which account a double portion was sent on the sixth day. This miraculous supply was continued during forty years, until they arrived on the borders of Canaan. To remind future generations of this signal providence, some of it, preserved in a golden pot, was laid up before the Testimony.

Q. What were the Israelites to learn from this dispensation?

A. "That man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live."*

Q. Of whom was the manna typical ?

A. Of Jesus, the bread of life, "which came down from heaven."t

Q. What occurred at Rephidim, the tenth station? A. The congregation lacking water, tempted the Lord, and murmured against Moses.

Q. How was this want supplied?

A. Moses, by God's command, smote the rock in Horeb with his rod, and forthwith water gushed out. But to record the sin of the people, he called the place Massah and Meribah.‡

dained to the Israelites before the giving of the law; and the frequent declarations concerning its sanctity, show the care taken to prevent its infringement. In Isa. Ivi. 1-7.-lviii. 13, 14. special promises are made to those who faithfully observe it: and in Jer. xvii. 19-27. severe judgments are denounced against those who dare to violate it.

*Deut. viii. 3. Matt. iv. 4.

+ John vi. 41, 48–51.

Temptation and Contention.

Q. Did any other memorable circumstance occur in Rephidim ?

A. Yes: the Amalekites* came against Israel, but were defeated by Joshua. On this occasion Moses went to the top of a hill with the rod of God in his hand: "and when Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed." Therefore Moses sat down, and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands until the going down of the sun; and Joshua discomfited Amalek with the edge of the sword.

Q. To what was Amalek doomed for this offence?

A. To utter extermination: and Moses, to commemorate it, erected an altar, and called it Jehovah-nissi, "The Lord my banner."†

Q. By whom was Moses visited about this time? A. By Jethro, who brought him his wife and his two And Moses told his father-in-law what the Lord had done to the Egyptians, "and Jethro rejoiced for all the goodness which the LORD had done to Israel."

sons.

Q. What respect did the elders of Israel show to Jethro? A. They and Aaron assisted at his sacrifices, and ate bread with him before God.

Q. What counsel did Jethro give to Moses?

A. Seeing him much fatigued with judging so great a multitude, he advised him, if agreeable to the will of God, to select out of all the people "able men, such as feared God, men of truth, hating covetousness;" and to

Descendants of Amalek, grandson of Esau. Gen. xxxvi. 12. + See the crime and doom of Amalek, Exod. xvii. 8—16. Deut. xxv. 17-19. and the execution of the curse, 1 Sam. xv. 2-33. See Note p. 50.

make them rulers of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens; and to confide to them the administration of justice in all petty matters. Perceiving the excellency of this method, Moses immediately adopted it.

Q. Whither did the Israelites journey from Rephidim? A. To the wilderness of Sinai, where the Lord delivered his law to Israel by his servant Moses.

Q. What preparations were made for this solemn event? A. The Israelites, reminded of past mercies, were assured that if they would keep the covenant of the Lord, they should be to him a peculiar treasure, "a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation." They were commanded to sanctify themselves two days; and on the third day, at the sounding of the trumpet, to approach the border of the mountain, but not to touch it on pain of death. Q. What took place on the third day?

A. Sinai, shaking as by an earthquake, "burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness," from whence issued a tremendous storm of thunder and lightning. Meanwhile the trumpet of God sounded, waxing louder and louder, and JEHOVAH, attended by thousands of saints and angels,* descended in flaming fire on the top of the mount.†

Psalm lxviii. 17. Acts vii. 53. Gal. iii. 19. Heb. ii. 2. It is evident that the ministry of angels was employed on this occasion, although Dr. Kennicott gives a very different, yet probably correct translation of Deut. xxxiii. 2. "Jehovah came from Sinai, and he arose upon them from Seir: he shone forth from mount Paran, and he came from Meribab-Kadesh ; from his right hand a fire shone forth upon them."

↑ Exod. xix. 18, 20. Deut. iv. 11. Heb. xii. 18.

Q. What effect did this manifestation of the Divine glory produce on Moses?

A. He said, "I exceedingly fear and quake.*"

Q. What followed this awful beginning?

A. The priests and people at the foot of the mountain, being warned against undue curiosity, the LORD proclaimed to them the ten commandments, out of the midst of the fire. But the Israelites, overwhelmed with terror, withdrew from the mountain; and assuring Moses of their obedience to any law delivered by God to him, "intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more."†

Q. What did the Lord say to Moses concerning their promised obedience?

A. He said, I have heard the voice of this people, which they have spoken unto thee: they have well said all that they have spoken. O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"

Q. What did the Israelites see on this occasion?

A. "The glory of the Lord was like devouring fire or the top of the mount;" but they saw no similitude, tha they might not attempt to liken the Deity to any visibl object whatsoever.

Q. What took place after they retired?

Heb. xii. 21.

+ Exod. xx. 19. Heb. xii. 19.

That is, nothing which they could represent by figures.

Deut. iv. 10-19.

85

A. The Lord delivered several religious and political precepts to Moses, who first rehearsed them to the people, and then wrote them in a book.

Q. What was this body of laws termed ?

A. The Covenant, or Testament.

Q. How was it dedicated?

A. The people having promised obedience to the law, "Moses took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people, saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath injoined unto you.' "'* Q. How was this code of laws divided?

A. Into the moral law, or ten commandments; and the ceremonial law, consisting of "meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed until the time of reformation."†

Q. How was the moral law divided?

A. Into two tables; the first containing our duty to God, in four commandments; and the second, our duty to man, in six commandments.

Q. Repeat the ten commandments.

A. I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water

*Heb. ix. 19, 20. See also Exod. xxiv. 3—8.

the bringing

+ Heb. ix. 10. The time of reformation, was 66 in of a better hope," in the person of the adorable Redeemer. Consult the Epistle to the Hebrews chap. i. to x.

I