 0 Naphtali, satis fied with favor,d and full with the blessing of the Lord, possess thou the west and the south.6 24 1 And of Asher he said, Let Asher be blessed with children ; let him be acceptable to his breth ren, and let him dip his foot in oil/ 25 Thy* shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.e 26 1 There is none like unto the God of Jeshu run,11 who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky.1 27 The eternal God is thy refuge,j and under neath are the everlasting arms : and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee.; and shall say, Destroy them. 28 Israel then shall dwell in safety k alone:1 the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew. 29 Happy art thou, 0 Israel :™ who is like unto thee, 0 people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help," and who is the sword of thy excellency!0 and thine enemies shall be found* liars unto thee ; and thou shalt tread upon their high places. CHAPTER XXXIV. 1 Moses from, mount Nebo vieweth the land. 5 He dieth there. 6 His burial. 7 His age. 8 Thirty days' mourning for him. 9 Joshua succeedeth him. 10 The praise of Moses. ND Moses went up from the plains of Moab unto the mountain of Nebo, to the top of A >1N am. 32:1, etc. * Heb. eiled. b Josh. 4 :I2. 13. = Josh. 19 47. aPsa. 36:8; 90:14; Jer. 31:14. e Josh. 19:32, etc. f Job 29:0. t Or Under thy; oh. 8:9. e Isa 41:10; 1 Cot . 10: 13. b Jer. 10:6. Psa 0^:4, 33. i Psa. 90:1; Isa 25:4 k Jer. 23:6 'Num. 23:9. mPsa 141: 5. n Psa. 115:9- 21. The first part for himself; in the country which the Israelites first conquered, on the east of Jordan. A portion of the lawgiver ; that which Moses, their lawgiver, assigned to them. He came with the heads qf the people ; went over Jordan with the rest of the Israelites and assisted them in the conquest of Canaan. 22. Leap from Bashan; Bashan was a country east of Jordan, between the mountains of Hermon and Gilead. From this country the Danites made successful warlike excursions. Josh. 19:47; Judg. 18:27-29. 23. West and — south ; west and south of that which was conquered by the Danites. 25. Thy shoes; or, thy bars. Iron and brass; invincible to the power of the enemy. As thy days, so shall thy strength be ; thy strength shall endure as long as thy days. Some render, As thy days, so shall thy quietness be. 27. Tlie enemy; the Canaanites. 28. Alone; not incorporated with other nations. 29. Be found liars unto thee; rather, shall crouch to thee from fear ; shall be forced to submit themselves to thee. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Ministers of God delight in proclaiming the blessings which will come on his people ; and though in faithfulness they must point out the destruction that will come on the wicked, they do it with earnest desires that they may turn from their wicked ways and live. 7. Those who have God for their helper will at last tri- umnh over all their foes. Pisgah,5 that is over against Jericho: and the Lord showed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, 2 And all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and ali the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, 3 And the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm-trees, unto Zoar. 4 And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob,p saying, I will give it unto thy seed : I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither." 5 l So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord. 6 And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor : but no man know eth of his sepulchre unto this day.r 7 T And Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died : his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated.13 8 T And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days :' so the days of weeping and mourning for' Moses were ended. 9 1 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom;" for Moses had laid his hands upon him :v and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses. 10 1 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses,,v whom the Lord knew face to face, 11 In all the signs and the wonders which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pha raoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land* 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses showed in the sight of all Israel .y 11. o Rev. 1:16. I Or, subdued, i Or, The hill. P Gen. 12:7. q ch. 3:26, 27. r Jude 9. I Heb. moistures fled. ' Josh. 11:10, 11. I Num. 20:29. u Dan. 6:3. v Num. 27:18, 23. w ch. 18:15, 18; Heb. 3:5, 6. * oh. 4:34. y oh. 7:19. 12. It is a great blessing to enjoy religious privileges, and dwell near the house of the Lord ; and those who de light in worshipping him on earth are preparing for the worship of heaven. 17. The fidelity of parents is often followed by rich and lasting blessings on their children. 19. Sacrifices of righteousness offered in love to God, will be rewarded with all needed abundance on earth, and with eadless and inexhaustible treasures in heaven. 21. In executing just punishments on the wicked, when called to it by God, men may be acceptably serving him and securing his blessings. 23. For all temporal as well as spiritual favors, men are dependent on the blessing of the Lord. 25. The Lord communicates to those who trust in him, all which they need to secure in the end their highest good. 27. To have God for our refuge is the best security from fear, and the safest protection from danger. CHAPTEE XXXIV. 1. Dan; this was in the north part of the country. Judges 18:29. 2. Utmost sea ; the Mediterranean, forming the western boundary. 3. Zoar; near the southern boundary of Canaan. 6. Beth-peor; chap. 3:29. 9. Laid his hands upon him; Num. 27:18-23. 10. Knew face to face; conversed familiarly with him, as a man with his friend. 261 THE BOOK OF JOSHUA This book records the miraculous passage of Joshua and the people of Israel into Canaan through the Jordan, the conquest of the land, and its division by lot among the several tribes. It closes with the account of Joshua's death and burial. In regard to the authorship of this book, there are different views. The Jewish tradition ascribes it to Joshua himself, with the exception of the last five verses. But since it records some transactions which occurred after Joshua's death, as the conquest of Hebron, (chapter 15:16-19, compared with Judges 1 : 12-15,) and the excursion of the Danites, (chapter 19 :47, compared with Judges 18,) we must suppose either that these passages were inserted by a later hand, or as some think, that the book was written by some inspired Israelite unknown to us not many years after the decease of Joshua. CHAPTER I. 1 The Lord appointeth Joshua to succeed Moses. 3 The borders of the promised land. 5, 9 G-od promiseth to assist Joshua. 8 He giveth him instructions. 10 He prepareth the people to pass over Jordan. 12 Joshua putteth the two tribes and a half m mind of their promise to Moses. 16 They promise him fealty. NOW after the death of Moses* the servant of the Lord it came to pass, that the Lord spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister ,b say ing, 2 Moses my servant is dead ; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the chil dren of Israel. 3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you,0 as I said unto Moses. 4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates,4 all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea tow- a Dent., 31:5. t> Exod. 24:13. » Deut. 11:24. d Gen. 15 18; Num. 34:2- 12. e Deut. 7:24. f ch. 3.7; 6.27. 6 Deut. 31:6,8; Heb. 13:5. • Or, INSTRUCTIONS. T~ 1. However long or faithfully the people of God may serve him, they must die. As they approach that momen tous and solemn event, the Lord can, and sometimes does give them such views of the glorious things which he has promised, as not only to take away fear, but to lead them in peace and with delight to yield up their spirit to Him who gave it. 5. Though it is ordinarily a blessing, when called to die, to be surrounded with kind, sympathizing friends, yet if we die among strangers, or even alone, with no kind hand to smooth a pillow or wipe away a tear, God can so manifest himself, that without aid from creatures we shall be filled to overflowing with the fulness of God. 8. When friends-, especially such as have been eminently useful, die, it is proper to mourn ; but it should be with cheerful acquiescence in the will of God, deep loathing of sin the cause of death, and earnest prayer that all the liv ing may be so saved from its power, that when absent from the body they shall be present with the Lord. 0. God is not dependent for the accomplishment of his 262 ard the going down of the sun, shall be B.aiiei: your coast. 5 There shall not any man be able to stand be fore thee all the days of thy life : c as I was with Moses/ so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.g 6 Be strong and of a good courage : for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance* the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them. 7 Only be thou strong and very courageous,11 that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servantcommandedthee : turn not from it to the right hand or td the left, that thou mayest prosper* whithersoever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do accord ing to all that is written therein : for then thou thou shalt cause this people to inherit, b Deut. 31:7, 23: Eph. 6:1U; 2 Tim. 2:1. t Or. do wisely; Deut. 29:9. work on any of his servants, but they are constantly and entirely dependent on him. He raises up one, fits him for his work, sustains him till it is accomplished, and then, in his own way and time, removes him. With equal ease he can raise up others and fit them for what remains to be done, so that not one jot or tittle of what he has promised shall fail, till all be accomplished. 10. Moses was an example of true greatness. The more we imitate him in meekness, humility, faith in God, cour age, and perseverance in duty, the more free will be our access to God, and the greater our likeness to him ; the more useful and blessed will be our life, the richer our prospect in death, and the more- glorious our condition and inheritance in eternity. CHAPTER I. 1. Minister, assistant, agent. 4. The wilderness; of Zin, on the south. Lebanon ; on the north. Euphrates; on the east. The great sea; the Medi terranean, on the west. 8. This book of the law; Deut. 17:18, 19; 31:26. Rahab concealeth JOSHUA II. the two spies. b.' a'S' shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.* 9 Have not I commanded thee?a Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed:11 for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.0 10 1 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying, 11 Pass through the host, and command the peo ple, saying, Prepare you victuals ; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan," to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it. 12 1 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying, 13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, saying, The Lord your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.6 14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave. you on this side Jordan ; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed/ all the mighty men of valor, and help them; 15 Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them : then ye shall return unto. the land of your posses sion, and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising. 16 1 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do,f and whith ersoever thou sendest us, we will go. 17 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee : only the Lord thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.g 18 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death:" only be strong and of a good courage.1 CHAPTER II. I Rahab receiveth and concealeth the two spies sent from Shittim. - 8 The covenant between her and them. 23 Their return and relation. AND Joshua the son of Nun sent* out of Shit tim two men to spy secretly ,' saying, Go view • Or, do wisely; ver. 7. - 1 Chr. 28:20; Hag. 2-4; Zech. 8:9. 1> Gen. 28:15: Psa. 27:1; Jer. 1:8. <= Psa. 46:7; Isa. 43:1, 5. d ch. 3:2. ' oh. 22:1-4; Num. 32:20-28. t Heb. marshalled by five ; Exod. 13:18. f Deut. 5:27. E ver. 5; 1 Sam. 20: 13; 1 Kings 1:37. b Rom. 13:1-5. i ver. 6, 7. 9; 1 Cor. 16:13. t Or, had sent. J Num. 13:2. k Matt. 1:5; Heb. 11:31; Jas. 13. Remember the word; Num. 32:1-42. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. When the servants of God die and enter into rest, those who survive should be aroused to increasing efforts to carry forward the good works which they had begun. 7. The highest and noblest courage is shown by the most faithful discharge of duty, and no real coward makes it his great object to obey the known will of God. 8. The grand means of inspiring and increasing true courage, is daily attention to the principles and precepts of the Bible, for the purpose of understanding and obeying them. 11. The certainty that God will bestow upon his people the blessings he has promised them, does not in the least the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into a harlot's house, named Rahab,k and lodged9 there. 2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to-night of the children of Israel to search out the country. 3 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, say ing, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thy house : for they be come to search out all the country. i And the woman took the two men, and hid them,1 and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: 5 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of tjie gate, when it was dark, that the men went out : whither the men went, I wot not : pursue after them quickly ; for ye shall overtake them. 6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.™ 7 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate. 8 1 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof; 9 And she said unto the men, I know that the Lord hath given you the land, and that your ter ror is fallen upon us,n and that all the inhabitants of the land faint' because of you. 10 Por we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red sea for you,0 when ye came out of Egypt ; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jor dan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.1* 11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt,q neither did there remain T any more courage in any man, because of you : for the Lord your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath/ 12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house,3 and give me a true token:' 13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. 2:25. 5 Heb. tay. 1 2 Sam. 17 : 1 9. 20. m Exod. 1:15-21. n Gen. 35:5.; Exod. 15:15. 16: 23:27; Deut. 2:25; 11:25. I Heb. melt; 1 Sam. 14:16; 2Sam. 17:10. ° Exod. 14:21. P Num. 21:21-35. q oh. 5:1 ; 7:5; Isa. 13:7. 1 Heb. rose up r Deut. 4:39. ' Gen. 24:3, 9; 1 Sam. 20:16, 17; Rom. 1:31 ; 1 Tim. 5:8. ' ver. 18; Exod. 12:13; Kzek. 9:4-6. lessen the necessity of their using all appointed means to obtain them. . 18. Rebellion against rightful authority requiring what is right, is rebellion against God. CHAPTER II. 1. Shittim; a place in the plains of Moab, a few miles east of the Jordan. Num. 25:1. 4,5. Wist ; knew. W> Deut. 27:2, 3, 8. o Deut. 31:9, 25; 1 Chr. 15:11-15. p Deut. 31:12. q Deut. 11:29; 27:12. r Deut. 31:11 ; Neh. 8:2. 3; 13:1. "Lev. 26:3, etc.; Deut. 27:15-26; 28; 29; 30:15-20. t Heb. walked. 17. When the measure of a people's iniquity is full, they are given up, in hardness of heart and blindness of mind, to pursue a course which ends in their ruin. 25. In punishing men for their sins, God uses such instruments as he sees best, and it was no more wrong for him to destroy the men of Ai by the hand of the Isra elites, than it would have been to destroy them by pesti lence, famine, or an earthquake. 29. Men of great influence, who have been leaders in transgression, will be distinguished in their punishment, and the righteous Judge will award to all who persevere in iniquity according to their works. 30. We should ever feel and acknowledge that all our blessings come through the atonement of Christ, and should engage in nothing which will unfit us to acknow ledge and adore him. 35. The minds of all classes of people should be habit ually directed to the will of God as revealed in the Scrip tures, and all suitable means be perseveringly used to lead them to obey it. CHAPTER IX. 1. This side Jordan; the west side, where the Israelites then were. The great sea; the Mediterranean. 2*11 The league made with JOSHUA IX. the crafty Gibeonites. the valleys; and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon/ the Hittite, and the Amo- rite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; " 2 That they gathered themselves together/ to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.* 3 1 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon d heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai/ 4 They- did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-bottles, old, and rent, and bound up ; 5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal/ and said unto him, and to the men of Is rael, We be come from a far country : now therefore make ye a league with us. 7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites/ Peradventure ye dwell among us ; and how shall we make a league with you ?h 8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy ser vants.' And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye ? and from whence come ye ? 9 And they said unto him, From a very far coun- tryj thy servants are come/ because of the name of the Lord thy God : for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.1 11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us,m saying, Take victuals with you+ for the_ journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants : there fore now make ye a league with us. 12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go un to you ; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy : 13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. 14 And the men took of their victuals/ and asked not counsel* at the mouth of the Lord.0 15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made » Num. 34:6. b Exod. 3:17; 23:23. c 2 Chr. 20:1, etc.; Psa. 83:3, 5; Isa. 8:9, 10; 51:15. • Heb. mouth, d ch. 10:2. e eh. 6:27. f ch. 5:10. sch. 11:19. hExod. 23:32; Deut. 7:2; Judg. 2:2. i Deut. 20:11; 2 Kings 10:5. 1 Deut. 20:15. k 1 Kings 8:41; Isa.. 55:5; Acts 8:27. 1 ch. 2:10; Exod. 15:14; Num. 21:35. m Esther 8:17. t Heb. in your hawl. t Or, they received the men by reason of their victuals, o Num. 27:21; 1 Chr. 10:13, 14; Isa.. 30:1, 2. o Judg. 1:1; 20:18, 28; 1 Sam. 23:10,11; 30:8; 3. Gibeon; a large city of the Hivites, a few miles north west of Jerusalem. Chap. 10:2. 4. Wilily ; craftily, deceitfully. Wine-bottles; these were made of the skins of animals. 6. A league; an agreement not to destroy them. 18. Sworn unto them; that their lives should be pre served. Ver. 15, 20. 21. Hewers of wood and drawers of water; especially for the services of religion. Ver. 23, 27. 27. In the place which he should choose; for the sanctuary and for public worship. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. No combination or power of wicked men, if they continue in sin, will save them from ruin. 272 a league with them, to let them live :p and b. c! faf: the princes of the congregation sware unto them.' 16 1 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them. IT And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon/ and Chephirah, and Bee roth, and Kirjath-jearim. 18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israeli And all the congregation murmured against the princes. 19 But all the princes said unto all the congrega tion, We have sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel : now therefore we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them ; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.1 21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live ; but let them be hewers of wood and draw ers of water unto all the congregation;™ as the princes had promised them.v 22 1 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you ; when ye dwell among us ? 23 Now therefore ye are cursed/" and there shall none of you be freed from being8 bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.x 24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the Lord thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabi tants of the land from before you/ therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you/ and have done this thing. 25 And now, behold, we are in thy hand :* as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. 26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. 27 And Joshua made ¦ them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose." 2 Sam. 21; 5:19. P ch. 11:19. q 2 Sam. 21:2. r ch. 10:2; 18:25-28. » Psa. 15:4; Eeel. 5:6. t 2 Sam. 21:1-6; Ezek. 17:12-21; Zech. 5:3,4; Mal. 3:5. " Deut. 29:11; 2 Chr. 2:17, 18. v ver. 15. v Lev, 27:28,29. S Heb. not be cut off from you. * ver. 21, 27. y Exod. 23:32; Deut. 7:1, 2. r. Exod. 15: 14-16. a 2 Sam. 24:14 ; Isa. 47:6. I Heb. gave, or delivered to be; Ezra 8:20. b Deut. 12:5; Psa. 132:13, 14. . 8. A knowledge of the truth, the will, and purposes of God, leads some to oppose and others to submit them selves to him. Ver. 25. 14. If men do not ask counsel of God, and seek his direction, they may expect to be habitually and grossly deceived. 19. Solemn engagements to do things which are practi cable, and not wicked, should be sacredly observed. He that changeth not, when he sweareth even " to his own hurt," shall dwell in God's holy hill, and " shall never be moved." Psa. 15 : 4 ; Eccl. 5 : 4-6. 27. The sins of men are sometimes overruled for their good ; but this does not lessen the evil of such sins, or the guilt of those who commit them. The miracle at Gibeon. JOSHUA X. The five kings hanged. CHAPTER X. A. M. 2553. B. C. 1451. 1 Five kings war against Gibeon. 6 Joshua rescueth it. 10 God fighteth ag-ainst them with hailstones. 12 The sun and moon stand still at the word of Joshua. 16 The five kings are immured in a cave. 23 They are brought forth, 24 scornfully used, 26 and hanged. 28 Seven kings more are sonquered. 43 Joshua returneth to Gilgal. NOW it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it;a as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king;b and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel/ and were among them ; 2 That they feared greatly/ because Gibeon icas a great city, as one of the royal cities,* and be cause it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty. 3 Wherefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon : for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together/ and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it. 6 l And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal/ saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us : for all the kings of the Amo rites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us. 7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 IT And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not : g for I have delivered them into thy hand ; there shall not a man of them stand before thee. 9 "Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night. 10 And the Lord discomfited them before Israel/ and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon/ and chased them along the way that goeth up to Beth-horon, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah. 11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before > Ch. 8:22-23. b oh. 6:21. « ch. 9:15. I Exod. 15:14-16; Deut. 11:25. .• Heb. cities of the kingdom, e ab. 9:2; Isa. 8:9,10 foh.9:6. sch.ll:6; Judg. 4:14, 15. h Judg. 4:15. i Isa. 23:21 11; Isa. 30:30; Rev. 16:21. t Heb. be silent. i Exod. 9:22-26; Psa. 18:13, kJot>9:7; Hab.3:1l. 1 Judg. CHAPTER X. 3. Hebron ; south of Jerusalem . The other places named are south-west of Jerusalem, in that part of Canaan which afterwards fell to the tribe of Judah. 10, 11. The way that goeth up to Beth-horon; literally, the way of the ascent of Beth-horon. The going down to Beth- horon; the descent of Beth-horon. There was an upper and lower Beth-horon, north-west of Jerusalem ; and the pass between the two was called the ascent and the de scent of Beth-horon. Azekah; in the western plain of Judah. 12. Ajalon; a town and valley west of Gibeon. 13. The book of Jasher; this is supposed by many to be 18 Israel, and were in the going down to Beth-horon, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah,j and they died : they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword. 12 1 Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still1 upon Gibeon;" and thou, moon, in the valley of Ajalon.1 13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stay ed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher?*"1 So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day." 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man : for the Lord fought for Israel.0 15 T And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. 16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkcdah.p 17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah. 18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave/ and set men by it for to keep them : 19 And stay ye not, but pursue after your ene mies/ and smite the hindmost^ of them ; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand. 20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.s 21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.4 22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave." 23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jeru salem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all 12:12. % Or, The upriglft. m 2 Sam. 1:18. n Isa. 33:8. ° Deut 1-30 P Judg. 0:2; 1 Sam. 13:6; 24:3, 8. <1 Matt. 27:00. r Jer. 48:10. ! Heb cut off the tail, s 2 Sam. 20:0; Jer. 8:14. t Exod". 11:7. "1 Sam 15-32 a collection of poems, referring to the wonderful events in the history of Israel. 2 Sam. 1:18. 15. And Joshua returned — to Gilgal; these words are re peated in ver. 43. The best explanation of them here is, that they stand at the close of a general summary of Josh ua's victory, to which is immediately added a more partic ular account of the same proceedings. From verse 19, it is manifest that it 'was in the midst of the pursuit that the report concerning the five kings was brought to Joshua. 16. Makkedah; south-west of Jerusalem. 19. The hindmost; such of them as they could overtake. 20. Fenced; fortified. _ 24. Upon the necks of these kings ; in token of the complete victory of the Israelites over them and over all their foes. 273 Makkedah, Lachish, Hebron, JOSHUA X. and other cities desiroyey. the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks a of these kings." And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.0 25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed/ be strong and of good courage:0 for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight/ 26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees:8 and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening." 27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day. 28 1 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed/ them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho. j 29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah/ and fought against Libnah : 30 And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel ; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.1 31 1 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Is rael with him, unto Lachish,"1 and encamped against it, and fought against it : 32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah." a Isa. 20:5, 6; Mal. 4:3. b Psa 18:40. e Psa 107:40; 149:8, 9. d ch. 1 9; Deut. 31 :0. 8. e Eph. 6 10. f Deut 3:21; 7:19 Rom 8:37. B ch. 8 29. b Deut. 21:23 ¦ Deut. 7 2, 16. 1 ch. 6 21. k ch. 15:42; 21 W; 2 Kings 8:22; 19:8. 1 ver. 23. m ver. 3. 5. n ver 30. o ver 3. P ver 32. 29. Libnah; a city south of Makkedah. 31. Lachish; still further south. 33. Gezer; in the territory that afterwards fell to the tribe of Ephraim, about fifteen miles north-west of Jeru salem. 34. Eglon; a few miles west of Lachish. 36. Hebron; a city east of Lachish, and twenty miles south of Jerusalem. 38. Debir; southwest of Hebron. 40. Country of the hills; the hill country of Judea and the southern part of Canaan. Luke 1:39, 65. 41. Kadesh-barnea ; near the south-east border of Canaan. Gaza; near the Mediterranean and the south-west border of Canaan. Goshen ; lying south, in the mountainous region of Judea. Chap. 15:51. INSTRUCTIONS. 4. When sinners desert the cause of Satan and join with the people of God, those who continue to be Satan's slaves often unite against them, and would, if they could, utterly destroy them. 8. Those who oppose their fellow-men because they join the cause of God, ;oppose him, and thus often bring upon themselves utter ruin. 274 33 T Then Hoi-am king of Gezer came up '££ ?gf; to help Lachish ; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining. 34 T And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eg lon/ and all Israel with him ; and they encamped against it, and fought against it : 35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, accord ing to all that he had done to Lachish.p 36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron;0- and they fought against it : 37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein ; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon ;r but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein. 38 1 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir ;s and fought against it: 39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein ; he left none remaining : as he had done to Hebron/ so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king. 40 1 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings : he left none remain ing, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded." 41 And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea v even unto Gaza,w and all the country of Goshen/ even unto Gibeon/ 42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.2 43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal. q ch. 14:13; 15:13; Judg. 1:10; 2 Sam. 5:1-5; 15:9, 10; I Chr. 12:23. 38. rver. 35. »ch. 15:15; Judg. 1:11. t ver. 37. u Deut. 20:16, 17. r Deut. 9:23. w Gen. 10:19; 1 Sam. 6:17. x ch. 1U16. y ver. 2, 12; 1 Kings 3:5. r. ver. 14. 11. All the elements are under God's control, and when he directs will fight against his foes, as in the days of Moses, Barak, etc. Exod. 14:21; Judg. 5:20; Job 20:14- 29; Isa. 45:9; Hab. ch. 3 14. Those who take the side of God, and follow bis directions, will experience his aid, and through his grace will ultimately triumph. 18. Places to which the wicked flee for safety may be come their prisons; and measures which they take to escape destruction, may be the occasion of bringing it upon them. 22. Those who have been most distinguished by the means of doing good, but have employed them in doing e vii, will be most distinguished in their punishment. Luke 12:47,48. 30. Many things which are accomplished by human agency, are in the Bible ascribed to .God. In one sense man is the author, and in another sense God. Acts 2 :23 : 3:18. 40. By commanding the Israelites to destroy the Canaan ites and take possession of their country, God laid them under obligation to do it ; but no individual or nation, with out his command, ia authorized to do as they did. Deut 2:4-9,19,30-33. Divers kings overcome JOSHUA XI. at the waters of Merom. A. M. 2554. B. C. 1450. CHAPTER XI. 1 Divers kings overcome at the waters of Merom. 10 Hazor is taken and burnt." 16 AU the country taken by Joshua. 21 The Anakim cut off. AND it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon/ and to the king of Shimron/ and to the king of Achshaph, 2 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth/ and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west/ 3 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite0 under Hermonf in the land of Miz peh .g 4 And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude,11 with horses and chariots very many. 5 And when all these kings were met together/ they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel. 6 T And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them : ' for to-morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel : thou shalt houghJ their horses,1' and burn their chariots with fire.1 7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom sudden ly:1" and they fell upon them. 8 And the Lord delivered them into the hand of Israel," who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon/ and unto Misrephoth-maim/ and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward ; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining. 9 And Joshua did uuto them as the Lord bade him:0 he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.'" > Ch. 10:3. bch. 19:15. c Num. 34: 11. :.') n ch. 21:44. t Or, Zidon-rabbah. t Heb. Burnings; or, Salt-pits, o ver. 6. CHAPTER XI. « 1. Hazor; a strong and chief city in the north part of Canaan. Ver. 10. Madon; not far from Hazor. Shimron; called, chap. 12 : 20, Shimron-meron. It was afterwards in the tribe of Zebulun. Achshaph; west of Zebulun, in the tribe of Asher. 2. The mountains ; probably the mountains of Naphtali north-west of the sea of Tiberias. Chinneroth; on the lake of Gennesareth, or sea of Tiberias. Dor; on the Mediter ranean, not far from mount Carmel. 3. Hermon; Deut. 3:9. Mizpeh; called, ver. 8, " the val ley of Mizpeh eastward." Hermon, under which it lay, was in the eastern range of Lebanon. 5. The waters of Merom ; a collection of waters in the upper part of Canaan, from which flows the river Jordan. It is about twelve miles above the sea of Galilee, and is about five miles long, with a level region north of it par tially overflowed in the spring. Its present name is Bahr-el-Huleh. 6. Hough their horses; hamstring them; cut the great cord of their hind legs. 8. Great Zidon; a city on the Mediterranean, about twenty-five miles north of Tyre, fifty south of Beyroot, and sixty-six west of Damascus. It is called great on account 10 IT And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword : for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. 11 And they smote all the souls that were there in with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them : there was not any left to breathe : § and he burnt Hazor with fire. 12 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroy ed them/ as Moses tlie servant of the Lord com manded. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength," Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only ; that did Joshua burn. 14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cat tle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves ; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe. 15 IT As the Lord commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua ; he leftT nothing undone of all that the Lord com manded MOSJ3S. 16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country/ and all the land of Goshen/ and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the. same ; 17 Even from the mount Halak,*' that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Leb anon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them." 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.* 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhab itants of Gibeon :v all other they took in battle. 20 Por it was of the Lordw to harden their hearts/ that they should come against Israel in P Ezek. 39:9. 10. 5 Heb. any breath; ch. 10:40. q Num. 33:52: Deut. 7:2; 20:16, 17. 1 Heb on their /trap ; Jer. 30:18. 1 Heb. removed. rch. 12:8. s oh. 10:41. • Or, the smooth mountain, t ch. 12:7. " ch. 12:9-24; Deut. 7:21. t Till 1445. v ch. 9:3, 7. w Judg. 14:4; 1 Sam. 2:25; 1 Kings 12:15. * Deut. 2:30; Isa. 6:10; Rom. 9:18. of its numerous people and abundant wealth. Misrephoth- maim; north of Zidon. 12. As Moses — commanded; this is often mentioned to show that for destroying the Canaanites the Israelites were not to be blamed but commended, because that in doing it they were obeying God. Ver. 15, 20, 23. 13. Stood still in their strength ; rather, "stood upon their hill." It was the custom to build cities on them. These cities the Israelites, after destroying their inhabitants, reserved for their own use. 16. The hills; the mountainous region of the south. The land of Goshen; see note to chap. 10:41. The valley; the low region bordering on the Mediterranean. The plain; the long narrow vale through which the Jordan flows and in which the Dead sea lies. The southern portion of it opposite to " the south country " is meant. 17. The mount Halak; that is, "the bald mountain.'' The writer probably means a line of naked chalk hills running across the valley from west to east about eight miles south of the Dead sea ; the same as " the ascent of Akrabbim," which formed the southern boundary of Canaan. Num. 34 : 4. Mount Hermon ; the southern part of Anti-Lebanon. Deut. 3:8. 18. A long time; about seven years. 20. To harden their hearts; by leaving them, as a pun- 275 The Analdm cut off. JOSHUA XII. Coasts of Sihon and Og. battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as the Lord commanded Moses." 21 1 And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakim from the mountains/ from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the moun tains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Is rael : Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel : only in Gaza, in Gath/ and in Ashdod/ there remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord said unto Moses;0 and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes/ And the land rested from war.B CHAPTER XII. 1 The two kings whose countries Moses took and disposed of. 7 The one and thirty kings on the other side Jordan which Joshua smote. NOW these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Her mon/ and all the plain on the east : 2 Sihon king of the Amorites/ who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the "Deut. 20:16, 17. b ch. 15:13, 14; Num. 13:22, 33; Deut. 9:2. c 1 Sam. 17:4; 2 Sam. 21:22; 1 Chr. 18:1. d0h. 15:46; 2Chr.26:6; Neh. 13:23, 24. e Num 34:2, etc. ' ch. 14-16; Num. 26:52-55. 6 ch. 21:44,45. h Num. ishment for their sins, to pursue their own chosen way to ruin. Exod. 4:21. 21. Hebron — Debir — Anab; in the southern part of the country. 22. Gaza — Gath — Ashdod; cities of the Philistines in the south-west part of Palestine, and near the Mediterranean. 23. Took the whole land; not absolutely every city and region of it, for there remained yet very much land to be possessed, chap. 13: 1 ; but he conquered the whole coun try so as to be able to divide it by lot to the Israelites. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The wicked in their distress often pursue courses which, instead of relieving them, hasten their destruction. 6. However numerous the enemies within and without, or however mighty the combinations against the people of God, if in obedience to him they rightly use the means which he gives them, they have no reason to fear, for at his appointed time he will cause them to triumph over all their foes. 7. The aid which God gives is not designed to super sede or render needless human efforts ; but to encourage men to make efforts, and to render them successful. 9. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain. Even the brute creation suffer in consequence of the sins of men. Though these sufferings are under the direction of an infinitely wise, holy, and benevolent God, they are the effects of sin, and a just expression of his indignation against it. 11. Men are often called to most self-denying duties, and those from which the most wise, holy, and benevolent minds would, if consistent, gladly be excused. Matt. 26 : 39. 15. Besolute, determined, and habitual obedience to God's commands, is the only course of wisdom, safety, usefulness, and bliss. 18. We must not cease in our efforts to conquer the spiritual enemies of God and our own souls, till they are so effectually subdued as never again to rise up against us. 276 river Jabbok, which is the border of the b.c'usI children of Ammon ; 3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth ; and from the south/ under Ashdoth-pisgah :f. 4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan/ which was of the remnant of the giants/ that dwelt at. Ashtaroth and at Edrei,1 5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshu rites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.™ 6 Them did Moses the servant of the Lord and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the ser vant of the Lord gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.11 7 IF And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baal-gad in the val ley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir ; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions ; 8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilder ness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:0 21:21; Deut. 3:8, 9. i Deut. 2:33, 36; 3:6, 16, 17. 'Or. Teman. t Or. The springs of Pisgah, or The hill,- Deut. 4:49. 1 Num. 21:33-35. tDeut.3:ll. 1 Deut. 1:4. m Deut. 3:8-14. ¦" Num. 32:29, 33. o Exod. 23:23. 20. When God has determined to destroy men, he lets them pursue their chosen way of folly and sin to their ruin. 23. Perseverance in humble, hearty, courageous obedi ence to God, will end in sure and most glorious triumph. CHAPTER XII. 1. From the river Arnon; on the south. Unto mount Her man; on the north. All the plain on the east; that is, the eastern half of the valley through which the Jordan flows. 2, 3. Sihon — Ashdoth-pisgah; these verses may be thus rendered: Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, ruling from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river ; and over half of Gilead, unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; and [over] the plain [northward] to the sea of Chinneroth on the eastern side, and [southward] to the sea of the plain, the salt sea, on the eastern side, the way to Beth-jeshimoth, and, on the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah. The upper Jabbok divided the kingdom of Sihon from the Ammonites ; the lower Jabbok divided Gilead into two parts. Beth-jeshimoth seems to have marked the south eastern corner of that part of the plain which belonged to Sihon, and Ashdoth-pisgah its southern extremity. 4. Ashtaroth and — Edrei; places in Bashan. 5. Salcah; in the eastern border of Bashan. Geshurites — Maachathites; north of Bashan. Half Gilead; that half, namely, that lay north of the Jabbok, the southern half belonging to the kingdom of Sihon, ver. 2. 8. In the mountains — valleys — plains ; in the original, these words are in the singular number — the mountain, the valley, the plain. "The mountain" is tho mountainous region of Palestine ; " the valley " is the low region bor dering the Mediterranean; "the plain" is the valley of the Jordan and the Dead sea. Springs; or low places at the foot of the mountains. One and thirty kings subdued. JOSHUA XIII. The bounds of the land. t c.^ 9 The king of Jericho/ one ; the king of Ai/ which is beside Beth-el, one ; 10 The king of Jerusalem/ one ; the king of He bron, one; 11 The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of La chish, one: 12 The king of Eglon, one ; the king of Gezer, one; 13 The king of Debir, one ; the king of Geder, one; 14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 15 The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adul lam, one; 16 The king of Makkedah, one ; the king of Beth el/ one; 17 The king of Tappuah, one ; the king of He pher/ one ; 18 The king of Aphek, one ; the king of Lasha- ron/ one ; 19 The king of Madon, one ; the king of Hazor/ one; 20 The king of Shimron-meron/ one ; the king of Achshaph, one ; 21 The king of Taanach, one ; the king of Megid- do, one; 22 The king of Kedesh, one ; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one; 23 The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one ; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one; 24 The king of Tirzah, one : all the kings thirty and one. CHAPTER XIII. 1 The bounds of the land not yet conquered. 8 The inheritance of the two tribes and a half. 14, 33 The Lord and his sacrifices are the in heritance of Levi. 15 The bounds of the inheritance of Reuben. 22 Balaam slain. 24 The bounds of the inheritance of G-ad, 29 and of the half-tribe of Manasseh. NOW Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed. + "Ch.6:2. boh. 8:17.29. <=ch. 10:23-43. . 21:21. t Or, The springs of Pisgah. or The hill. 'Deut. 3:10. (t Nui b Num. 22:5; 31:-.. X Or. diviner. ' Num. 32:33. J 2 Sam. 11:1. east of the sources of the Jordan, north of Bashan, and near mount Hermon. 21. All the kingdom of S'hon ; that is, all that part which lay within the limits of the region assigned to Reuben ; for " the rest of the kingdom of Sihon," constituting its northern part, was given to the tribe of Gad, ver. 27. 25. Half the land of the children of Ammon; that portion, namely, lying between the Arnon and the Jabbok, which Sihon had previously taken from Ammon, as we gather from the narrative in Judg. 11:12-23. The Israelites were not allowed to take any of the territory which they found in possession of the Ammonites. Deut. 2:19. 33. The Lord God of Israel was tlieir inheritance ; they received their support in conducting his worship from the tithes arid offerings of the people. Num. 18. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. If life is prolonged, old age with its attendant infirm ities will soon come, and death will follow. All should therefore be diligent in the discharge of their appropriate duties. When unfitted for one kind of labor, they should, if practicable, engage in another ; and spend life in the discharge of duty, that they may be fitted to close it and enter into rest. 2. However diligent and successful any may be in 278 25C9. 1445. 27 And in the valley, Beth-aram/ and AJ; Beth-nimrah, and Succoth,1 and Zuphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon. Jordan and his border, even uuto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on tlie other side Jordan eastward.1" 28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages. 29 1 And Moses gave inheritance unto the half- tribe of Manasseh : and this was tlie possession of the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families. 30 And their coast was from Mahanaim/ all Ba shan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of J air/ which are iu Bashan, three score cities: 31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth/ and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were per taining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one-half of the children of Machir by their families. 32 These are tlie countries which Moses did dis tribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward. 33 But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance :" the Lord God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them/ CHAPTER XIV. 1 The nine tribes and a half are to have their inheritance by lot. G Ca leb by privilege obtaineth Hebron. AND these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritauce to them.8 2 By lot was their inheritance/ as the Lord com manded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe. 3-2:36. 1 Gen. 33:17; 1 Kings 7:4li. ¦» Num. 34:11. n Num. 32:39-11. o I Chr. 2: SI. P ch. 12:4. q ver. 14. r Ueut. lo:l. » Num. 31:17, IS. tNum. 20:55: 31:51; 31:13; Psa. 10:5,0. extending the kingdom of God, much will remain to be accomplished by their su3cessors. Each generation has its appropriate work, and no part of what belongs to it should be left to be performed by others. 6. Men may be sure before the promises of God arc fulfilled that he will perforin them, and may with perfect propriety act accordingly. 14. Though the ministers of Christ have not opportuni ties to acquire wealth, yet, if faithful to him, he will pro vide for them all things needful in this world, and will himself be their portion for ever. Ver. 33. 22. Those who love the wages of unrighteousness and tempt others to sin, may for a time escape punishment ; yet their sins are not forgotten, and in due time they will receive the just reward of their deeds. 32. God places men in such countries and conditions as he sees best. They should all receive their blessings as gifts, and use them for his honor and their own highest good. CHAPTER XIV. 2. By lot was their inlieritance ; and yet God so ordered the lot that each tribe obtained the inheritance which it was predicted by Jacob and Moses that they should pos sess. Gen. 49 ; Deut. 33. Caleb obtaineth Heir en. JOSHUA XV. The borders qf Judah. b."S 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half-tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inher itance among them. 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim:" therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in,b with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.0 5 As the Lord commanded Moses/ so the chil dren of Israel did, and they divided the land. 6 IF Then the children of Judah came unto Josh ua in Gilgal : and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite" said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses1' tlie man of GodB concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out tlie land ;h and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.1 8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt:j but I wholly followed the Lord my God.k 9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance/ and thy children's for ever, be cause thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God. 10 And now. behold, the Lord hath kept me alive,'" as he said, these forty and live years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the chUdren of Israel wandered* in the wilderness : and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me : as my strength was then." even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.° 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, where of the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there," and that the cities were great and fenced : if so be the Lord »(3en. 4 :5; I C .r. .5:1,2. b I C ir. «:5l--jl. «Num.3<:3. d Num 3-3:2. e Num. 3J:I2. f Num. 14:30; Deut. 1 -.-,•>. 3-i. S Num. 1 2: 7, 8. b Num. 13:6.2!. iNum. 11:30; I4:IW. i Num 1-1:31, 32; Deut. 1 :23, 36 kNum. 11:21. l.h. 1:1. m Mum. 14:31. * Heb. walked, n Deut. 34:7; Psa. 103:5 ° Deut. 31 :2. P Num. \3-.i-i, 33. 1 I Sam. 14:0; 2 Cnr. 14:11 ; Psa. lei:32- 6. Tie thing t'tattlie Lord said; Num. 14:24,30; Deut.l:36. 7. As it was iri my lieart ; he gave a sincere, honest, faith ful report. 12. Tit's mountain; the mountainous country about He bron. How the Anakim wire there; the presence of the Anakim, instead of discouraging Caleb, is an incitement to him to undertake the conquest of the region, for he has faith in God's presence and help. 13. Hibron; the district in which Hebron lay; the city itself was given to the Levites. Chap. 21:12, 13. 15. Ktrjath-arba ; Gen. 23:2. Had rest; rest from gen eral wars. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Those things which appear to men to be casual, which are sometimes spoken of as happening or coming by chance, are nevertheless under the direction and con trol of God. Prov. 16:33. 5. If men do as the Lord commands, they will see the truth of his declarations and experience the fulfilment of his promises. 7. Sincerity, honesty, uprightness, and fidelity to God and men are the surest course to long life, usefulness, respectability, and the greatest enjoyment of blessings for this life and the life to come. will be with me/ then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said. 13 And Joshua blessed hiin,r and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.8 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel". 15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath- arba ;l which Arba icas a great man among the Anakim." And the land had rest from war/ CHAPTER XV. 1 The borders of the lot of Judah. 13 Caleb's portion and conquest. 16 Othniel, for his valor, hath Aclitah, Caleb's daughter, to wife. 18 She obtaineth a bles-ing of her fatner. 21 The cities of Judah. 63 The Jebusites not conquered. fTW/S then was the lot of the tribe of the chil- / dren of Judah by their families ;w even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of tlie scuth coast.x 2 And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from tlie bay* that looketh southward : 3 And it went out to the south side to Maaleh- acrabbim/ and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadesh-barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa : 4 From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea : this shall be your south coast. 5 And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the utter most part of Jordan : 6 And the border went up to Beth-hoglah,y and passed along by the north of" Beth-arabah ; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben :z 34; 27:1-3 44:3 00:12; iik 10- 12; Roir . b:31; riii . 4 13; Heb. II 33. reh. 22:6; £on« >:9. » h If :13 • Gen. >3:2. u (Jen . 35 27. vcri. 11 23. i' Num 26:55. i Num 31: l-i. t Heb tongue t Or, The going up to Acrabbim. y ch. lb: 19. *ch 18:17. 8. The ways of transgressors are hard, and those who decline the path of duty to avoid its trials or obtain some temporary good, take a course that is often most fatal to themselves and to others. 12. If the Lord be with us, and we conduct in such a manner as to secure his blessing, we shall be victorious in our conflicts, and gain possession of the inheritance which he has promised to his people. CHAPTER XV. 2-4. And their south border — south coast; these verses contain an accurate description of the south border of Judah, which was also the southern limit of Canaan west of the Arabah, a long narrow valley running south from the Dead sea. Beginning from the southern bay pf the Dead sea, it ran south about eight miles to Maaleh-acrab- bim, a line of chalk hills running east and west across the Arabah. Thence it passed south and west to Kadesh- barnea. Thence it was carried in a general westerly direc tion to "the river of Egypt" at Rhinocolura. 5. End of Jordan; its mouth, at the Dead sea. 6-11. These places lay along a line from near the north end of the Dead sea west, by Jerusalem, to Ekron in the land of the Philistines. 279 The inheritance of JOSHUA XV. the tribe of Judah. 7 And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor/ and so northward, looking tow ard Gilgal/ that is before the going up to Adum- mim, which is on the south side of the river : and the border passed toward the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at En-rogel:c 8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom4 unto the south side of fhe Jebu- site ; the same is Jerusalem :e and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward :f 9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah/ and went out to the cities of mount Ephron ; and the border was drawn to Baalah/ which is Kirjath- jearim :-' 10 And the border compassed from Baalah west ward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah :' 11 And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward :k and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel ; and the goings out of the border were at the sea. 12 And the west border was to the great sea,1 and the coast thereof: this is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families. 13 IT And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, accord ing to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba* the father of Anak, which city is Hebron. 14 And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak,m Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the chil dren of Anak. 15 And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir :n and the name of Debir before was Kirjath- sepher. 16 If And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath- sepher/ and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. 17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz/ the brother of Caleb, took it : and he gave him Achsah his daugh ter to wife. *Ch.7:26. >> ch. 5:9. ' 2 Sam. 17:17; 1 Kings 1 :9. d ab. 18:16: 2 Kings 23:10; Jer. 19:2,6. e 0h. 18:2S; Judg. 19:10. f 2 Sam. 5:18,22. g ch. 13:15. b 2 Sam. 6:2; I Chr. 13:6. 1 Judg. 18:12. i Gen. 38:13; Judg. 14:1. " 1 Sam. 5:10; 7:14; 2 Kings 1:2,3, 6, 16. lNum.34:6,7. * Or, Kirjath-arba. " Num. 13:22; Judg. 1:10, 20. n ch. 10:33. o Judg. 1:12, 13. P Num. 32:12. q Gen. 24:64; 1 Sam. 25:23. r Gen. 33:11; Deut. 33:7. 7. En-rogel; a well in the valley of Kidron a little dis tance south of Jerusalem. 8. Valley of the son of Hinnom; this valley begins on the west of Jerusalem, and sweeps around its south-west corner — the ancient Zion — entering the valley of Kidron just below the city. Thus Jerusalem itself belonged not to Judah, but to Benjamin. Chap, 18:16. 15. Debir; a city west of Hebron, and south-west of Jerusalem. 19. A south land; one that was warm and comparatively without water. The upper springs, and the netlier ; high and low grounds that were well watered. 21-62. The places here mentioned lay in the south part of Canaan, in that portion .which wasalloted to Judah; a part of which was afterwards given, to the tribe of Simeon. 280 18 And it came to pass, as she came unto j.*:S him, tha„t she moved him to ask of her father, a field : and she lighted off her ass;4 and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? 19 Who answered, Give me a blessing ;r for thou hast given me a south land ; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs. 20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the chil dren of Judah according to their families. 21 T And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom south ward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, 22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, 23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, 24 Ziph/ and Telem, and Bealoth, 25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hez ron, which is Hazor, 26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, 27 And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth- palet/ 28 And Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Biz- jothjah, 29 Baalah/ and Iim, and Azem/ 30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, 31 AndZiklag,w and Madmannah,andSansannah, 32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain/ andRim- mon : all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages. 33 1 And in the valley, Eshtaol/ and Zoreah, and Ashnah, 34 And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam, 35 Jarmuth, and Adullam/ Socoh/ and Azekah, 36 AndSharaim,and Adithaim,and Gederah,and+ Gederothaim ; fourteen cities with their villages : 37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad, 38 And Dilean, and Mizpeh/ and Joktheel/ 39 Lachish,d and Bozkath, and Eglon, 40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, 41 And Gederoth, Beth-d agon, and Naamah, and Makkedah ; sixteen cities with their villages: 42 Libnah,0 and Ether, and Ashan, 43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, 44 And Keilah/ and Achzib/ and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages : 45 Ekron/ with her towns and her villages: >1 Sam. 23:14, 24. t Neh. 11:26. u ver. 9. v[ Chr. 4:29. " 1 Sam. 27:6. i Num. 34:11. y Judg. 13:25. 2 1 Sam. 22:1 ; Mic. 1 :15. >1 Sam. 17:1. tOr.or. bGen. 31:48, 49. c 2Kings 14:7. d 2 Kings 18:14. J7. e2Kings 8:22. d Sam. 23:1, etc. f Mio. 1:14, IS. h Amos 1:8; Zeph. 2:1; Zech. 9:5,7. 32. Twenty and nine; thirty-eight are mentioned; but nine, it is supposed, were given to Simeon, leaving twen ty-nine for Judah. 36. Fourteen cities ; fifteen names are mentioned, but two are supposed to belong to one city, or to it and its suburbs. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. God will peculiarly bless those who are faithful in his service, and bestow upon them all needed good. 13. God never forgets his promises, and in due time those who trust in him will experience their fulfilment. 17. It is a great privilege fo be connected in marriage with pious families ; and where the will of God is duly regarded in forming this connection, it may be expected to promote the respectability, usefulness, and comfort of all concerned. The cities of Judah. JOSHUA XVII. Border of Ephraim and Manasseh b.' o'S 46 From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near* Ashdod, with their villages : 47 Ashdod, with her towns and her villages;* Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea/ and the border thereof. 48 IT And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, 49 And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir/ 50 And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, 51 And Goshen/ and Holon, and Giloh ; eleven cities with their villages : 52 Arab, and Dumah/ and Eshean, 53 AndJanum/ and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah, 54 And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba which is He bron/ and Zior ; nine cities with their villages : 55 Maon/ Carmel/ and Ziph, and Juttah, 56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, 57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages: 58 Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor, 59 And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages : 60 Kirjath-baal which is Kirjath-jearim/ and Rabbah ; two cities with their villages. 61 1 In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah, 62 And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Enge di ;j six cities with their villages. 63 1 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Je rusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the chil dren of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.k CHAPTER XVI. 1 The general borders of the sons of Joseph. 5 The border of the inher itance of Ephraim. 10 The Canaanites not conquered. AND the lot of the children of Joseph fell* from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Beth-el, 2 And goeth out from Beth-el to Luz,1 and pass eth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth, 3 And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Beth-horon the nether,™ and to Gezer:" and the goings out thereof are at the sea. •Heb. by the place of . "1 Sam. 5:1,6; 2 Chr. 26:6; Neh. 13:23. 24; Isa 20:1. b Num. 34:5,6. : Judg. 1:11. 4 ch. 10-41 ; 11:16. i h. 21:11 t Or, Janus, t ver. 13. s 1 Sam. 23:25. h 1 Kings 18:42. ¦ ch. 18:14 < i c_ .vi. on Ir r.. t- i .o >>i . -1 Cnn» =: . r. . t? .-.„, ¦?. 1,1 .11 t u,u ....« i 1 Sam. 43:29. » Judg. 1 :S, 21 ... 18:14. t Heb. went CHAPTER XVI. 1. The children of Joseph; Ephraim and Manasseh. The inheritance of Ephraim was north of that of Simeon, Judah, Dan, and Benjamin. It extended from the river Jordan across the whole land to the Mediterranean. The inheritance of that half-tribe of Manasseh which was not provided for on the east of Jordan, was north of that of Ephraim, and had the Mediterranean on the west, Asher and Zebulun on the north, and Issachar on the east. 2-10. The places mentioned in these verses are in the districts of country above described. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The lot of all is appointed to them in the providence 4 So the children of Joseph/ Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance. 5 1 And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the bor der of their inheritance on the east side was Ata- roth-addar, unto Beth-horon the upper ; 6 And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side ; p and the border went about eastward unto Taanath-shiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah ; 7 And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan. 8 The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah ;q and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families. 9 And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the chil dren of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages. 10 And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt iu Gezer :r but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute. CHAPTER XVII. 1 The lot of Manasseh. 7 His coast. 12 The Canaanites not driven out. 14 The children of Joseph obtain another lot. fpHERE was also a lot for the tribe of Manas- JL seh; for he was the first-born of Joseph;3 to wit, for Machir the first-born of Manasseh/ the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bash an. u 2 There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families ;v for the children of Abiezer/ and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of She chem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families. 3 IT But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manas seh, had no sons, but daughters : and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hog- lah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4 And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes/" saying, The Lord commanded Moses to forth. 1 oh. 18:13; Gen. 28:19; Judg. 1 :26. m 2 Chr. 8:5. n 1 Chr. 7:28. 'och. 17:14. Pch.l7:7. qch.17:9. r Judg. 1:29; 1 Kings 9: 16, 21. » Gen. 41:51. 'Gen. 50:23. u Deut. 3:15. v Num. 20:29-32. i Jeezer, Num. 26:30. »ch. 14:1. of God. For its blessings they should be thankful, under its trials submissive, and in all its duties guided by the revealed will of God. 10. The more faithfully men follow the will of God, the greater real good will they enjoy, both in this life and that to come. CHAPTER XVII. 1. Gilead and Bashan; countries on the east of Jordan and north of those allotted to the tribes of Gad and Keu- ben. , 2. The rest qfthe children cf Manasseh; those not provided for on the east of Jordan. Ver. 5. 4. The Lord commanded; Num. 27:6-11. 281 The children of Joseph. JOSHUA XVIII. Tlie tabernacle set up. give usan inheritance amongourbrethren." There fore, according to the commandment of the Lord, he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father. 5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, be sides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan ; 6 Because the daughters of Manasseh had an in heritance amo:ig his sons: and the rest of Manas seh's sons had the land of Gilead. 7 IT And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah/ that lieth before Shechem ; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Ent.appuah. 8 J\Tj'jo Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim ; 9 And the coast descended unto the river Ka nah," southward of the river : those cities of Ephra im are among the cities of Manasseh:0 the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea: 10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on tlie east. 11 And Manasseh'1 had in Issachar and in Asher Bcth-shcin0 and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endorf and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Mcgiddos and her towns, even throe countries. 12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants cf those cities;11 but the Ca naanites would dwell in that land. 13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Is rael were waxen strong, that they put the Canaan- if es to tribute ; ' but did not utterly drive them out. 14 And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why ha;t thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing J am a great people, a Num. 27:6, 7. b 0b. I6:ii-3. • Or, brook of reeds, e ch. 16:9. d | Chr 7:29. e I Sam. 31:10; 1 King* 4: 1-2. f I Sam. 2:1:7; Psa. ^:I0. (t Zech. 12:11. 1> Jud;;. 1:27. 2i i ch. 10:10. j Gen. 49:2 -26; Num. 20:31-17; Deut. -.13:13-17. t Or, Re/i'iaim. Gen. 14:5; 15:211; 2 Sam. 5:18.22. k Judg. 5. Tin, portions; after the children of Machir had re ceived Gilead and Bashan, there remained the six other sons to be provided for on the west side of Jordan. Five of these received one portion each ; and for the daughters of Zelophehad the son of Hepher were provided five por tions more, making ten in all. 9. The river Kanah; a small stream which formed the boundary between Manasseh and Ephraim, and empties into the Mediterranean south of Csesarea. 11. In hnc.uar — Asher; within the limits of those tribes. 12. Could not ; for want of faith and the use of due means. 13. Tribute ; an annual tax, in token of submission. 14. One lot and one portion; they claimed a double por tion on account of their number. 15. Get thee up; take possession of those portions of the country allotted to you, which have not yet been subdued. 16. Tie valley of Jezreel ; these words seem to include both the large plain south-east of mount Carmel, and south-west from mount Tabor, called by the Greeks Es- draelon, and also the valley running down from this plain to the valley of the Jordan. 18. "The mountain; the hilly country before spoken of. Drive out ; this they could do in reliance on God. 282 forasmuch as the Lord hath blessed me ijg hitherto V 15 And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Per- izzites and of tlie giants/ if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee. 16 And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all tlie Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron," both they who are of Beth-shean and her towns,1 and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.™ 17 And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only: 18 But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgo ings of it shall be thine : for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites," though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong. CHAPTER XVIII. 1 The tabernacle is set up at Shiloh. 2 The remainder of the land is described, and divided into seven parts. 10 Joshua divideth it by lot. 11 The lot and border of Benjamin. 21 Their cities. AND the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh/ and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there : p and the land was subdued before them. 2 And there remained among the children of Is rael seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance. 3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?q 4 Give out from among you three men for each tribe : and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land/' and describe it according to the inheritance of them ; and they shall come again to me. 1:19: 4:3 1 1 Kings 4:1 2. m 2 Kin ;s9:10 37 n Deur 20: 1; Isa 41:14- 16: Eom 8:31 3/: Heb. 13:16 o oh. IH: '1 ; Jer 7: .2 . I> Judg. 18:31 ; 1 Sam. 1: 3,24; 4:3,4. q Judg. 18:1) r ver *-¦ INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The various talents of men come from God, and he allots to them such situations as are suited to the duties to which he calls them. 4. It is proper that daughters should have an inheri tance as well as sons, and so far as is consistent be pro vided for according to their wants. 12. It is often said in the Bible that men "cannot" do that which they will not try to do, nor use the means by which, through the blessing of God, they can do it. 13. Through sloth and inactivity, men will often sac rifice great future good for the sake of a little present ease. 15. Men are often in want because they neglect to use proper means to obtain relief, and the best way to help such persons is to put them in a way to help themselves. CHAPTER XVIII. 1. Shiloh; in the tribe of Ephraim, abouttwenty-five miles north of Jerusalem, and about fifteen south of Shechem. 2. Seven tribes; Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Issachar, Zebu lun, Asher, and Naphtali. 4. Give out; choose, or appoint. T/ie remaining land surveyed. JOSHUA XIX b'c'hm" 5 And tney sba11 dividc ii; into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the The portion of Benjamin. south/ and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.b 6 Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you herebeforethe Lord our God. c 7 But the Levites have no part among you ;d for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance : and Gad, and Reuben/ and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them. 8 1" And the men arose, and went away : and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land/ and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the Lord in Shiloh. 9 And the men went and passed through the land. and describe! it by cities into seven parts in a book/ and came a%ain to Joshua to the host at Shiloh. 10 1 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord:11 and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions. Ill And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families : and the coast of their lot came forth between the chil dren of Judah and the children of Joseph. 12 And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward ; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven. 13 And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Beth-el,' south ward ; and the border descended to Ataroth-addar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the neth er Beth-horou.j 14 And the border was drawn thence, and com passed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Beth-horon southward ; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjath baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, a city of the children of Judah : this was the west quarter. 15 And the soutli quarter was from the end of • Ch. 15:1, etc. boh. 16:1-1. ' ver. 11 ; ch. 14:2. d ch. 13:33. e ch. 13:8. t Gen. 13:17. it Acts 13:19. b Ezek. 47:22; 48:29. > Gen. -28:19; Judg. 1:23. j oh. 16:3. k I Chr. 13:5, 6. leh. 15:9 " ch. 15:1; 2 Kings 23: 10; 5. Tueir coast; the place already assigned them. 9. Described it by cities — in a book ; they gave a descrip tion of the country, as divided by them into seven parts, one for each tribe that had not yet received its inheritance. 11. Betweenthe children of Judah andthe children of Joseph; Judah was on the south, and Ephraim on the north. Jeru salem was in Benjamin, and thus, as predicted of him, he dwelt in safety by the Lord. Deut. 33:12. 12-28. The places here mentioned were on the borders of Benjamin's inheritance, which was bounded by the Jor dan on the east and Dan on the west. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The place for public worship should be central, and such as will best accommodate those who are expected there to assemble. 3. Men often long remain destitute of many things which it is the will of God that they should enjoy, and which with the right use of means they might enjoy. Kirjath-jearim," and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Neph- toah:1 16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hin nom/" to the side of Jebusi on the Eouth, and de scended to En-rogel," 17 And was drawn from the north, and went fortli to En-shemesh, and went forth toward Geli- loth, which is over again3t the going up of Adum- mim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben/ 18 And passed along toward the side over against Arabah" northward, and went down unto Arabth : 19 And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah norlhward : and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay+ of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan : this uas the south coast. 20 And Jordan was the border of it on the e;;st side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, ac cording to their families. 21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jeiicho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz, 22 And Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim/ and Beth el/ 23 And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah/ 24 And Cliephar-haammoiiai,and Ophni,and Ga- ba; twelve cities with their villages: 25 Gibeon/ and Ramah/ and Beeroth, 26 And Mizpeh/ ai.d Chcphiiah, and Mozah, 27 And Rekem. and Irpeel, and Taralah, 28 And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi/ which is Jeru salem, Gibeath, and Kirjalh ; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance cf the chil dren of Benjamin according to their families. CHAPTER XIX. 1 The lot of Simeon, 10 of Zebulun, 17 of Issachar, 24 of Asher, 32 of Naphtali, 40 of Dan. 49 The children of Israel give an inheritance to Joshua. AND the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon ac- 2 Chr. -2^:3; 33:6; Jer. 19:2; 32:35. i>ch.l5:7. <>ch.l5:0. • Or, The plain. t Heb. tongue, Isa. '1:15. P Gen. 10:1b; 2 Chr. 1:1:4. q I Kings I2:2!l. 32. riSam. 13:17. » I Kings 3:4, 5.- t Jer. 31 :15. u Judg. 10:17. v ch. 15:t, 03. 9. In dividing estates, great care should be taken that the boundaries be so fixed as to avoid all future conten tion about them. 11. By the proper use of means, each individual may obtain that situation which is most suitable for him, and in which he may promote his highest good. 20. Families are the appointment of Jehovah, and for them he provides wit'i infinite wisdom and goodness. They are designed and adapted to be sources of great enjoyment on earth and to be nurseries for heaven. CHAPTER XIX. 1. Within the inheritance of — Judah; on the survey of the whole land, it was found that what had been allotted to Judah was too large for one tribe, ver. 9 ; the south-west part of it was therefore allotted to Simeon. His inheri tance was bounded on the north and east by that of Judah, on the south by the desert of Zin, and on the west by the land of the Philistines. 233 The lots of Simeon, Zebulun, JOSHUA XIX. Issacltar, Asher, and Naphtali. cording to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the. children of Judah.a 2 And they had in their inheritance Beer-shebab or Sheba, and Moladah, 3 And Hazar-shual/ and Balah, and Azem, 4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah/ 5 And Ziklag/ and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar- susah, 6 And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen ; thirteen cit ies and their villages : 7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan ; four cit ies and their villages : 8 And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramath of the south/ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families. 9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon : for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them : s therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.11 10 IT And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid : 11 And their border went up toward the sea,' and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;j 12 And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor/ and then goeth out to Daberath/ and goeth up to Japhia, 13 And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah- hepher/1 to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar" to Neah; 14 And the bordel- compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon : and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el : 15 And Kattath, and Nahallal/ and Shimron/ and Idalah, and Beth-lehem :p twelve cities with their villages. 16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zeb ulun according to their families, these cities with their villages. * 17 H And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 18 And their border was toward Jezreel/ and Chesulloth, and Shunem/ » Ver 9 b Gen. 21:31; 1 Chr 4:28. ' ch 15:28-32. d Judg, 1 :I7. e 1 Sam 27: ( ; 30:1. f I Fam. 30:27. s 2 Cor. 3:14,15. h ver. 1. > Gen. 49:13. ioh. 2:2>. k Judg 4:6, 12; Psa 80:12 1 1 Chr. 0 72. m 2 K ngs 14:25. • Or, which is drawn. » Judg. 1:30. o ch. 11:1. P Ruth 1 :I9; 2 Sara. 21:15 ; 2 Chr 11:0. q 1 Kings 21 :1. r 1 Sam. 2d: 4 ; 2 Kings 4:8, 2-9. These places were within the above-mentioned dis trict. 10. Tlie children of Zebulun ; their inheritance was bound ed on the east by the river Jordan and the sea of Galilee, on the north by Asher and Naphtali, on the west by Asher and Manasseh, and on the south by Issachar. 11-15. These places were in or on the borders of the above-mentioned territory. 17. The children of Issachar; their inheritance was bounded on the east by the Jordan, on the north by Zeb ulun, on the west by Manasseh, and on the south by Ephraim. 18-22. Places in or on the borders of Issachar. 24. The children qf Asher; their inheritance was in the north-west part of the country towards Tyre, and was 284 19 And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Ana- k'c.uS; harath, 20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, 21 And Remeth, and En-gannim/ and En-had- dah, and Beth-pazzez; 22 And the coast reacheth to Tabor/ and Sha- hazimah, and Beth-shemesh ;u and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan : sixteen cities with their villages. 23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the chil dren of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages. 24 T And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 25 And their border was Helkath/" and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, 26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Mishal; and reacheth to Carmel westward/v and to Shihor- libnath ; 27 And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth-da- gon,x and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emekj and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, 28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon ; y 29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre;+ and the coast turneth to Hosah ; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib : z 30 Uoimah also, and Aphek/ and Rehob : twenty and two cities with their villages. 31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the chil dren of Asher according to their families/ these cities with their villages. 32 1 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali accord ing to their families. 33 And their coastwasfromHeleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum ; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan : 34 And then the coast turneth westward to Az- noth-tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side/ and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising. 35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth/ 36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, 12. ch.21 •29 tl Chr. 6:77. u 1 S un. 6:9, etc. ; 2Kines 14:11. v 2 Sam. 2:10. w I Sam .15:12 1 Kings If :20 42; Song 7:5; Isa. £3:9 35:2 ; 37:24; Jer. 40:18. X Sam. 5:2. y ch. 11 8; Judff. 1:31 t Heb. Tzor, 2 Sam. 5:11 Ezek 2 :2, etc r- Judg. 1:31; Mic. 1:14. a 1 Sam 4:1; 1 Kings 20:31 . bG ill. 49:20; Deut. 33:24. c Deut. 33:23. d Mark 6:53. bounded on the east by Naphtali, on the north by Syria, on the west by Phenicia, and on the south by Zebulun. 25-31. Places in or on the borders of Asher. 32. The children of Naphtali; their inheritance was in the north-east part of the country, and was bounded on the east by the Jordan, on the north by Syria, on the west by Asher, and on the south by Zebulun and the sea of Galilee. 33-38. Places in, or on the borders of Naphtali. Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising; we are probably to understand the cities of Jair in the land of Gilead east of the Jordan, 1 Chron. 2:23. Though these properly belonged to the half-tribe of Manasseh, they might well have been called " Judah upon Jordan," because Jair was a descendant of Judah. The portion of Dan. JOSHUA XX. The six cities of refuge. fr $¦$£ 37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor, 38 And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth- anath, and Beth-shemesh ;a nineteen cities with their villages. 39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the chil dren of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages. 40 T And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. 41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah/ and Eshtaol/ and Ir-shemesh, 42 And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon/ and Jethlah, 43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron/ 44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon/ and Baalath, 45 AndJehud,andBene-berak,andGath-rimmon, 46 And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before* Japho.+ 47 And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them:8 therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and pos sessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father. 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the chil dren of Dan according to their families, these cit ies with their villages. 49 1 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the chil dren of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them : 50 According to the word of the Loed they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim:11 and he built the city, and dwelt therein. 51 These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Is rael/ divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the Lord,j at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of divid-' ing the country. CHAPTER XX. * Ver. 22. tSJhr. 11:10. = Judg. 18:2. 4 1 Sam. 14:31. el Sam. 5:10; Amos l:S. f 1 Kings 15:27. * Or, over against, t Or, Joppa, Acts 9:36. S Judg. 18:1, 27-29. b ch. 21:30. i ch. 14:1; Num. 34:17. joh. 18:10; Gen. 49:10; Judg. 21:19, 21 ; 1 Sam. 1:3; Psa. 78:60; Jer. 7:12-14. k Exod. 21:13; Num.35:6, 11, 14; Seat. 19:2,9. lRuth4:l,2; Prov. 31: 23. m Heb. 40. The children of Dan ; their inheritance was bounded by Benjamin on the east, by Ephraim on the north, by the Mediterranean and the Philistines on the west, and by Judah on the south. 41-46. Places in or on the borders of Dan. 47. Leshem; the same as Laish, a city near the foot of mount Lebanon and the sources of the Jordan. Judg. 18:1-29. 50. Timnath-serah; a place in the hilly country of the tribe of Ephraim, called, in Judg. 2:9, Timnath-heres. It was here that Joshua lived, died, and was buried. Ch. 24:30. INSTRUCTIONS. 9. If through mistake persons have obtained more than rightfully belongs to them, they should, on its being known, promptly and cheerfully restore it. 40. Although the land of Canaan was divided by lot among the several tribes of Israel, yet their inheritance and condition were such as was predicted, and as it was beforehand certain that they would he. 50. They who have been eminent benefactors of their fellow-men, should be remembered with gratitude, hon ored, and if need be, provided for, by those whose inter ests have been secured by their sacrifices and efforts. 1 G-od commandeth, 7 and the children of Israel appoint the six cities ol refuge. THE Lord also spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge/ whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses : 3 That the slayer that killeth any person una wares and unwittingly may flee thither : and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood. 4 And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city,1 and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.m 5 And if the avenger of blood pursue after him," then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand ; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. 6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high-priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled. 7 1 And they appointed* Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali/ and Shechem in mount Ephraim/ and Kirjath-arba which is Hebron" in the moun tain of Judah/ 8 And on the other side Jordan by Jericho east ward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben/ and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad/ and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh." 9 These were the cities appointed for all the chil dren of Israel/ and for the stranger that sojourn eth among them, that whosoever killeth any per son at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.^ 6:18. »Nom, 35:12, 25. t Heb. sanctified. » ch. 21:32; 1 Chr. 6 * Phr 10-1. a f>h 14-15. >J>I-1I. 13 r Luke 1:39 ~..~. -..-.... *~. .~, w. • ..... ,.^.y. 21:21; 2 Chr. 10:1. q ch. 14:15; 21 :11, 13 Deut. 4:43; 1 Chr. 6:78. t ch. 21:38; 1 Kings 22:3, 4 v Num. 35:15. w ver. 6. Pch. « ch. 21:36; 6. u ch. 21:27. CHAPTER XX. 2. Whereof I spake; Exod. 21:13; Num. 35:6-34; Deut. 19:2-13. 3. "Unwittingly ; without design. 6. Judgment; a fair trial and a righteous decision. 1. Mount Naphtali; the hilly region in the tribe of Naph tali, in the north part of the country. Shechem; this was in the central part, and Hebron in the south part of the country. 8. Bezer; a city in the south part of the country, east of Jordan ; Ramoth was in the central, and Golan in the north part of the country. INSTRUCTIONS. 5. Our lives are always uncertain, and are liable to be suddenly taken away, either by design or through our own carelessness or mistakes, or those of our fellow-men. 6. As life may be destroyed through carelessness as well as by design, carelessness is a sin which should be most conscientiously avoided, and if it is not, should be visited with its appropriate punishment. 9. No person accused of murder should be acquitted or condemned till after a full and fair trial; nor should he suffer death unless proved to be guilty. 285 JOSHUA XXI, Eight and forty cities CHAPTER XXI. 1 Eight and forty cities given by lot, out of the other tribes, unto the Levites. 43 God gave the land, and rest unto the Israelites, accord ing to his promise. ^pHEN came near the heads of the fathers of the JL Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;" 2 And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan/ saying, The Lord commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.0 3 And the children of Israel gave unto the Le vites out of their inheritance/at the commandment of the Lord, these cities and their suburbs. 4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites : and the children of Aaron the priest/ which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities. 5 And the rest of the children of Kohath6 had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half- tribe of Manasseh, ten cities. 6 And the children of Gershon f had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naph tali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh iu Ba shan, thirteen cities. 7 The children of Merari5 by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities. 8 And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs/ as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses. - 9 T And they gave out of the tribe of the chil dren of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned* by name, 10 Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot. 11 And they gave them the city of Arba*1 the father of Anak,] which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah/ with the suburbs thereof round about it. 12 But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.1 13 1 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs,"1 to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Libnah with her suburbs, 14 And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs, 15 And Holon* with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs, allotted to the Levites. 16 And Ain5 with her suburbs, and Jut- 4V.c.imv tah with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.. 17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba1 with her suburbs, 18 Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon T with her suburbs ; four cities. 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 20 1 And the families of the children of Kohath," the Levites which remained of the children of Ko hath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim. 21 For they gave them Shechem with her sub urbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs, 22 And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Beth- horon with her suburbs ; four cities. 23 And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs, 24 Ajalon with her suburbs, Gath-rimmon with her suburbs ; four cities. 25 And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taa- nach with her suburbs, and Gath-rimmon with her suburbs ; two cities. 26 All the cities wire ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that re mained. 27 1 And unto the children of Gershon/ of the families of the Levites, out of the other half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs/ to be a city of refuge for the slayer, and Beeshterah with her suburbs;. two cities. 28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs, 29 Jarmuth with her suburbs, En-gannim with her suburbs ; four cities. 30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs, • 31 Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities. 32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs/ to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammoth-dor with her sub urbs, and Kartan with her suburbs ; three cities. 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs. 34 IT And unto the families of the children of Merari/ the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kar- tah with her suburbs, 35 Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs ; four cities. 36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs/ and Jahazah with her suburbs, 37 Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs ; four cities. » Ch. 14:1; 17:4. li ch. 18:1. c Num 35:2. d ver. 8, 19; ch. 21:33. e ver. 20. etc. f ver. 27, etc. r ver 31, etc, b ver. 3. " Heb. called. 1 Or, Kirjath-arba; Gen. 23:2. ¦ 1 Chr. 6:55. j ch. 15: 13, 14. k ch. 20:7, etc.; Luke 1:39. 1 ch. 14:11. m 1 Chr. 6:50, etc. t Hilen, 1 Chr. 6:53; ch. CHAPTER XXI. i. Judah — Simeon — Benjamin; thus the priests had their cities in the .tribes that were near to Jerusalem and the temple after wards, built there. Ver. 9-19. 286 1 (J aba. ch. lb: 21. 1 Alemeth, P ch. 20:8. 15:51. 5 Ashan, ch. 15:42: 1 Chr. 0:09. - 1 Chr. 6:00. » ver. 5; 1 Chr. 6:00. » ver. G; IChr. 6:71 qch.20:7. r ver. 7; 1 Chr. 6:77. >ch. 20:8. 5. Tlie rest; those of the family of Kohath who were not priests. Ver. 20-26. 27 The children of Gershon ; these were Levites, but not priests. 34. The children of Merari; Levites, but not priests. The two tribes and a half JOSHUA XXII. build an altar near Jordan. b c i^ 38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer ; and Mahanaim with her suburbs, 39 Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all. 40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the fami lies of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities. 41 All the cities of the Levites within the pos session of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.11 42 These cities were every one with their sub urbs round about them : thus were all these cities. 43 IT And the Lord gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers;" and they possessed it, and dwelt therein. 44 And the Lord gave them rest round about/ according to all that he sware unto their fathers : and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; d the Lord delivered all their ene mies into their hand. 45 There failed not aught of any good thing which the Lord had spoken unto the house of Is rael;6 all came to pass. CHAPTER XXII. 1 The two tribes and a half with a blessing are sent home. 10 They build the altar of testimony in their journey. 11 The Israelites are offended thereat. 21 They give them good satisfaction. r"r\ETEN Joshua called the Reubenites, and the J_ Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 2 And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you/ and have obeyed my voice in all that I command ed you:g 3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God. 4 And now the Lord your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them : there fore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side Jordan.11 "Num. 35:7. bGer .12: 7 ; 3:15; 15:13-2 ; 26:: ,4; 28:4, 13,14. cch. 11:23; 22:4. d Deut. 'l-.-l: ,24 e ch. S3: 14, Num . 23:19; . Kings 8:56; 1 Cor. 1:9; Tit 1:2. f Num 32:20-29; Deut. 3 10-20. e ch. 1 12-18. fc Deut. 29:3. i Deut 6:6, 17 11:22; 1 Chr, 23:7 8; Jer. 12 :16. j Deut. 10:12. k Acts 11:23. tch. 24: 14; 1 Sam. 12: £0, 24 m Gen. 47:7; 2 Sam. 41. Forty and eight cities; according to the direction of Moses, Num. 35:7. 42. Suburbs; adjacent territory to the extent of two thousand cubits on every side, according to the direction in Num. 35:5. 43. They possessed it; they possessed all that they then needed ; and the rest the Lord would give them, according to his promise, Exod. 23:30. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. It is not left merely to the inclinations of men whether they will provide for the comfortable support of the minis ters of religion, butit is the command of God that those who preach the gospel should live of the gospel, and their hear ers cannot withhold from them needful support without de priving them of what is justly their due. 1 Cor. 9 : 13, 14. 4. It is a great convenience for the ministers of religion to live near the place of public worship, and generally it will be found to be most conducive to their good and the good of the people. 5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law,1 which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord your God,j and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his command ments, and to cleave unto him/ and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.1 6 So Joshua blessed them/1 and sent them away : and they went unto their tents. 7 T Now to the one half of the tribe of Manas seh Moses had given possession in Bashan ; but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward." And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them, 8 And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents/ and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment : divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.p 9 1 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead/ to the land of their posses sion, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. 10 \ And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the chil dren of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.r 11 1 And the children of Israel heard say/ Be hold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the bor ders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel. 12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. 13 And the children of Israel sent unto the chil dren of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half- tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest.' 6:18; Luke 2:31; 24:50. n ch. 17:5. ° Deut. 8:10-14. P Num. 31:27; 1 Sam. 30:21; Psa. 63:12. 4 Num. 32:1 26, 29. r ch. 21:26, 27; Gen. 28:18; 31:46-52. » Deut. 13:12, etc.; Judg. 20-.1, 12. t Exod. 6:25; Num. 25:7, 11-13. 5. There should be ministers of religion in all parts of the country, that all the people may have the benefit of their good instructions and example. 41. The Lord in his providence appoints to ministers their various fields of labor, and wherever they are placed it should be their great object to honor him and be most useful to men. 43. Whatever may be the promises of God, and however great the difficulties in the way of their accomplishment, in due time they will all be fulfilled. CHAPTER XXII. 1. The Reubenites— Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh; their men of war, who had left their homes on the east side of Jordan to assist their brethren in the conquest of Canaan. 7. Bashan; the north part of the country possessed by the Israelites on the east of Jordan. 10. By Jordan; on its east bank. 287 The altar of witness JOSHUA XXII. beyond Jordan allowed. 14 And with him ten princes, of each chief house* a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel ; and each one was a head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.11 15 1 And they came unto the children of Reu ben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half- tribe of Manasseh, unto the laud of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying, 16 Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord, What trespass is this that ye have commit ted against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LoRD?b 17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us/ from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord, 18 But that ye must turn away this day from fol lowing the Lord ? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to-day against the Lord/ that to-morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.6 19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your posses sion be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the Lord, wherein the Lord's tabernacle dwelleth/ and take possession among us: but rebel not against the Lord, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of the Lord our God. 20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a tres pass in the accursed thing/ and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity. 21 1 Then the children of Reuben and the chil dren of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh an swered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 The Lord God of gods/ the Lord God of gods, he knoweth/ and Israel he shall know ;j if it be in rebellion/ or if in transgression against the Lord, (save us not this day,) 23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer thereon burnt- offering or meat-offering, or if to offer peace-offer ings thereon, let the Lord himself require it; l 24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come+ your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel? 25 For the Lord hath made Jordan a border * Heb. house of the father, a Num. 1:4. I> Lev. 17:8,9. ' Num. 25:3, etc. ; Deut. 4:3. d Ezra 9:13, 14. e Num. 16:22. ' ch. 18:1. sch. 7:1, etc. b Deut. 10:17; l>sa. 93:3; 136:2; Dan. 2:47; 11:36. i 1 Kings 8:39; Job 23:10; Psa. 44:21; 139:1-12; Jer. 12:3; John 2:21, 25; 21:17; Acts 1:21; 2 Cor. 11:11,31; Heb. 4: 13; Rev. 2:23. ,i Mal. 3:18. k 1 Sam. 15:23. 'Deut. 18:19; 1 Sam. 20:10; 2 Chr. 24:22. t Heb. to-morrow ; Exod. 13:14. 16. Builded you an altar ; to offer sacrifice in any place except at the tabernacle, was expressly forbidden. Lev. 17:8, 9. 17. Iniquity of Peor; Num. 25:3; Deut. 4:3. 19. If the land — be unclean; if they thought it unclean because there was in it no altar for sacrifice, and no place for public religious worship, they were invited to come over and live on the west side of Jordan where was the tabernacle, rather than to set up separate worship and thus rebel against God. 20. Not alone; chap. 7:5, 24, 25. 23. The Lord — require; let him punish us, if we designed to rebel against him. 288 between us and you, ye children of Reu- Bi&iX ben and children of Gad ; ye have no part in the Lord:"1 so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the Lord." 26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice : 27 But that it may be a witness between us and you/ and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the Lord before him with our burnt-offerings/ and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the Lord. 28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord/ which our fathers made, not for burnt-offerings, nor for sacrifices ; but it is a witness between us and you. 29 God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord/ and turn this day from following the Lord, to build an altar for burnt-offerings, for meat-offer ings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the Lord our God that is before his tabernacle. 30 IT And when Phiuehas the priest, and the prin ces of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and thechildren of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.* 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the chil dren of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the Lord is among us/ because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord: now8 ye have delivered the children of Is rael out of the hand of the Lord. 32 IT And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reu ben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.' 33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel ; and the children of Israel blessed God/ and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to de stroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt, 34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed:' for it shall be a wit ness between us that the Lord is God. m Neh 2:20. n 1 Kings 12:27, 29. o ver. 34 F Deut. 12:5, etc. 1 Exod. 25:40; Ezek 43:10, 11 r Gen 44.7, 17; 1 Sa m. 12. 23; 1 Kings 21:3 3:6. 1 Heb. was good in their eyes. ' Lev. 26:11 12 8:23: 1 Cor. 14:25. 5 He! . then, t Prov. 25 13. u 1 Sam. 25 32 33 1 Chr 29:2il ; Neh. 8:6; r an. 2: 9; Eph. 1:3. 1 That is a witness; ch 24 27. 25. Make our children cease from fearing the Lord; by refus ing to let them come over the Jordan to worship him. 28. A witness; that they had a right to go over Jordan and worship with the other tribes at the tabernacle. 29. To build an altar; Deut. 12:13, 14. 31. Ye have delivered the children of Israel ; not exposed them to punishment as they feared, by sinning against the Lord, but taken measures to perpetuate his worship. 34. Ed ; a witness. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Just commendation is due to those who do well, and true gratitude should be exercised towards all who make Joshua's exhortation JOSHUA XXIII. before his death. frUZiun. CHAPTER XXIII. 1 Joshua's exhortation before his death, 3 by former benefits, 5 by promises, 11 and -by threatenings. AND it came to pass, a long time after that the Lord had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about/ that Joshua waxed old* and Stricken in age.b 2 And Joshua called for alj Israel/ and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age : 3 And ye have seen all that the Lord your God hath done unto all these nations because of you ; for the Lord your God is he that hath fought for you.d 4 Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain/ to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.* 5 And the Lord your God, he shall expel them from before you/ and drive them from out of your sight ; and ye shall possess their land, as the Lord your God hath promised unto you.g 6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses/ that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;1 7 That ye come not among these nations,j these that remain among you ; neither make mention of the name of their gods/ nor cause to swear by them} neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: 8 But cleave* unto the Lord your God/1 as ye have done unto this day. 9 For the Lord hath driven8 out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no »Ch.22:l. * Heb. come into days, b oh. 13:1. c ch. 24: t; Deut. 31:28; 1 Chr. 23:1. d Psa. 44:3. « ch. 13:0,7; 18:10. t Heb. at the sunset. t Deut. 11:23; Psa. 44:2. E Num. 33:53. h ch. 1:7. iDeut.5:32. j Deut. 7:2,3. *Psa. 16:4; Hos. 2:17. 'Zeph. 1:4-6. 1 Or, For ifye will cleave. n> oh. 22:5. ! Or, Then the Lokd will drive. ¦> Lev. 26:8; Judg. 7:19-22; sacrifices, endure hardships, and perform labors for the good of their fellow-men. i. Fidelity in obeying God's commands will receive his approbation and blessing, and a glorious reward. 5. The true greatness, glory, and blessedness of a peo ple consist in their loving the Lord, observing his ordi nances, and walking in his ways. . 10. Suitable care should be taken, in providing against future evils, not to awaken needless suspicions, nor occa sion unnecessary anxiety and trouble to our fellow-men. 16. We may be blamed, even by good men, for our best actions. But we should not be disconcerted, should listen to them with patience, and when we thoroughly understand their mistakes, should endeavor kindly to remove them. 19. When those who are disturbed at the conduct of others, go to them and frankly state their difficulties, and manifest a readiness to make sacrifices and even to give up their own rights, rather than to have God dishonored or his cause injured, it may be expected that with reason able explanations they will be satisfied. 22. A consciousness of being and doing right tends to prevent undue excitement under unjust accusations, and to lead to such explanations as will remove needless ap prehensions and be satisfactory to all concerned. 26. It is proper to take all suitable measures to guard our children against evils to which from the selfishness of men they will be exposed, and to enable them to know what are their rights, especially their religious rights, and successfully to maintain and permanently enjoy them. 19 man hath been able to stand before you unto this day. ¦ 10 One man of you shall chase a thousand :n for the Lord your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.0 11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves,1 that ye love the Lord your God. 12 Else, if ye do in any wise go back/ and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them/ and go in unto them, and they to you : 13 Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you:r but they shall be snares and traps unto you ;s and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you.* 14 And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth : and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls/ that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the Lord your God spake concerning you ; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. 15 Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the Lord your God promised you ; so shall the Lord bring upon you all evil things/ until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. 16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed your selves to them ; then shall the anger of the Lord be kindled against you,w and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you. 15:15 o Exod. 23:27. etc S Heb. your souls. P Psa. 125 :5; Isa. 1:4; Zeph. 1:6; Heb. 10:38, 39; 2 Pet. 2:20 21. 1 2 Cor. 6:14 r Judg. 2 2, 3. » 1 K ings 11:4. t 2 King 17:22, 23. u ch. 21 45. v Lev. 26:14, etc. ; Deut. 2s: 15, 63. v 2 Kings 24:20. 30. A disposition to enjoy religious rights ourselves, and to secure them to coming generations, is pleasing to all intelligent and right-minded men, especially to pious rulers and ministers of the gospel. 33. Good men, enlightened by the Spirit of God, will not make war upon others for maintaining their just rights, especially their right to hearken to the voice of God in the Scriptures, to judge of his meaning, and to worship him according to his directions. CHAPTER XXIII. 4. The great sea; the Mediterranean, which formed the western boundary of Canaan. 7. Neither make mention; the familiar mention of thenames of idols would tend to lessen their abhorrence of them. 10. One man of you shall chase a thousand; however few they might be, and however numerous their enemies, they, in obeying God, would be able to overcome them. 11. Take good heed; be very careful. 14. Going tlie way of all the earth; about to die. Gen. 3:19. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. No fidelity to God, or usefulness to men, can keep off the approach of age, infirmity, or death. This should be borne in mind, and incite all to do with their might what their hands find to do, knowing that in the grave, to which they are hastening, there is no work. 3. The aged may recount the mercies of the Lord with great advantage to themselves and to their fellow-men. 289 Joshua assembleth the JOSHUA XXIV. tribes at Shechem. CHAPTER XXIV. 1 Joshua assembleth, the tribes at Shechem. 2 A brief history of God's benefits from Terah. 14 He reneweth the covenant between them and G-od. 26 A 3tone the witness of the covenant. 29 Joshua's age, death, and burial. 32 Joseph's bones are buried. 33 Eleazar dieth. AND Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Is rael/ and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers ; and they presented themselves before God.b 2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time/ even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor : and they served other gods. 3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood/ and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.e 4 And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau:f and I gave unto Esau mount Seir/ to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.h 5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt,1 according to that which I did among them : and afterward I brought you out. 6 And I brought your fathers out of Egypt : and ye came unto the sea ;j and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea. 7 And when they cried unto the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them ; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt : and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season." 8 And I brought you into the land of the Amo rites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan ; and they fought with you :' and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I de stroyed theni from before you. 9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:"1 10 But I would not hearken unto Balaam;11 there- » Ch 23:2. b 1 Sam. 10:19. e Gen. 11: ?6. etc. d Gen. 12:1 . e Gen. 21:2,3. f Gen. 25:24. 5 Gen 36:8; Deut. 2:5 h Ij in. 40:1-7. i Exod. ch. 7-12 j Exod. ch. 14 tch 5:6. 1 Num . 21 21 -35 m Num. 22:5, etc. 28; Deut. n Deut. 23:5; Mic. 6:5 o ch 3:14 17. P ch. 6. Matt. 6:24. « Lev. 19:2; 1 Sam. 6:20; Isa. 6:3. d Exod. 20:5. e Exod. 34:7. 14. The fulfilment of God's declarations in times past, should assure us of their fulfilment in time to come. CHAPTER XXIV. 1. Shechem; a city north of Shiloh, and nearer to Tim nath-serah, where Joshua lived. Chap. 18:1. 2. The flood; the river; meaning the Euphrates. Other gods; idols. 4. Seir; a country south of the Dead sea. 6. The sea; the Red sea. 7. A long season; about forty years. 10. His hand; the hand of Balak. 19. Ye cannot serve the Lord; they could not without re nouncing all idols, as Joshua exhorted them to do, loving God with supreme affection, and obeying hiB commands ; and for disposition to do this, they must depend not on themselves merely, or on their own goodness, but on the influences of his Spirit. He will not forgive your — sins; unless they should repent of and forsake them. There fore Joshua urged them to do this. He reneweth the covenant. JOSHUA XXIV. His death and burial. a.m. 2577. 20 If ye forsake the Lord, and serve 'uzf"" strange gods/ then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you/ after that he hath done you good. 21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay ; but we will serve the Lord. 22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are wit nesses against yourselves0 that ye have chosen you the Lord/ to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. 23 Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you/ and incline your heart unto the Lord God of Israel/ 24 And the people said unto Joshua, The Lord our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.* 25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem. 26 1 And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak/ that was by the sanctu ary of the Lord. 27 And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us ; for it hath » 1 Chr. 28:9; Ezra 8:22; Isa. 65:11, 12. !> Ezek. 18:24. = Deut. 26:17. d Psa. 119:173. « Judg. 10:15, 16; 1 Sam. 7:3. 'Prov. 2:2: Heb. 12:28, 29. gDeut. 5:28, 29. h Judg. 9:6. 1 Deut. 32:1. J ch. 22:28, 34. koh. 19:50. 26. These words; the engagements into which the peo ple had entered to serve the Lord. By the sanctuary; near the place where the tabernacle stood. 27. It hath heard ; a strong figure of speech, expressive of the solemnity of the transaction, and of their guilt and danger should they break their engagements. 32. Which Jacob bought; Gen. 33: 19 ; 50:25 ; Exod. 13: 19. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. It is good for all people at times to appear before God, look back on the way through which he hath led them, recount his goodness*, renew their engagements to serve him, and seek that grace which they need to do it in spirit and in truth. 2. Aged men may to great advantage give the young a history of God's dealings with past generations, point out the instructions it affords and the duties it inculcates, and exhort all to fidelity in the service. 6. Things accomplished by human instrumentality and the, persevering use of appointed means, are in the Bible ascribed to God as really as if no instrumentality or means had been employed, 10. Those measures which men take to injure God's people and stop the progress of his cause, he often over rules for its advancement. 13. The mercies by which the friends of God are dis tinguished from his enemies, spring from his unmerited goodness, and are given not as the fruit of their worthi ness, but of the abounding riches of his grace. 14. Peculiar mercies lay men under peculiar obligations to put away all sin, and to perfect holiness in the fear and love of God. 15. True religion is a matter of choice with all who heartily embrace it, and no man ever does or can serve God, in spirit and ih truth, without choosing to do so, heard all the words of the Lord which he spake unto us :' it shall be therefore a witness unto you,J lest ye deny your God. 28 So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance. 29 IT And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten years old. 30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah/ which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash. 31 And Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua,1 and all the days of the elders that over lived* Joshua, and which had known all the works of the Lord, that he had done for Israel."1 32 1" And the bones of Joseph/ which the chil dren of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces + of silver;0 and it became the inheritance of the children of Jo seph. 33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died ; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim. 1 Judg. 2:7. * Heb. prolonged their days after. m Deut. 11:2,7. 50:25; Exod. 13:19; Heb. 11:22. t Or, lambs, ° Gen. 33:19. n Gen. Of course ministers should present to men the motives which are best suited to lead them to do this, and to their preaching should add the influence of their example. 19. As Jehovah is holy, it is impossible acceptably to serve him without becoming holy ; and as the cause of holi ness in men is the influence of the Holy Spirit, all should feel their need of this, and sincerely, heartily seek it. 21. Wherever there is a willing mind men can truly serve God, and for Christ's sake be accepted in doing it ; and as a willing mind is the fruit of the Spirit, all who possess it should give to him the glory. 23. It is the duty of men to incline their hearts to serve the Lord. They should avoid those things which tend to hinder them, and do the things which tend to aid them in this. 24. Persons may, and it is right that they should deter mine, resolve, and engage to serve the Lord ; and they may freely and heartily trust in him for what they need rightly to do this, and to be accepted in it. 27. It is so perfectly reasonable that all to whom Jeho vah is known should love and obey him, and they are under such strong and indispensable obligations immedi ately to do this, that if they do not, all their mercies and every thing around and within them will testify to their ingratitude, baseness, and guilt. 31. Aged men and men of influence, especially rulers, magistrates, and all in authority, are under peculiar obli gations to serve God, and to set holy examples. If they do, many others will be likely to follow them and obtain eternal life. But if they do not, they will be instrumental in bringing destruction not only on themselves, but on multitudes of others. 33. Rulers and ministers of religion, as well as other men, will soon die, but their influence for good or evil will live and go down to the end of time, and onward to eternity, 291 THE BOOK OF JUDGES The book of Judges contains the history of the Israelites under the Judges, from the death of Joshua to the birth of Samuel. It records the successive oppressions to which the Israelites were subjected by their enemies for their sins against Jehovah, and the successive deliverances which God granted them through the Judges. CHAPTER I. 1 Ihe acts of Judah and Simeon. 4 Adoni-bezek justly requited. 8 Je rusalem taken. 10 Hebron taken. 11 Othniel hath Achsah to wife for taking of Debir. 16 The Kenites dwell in Judah. 17 Hormah, i>aza, Ashkelon, and Ekron taken. 21 The acts of Benjamin. 22 Of the house of Joseph, who take Beth-el. 30 Of Zebulun. 31 Of Asher. 33. Of B aphtali. 34 Of Dan. NOW after the death of Joshua" it came to pass, that the children of Israel asked the LoRD,b saying, Who shall go up for us against the Canaan ites. first, to fight against them? 2 And the Lord said, Judah shall go up :c behold, I have delivered the land into his hand. 3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites ; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot.d So Simeon went with him. 4 And Judah went up ; and the Lord delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand : and they slew of them in Bezekc ten thousand men. 5 And they found Adoni-bezek in Bezek: and they fought against him', and they slew the Ca naanites and the Perizzites. 6 But Adoni-bezek fled ; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes. 7 And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings, having their thumbs and their, great toes* cut off, gathered f their meat under my table: as I have done,f so God hath requited me. And they brought him to Jerusalem, and there he died. 8 Now the children of Judah had fought against Jerusalem,15 and had taken it, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire. 9 IT And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites,11 that dwelt a Josh. 21:29. b ch 20:1S; Num. 27:21. ' G en. 49:8, 9. d Ter. 17. e l.Sam. 11:8. * Heb. the thumbs of their hands and of their feet, t Or, gleaned: ' Lev 24:19 1 Satn 15:3: ; Isa. 33:1; Matr. 7:1,2; Jas. 2:13. e Josh. 1 5:83. b Josh. 11:21. 1 Or, low country. i Josh. 15:13. J Josh. CHAPTER I. 4. Bezek; a place in the territory of Judah. 5. Adoni-bezek; the lord or king of Bezek. 7. Threescore and ten ; these seventy kings were evident ly petty princes, ruling each over a small territory. 9. The south; the south part of Canaan. 10. Hebron; a city twenty miles south of Jerusalem. Gen. 13:18; Josh. 15:13. 292 in the mountain, and in the south, and in a. m. w» .. . 7 ' B. C. about the valley.* _ - "?<>• 10 And Judah went against the Canaanites that dwelt in Hebron:1 now the name of Hebron be fore was Kirjath-arba : and they slew Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. 11 And from thence he went against the inhab itants of Debir : and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher : 12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-se pher,5 and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. 13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's youn ger brother, took it : and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. 14 And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field : and she lighted from off^er ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou? 15 And she said unto him, Give me a blessing:^ for thou hast given me a south land ; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs. 16 1 And the children of the Kenite,1 Moses' fa ther-in-law, went up out of the city of palm-trees™ with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad ;n and they went and dwelt among the people.0 17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother,? and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Ze- phath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah." 18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof,' and Ashkelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof. 15:15, etc. « Gen. 33:11; 1 Pet. 3:9. 1 ch. 4:11, 17; 1 Chr. 2:55. "•> Deut. 31:3. "Num. Sill. • Num. 10:29-32; 1 Sam. 15:0. P ver. 3. q Num. 21:3. r Josh. 11:22. 11. Debir; Josh. 15:15. 15. A south land; Josh. 15:16-19. 16. The Kenite; Jethro. Exod. 3:1; Num. 10:29-32. Arad; a city on the south border of Canaan. Num. 21:1. 17. Zephath; a place near the south part of Judah. Hor mah; that is, utter destruction. 18: Gaza — Ashkelon — and Ekron; cities of tho Philis tines. L_ The conquests of JUDGES II. several tribes a. m. 2579. 19 And the Lord was with Judah ;" and b. c^twut ^e «jrave out the inhabitants of the moun tain ;* but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.b 20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb,0 as Moses said:d and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak. 21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem;6 but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. 22 1 And the house of Joseph, they also went up against Beth-el : and the Lord was with them/ 23 And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth el :g now the name of the city before was Luz:11 24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will show thee mercy.1 25 And when he showed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword ; but they let go the man and all his family. 26 And the man went into the land of the Hit tites,1 and built a city, and called the name there of Luz: which' is the name thereof unto this day. 27 T Neither did Manasseh drive out the inhab itants of Beth-shean and her towns, nor Taanach and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns:11 but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.1 28 And it came to pass, when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. 29 IF Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaan- a Ver. 2; 2 Kings 18:7; Psa. 00:12; Eccl 9:11. * Or, possessed the moun- tain, b Exod. 14:7, etc.; Josh. 17:16; Psa 40:9. » Josh. 14:9-14. a Num. 14:24; Deut. 1:30. e Josh. 15:03; J.S-.28. f ver. 19; Gen. 49:24. s Josh. 7:2. b Gen. 28:19. i Josh. 2:12; 1 Sam. 30:15. j 2 Kings 7:6. k Josh. 19. Could not; because, terrified by the chariots, they did not trust in God and use the proper means. 21. Jerusalem; this city was on the border between Ju dah and Benjamin, though in the division of the land it was assigned to the latter tribe. Josh. 15 : 63. 22. House qf Joseph; that is, the tribe of Ephraim and the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, though what is here said seems to pertain only to the territory of Ephraim. 23. Descry; examine and ascertain the state of the city. Bethel; a place north of Jerusalem. Gen. 28:19. 27. Beth-shean; a place in the valley of the Jordan near the east end of the valley of Jezreel. Taanach; on the south border of the plain of Esdraelon. Dor; on the sea, south of Carmel. Megiddo; near the Kishon. 29. Gezer; north-west of Jerusalem. 29-33. Towns within the bounds of the tribes, in con nection with whose names they are mentioned, 34. The valley; the plain bordering on the Mediterranean, where the Amorites had chariots of iron. Compare ver. 19. 35. Mount Heres; the mountainous regions about Dor. Ajalon; a place between Jerusalem and Ekron. Ver. 18. The house of Joseph; his descendants. 36. The Amorites; £hese stand here for the Canaanites generally. Akrabbim ; a line of hills running across the valley about eight miles south of the Dead sea, here men tioned as the southern border of Palestine. The rock ; prob ably Petra, in the mountains of Edom. Upward; northward. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. However great may have been their past successes, the people of God should not rest till fully triumphant over all their foes. ites that dwelt in Gezer ;m but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them. 30 1 Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabi tants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol ;n but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries. 31 IF Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ah- lab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of B,ehob:° 32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaan ites, the inhabitants of the land : for they did not drive them out." 33 1 Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabi tants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth- anath;q but he dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land : nevertheless, the inhabi tants of Beth-shemesh and of Beth-anath became tributaries unto them.r 34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain : for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley : 35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres, in Ajalon,8 and in Shaalbim : yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed/ so that they became tributaries. 36 And the coast of the Amorites was from the going up to Akrabbim/ from the rock, and upward. CHAPTER II-. 1 An angel rebuketh the people at Bochim. 6 The wickedness of the new_generation after Joshua. 14 Grod's anger and pity towards them. 20 The Canaanites are left to prove Israel. AND an angel§ of the Lord came up from Gil gal to Bochim,4 and said, I made you to go 17:11-13. 1 Rom. 7:21. m Josh. 16:10; 1 Kings 9:16. ¦• Josh. 19:15. n Josh. 19:24-30. P Psa. 106:35. q Josh. 19:32-39. t ver. 30; Psa. 18:44. » Josh. 10:12; 19:42. t Heb. was heavy, t Or, Maaleh-Acrabbim, Josh. 15:3; Num. 31:4. § Or, messenger, t ver. 5. 3. The union of all classes of pious men in doing good, 4s greatly promotive of success. 6. Pride and cruelty are forerunners of disaster ; and the peculiar sins of men may often be read in their punishment. 7. A true conviction of the evil of sin will lead all who suffer to feel that their punishment is just. 14. A wise and affectionate wife wishes the temporal prosperity as well as the eternal good of her husband, and will use all suitable means to promote it. 15. A wise and affectionate father will take great pleas ure in complying, as far as may be consistent, with the requests of his children. 19. Viewing difficulties with an eye of sense only, men often despond, when, should they use proper means in dependence on God, he would render them successful. 21. Love of ease, and aversion to great and self-denying efforts, often keep men from receiving the variety and fulness of good which they might otherwise obtain, and leave them to suffer much evil which they might other wise avoid. 25. Assisting the people of God in doing his will, may be the means of delivering us from many trials and bring ing on us great blessings. 34. When men neglect their duty, they may expect to meet with trouble ; and if they are not led to repentance and reformation, their troubles will never end. CHAPTER II. 1. Angel of tlie Lord; supposed to be the same who ap peared to Joshua, Josh. 5 : 13. Bochim ; meaning, the weep ers, or place of weeping. Ver. 5. 203 The Israelites are rebuked. JUDGES II. They fall into idolatry. up out of Egypt, and have brought you unto the land which I sware unto your fathers ; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you;a 2 And ye shall make no league with the inhab itants of this land;b ye shall throw down their altars :c but ye have not obeyed my voice;4 why have ye done this? 3 Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you ; but they shall be as thorns in your sides,0 and their godsf shall be a snare unto you.8 4 And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept. 5 And they called the name of that place Bo chim:" and they sacrificed there unto the Lord. 6 1 And when Joshua had let the people go, the children of Israel went every man unto his inher itance to possess the land.11 7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that out lived1 Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being a hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres,* in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another gen eration after them, which knew not the Lord,' nor yet the works which he had done for Israel. Ill And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and served Baalim : 12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers,1 which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bow ed themselves unto them,k and provoked the Lord to anger. 13 And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14 1 And the anger of the Lord was hot against a Gen. 1 7:7- e J Psa. 89:34 b Deut. 7 2. ' Deut. 12:3. d ver. 20, Psa. 106:31-36. osh. 23:13. t ch. 3 6. * Exod. 23:33; Deut. 7 :16. • That is, weepers. h Josh. 21:23, etc. t Heb prolonged days after. I Timnath- serah, Josh. 111: 50; 24:30. 1 Exod. 5: .i . 1 Chr. 28:9; Psa. 92:5 6; Jer 9:3; 22:16; Gal 4:8 ; 2 Thess. 1 8; Tit 1 10 j Deut. 31:16. k Deut. 5:9. leh. 2. Ye have not obeyed ; they had not done it fully, or to the extent which he commanded. 3. I will not drive them out; as he would have done, had they obeyed him. 9. Timnath-heres; called Timnath-serah in Josh. 24:30. 10. Knew not the Lord; they had not seen his wonders in Egypt, and had not that knowledge of him which led them to love and obey him. 11. Baalim; images of Baal. - 13. Ashtaroth; images of Astarte, a Phenician goddess. 14. Sold; delivered. 16. Judges; rulers and deliverers. 18. It repented the Lord; the meaning is, that he changed his course of conduct towards the Israelites, and instead of keeping them longer in bondage, delivered them. 23. Therefore; on account of the sins of the people. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. The rich and lasting blessings which God promises to the obedient, men often forfeit by their sins. 5. Sin is the cause of our sorrows, and no tears will remove them, unless we forsake it. 294 Israel,1 and he delivered them into the £.m.m98. hands of spoilers that spoiled them,"1 and 'ho»* he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about," so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil,0 as, the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them : and they were greatly distressed. 16 1 Nevertheless the Lord raised up judges,5 which delivered5 them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.q 17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods,r and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord ; but they did not so. 18 And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge:8 for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppress ed them and vexed them.' 19 And it cameto pass, when the judge was dead,™ that they returned, and corrupted ¦ themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them ; they ceased not from1 their own doings, nor from their stub born way. 20 IT And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel ; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers,v and have not hearkened unto my voice ; 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel,"" whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. 23 Therefore the Lord left* those nations, with out driving them out hastily ; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua. 3:7,8; 10:7; Psa. 106:40-42. m 2 Kings 17:20. n ch. 4 2; Psa. 44:12 Isa. 50:1. o Lev 26:17; Deut. 28 15. P Acts 13:20 § Heb. saved. H Psa. 106:43-45. i Exod. 34:15. 10. " Josh. 1:5. 1 Gen 6:R Deut. 32:36; Hos. 11:8. u ch. 4:1; 8:33. I Heb were corrupt. 1 Heb. let nothing fall of. v Josh 23:16 "Psa. 66:10. • Heb. suffered. 7. The pious instruction, example, and influence of the aged are of great service to the young, and often keep them from sins that would cause their ruin. 10. Children, when deprived of the pious influence of parents, often become openly vicious ; and nothing but the grace of God is a safeguard against abandonment in wickedness. 14. The woes which sin occasions in this life, are a warning to men not to continue in it, lest it bring upon them woes which will be eternal. 16. The blessings which God bestows upon men in thii world show that he desires that they should repent of their sins, and thus be prepared for Endless blessings in the world to come. 19. If men are not led by the mercies of the Lord to repentance, they will become more hardened in sin, and ripen for aggravated ruin. 22. All the dealings of God with men in this world have a tendency to reveal their true character, show whether they will serve him or not, and prepare them for the retri butions of eternity. Nations left to prove Israel,. JUDGES III. Othniel and Ehud are Judges. A. M. 2598. B. O. about 1406. CHAPTER III. 1 The nations which were left to prove Israel. 6 By communion with them they commit idolatry. 8 Othniel delivereth them from Chushan- rishathaim; 12 Ehud from Eglon; 31 Shamgar from the Philistines. "VyOW these are the nations which the Lord left, .1 N to prove Israel by them, even as many of Is rael as had not known all the wars of Canaan ; 2 Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof; 3 Namely, five lords of the Philistines, and all the Canaanites, and the Zidonians, and the Hi vites that dwelt in mount Lebanon, from mount Baal-hermon unto the entering in of Hamath." 4 And they were to prove Israel by them, to know whether they would hearken unto the com mandments of the Lord, which he commanded their fathers by the hand of Moses. 5 IT And the children of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, and Amorites, and Perizzites, and Hivites, and Jebusites : 6 And they took their daughters to be their wives, and gave their daughters to their sons, and served their gods.b 7 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgat the Lord their God, and served Baalim and the groves. 8 IF Therefore the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushan-rishathaim0 king of Mesopotamia :* and the children of Israel served Chushan-rishathaim eight years. 9 And when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord,4 the Lord raised up a deliverer1 to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz," Caleb's younger brother. 10 And the Spirit of the Lord came* upon him,f and he judged Israel, and went out to war : and the Lord delivered Chushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia8 into his hand ; and his hand pre vailed against Chushan-rishathaim. 11 And the land had rest forty years: and Othniel the son of Kenaz died. 12 IF And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord : and the Lord strength ened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, be cause they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. 13 And he gathered unto him the children of a Josh. 13:3. b Deut: 7:3, 4. = Hab. 3:7. * Heb. Aram-naharaim. d 1 Sam. 12:10; Neh. 9:27; Psa. 107:13, 19. t Heb. savior, e 0h. 1:13. IHeb.woj. 'oh. 6:34; 11:29. 5 Heb. Aram. 6ch.l:16. b Deut. 28:48. I Or, the son of Gemini. If Heb. shut of his right hand, i Psa. 73:7, 19. CHAPTER III. 3. The Canaanites; those that lived about Zidor* Baal- hermon; a region of country near the sources of the Jor dan. Entering in of Hamath; the pass north through Leb anon, leading to Hamath. 5. Among the Canaanites; those of them that were not destroyed. 6. Gods; idols. 7. The groves; rather, images of Astarte. See note on Deut. 16:21. 8. Mesopotamia; the country between the Euphrates and the Tigris. 10. Judged; the judges were often military as well as civil governors. Ammon and Amalek, and went and smote Israel, and possessed the city of palm-trees.g 14 So the children of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab eighteen years.11 15 But when the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, the Lord raised them up a deliverer, Ehud the son of Gera, a Benjamite," a man left- handed :' and by him the children of Israel sent a present unto Eglon the king of Moab. 16 But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length ; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh. IT And he brought the present unto Eglon king of Moab : and Eglon was a very fat man.1 18 And when he had made an endtooffer the pres ent, he sent away the people that bare the present. 19 But he himself turned again from the quarries* that were by Gilgal,j and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king : who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. 20 And Ehud came unto him ; and he was sit ting in a summer-parlor/ which he had for himself alone : and Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. 21 And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly : 22 And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade; so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly ; and the dirt came out.* 23 Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlor upon him, and locked them. 24 When he was gone out, his servants came ; and when they saw that, behold, the doors of the parlor were locked, they said, Surely he covereth his feet5 in his summer-chamber. 25 And they tarried till they were ashamed: and behold, he opened not the doors of the parlor ; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth. 26 And Ehud escaped while they tarried, and passed beyond the quarries,k and escaped unto Seir ath. 27 And it came to pass, when he was come, that he blew a trumpet1 in the mountain of Ephraim,'11 * Or, graven images. JJosh.4:20. t Heb. a parlor of cooling ; Amos 3:15. J Or, it came out at thefundament. § Or, doeth his easement; 1 Sam. 21:3. kver.19. I ch. 6:34; 1 Sam. 13:3. ¦» Josh. 17:15. 13. And he gathered unto him; the king of Moab gath ered to himself ; that is, took into alliance with himself. Ammon and Amalek ; Ammon bordered on Moab on the north-east, and Amalek on the south and south-west. The city of palm-trees; Jericho. Deut. 34:3. Though the walls of Jericho were not built till a much later period, it seems to have been early inhabited by the Israelites as an un- walled town. 22. So that lie could not draw; more literally, " for he did not draw." He thrust in the dagger over the haft, and left it there. 25. They tarried tdl they were ashamed; were ashamed to wait any longer, lest they should appear to neglect their duty. 27. Blew a trumpet; as a signal of war. 29:> Shamgar, and also Deborah JUDGES IV. and Barak deliver Israel. and the children of Israel went down with him from the mount, and he before them. 28 And he said unto them, Pollow after me : for the Lord hath delivered your enemies the Moab ites into your hand." And they went down after him, and took the fords of Jordan toward Moab, and suffered not a man to pass over. 29 And they slew of Moab at that time about ten thousand men, all lusty,* and all men of valor ; and there escaped not a man. 30 So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years. 31 IT And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath,b which :slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an'-oxgoad:c and he also delivered Israel/ CHAPTER IV. 1 Dehorah and Barak deliver Israel from Jahin and Sisera. 18 Jael killeth Sisera. AND the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord,4 when Ehud was dead. 2 And the Lord sold them into the hand of Ja- bin king of Canaan,* that reigned in Hazor ;e the captain of whos^ host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles/ 3 And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord : for he had nine hundred chariots of iron ;g and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel. 4 IT And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lap- idoth, she judged Israel at that time. 5 And she dwelt under the palm-tree of Deborah,11 between Bamah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim : and the children of Israel came up to her for judg ment. 6 And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the Lord God of Israel command ed, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the chil dren of Naphtali and of the children of Zebu lun? 7 And I will draw unto thee,' to the river Ki- > Ch. 7:9, 15. • Heb. fat: Psa. 17:10. b ch. 5:0. » ch. 5:8; 15:15; 1 Sam. 17:47. t So part is called Israel, ch. 4:1, 3, etc. It seems to concern only the country next to the Philistines, d ch. 2:19. I 1 Sam. 12:9; Psa. 83:9, It seems to concern only North Israel, e Josh. 11:1, 10. f ver. 13, 16. e ch, 1:19. h Gen. 35:8. i Exod. 14:4. j ch. 5:21. t ver. 18-21. I oh. 28. Fords of Jordan ; by which the Moabites in the land of Israel must pass to reach their own land. Thus he cut oif their retreat. 30. Fourscore; eighty. 31. Oxgoad; a staff six or eight feet long, with a sharp point of iron on one end for pricking the oxen, and a kind of spade on the other for cleaning the plough. INSTRUCTIONS. 5-7. Intimate connections with the wicked increase the temptation to adopt their sentiments and to imitate their example. Psa. 1:1; Prov. 1 : 10-19 ; 1 Cor. 5 : 9-11. 8. The calamities which men suffer are expressions of God's displeasure against sin ; and when they duly hum ble themselves before him, and seek his pardoning mercy, their trials while continued will be overruled for good, and in due time will be removed. 29, Though the wicked may for a time be successful, and even be used as instruments of correcting and pun ishing the people of God, yet if they continue in their sins, they will come to a dismal end. Isa. 10:5-9. 290 shon,j Sisera the captain of Jabin's army, A-M.27m with his chariots and his multitude; and 1296* I will deliver him into thy hand. 8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go : but if thou wilt not go with'me, then I will not go. 9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: not withstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor ; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.k And. Deborah arose,. and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 1 And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh;1 and he went up with ten thousand men at his feet : and Deborah went up with him. , 11 Now Heber the Kenite,™ which was of the children of Hobab the father-in-law of Moses," had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim,8 which is by Kedesh. 12 And they showed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor. 13 And Sisera gathered' together all his char iots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. 14 And Deborah said unto Barak, Up ; for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sis era into thy hand:0 is not the Lord gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him. 15 And the Lord discomfited Sisera,p and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword before Barak ; « so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet. 16 But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword ; and there was not a manT left/ 17 Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite.: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite, 18 1 And Jael went out to meet Sisera,8 and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear 5:18. inch. 1:16. » Num. 10:29. 8 Zaanannim, Josh. 19:33, 37. I Heb. gathered by cry, or proclamation, o Deut. -9:3; 2 Sam. 5:24; Psa. 68:7. 8; Isa. 52:12. P Psa. 83:9, 10; Josh. 10:10. q Heb. 11:32. 1 Heb. unto one. r Isa. 43:17. s 2 Kings 6:19. CHAPTER IV. 2. Hazor — Harosheth; cities in the north part of Canaan in and around which many of the remaining Canaanites lived. Josh. 11:1-11. 5. Mount Ephraim; the hill country of Ephraim. 6. Kedesh-naphtali; so called to distinguish it from two other Cities called Kedesh, one in Issachar and one in Judah. Mount Tabor; on the north-east border of the plain of Jezreel. 7. The river Kishon; which rises at the base of mount Tabor, runs through the plain of Jezreel, and empties into the Mediterranean at the bay of Acre. 9. Sell Sisera; ver. 21. 10. .Called Zebulun and Naphtali ; the men of war from those tribes. Went up; to mount Tabor. 11. Had severed himself; the Kenites lived in the south part of the country, but Heber had left them and removed to the north. Chap. 1:16; Num. 21 : 1. 16. Upon; by. Jael slayeth Sisera. JUDGES V. Song of Deborah and Barak. a. m. Z708. not. And when he had turned in unto her B' lis!""" intothetent,shecover'edhimwithamantle.* 19 And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink ; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk,a and gave him drink, and covered him. 20 Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and inquire of thee, aud say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No. 21 Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took* a. hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his tem ples,6 and fastened it into the ground : for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. 22 And behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will show thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. 23 So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.0 24 And the hand of the children of Israel pros pered, and prevailed* against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan. CHAPTER V. The song of Deborah and Barak. THEN sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abin oam on that day,d saying, • Or, rug, or blanket. a ch. 5:25, 26. t Heb. put b Psa. 3:7 . » Psa. 18:47. I Heb going, went and wal hard. d Exod 15:1; Psa. 18, title. e Deut. 32:43 Psa. 18:47. f 2 Chr. 17:16. B Psa. 2:10. b pSa 08: 7, 8. ¦ 2 Sam 22:8; Isa. 64:3 , Hab.3:3, 10 SHeb flowed. j Psa. 97:5. t Exod. 21. Nail qfthe tent; a large spike or pin, which was driven into the ground to fasten the cords of a tent. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. When restraint is removed,notwithstanding all divine favors men will continue in sin, and often be guilty of the grossest transgressions. 3. Oft-repeated iniquities bring upon their perpetrators greatly increased calamities. 7. When men cry unto the Lord in their trouble, he can, and often does grant them relief; and in receiving it they Bhould hear his voice saying, Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. John 5 : 14. 9. Want of confidence in God, and of readiness to un dertake that to which he calls, brings dishonor, and de prives men of many blessings which they might otherwise enjoy. 13. Men, from pride and the indulgence of wicked pas sions, often engage in projects which God designs shall be for their ruin. 15. Though men are the means, God is the author of success, and to him belongs the glory. 21. When the enemies of God and the oppressors of his people say, Peace and safety, sudden destruction may come upon them from which there can be no escape. 23. Things which God in his providence accomplishes through the instrumentality of men, are in the Bible as cribed to him as really as if no agency but his had been employed; and they are also ascribed to men as really as if men alone had performed them ; thus showing that divine and human agency harmoniously cooperate, and that men are workers together with God when they obey him and thus work out their salvation, he working in them to will and to do of his own good pleasure. Phil. 2:12, 13. 2 Praise ye the Lord for the avenging of Israel,8 when the people willingly offered themselves/ 3 Hear, O ye kings ;8 give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the Lord ; I will sing praise to the Lord God of Israel. 4 Lord, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom,h the earth trembled,1 and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water. 5 The mountains melted§ from before the Lord,j even that Sinai from before the Lord God of Is rael.11 6 In the days of Shamgar the son of An ath,1 in the days of Jael,1" the highways were unoccupied," and the travellers1 walked through by-ways.T 7 The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel. 8 They chose new gods;0 then was war in the gates: was there a shield or spear seen among forty thousand hi Israel?" 9 My heart is toward the governors of Israel, that offered themselves willingly among the peo ple.11 Bless ye the Lord. 10 Speak," ye that ride on white asses,r ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way. 11 They that are delivered from the noise of arch ers in the places of drawing water, there shall they rehearse3 the righteous acts+ of the Lord,* even the righteous acts toward the inhabitants of his villages in Israel : then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates. 19:18. 1 ch. 3:31. m ch. 4:17. n Lev. 26:22. II Heb. walkers of paths. % Heb. crooked ways, o Deut. 32:17. P 1 Sam. 13:19, 22. q ver. 2. * Or, meditate. rGh.l0:4. s psa. 145:7. t Heb. righteousnesses, tl Sam. 12:7. CHAPTER V. 2. Offered themselves; to fight against their oppressors. i. Wentest out of Seir — Edom; the mountains of Edom or Seir lay on the north-east of the peninsula of mount Sinai, Paran on the north of it, and Horeb — of which Sinai is a summit — in its bosom. It was in the region which these mountains represent that God first revealed himself to Moses, and afterwards to the children of Israel. Hence it is here considered as his dwelling-place, whence he now marches forth in majesty and glory, as he did of old, when he came to deliver Israel from the Egyptians. Compare Deut. 33:2; Psa. 68:7, 8; Hab. 3:3. Tlie heavens dropped; God's presence is accompanied by tempests of rain, as well as by thunder and earthquakes. There may be here an allusion to the storm which flooded the Kishon, and swept away the hosts of Sisera. Ver. 20, 21. 6. Shamgar; chap. 3:31. The highways were unoccupied ; on account of the danger of travelling. 7. The villages ceased; were deserted ; or, as some render, leaders ceased in Israel ; which agrees well with what fol lows. And so in ver. 11. 8. New gods; idols as objects of worship. Then was war; as a punishment for their idolatry. A shield or spear; of these the Israelites were very destitute. 10. White asses; the kind often used by judges. Sit in judgment; or sit upon garments or carpets, as is the man ner of oriental judges in administering justice. 11. From the noise of archers; many prefer to render this verse thus : At the noise [triumphal shout] of those that divide [the spoil,] at the watering-troughs, there shall they rehearse, etc. The places of drawing water, or water ing-troughs, are mentioned as places where the people would naturally assemble. Go down to the gates; into the gates, of their own cities in peace, after celebrating their victory and deliverance. 291 The triumphal song JUDGES V. of Deborah and Barak. 12 Awake, awake,a Deborah : awake, awake, ut ter a song: arise, Barak, and lead thy captivity captive,b thou son of Abinoam. 13 Then he made him that remaineth have do minion over the nobles among the people: the Lord made me have dominion over the mighty/ 14 Out of Ephraim was there a root of them against Amalek ; after thee, Benjamin, among thy people ; out of Machir came down governors, and out "of Zebulun they that handle* the pen of the writer. 15 And the princes of Issachar were with Deb orah ; even Issachar, and also Barak : he was sent on foot* into the valley. Por* the divisions of Reuben there were great thoughts8 of heart. 16 Why abodest thou among the sheepfolds, to hear the bleatings of the flocks? For1 the di visions of Reuben there were great searchings of heart/ 17 Gilead abode beyond Jordan: and why did Dan remain in ships? Asher continued on the sea-shore,T and abode in his breaches.* 18 Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeop arded + their lives unto the death6 in the high places of the field. 19 The kings came and fought ; then fought the kings of Canaan in Taanach by the waters of Me giddo ; they took no gain of money/ 20 They fought from heaven;8 the stars in their courses * fought against Sisera. 21 The river of Kishon swept them away,h that ancient river, the river Kishon. 0 my soui, thou hast trodden down strength.' 22 Then were the horse-hoofs broken by the aPsa.57:8. bPsa. 68:18. = Psa.75:7. * Heb. drawwith. t Heb. his feet. t Or. In. 5 Heb. impressions, i Or, In. d Psa. 4:4; 77:0; Lam. 3:40, 41. f Or, port. ' Or, creeks, t Heb. exposed to reproach. * Rev. 12:11. f Gen. 14:23. 6 ch. 4:15. t Heb. paths, b 0h. 4:7; 1 Kings 18:40; Psa. 83:9, 10. 12. Lead thy captivity captive; lead forth in triumph the captives whom thou hast taken. 13. Him that remaineth; those who remained in Israel. The nobles; the chief men of the Canaanites. 14. Out of Ephraim — thy people; we may render, Out of Ephraim [came] they whoffe dwelling is in Amalek ; after thee [Ephraim] came Benjamin among thy people ; that is, among thy mustered warriors. By those whose dwell ing is in Amalek, we are probably to understand Ephra- imites from a region occupied before the conquest of Canaan by Amalekites. Chap. 12:15. Out of Machir ; from the tribe of Manasseh. The pen; or rod used by those who mustered men for the army. 15. The valley; of Jezreel. Chap. 4:6,14. For the divisions qf Reuben; the marginal rendering, In the divisions of Reuben, is most literal. This, in the Hebrew, most natu rally signifies the divisions of the water-courses, that is, the brooks, where the Reubenites deliberated and inquired about the war, but did not go to it. 17. Remain in ships; Dan, a seafaring people, stayed away from the war to take care of their merchandise. So with Asher. Breacltes; rents in the coast, making bays and harbors; hence, simply havens or harbors. 19. Taanach; a place in the plain of Jezreel. 20. From heaven; by pouring down floods of water to destroy the enemy. Ver. 21. 21. Strength; strong and mighty ones. 22. Were the horse-hoofs broken; or, the horses' hoofs beat the ground. Prancings; their swift running. 23. Meroz; its location is not now known. 25. Butter; curdled milk. 26. Smote off; beat or crushed in. 28. The lattice; a blind of open wood-work. Incoming; 293 means of the prancings,5 the prancings of fraSZi their mighty ones. 1296- 23 Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the Lord,j to the help of the Lord against the mighty .k 24 Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be ; blessed shall she be above women in the tent. • 25 He asked water, and she gave him milk ; • she brought forth butter in a lordly dish. 26 She put her hand to the nail, and her right hand to the workmen's hammer ; and with the ham mer she smote" Sisera, she smote off his head, when she had pierced and stricken through his temples. 27 AtT her feet he bowed, he fell, he lay down: at her feet he bowed, he fell: where he bowed, there he fell down dead.* 28 The mother of Sisera looked out at a window, and cried through the lattice,™ Why is his chariot so long in coming? why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 29 Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she re turned answer + to herself, 30 Have they not sped? have they not divided the prey ;n to every man* a damsel or two.; to Sis era a prey of divers colors, a prey of divers colors of needlework, of divers colors of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks of them that take the spoil? 31 So let all thine enemies perish,0 O Lord ; but let them that love him be as the sunp when he goeth forth in his might.q And the land had rest forty years. i Psa. 44:5. § Heb. tramplings, or plungings. j Neh. 3:5. k ] Sam. 18:17. 1 ch. 4:19, etc. B Heb she hammered, f Heb. Between. * Heb. destroyed. m Song 2:9. t Heb. her words. " Exod. 15:9, 10. t Heb. to the head of aman. o psa. 92:9. P 2 Sam. 23:4; Psa. 37:6; Prov. 4:18. 1 Psa. 19:5. in coming back, as she expected he would, victorious over his foes. 30. Sped ; succeeded in obtaining the victory. 31. So; as had Sisera and his host, INSTRUCTIONS. 2. When delivered from great troubles, or in any way specially favored of the Lord, we should without delay acknowledge his goodness, and render that praise and thanksgiving which are his due. 4. Present mercies should remind us of those which are past, and lead us to praise Jehovah for his goodness. 8. If men forsake God and worship idols, or place their dependence on creatures to the neglect of their Creator, they may expect to be visited with trials, and unless they repent and turn to him, to be overwhelmed in ruin. 9. The Lord is the author of the good we receive from men as really as what we receive directly from him; and to him pious and grateful minds will give the praise. 10. The good desire that all, high and low, rich and poor, should unite in praising God for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men. 11. The liberty and power to go in and out at pleasure when and where we choose, with none to molest or make us afraid, is a great and precious privilege, for which we are bound to be specially grateful, and which we should earnestly desire may soon be enjoyed by all people. 20. Human and divine agency, in the production of events, often cooperate ; and both should be acknowledg ed. Phil. 2:13. 30. Worldly minds, which relish no enjoyments except those that spring from worldly things, when these are gone will be destitute and wretched. Gideon is called to deliver 1UDGES VI. Israel from the Midianites. kMim CHAPTER VI. 1 The Israelites for their sin are oppressed by Midian. 8 A prophet rebuke* them. 11 An angel sendeth Gideon for their de hverance. 17 Gideon's present is consumed with fire. 25 Gideon destroyetn Baal's altar, and offereth a sacrifice upon the altar Jehovah-shalom. 26 Joash defendeth his son, and calleth him Jerubbaal. 33 trideons army. 36 Gideon's signs. AND the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord:" and the Lord delivered them into the hand-of Midian seven years.b 2 And the hand of Midian prevailed* against Israel : and because of the Midianites the children of Israel made them the dens which are in the mountains, and caves, and strong-holds.0 3 And so it was, when Israel had sown, that the Midianites came up, and the Amalekites, and the children of the east, even they came up against them; 4 And they encamped against them, and destroy ed the increase of the earth,4 till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep/ nor ox, nor ass. 5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multi tude ;e/ Heb. 3:7. 'Heb. was strong. c ISam. 13:6. d Lev 26:16; Deut. 29:30. t Or, goat. «ch. 7:12; Jer. 46:23 t Hos. 5: 15. tHeb aman a prophet, e B Heb. .cause Psa. 44:2, 3. h 2 Kings 17:35- 19. S Gedeon ; Heb. 11:32. t to flee, i ch. 13:3. 1 Gen. 25 22. k Psa. ' 7:7-9; 89:49. 1 Heb. 11:32 * Heb. my thousand is the meanest; Mic. 5:2. m 1 Sam. CHAPTER VI. 1. Midian; the Midianites lived east of the south part of Palestine. 3. Amalekites, and the children of the east; neighboring tribes to the Midianites. By "the children of the east" Arabian tribes seem to be especially intended. 4. Gaza; a city of the Philistines in the south-west part of Palestine, on the Mediterranean. 5. To destroy it; take away the means of sustenance. Ver. 6. 10. Fear not the gods; not worship or serve them. him,1 and said unto him, The Lord is with thee, thou mighty man of valor. 13 And Gideon said unto him, 0 my Lord, if the Lord be with us/ why then is all this befallen us? and where be all his miracles which our fathers told us of,k saying, Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt? but now the Lord hath forsaken us, and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites. 14 And the Lord looked upon him, and said, Go in this thy might,1 and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee? 15 And he said unto him, 0 my Lord, wherewith shall I save Israel? behold, my family is poor* in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father's house."1 16 And the Lord said unto him, Surely I will be with thee," and thou shalt smite the Midianites as one man.0 17 And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then show me a sign that thou talkest with me," 18 Depart not hence,"1 I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present/ and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again. 19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid/ and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it. 20 And the angel of God said unto him, Take the flesh and the unleavened cakes, and lay them upon this rock, and pour out the broth. And he did so. 21 1 Then the angel of the Lord put forth the end of the staff that was in his hand, and touched the flesh and the unleavened cakes ; and there rose up fire out of the rock, and consumed the flesh and the unleavened cakes.r Then the angel of the LoftD departed out of his sight. 22 And when Gideon perceived that he was an angel of the Lord, Gideon said, Alas, 0 Lord God! for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face to face.8 23 And the Lord said unto him, Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die/ 24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the Lord, and called it Jehovah-shalom:8 unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. 25 If And it came to pass the same night, that the Lord said unto him, Take thy father's young bullock, even1 the second bullock of seven years 9:21. n Exod. 3:12. o Isa. 41:15, 16. p ver. 36-40; 2 Kings 20:8; Psa. 86:17; Isa. 7:11. q Gen. 18:3, 5. t Or, meat-offering, t Heb. a kid of the goats, r Lev. 9:24; 1 Kings 18:38; 2 Chr. 7: 1. ' ch. 13:22, 23; Isa. 6':5-S. t Gen. 32:30. S That is, The Lord send peace; Gen. 22:14; Exod. 17:15; Jer. 33:16; Ezek. 48:35. I Or, and. 11. Angel of the Lord; this is supposed to have been the Angel of the covenant, who brought Israel ont of Egypt, Jehovah-Jesus. Ver. 14, 16, 23. Ophrah; a city in the tribe of Benjamin. By the wine-press; a retired and cov ered place, where the Midianites would not be likely to find it. 14. Looked; looked efficaciously. Luke 22:61. 16. As one man; as easily and effectually as if there were but one man. 17. Show me a sign; evidence that it is Jehovah who speaks to me, and that his word will be accomplished. 24. Shalom ; meaning peace. 290 Baal's altar cast down. JUDGES VII. Gideon's fleece wet, and dry. old, and throw down the altar of Baal that thy father hath, and cut down the grove that is by it :a 26 And build an altar unto the Lord thy God upon the top of this rock/ in the ordered place/ and take the second bullock, and offer a burnt- sacrifice with the wood of the grove which thou shalt cut down. 27 Then Gideon took ten men of his servants, and did as the Lord had said unto him : and so it was, because he feared his father's household, and the men of the city, that he could not do it by day, that he did it by night. 28 1 And when the men of the city arose early in the morning, behold, the altar of Baal was cast down, and the grove was cut down that was by it, and the second bullock was offered upon the altar that was built. 29 And they said one to another, Who hath done this thing? And when they inquired and asked, they said, Gideon the son of Joash hath done this thing. 30 Then the men of the city said unto Joash, Bring out thy son, that he may die : because he hath cast down the altar of Baal, and because he hath cut down the grove that was by it. 31 And Joash said unto all that stood againsthim, Will ye plead for Baal? will ye save him? he that will plead for him, let him be put to death whilst it is yet morning : if he be a god, let him plead for himself, because one hath cast down his altar. 32 Therefore on that day he called him Jerub baal/" saying, Let Baal plead against him, because he hath thrown down his altar. 33 T Then all the Midianites and the Amalek ites and the children of the east were gathered together/ and went over, and pitched in the val ley of Jezreel. 34 But the Spirit of the Lord came upon1 Gid a Deut. 7:5. * Heb. strong place, t Or, an orderly manner, t That is, Let Baal plead, b 1 Sam. 12:11 ; 2 Sam. 11:21, Jerubbesheth, that is, Let the shameful thing plead; Hos. 9:10. c ver. 3. H Heb. clothed. dch. 3:10. 28. The grove; here, as often elsewhere, the Hebrew word rendered "grove" seems to mean a wooden image of Astarte fixed by a post in the ground. 31. Joash said; though he seems to have been a wor shipper of Baal, his views may have been changed by what Gideon had told him. Whilst it is yet morning; for his folly in pleading for Baal, who, if really a God, ought to take care of himself. Joash said this to dissuade the people from their purpose. 32. Jerubbaal; that is, let Baal plead. 34. Abi-ezer; the family of his father, and his relatives. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Unless the grace of God prevent, men naturally incline to sin, showing that in them, without the grace of God, there is no spiritually good thing. 4. Sin tends to misery, and all the calamities which men suffer are tokens of God's displeasure against it. 7. The only hope of deliverance from sin and its conse quences is in the Lord ; and when men feel this, and cry unto him, he for Christ's sake often appears for their help. 10. When God is about to grant deliverance to his peo ple, he first convinces them that sin is the cause of their troubles and leads them to forsake it. 12. Providence developes human character. Many who have been buried for a time in obscurity, have afterwards, ¦ by peculiar circumstances, been raised to elevated posi tions of influence, usefulness, and honor. 14. A look from the Lord can nerve the self-diffident for 300 eon,d and he blew a trumpet ; e and Abi- a. m. 2755. ezer was gathered1 after him. . B'i?i9ab°°' 35 And he sent messengers throughout all Ma nasseh ; who also was gathered after him : and he sent messengers unto Asher, and unto Zebulun, and unto Naphtali; and they came up to meet them. 36 1 And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said, ; 37 Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor ; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by my hand, as thou hast said/ 38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wring- ed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.8 39 And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against- me, and I will speak but this once:h let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. 40 And God did so that night:1 for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. CHAPTER VII. 1% Gideon's army of two and thirty thousand is brought to three hundred. 9 He is 'encouraged by the dream and interpretation of the barley- cake. 16 His stratagem of trumpets and lamps in pitchers. 24 The Ephraimites take Oreb and Zeeb. THEN Jerubbaal, who is Gideon/ and all the people that were with him, rose up early, and pitched beside the well of Harod : so that the host of the Midianites were on the north side of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. 2 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt e Num. 10:3. I Heb. called, f Exod. 4:1, etc. i Psa. 107:33, 35; Isa. 50:2. j ch. 6:32. 5 Isa. 35:7. b Gen. 18:32. the most perilous services ; and fit them, notwithstanding all difficulties, to go on in his name and strength from con quering to conquer. 18. God is ready to give evidence of his truth to all sin cere inquirers who wish to understand his will for the purpose of doing it. 24. All the manifestations of God to his believing, obe dient people will lead them anew to adore and bless him. 25. Strong faith in God's word will be tried, and thus fit the believer, by patient continuance in well-doing, to bo made victorious and perfect. 31. Idolatry so debases men, and renders them so fool ish, that they will worship, and sometimes try to help gods that have no power to help themselves. 34. If men are to be fitted for good, great, and noble deeds, it must be through the influences of the Spirit of God. Wisdom, strength, courage, energy, and persever ance are his gifts, and to him they should, by all who possess them, be heartily devoted. 37. Evidence of the presence and favor of God, and a conviction of being engaged in his work, support the soul under trials, arm it for conflicts, and prepare it, notwith standing all difficulties and dangers, in his name to triumph. CHAPTER VII. 1. Jerubbaal; chap. 6:32. Harod; on the borders of Issa char, not far from mount Gilboa. Moreh; near the valley of Jezreel. 2. Vaunt; boast. Gideon's army reduced; JUDGES VII. The Midianites routed. a. m. 2755. themselves against me,a saying, Mine own B' iC249,b°ut hand hath saved me. 3 Now therefore go to, proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, Whosoever is fearful and afraid," let him return and depart early from mount Gil ead. And there returned of the people twenty and two thousand : and there remained ten thousand. 4 And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many;c bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there : and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee ; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. 5 So he brought down the people unto the water : and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lap- peth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. 6 And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. 7 And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thy hand : d and let all the other people go every man unto his place. 8 So the people took victuals in their hand, and their trumpets : and he sent all the rest of Israel every man unto his tent, and retained those three hundred men : and the host of Midian was beneath him in the valley. 9 T And it came to pass the same night/ that the Lord said unto him. Arise, get thee down unto the host; for I have delivered it into thy hand/ 10 But if thou fear to go down, go thou with Phurah thy servant down to the host: 11 And thou shalt hear3 what they say;11 and afterward shall thy hands be strengthened to go down unto the host. Then went he down with Phurah his servant unto the outside of the armed men* that were in the host. 12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in- the val ley like grasshoppers for multitude ; ' and their camels were without number, as the sand of the seaside for multitude. 13 And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, a. Deut. 8:17; Isa. 10:13; Rom. 11:18; 1 Cor. 1:29; 2 Cor. 4:7. t> Deut. 20:8. ' Psa. 33:16. d 1 Sam. 14:6. e Gen. 46:2. 3. f Josh. 1:5, 9. E Gen. 24:14; 1 Sam. 14:9, JO. b ver. 13-15. • Or, ranks hu. five; Exod. 13:18. ioh. 6:5, 33; 8:10; Psa. 118:10-12. j 1 Cor. 1:27. t Heb. breaking, t Heb. 3. Mount Gilead; the range of mountains usually so called was on the east of Jordan, but some have supposed that there might be an eminence called by this name on the west of Jordan, where Gideon was. 5. Lappeth of the water; from his hand, having raised it to his mouth. Ver. 6. 8. The valley; the valley of Jezreel. 13. Tumbled into the host; it is represented as rolling down from the hill Moreh, where Gideon was, into the valley where were the Midianites, overturning their tents and prostrating all that was in its way. 14. This is — the sword of Gideon; meaning, it represents it, and showing that the literal meaning of words is often not their true meaning. Matt. 26 : 26. 15. Worshipped; bowed himself in grateful reverence Behold, I dreamed a dream, and lo, a cake of bar ley-bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along/ 14 And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else, save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel : for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host. 15 1 And it was so, when Gideon heard the tell ing of the dream, and the interpretation + thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise ; for the Lord hath deliv ered into your hand the host of Midian. 16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put a trumpet in every man's hand/ with empty pitchers, and lamps8 within the pitchers. 17 And he said unto them, Look on me, and do likewise : and behold, when I come to the outside of the camp, it shall be that, as I do, so shall ye do. 18 When I blow with a trumpet, I and all that are with me, then blow ye the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and say, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon. 19 1 So Gideon, and the hundred men that were with him, came unto the outside of the camp in the beginning of the middle watch ; and they had but newly set the watch :k and they blew the trumpets/ and brake the pitchers that were in their hands.™ 20 And the three companies blew the trumpets, and brake the pitchers, and held the lamps in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands to blow withal: and they cried, The sword of the Lord, and of Gideon. 21 And they stood every man in his place round about the camp:" and all the host ran, and cried, and fled.0 22 And the three hundred blew the trumpets," and the Lord set every man's sword q against his fellow/ even throughout all the host : and the host fled to Beth-shittah in1 Zererath, and to the bor der ^ of Abel-meholah, unto Tabbath. 23 And the men of Israel gathered themselves to gether out of Naphtali, and out of Asher, and out of all Manasseh, and pursued after the Midianites. 24 T And Gideon sent messengers throughout all mount Ephraim/ saying, Come down against the Midianites, and take before them the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan. Then, all the men trumpets in the hand of all of them. 5 Or, firebrands, or torches, k 1 Thess.' 5:3. 1 ver. 8. »> ver. 16. n Exod. 14:13, 14; 2 Chr. 20:17. o2Kings7:0, 7. P Josh. 0:16, 20. q Psa. 83:9; Isa. 9:4. r 1 Sam. 14:20; 2 Chr. 20:23. I Or. toward. 1 Heb. lip. > ch, 3: 27, 23. before God for giving him this encouragement to go down against the Midianites. 16. Lamps; torches. These were often made of pitch- wood, which was easily kindled, and gave a brilliant light. 19. The middle watch; they divided the night into three equal parts called watches. The Jews afterwards divided it into four. 22. Beth-shittah — Tabbath; supposed to be places tow ards Jordan, which the Midianites must cross to get into their own country. Ver. 24. 24. Beth-barah; supposed to be the same as Beth-abara, John 1 : 28. It means, a place of passage, and lay on the east side of Jordan where they crossed .the river, look the waters ; guarded the fording-places where they expected the Midianites would cross. 301 The enemy pursued. JUDGES VIII. Succoth and Penuel punished. of Ephraim gathered themselves together, and took the waters unto Beth-barah and Jordan .a 25 And they took two princes of the Midianites, Oreb and Zeeb;b and they slew Oreb upon the rock Oreb, and Zeeb they slew at the wine-press of Zeeb, and pursued Midian, and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon on the other side Jordan. CHAPTER VIII. 1 Gideon pacifieth the Ephraimites. 4 Succoth and Penuel refuse to relieve Gideon's army. 10 Zebah and Zalmunna are taken. 13 Suc coth and Penuel are destroyed. 18 Gideon revengeth his brethren's death on Zebah and Zalmunna. 22 He refuseth government. 24 His ephod cause of idolatry. 28 Midian subdued. 29 Gideon's chil dren, and death. 33 The Israelites' idolatry and ingratitude. AND the men of Ephraim0 said unto him, Why hast thou served us thus/ that thou calledst us not, when thou wentest to fight with the Mid ianites? And they did chide with him sharply/ 2 And he said unto them, What have I done now in comparison of you ? Is not the gleaning of the grapes of Ephraim better than the vintage of Ahi ezer? 3 God hath delivered into your hands the prin ces of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb: and what was I able to do in comparison of you? Then their anger* was abated toward him,a when he had said that. 4 T And Gideon came to Jordan, and passed over, he, and the three hundred men that were with him, faint, yet pursuing them. 5 And he said unto the men of Succoth/ Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian. 6 And the princes of Succoth said, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread unto thine army?f a John 1:28. b ch. 8:3; Psa. 83:11, 12. c ch. 12:1; 2Sam. 19:41. • Heb. What thing is this thou hast done unto us. t Heb. strongly. I Heb. spirit. d Prov. 15:1 ; 25:15. e Gen. 33:17; Psa. 00:6. f 1 Sam. 25:11; 1 Kings 20:11. § Heb. thresh. S ver. 16. h Gen. 32:30; 1 Kings 12:25. i 1 Kings 25. The rock Oreb; so called, it is supposed, from the fact of his having been killed upon it. So with the wine-press. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. To obtain the blessings which God has promised, men must not only rely on him, but must employ those means which he has appointed, and in the use of which alone they have reason to expect success. 2. The means by which, and the manner in which God accomplishes the purposes of his grace, are adapted to show men that the glory of their successes belongs not to them, but to him. 7. The power of God's visible people depends not so much on their number as on their character ; and some times a diminution of their number may give them in creased strength. 10. When God has a work for any one to accomplish, he will prepare him to perform it. 15. If by a dream, or any other means, one is encour aged to obey the revealed will of God, and strengthened for the performance of known duty, he has reason to be grateful and anew to acknowledge and adore God. 18. The agency of God and that of men are both em ployed in the accomplishment of his designs. There is therefore no good reason to imagine that there is any in consistency between them. Ver. 22. CHAPTER VIII. 2. The gleaning — the vintage; Gideon, of the house of 302 7 And Gideon said, Therefore when the a. m. 2755, Lord hath delivered Zebah and Zalmunna W" into my hand, then I will tear5 your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness and with briers.g 8 And he went up thence to Penuel,11 and spake unto them likewise: and the men of Penuel an swered him as the men of Succoth had answered him. 9 And he spake also unto the men of Penuel, saying, When I come again in peace/ I will break down this tower/ 10 1 Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor, and their hosts with them, about fifteen thousand men, all that were left of all the hosts of the chil dren of the east: for there fell a hundred and twenty thousand men that drew sword.1 11 And Gideon went up by the way of them that dwelt in tents on the east of Nobah and Jogbe- hah,k and smote the host: for the host was secure/ 12 And when Zebah and Zalmunna fled, he pur sued after them, and took the two kings of Mid ian, Zebah and Zalmunna,"1 and discomfited^ all the host. 13 1 And Gideon the son of Joash returned from battle before the sun was up, 14 And caught a young man of the men of Suc coth, and inquired of him : and he described+ unto him the princes of Succoth, and the elders thereof, even threescore and seventeen men. 15 And he came unto the men of Succoth, and said, Behold Zebah and Zalmunna, with whom ye did upbraid me," saying, Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in thy hand, that we should give bread unto thy men that are weary? 16 And he took the elders of the city, and thorns of the wilderness, and briers, and with them he taught+ the men of Succqth. , 17. 1 Or. one hundred and twenty thousand, every one draw ls Num. 32:35, 42. 1 ch. 18:27: 1 Thess. 5:3. ¦» Psa. 83:11. 22:27. i ver. ingasword. HHeb. terrified. ' Heb. writ, o ver. 6, 7. t Heb. made to know. Abi-ezer, and his men, who had struck the first blow, are compared to those who gather the vintage; while the Ephraimites, who came after him, are compared to glean ers. But here Gideon tells them that the gleaning of the grapes is more than the original vintage. This was a soft answer, designed to appease the wrath of the Ephraim ites. Prov. 15:1; Eccl. 10:4. 5. Succoth; a city in the tribe of Gad, on the east of Jor dan, below the sea of Galilee. Gen. 33:17. 6. Now in thy hand; have you already taken them? Ver. 15. They were men of worldly prudence, but with out either faith in God or devotion to his cause; and would not assist Gideon till they were first sure of his success. 7. Tear your flesh with the thorns of the wilderness; a mode of punishment not uncommon in those days. 8. Penuel; east of Succoth, and near the rfver Jabbok. Gen. 32 : 30. 9. This tower; one to which the men of Penuel trusted for their defence. 10. Karkor; supposed to have been eastward of Penuel, and near the borders of Gad. 11. Nobah is the same as Kenath,and is supposed to be the same as the modern Kanatha in Hauran. Jogbehali was in its neighborhood. 14. Described unto him; literally, wrote for him; proba bly gave him their names. 16. Taught the men; showed them the folly of their course by punishing them. Zebah and Zalmunna slain. JUDGES IX. Death of Gideon. a. m. 2755. 17 And he beat down the tower of Pe- B- i249"b°ut nuel/ and slew the men of the city. 18 IT Then said he unto Zebah and Zalmunna, What manner of men were they whom ye slew at Tabor ?b And they answered, As thou art, so were they ; each one resembled* the children of a king. 19 And he said, They were my brethren, even the sons of my mother : as the Lord liveth, if ye had saved them alive, I would not slay you. 20 And he said unto Jether his first-born, Up, and slay them. But the youth drew not his sword : for he feared, because he was yet a youth. 21 Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, Rise thou, and fall upon us: for as the man is, so is his strength. And Gideon arose, and slew Zebah and Zalmunna, and took away the ornaments + that were on their camels' necks. 22 1 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also : for thou hast delivered us from the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you : the Lord shall rule over you.0 24 T And Gideon said unto them, I would de sire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the ear-rings of his prey. For they had golden ear-rings, because they were Ishmaelites.*1 25 And they answered, We will willingly give them. And they spread a garment, and did cast therein every man the ear-rings of his prey. 26 And the weight of the golden ear-rings that he requested was a thousand and seven hundred shekels of gold ; besides ornaments, and collars/ and purple raiment that was on the kings of Mid ian, and besides the chains that were about their camels' necks. a Ver. 9. bch. 4:0; Psa. 89:12. * Heb. according to the formof. t Or, orna ments like the moon; Isa. 3:18. c 1 Sam. 8:7; 10:1'J; 12:12; Isa. 33:22; 63:19. dGen. 25:13; 37:25, 28. * Or, sweet jewels, ech. 17:5. f ch. 6:24. 21. So is his strength; as his age was mature, so was his strength. 23. The Lord shall rule; he was their chief magistrate, and Gideon would not be instrumental in changing that form of government. 24. Ear-rings of his prey; those which they had taken from their enemies. Ishmaelites; the Midianites are some times confounded with Ishmaelites ; they lived near, and often mingled together. Gen. 37 : 28. 27. An ephod; a very rich and costly garment, such as was worn by the high-priest. Exod. 28:4. A whoring after it; it became a means of superstition and idolatry. 33. Baalim and — Baal-berith; idol-gods. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Those who neglect their duty are often disposed to cast the blame on others ; and those who refuse to engage in great and important services, are often most anxious to have the credit of them. 2. A command of one's temper, and a disposition to give full credit to the worthy actions of- others, are likely means of appeasing envy, abating wrath, and causing con tentions to cease. 6. It is unwise to refuse aid to brethren in distress, and foolish as well as wicked to upbraid them. 10. The multitudes who have fallen in wars by the hands of their fellow-men, and in the indulgence of the most hateful passions, present an impressive view of the 27 And Gideon made.an ephod thereof/ and put it in his city, even in Ophrah :f and all Israel went thither a whoring after it:B which thing became a snare unto Gideon, and to his house.11 28 1 Thus was Midian subdued before the chil dren of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon. 29 T And Jerubbaal the son of Joash went and dwelt in his own house. 30 And Gideon had threescore and ten sons of his body8 -begotten:1 for he had many wives. 31 And his concubine that was in Shechem, she also bare him a son, whose name he called ' Abim elech/ 32 1 And Gideon the son of Joash died in a good old age,k and was buried in the sepulchre of Joash his father, in Ophrah of the Abi-ezrites. 33 And it came to pass, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel turned again, and went a whoring after Baalim,1 and made Baal- berith their god.™ 34 And the children of Israel remembered not the Lord their God,n who had delivered them out of the hands of all their enemies on every side : 35 Neither showed they kindness to the house of Jerubbaal, namely, Gideon,0 according to all the goodness which he had showed unto Israel. CHAPTER IX. 1 Abimelech by conspiracy with the Shechemites, and murder of his brethren, is made king. 7 Jotham by a parable rebuketh them, and foretelleth their ruin. 22 G-aal conspireth with the Shechemites against him. 30 Zebul revealeth it. 34 Abimelech overcometh them, and soweth the city with salt. 46 He burnetii the hold of the god Berith. 50 At Thebez he is slain by a piece of a millstone. 56 Jo- tham's curse is fulfilled. ND Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem unto his mother's brethren.1* and A c Psa. 106:39. b Deut. 7:16. 5 Heb. going out of his thigh, i ch. 9:2, 5. IHeb.set. jch. 9:18. k Gen. '15:8; Job 5:2s. I0h. 2:17,19. mch. 9:4. n Psa. 78:11, 42; 106:13, 21. <> ch. 9:16-19. Pch.8:31. evil of sin, and of the horrible state of those who are abandoned to-its everlasting power. 16. Sin often brings misery in this world of mercy, as it will, to all who continue in it, in the world of retribution. 21. The dread which men have of a lingering and dis honorable temporal death, should prompt them to imrr.e- diate, earnest, and persevering efforts to avoid the dis grace and torment of that which is eternal. 23. A wise man will not covet an increase of power, care, and responsibility ; nor, unless it appears to be manifestly the will of God, will he consent to receive it. 27. The consequences of men's actions may be very dif ferent from what they anticipate ; they should not, there fore, at any time lean to their own understandings, but should in all their ways acknowledge God, that he may direct their paths. 31. A departure from the design and will of God in the institution of marriage, has in some form ever been the easily besetting sin of men, and the source of innumerable and most distressing calamities. 33. No sooner are restraints removed, than men show their wickedness by voluntarily engaging in known sin, and the manifestation of awful ingratitude towards both God and men. CHAPTER IX. 1. Shechem ; a city in the tribe of Ephraim, lying between mount Gerizim on the south, and mount Ebal on the north. 303 Conspiracy of Abimelech. JUDGES IX. Revolt of tlie Shechemites. communed with them, and with all the family of the house of his mother's father, saying, . 2 Speak, I pray you, in th'e ears of all the men of Shechem, Whether* is better for you, either that all the sons of Jerubbaal, which are threescore and ten persons/1 reign over you, or that one reign over you? remember also that I am your bone and your flesh/ 3 And his mother's brethren spake of him in the ears of all the men of Shechem all these words: and their hearts inclined to follow + Abimelech; for they said, He is our brother. 4 And they gave him threescore and ten pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-berith/ where with Abimelech hired vain and light persons,3 which followed him. 5 And he went unto his father's house at Oph rah, and slew his brethren the sons of Jerubbaal/ being threescore and ten persons, upon one stone : notwithstanding, yet Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left ; for he hid himself. 6 And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went and made Abimelech king, by the plain* of the pillar that was in Shechem. 7 1 And when they told it to Jotham, he went and stood in the top of mount Gerizim/ and lifted up his voice, and cried, and said unto them, Hearken unto me, ye men of Shechem, that God may heark en unto you. 8 The trees went forth on a time to anoint a king over them;8 and they said unto the olive-tree, Reign thou over us. 9 But the olive-tree said unto them, Should I leave my fatness," wherewith by me they honor God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees? § 10 And the trees said to the fig-tree, Come thou, and reign over us. 11 But the fig-tree said unto them, Should I for sake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? 12 Then said the trees unto the vine, Come thou, and reign over us. 13 And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man/ and go to be promoted over the trees? * Heb. What ia goodl whether, eta. *¦ oh. 8:30. b Gen. 29:14. t Heb. afer. c0li.8:33. dcb. 11:3; 2Chr. 13:7; Prov. 12:11 ; Actsl7:S. e2Kings 11.1,2. > Ot, oak; Josh. 21:26. f Josh. 8:33; John 4:20. r 2 Kings 14:9. b Psa. 104:15. 5 Heb. up and down for other trees. ' Prov. 31:6; Eccl. 10:19. I Or, thistle, i Iba. 30:2; Dan. 4:12; Hos. 14:7. k ver. 20; Num. 14 Then said all the trees unto the bram- a. m. zres. , . ... B..C. about ble,1 Come thou, and reign over us. m- ' 15 And the bramble said unto the trees, If in truth ye anoint me king over you, then come and put your trust in my shadow ;j and if not, let fire come out of the bramble,k and devour the cedars • of Lebanon/ 16 Now therefore, if ye have done truly and sin cerely, in that ye have made Abimelech king, and if ye have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done unto him according to the deserv ing of his hands : 17 (For my father fought for you,mand adven tured? his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian : 1 8 And ye are risen up against my father's house this day,0 and have slain his sons, threescore and ten persons, upon one stone, and have made Abim elech, the son of his maid-servant,0 king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother :) 19 If ye then have dealt truly and sincerely with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice ye in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you:p 20 But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech, and devour the men of Shechem, arid the house of Millo ; and let fire come but from the men of She chem, and from the house of Millo, and devour Abimelech." 21 And Jotham ran away, and fled, and went to Beer/ and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. 22 1 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel, 23 Then God sent an evil spirits between Abim elech and the men of Shechem ; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech : * 24 That the cruelty done to the threescore and ten sons of Jerubbaal might come, and their blood be laid, upon Abimelech their brother/1 which slew them, and upon the men of Shechem, which aided him in the killing* of his brethren. 25 And the men of Shechem set liers in wait for him in the top of the mountains, and they robbed all that came along that way by them : and it was told Abimelech. 26 And Gaal the son of Ebed came with hisbreth- 2. Your bone; a Shechemite and a relative. Ch. 8:31. 4. House of Baal-berith ; the place of their idol-worship. 6. House of Millo; a tower or castle in the city. It seems to have been the same as "the tower of Shechem," ver. 46, 47. The men of Shechem and the house of Millo are separately mentioned in Jotham 's curse, and, in like manner, the destruction of the men of Shechem and the men of the tower of Shechem is separately recorded. 7. Gerizim; a mountain on the south side of Shechem. 8. The trees went forth; this is the commencement of a parable, representing the folly of the Shechemites in mak ing Abimelech king. 9. Olive-tree; a tree yielding oil, used not only in food, but also in the worship of God and in the consecration of men to public office. 13. Wine, which cheereth God; it was employed in his worship, and thus pleased him. 304 21 :28; Ezek. 19:14. Usa 2:13; Ezek 31:3. m ch. 1 1 Heb. cast. - n ver. 5, 6; ch. 8:35 " ch 8:31 P Isa. 8:6 Phil. 3:1 Jas. 4:16. q ver. 15.56, 57 r 2 Sam. 20:14. ¦ 1 Sam. 16:14; Kings 12: 15 ; 22:22, 23 Isa. 19:14; 2 Thess. 2:11 , 12. Isa. ¦J.l: . u 1 Kings 2-.1 i; Esth. 9:25 Psa . 7:10. •Heb strengthened his hands to kill. .14. The bramble; one of the meanest and most worth' less shrubs. Gideon, who like the olive, fig-tree, and vine, was useful, refused ; but Abimelech, who like tlie bramble was worthless, consented to be made king. 15. Let fire come out ; this expressed the trouble wh'ich Abimelech would bring upon the chief mer»of Shechem, represented as cedars. 16. Truly; rightly, in a proper manner. 20. Let fire come 6ut; fire will come out; expressive of the mutual calamities which Abimelech and the men of Shechem would bring on each other. 21. Beer; a place south of Shechem. 23. God sent; suffered, through the temptation of Satan, to arise in their own hearts. 25. Liers in wait ; to kill Abimelech, who was then absent from the city, or to take him prisoner on his return. 2Q. Gaal; supposed to be a Canaanite, pretending te Abimelech taketh Shechem, JUDGES IX. and is slain at Thebez. a. m. 2798. ren, and went over to Shechem : and the ' ik "' men of Shechem put their confidence in him. 27 And they went out into the fields, and gath ered their vineyards, and trode the grapes, and made merry/ and went into the house of their god/ and did eat and drink, and cursed Abimelech. 28 And Gaal the son of Ebed said, Who is Abim elech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve hirn?" is not he the son of Jerubbaal? and Zebul his officer ? serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem:0 for why should we serve him? 29 And would to God this people were under my hand!* then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out. 30 1 And when Zebul the ruler of the city heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was kindled/ 31 And he sent messengers unto Abimelech priv ily/ saying, Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brethren be come to Shechem; and behold, they fortify the city against thee. 32 Now therefore up by night, thou and the people that is with thee, and lie in wait in the field: 33 And it shall be, that in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, thou shalt rise early, and set upon the city : and behold, when he and the people that is with him come out against thee, then mayest thou do to them as thou shalt find8 occasion. 34 1 And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. 35 And Gaal the son of Ebed went out, and stood in the entering of the gate of the city : and Abim elech rose up, and the people that were with him, from lying in wait. 36 And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, Behold, there come people down from the top of the mountains. And Zebul said unto him, Thou seest the shadow of the mountains as if they were men. 37 An/1 Gaal spake again and said, See, there come people down by the middle1 of the land, and another company come along by the plain of Me- onenim.'T 38 Then said Zebul unto him, Where is now thy mouth, wherewith thou saidst, Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?e is not this the people that thou hast despised? go out, I pray now, and fight with them. " Or, songs; Tsl. 16:9, 10; Jer. 25:30. a ver. 4. H Sam. 25: 10; 1 Kings 12:16. * .(Jen: 31:2, 6. « 2 Sam. 15:4; Psa. 10:3. t Or, hot. tHeb. craft ily, or to Tormah. i Heb. thy hand shall find; 1 Sam. 10:7; 25:8; Eccl. have descended from Hamor the father of Shechem, and former prince of that country. Ver. 28 ; Gen. 34: 2. 27. T/ieir god; their idol-god. Chap. 8:33. 28. Who is Abimelech; that he should reign over the ancient and renowned city of Shechem. Zebul ; the gov ernor of Shechem during Abimelech's absence. Ver. 30. 29. Said to Abimelech; that is, by messengers, for Abim elech himself was absent from the city. Increase— come out; a challenge to Abimelech to make his army as strong as possible, and meet him on the field of battle. 31. Sent messengers — privily; because he was not strong enough to offer direct resistance to Gaal, who had won over the people of the city to his side. 20 39 And Gaal went out before the men of She chem, and fought with Abimelech. 40 And Abimelech chased him, and he fled before him, and many were overthrown and wounded, even unto the entering of the gate. 41 And Abimelech dwelt at Arumah : and Zebul thrust out Gaal and his brethren, that they should not dwell in Shechem. 42 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people went out into the field; and they told Abimelech. 43 And he took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field, and looked, and behold, the people were come forth out of the city; and he rose' up against them, and smote them. 44 And Abimelech, and the company that was with him, rushed forward, and stood in the enter ing of the gate of the city : and the two other com panies ran upon all the people that were in the fields, and slew them. 45 And Abimelech fought against the city all that-day; and he took the city/ and slew the peo ple that was therein, and beat down the city/ and sowed it with salt.h 46 IF And when all the men of the tower of She chem heard that, they entered into a hold of the Jiouse of the god Berith/ 47 And it was told Abimelech, that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together. 48 And Abimelech gat him up to mount Zal- mon,j he and all the people that were with him ; and Abimelech took an axe in his hand, and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it, and laid it on his shoulder, and said unto the people that were with him, What ye have seen me do/ make haste, and do as I have done. 49 And all the people likewise cut down every man his bough, and followed Abimelech, and put them to the hold, and set the hold on fire upon them ; so that all the men of the tower of Shechem died also, about a thousand men and women. 50 1 Then went Abimelech to Thebez, and en camped against Thebez, and took it. . 51 But there was a strong tower within the city, and thither fled all the men and women, and ali they of the city, and shut it to them, and gat them up to the top of the tower. 52 And Abimelech came unto the tower, and fought against it, and went hard unto the door of the tower to burn it with fire. 9:10. I Heb. navel. H Or, The regarders of limes; Deut. 18:14. e ver. 28,29. f ver. 20. S 2 Kings 3:25. Ii Deut. 29:23; Ezek. -17: 11 ; Zeph. 2:9. i ch. 8:33. j Psa. 68:14. * Heb. I have done. 37. Middle of the land; rather, height of the land ; that is, from the high hills bordering Shechem. See note to ver. 1. Tlie plain of Meonenim; rather, the oak of Meone- nim ; that is, in English, the enchanters' oak. 41. Arumah ; a place near Shechem. 43. He; Abimelech. Took; had taken. 45. Sowed it with salt; in token of its desolation. 48. Zalmon; meaning shady; supposed to be so called from its being covered with forests. 50. Thebez; a city of Ephraim, a few miles north-east ot Shechem. 51. A strong tower; such towers in or near cities, to which the people fled in time of danger, were common. 305 Tola and Jair are judges. JUDGES X. Israel oppressed for its sins 53 And a certain woman cast a piece of a mill stone upon Abimelech's head," and all-to brake his skull. 54 Then he called hastily unto the young man his armor-bearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me,b that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died. 55 And when the men of Israel saw that Abim elech was dead, they departed every man unto his place. 56 1 Thus God rendered the wickedness of Abim elech, which he did unto his father, in slaying his seventy brethren : ° 57 And all the evil of the men of Shechem did God render upon their heads: and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.3 CHAPTER X. 1 Tola judgeth Israel in Shamir. 3 Jair, whose thirty sons had thirty cities. 6 The Philistines and Ammonites oppress Israel. 10 In their misery G-od sendeth them to their lalse gods. 15 Upon their repent ance he pitieth them. AND after Abimelech there arose to defend* Israel, Tola the son of Puah, the son of Dodo, a man of Issachar ; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. a 2 Sam. 11 :2t. b 1 Sam. 31:4. ' ver 5:22; Matt. 7:2; Gal. 0:7. d ver. 20, 46. - iie-0. ; 5:10; 12:14. t Or, The villages of Jair ; Num. 32:41 21; Job 31:3; Psa. 01:23; Pro* • ~Hah snve, or deliver, ech. f Deut. 3:14. s ab. 53. A millstone; the upper stone of a hand-mill, in which the women ground their grain. Matt. 24:41. All-to; an old English term meaning, wholly, entirely. 54. A woman slew him; to be slain by a woman was con sidered disgraceful. 56. Rendered; requited or punished. Ver. 5, 18, 24. 57. The curse of Jotham; ver. 20. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Men who earnestly desire power, and flatter their fellow-men to obtain it, are not worthy to be trusted, and should not be chosen to rule over others. 3. Men are easily flattered, and their judgment, feelings, and conduct often biassed towards those who are related to or connected with them. 4. Vain and light persons, the vicious and the worthless • of all descriptions, will prostitute their political influence to the support of those flatterers who like themselves are vicious, and who will furnish them with money. 5. Ambitious men, who are given up of God to the grat ification of their lusts, will commit any crime to secure their selfish objects. 6. When a people choose immoral men as their rulers, they will generally be made instruments of mutual pun ishment to each other. 8. Parables may be a most effective and useful method of inculcating divine truth, and he who wisely employs them be an eminent benefactor of mankind. 9. Wise men will not be anxious to leave the safe, quiet, and useful pursuits and enjoyments of private life, for the sake of becoming rulers, especially over the wicked. 15. Those who are most unfaithful and worthless in pri vate hfe, are often most anxious for promotion to public life; and those who thus promote them, may expect through them to reap the fruit of their folly. 19. Teachers of divine truth in all ages have maintained that godliness is profitable unto all things, and that the way of transgressors is hard ; that righteousness tendeth to life, and that those who continue in wickedness do it to their own death. . 23. The wicked have no permanent bond of union, safety, or peace ; and those who have been treacherous and cruel 20fi 2 And he judged Israel twenty and three a. m. 2821. years, and died, and was buried in Shamir, "nss! °" 3 1 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts/ and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair/ unto this day/ which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. 6 T And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord/ and served Baalim, and Ashtaroth, and the gods of Syria, and the gods of Zidon/1 and the gods of Moab, and the gods of the children of Ammon, and the gods of the Philis^ tines, and forsook the Lord, and served not him. 7 And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hands of the Philistines/ and into the hands of the children of Ammon. 8 And that year they vexed and oppressed* the children of Israel : eighteen years, all the children of Israel that were on the other side Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. 9 Moreover the children of Ammon passed over Jordan to fight also against Judah, and against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim ; so that Israel was sore distressed/ 2:11-14; 3:7, 4:1; 6:1; 13:1. h 1 Kings 11:33. i 1 Sam. 12:9, 10. 1 Heb. crushed. 3 1 Sam. 28: 15. to others, will ordinarily meet with others who will be treacherous and cruel to them. 26. Men may rebel against one set of wicked rulers, and yet choose another who are no better ; and, by so doing, may only increase their distress and hasten their ruin. 27. Dissipation, rioting, and licentiousness are not true liberty, and those who indulge in them can never enjoy it. 28. Boasting, pride, and self-esteem are forerunners of defeat, degradation, and contempt. 38. Those who pretend to despise their enemies when at a distance, are often afraid of them when they come near ; and the most reproachful in time of safety, are often most cowardly in time of danger. 45. The men who aid and exalt the wicked, are often the men who are injured and destroyed by them. 46. The courses which wicked men take to sesure their safety not unfrequently accelerate their ruin ; and often by those whom they have aided in slaying others, they are themselves slain. 52. Success often renders men reckless, and when they are most confident they are nearest to destruction. They may escape the greatest apparent dangers, and then fall by such as are not thought of. 54. Men, especially warriors, think much about an hon orable death, and sometimes are peculiarly sensitive of their reputation when sinking into shame and everlasting contempt. 56. Jehovah is a God that judgeth in the earth, and often here proclaims the sins of men in their punishment. CHAPTER X. 1. He dwelt in Shamir; after he became judge; as this was_ a more central part of the country, and a more con venient place for a judge than any in his own tribe. 3. A Gileadite; he was the first judge from the east side of Jordan. 4. Havoth-jair; the villages of Jair. 7. Philistines; they lived on the west of the Israelites, and the children of Ammon on the east. 8. That" year; the oppression of both began about the same time. That of the Ammonites lasted eighteen years, and that of the Philistines forty. Chap. 13:1. Other ; east. Repentance of Israel. JUDGES XI. Jephthah becomes a judge. A. M. 2843. B. C. about 1161. 10 T And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord, saying, We have sinned against thee, both because we have forsaken our God, and also served Baalim. 1 1 And the. Lord said unto the children of Israel, Did not I deliver you from the Egyptians," and from the Amorites/ from the children of Ammon, and from the Philistines?0 12 The Zidonians also/ and the Amalekites/ and the Maonites, did oppress you;f and ye cried to me, and I delivered you out of their hand. " 13 Yet ye have forsaken me, and served other gods :« wherefore I will deliver you no more. 14 Go and cry unto the gods which ye have chosen ; let them deliver you in the time of your tribulation." 15 1 And the children of Israel said unto the Lord, We have sinned : do thou unto us whatso ever seemeth good unto thee :*' deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. 16 And they put away the strange gods+ from among them, and served the Lord :j and his soul was grieved* for the misery of Israel." 17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered5 together, and encamped in Gilead. And the chil dren of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh/ 18 And the people and princes of Gilead said one to another, What man is he that will begin to fight against the children of Ammon? he shall be head over all the inhabitants of Gilead. CHAPTER XI. 1 The covenant between Jephthah and the Grileadites, that he should be their head. 12 The treaty of peace between him and the Ammonites is in vain. 20 Jephthah's vow. 32 His conquest of the Ammonites. 34 He perfoi'meth his vow on his daughter. TOW Jephthah* the Gileadite was a mighty N man of valor,1" and he was the son of a har lot :T and Gilead begat Jephthah. 2 And Gilead 's wife bare him sons ; and his wife's sons grew up, and they thrust out Jephthah, and said unto him, Thou shalt not inherit in our father's house ; for thou art the son of a strange woman." 3 1 Then Jephthah fled from* his brethren, and • Exod. 14:30. b Num. 21 : 21-25. c oh. 3:12-15, 31. d0h. 5:19. » oh. 6:3. t Psa.. 106:42. f Jer. 2:13. b Deut. 32:37, 38; 2 Kings 3:13; Jer. 2:23. • Heb. it good in thine eyes, i 1 Sam. 3:18; 2 Sim. 15:26. t Heb. gods of strangers, i 2 Chr. 7:14; 15:8. t Heb. shortened. * Psa. 106:44, 45; Isa. 63:9. SHeb. cried. 1 oh. 11 :11, 29; Gen. 31 :49. (Called Jephthae ; 12. The Maonites; probahly an Arabian tribe. 13. I will deliver you no more; he would not, unless they should repent of their sins. 14. Cry unto the gods; this was designed to make them feel more deeply the worthlessness of their idols, and their need of help from Jehovah. 17. In Gilead; on the east of Jordan. Mizpeh; near mount Gilead. Chap. 11 : 29. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Good rulers are the gift of God, and are designed, through the enactment and execution of good laws, to be for the protection and defence of the people. 6. Though a course of sinning has often been tried, and always found to lead in the end to misery, yet such is the folly and wickedness of men, that they will try it again with as much eagerness and confidence of success, as if the experiment had never been made. 10. Men who in prosperity cast off the fear of the Lord, dwelt in the land of Tob : and there were gathered vain men to Jephthah/ and went out with him. 4 1 And it came to pass in process of time/ that the children of Ammon made war against Israel. 5 And it was so, that when the children of Am mon made war against Israel, the elders of Gil ead went to fetch Jephthah out of the land of Tob : 6 And they said unto Jephthah, Come, and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon. 7 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, Did not ye hate me/ and expel me out of my fa ther's house? and why are ye come unto me now when ye are in distress? 8 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, Therefore we turn again to thee now/ that thou mayest go with us, and fight against the children of Ammon, and be our head over all the inhabi tants of Gilead/ 9 And Jephthah said unto the elders of Gilead, If ye bring me home again to fight against the children of Ammon, and the Lord deliver them before me, shall I be your head ? 10 And the elders of Gilead said unto Jephthah, The Lord be witness* between us/ if we do not so according to thy words. 11 Then Jephthah went with the elders of Gil ead, and the people made him head and captain over them:1 and Jephthah uttered all his words before the Lord in Mizpeh.u 12 T And Jephthah sent messengers unto the king of the children of Ammon, saying, What hast thou to do with me, that thou art come against me to fight in my land? 13 And the king of the children of Ammon an swered unto the messengers of Jephthah, Because Israel took away my land/' when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok/v and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably. 14 And Jephthah sent messengers again unto the king of the children of Ammon : 15 And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Is rael took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon :x Heb. 11:32. m oh. 6:12; 2 Kings 5:1. H Heb. a woman a harlot, n Gen. 21:10; Gal. 4:30. 'Heb. from the face of '. ° ch. 9:4; 1 Sam. 22:2. tHeb. after days. P Gen. 26:27". q Luke 17:4. r ch. 10:16. I Heb. the hearer. > Jer. 42:5. I ver. 8. u oh. 20:1 ; 1 Sam. 10:17. v Num. 21:24. w Gen. 32:22. i Deut. 2:9, 19. . and openly rebel agamst him, in adversity, and when suf fering the effects of their sins, often feel their need of his help. 15. Though God might justly leave men to the conse quences of their transgressions and never again deliver them, yet when they feel and acknowledge his righteous ness, and turn heartily to him, he has compassion on them and opens the way for their relief. CHAPTER XI. 2. A strange woman; not the lawful wife of his father. 3. The land of Tob; supposed to be in or near Syria. 10. The Lord be witness; this was a solemn engagement that they would make Jephthah their ruler. 11. All his words; the words of the engagement between him and the elders of Gilead, that the people might aU hear, understand, and ratify them. 13. Israel took away my land; Num. 21:21-35. J 307 L The embassy of Jephthah. JUDGES XI. His rash vow. 16 But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea/ and came to Kadesh ;b 17 Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let rue, I pray thee, pass through thy land : but the king of Edom would not heark en thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab ; but he would not consent: and Is rael abode in Kadesh. 18 Then they went along through the wilder ness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab/ and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab : " for Arnon was the border of Moab. 19 And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon ;e and Is rael said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place. 20 But Sihon trusted not Israel to pass through his coast : but Sihon gathered all his people togeth er, and pitched in Jahaz, and fought against Israel. 21 And the Lord God of Israel delivered Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel, and they smote them : so Israel possessed all the land of the Amorites, the inhabitants of that country. 22 And they possessed all the coasts of the Am orites, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and from the wilderness even unto Jordan. 23 So now the Lord God of Israel hath dispos sessed the Amorites from before his people Israel, and shouldest thou possess it? 24 Wilt not thou possess that which Chemoshf thy god giveth thee to possess? So whomsoever the Lord our Godg shall drive out from before us,h them will we possess. 25 And now art thou any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab?' did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them, 26 While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns/ and in Aroer and her towns,k and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hun dred years? why therefore did ye not recover them withiu that time? 27 Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against A.».g. me : the Lord the Judge' be judge this n«* day between the children of Israel and the chil dren of Ammon.m 28 Howbeit the king. of the children of Ammon hearkened not unto the words of Jephthah which he sent him. 29 1 Then the Spirit of the Lord" came upon Jephthah,* and he passed over Gilead, and Ma nasseh, and passed over Mizpeh of Gilead, and from Mizpeh of Gilead he passed over unto the children of Ammon. 30 And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord,0 and said, If thou shalt without fail deliver the children of Ammon into my hands, 31 Then it shall be, that whatsoever cometh forth+ of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's/ and* I will offer it up for a burnt-offering. 32 1 So Jephthah passed over unto the children of Ammon to fight against them ; and the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33 And he smote them from Aroer, even till thou come to Minnith/1 even twenty cities, and un to the plain5 of the vineyards, with a very great slaughter. Thus the children of Ammon were sub dued before the children of Israel. 34 1 And Jephthah came to Mizpeh unto his house/ and behold, his daughter came out to meet him with timbrels and with dances:' and she was his only child ; beside her he had neither son nor daughter." 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he rent his clothes/ and said, Alas, my daughter! thou hast brought me very low, and thou art one of them that trouble me : for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back." . 36 And she said unto him, My father, if thou hast opened thy mouth unto the Lord, do to me according to that which hath proceeded out of thy mouth ; forasmuch as the Lord hath taken ven geance for thee of thine enemies/ evenoi the chib dren of Ammon. 37 And she said unto her father, Let this thing be done for me : let me alone two months, that I » Num. 14:25; Deut. 1:40; Josh. 5:6. t> Num. 20:1, 14, eto. « Num. 21:4, eto. d Num. 22:36. e Num. 21:21, etc.; Deut. 2:26, eto. t Num. 21:29; 1 Kings 11:7; Jer. 48:7. 6 Mio. 4:5. b Deut. 18:12; Psa. 78:55. i Num. 22:2, eto. j Num. 21:25. k Deut. 2:36. 1 Gen. 18:25; Psa. 75:7; Ecol. 12:14. m Gen. 16:5; 31:53; 1 Sam. 24:12, 15. n 0h. 3:10. * Jeph- tshah seems to have been judge only of North-east Israel . o Gen . 23: 20 ; 1 Sam. 22. The coasts qfthe Amorites; the Amorites had dispos sessed the Ammonites and taken their country, from Ar non to Jabbok, before the children of Israel came out of Egypt ; and the Israelites took it not from the Ammonites, as they now pretended, ver. 13, but from the Amorites. 24. Chemosh; the idol-god of the Ammonites, to whom they ascribed their successes. 25. Better than Balak; had they any better claim to the lands than had Balak, who was king of Moab when Israel took them? He did not take them back; and as the Ammonites had not attempted it, but suffered the Israel ites to possess it unmolested for three hundred years, it was evident that they had lost all title to it, and the Isra elites did not wrogg them in possessing it. 27. The Lord — be judge; decide, by giving the victory to those who were right. 29. The Spirit — came upon Jephthah ; furnishing him with 308 1:11 ; Ecol. 5:2. 4. 5. t Heb. that which cometh forth, which shall come forth. P Lev. 27:2, 3; 1 Sam. 1:1], 28; Psa. 66:13, 14. J Or, or. q Ezek. 27:17. § Or, Abel, r ver. 11. » Exod. 15:20; 1 Sam. 18:6; Psa. 68:25; 150:4 ; Jer. 31:4. I Or, he had not of his own either son or daughter; Heb. of himself, t Gen. 37:29, 34. « Num. 30:2; Psa. 15:4. t 2 Sam. 18:19, 31. wisdom, courage, and all needful qualifications to conduct the war. Over; through the places mentioned, to collect his army. 31. Be the Lord's; devoted especially to his service. And; some have translated this, or; supposing that what should come to meet Jephthah was to be a burnt-offering, if it were an object which the law allowed for that pur pose ; and if not, that it was to be devoted to God in some other way. 33. Aroer; a town near the river Arnon. Minnith; a place north of Aroer, in the tribe of Reuben. 35. Opened my mouth; made a vow. Ver. 30. Cannot go back; he could not, without breaking his engagement, and thus, in his view, doing wrong. 37. My virginity; that she was to live and die without being married and having children, which Jewish women very much regretted. If, as some suppose, she was not The Ephraimites defeated. JUDGES XII. Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon. a. m. 2861. mav KO up and down* upon the mountains, M C about J fj r , . . -w- i n i-i i'i«. and bewail my virginity, I and my fellows. 38 And he said, Go. And he sent her away for two months : and she went with her companions, and bewailed her virginity upon the mountains. 39 And it came to pass at the end of two months, that she returned unto her father, who did with her according to his vow which he had vowed : " and she knew no man. And it was a custom/ in Israel, 40 That the daughters of Israel went yearly* to lament5 the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite four days in a year. CHAPTER XII. 1 The Ephraimites, quarrelling with Jephthah, and discerned by Shib boleth, are slain bv the Oileadites. 7 Jephthah dieth. 8 Ibzan, who had thirty sons and thirty daughters, 11 and Elon, 13 and Abdon, who had forty sons and thirty nephews, judged Israel. AND the men of Ephraim gathered themselves " together/ and went northward, and said unto Jephthah, Wherefore passedst thou over to fight against the children of Ammon, and didst not call us to go with thee? we will burn thy house upon thee with fire. 2 And Jephthah said unto them, I and my peo ple were at great strife with the children of Am mon ; and when I called you, ye delivered me not out of their hands. 3 And when I saw that ye delivered me not, I put my life in my hands/ and passed over against the children of Ammon, and the Lord delivered them into my hand : wherefore then are ye come up unto me this day, to fight against me? • Heb. go and go down. a ver. 31 ; 1 Sam. 1:22. 2- ; 2:18. t Or ordi- n xnce. t Heb. from year lo year. 5 Or, talk with; ch. 5:11. Heb were called. b ch.8:l 1 Sam . 19:5, 2.-1:21; Job 13:14; 'sa 119:109. d ch. 3 28; 7 21; Josh. •2: :ll. • Which signifieth a stream, or flood Psa. 09:2, literally offered to the Lord as a burnt-offering, it is plain, from the language of the sacred writer, that she was de voted to God in such a way as required her to remain unmarried and childless. Fellows ; female companions. 39. According to his vow ; he devoted her to the Lord in a manner consistent with his promise, whatever that was. Slie knew no man; was never married, and had no children ; a thing bewailed and lamented both by herself and her companions. 40. Lament; this word in the original means, to cele brate, or rehearse, and is so translated in chap. 5: 11. The daughters of Israel, from year to year, commemorated the case of Jephthah's daughter. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. As the sins of parents may greatly injure and distress their children, this should be a motive to induce them to govern all their appetites and passions, and to regulate their whole conduct according to the revealed will of God. 7. In prosperity men often despise and reject those to whom in adversity they are glad to apply for help. 9. Arrangements in which different parties are con cerned should be plainly and correctly stated'beforehand, that there may be afterwards no misunderstandings and contests about them. 12. For the wicked courses which wicked men pursue they can give no good reason ; and a correct statement of facts shows that for their pretended reasons there is no just foundation. 21. The agency of God should never be excluded in our contemplations of the affairs of men, and his goodness should always be acknowledged as the source of all the blessings which we enjoy. 4 Then Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead, and fought with Ephraim : and the men of Gilead smote Ephraim, because they said, Yc Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites. 5 And the Gileadites took the passages of Jor dan before the Ephraimites :d and it was so, when those Ephraimites which were escaped said, Let me go over, that the men of Gilead said unto him, Art thou an Ephraimite? If he said, Nay ; 6 Then said they unto him, Say now Shibboleth :* and he said Sibboleth : for he could not frame to pronounce it right. Then they took him, and slew him at tho passages of Jordan: and there fell at that time of the Ephraimites forty and two thou sand. 7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then died Jephthah the Gileadite, and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead. 8 And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.* 9 And he had thirty sons, and thirty daughters, whom he sent abroad, and took in thirty daugh ters from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years. 10 Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Beth lehem. 11 T And after him Elon, a Zebulonite, judged Israel;1 and he judged Israel ten years. 12 And Elon the Zebulonite died, and was bur ied in Aijalon in the country of Zebulun.13 13 IT And after him Abdon the son of Hillel, a Pirathonite, judged Israel/ 15; Isa. 27:12. * He seems to have been only a civil judge, to do justice in North-east Israel, t A civil judge in North-east Israel, el Chr. 8:13. IA civil judge also in North-east Israel. 27. A disposition in the use of proper means to commit all our concerns to the guidance and disposal of God, is a good preparation for obtaining his favor, and receiving from him all needed aid. 31. We should be careful to promise nothing but what is practicable, lawful, and right, that all we promise may be faithfully performed. 35. This life is a mixed scene of trials and mercies. Great blessings are often followed by great distresses ; and if uncalled of God and without good reason we have brought them upon ourselves, the poignancy of them is thereby increased. CHAPTER XII. 1. Went northward; towards Mizpeh, on the east side of Jordan, where Jephthah lived. 2. Ye delivered me not; did not attempt it. 3. Put my life in my hands; took on myself the work and danger of attempting to obtain deliverance. 4. Fugitives of Ephraim ; the Gileadites belonged to the tribe of Manasseh. Josh. 17:1. The Ephraimites reproach them as a remnant who had fled before themselves across the Jordan, arid who were unworthy to be ranked with their brethren of Ephraim and Manasseh. 6. Forty and two thousand; supposed by many to mean two thousand and forty, as the Ephraimites when numbered amounted only to thirty-two thousand five hundred. Num. 26 : 37. But this reason cannot be regarded as conclusive, since the numbering referred to took place three hundred years before. 10. Bethlehem; there were two places of this name, one in Zebulun, and one in Judah where our Saviour was born. 13. A Pirathonite ; so called from Pirathon the place where he lived. 809 The angel of the Lord visits JUDGES XIII. Manoah and his wife. 14 And he had forty sons and thirty nephews/ that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: a and he judged Israel eight years. 15 And Abdon the son of Hillel the Pirathonite died, and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim, in the mount of the Amalekites." CHAPTER XIII. 1 Israel is in the hand of the Philistines. 2 An angel appeareth to Manoah's wife. 8 The angel appeareth to Manoah. 15 Manoah's sacrifice, whereby the angel is discovered. 24 Samson is born. AND the children of Israel did+ evil again in the sight of the Lord ;c and the Lord deliv ered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.** 2 T And there was a certain man of Zorah/ of the family of the Danites, whose name was Ma noah ; and his wife was barren, and bare not. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman/ and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not : but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son. 4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any un clean thing: 5 For lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head:8 for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb:h and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me/ and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God/ very terrible : but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name : 7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt con ceive, and bear a son ; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. 8 1" Then Manoah entreated the Lord, and said, 0 my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. * Heb. sons' sons, a 0h. 5:10; 10:4. b ch. 3:13, 27; 5:14. t Heb. added to commit; Rom. 2:6. c Jer. 13:23. t This seems a partial captivity. ii 1 Sam. 12:9- e Josh. 19:41. f Luke 1 : 11, etc. si Sam. 1:11. b Num. 6:2, etc. ¦ 1 Kings 17:21. i Matt. 28:3; Acts 6:15. S Heb. What shall be 14. Nephews; in the original, sons' sons, or grandsons. 15. Mount of the Amalekites ; supposed to be a place in Ephraim called by that name. Chap. 5:14. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Persons who have refused to engage in great and difficult services themselves, often most bitterly envy those who have successfully performed them. 3. Men are. sometimes called, instead of depending on others, to take themselves the responsibility, meet the dangers, and perform the labors of great and trying emer gencies. In such cases they should not shrink, but in dependence on God go forward in duty, and leave the result to him. 4. Family contentions are" most bitter and disastrous. The beginning of them should be most carefully avoided, for when once begun no one can tell where they will end. 6. Those who wickedly begin a quarrel, would often be struck with horror should they foresee all its conse quences. 7. As death is to all persons near, and after death is the 310 9 And God hearkened to the voice of £¦*¦«*>¦ Manoah ; and the angel of God came again W °u unto the woman as she sat in the field : but Ma noah her husband was not with her. 10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and showed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day. 11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am. 12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order8 the child, and how shall we do unto him?" 13 And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware. 14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing :k all that I com manded her let her observe. 15 IT And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, I pray thee, let us detain thee/ until we shall have made ready a kid for* thee. 16 And the angel of the Lord said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread : and if thou wilt offer a burnt-offering, thou must offer it unto the Lord. For Manoah knew not that he was an angel of the Lord. 17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the Lord, What is thy name,™ that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honor? 18 And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?* 19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat-offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the Lord :n and the angel did wondrously ; and Manoah and his wife looked on. 20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar : and Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.0 the manner of. B Or, what shall he do? Heb. what shall be his work? k ver. 4. ' oh. 6:18, eto. 1 Heb. before, m Gen. 32:29. • Or, wonderful: Isa. 9:6. n 0h. 6:19-23. o Lev. 9:24; 1 Chr. 21:16, 26; Ezek. 1:28; Matt. 17:6. judgment, the great object of all should be so to live as to be fitted, through grace, to give up their account with joy, and enter into that rest which remains for the people of God. CHAPTER XIII. 1. Forty years; chap. 10:7. 2. Zorah; a city in the south part of the tribe of Dan. 3. The angel of the Lord ; supposed to be the Angel-Je hovah, in the form of man, and the same who appeared to Moses, Joshua, and Gideon. Ver. 21-23. 5. Nazarite; for the law of the Nazarite, which Manoah's wife was herself to observe till the birth of the child, see Num. 6:2-21. 12. How shall we order the child ? or, as in the margin, What shall be the manner of the child ? The question relates to the mother's deportment before his birth, as immedi ately explained by the angel. 18. Secret; wonderful; the same in the original as in Isa. 9:6. Samson marrieth a JUDGES XIV. wife of tlie Philistines. a. m. 2863. 21 But the angel of the Lord did no more ' ii«. at appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die," because we have seen God. 23 But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt-offering and a meat-offering at our hands/ neither would he have showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these. 24 1 And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson:0 and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him.d 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to move him8 at times in the camp of Dan* between Zorah and Eshtaol/ CHAPTER XIV. 1 Samson desireth a wife of the Philistines. 5 In his journey he killeth a lion. 8 In a second journey he findeth honey in the carcass. 10 Samson's marriage-feast. 12 His riddle by his wife is made known. 19 He spoileth thirty Philistines. 20 His wife is married to another. AND Samson went down to Timnath/ and saw a woman in Timnath of the daughters of the Philistines.11 2 And he came up, and told his father and his mother, and said, I have seen a woman in Tim nath of the daughters of the Philistines: now therefore get her for me to wife. 3 Then his father and his mother said unto him, Is there never a woman among the daughters of thy brethren/ or among all my people, that thou goest to take a wife of the uncircumcised Philis tines V And Samson said unto his father, Get her for me ; for she pleaseth me well.+ 4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the L0RD.k that he sought an occasion against the Philistines : for at that time the Phi listines had dominion over Israel.1 » Exod. 33:20; Deut. 5:26. b Psa. 25:14; 27: 13; Prov. 3:32; John 15:15. » Heb. 11:32. d 1 Sam. 3:19. e 0h. 3:10. * Heb. Mahaneh-dan, as ch. 18:12. fch. 18:11; Josh. 15:33. 6 Gen. 33:13; Josh. 15:10. h Gen. 31:1, 2. i Gen. 24:3,4. j Gen. 34:14; Exod. 31:12, 16; Deut. 7:3. t Heb. is right in mine eyes, k Josh. 11:20; 2 Kings 6:33; 2 Chr. 10:15; 22:7; 25:20. 25. In the camp of Dan; or, as in the margin, in Maha neh-dan, the name of a certain place, the origin of which is given in chap. 18:12. Zorah — Eshtaol; in the south part of Dan. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. Our mercies and our trials are perfectly known to God, and he can so adapt his favors as in the best way and time to supply our wants. 4. Children are the gift of God, and parents should take such a course as is best adapted to fit them for his service. C. Husbands and wives should avail themselves of each other's counsel, and thus unite their efforts, especially in every thing pertaining to the temporal and eternal wel-. fare of their children. 8. One of the most important and difficult duties of par ents is the right education of children ; and no one will ever properly perform it, unless in the habit of daily seek ing wisdom from God. 9. When parents ask direction from God how to treat their children, in order most to honor him, to benefit them, and make them useful to others, God is ready to hear and to aid them in training their children in the way they should go. 13. To be successful in the right education of children, parents must give heed to the directions of God on this 5 1 Then went Samson down, and his father and his mother, to Timnath, and came to the vine yards of Timnath: and behold, a young lion roar ed against him.* 6 And the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him,m and he rent him as he would have rent a kid," and he had nothing in his hand : but he told not his father or his mother what he had done. 7 And he went down, and talked with the wom an ; and she pleased Samson well. 8 1 And after a time he returned to take her, and he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion : and behold, there was a swarm of bees and honey in the carcass of the lion. 9 And he took thereof in his hands, and went on eating/ and came to his father and mother, and he gave them, and they did eat: but he told not them that he had taken the honey out of the carcass of the lion. 10 T So his father went down unto the woman: and Samson made there a feast ;p for so used the young men to do. 11 And it came to pass when they saw him, that they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 1" And Samson said unto them, I will now put forth a riddle unto you : q if ye can certainly declare it me within the seven days of the feast/ and find it out, then I will give you thirty sheets/ and thirty change of garments:8 13 But if ye cannot declare it me, then shall ye give me thirty sheets and thirty change of gar ments. And they said unto him, Put fortli thy riddle, that we may hear it. 14 And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness. And they could not in three days expound the riddle. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they said unto Samson's wife/Entice thy husband/ that he may declare unto us the riddle, lest we 1 ch. 13:1. t Heb. in meeting him. m ch. 13:25; 1 Sam. 31:6. n 1 Sam. 17:34, 35. »1 Sam. 14:25-30; Prov. 25:16. P Esth. 1:5; 2:18; Eccl. 10:]!). q Prov. 1:6; Ezek. 17:2; Luke 14-7. r Gen. 29:27; 2 Chr. 7:8. i Or, shirts. » Gen. 45:22. ' ch. 16:5; Prov. 1:10. subject; and if they would lead their children to obey him, they must be careful to set them the example. 15. The mercies of God bestowed on our children should increase our sense of obligation, and lead us to offer to him the sacrifices of praise and thanksgiving. 18. God manifest in the flesh is indeed, The Wonderful ; and while we should receive with implicit confidence ali that he reveals concerning himself, we should not seek to know what we cannot and do not need to understand. 20. The Lord is wonderful, not only in his nature and perfections, but in his operations ; and they should inspire us not only with reverence and awe, but with admiration, confidence, and love. CHAPTER XIV. 1. Timnath; then held by the Philistines. 4. Of tlie Lord; to overrule this transaction for aveng ing the wrongs inflicted by the Philistines, and beginning to deliver the Israelites from their power. Chap. 13:5. 11. They; the people of Timnath. 12. Put forth a riddle; this was a common amusement on such occasions. Thirty slieets; the word in the original means shirts or linen, worn next the body. Garments; the outer garments, worn over the shirts. 15. Called us; invited us to the feast. 311 Samson vexeth and JUDGES XV. slayeth the Philistines. burn thee and thy father's house with fire :" have ye called us to take that we have?* is it not so: 16 And Samson's wife wept before him, and said, Thou dost but hate me, and lovest me not:b thou hast put forth a riddle unto the children of my people, and hast not told it me. And he said unto her, Behold, I have not told it my father nor my mother, and shall I tell it thee? 17 And she wept before him the seven + days, while their feast lasted : and it came to pass on the seventh day, that he told her, because she lay sore upon him:0 and she told the riddle to the children of her people. 18 And the men of the city said uuto him on the seventh day before the sun went down, What is sweeter than honey? and what is stronger than a lion? And he said unto them, If ye had not ploughed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle. 19 T And the Spirit of the Lord came upon him,d and he went down to Ashkelon, and slew thirty men of them, and took their spoil/ and gave change of garments unto them which expounded the rid dle. And his anger was kindled, and he went up to his father's house. 20 But Samson's wife was given to his compan ion/ whom he had used as his friend/ a Ch. 15:6. ' Heb. possess us, or impoverish us. b ch. 16:15. t Or, the rest of the. « Luke 11:8; 18:4, 5. d ver. 0. 1 Or, apparel, e 0h. 15:2. 17. The seven days; that is, the rest of the seven days of the feast that remained after the third. 18. Ploughed with my heifer; persuaded his wife to tell them. 19. Ashkelon; a city of the Philistines, southwest of Timnath and north of Gaza. 20. His friend ; the person who had the direction at the marriage-feast ; called by way of eminence the friend of the bridegroom. John 3:29. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. On no subject connected with human welfare does a young man need divine guidance more than in selecting a wife. 2. It is ordinarily wise for a young man, before engag ing to marry any one, to consult his parents and avail him self of the benefits of their advice. 3. All wise parents will desire that their children should marry those who are pious and who are connected with religious families. 4. While parents should advise their children and give them good counsel on the subject of marriage, yet after they become of age they should not undertake to control them. They do not know enough about the designs of God with regard to such connections, to render such con trol either safe or proper. 5. When the course of children with regard to marriage is settled, parents should endeavor to make the best of it, and to render it as useful and comfortable as possible. 6. If a young man is under the direction of the Spirit of God, and is aided by him, though he may meet with great difficulties and dangers, he will be enabled to overcome them. 8. It is often useful to review the scenes in which God has especially favored us and enabled us to overcome the dangers to which we were exposed. 9. A generous mind does not wish to onjoy its blessings alone, and its happiness is increased by imparting them to others, especially to parents, relatives, and friends ; but there are some things the knowledge of which a wise man will keep to himself and not impart to any one. 312 CHAPTER XV. B.C. about 1140^ 1 Samson is denied his wife. 3 He burneth the Philistines' corn with foxes and firebrands. 6 His wife and her father are burnt by the Philistines. 7 Samson smiteth them hip and thigh. 9 He is bound by the men of Judah, and delivered to the Philistines. 14 He killeth them with a jawbone. 18 God maketh the fountain En-hakkore for him in Lehi. BUT it came to pass within a while after, in the time of wheat-harvest, that Samson vis ited his wife with a kid ; and he said, I will go in to my wife into the chamber. But her father would not suffer him to go in. 2 And her father said, I verily thought that thou hadst utterly hated her; therefore I gave her to thy companion :e is not her younger sister fairer than she? take her/ I pray thee, instead of her. 3 1" And Samson said concerning them, Now shall I be more blameless than the1 Philistines, though I do them a displeasure. 4 And Samson went and caught three hundred foxes, and took, firebrands,* and turned tail to tail, and put a firebrand in the midst between two tails. 5 And when he had set the brands on fire, he let them go into the standing corn of the Philis tines," and burnt up both the shocks, and also the standing corn, with the vineyards and olives. 6 Then the Philistines said, Who hath done this? And they answered, Samson, the son-in-law of the f Jer. 9:4; Mic. 7:5; John 3:29. Bch. 14:20. % Heb. let her be thine. « Or, Now shall I be blameless from the. v Or, torches, b 2 Sam. 14 :30. 10. Marriage is a joyful occasion, and it is proper grate fully to notice it by feasting. But in feasting there is peculiar danger, not only of being betrayed into excesses, but of forgetting God and sinning against him. All there fore, when so exposed, should seek his protection and guidance. 11. Virtuous companions are great blessings, and vicious ones are great curses. 12. When in company with the frivolous and wicked we are tempted, especially after feasting, to become like them, and to engage in their frivolous or even wicked sports. But nothing should receive the sanction of our example, except what is moral in its nature and useful in its effects. 13. The pledging of property on contingencies the re sults of which we cannot foresee, and which render us liable to give or receive an amount without an equivalent, is wrong. By encouraging idleness, and leading men to the wide extremes of high expectation and sore disap pointment, it tends greatly to injure them, and should be conscientiously avoided. 15. The hope of gain without laboring or rendering an equivalent, the fear of loss, and the desire to prevent it, have tempted many to the commission of enormous crimes. 17. We cannot be sure that others will keep a secret which we cannot keep ourselves, as their temptation to divulge it may be greater than ours. If we would there fore not have a thing known, we should not reveal it. 18. Intimate companionship with the wicked exposes to the most disastrous results, and by it, from the highest mirth, men may be plunged into the deepest sorrow. 20. One wrong step opens the way for another, and when a woman betrays her husband, he has no security that she will not forsake him. There is no safety but in avoiding the beginning of evil. CHAPTER XV. 1 . The time of wheat-harvest ; in May. A kid ; as a present, and in token of reconciliation. 4. Foxes; the original word includes also jackals, which are abundant in Palestine, and easily caught. Works of Samson at JUDGES XVI. Lehi and at Gaza. a. m. 2864. Timnite, because he had taken his wife, u' ii4ob<"" and given her to his companion. And the Philistines came up, and burnt her and her father with fire." 7 And Samson said unto them, Though ye have done this, yet will I be avenged of you, and after that I will cease. 8 And he smote them hip and thigh with a great slaughter : and he went down and dwelt in the top of the rock Etam. 9 1 Then the Philistines went up, and pitched in Judah, and spread themselves in Lehi/ 10 And the men of Judah said, Why are'ye come up against us? And they answered, To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done to us. 11 Then three thousand men of Judah went* to the top of the rock Etam, and said to Samson, Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us?c what is this that thou hast done unto us? And he said unto them, As they did unto me, so have I done unto them. 12 And they said unto him, We are come down to bind thee, that we may deliver thee into the hand of the Philistines. Arid Samson said unto them, Swear unto me, that ye will not fall upon me yourselves. 13 And they spake unto him, saying, No; but we will bind thee fast, and deliver thee into their hand : but surely we will not kill thee. And they bound him with two new cords, and brought him up from the rock. 14 IT And when he came unto Lehi, the Philis tines shouted against him : and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon him,d and the cords that were upon his arms became as flax that was burnt with, fire/ and his bands loosed* from off his hands. 15 And he found a new* jawbone of an ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thou sand men therewith. a Ch. 14:15. b ver. 19. • Heb. ivent down, e cb. 14:4; Psa. 106:41. Jer. 3:1. 11 Heb. Strengthen, ver. 8; Gen. 18:5. i Psa. 104:15. ' Heb. till the day declined, t Heb. is weak, i Luke 24:29. that God approves of their conduct. He may in wrath suffer them to rob others, and that robbery may prepare the way for their own ruin. 14. Consideration and cool deliberate calculation in iniquity increase its guilt, and manifest great hardness of heart. 17. Rebellion against God and injustice towards men go together, and no ties of relationship or experience of kind ness will lead the wicked ever to make it their object to do to others as they would that others should do to them. 20. The great object of false teachers is worldly good ; the prospect of this, though by conniving at and sharing in flagrant wickedness, makes them glad. 24. Idols can afford their worshippers no help ; and were not the human mind awfully blinded, and the heart besotted by sin, no one would expect it from them. 25. Robbery prepares men for murder, and those who feel and act as if might gave right, will commit any enor mity. 30. Satan, in his worship, is willing men should use robbery for burnt-offerings; but Jehovah in his worship abhors it. Idolatry begun by few may spread to many, and ultimately prove the ruin of all. 317. The wickedness of JUDGES XIX. the men of Gibeah. tarry all night: behold, the day groweth to an end,*a lodge here, that thy heart may be merry; and to-morrow get you early on your way, that thou mayest go home/ 10 But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against* Jebus/ which is Jerusalem ; and there were with him two asses saddled, his concubine also was with him. 11 And when they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said unto his master, Come, I pray thee, and let us turn in into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it. 12 And his master said unto him, We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel ; we will pass over to Gibeah. 13 And he said unto his servant, Come, and let us draw near to one of these places to lodge all night, in Gibeah, or in Ramah.c 14 And they passed on and went their way ; and the sun went down upon them when they were by Gibeah, which belongeth to Benjamin. 15 And they turned aside thither, to go in and to lodge in Gibeah : and when he went in, he sat him down in a street of the city : for there was no man that took them into his house to lodging.4 16 1 And behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at even/ which was also of mount Ephraim ; and he sojourned in Gibeah : but the men of the place were Benjamites. 17 And when he had lifted up his eyes, he saw a wayfaring man in the street of the city : and the old man said, Whither goest thou? and whence comest thou? 18 And he said unto him, We are passing from Beth-lehem-judah toward the side of mount Ephra im ; from thence am I : and I went to Beth-lehem- judah, but I am now going to the house of the Lord ;( and there is no man that receiveth8 me to house. 19 Yet there is both straw and provender for our asses ; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for thy handmaid, and for the young man " Heb. it is the pitching time of the day. a Jer. 6:4. t Heb. to thy tent. t Heb. to over against. 1> Josh. 15:8, SI; 18:28; 2 Sam. 5:6. = Josh. 18:25; 1 Sam. 7:17. d Matt. 25:43; Heb. 13:2. e Psa. 101:23. ' Josh. 18: I ; 1 Sam. 1:3, 7. S Heb. gathereth, ver. 15; John 15:6. e ch. 6:23; Gen. CHAPTER XIX. 12. A stranger; the city Was then inhabited to a con siderable extent by Jebusites, one of the nations of Canaan that had not been driven out. Gibeah; this was a few miles north of Jerusalem, and on the way towards mount Ephraim. 13. Ramah; a place near Gibeah. 15. To lodge; there were then no taverns, and traveUers were dependent for lodging on private hospitality. 18. The house qfthe Lord; this was in Shiloh, and prob ably not far from the place where the Levite dwelt. 19. No want; except for lodging. He mentioned his pro visions to show that he should not be burdensome to his entertainer. 20. Peace be with thee; the usual salutation of kindness. 22. Sons of Belial; wicked, abandoned men. 28. None answered; she was dead. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. When there is no regular, efficient civil government, such is human nature, that crimes of all descriptions will abound and the wicked triumph. 318 which is with thy servants : there is no want £ M: ass.. of any thing. l^- 20 And the old man said, Peace be with thee;8 howsoever, let all thy wants lie upon me; only lodge not in the streets 21 So he brought him into his house/ and gave provender unto the asses : and they washed their feet/ and did eat and drink. 22 1 Now as they were making their hearts. merry ,k behold, the men of the city, certain sons of Belial/ beset the house round about,m and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, the old man, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thy house, that we may know'him.n 23 And the man, the master of the house, went out unto them, and said unto them, Nay, my breth ren, nay, I pray you, do not so wickedly : seeing that this man is come into my house, do not this folly.0 24 Behold, here is my daughter a maiden, and his concubine ; them I will bring out now, and humble ye them/ and do with them what seemeth good unto you : but unto this man do not so vile a thing.' 25 But the men would not hearken to him : so the man took his concubine, and brought her forth unto them ; and they knew her, and abused her all the night until the morning : and when the day began to spring, they let her go. 26 Then came the woman in the dawning of the day, and fell down at the door of the man s house where her lord was, till it was light. 27 And her lord rose up in the morning, and opened the doors of the house, and went out to go his way: and behold, the woman his concubine was fallen down at the door of the house, and her hands were upon the threshold. 28 And he Said unto her, Up, and let us be go ing : but none answered. Then the man took her up upon an ass, and the man rose up, and gat him unto his place. 29 li And when he was come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and 43:23 ,21. h G n. 19 2. ¦ Gen 24:32 j Gen IS: 4; John 13:5-14 1 Tim. 5:10. k ver. 6 °H ch . 1(1 25. 1 Deut. 13:13; 2 Sam . 23:6, 7. >» ch. 20:5; lien. 19:4, etc. OS. 9:9; 10:9. n Rom. 1:20 27. o 2 Sam 13:12. P Gen. 34:2; Deu . 21 14 He! . the matter of this folly. 6. Hospitality and kindness to friends are highly com mendable, but we should not urge them against their con venience and to the neglect of their duties. 7. We should never let kindness and importunity over come our judgment. If we do, by the evils which spring from it we may, when too late, be taught our folly. Mul titudes have suffered for want of the habit of saying to all undue solicitations, promptly, firmly, perseveringly, No. 8. Nothing should be delayed till afternoon that ought to be done in the morning. 12. It is a great comfort and blessing to travellers to find good lodging-places, where they can rest in quietness, and not be disturbed by the wicked. 16. Diligence in business is conducive to excellence of character, and promotive of all those virtues which secure the welfare and comfort of both citizens and strangers. 20. Hospitality, especially to the needy, is a great bless ing to the giver and to the receiver. It is well-pleasing to God, and when exercised from love to him will receive a gracious and an abundant reward. Rom. 12:13; 1 Tim. 3:2; Tit. 1:8; 1 Pet. 4:9. 22. The greater the light which men resist, the more The Israelites demand JUDGES XX. justice of the Benjamites. a. m. 2598. divided her, together with her bones, into Bwo6b?ut twelve pieces, and sent her into all the coasts of Israel." 30 And it was so, that all that saw it said, There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt unto this day : consider of it/ take advice/ and speak your minds. CHAPTER XX. 1 The Levite in a general assembly declare* his wrong;. 8 The de cree of the assembly. 12 The Benjamites, being cited, make head against the Israelites. IS The Israelites in two battles lose forty thousand. 26 They destroy by a stratagem all the Benjamites, ex cept six hundred. THEN all the children of Israel went out/ and the congregation was gathered together as one man, from Dan even to Beer-sheba/ with the land of Gilead, unto the Lord in Mizpeh/ 2 And the chief of all the people, even of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the as sembly of the people of God, four hundred thou sand footmen that drew sword.s 3 Now the children of Benjamin heard that the children of Israel were gone up to Mizpeh. Then said the children of Israel, Tell us, how was this wickedness?"1 4 And the Levite/ the husband of the woman that was slain, answered and said, I came into Gibeah that belongeth to Benjamin/ I and my con cubine, to lodge. 5 And the men of Gibeah rose against me, and beset the house round about upon me by night, and thought to have slain me : and my concubine have they forced/ that she is dead. 6 And I took my concubine, and cut her in pieces, and sent her throughout all the country of the inheritance of Israel;5 for they have committed lewdness and folly in Israel.k 7 Behold, ye are all children of Israel ; give here your advice and counsel/ 8 T And all the people arose as one man, saying, We will not any of us go to his tent, neither will we any of us turn into his house. 9 But now this shall be the thing which we will do to Gibeah ; we will go up by lot against it ; 10 And we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand out of ten thousand, to fetch victuals for the people, that they may do, when they come to Gibeah of Benjamin, according to all the folly that they have wrought in Israel. »Ch. 20:6, 7; 1 Sam 11:7. boh. 20:7. ' Prov. 11 14; 24:6 d ver. 11 ; ch. 21:5; Josh. 22:12; 1 Sam . 11 7. e I Sam. 3:20 2 Sam. 3:10; -24:2. 1 ch. 11:11; 1 Sam. 7:5; 10:17. B ch. 8 10. b ch. 19:22-27. " Heb. the man the Levite i oh. 19:15, etc. t Heb humbled. ch. 19:29. k Josh. wicked they will be ; and apostate professors of religion, who become openly vicious, are among the worst of man kind. 25. Habitual wickedness makes men inexpressibly cruel, and none are so dead to pity and compassion as those who are given up to its power. It is the spirit of hell, and those who pursue it are ripening for that place of torment. Psa. 26:9. CHAPTER XX. 1. Don; in the northern extremity of the land. Beer- sheba; in the southern extremity. Gilead; on the east side 11 So all the men of Israel were gathered against the city, knit* together as one man. 12 1 And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin,"1 saying, What wicked ness is this that is done among you ? 13 Now therefore deliver us the men, the chil dren of Belial,11 which are in Gibeah, that we may put them to death, and put away evil from Israel.0 But the children of Benjamin would not hearken to the voice of their brethren the children of Israel: 14 But the children of Benjamin gathered them selves together out of the cities unto Gibeah, to go out to battle against the children of Israel. 15 And the children of Benjamin were number ed at that time out of the cities twenty and six thousand men that drew sword, besides the inhab itants of Gibeah, which were numbered seven hun dred chosen men. 16 Among all this people there were seven hun dred chosen men left-handed :p every one could sling stones at a hair breadth, and not miss. 17 And the men of Israel, besides Benjamin, were numbered four hundred thousand men that drew sword : all these were men of war. 18 IT And the children of Israel arose, and went up to the house of God,q and asked counsel of God/ and said, Which of us shall go up first to the battle against the children of Benjamin ? And the Loed said, Judah shall go up first. 19 And the children of Israel rose up in the morning, and encamped against Gibeah. 20 And the men of Israel went out to battle against Benjamin ; and the men of Israel put them selves in array to fight against them at Gibeah. 21 And the children of Benjamin came forth out of Gibeah, and destroyed down to the ground of the Israelites that day twenty and two thousand men.3 22 And the people the men of Israel encouraged themSelves, and set their battle again in array in the place where they put themselves in array the first day. 23 And the children of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until even, and asked counsel of the Lord/ saying, Shall I go up again to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother? And the Lord said, Go up against him. 24 And the children of Israel came near against the children of Benjamin the second day. 25 And Benjamin went forth against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed down to 7:15. 1 oh. 19:30. tHeb fellows. mjjeut. 13:14 ; Josh . 2; :13 etc neh. 19:22. o Deut. 17:12. P ch. 3:15; 1 Chr. 12:2. 1 ver. 23 2fi Joel 1:14. rch.l 1 ; Num. 27 21. s Gen. 49:27; Hos 10:9. ver. 26, «; Psa. 78:34; Hos. 5 15. of Jordan. Mizpeh; a place south-west of Gibeah, and near the border of Judah and Benjamin. 11. Knit; united. 18. Which of us shall go up first ; they did not ask, as they should have done, whether they should go up. This, in reliance on their own wisdom and strength, they had re solved to do, and they only asked who should go first. The Lord told them, but did not by this insure their success. 25. Destroyed—of the children of Israel— eighteen thousand; the Israelites had themselves been guilty of various crimes, and God saw fit thus to punish them before he used them as instruments of punishing Benjamin. 319 Benjamin defeated, and JUDGES XX. many thousands destroyed. the ground of the children of Israel again eighteen thousand men ;a all these drew the sword. 26 1 Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God/ and wept/ and sat there before the Lord, and fast ed that day until even, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings before the Lord. 27 And the children of Israel inquired of the Lord, (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days/ 28 And Phinehas/ the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days/) say ing,_ Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease ? And the Lord said, Go up ; for to-morrow I will de liver them into thy hand.g 29 And Israel set liers in wait round about Gibeah/1 30 And the children of Israel went up against the children of Benjamin on the third day, and put them selves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. 31 And the children of Benjamin went out against the people, and were drawn away from the city ; and they began to smite of the people, and kill," as at other times, in the highways, of which one goeth up to the house of God/ and the other to Gibeah in the field, about thirty men of Israel. 32 And the children of Benjamin said, They are smitten down before us, as at the first. But the children of Israel said, Let us flee, and draw them from the city unto the highways. 33 And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place, and put themselves in array at Baal-tamar : and the liers in wait of Israel came forth out of their places, even out of the meadows of Gibeah. 34 And there came against Gibeah ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was sore : but they knew not that evil was near them/ 35 And the Lord smote Benjamin before Israel : and the children of Israel destroyed of the* Ben jamites that day twenty and five thousand and a hundred men: all these drew the sword. 36 So the children of Benjamin saw that they were smitten : for the men of Israel gave place to the Benjamites,j because they trusted unto the liers in wait which they had set beside Gibeah. > Ver. 21. b ver. 18, 23. c Joel 2:12-18. d Josh. 18:1; 1 Sam. 4:3, 4. e Num. 25:7-13; Josh. 24:33. f Deut. 10:8; 18:5. s2Chr.20:17. hjosh. 8:4; 2 Sam. 5:23. * Heb. wounded, t Or, Beth-el. i Josh. 8:14; Eccl. 9: 12; Isa. 47:11 ; I Thess. 5:3. i Josh. 8: 15, etc. t Or, made a long sound with the trumpets; Josh. 6:5. % Or, time. B Heb. with. 1 Heb. elevation. 28. Phinehas — stood before it in those days; this shows that these transactions took place not long after the death of Joshua or the elders that outlived him. Chap. 17:1. Or shall I cease ? this shows that they were now in some meas ure humbled, ready to commit themselves to the guidance and disposal of God, and thus were better prepared for success. I will deliver them; not without their use of means, but by such means. 33. Baal-tamar; a place near Gibeah. 45. Rock of Rimmon; supposed to be a place north-east of Gibeah. 47. In the rock; in its fastnesses. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The sins of others, especially when great arid aggra vated, may be condemned ; but without divine grace men will'not abhor and forsake their own. 320 37 And the liers in wait hasted, and £-g-^- rushed upon Gibeah ; and the liers in wait 'i«>6\ °" drew themselves along/ and smote all the city with the edge of the sword. 38 Now there was an appointed sign8 between the men of Israel and' the liers in wait, that they should make a great flame T with smoke rise up out of the city. 39 And when the men of Israel retired in the battle, Benjamin began to smite, and kill* of the men of Israel about thirty persons : for they said, Surely they are smitten down before us, as in the first battle. 40 But when the flame began to arise up out of the city with a pillar of smoke,k the Benjamites looked behind them, and behold, the flame* of the city ascended up to heaven. 41 And when the men of Israel turned again, the men of Benjamin were amazed:1 for they saw that evil was come upon* them., 42 Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel unto the way of the wilderness ; but the battle overtook them;™ and them which came out of the cities they destroyed in the midst of them. 43 Thus they inclosed the Benjamites round about, and chased them, and trode them down with ' ease," over against' Gibeah toward the sunrising. 44 And there fell of Benjamin eighteen thousand men ; all these were men of valor. 45 And they turned and fled toward the wilder ness unto the rock of Kimmon :n and they gleaned of them in the highways five thousand men ; and pursued hard after them unto Gidom, and slew two thousand men of them. 46 So that all which fell that day of Benjamin were twenty and five thousand men that drew the sword ; all these were men of valor. 47 But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness unto the rock Rimmon/ and abode in the rock Rimmon four months. 48 And the men of Israel turned again upon the children of Benjamin, and smote them with the edge of the sword, as well the men of every city, as the beast, and all that came to hand :* also they set on fire all the cities that they came to/ • Heb. the wounded, k Gen. 19:28; Joel 2:30. t Heb. whole consumption. 1 Isa. 13:8; 33:14. 1 Heb. touched, m Lam. 1:3. I Or, from Menuchah. 1 Heb. unto over against, n Josh. 15:32; 1 Chr. 6:77; Zech. 14:10. o ch. 21:13. ' Heb. toas found, t Heb. were found. 4. Men should carefully inquire into the facts, and obtain full proof of guilt, before they undertake to punish. 8. When men, in reliance on their own wisdom and strength, determine what they will do without asking di rection of God or seeking his blessing, they should not think it strange if he does not give them success. Deut. 1:40-44. 12. Men who protect criminals and screen them from punishment, become partakers of their guilt, and often of their woes. 17. The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. Men are dependent on God, and numbers merely can never insure success. 23. Men may externally seek the Lord without forsaking their sins, and in righteous judgment he may suffer them to take a course which shall end in their ruin. 28. A disposition to be governed in all things, not by The Benjamites obtain wives JUDGES XXI. from Jabesh and Shiloh. CHAPTER XXI. A. V 2598. B. O. about 1406. 1 The people bewail the desolation of Benjamin. 8 By the destruction of JabesK-gilead they provide them four hundred wives. 16 They advise them to surprise the virgins that danced at Shiloh. NOW the men of Israel had sworn" in Mizpeh/ saying, There shall not any of us give his daughter unto Benjamin to wife. 2 And the people came to the house of God/ and abode there till even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore •/' 3 And said, 0 Lord God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be to-day one tribe lacking in Israel? 4 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the people rose early, and built there an altar, and offered burnt-offerings and peace-offerings.6 5 And the children of Israel said, Who is there among all the tribes of Israel that came not up with the congregation unto the Lord ? For they had made a great oath concerning him that came not up to the Lord to Mizpeh, saying, He shall surely be put to death. 6 And the children of Israel repented them for Benjamin their brother/ and said, There is one tribe cut off from Israel this day. 7 How shall we do for wives for them that re main, seeing we have sworn by the Lord, that we will not give them of our daughters to wives? 8 1 And they said, What one is there of the tribes of Israel that came not up to Mizpeh to the Lord? And behold, there came none to the camp from Jabesh-gilead to the assembly.g 9 For the people were numbered , and behold , there ice re none of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead there. 10 And the congregation sent thither twelve thousand men of the valiantest, and commanded them, saying, Go and smite the inhabitants of Ja besh-gilead with the edge of the sword, with the women and the children/1 11 And this is the thing that ye shall do, Ye shall utterly destroy every male, and every woman that hath lain by man/1 ' 12 And they found among the inhabitants of Ja besh-gilead four hundred young virgins/ that had known no man by lying with any male : and they brought them unto the camp to" Shiloh,' which is in the land of Canaan. 13 And the whole congregation sent some to * 1 Sam. 14:28, 29; Eom. 10:2. b ch 20:1, 10. e ch. 20:18:20. i Gen 27:38; 1 Sam. 30:4. » 2 Sam. 24:25, ( ch. 11:35. S 1 Sam. 11:1; 31:11. b ver. 5; ch. 5:23; 1 Sam. 11:7. • Heb. knoweth the lying.vrith man. 'Num.31:17. t Heb. women virgins. JJosh.l8:l. t Heb. and spake and our own will, but by the will of God, is a good preparation for sure, ultimate, and complete success. 29. The promise of divine aid, rightly understood, leads men not to neglect means, but diligently and perseveringly to use them. 35. However numerous or efficacious the means which men use, their success comes from God, and in the Bible is ascribed to him as really as if no means had been em ployed. 46. The wicked in this world are often the means of pun ishing themselves and one another ; and this, in the future world, may continue to be the case for ever. CHAPTER XXI. 8. Jabesh-gilead; a city in the half-tribe of Manasseh, on the east of Jordan. 21 speak* to the children of Benjamin that were in the rock Rimmon," and to call peaceably3 unto them. 14 And Benjamin came again at that time ; and they gave them wives which they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead : and yet so they sufficed them not. 15 And the people repented them for Benjamin/ because that the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel."1 16 IF Then the elders of the congregation said, How shall we do for wives for them that remain, seeing the women are destroyed out of Benjamin? 17 And they said, There must be an inheritance for them that be escaped of Benjamin, that a tribe be not destroyed out of Israel. 1 8 Howbeit we may not give them wives of our daughters : for the children of Israel have sworn/ saying, Cursed be he that giveth a wife to Benjamin. 19 Then they said, Behold, there is a feast of the Lord in Shiloh yearly/ in a place which is on the north side of Bethel, on the east side1 of* the high way that goeth up from Beth-el to Shechem, and on the south of Lebonah. 20 Therefore they commanded the children of Benjamin, saying, Go and lie in wait in the vine yards ; 21 And see, and behold, if the daughters of Shi loh come out to dance in dances/ then come ye out of the vineyards, and catch you every man his wife of the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. 22 And it shall be, when their fathers or their brethren come unto us to complain, that we will say unto them, Be favorable unto them* for our sakes: because we reserved not to each man his wife in the war :p for ye did not give unto them at this time, that ye should be guilty. 23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities," and dwelt in them. 24 And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. 25 In those days there was no king in Israel:1 every man did that which was right in his own eyes.8 called. kch.20:47. i Or, proclaim peace. 1 ver. 6. m 1 Chr. 13: 11; 15:13; Isa. 30:13; 58:12. n ver. 1. S Heb. from year to year. t Or, toward the sunrising. * Or, on. o ch. 11:34; Eccl. 3:4. t Or, Gratify us in them. PlCor.7:2. q ch. 20:48. r ch. 17:6; 18:1; 19:1. » Deut. 12:8. 12. In the land of Canaan; on the west side of Jordan. 22. Ye did not give unto them ; by this they imply that they do not violate the oath spoken of in verses 1, 7, 18, as the women were not taken by their consent. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Engagements made in the heat of passion often end in bitter repentance. 5. Civil wars, and those waged among brethren, are often most cruel, and lead on from one degree of enormity to another, till multitudes of both parties are overwhelmed in common woe. 10. Men maybe very scrupulous about moral obligation in some things, and most regardless of it in others. ^ 14. Conscience unenlightened and blinded by sin, is a very unsafe guide. What it forbids men to do directly, it 321 THE BOOK OF RUTH This brief book has its name from Euth a Moabitess, and daughter-in-law to Naomi, a Hebrew woman of the tribe of Judah. From her marriage, after the death of her first husband, to Boaz, a kinsman of Naomi, sprang Obed the grandfather of David. Thus the book connects itself immediately with "the house and lineage of David ;" and may be regarded as supplementary to the history of his family. At the same time it contains a charming picture of Hebrew life in the days of the Judges. CHAPTER I. 1 Elimelech driven by famine into Moab. dieth there. 4 Mahlon and Chilion. having married wives of Moab. die also. 6 Naomi returning homeward, 8 dhsuadeth her two daughters-in-law from going with her. 14 Orpah leaveth her, but Ruth with great constancy accom panied her. 19 They two come to Beth-lehem, where they are gladly received. NOW it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled/" that there was a famine in the land. And a certain man of Beth-lehem-judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab/ he, and his wife, and his two sons. 2 And the uame of the man was Elimelech, and the name of his wife Naomi, and the name of his two sons Mahlon and Chilion, Ephrathites of Beth- lehem-judah.0 And they came into the country of Moab, and continued* there. 3 And Elimelech Naomi's husband died; and she was left, and her two sons. 4 And they took them wives of the women of Moab ; and the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth: and they dwelt there about ten years. 5 And Mahlon and Chilion died also both of them; and the woman was left of her two sons and her husband. 6 IT Then shearosewithher daughters-in-law, that she might return from the country of Moab : for she had heard in the country of Moab how that the Lord had visited his peopled in giving them bread.e 7 Wherefore she went forth out of the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with • Heb. judged, a Judg. 2:16. b Judg. 17:8. <= Gen. 3":19. tHeb.wm. d Gen. 50:25; Exod. 4:31; Luke 1:08. = Psa. 132:15; Matt. 6:31-34. f 3 Tim. 1:10-18. e Gen. 38:1 1 ; Deut. 25:5. t Or, were with, i Heb. hope. often suffers them to do indirectly, and under circumstan ces which greatly increase their guilt. 18. Men may be so blinded by sin as to think that the giving of one wife, with her own consent and that of her parents, to one man is a crime ; and that being accessory by robbery and violence to the giving, without their con sent or that .if their parents, of two hundred wives to two hundred men, is a worthy deed. Surely, he that trusteth in his own heart is a fool. Prov. 28: 26. 23. "Persons may sometimes be married very improperly, and without the consent of friends ; yet after their marriage 322 her; and they went on the way to return tc.'Si unto the land of Judah. im 8 And Naomi said unto her two daughters-in- law, Go, return each to her mother's house : the Lord deal kindly with you/ as ye have dealt with the dead, and with me. 9 The Lord grant you that ye may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband. Then she kissed them; aDd they lifted up their voice, and wept. 10 And they said unto her, Surely we will return with thee unto thy people. 11 And Naomi said, Turn again, my daughters : why will ye go with me ? are there yet any more sons in my womb, that they may be your hus bands?8 12 Turn again, my daughters, go your way; for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say, I have hope, if I should have* a husband also to night, and should also bear sons ; 13 Would ye tarry8 for them till they were grown? would ye stay for them from having hus bands? nay, my daughters; for it grieveth me much ¦ for your sakes that the hand of the Lord is gone out against me/ 14 And they lifted up their voice, and wept again : and Orpah kissed her mother-in-law ; but Ruth clave unto her/ 15 And she said, Behold, thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people, and unto her gods :j return thou after thy sister-in-law.k I Heb. I have much bitterness, b Judg. 2:15: Job 19:21; Psa. 32:4; 38:2; 39:9, 10. i Prov. 17:17. i Judg. 11 :24. k Josh. 24:15. has occurred, and cannot be revoked, it is usually wise for friends cheerfully to acquiesce, and strive to make the con nection as useful as possible. CHAPTER I. 1. Tlie land; Palestine. Moab; a country south-east of Palestine. 2. Ephrathites ; Bethlehem was called Bphratah, and its inhabitants Ephrathites. 15. Her gods; the idols which her countrymen wor shipped. Ruth, at Bet/dcliem, RUTH II. gleaneth in Boaz's fields a. m. 2692. 16 And Ruth said, Entreat me not* to B' Sif"" leave thee/ or to return from following after thee : for whither thou goest, I will go ; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge : thy people shall be mv people, and thy God my God :b 17 "Where thou diest, will I* die, and there will I be buried : the Lord do so to me, and more also/ if aught but death part thee and me." 18 When she saw that' she was steadfastly mind ed* to go with her/ then she left speaking unto her. 19 1 So they two went until they came to Beth lehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Beth-lehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?f 20 And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi/ call me Mara:8 for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me. 21 I went out full, and the Lord hath brought me home again empty :g why then call ye me Na omi, seeing the Lord hath testified against me, and the Almighty hath afflicted me? 22 So Naomi returned, and Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, with her, which returned out of the country of Moab : and they came to Beth lehem in the beginning of barley-harvest.. CHAPTER II. 1 Ruth gleaneth in the fields of Boaz. 4 Boaz taking 'knowledge of her, 8 showeth her great favor. 18 That which she got, she carrieth to Naomi. AND Naomi had a kinsman of her husband's," a mighty man of wealth, of the family of Elimelech ; and his name was Boaz." 2 And Ruth the Moabitess said unto Naomi, Let me now go to the field, and glean cars of corn1 after him in whose sight I shall find grace. And she said unto her, Go, my daughter. 3 And she went, and came, and gleaned in the field after the reapers : and her hap was^ to light • Heb. Be not against me. »2Kings2:2-0; Luke 24:2% 29. * ch. 2:1 1. 12. ' 1 Sam. 3:17. d Acts 20:24. t Heb. strenglhewd herself, e Acts 21:14. f Isa. 23:7; Lam. 2:15. 1 That is, Pleasant, t That is. Bitter. S Job 1 : 21. bch. 3:2,12. I Called Booz. Matt. 1 :5. i Lev. 10:9; Deut. 24: 19. U Heb. 16. Thy God my God; in this she expressed her deter mination to embrace and adhere to the Jewish religion. 20. Naomi; meaning pleasant. Mara; bitter. 22. Beginning of barley-harvest ; in April. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Men are dependent on God for tho comforts of this life, as well as the life to come ; and without his blessing, notwithstanding all human efforts, the earth would never yield a harvest. 2. To remove, from a regard to worldly circumstances merely, out of a land of religious light and privileges to a land of darkness and^dolatry, is a course full of danger, and likely to terminate in distress. 5. A state of widowhood is one of peculiar trials, which calls for, and should receive, peculiar sympathy and aid. 6. All our blessings arc the gift of God ; they should be sought from him, and in the reception of them his good ness should be daily acknowledged. Matt. G: 11. 9. The marriage of daughters with husbands who will give them a peaceful, pleasant, and useful home, is desired by wise and pious parents, not only for the good of their daughters, but of all who may feel their influence. 14. Pious relatives may conduct with such wisdom and kindness as, with the blessing of God, to endear themselves to those who have ne religion ; and this they should desire, for tho purpose of doing them good. on a part of the field belonging unto Boaz, who was of the kindred of Elimelech. 4 T And behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers, The Lord be with you/ And they answered him, The Lord bless thee.k 5 Then said Boaz unto his servant that was set over the reapers, Whose damsel is this? 6 And the servant that was set over the reapers answered and said, It is the Moabitish damsel that came back with Naomi out of the country of Moab: 7 And she said, I pray you, let me glean and gather after the reapers among the sheaves : so she came, and hath continued even from the morn ing until now, that she tarried a little in the house. 8 Then said Boaz unto Ruth, Hearest thou not, my daughter? Go not to glean in another field, neither go from hence, but abide here fast by my maidens:1 9 Let thine eyes be on the field that they do reap, and go thou after them : have I not charged the young men that they shall not touch thee?"1 and when thou art athirst, go unto the vessels, and drink of that which the young men have drawn. 10 Then she fell on her face, and bowed herself to the ground," and said unto him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that thou shouldest take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? 11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been showed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thy hus band;0 and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 12 The Lord recompense thy work," and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings" thou art come to trust.1 13 Then she said, Let me find* favor in thy sight/ my lord; for that thou hast comforted me, and for that thou hast spoken friendly + unto thy happened, j Psa. 129:7,8; Luke 1 :2-l; 2 Thess. 3:16. k 1 Tim. 6:2. 'Song 1:7,8. m Gen. 20:0; Prov. 0:29. n 1 Sam. 25:23. och. 1:14-17. P 1 Sam. 24:19; Prov. 11:18. q Psa. 17:8; 36:7; 67:1 ; 63:7. reh. 1:16. • Or, Ifind. • Gen. 33:15; 1 Sam. 1:18. t Heb. to the heart; Gen. 34:3; Judg. 19:3. 16. Fixed and strong resolution is necessary in order truly to serve God, and those who love him will, when called to it, give up all for his sake. 20. True piety will lead men to see and acknowledge the hand of God in their mercies and in their trials ; to be thankful for the one and submissive under the other, and to endeavor in both to honor him. CHAPTER II. 1. Kinsman; relative. 2. Glean ears; pick up what was scattered and left in the field by the reapers. Grace; favor. 3. A part of the field ; the cultivated fields were not then ordinarily divided by fences, but by a stone or landmark. Without her knowing whose it was, God so ordered that she went into that part which belonged to Boaz. 1. In the house; probably the tent pitched in the field where the reapers were at work, and under which Boaz saw her sitting ; for she does not seem to have gone homo to her mother in Bethlehem until evening. 8. Hearest thou not; hearken. My daughter; an expres sion of kindness. 10. She fell on her face; a common mode in those regions of expressing reverence and gratitude. 13. Like unto one of thy handmaidens; as a foreigner she did not venture to put herself in the same rank with them. 323 She. is favored by Boaz, RUTH III. and lieth at his feet. handmaid, though I be not like unto one of thy handmaidens. 14 And Boaz said unto her, At meal-time come thou hither, and eat of the bread, and dip thy morsel in the vinegar. And she sat beside the reapers : and he reached her parched corn, and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left.a 15 And when she was risen up to glean, Boaz commanded his young men, saying, Let her glean even among the sheaves, and reproach* her not/ 16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of pur pose for her, and leave them, that she may glean them, and rebuke her not. 17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and it was about an ephah of barley. 18 IT And she took it up, and went into the city; and her mother-in-law saw what she had gleaned : and she brought forth, and gave to her that she had reserved after she was sufficed. 19 And her mother-in-law said unto her, Where hast thou gleaned to-day? and where wroughtest thou? blessed be he that did take knowledge of thee.0 And she showed her mother-in-law with whom she had wrought, and said, The man's name with whom I wrought to-day is Boaz. 20 And Naomi said unto her daughter-in-law, Blessed be he o'f the Lord/ who hath not left off his kindness to the living and to the dead.6 And Naomi said unto her, The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen/ 21 And Ruth the Moabitess said, He said unto me also, Thou shalt keep fast by my young men/ until they have ended all my harvest. 22 And Naomi said unto Ruth her daughter-in- law, It is good, my daughter, that thou go out with his maidens, that they meet thee not* in any other field. 23 So she kept fast by the maidens of Boaz, to » Psa. 23:5. * Heb. shame. b Jas. 1:5. e Psa. 41:1. d ch. 3:10; 2 Sam. 2 5; Job29:i; . =2 Sam. 9:1. tOr. that hath right to redeem / Lev 25:25. f Song 1:7, 8. t Or, fall not upon the . K Prov 13:20; 1 Cor. 15:33. b ch. 1 .9; 1 Cor. 7: 36; 1 Tim. 5:8. i ch 2:8 23. 1 2 Sam. 14: 2; Eccl. 9:8. 14. Vinegar; a kind of sour wine or sauce used in those days. 17. An ephah; nearly a bushel. 20. One of our next kinsmen ; one who according to the law had a right to redeem. Lev. 25 : 25. 23. Wheat-harvest; in May. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. True piety will lead those who have it to be indus trious, and to engage in any honest, useful employment to which they may in the providence of God be called. 3. With a fatherly kindness God watches over and directs the concerns of the poorest, most obscure, and defenceless of his people, and directs them in such a man ner as to promote their highest good. 4. Love to God inspires good-will to men, and promotes kind affection and true politeness in all conditions and relations of life. 8. Kindness to the destitute, especially to the stranger, the widow, the fatherless, and those who have no earthly helper, is peculiarly pleasing to God and endearing to men. 11. Affectionate regard to parents and other relatives, and sacrifices for their benefit from love to God and his cause, are always remembered by him, and often even in this life receive a great reward. 13. The humble, who esteem others better than them selves., are often exalted by God's providence above the 324 glean unto the end of barley-harvest and £-%-f®- of wheat-harvest; and dwelt with her 1312° mother-in-law.8 CHAPTER III. 1 By Naomi's instruction, 5 Ruth lieth at Boaz's feet. 8 Boaz acknow- ledgeth the right of a kinsman. 14 He sendeth her away with six measures of barley. TT^HEN Naomi her mother-in-law said unto her, JL My daughter, shall I not seek rest for thee/1 that it may be well with thee? 2 And now is not Boaz of our kindred, with whose maidens thou wast?' BeholrJ, he winnow- eth barley to-night in the threshing-floor. 3 -Wash thyself therefore, and anoint thee,j and put thy raiment upon thee, and get thee down to the floor : but make not thyself known unto the man, until he shall have done eating and drinking. 4 And it shall be, when he lieth down, that thou shalt mark the place where he shall lie, and thou shalt go, in, and uncover8 his feet, and lay thee down ; and he will tell thee what thou shalt do. 5 And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do. 6 T And she went clown unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. 7 And when Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry ,k he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn : and she came softly, and un covered his feet, and laid her down. 8 1 And it came to pass at midnight, that -the man was afraid, and turned1 himself: and behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, lam, Ruth thy handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thy handmaid ;l for thou art a near kinsman.* 10 And he said, Blessed be thou of the Lord, my daughter : for thou hast showed more kindness iD the latter end than at the beginning/11 inasmuch as 5 Or, lift up the clothes tliat are on. k Judg. 19:6,9, 22; 2 Sam. 13:28; Esth. 1:10; Eccl. 8:15; 9:7; 10: 19. I Or, took hold on. 1 Ezek. 16:8. 1 Or, one that hath a right to redeem; ch. 2:20. ra ch. 1-.8. proud and self-conceited. Thus the modest Ruth became the wife of " a mighty man of wealth," and the ancestor of David and of Him who is greater than David. All this earthly favor was hut the earnest and pledge of that heav enly exaltation which is reserved for the meek and lowly in spirit. 15. A generous mind will avoid reproaches and every thing calculated to wound the feelings of the poor, and will delight to aid them in their efforts, by industry and economy, to provide for themselves and those dependent upon them. 19. In answer to the prayers of the pious poor for bless ings on those who supply their wants, the rich often re ceive treasures better and more abundant than all which they bestow. 22. When in a course which we find by experience to be safe and useful, and in which the Lord blesses us, it is ordinarily wise to persevere and not be disposed to change. This the aged and experienced feel more deeply than the inexperienced and young. CHAPTER III. 1. Seek rest; by procuring a husband and a home for her. 9. Spread — thy skirt; this was a request to him to redeem her husband's property and marry her, according to the directions in Deut. 25:5-10. Do -iBnffi (Mai n in iv The next of kin refusing, RUTH IV. Boaz marrieth Ruth. k'o'S ^10u followedst not young men, whether 1312° u poor or rich. 11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city* of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman." 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kins man : howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I.b 13 Tarry this night, and it shall be in the morn ing, that if he will perform unto thee the part of a kinsman/ well ; let him do the kinsman's part : but if he will not do the part of a kinsman to thee, then will I do the part of a kinsman to thee, as the Lord liveth:* lie down until the morning. 14 T And she lay at his feet until the morning: and she rose up before one could know another. And he said, Let it not be known that a woman came into the floor.0 15 Also he said, Bring the veil* that thou hast upon thee, and hold it. And when she held it, he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her : and he went into the city. 16 And when she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who art thou, my daughter? And she told her all that the man had done to her. 17 And she said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said to me, Go not empty unto thy mother-in-law. 18 Then said she, Sit still,my daughter,until thou know how the matter will fall : f for the man will not be in rest, until he have finished the thing this day. CHAPTER IV. 1 Boaz calleth into judgment the next kinsman. 6 He refuseth the redemption according to the manner in Israel. 9 Boaz buyeth the inheritance. 11 He marrieth Ruth. 13 She beareth Obed the grand father of David. 18 The generation of Pharez. THEN went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there : and behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by;g unto whom he said, Ho, such a one ! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. • Heb. gale. * Prov. 12:4; 31:10. b 0h. 4:1. c ch. 4:5; Ueut. 25:5; Matt. 22:24, 25. d Jer. 4:2. e R0m. 14:16; 1 Cor. 10:32. t Or. sheet, or apron, f Psa. 37:3,5. r ch. 3:12. b 1 Kings 21:8. 1 Heb. I said I will 13. Perform — the part ofakinsman; redeem the property and marry her. 14. Let it not be known; lest false reports should be raised. 15. Veil; Ruth was in full dress, ver. 3, of which a veil of large size constituted a part. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Wise and pious parents will desire that their children should, if the Lord open the way for it, be well settled in married life, as most conducive to their usefulness and comfort, and that of those arouDd them. 5. The directions of parents should be followed by chil dren, even when they have arrived to mature years, so far as they accord with the revealed will of God. Prov. 1:8; 23:22. 11. A readiness promptly to comply with the known will of God, and to promote the highest good of men, especially of the poor and needy, is peculiarly pleasing in his sight, and prepares us for the reception of his choicest blessings. 14. Many things may be proper in one country or gen eration which would not be proper in another ; and while our great object should be in all things to do right, we 2 And he took ten men of the elders of the city/1 and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. 3 And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elime- lech's : 4 And I thought to advertise thee/ saying, Buy it before the inhabitants/ and before the elders of my people/ If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know : for there is none to redeem it besides thee ; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. 5 Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance.111 6 And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance : redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it. 7 Now this was the manner in former time in Is rael concerning redeeming and concerning chang ing/ for to confirm all things ; a man plucked off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor: and this was a testimony in Israel. 8 Therefore the kinsman said unto Boaz, Buy it for thee. So he drew off his shoe. 9 T And Boaz said unto the elders, and unto all the people, Ye are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi. 10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance, that the name of the dead be not cut off from among his brethren, and from the gate of his place : ye are witnesses this day. 11 And all the people that were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. The Lord make the woman that is come into thy house like Rachel and like Leah,"1 which two did build the house of reveal in thine ear. i Jer. 32:8, 25. j Gen. 23:18. k ch. 3:13. 1 Deut. 25:7-9. m Psa. 127:3; 128:3. should also, as far as consistent, avoid all appearance of doing wrong, all occasions of misapprehension, and of having our good evil spoken of. Rom. 14:16; 1 Thess. 5:22. CHAPTER IV. 1. The gate ; to which men resorted to transact business. 2. He took ten men; to witness the transactions. Ver. 9-11. 5. To raise up the name qfthe dead; he must marry Ruth, as well as redeem or buy the land. 6. Cannot redeem it; that is, upon the condition just added by Boaz, which would impose upon him the burden of maintaining Ruth and Naomi, in addition to his own family. 1. A testimony; that the man who gave the shoe trans ferred his right to the one who received it. 10. Raise up the name qfthe dead; the eldest son would inherit the estate, and thus the name and inheritance of the family would be preserved. 11. Build the house; had a numerous posterity, &phra- tah— Bethlehem ; different names of the place in which they lived. 325 The posterity of RUTH IV. Boaz and Ruth. Israel:* and do thou worthily" in Ephratah," and be famous1 in Beth-lehem : 12 And let thy house be like the house of Pharez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah/ of the seed which the Lord shall give thee of this young woman. 13 I So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife : and when he went in unto her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bare a son.4 14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord/ which hath not left thee* this day with out a kinsman/ that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age:11 for thy daughter-in-law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons/ hath borne him. a Gen. chs. 29, 30. • Or, get thee riches, or power, b Mic. 5:2. t Heb. proclaim thy name. » Gen. 38:29. d Gen. 20: 17, 18; 33:5. e Rom. 12:15. I Heb. caused to cease unto. § Or, redeemer. II Heb. to nourish; Gen. 45:11; 12. Pharez; from whom Boaz and the Bethlehemites descended. 14. A kinsman; one who should perpetuate the name and inheritance'of her family. 17. Obed; meaning a servant, or one who would be ser viceable. From him descended David and Christ. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Punctuality in the transaction of business, and a habit of having every thing done at the right time and in the right way, are highly conducive to prosperity, usefulness, and enjoyment. 2. In the sale and conveyance of property, great care should be taken that the case be fairly stated and correct ly understood by all concerned, that it be duly witnessed, and so conducted in all respects as to cut off all occasion of future misunderstanding and contention. 16 And Naomi took the child, and laid ^-g-Jg* it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 1312!' 17 And the women her neighbors gave it a name,8 saying, There is a son born to Naomi ; and they called his name Obed : he is the father of Jesse, the father of David. 18 1 Now these are the generations of Pharez: Pharez begat Hezron/ 19 And Hezron begat Ram, and Ram begat Amminadab, 20 And Amminadab begat Nahshon/ and Nah shon begat Salmon," 21 And Salmon begat Boaz, and Boaz begat Obed, 22 And Obed begat Jesse, and Jesse begat Da vid/ Psa. 55:22. U Heb thy gray hairs. ' 1 Sam. 1 :S sLukel:58. b Matt. 1:3, etc. ' Num. 1:7. " Or, Salmah. 3 1 Chr. 2:15. 6. It is not wise for a man to purchase more property than he can pay for. Nor, if he has one wife, is it right for him to take another. If he does, he violates the orig inal law of marriage, and will find the way of transgres sors to be hard. 11. Marriage is an ordinance of God, which should be entered into in his fear, be solemnized before witnesses, and its duties so discharged that it may be a blessing to all concerned. 14. The birth of a child is a just cause of rejoicing, and all interested should unite in supplication to God that it may live, be sanctified, and made a blessing to itself and its friends, to the church of God and the world. 17. Those who honor God he will honor, and make them blessings to all generations, even to the end of time and onward to eternity. Blessed supremely, for ever blessed, are all who trust in and obey him. 32fi THE FIRST BOOK OF SAMUEL, OTHERWISE CALLED, THE FIRST BOOK OF THE KINGS. The two books of Samuel originally constituted one whole, the division having been made by the Greek translators as a matter of mere convenience, so as to close the first book with the death of Saul, and begin the second with the accession of David to the throne. To the original work the name of Samuel was given, because it opens with the history of his birth and labors ; and this name has been generally retained for hoth parts since its division. The Greek Septuagint, however, designates the books from their contents, " The first and second of Kings." They are a continuation of the history of God's covenant people from the close of Eli's administration as judge to that of David's reign. Thus they embrace a most interesting period, that of the change of the government to a kingly form, and the successive inauguration of the first two monarchs of Israel by God's immediate appointment. This change was so conducted as to manifest in the clearest light God's absolute sovereignty over Israel. First He gave the throne to Saul ; but when he refused to yield obedience to God's commands, he was set aside, and David appointed in his stead. Nor was it till David's obedience had been fully tested, that God confirmed the throne to his family. The author of these books is not known. We read, 1 Chron. 29 : 29, 30, " Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer, with all his reign and his might, and the times that went over him, and over Israel, and over all the kingdoms of the countries." Whoever was the author, it is reasona ble to suppose that he drew largely from the books here mentioned ; and since we find both Gad and Nathan active at the close of David's reign, the work may have been completed by one of these two inspired men. That these books were composed after the death of David is manifest from the fact that they record the years of his reign, 2 Sam. 5 : 4, 5 ; and also his last words, 2 Sam. .23 : 1. But it is remarkable that they do not record his death, a circumstance that may perhaps be explained upon the supposition that they were composed very soon after that event, when it was sufficient to assume it as universally known, without expressly mentioning it. The graphic style of the narratives contained in these books, and the minuteness of their details, show that they were written by contemporaries and eye-witnesses. CHAPTER I, A. M. 2833. B. C. about 1171. L ElkanahaLevite,havingtwowives, worshippethyearly atShiloh. 4He cherisheth Hannah, though barren, and provoked by Peninnah. 9 Hannah in grief prayeth for a child. 12 Eli first rebuking her, afterwards bless eth her. 19 Hannah having borne Samuel, stayeth at home till he be weaned. 2-1 She presentetn him, according to her vow, to the Lord. OW there was a certain man of Ramatha im-zophim,* of mount Ephraim, and his name N a 1 Sam. 1 CHAPTER I. 1. Of Ramathaim-zophim ; not the Ramah of Benjamin situated near Gibeah, a few miles north of Jerusalem. Judg. 19:13; Isa. 10:29; Hos. 5:8. It is probably the same as the Ramah where Samuel lived and was buried. 1 Sam. 1:19: 7:17; 25:1. Its position is uncertain. Some was Elkanah," the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the sou of Zuph,c an Eph rathite : 2 And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah : and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. MCnr. 0:27, 31. c l Chr. 6:35. suppose it to have been the place now called Soba, a short distance west of Jerusalem. Mount Ephraim; this was probably a mountainous ridge that had its rise in Ephraim, and was continued south through Benjamin un der the same name ; for Ramathaim-zophim seems to have been south of the tribe of Ephraim. An Ephrathite ; bam- uel was of Levitical descent, and belonged to the family 327 Hannah prays for a son. 1 SAMUEL I. Samuel is born. 3 And this man went up out of his city yearly* to worship and to sacrifice unto the Lord of hosts in Shiloh.a And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the Lord, were there. 4 IT And when the time was that Elkanah offer ed," he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions : 5 But unto Hannah he gave a worthy* portion ; for he loved Hannah : but the Lord had shut up her womb.c 6 And her adversary also provoked* her sore,a for to make her fret, because the Lord had shut up her womb. 7 And as he did so year by year, when she went up§ to the house of the Lord, so she provoked her ; therefore she wept, and did not eat. 8 Then said Elkanah her husband to her. Han nah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?6 9 .1 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the Lord. 10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and pray ed unto the Lord, and wept sore. 11 And she vowed a vow,f and said, 0 Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thy handmaid,g and remember me," and not forget thy handmaid, but wilt give unto thy handmaid a man-child ;T then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.1 12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying* before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth. 13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard : therefore Eli thought she had been drunken. 14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee. • Heb. from year to year, a Exod. 2:1:14; Luke 2:41. t> Deut. 12:5-7. t Ox, double, c Gen. 30:2. X Heb. angered, d Job 24:21. 5 Or, from the time that she went; Heb. from her going up. e Ruth 4:15. tt Heb. bitter of. f Judg. 11:30. s2Sam. 16:12. b Gen. .30:22. 1 Heb. seed of men. of the Kohathites. See the genealogy, 1 Chron. 6 : 33-35, where the name Shemuel is, in the original, the same as that here called Samuel ; Eliel is equivalent to Elihu, and Toah is only another form of Tohu. His father Elkanah is called an Ephrathite either because he resided in mount Ephra im, just as the Ephraimites themselves are sometimes called Ephrathites, Judg. 12:5; 1 Kings 11:26; or,assome think, from his having lived in Bethlehem Ephratah. 3. The Lord of hosts; this is the first mention in the Bible of Jehovah under this title. See verse 11. It means, God of armies, or of the multitudes of heaven, and of the universe. In Shiloh; where the tabernacle then was. It lay in the tribe of Ephraim, among the hills a little east of the road leading northward from Jerusalem to Shechem. Eli; he was then high-priest. 4. Portions; of the offering on which they were to feast. Lev. 7:15. 5. A worthy portion ; larger and better. 6. Her adversary; supposed to be Peninnah. Ver. 7. 9. The temple; the tabernacle; the temple was not then built 11. Give him unto the Lord; to be employed all his life in the special service of Jehovah. No razor come upon his head; he should be a Nazarite. Num. 6:2-5. 16. Daughter of Belial; an abandoned wicked woman. Spoken; prayed to the Lord. 328 15 And Hannah answered and said, No, am. mm. my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful ' wi. spirit :f I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.j 16 Count not thy handmaid for a daughter of Belial : for out of the abundance of my complaint* and grief have I spoken hitherto. 17 Then "Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.k 18 And she said, Let thy handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat,1 and her countenance was no more sad. 19 1 And they arose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the Lord, and returned, and came to their house to Kamah : and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife ; and the Lord remember ed her.m 20 Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about8 after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel,1 saying, Because I have asked' him of the Lord. 21 And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the Lord the yearly sacri fice, and his vow. 22 But Hannah went not up ; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord," and there abide for ever. 23 And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good;0 tarry until thou have weaned him ; only the Lord establish his word.p So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him. 24 If And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house' of the Lord in Shiloh: and the child was young. ¦ Num. 6:5. • Heb. multiplied 'to pray, t Heb. hard of spirit. J Psa.. 62:8. 1 Heb. meditation, k Psa. 20:3, 5. 'Ecol. 9:7. m ver. 11. i Heb. in rev olution of days. I That is, Asked of God. n Luke 2:22. ° Num. 30:7. P 2 Sam. 7:25. 18. Grace; favor. No more sad; she cheerfully commit ted her case to the Lord, and expected that he would answer her prayers. 20. Samuel; meaning, asked of God. It appears from 1 Chron. 6:22-37, that he was a descendant of Korah. Thus out of the family of one whom God so sorely pun ished with sudden death, he yet in his great mercy raised up in after-times the prophet Samuel and the sweet singer Heman. The descendants of the ungodly, warned by the fate, and turning from the sins of their fathers, may through the grace of God become signally holy, honored, and use ful. 24. One ephah; about thirty quarts. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. When a man so far departs from the original law o/ marriage as to have two wives, he may expect to have peculiar trials. 6. Designed and needless provocations increase the wickedness of the giver and the unhappiness of the re ceiver. 8. A just sense of our unworthiness as sinners, and of the numerous mercies which God bestows upon us, would cure us of discontent. 10. The best way to obtain relief from trouble is to go to God in humble, affectionate, believing prayer, spread il m aa a° Long.KasL from Wasli.. IE.Tig4 ljy- B. GxifEtng ' .Ih-mh , X Tori . Samuel is lent to the Lord. 1 SAMUEL II. Hannah's song of praise. 25 And they slew a bullock, and brought A. M. 2833. un." °" the child to Eli. 26 And she said, 0 my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed ;a and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him :b 28 Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord ;* as long as he liveth he shall be lentf to the Lord. And he worshipped the Lord there. CHAPTER II. 1 Hannah's song in thankfulness. 12 The sin of Eli's sons. 18 Sam uel's ministry. 20 By Eli's blessing Hannah is more fruitful. 22 Eli reproveth his sons. 27 A prophecy against Eli's house. AND Hannah prayed, and said, My heart re joiceth in the Lord,c my horn is exalted in the Lord;3 my mouth is enlarged over mine ene mies ; because I rejoice in thy salvation.8 2 There is none holy as the Lord:' for there is none besides thee : neither is there any rock like our God.g 3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy* come out of your mouth :h for the Lord is a God of knowledge,1 and by him actions are weighed. 4 The bows of the mighty men are broken/ and they that stumbled are girded with strength. 5 They that were full have hired out themselves for bread ; and they that were hungry ceased : so that the barren hath borne seven ;k and she that hath many children is waxed feeble. 6 The Lord killeth, and maketh alive :l he bring eth down to the grave, and bringeth up. 7 The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich :m he bringeth low, and lifteth up.n 8 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and a Phil. 4:6. b psa. 145:18, 19. " Or, returned him, whom I have obtained by petition, to the Lord, t Or, he whom I have obtained by petition, shall be returned, e Luke 1:46, eto. d Psa. 112:8, 9. <= Psa. 13:5. f Exod. 15:11. E Deut. 32:31. t Heb. hard, b psa. 94:4. i Jer. 17:10. j Psa. 37: 15: 17. k Psa. 113:9. 1 Deut. 32:39. m Job 1:21 . n Psa. 75:7. o Psa. out before him our wants, and beseech him for Christ's sake to bestow the blessings we need. 17. Fidelity in giving reproof, meekness in receiving it, and readiness to correct mistakes, and also to receive cor rection, are traits of character in the worshippers of Jeho vah which prepare them for the mutual reception of his blessings. 18. Prayer often brings sweet peace to the soul, before the particular blessings prayed for are received. 20. Blessings obtained of God in answer to prayer should be promptly and gratefully acknowledged, and measures be taken to keep his goodness in perpetual remembrance. Psa. 116:1, 2. 23. A wise woman will, if consistent, nurse and train her own children. Even if it keep her for a time from public worship, and occasion many privations and cares, yet, in the health, character, and conduct of her well- trained children, she may expect, with the blessing of God, whose wise and good arrangement she has in this respect followed, a gracious and abundant reward. 28. No blessings are more dear, and none give greater comfort, than those which are gratefully received from, and heartily devoted to the Lord. CHAPTER II. 1. My horn is exalted; the horn was an emblem of pow er: the Lord would cause her to triumph over all her foes. lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes,0 and to make them inherit the throne of glory : for the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and he hath set the world upon them.p 9 He will keep the feet of his saints,0- and the wicked shall be silent in darkness ; for by strength shall no man prevail.1 10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;3 out of heaven shall he thunder upon them : ' the Lord shall judge the ends of the earth ; u and he shall give strength unto his king, and ex alt the horn of his anointed/ 11 And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the Lord before Eli the priest. 12 1 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial ; they knew not the Lord.w 13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a flesh-hook of three teeth in his hand ; 14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the- flesh-hook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither. 15 Also before they burnt the fat,x the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest ; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw. 16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently,8 and then take as much as thy soul desireth ; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now : and if not, I will take it by force. 17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord:5, for men abhorred the offering of the Lord.z 113:7, 8; Dan. 4:17 . P Psa 102:25. q Psa 121:3. r Eccl. 9:11. > Exnd. 15:8; Psa. 2:! . t Psa 18 13, 14. Hsa 96:13. v Psa. 89:24. » Jer. 22:16 Rom. 1 :24, 28. * Lev. 3:3-5 16. S Heb. as on the day. v Gen. 13:13. *Mal. 2:8. 2. None besides thee; no other living and true God. Rock; support, refuge, source of good. 3. Actions are weighed; God perfectly understands their nature, character, and deserts. 4. The mighty; who trust in their own strength. They that stumbled; the feeble who trust in God. 5. Ceased; ceased to be hungry, from the abundance that God gave them. Borne seven; had many children. 8. The pillars of tlie earth are the Lord's ; he made and sus tains it, and he overrules and disposes of all its concerns. 9. Keep the feet of his saints ; preserve them. By strength ; of any created arm. 10. His king — his anointed; this is the first time the word Messiah, or the Anointed, is mentioned in the Bible. It is applied to David and to Christ. ' 11. Ramah; the same as Ramathaim-zophim. Chap. 1:1. Minister unto theLord; perform such services about the sanctuary as were suited to his age. 12. Sons of Eli; Hophni and Phinehas. Ver. 34. Sons of Belial; exceedingly wicked. Knew not the Lord; not in such a manner as to love and serve him. 13. Seething; boiling. 14. The priest took; this was robbing the offerer. 15. Sodden; boiled. 16. I will take it; this was an additional robbery. 17. Men abhorred the offering of theLord; on account of the wickedness of the priests. 329 A prophecy against Eli's 1 SAMUEL II. house, for the guilt of his sons. 18 IF But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod .a 19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sac rifice." 20 1 And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The Lord give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent* to the Lord. And they went unto their own home. 21 And the Lord visited Hannah,0 so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the Lord. 22 1 Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel ; and how they lay Avith the women that assembled1 at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 23 And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings* by all this people. 24 Nay, my sons ; for it is no good report that I hear : ye make the Lord's people to transgress.8 25 If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him; but if a man sin against the Lord,4 who shall entreatfor him?e Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, be cause the Lord would slay them.f 26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the Lord, and also with men.8 27 T And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father,1' when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 28 And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me?1 and did I give unto the house of thy father, all the a Exod. 28:4. b ch. 1:3. * Or, petition which she asked. c Gen. 21:1. t Heb. assembled by troops; Exod. 3S:8. 1 Or, evil words of you. § Or, cry out aNum. 15:30; Psa. 51:4, 16. • I Tim. 2:5; Heb. 7:31. fjosh. 11:20. tYrov. 3:4; Luke 2:52. b Exod. 4: 14, 27. i Exod. 23:1, 4. j Ley. 7:7,8, 34; Num. 5:9, 10; 18:8-19. *Deut.32:15. 'Exod. 29:9. m Jer. 18:9, 10. 18. A linen epltod; a garment like that which was worn by the priests. 20. The loan,- chap. 1:28. 24. Ye make the Lord's people to transgress; by tempting them to sin. 25. The judge shall judge him; if it were an offence of a man against his fellow-man, he might be punished accord ing to the law ; or by offering the appointed sacrifice, he might through faith in Christ be forgiven. But this was a sin not only against men, but against God; it profaned the sacrifice which typified the sacrifice of Christ, and there remained no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation. Such was probably the meaning of Eli, but he did not convey it with clearness and power to the minds of his profligate sons. Nor did he, as he should have done, act it out, by not only reproving them, but expelling them from their office and visiting them with condign punish ment, as a warning to all of the guilt and danger of such wickedness. He was a judge as well as a father, and should have been a terror to those evil-doers. But he regarded his sons in this matter more than he did the honor of God. Because; on account of their sins. 26. In favor — with the Lord; God may have given him renewing grace in his infant years, in answer to the pray ers of his mother. 27. Appear unto the house of thy father ; Eli descended from Aaron. Exod. 4:14, 27; 28:1-4; Lev. 7:7-35. 330 offerings made by fire of the children of *¦£•*£* Israel V 'lies'. u 29 Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering,11 which I have commanded in my habitation ; and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 30 Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever:1 but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me ;m for them that honor me I will honor," and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed." 31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thy house.p 32 And thou shalt see an enemy in my habita tion, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel :' and there shall not be an old man in thy house for ever. 33 And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thy heart: and all the increase of thy house shall die in the flower of their age.1" 34 And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas ; in one day they shall die both of them.'1 35 And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind:r and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 36 And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thy house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put* me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices/ that I may eat a piece of bread. n Psa. 91:14; Prov. 3:9, 10. ° Mal. 2:8, 9. P 1 Kings 2:27, 35. I Or, the affliction of the tabernacle, for all the wealth which God would have given Israel. * Heb. men. q ch. 4:11. r Ezek. 41:15, 10. • Heb. Join, t Or, somewhat about the priesthood. 29. Kick; dishonor, by profaning them or suffering them to be profaned. 30. Walk before me ; Exod. 28:43; 29:9; Num. 25:10-13. For ever; to the end of the Jewish dispensation. Lightly esteemed; rejected and punished. 31. Cut off thine arm ; cause his power and authority to cease. 32. An enemy in my habitation; or, according to the mar ginal reading, the affliction of the tabernacle, on account of the ark being taken by the Philistines, and other calam ities. 34. A sign; an evidence that all which he had foretold would be accomplished. Chap. 4:11. 35. A faithful priest ; Zadok, a descendant not of Eli, but of Eleazar. 1 Kings 2:27, 35; 1 Chron. 29:22. Build him a sure house; continue his posterity in the priesthood. Mine anointed; the kings of David's line who would be anointed by him to their office, and from whom Christ would come. For ever; as long as the kings of Israel should continue. 36. In thy house; of Eli's descendants. Shall say; on account of their great poverty and degradation. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Whenever we receive new mercies, let who will be the instrument, we should feel that they coni6 from God, and give him the praise. 3. A conviction of the constant, all-pervading presence of God calleth Samuel, and 1 SAMUEL III. forlclleth Eli's woes. CHAPTER III A. M. 2863. B. C. about 1141. 1 How the word of the Lord was first revealed to Samuel. 11 G-od telleth Samuel the destruction of Eli's house. 15 Samuel, though loath, telleth EU the vision. 19 Samuel groweth in credit. AND the child Samuel ministered unto the Lord before Eli. And the word of the Lord was precious in those days;a there was no open vision. 2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see ; 3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the tem ple of the Lord,6 where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; 4 That the Lord called Samuel : and he answer ed, Here am I. 5 And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down. 6 And the Lord called yet again, Samuel : and Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son ; lie down again. 7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LoRD,neither was the word of the Lord yet revealed unto him." 8 And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I ; for thou didst call me. And Eli per ceived that the Lord had 'called the child. 9 Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down : and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, Lord; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 10 And the Lord came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel.0 Then Samuel answered, Speak ; for thy servant heareth. a Psa. 74:9. b Exod. 27:20:21. ' Or, Thus did Samuel before he knew the Lord, and before the word of the LoitD was revealed unto him. e ver. 4, 5, li, 8. d 2 Kings .21:12; Jer. 19:3. e ch. 2:29, etc. t Heb. beginning and ending. 1 Or, And* I will tell. 1 Ezek. 7:3. S Or, accursed, g ch. 2:12, God tends to keep us from sin, excite us to duty, and make us humble, grateful, and better fitted for every good work. 6. Changes in the condition of individuals, families, and nations, though brought about by human instrumentality, are ordered by the Lord, and his agency in them should always be acknowledged. 9. However great the opposition of the wicked, the rights eous shall finally overcome, and the temporary successes of the wicked will end in their final and everlasting defeat. 11. God is greatly pleased when little children devote themselves to his service ; and the smallest child who loves him has more true spiritual knowledge than the greatest and most learned man who neglects his service. 12. Men may be called priests, or ministers of religion, may conduct the forms of public worship, and have the best opportunities of knowing God, and yet hate him and be guilty of the most enormous wickedness. 17. A covetous, self-indulgent, and licentious ministry is one of the greatest curses to the souls of men. It leads multitudes to despise the ordinances of religion and sink into the darkness and pollution of infidelity. 20. A freewill-offering to the Lord, even of that which is his, he receives with delight, and bestows upon the offerer an abundant reward. 22. When those who have the right and the power to put licentious men out of the ministry, neglect to do it, they become partakers in their sins, and will share their woes. 26. Parents who receive their children as the gift of God, and train them up in the way they should go, may hope that, through the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Holy Spirit, they will early devote themselves to 11 1 And the Lord said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.d 12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house :e when I begin, I will also make an end.+ 13 For I have told* him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth ;f because his sons made themselves vile,Ss and he restrained them not.1 14 Arid therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.h 15 IT And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision. 16 Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son : and he answered, Here am I. 17 And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me:1 God do so to thee, and more also,T if thou hide any thing* from me of all the things that he said unto thee. 18 And Samuel told him every whit,+ and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the Lord :j let him do what seemeth him good. 19 IT And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.k 20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established* to be a prophet of the Lord. 21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh : for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord. 23, etc. n Heb. frowned not upon them, b Num. 15:30; Psa. 51:16; Isa. 22:14; Heb 10:4-10. iRuthl:17. 1 Heb. so add. • Or, word, t Heb. all the things, or words, i Job 1:21; Psa. 39:9; Isa. 39:8. ^ ch. 9.G. 1 Or, faithful. the service of Christ, and continue in it to the end of life. Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:4. 27. Great favors shown to any one lay him under great ob ligations to be faithful in the discharge of his appropriate duties, and will aggravate his guilt if he neglect them. 29. It is a great sin for parents to regard their children more than they do God, and the continued indulgence of this sin will bring upon them fearful punishment. 31. The sins of parents may deeply affect not only their children, but their distant posterity, even to the end of time and onward to eternity. 34. When God makes declarations with regard to the future, he furnishes such evidence of the certainty of their accomplishment as ought to produce universal conviction. 35. The providence of God is a commentary on his word, and the more we see of the operations of the one, the more we shall see of the truth of the other. CHAPTER III. 1. Precious; rare, uncommon. No open vision; literally, " vision was not spread abroad," that is, revelations from God were not common. 7. Did not yet know the Lord; did not know him in the way of receiving revelations from him. 14. Not be purged; not so done away as to prevent the threatened punishment. 17. Do so to thee; punish thee. 19. Let none of his words fall; let none of his prediction" fail of their accomplishment. 0 20. From Dan even to Beer-sheba; from one end oi Ihe land to the other. 331 Tlie Philistines overcome. 1 SAMUEL IV Israel at Eben-ezer. CHAPTER IV. I The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Eben-ezer. 3 They fetch the ark to the terror of the Philistines. 10 They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain. 12 Eli at the news, falling backward, breaketh his neck. 19 Phinehas' wife, dis couraged in her travail with Ichabod, dieth. AND the word of Samuel came* to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer : and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. 2 And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel : and when they joined battle,+ Is rael was smitten before the Philistines : and they slew of the army* in the field about four thousand men. 3 1 And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch3 the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. 4 So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from tbence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cheru bim :a and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin ehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God. 5 And when the ark of the covenant of the Lord came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again. 6 And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? * Or, came to pass .- Heb. ioa.?. t Heb. 'the battle was spread. 1 Heb. the array, t Heb. take' unto us. * Exod. 25:18, 22;- 2 Sam. 6:2; Psa. 80:1. I Reb. yesterday, or the third day. b I Cor. 10:13. c Judg. 13:1. II Heb. be INSTRUCTIONS. 1. Those who are blessed with a fulness of divine in struction and with all the means of grace, but very faintly realize the sad condition of such as are without them, wandering in darkness and the shadow of death. 2. Eyesight is a great blessing, which should be care fully preserved and wisely employed ; that in case of its loss, the mind, in rich stores of knowledge, may have materials for useful and happy contemplation. 5. Cheerful readiness in children to comply with the wishes of parents and teachers, is an indication of great excellence of character, and of eminent usefulness in future life. 7. God by his Spirit, in his word and his providence, sometimes repeatedly speaks to men before they are aware of it, especially if they are young and have not been ac customed to distinguish his voice from that of others. 10. When men, and even children, manifest a readiness to be instructed by God, he will communicate to them a knowledge of his will ; and though it may be trying, yet in doing it they will be accepted of him and receive a great reward. 13. Parents, to please God and escape his indignation, must not only pray with and for their children, and coun sel and advise them, but must also govern them ; and if they are disposed to be. openly vicious, must inflict such punishment as will eftectually restrain them. Nor must fear or favor hinder them from exercising the authority and power which God has given them for this purpose. 17. Parents should encourage their children freely and fully to communicate with them on all things in which they are interested, especially on the subject of religion and whatever pertains to the performance of duty. 18. When the will of God is made known, true piety in vigorous exercise will lead the soul to acquiesce in it, 332 And they understood that the ark of the £$¦**& Lord was come into the camp. 'n«. 7 And the Philistines were afraid ; for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto usl for there hath not been such a thing heretofore." 8 Woe unto us ! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness. 9 Be strong, and quit yourselves like men,b 0 ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you:0 quit your selves like men,11 and fight. 10 1 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten,*5 and they fled every man into his tent : and there was a very great slaughter ; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken ;e and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.* 12 IT And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the armyr and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head/ 13 And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the way-side watching : for his heart trembled for the ark of God.8 And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out. 14 And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli. 15 Now Eli was ninety and eight years old ; and his eyes were dim,+ that he could not See. men. d Psa. 78:60-61. <= ch. 2:34. * Heb. died. 15:32; Job 2:12. e Psa. 20:8. t Heb. stood. t Josh. 7:6; 2 Sam. feeling that what God says must be true, and what he does must be right and good. 19. When men follow the directions of God so far as they know them, he will communicate to them an increas ing knowledge of his will, and by experience they will acquire the habit of readily understanding and promptly obeying it. CHAPTEE IV. 1. Tlie word of Samuel; that which God revealed to him. Eben-ezer — Aphek ; Mizpeh, where Samuel judged Israel, is supposed to have been the modern Neby Samwil, (Prophet Samuel,) a few miles north-north-west from Je rusalem. Eben-ezer, here named by way of anticipation, was in its vicinity. Chap. 7 : 12. There were several places that bore the name of Aphek. That named here can hard ly have been the Aphek near Jezreel, where the Philistines encamped before the overthrow of Saul, chap. 29 : 1, as that is far distant from Eben-ezer. It seems rather to have been situated in the tribe of Judah, perhaps south-west of Eben-ezer on the road to Ashdod.' Chap. 5:1. 3. Let us fetch the ark; the emblem of the divine pres ence. They hoped to receive from the emblem what could only come from God ; as many now hope, from the image or figure of the cross, to receive what can come only from Him who bled upon it. 4. Between the cherubim; the Shekinah, or visible glory of God, was manifested over the mercy-seat between the cherubim, and that was regarded as his special dwelling- place. 8. Gods; God. Though this word in the original is in the plural number, yet when applied to Jehovah, it should be, as it usually is, translated in the singular. 9. Quit yourselves; do your duty. 12. His clothes rent; in token of great mourning. The death of Eli. 1 SAMUEL V. Dagon falls before the ark. a.m.2853. 16 And the man said unto Eli, I am he nil*. " that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done,* my son ? 17 And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken." 18 And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died : for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years/ 19 1 And his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered:* and when she heard "the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed ; for her pains came5 upon her. 20 And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not;0 for thou hast borne a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it) 21 And she named the child Ichabod/ saying, The glory is departed from Israel : because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father- in-law and her husband. 22 And she said, The glory is departed from Israel:0 for the ark of God is taken. CHAPTER V. 1 The Philistines having brought the ark into Ashdod, set it in the house of Dagon. 3 Dagon is smitten down and cut in pieces, and they of Ashdod smitten with emerods. 8 So G-od dealeth with them of G-ath, when it was brought thither : 10 and so with them of Ekron, when it was brought thither. AND the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Eben-ezer unto Ashdod.d 2 When the Philistines took the ark of God, they brought it into the house of Dagon,6 and set it by Dagon. *Heb. the thing, a ch. 2:32. t He seems to have been a judge to do jus tice only, and that in South-west Israel, t Or, cry out. § Heb. were turned. b Gen. 35:17. I Heb. set not her heart. 1 That is, Where is the glory? or, ¦There is no glory, c pSa. 78:01 ; 100:20; Jer. 2: 11 ; Hos. 9:12. d ch. 7: 12. 18. He fell; Eli. 21. Icltabod; no glory. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The declarations of God in his word are often shown to- be true by his providence, and those who had disbe lieved them are thus made to see their truth. 3. Men often expect from the mere forms of religion what can come only from its power: from senseless wood or stone they expect what can come only from the one living and true God. 5. Ignorant and false zeal in immoral and wicked teach ers is apt to be noisy and vain-glorious, to be fond of show, and to abound in appeals to the senses and pas sions of men. 7. All men who are in any measure enlightened have a conviction of a power which is above them, and which, on account of their sins, they have reason to fear. 10. Under wicked religious teachers the people also become exceedingly wicked, and thus ripen for divine judgments ; and when ripe, others who are wicked are often suffered to bring those judgments upon them. 13. The place where God dwells is precious to good men, and they fear the loss of his presence more than that of any worldly good. 3 T And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the Lord. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.' 4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord ; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold ; e only the stump of Dagon* was left to him. 5 Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day. 6 But the hand of the Lord was heavy upon them of Ashdod,11 and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods,' even Ashdod and the coasts thereof. 7 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god. 8 They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither. 9 And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the Lord was against the city with a very great destruction :j and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts. 10 IT Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron .k And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, say ing, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our+ people. 11 So they sent and gathered together all the lords of the Philistines, and said, Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it go again to his own place, that it slay us not, and our* people : e Judg. 10:23; 1 Chr. 10:10. f Isa. 19:1; 40:1, 2, 7. g Jer. 50:2; Ezek. 6:4,6; Mic. 1:7. • Or. fishy part, h -ver. 7,11; Exod. 9:3; Psa. 32:4; Acts 13:11. iDeut. 28:27; Psa. 78:66. J ch. 7:13; 12:15; Deut. 2:15. k 2 Kings 1:2. t Heb. me, to slay me and my. t Heb. me not, and my. 18. The dishonor of God, and his frown upon the peo ple, are more distressing to good men than the death even of their nearest earthly friends. 21. The chief glory of a nation is the presence and favor of God, for the loss of which no earthly good can be an adequate compensation. CHAPTER V. 1. Ashdod; one of the cities of the Philistines. 2. Dagon ; from dag, signifying a fish. It was the name of an idol, the upper part of which was in the form of a man, and the lower part in that of a fish. 4. Only the stump ; in the original, the dagon, that is, the fishy part of the idol. 5. Tread on the threshold; from superstitious reverence towards it, as being the place where Dagon's body has lain. 8. Lords; rulers. Gath; another city of the Philistines. 9. Emerods; hemorrhoids, or a species of the piles. 10. Ekron; the northernmost city of the Philistines. 11. Very heavy; God smote them with sore judgments. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. As a punishment to his people, God often suffers the wicked for a time to triumph over them, and to take from them many precious blessings. 333 The Philistines send back 1 SAMUEL VI. the ark to Beth-shemesh. for there was a deadly destruction throughout all the city ; the hand of God was very heavy there." 12 And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods : and the cry of the city went up to heaven.0 CHAPTER VI. 1 After seven months the Philistines take counsel how to send hack the ark. 10 They bring it on a new cart with an offering unto Beth-she mesh. 19 The people are smitten for looking into the ark. 21 They send to them of Kirjath-jearim to fetch it. AND the ark of the Lord was in the country of the Philistines seven months. 2 And the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners,0 saying, What shall we do to the ark of the Lord? tell us wherewith we shall send it to his place.3 3 And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty ;e but in any wise return him a trespass-offering : f then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.g 4 Then said they, What shall be the trespass-offer ing which we shall return to him ? They answered, Five golden emerods, and five golden mice, accord ing to the number of the lords of the Philistines : h for one plague was on you* all, and on your lords.' 5 Wherefore ye shall make images of your em erods, and images of your mice that mar the land ; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel :j peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.k 6 Wherefore then do ye harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts ?l when he had wrought wonderfullyt among them, did they not let the people* go, and they departed?1" 7 Now therefore make a new cart," and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them : 8 And take the ark of the Lord, and lay it upon the cart ; and put the jewels of gold,0 which ye return him for a trespass-offering, in a coffer by the side thereof; and send it away, that it may go. 9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own aVer.G,9. b ch. 9: 16; Jer. 14:2. c Gen. 41 :8; Exod. 7:1 1 ; Isa. 47:13; Dan. 2 2; 5:7; Matt. 2:4. d Mic. 6:6-9. e Deut. 16:16. f Lev. 5:15, 10. 5 Job 10:2; 31:31, 32. b ver. 17, 18; Josh. 13:3; Judg. 3:3. • Heb. them. i Rom. 2:11. J Jnsh. 7: 19; Mal. 2-2. k ch. 5.0. 11. I Exod. 7:14; 8:15; 14: 1 <", 23. t Or, reproachfully. I Heb. them, tn Exod. 12:31. n 2 Sam. 4. All the efforts of the wicked to perpetuate their tri umphs, and ultimately to prevail over the people of God, will be unavailing. 7. God will finally convince all that they cannot con tinue to oppose him and prosper, and that those things which they have idolized, and from which they expected help, have proved their ruin. 10. All expedients of men to save themselves from the wrath of God, without returning in penitence and faith to him, are vain. 12. Diseases are God's servants ; they go and come at his bidding, and all things in heaven, earth, and hell, are subject to his control. CHAPTER VI. 2. Priests — diviners; their religious guides. 5. Mice; these, it is supposed, destroyed their crops. 7. No yoke — bring their calves home; they judged that if, in such circumstances, the kine proceeded straight on the 334 coast to Beth-shemesh," then he5 hath done a-m.mm. us this great evil fl but if not, then we shall W °u know that it is not his hand that smote us;r it iucis a chance that happened to us. 10 IT And the men did so ; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home : 11 And they laid the ark of the Lord upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their emerods. 12" And the kine took the straight way to the way of Beth-sheme3h, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left ; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Beth-shemesh. 13 And they qf Beth-shemesh were reaping their wheat-harvest in the valley: and they lifted up their eyes, and saw the ark, and rejoiced to see it. 14 And the cart came into the field of Joshua, a Beth-shemite, and stood there, where there was a great stone : and they clave the wood of the cart, and offered the kine a burnt-offering unto the Lord.s 15 And the Levites took down the ark of the Lord, and the coffer that was with it, wherein the jewels of gold were, and put them on the great stone : and the men of Beth-shemesh offered burnt- offerings and sacrificed sacrifices the same day uuto the Lord. 16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it,1 they returned to Ekron the same day." 17 And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering unto the Lord ; for Ashdod one,v for Gaza one,'v for Ashkelon one* for Gath one,y for Ekron one ; 18 And the golden mice, according to the num ber of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great steme qf Abel,' where on they set down the ark of the Lord : which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Beth-shemite. 19 "IT And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, be cause they had looked into the ark of the Lord'1 6:3. over. 4 5 P Josh 15 10. SOr, it, q Amos 3:0. r ver. 3 Isa. 26:11. > Judg. 6:26; o Sam. 24 *>¦> 25. t ver 4. u ch. 5:10. v 2 Chr . 26:0 ; Jer. 25:20; Zech. 9:5, 6. ' * J udg. 10:1. 21 Amos 1:6,: i 2 Sam. 1 : 20. y 2 Sam. 21 : 32 Amos 6:2. B Or, great stone. * Exod 19:21; Num 4:15, 20; 1 Chr. 13 9, 10. road to the Israelitish city Beth-shemesh, it would be a proof that they were immediately guided by Jehovah himself, and that his presence had been the cause of their calamities. 8. Coffer; a small chest or box for money and precious treasures. 9. Beth-shemesh; a city of priests in the tribe of Judah and on the border of the Philistines. 13. Tlieir wheat-harvest ; in May. 18. Both of fenced cities, and of country villages; the mean ing of these words seems to be, that while the five golden mice answered in number to the five chief cities of the Philistines, a contribution was levied for them upon all the towns, whether fenced cities or open villages. Unto the great stone of Abel; which marked the boundary of Philistia, on the road taken by the kine. It is the same stone men tioned in ver. 15. Abel means mourning, the stone receiving this name from the circumstance recorded in ver. 19. 19. Because they had looked into the ark; by divine appoint- A fast held at Mizpeh. 1 SAMUEL VII. The Philistines discomfited. a. m. 2864. even he smote of the people fifty thousand B' aw. ut and threescore and ten men : and the peo ple lamented, because the Lord had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter. 20 And the men of Beth-shemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?:l and to whom shall he go up from us?D 211 And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim,0 saying, Tlie Philistines have brought again the ark of the Lord ; come ye down, and fetch it up to you. CHAPTER VII. 1 They of Kirjath-jearim bring the erk into the house of Abinadab, and sanctify Eleazar his son to keep it. 2 After twenty years 3 the Isra elites, by Samuel's means, solemnly repent at Mizpeh. 7 While Sam uel prayeth and sacriliceth, the Lord discomfiteth the Philistines by thunder at Eben-ezer. 13 The Philistines are subdued. 15 Samuel peaceably and religiously judgeth Israel. AND the men of Kirjath-jearim came, and fetched up the ark of the Lord,4 and brought it into the house of Abinadab in the hill,0 and sanctified Eleazar his s,on to keep the ark of the Lord/ 2 And it came to pass, while the ark abode in Kirjath-jearim, that the time was long: for it was twenty years : and all the house of Israel lament ed after the Lord.6 3 IT And Samuel spake unto all the house of Is rael, saying, If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts,11 then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you,' and prepare your hearts unto the Lord,j and serve him only : k and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Phi listines.1 4 Then the children of Israel did put away Baa lim and Ashtaroth,"1 and served the Lord only. 5 And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the Lord. 6 And they gathered together to Mizpeh, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord," a 2 Sam. 6:7 0: Psa 76:7; Mal .3:2 b Luke 5:3; 8:37. <= Josh. 18:14: Tnrl» IS: 12.; 1 Ch . 13 5, 6. d ch. 6:21 ; Psa. 132:8. eaSim. 6:3, 4. f Isa. 52:11 g Zech 12 10,11. hDeut. 30:2 10; 1 Kings 8:48; Joel 2: 13. i Gen. 35:2; Josh. 21 H, 23. j 2 Chr. 30:19; Job 11:13, 14 John 4:21. k Deut. ment the ark was kept in the Holy of Holies, concealed from the eyes of all but the high-priest on the great day of atonement. In the journeyings of the Israelites in the wilderness, it was carefully covered from view. Num. 4:5,6. None but the high-priest and his sons might see it, or any of the holy things the sanctuary contained. The act of the men of Beth-shemesh therefore was one of profane curios ity, contrary to the divine command, and to that reverence which God required for the holy things of the tabernacle. Fifty thousand and threescore and ten; literally, threescore and ten men, fifty a thousand ; supposed by some to mean fifty out of a thousand, or seventy out of fourteen hundred inhabitants. A great slaughter; for such a place. 21. Kirjath-jearim; north-east of Beth-shemesh, and on the border between Judah and Benjamin. INSTRUCTIONS. 1 So long as men continue in wickedness, it is vain to expect permanent deliverance from trouble. 4. Sinners who are ignorant of, or who reject the way of acceptance which God has provided through Jesus Christ, devise various methods of their own, and are often willing to make great sacrifices and be at much expense to appease his wrath and purchase his favor. and fasted on that day, and said there, We have sinned against the Lord.0 And Samuel judged the children of Israel in Mizpeh. 7 And when the Philistines heard that the chil dren of Israel were gathered together to Mizpeh, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines. 8 And the children of Israel said to Samuel. Cease not to cry unto the Lord our God for us,*1' that he will save us out of the hand of the Phi listines. 9 IT And Samuel took a sucking lamb, and offer ed it for a burnt-offering wholly unto the Lord: and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel; and the Lord heard f him.q 10 And as Samuel was offering up the burnt- offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel : but the Lord thundered with a great thun der on that day upon the Philistines, and dis comfited them;r and they were smitten before Israel. 11 And the men of Israel wentNmt of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Beth-car. 12 Then Samuel took a stone,8 and set it be tween Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer,* saying, Hitherto hath the Lord help ed us. 13 T So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel : and the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. 14 And the cities which the Philistines had tak en from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ek ron even unto Gath ; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites. 15 And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. ljsa. 55:7; Hos. 6:1. mJudg.2:lK <* Job 16:20; Jer 9:1 . o Judg. 13:4. 10:10; Psa. 100:6; Jer.3:13,14. * Heb. Be not silent f rim Us from crying. p Isa. 37:4. t Or, answered, q Psa. 99:6; Jas. 5:16. r Psa. le:14. 'Gen. 28: 18, 19. J That is, The stone of help. 9. Men had rather feel that their sufferings come by chance, than see in them the hand of God, and feel that they are manifestations of his displeasure against their sins. 12. God has perfect control over the animal as well as the rational creation, can use the instincts of nature or counteract them as he please^, and will eventually con vince all that nothing comes by chance throughout his dominion. 19. An unhallowed desire to see what God has hidden, to pry into what he has not revealed, and do what he forbids, is a sin, the indulgence of which has involved multitudes in ruin. CHAPTER VII. 2. It was twenty years; after the ark was brought to Kir jath-jearim, before the Israelites humbled themselves and turned to the Lord as related in the following verses. 4. Baalim and Ashtaroth; images of Baal and Astarte. 6. Poured it out before the Lord; by this symbolical act, in connection with fasting and prayer, they seem to have denoted the entire prostration of their souls before God in humble penitence. 12. Eben-ezer; meaning, the stone of help, or the help- stone. 33."> The Israelites ask a king. 1 SAMUEL VIII. Their importunity. 16 And he went from year to year in circuit* to Beth-el, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel ia all those places. . 17 And his return was to Ramah ;a for there was his house ; and there he judged Israel ; and there he built an altar unto the Lord. CHAPTER VIII. 1 By occasion of the ill government of Samuel's sons, the Israelites ask a king. 6 Samuel praying in grief, is comforted by God: 10 he tell eth the manner of a king. 19 God willeth Samuel to yield unto the importunity of the people. AND it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his first-born was Joel ;f and the name of his second, Abiah : they were judges in Beer-sheba. 3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre,0 and took bribes,0 and perverted judgment. 4 Then all the elders of Israel gathered them selves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 5 And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk 'not in thy ways : now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.4 6 IT But the thing displeased* Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord. 7 And the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee : for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me,0 that I should not reign over them. 8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee. 9 Now therefore hearken unto§ their voice: how- beityetprotest solemnly unto them, and show1 them the manner of the king that shall reign over them/ 10 IT And Samuel told all the words of the " Heb. and he circuited, a ch. 8:4. t Vashni; 1 Chr. 0:28. b Exod. 18:21; 1 Tim. 3:3. c Prov. 29:4. d Deut. 17:14; Hos. 13:10. 1 Heb. was evil in the eyes of. e Exod. 10:8; Matt. 10:40. 5 Or, obey. B Or, notwith standing when thou hast solemnly protested against them, tlien thou shalt 16. Bethel was north, and Mizpeh (in the original Miz pah) north-west from Jerusalem. 17. Ramah; in Benjamin, generally supposed to be the same as Ramathaim-zophim. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. The ordinances of God will benefit all who rightly observe them, but none who continue to neglect them. 3. By the right use of means which God has provided, men are bound to prepare their hearts for his service. 5. Penitent confession of sin, and humble prayer for divine mercy, are essential to forgiveness, and are a sure preparation for the reception of divine favors. 8. All who have right views of God and of themselves, will place a high value on the prayers of his people, and will earnestly desire them. Bsth. 4:16; Job 42 : 8, 9 ; Jas. 5:16. 10. Humble, believing, earnest, persevering prayer has great influence with God, and is instrumental of unspeak able good to men. 15. Rulers who are men of prayer, and who transact their civil duties in the fear and love of God, are great blessings to the people. CHAPTER VIII. 3. Lucre; gain. Bribes; gifts to induce one wrongly to favor those who offer them. 33T Lord unto the people that asked of him £.M.2m a king. ~ 'K^ °u 11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you : He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen ; and some shall run before his chariots. 12 And he will appoint him captains over thou sands, and captains over fifties ; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. 13 And he will take your daughters to be con fectionaries,* and to be cooks, and to be bakers. 14 And he will take your fields, and your vine yards, and your olive-yards,g even the best of them, and give them to his servants. 15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers,1' and to his servants. 16 And he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. 17 He will take the tenth of your sheep : and ye shall be his servants. 18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you ; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.' 19 IT Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel ;j and they said, Nay ; but we will have a king over us ; 20 That we also may be like all the nations;* and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles. 21 And Samuel heard all the words of the peo ple, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the Lord. 22 And the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.1 And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city. show. fch.l0:25;' 14:52. e 1 Kings 21 : 7; Ezek. 46:18. U Heb. eunuchs, Gen. 37:36. i Prov. 1:25-28; Isa. 1:15; Mic. 3:4. j Jer. 44:16. * ver. 5. 1 ver. 7; Hos. 13:11. 6. Displeased Samuel; appeared to him to be wrong. Samuel prayed ; to be rightly directed with regard to the matter in question. 7. Hearken unto tlie voice of the people — they have not re jected thee, but — me; for the accomplishment of his own wise and holy purposes, God saw good to grant their request ; but it proceeded from a spirit of unbelief and worldly confidence. In looking to an earthly king, after the manner of their heathen neighbors, instead of Jeho vah, for deliverance, they rejected him as their king, and brought upon themselves many great evils, from which simple faith' in God and obedience to his words would have saved them. 9. Hearken; give them a king, if, after showing how he will treat them, they continue to insist upon it. Ver. 19-22. Tlie manner qfthe king; how he would treat them. Ver. 11. 11. Run before; as attendants and waiters. 2 Sam. 15:1. 12. To ear; to plough. Gen. 45:6. 13. Confectionaries; persons who prepared perfumes and spices. 19. The voice of Samuel ; in dissuading them from having a king. Nay; we will not hearken to thee. INSTRUCTIONS. 3. When men appoint their own rulers, if they do not have such, and smch only, as are wise and good, it is their Saul seeking his father's 1 SAMUEL IX. asses, is led lo Samuel. • A. M. 2909. 11. O. about 1095. CHAPTER IX, 1 Saul despairing to find his father's asses, 6 by the counsel^of his ser vant, 11 and direction of young maidens, 15 according to God's reve lation, 18 cometh to Samuel. 19 Samuel entertaineth Saul at the feast. 35 Samuel, after secret communication, bringeth Saul on his way. "\TO W there was a man of Benjamin, whose name _1_N was Kish,a the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benja mite* a mighty man of power.+ 2 And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier per son than he : from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.0 3 And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses. 4 And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha,0 but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not. 5 And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return ; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us. 6 And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God,d and he is an honorable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass :e now let us go thither ; peradventure he can show us our way that we should go. 7 Then said Saul to his servant, But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man?f for the bread is spent in* our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?§ 8 And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand' the fourth part a Ch. 14:51. • Or, the son of a man of Jemini. t Or, substance, b ch. 10:23. "= 2 Kings 4:42. d Deut. 33:1; 1 Kings 13:1. e ch. 3:19. f Gen. 43:11; Judg. 6:18; 1 Kings 14:3; 2 Kings 8:8. t Heb. gone out of. 5 Heb. is with us. 1 Heb. there is found in my hand, s 2 Sam. 24:11; 2 Kings 17:13; 2 Chr. 16:7, 10; Isa. 30:10; Amos 7:12. I Heb. Thy word is good. own fault; but when the government is hereditary, and descends from parents to children, whether good or bad, wise or foolish, it is often unjust and cruel, for wise and good parents may be followed by foolish and wicked chil dren. 5. When men in trouble follow their own judgment merely, as to the way of getting out of it, they often take a course which tends only to increase it ; and if they will not be dissuaded from such a course, God in righteous judgment sometimes suffers them to pursue it, and thus dreadfully to punish themselves. Jer. 2 : 19. 6. When in new and difficult circumstances men go to God for direction, choosing rather to be governed by his will than their own, he will guide them, and in the proper use of their own faculties will lead them to right decisions. 9. God delights to communicate to men all needed infor mation, so that if they will follow his directions, they may be saved from suffering the fruits of their folly. 18. When men with their eyes open go on in wicked ness, regarding their feelings more than the testimony of Jehovah, and thus bring themselves into trouble, God leaves them to endure it till they are convinced of their sin and turn to him, or sink into utter ruin. 19. When men by word or deed say to God, Not thy will, but mine be done, let them prepare for trouble. If in that way they should succeed and be finally blessed, it 22 of a shekel of silver : that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way. 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer : for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.8) 10 Then said Saul to his servant, Well said;7 come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was. Ill And as they went up the hill to the city,* they found young maidens going out to draw wa ter,11 and said unto them, Is the seer here ? 12 And they answered them, and said, He is: behold, he is before you : make haste now, for he came to-day to the city ; for there is a sacrifice + of the people to-day1 in the high place.j 13 As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat : for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice ;k and after wards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time* ye shall find him. 14 And they went up into the city: and when they were come into the city, behold, Samuel came out against them, for to go up to the high place. 15 1 Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear5 a day before Saul came,1 saying, 16 To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel,™ that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines : for I have looked upon my peo ple, because their cry is come unto me.n 17 And when Samuel saw. Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of I this same shall reign over" my people.0 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is. •Heb. in the ascent of the city, b Gen. 24:11. i Or. feast. ' ch. 16:2; Gen. 31:54. j 1 Kings 3:2. k Mark 6:41; Luke 24:30. ' 1 Heb. to-day. i Heb. revealed the ear of Samuel ; ch. 20:2. lAmos3:7; Acts27:23. m ch. 10:1. "Exod. 2:23-25; Psa. 106:14. I Heb. restrain in. o Acts 13:21. would show that their will was wiser and better than his, as Satan tempts them to believe. Hence God, in vindica tion of his own character, disappoints them. 20. Men who are enchanted with the trappings of roy alty, and carried away by a thirst for military glory, are not safe guides for themselves nor their fellow-men. CHAPTER IX. 2. A choice young man; these words relate chiefly to his personal appearance. 4. Mount Ephraim; see note to chap. 1:1. 6. In this city; it has been commonly assumed that this was Ramah, the home of Samuel. But Saul, on his return home, passed by Rachel's sepulchre, which was south of Jerusalem near Beth-lehem. This circumstance has led some to suppose that the city where Saul and his servant found Samuel was not Ramah, but some place near Beth lehem, whither he had gone in the discharge of his public duties. 7. A present; such as it was then, and in the East is now, customaiy to offer. 8. A shekel; about fifty cents. 12. Before you ; in the city to which they were going. Tlie high place; the eminence on which they offered sacrifices. 13. They eat; that portion of the offering which was allowed them in the Levitical law. 33? Samuel feasteth Saul, 1 SAMUEL X. and anointeth him. 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer : go up before me unto the high place ; for ye shall eat with me to-day, and to-morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thy heart." 20 And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago,"b set not thy mind on them ; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel?0 Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house? 21 And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel?4 and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin?0 wherefore then speakest thou so to me?' 22 And Samuel took Saul and his servant, and brought them into the parlor, and made them sit in the chiefest place among them that were bid den, which were about thirty persons. 23 And Samuel said unto the cook, Bring the portion which I gave thee, of which I said unto thee, Set it by thee. 24 And the cook took up the shoulder/ and that which was upon it, and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, Behold that which is left!* set it be fore thee, and eat : for unto this time hath it been kept for thee since I said, I have invited the peo ple. So Saul did eat with Samuel that day. 25 1 And when they were come down from the high place into the city,g Samuel communed with Saul upon the top of the house.11 26 And they arose early: and it came to pass about the spring pf the day, that Samuel called Saul to the top of the house, saying, Up, that I may send thee away. And Saul arose, and they went out both of them, he and Samuel, abroad. 27 And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while,8 that I may show thee the word of God. a John 4:20. * Heb. to-day three days. b ver. 3. e 0h. 12:13. d Judg. 20:46-48 ; Psa 03:27 e Judg. 6:15. t Heb . according to this word. f Lev. 7:32,33; Ezek .21:4. t Heb. reserved. & ver. 13. b Acts 10:9. 5 Heb. to- day. i ch. 0: 6; 16 13; 2 Kings 9:3, 6. i 2 Sam. 19:39; 1 Thess. 5:26. k 2 Sam. 5:2. iPsa. 78:71. m Gen. 35:19, 20. n Josh. 18:28. 1 Heh bit si- 24. Left; rather, as in the margin, reserved, in anticipa tion of Saul's coming. 25. The top of the house ; a retired place, to which they often went for conversation, and where also they fre quently slept. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. A sound mind and a well-formed, healthy, and vigor ous body are rich gifts of God, which lay those who pos sess them under peculiar obligations of distinguished use fulness in his service. 3. All earthly possessions are liable to be lost ; and this should lead us to seek those treasures which will be se cure, and which when obtained will be enjoyed for ever. 5. As property is of little value compared with life, it is foolish, as well as wicked, for the sake of obtaining the one to sacrifice the other. 6. If men were as anxious to be saved from sin as they are to find lost property, they would seek all needful information, and when they learned the way would let nothing hinder them from walking in it. Prov. 2 : 4, 5. 13. Those who eat, drink, and enjoy the good things of life without thanking God or imploring his blessing, act in this respect like atheists, and the language of their practice is, No God. Psa. 14:1; 53:1. 15. The Lord makes known to those who do his will many things of which others are ignorant, and which no one without obeying him will ever know. 338 CHAPTER X. A. M. 2909. B. C. about 1095. 1 Samuel anointeth Saul. 2 He confirmeth him by prediction of three signs. 9 Saul's heart is changed, and he prophesieth. 14 He con cealeth the matter of the kingdom from his uncle. 17 Saul is chosen at Mizpeh by lot. 26 The different affections of his subjects. rj^HEN Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it JL upon his head,' and kissed him,j and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain k over his inheritance?1 2 When thou art departed from me to-day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre"1 in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah;11 and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found : and lo, thy father hath left the care" of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son? 3 Then shalt thou go on forward from thence, and thou shalt come to the plain of Tabor, and there shall meet thee three men going up to God to Beth-el,° one carrying three kids, and another carrying three loaves of bread, and another car rying a bottle of wine : 4 And they will salute thee,"* and give thee two loaves of bread ; which thou shalt receive of their hands. 5 After that thou shalt come to the hill of God,p where is the garrison of the Philistines:4 and it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou shalt meet a company of proph ets coming down from the high placer with a psal tery, and a tabret, and a pipe, and a harp, before them;3 and they shall prophesy:4 6 And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee," and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man. 7 And let it be,* when these signs are come unto thee, that thou do as occasion serve thee ;+ for God is with thee. ness. o Gen. 28:19. H Heb. ask thee of peace; Judg. 18:15. pver. 10. qch. 13:3. rch. 9:12. >Exod.l5:20. tl Cor. 14:1. " ch. 16:13; Num. 11:25, 26. * Heb. it shall come to pass that, t Heb. do for thee as thy hand shedi find; Judg. 9:33. 20. While men in their actions seek one object, God often by them accomplishes another; and no one, when he performs any act, can tell what great results may be connected with it. 22. Those who are selected by God as rulers should- for their office' sake, receive all due honors, and when the will of God with regard to them is known, all Bhould acquiesce in it. 27. Ministers should make known to rulers as well as others the will of God, and none are ever so exalted as not to be under sacred obligations in all things to obey it. CHAPTER X. 1. Poured it upon his head; in token of his being set apart and furnished by God to be king of Israel. 2. Rachel's sepulchre ; Gen. 35:19, 20. See note, chap. 9:6. 3. Tabor; or oak of Tabor : not mount Tabor, but a place apparently in the tribe of Benjamin. Men going up to God ; to worship God. 5. The hill of God; an- eminence on which he was wor shipped, and on which was a school of the prophets. They shall prophesy; praise God, under divine inspiration, with the voice and instruments of music. 6. Prophesy with them; compare Exod. 15:21; 1 Chron. 25:3. Turned into another man ; so changed by the influ ence of God's Spirit as to be fitted to become king. 7. As occasion serve; as he should judge best; or as cir cumstances might require. Saul prophesieth. 1 SAMUEL XI. He is chosen king. a. m. 2909. 8 And thou shalt go down before me to 1 ik1"" Gilgal;" and behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt- offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace-offerings : seven days shalt thou tarry ,b till I come to thee, and show thee what thou shalt do. 9 f And it was so, that, when he had turned his back* to go from Samuel, God gave+ him another heart : and all those signs came to pass that day. 10 And when they came thither to the hill, be hold, a company of prophets met him ; and the Spirit of God came upon him,0 and he prophesied among them. 11 And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another,* What is this that is come unto the son of Kish ? Is Saul also among the prophets?4 12 And one of the same place5 answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets ? 13 And when he had made an end of prophesy ing, he came to the high place. 14 1 And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye ? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel. 15 And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you. 16 And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not. 17 lAnd Samuel called the people together unto the Lord to Mizpeh ;e 18 And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all king doms, and of them that oppressed you:f a Ch. 11:14, 5 ; 13:4, 8. b ch. 13:8. * Heb. shoulder t Heb. turned. c ver. 6 ; ch. 11 :6. t Heb. a man to his neighbor, d ch 19:20-24; John 7:15,16 i Heb from thence, e ch. 7:5, 6. 1 Judg. 2:2; 3:8,9; Neh . 9:9, etc. ff ;h. 8:7, 19 12:12. b Psa. 106:8-10; Isa. 63:9; Jer. 3:23. i Josh. 9. Another heart ; one that fitted him to govern the people. 11. Is Saul also among tlie prophets 1 they were surprised that, without having been instructed, he should be able thus to join with them. 12. Their father ; the father of the prophets. This was God, who could endow whomsoever he pleased with the gift of prophecy. It ought not then to surprise them that Saul was among the prophets. 19. Rejected your God; by insisting on a change in the government which he had established. 20. Benjamin was taken; they cast lots, and the lot fell upon the tribe of Benjamin. 22. Should yet come thither; or, had yet come thither. Stuff; the baggage and other furniture of the assembled people. 23. Higher than any of the people; personal size and strength were much valued by the ancients in their kings. God was pleased, in the first instance, to give the people a king after their own ideas, before he gave them one after his own heart. 25. The manner of the kingdom ; the regulations which God had prescribed for its government. Deut. 17 : 14-20. 26. Had touched; inclined by his Spirit to follow Saul and support his authority. INSTRUCTIONS. 2. If men wait upon God and follow his directions, he 19 And ye have this day rejected your God,8 who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations;11 and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now there fore present yourselves before the Lord by your tribes,1 and by your thousands. 20 And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken. 21 When he had caused the tribe of Benjamin to come near by their families, the family of Matri was taken, and Saul the son of Kish was taken : and when they sought him, he could not be found. 22 Therefore they inquired of the Lord further, if the man should yet come thither. And the Lord answered, Behold, he hath hid himself among the stuff. 23 And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.-1 24 And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people ? And all the peo ple shouted, and said, God save the king." 25 Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote it in a book, and laid it up before the Lord. And Samuel sent all the peo ple away, every man to his house. 26 IT And Saul also went home to Gibeah ;k and there went with him a band of men, whose hearts God had touched. 27 But the children of Belial1 said, How shall this man save us? And they despised him, and . brought him no presents.™ But he held his peace.1 CHAPTER XI. 1 Nahash offereth them of Jabesh-gilead a reproachful condition. 4 They send messengers, and are delivered by Saul. 12 Saul thereby is con firmed, and his kingdom renewed. HEN Nahash the Ammonite came up,11 and encamped against Jabesh-gilead,0 and all the T 7:14, etc. j ch. 9:2. 1 Heb. Let the king live; 1 Kings 1:25.-39; 2 Kings 11:12. k ch. 11:4. 1 Deut. 13: 13; 2 Chr. 13: 7. m 2 Sam. 8:2; 1 Kings 4:21; 10:25; 2 Chr. 17:5; Psa. 72:10. 1 Or, was as though he had been deaf, n ch. 12:12. ° Judg. 21 : 8, etc. will show them what he would have them do, and furnish them for the duties to which he calls them. 7. If men are under the guidance of God and seek his glory, they will be able to judge, in view of all circumstances, what should be done to render themselves most useful. 9. All the qualifications of men for the formation and accomplishment of great and useful plans come from God, and lay them under increased obligations of devotion to his service ; but enlarged views and great talents may be given, and men may join externally in the worship of God, without the renewing and sanctifying influences of his Spirit. 19. The reception from God of an object which is sought is no certain evidence of his approbation. He may give it in wrath. Chap. 12:12, 13, 19. We should therefore rely upon his wisdom rather than our own, saying, Not my will, but thine be done. 25. Kings, and men in authority, as well as in all other conditions of life, are bound to be acquainted with and to be governed by the revealed will of God. 27. The best way to treat difficulties often is, for a time at least, to say and do nothing about them. CHAPTER XI. 1. Jabesh-gilead; a city in the tribe of Manasseh, on the east side of Jordan. 3 P. 9 Saul rescueth Jabesh. 1 SAMUEL XII. Samuel's address to Israel. men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a cove nant with us,a and we will serve thee. 2 And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you,b that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.0 3 And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us* seven days' respite, that we may send messen gers unto all the coasts of Israel : and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee. 4 T Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul,d and told the tidings in the ears of the people : and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept. 5 And behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh. 6 And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings,0 and his anger was kindled greatly. 7 And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers/ saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen.g And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consents 8 And when he numbered them in Bezek,h the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand. 9 And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabesh-gilead, To-morrow, by that time the sun be hot, ye shall have help.* And the messengers came and showed it to the men pf Jabesh ; and they were glad.1 10 Therefore the men of Jabesh said, To-morrow we will come out unto you,3 and ye shall do wfth us all that seemeth good unto you. 1 1 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies ;k and they came into the midst of the host in the morning-watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day : and it came to pass, that they which remained were scat tered, so that two of them were not left together. 12 IT And the people said unto Samuel, Who is he that said, Shall Saul reign over us?1 bring the men, that we may put them to death.™ a Isa . 36:16; Ezek. 17:13. f> Prov. 12:10 e ch 17:26. * Heb. Forbear us. d eh. 15:3< ; 2 Sam. 21:6. ech. 10:10. f Judg 19:29. S Judg. 2 :5-10. t Heb, as one man; Judg. 20:1. h Judg. 1:5. Or. deliverance. i ch. 31:11. J ver. 3. k Jude. 7:16 1 ch 10:27 m Luke 19: 27. n ch. 14:45; 2 Sam. 10:22. °ch. 19:5; Isa 59:10. P ch 10:8. q ch. 8 :5, 19,20. r ch. 4. Gibeah; in Benjamin, where Saul lived. 6. The Spirit of God; awakened Saul's indignation and inspired him with wisdom, courage, and all needful quali ties to collect an army and lead them forth to victory. 7. Tlie fear of the Lord ; that he would in his providence bring dreadful judgments upon them, if they should not go forth to protect their brethren. 8. Bezek; a place between Shechem and Jabesh-gilead. 11. The morning-watch ; between two o'clock and sunrise. 12. Who is he; chap. 10:27. 14. Renew tlie kingdom; publicly proclaim Saul as king. INSTRUCTIONS. 1. If it is wise in men to make great sacrifices and sub mit to many hardships to save their lives, how much more wise is it to sacrifice and suffer whatever may be needful to save their souls. Matt. 5:29. 30. 340 13 And Saul said, There shall not a man a. m. 20119. be put to death this day:" for to-day the '«»£ °" Lord hath wrought salvation in Israel.0 14 Then said Samuel to the people, Come, and let us go to Gilgal,p and renew the kingdom there. 15 And all the people went to Gilgal ; and there they made Saul king before the Lord in Gilgal; and there they sacrificed sacrifices of peace-offer ings before the Lord ; and there Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly. CHAPTER XII. 1 Samuel testifieth his integrity. 6 He.reproveth the people of irijrrati- tude. 16 He terrifieth them with thunder in harvest-time. 20 He comforteth them in God's mercy. AND Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me,q and have made a king over you.r 2 And now, behold, the king walketh before you : and I am old and gray -headed ; and behold, my sons are with you : and I have- walked before you from my childhood unto this day. 3 Behold, here I am : witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed : whose ox have I taken ? or whose ass have I taken ?s or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe,8 to blind mine eyes therewith ?'* and I will restore it you.u 4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand. 5 And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand.v And they answered, He is witness. 6 1" And Samuel said unto the people, It is the Lord that advanced7 Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 7 Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the Lord of all the righteous acts* of the Lord,w which he did to+ you and to your fathers. 8 When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the Lord, then the Lord sent Moses and Aaron,* which brought forth your fa thers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.10:24; 11:14, 15. » Num. 16:15; Acts 20:33; 2Cor. 12:14. 5 Heb. ransom. H Or, that I should hide mine eyes at him. t TjBUt. 16:19. u Exod. 22:4. v Acts 24:16,20. II Or. made. ' Heb. righteousnesses, or benefits; Judg. 5:11. w Isa. 1:18; Mic. 6:2, 3. t Heb. with. * Exod. 3:10. 2. Great cruelty and bitter opposition to the people and cause of God generally go together. 4. It is right that one portion of the human family should deeply sympathize with the sufferings of another, and do whatever may be consistent with truth and duty to afford them relief. 9. If gladness and joy are occasioned by deliverance from temporal calamities, much more should they be by deliverance from those which are eternal. 13. True courage and real greatness are manifested in forgiving personal injuries, not in avenging them. CHAPTER XII. 3. His anointed; Saul. Chap. 10:1. 4. Taken aught ; any thing wrongfully. J Samuel's discourse 1 SAMUEL XIII. to the Israelites. a. m. 2909. 9 And when they forgat the Lord their ' iog". out God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera,a captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines/1 and into the hand of the king of Moab,c and they fought against them. 10 And they cried unto the Lord,11 and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the Lord, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth :° but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee. 11 And the Lord sent Jerubbaal/ and Bedan, and Jephthah,8 and Samuel,11 and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelt safe. 12 And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you,1 ye said unto me, Nay ; but a king shall reign over us : when the Lord your God was your king. 13 Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and behold, the Lord hath set a king over you.j 14 If ye will fear the LoRD,k and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the com mandment* of the Lord; then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue f following the Lord your God : 15 But if ye will not obey the voice of the Lord, but rebel against the commandment of the Lord : then shall the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers.1" 16 T Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the Lord will do before your eyes. 17 Is it not wheat-harvest to-day? I will call unto the Lord,™ and he shall send thunder and rain ; that ye may perceive and see that your wick edness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking you a king. 18 So Samuel called unto the Lord; and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day : and all the people greatly feared the Lor.d and Samuel.0 a Judg. 4:2. b Judg. 10:7; 13:1. c Judg. 3 12. d Judg 10. 10 , etc. e Judg. 2: 13. Judg. 6:14. 32 S Judg 11: 1, etc b ch. 7:13. ich. 11:2. i Hos. 13 11. k Josh. 21:14,20 ; Psa. 81:12-15. * Heb mouth, t Heb. be after. 1 l,e-v . 26:14, etc. m ver. 9. i: Jas. 5:16-18 "Exod. 14:31; Ezra 10:9. p Exod. 9:28; 10:17; Isa 26:16 1 John 5 16. q Deut. 11:10 Jer. 11. Jerubbaal; Gideon. Judg. 6 : 14, 32. Bedan; perhaps either Barak or Abdon. 12. That Nahash — came; the attack of Nahash upon Ja- besh-Gilead took place after Saul had been anointed king ; but he had previously threatened the Israelites, and the fear of him was with them a chief motive for asking of Samuel a king to go before them and fight their battles. 18. The Lord sent thunder and rain; an uncommon thing, as it ordinarily never rained in Palestine during the sea son of wheat-harvest INSTRUCTIONS. 2. Those who serve God from their childhood are often made distinguished benefactors to mankind. 4. Men who have long been in public life, and have been governed by the fear and love of God, may expect when they retire to leave a conviction of their fidelity in the hearts of others, which shall tend greatly to promote his glory and the good of their fellow-men. 6. Aged men, after retiring from more laborious and active duties, may still be useful by communicating to the young a knowledge of facts in the history of their fathers, and of the instructions which those facts afford. 10. A just review of the past will impress the convic tion that sin leads to misery, and that there is no escap- 19 And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the Lord thy God,p that we die not : for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 20 ir And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not . ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord,'1 but serve the Lord with all your heart ; 21 And turn ye not aside : for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver ;r for they are vain.s 22 For the Lord will not forsake his people* for his great name's sake:" because it hath pleased tho Lord to make you his people. 23 Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in* ceasing to pray for you :v but I will teach you the good and the right way : 24 Only fear the Lord,w and serve him in truth with all your heart : for consider how great things% he hath done for you. 25 But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king* CHAPTER XIII. 1 Saul's selected band. 3 He calleth the Hebrews to Gilgal against the Philistines, whose garrison Jonathan ha