and rebelling against the Lord, Moses, by divine direction, put upon a pole in the view of the Israelites; and it came to pass that, when they were bitten by fiery serpents that were sent amongst them, every one who looked on this brazen representation was healed of the effects of the deadly venom. And the blessed Redeemer Himself declared, in language which showed that the typical nature and purpose of this supernatural means of cure was designed to lead to faith in Him, as the Saviour of men, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life."

CHAP. LI.-At Kadesh (elsewhere called Kadesh Barnea), whence Moses had dispatched the spies to search the land of Canaan, and where many singular and awful circumstances had occurred, the people of Israel remained encamped until all supplies of water failed them: then, as usual, they murmured, saying to Moses and Aaron, "Why have ye brought us out of Egypt to

die in this evil place ?" Jehovah commanded Moses to speak unto the rock-but the wonted meekness of this servant of God here failed him, and he smote the rock. The power of God was, however, manifested, for the waters gushed out abundantly. At this place Miriam the prophetess died, and was buried:-after which, by divine direction, the Israelites journeyed towards Edom, and Moses sent messengers unto the King of that district, saying, "Thus saith thy brother Israel, thou knowest all the travel that hath befallen us. -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:" But Edom said, "Thou shalt not go through; and Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand;" wherefore "Israel turned away from him, and came unto Mount Hor, by the coast of the land of Edom." Here Moses, by the command of the Lord, stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them upon Eliezer his and Aaron died in the top of Mount Hor; and the congregation mourned for him thirty days. From the

son;

border of Edom they journeyed towards the East, compassing the country of Moab, until they came to "the brooks of Arnon,” which are the border of Moab between Moab and the Amorites." The chief city of Moab at that time was Ar, (sometimes written Aroer,) at the stream of the brooks of Arnon, and it lay upon the border of Moab.-Numb. xxi. 13-15. Hence they moved onward to the adjoining territory of Sihon, King of the Amorites, and requested permission to pass quietly through his land; but Sihon refused, "and gathered all his people together-and fought against Israel," but could not prevail, for Israel smote him with the edge of the sword, and possessed his land, even unto the border of the children of Ammon. "And Israel dwelt in all the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and the villages thereof." "And Moses sent to spy out Jaazer, and they took the villages thereof." “And they turned and went up by the way of Bashan, and Og the King of Bashan (of the remnant of the giants) went out against them, he and all his people, to the battle at Edrei;" and Israel "smote him, and his sons, and all his people,"

and "possessed his land." "And the children of Israel set forward and pitched in the plains of Moab, on this side Jordan, by Jericho." They had received an injunction from the Lord, not to distress Moab; for their ancestor Lot was graciously remembered-doubtless for Abraham's sake,-but as they approached that district, Moab became " sore afraid, and distressed, because of the children of Israel." "Balak, the son of Zippor, was king of the Moabites at that time;" and he conferred with the chief men of the adjoining territory of Midian, and "sent messengers to Balaam, the son of Beor, to Pethor, saying, Come now, I pray thee, curse me this people; for I wot 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 rewards of divination in their hand, and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak, But God commanded Balaam, "Thou shalt not curse the people, for they are blessed." And the princes of Moab rose up, and they went unto Balak, and said unto him, Balaam refuseth to come with us. And Balak sent

yet again princes more honourable than they, promising to promote Balaam "unto very great honour," on condition that he would curse Israel. Balaam professed much deference to the will of God, but his heart was deceitful and covetous, and he was permitted to proceed to his own destruction. As he went on the way to meet Balak, riding on an Ass, "the angel of Jehovah stood in the path"- "with a sword drawn in His hand""for an adversary against him," but Balaam perceived him not. The Ass on which he rode turned aside to avoid the Angel, and Balaam's anger was kindled, and he smote her with a staff: "And the Lord opened the mouth of the Ass," and she expostulated with her master, who, as says the Apostle Peter, "loved the wages of unrighteousness, and was rebuked for his iniquity; the dumb Ass, speaking with man's voice, forbad the madness of the prophet:" yet, so infatuated was Balaam, that he appears to have been unconscious of the miracle, for he answered her as though her speaking to him was only a natural circumstance; and, instead of being awed by this manifestation of Jehovah's