THE MOST SACRED SPOT OF THE HEBRAIC

FAITH.

The Rock Ras Es Safsaf, from which Moses first proclaimed the Ten Commandments.

falsehood are generally spoken in secret, even as the bosom is hidden.

How did this change to leprosy illustrate the redemption. of Israel?

Even as a leper defiles the clean, so did the Egyptian contact defile the Israelites, and as the leprous hand was restored to its purity, so did God design to purify his people.

In the first two miracles which the Lord displayed to Moses the objects regained their original appearance; but in the third the change from water to blood the former did. not recover its original qualities. So God foreshadowed that Moses would not be pardoned for his sin at Meribah.

-

Each time when Moses's death is mentioned in the Scriptures, the cause of his death before entering the holy land, his disobedience at Meribah is mentioned. Why is this?

Two men were once punished by the civil authorities; one had committed a crime, the other but a slight misdemeanor. The latter requested that the cause of his punishment might be made public, that people might not confound his misdemeanor with the greater crime.

So was it with Moses. God decreed that he should die in the wilderness, and he also decreed that all that generation (save Joshua and Caleb) should also perish. Therefore that Moses might not be classed with them, as rebellious against the Lord, the special cause for his punishment is mentioned in connection with his death.

"Moses said to the Lord, Pardon, O Lord! I am not a man of words."

Seven days did the Lord repeat his command to Moses, and still Moses hesitated to obey. "I am not a man of words to-day "— that is one day —" yesterday”—two days -" also "three-"the day before "-four —“ also ""Thou hast spoken,"

five

66

nor since

Then God said:

six.

seven.

"Even if thou be not a man of words, fear not; have I not created all the mouths which speak? can I not make those who speak dumb, and put words into the mouths of those

VOL. III.-9.