QUESTIONS ON LESSON XLIV.

WHAT was promised to the Israelites if they should keep the law?

What was to be inflicted on them if they should not keep the law ?

If they should continue in rebellion, what more was to be inflicted on them?

If, after these warnings and chastisements, they should still persevere in rebellion, what was to happen?

What was to be the ultimate result of their continued rebellion?

When they were scattered in the lands of their enemies, were they to be utterly forsaken?

What promise is made to them?

What is the difference between the Mosaic covenant, as described in this Lesson, and the new covenant which Paul describes?

Was that new covenant foretold in the Old Testament? and by whom?

What privilege do we enjoy, if we avail ourselves of the new, or Christian covenant?

What will befal those who reject it?

LESSON XLV.

FROM NUMBERS IX. X. AND XI.

Now on the day that the tabernacle was reared up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the testimony: and at even there was upon the tabernacle as the appearance of fire, until the morning. So it was always: the cloud covered it by day, and the appearance of fire by night. And when the cloud was taken up from the tent, then, after that, the children of Israel journeyed: and in the place where the cloud remained, there the children of Israel pitched their tents. At the commandment of the LORD the children of Israel journeyed, and at the commandment of the Lord they pitched their tents: all the days that the cloud remained upon the tabernacle, they rested

in their tents. And when the cloud prolonged its continuance upon the tabernacle many days, then the children of Israel kept the watches of the LORD, and journeyed not. And so it was, when the cloud was a few days upon the tabernacle, according to the commandment of the LORD, they remained in their tents, and according to the commandment of the LORD, they journeyed. And so it was, when the cloud remained from evening till the morning, and the cloud was taken up in the morning, then they journeyed: whether by day or by night, when the cloud was taken up, they journeyed. 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 remained in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed. At the commandment of the LORD they rested in the tents, and at the commandment of the LORD they journeyed: they kept the watches of the LORD, at the commandment of the LORD, by the hand of Moses.

And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey: 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. And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Arise, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thy face. And when it rested, he said, Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel.

And the people were complaining as of hardship, in the cars of the LORD, and the LORD heard; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and devoured in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried to Moses; and Moses prayed unto the LORD,

and the fire was extinguished. And he called the name of the place Taberah:* because the fire of the LORD burnt among them.

And the mixed multitude that was among them began to long greatly: and they sat down and wept, and the children of Israel also. And they said, Who will give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt without cost; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: but now, our soul is dried away: for nothing at all is before our eyes, except this manna. (And the manna was as coriander seed, and its appearance as the appearance of bdellium. 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 oil cakes. And when the dew fell upon the camp in the night, the manna fell upon it.)

And Moses heard the people weeping throughout their families, and every man in the opening of his tent and the anger of the LORD was kindled greatly; and it was grievous in the eyes of Moses. And Moses said to the LORD, Why afflictest thou thy servant? and why do I not find favour in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say to me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nurse beareth a sucking child, to the land which thou didst swear to their fathers? Whence should I have flesh to give to all this people? for they weep to me saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee

* Taherah, i. e. Burning.

kill me, if I find favour in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness.*

And the LORD said to Moses, Gather to 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 to the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone. And say thou to the people, Sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, Who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt. Therefore the LORD will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, no nor twenty days; but even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome to you: because that ye have rejected the LORD, who is in the midst of you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt?

And Moses said, Six hundred thousand footmen are the people among whom I am; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the herds be

* Kill me, I pray thee.-Moses was elevated to high rank in being made the leader and governor of the Israelites, and occupied a station which many doubtless envied. But, being conscientious and faithful in the discharge of his duty, so far from being elated with it, he felt it to be a burden greater than he could bear. Persons in the humbler ranks are prone to envy the station of those who are in high authority. They do not remember that such persons have a heavy burden of duty and responsibility to bear, from which they are exempted-a burden which overpowers not a few of them, and brings them to a premature grave.

slain for them, to suffice them? or shall all the fishes of the sea be gathered together for them to suffice them?

And the LORD said to Moses, Is the LORD'S hand shortened? Now thou shalt see whether my word shall come to pass to thee or not.

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 made them to stand round about the tent. And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spoke to him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it to the seventy elders: and so it was, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied; but [they prophesied] no more [since that time.]

Now there remained in the camp two of the men; 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 enrolled, but went not out to the tent: and they prophesied in the camp. And there ran a young man, and told Moses, and said, Eldad and Medad prophesy in the camp. And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Moses, his chosen one, answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. But Moses said to him, Doest thou envy for my sake? O that all the LORD's people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them. And Moses went to the camp, he and the elders of Israel.

And there went forth a wind from the LORD, and brought quails* from the sea, and spread them over the camp, about a day's journey on this side, and about a day's journey on the other side, round about the camp, and about two cubits upon the face of the earth. And the people rose up all that day, and all that night, and all the next

* Quails.---A kind of bird or fowl less than a pigeon.