And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came to mount Hor. And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom, saying, Aaron shall be gathered to his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah. Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to mount Hor: and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered to his people and shall die there.

And Moses did as the LORD commanded: and they went up into mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation. And Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mount: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mount. And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON XLIX.

WHAT event took place when the Israelites came to the desert of Zin?

When they had no water, what did they do?
What was Moses directed to do?

What did he say and do?

What did the Lord say to Moses and Aaron?

Did Moses entreat to have the sentence reversed?
What was the answer to his request?

What advice did Moses give to the Israelites in consequence of this?

When the people arrived in Kadesh, what did Moses do? What was the purport of his message to the king of Edom? From whom were the Edomites descended? (See former Lesson.)

What answer did the king of Edom give?

What did he do to carry his determination into effect?
What event took place at mount Hor?

State the circumstances of this event?

LESSON L.

FROM NUMBERS XXI.

AND they journeyed from mount Hor by the way to the Red Sea, to pass round the land of Edom and the spirit of the people became impatient because of the way. And the people spoke against God, and against Moses, Why hast thou brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, and no water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

And the LORD sent among the people fiery serpents, and they bit the people; and much people of Israel died. And the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee: pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said to Moses, Make thee a fiery serpent, and put it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he looketh upon it, shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass, 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.

[In reference to this history, our Lord said to Nicodemus, who came to him by night through fear of the Jews, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but have everlasting life." JOHN iii. 14, 15.]

[And the children of Israel pursued their journey, crossing the streams of Arnon, which separated the country of Moab from that of the Amorites, till they came to mount Pisgah.]

And Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of

the Amorites, saying, Let me pass through thy land: we will not turn aside to field, or to vineyard; we will not drink of the waters of any well: but we will go along by the king's high way, until we be past thy borders.

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 desert and he came to Jahaz, and fought against Israel. And Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and took possession of his land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, even to the children of Ammon: for the border of the children of Ammon was strong.

Thus Israel dwelt in the land of the Amorites. And Moses sent to examine Jaazer, and they took the villages of it, and drove out the Amorites that were there.

And they turned and went up by the way to Bashan and Og the king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his people, to battle at Edrei. And the LORD said to Moses, Fear him not for into thy hand I have delivered him and all his people, and his land; and thou shalt do to him as thou didst to Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt at Heshbon. So they smote him, and his sons, and all his people, until there was none left him alive: and they took possession of his land.

QUESTIONS ON LESSON L.

FROM mount Hor in what direction did the Israelites journey?

Why did they proceed in that direction?

What effect had this lengthening out of their journey upon them?

How did they express their feelings?

What did God do to them?

What effect had this chastisement upon them? and what did they do?

What directions did God give to Moses?

What was the effect of this measure?

What does our Lord compare to this setting up of the serpent of brass?

Why was the Son of man to be lifted up?

What are men to do in order to be saved by him?

In what book of the New Testament is this explanation to be found?

When the Israelites came to Pisgah, what did they do?
What answer did Sihon return to this message?
What happened in consequence of his refusal?

After taking possession of the land of the Amorites, where did they journey to?

Who was king there? and what did he do?

What was the consequence of Og's resistance of the Israelites?

LESSON LI.

FROM NUMBERS XXII. XXIII. AND XXIV.

AND the children of Israel pursued their journey, and pitched in the plains of Moab, over the Jordan, from Jericho.

And Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. And Moab was much afraid of the people, because they were many and Moab was distressed because of the children of Israel. And Moab said to the elders of Midian, 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. And he sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of the children of Ammon, to call him, saying, Behold, there is a people come out from Egypt;

behold, they cover the face of the earth, and they abide over against me: come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they are too mighty for me; perhaps I shall be able to smite them, and shall drive them out of the land: for I know that he whom thou blessest is blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.

And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the price of divination in their hand; and they came to Balaam, and spoke to him the words of Balak. And he said to them, Lodge here this night, and I will bring you word again, as the LORD shall speak to me: and the princes of Moab abode with Balaam. And God came to Balaam, and said, Who are these men with thee? And Balaam said to God, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent to me, saying, Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth; come now, curse me them; perhaps I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out. And God said to Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them: thou shalt not curse the people : for they are blessed.*

And Balaam rose up in the morning, and said to the princes of Balak, Go to your land; for the LORD refuseth to give me leave to go with you. And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said, Balaam refuseth to come with us.

And Balak sent yet again princes, more in number, and more honourable than they. And

This intimation should have set the matter at rest in the mind of Balaam. God distinctly intimated to him that he had blessed the people whom the king of Moab wished to hire im to curse. He should have warned Balak of the danger of withstanding such a people, instead of manifesting an inclination, as he obviously did, to receive a reward for cursing them.