Lesson Twenty-fifth.

A.M. 2454 to 2491.]

[A.C. 1546 to 1509.

THE PRIESTHOOD CONFIRMED TO AARON.

What do you know of the schism of Core and his adherents?

Core, a Levite, Dathan and Abiron, of the tribe of Reuben, with 250 leading men, assembled seditiously, and called Moses and Aaron to account for assuming authority over the people of God. Moses astonished at the charge fell prostrate on the ground, then addressing himself to Core and the schismatic Levites represented to them the honour God had done them in selecting their tribe for the service of the Tabernacle, which ought to satisfy them without arrogating to themselves the priesthood. He then sent for Dathan and Abiron, but they contemptuously refused to appear and remained in their tents, on which he told Core to attend the next day with his 250 adherents, each man holding a censer to offer incense to God, that Aaron also would be present with his censer, and God would prove before all whom He had chosen. Next day they assembled, and when the 250 offered incense, a fire from God consumed them, and the earth opening under the tents of Core, Dathan and Abiron, swallowed them with all that belonged to them except the sons of Core, who were miraculously preserved from death on this occasion. (Num. xxvi. 11.)

What did God command concerning the censers that were used by the schismatics?

That Eleazer, the son of Aaron, should beat them into plates and fasten them to the altar as a perpetual admonition to the children of Israel, and a memorial that Aaron and his sons only were chosen by God as priests. (Num. xxvi. 11.)

What accusation did the Israelites bring against Moses and Aaron next day?

That they were guilty of the death of those who were killed the day before.

How did God punish the seditious?

He sent fire on them, which killed 14,700 before the flames were checked.

How was the burning stopped?

By Aaron offering incense, and praying between the living and the dead.

In what manner did God confirm the priesthood to Aaron and his sons?

He commanded Moses to assemble the children of Israel, to take of the prince of each tribe a rod, marked with his name, and to place them in the Tabernacle, saying that the rod of him whom He had chosen should blossom. The next day, all being again assembled, Moses went into the Tabernacle and brought out the rods, when Aaron's was found covered with leaves, blossoms, and fruit. (Almonds.) (Num. xvii.)

What did God command Moses to do with Aaron's rod? To lay it up in the Tabernacle as a memorial to the rebellious children of Israel.

Where did Mary the sister of Moses die?

At Cades, in the desert of Sin, where she was buried.
Where did Aaron die?

On Mount Hor, on the borders of the land of Edom, in the fortieth year after coming out of Egypt, and the hundred and twenty-third of his age. Moses accompanied him and his son Eleazer to the top of the mountain, stripped him of his vestments by the command of God, and clothed Eleazer with them, whom he presented to the people instead of Aaron, for whom they mourned thirty-days.

Lesson Twenty-sixth.

A.M. 2491 to 2493.]

[A.C. 1509 to 1507.

THE BRAZEN SERPENT.-BALAAM THE SOOTHSAYER.

In what direction did the Israelites march after the death of Aaron?

By the way that led to the Red Sea, in order to compass the land of Edom, being refused by the inhabitants permission to pass through.

Did they murmur on their journey?

Yes, for which God sent fiery serpents among them that bit and killed a great many.

How were they relieved from them?

By the prayer of Moses, who, upon their acknowledging their fault besought God for them, and was directed by Him to make a brazen serpent and set it up for a sign, by looking on which they that were bitten were healed.

Of what was the brazen serpent a figure?

Of Jesus Christ on the Cross, (John iii. 14, 15,) the true restorer of our health, on whom we should fix our eyes when attacked by the infernal serpent.

What opposition did the Israelites meet with when they drew near the land of promise at the close of the forty years?

The Edomites and Amorites refused them permission to pass through their land. Sehon, king of the Amorites,

were

and Og,* king of Basan, attacked them, but defeated; and Balac, king of Moab, seeing that human power could not withstand them, sent Balaam, a famous soothsayer, to curse them, but he was unable to do so, and instead of curses pronounced blessings on the chosen people of God.

Did any extraordinary circumstance occur whilst Balaam was on his way to the King of Moab with the intention of cursing the Israelites?

The ass on which he rode spoke, and expostulated with him because he beat her severely for twice turning out of the way, and at length throwing herself down, in order to avoid an angel who stood with a drawn sword ready to kill him, but whom Balaam did not perceive until the ass spoke; then prostrating, he acknowledged his fault, and even offered to return, but the angel permitted him to go on; at the same time charging him to speak only what he should command. (Num. xxii.)

Repeat that part of the prophecy which Balaam was constrained to utter relative to the coming af the Messiah? "I shall see him, but not now; I shall behold him but not near. A star shall rise out of Jacob and a sceptre shall spring up from Israel." (Num. xxiv. 17.)

What advice did the impious Balaam give Balac to withdraw the blessing and protection of God from the Israelites?

To ensnare them into idolatry to which they were but too prone (Num. xxxi. 16), in this he unhappily succeeded by the assistance of some of his subjects.

How were the Israelites and Moabites punished on that

occasion?

Twenty-four thousand Israelites were struck dead by God, when he was appeased by the zeal of Phineas son of Eleazer, the High Priest, under whose command Moses placed twelve thousand chosen men; one thousand from each tribe, who attacked the Moabites and utterly exterminated them.

To what tribes did Moses give the conquered land of Moab and other lands east of the Jordan?

To the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of

Og was the last of the giants. His iron bed measured nine cubits in length, and four in breadth.

Manasses, on condition of their assisting their brethren in the conquest of the promised land.

To what number did the children of Israel amount at that time?

Six hundred and one thousand seven hundred and thirty, among whom the tribe of Levi was not numbered, because the Levites were specially devoted to the service of God, and were not to receive any portion of the land, tithes being allotted to them, and forty-eight cities with suburbs, six of which to be cities of refuge, three on the east of the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan.

What command did Moses give the Israelites on the part of God when they were about to enter the promised land? To make no league with the inhabitants, but utterly to exterminate them, to break their pillars and statues, and to cut down their groves. (Deut. vii. 2-5.)

A.M. 2493.]

Lesson Twenty-seventh.

[A.C. 1507.

JOSUE APPOINTED TO SUCCEED MOSES.-DEATH OF MOSES.

Whom did God appoint to lead the people across the Jordan into the land of promise?

Josue, the faithful minister of Moses, who served in the Tabernacle from his youth, and was one of those sent to view the promised land. (Num. xvii. 18.)