I. THE EXODUS FROM EGYPT. According to the command of the Lord, every household of Israel on the fourteenth day of Nisan killed a lamb and sprinkled the blood on their doorpost. At midnight they were eating the roasted flesh of the lamb when the angel of the Lord passed through the land and smote all the firstborn, both of men and of cattle; but when he saw the blood on the doors of Israel he passed over them. Pharaoh's proud spirit was at length broken and he implored Moses and Aaron to depart with all possible haste; and all the Egyptians gave to the Israelites jewels and costly apparel. All Israel with their flocks gathered at Rameses ready to leave the land of bondage. The whole host numbered 600,000, besides the women and children. When they had gone a day's journey they came to Succoth, where the Lord gave them a pillar of cloud to guide them. When they came to Pi-hahiroth they saw the host of Pharaoh pursuing them. Moses bade them stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, and God protected them that night with a cloud (Ex. 14:1-20). Moses stretched his rod across the Red Sea and the Lord divided the waters. The Israelites crossed in safety to the other shore and the Egyptians rushed after them. The sea closed upon them and the host of Pharaoh perished. The children of Israel were now free from bondage and Moses might well sing the song of triumph, for in that hour a nation was born and Jehovah triumphed over the superstitions of Egypt.

II. EARLY EXPERIENCES IN THE WILDERNESS.

1. Bitter Water Sweetened (Ex. 16; i- 3 6.)-After three days they reached Marah, where they found the waters bitter. They began to murmur, but God told Moses to cast a tree into the waters, and they were sweetened (Ex. 15:22-26).

1. Bread Provided.— They had traveled a month in the Wilderness when their supply of food failed and the people murmured against Moses and Aaron; but that evening the Lord sent them quails, and on the following morning manna was first given. Every morning, except the Sabbath, during the forty years' wandering this manna fell from heaven for them.

3. Water Provided.— When they reached Rephidim the water failed, and some of the people were ready to stone Moses. The Lord directed Moses to strike the rock, whence a stream of water gushed forth.

4. Enemies Repulsed.— At Rephidim the Israelites were suddenly attacked by the Amalekites. Joshua led the army of Israel against them, while Moses with Aaron and Hur ascended the hill and stretched forth his hands in supplication. By sunset Amalek was utterly defeated. Soon after this Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, restored to him his wife and two sons. He advised Moses to organize his government and thus relieve himself of part of his burden (Ex. 17:1 - 18:27).

III. A YEAR AT THE MOUNTAIN.

1. The People Prepared.— After Israel promised that they would obey God's voice and keep his covenant the people were directed to purify themselves, for in three days Jehovah would appear on the Mountain. Bounds were set about Mount Sinai and all were forbidden to touch it on pain of death, for Jehovah would come on the third day and make a covenant with them.

2. The Law Given.— On the third morning peals of thunder and the voice of a trumpet called forth the trembling people to meet Jehovah. The Lord descended in a flame of fire and spoke the Ten Commandments. The people were so terrified that they withdrew and begged Moses to be mediator between themselves and God. Moses went up the Mountain, and for forty days continued in the presence of God and received a further unfolding of the law (Ex. 19:1 -24:33).

3. The Idol Worshiped (Ex. 33:1-35).— Moses' prolonged absence troubled the people, and wishing to go on their journey they persuaded Aaron to make gods to go before them. Aaron made a golden calf from their jewelry, and when Moses came down from the Mount he found the people worshiping the idol. In his anger he cast down the tables of the Law which he carried, and they were broken, symbolizing the broken law through the people's idol worship. He burned the image and strewed the ashes upon the waters and the people drank. Then he bade all those on the Lord's side to take their swords and slay the offenders. The tribe of Levi were faithful and slew three thousand of the idolaters. Moses pleaded for the people and God promised to forgive them. Then Moses again ascended the Mount and received new tables of the Law.

4. The Tabernacle Erected.— During the second stay of forty days on the Mount, Moses received the pattern of the Tabernacle. When he came down he invited the people to contribute material, and builders were employed to build a house where God might dwell in their midst (Ex. 35:40.) The Levites were accepted in the place of the firstborn to be priests and to minister in the service of the sanctuary. They were divided into three families:

(1) The Kohathites held the first rank. To this family belonged Aaron who had been promoted to the High-priesthood. It was the duty of the Kohathites to carry all the sacred vessels whenever the Tabernacle was moved.

(2) The Gershonites carried the curtain hangings.

(3) The Merarites carried the boards, pillars and bars.

5. The People Numbered.— The children of Israel had camped at Mount Sinai over a year. Moses then took a census of the people and arranged them in order of march, and having celebrated their first passover they set forward towards Canaan (Num. 1:1-2:34).

IV. THE JOURNEY TO CANAAN.

1. The First Year.

(1) Meeting at Taberah. — The people provoked the wrath of Jehovah by their murmurings and were punished by a destructive fire in their camps (Num. n:1-3).

(2) Lusting for Quails.— At Kibroth-hattaavah the discontent of the people again broke forth owing to a lack of animal food and the Lord sent quails in such abundance that people loathed them, and a severe plague fell upon them (Num. 11:4-55.)

(3) Rebellion of Miriam and Aaron.— Miriam and Aaron became envious of Moses' authority, and they spake openly against him. The Lord defended his servant, and Miriam was stricken with leprosy (Num. 12:1-16).

(4) Rejection of Israel at Kadesh-Barnea. — When they reached this place they were on the very border of the Promised Land. Moses sent out twelve spies who brought back an encouraging report of the fruitful land. But ten of them feared the giants and the walled cities, while Caleb and Joshua exhorted them to faith and courage. God, provoked by their faithlessness, pronounced the terrible doom, that all of that generation, except Caleb and Joshua, should die in the wilderness, and their children thirty-eight years later would enter Canaan. Then they made an attempt to rush into Canaan, but they were severely repulsed at Hormah and forced to turn back to the Wilderness, where they wandered thirtyeight years (Num. 14:1-45).

2. Thirty-eight Years' Punishment. — Disappointed and discouraged, the children of Israel turned toward the Wilderness of Paran, knowing that now they must serve out their sentence. Thirty-eight years they wandered up and down in this wilderness, passing through many bitter experiences and learning lessons of faith and obedience. It was during this period that occurred Koran's rebellion and the budding of Aaron's rod (Num. 16:1 - 17:13).

3. The Last Year.

(1) Death of Miriam. — Having served their time of discipline, they came again to Kadesh-barnea, a sadder and wiser people. Most of the older generation had perished. When they arrived at Kadesh, Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron and a prophetess in Israel, died, and they buried her in the wilderness (Num. 20:1).

(2) The Sin of Moses and Aaron. — The people had not ceased to murmur against God; so when water failed them at Kadesh they spoke against Moses and Aaron and God. The Lord bade Moses and Aaron to speak to the rock in Jehovah's name and water would come forth; but Moses and Aaron had grown weary of the people's complaints and they smote the rock, and gave not God the glory. On account of this sin God told them they should never enter the Land of Promise (Num. 20:2-13).

(3) The Death of Aaron. — Israel might have entered Canaan from the south, but there were walled cities and^giants to defy them. They would have crossed Edom just below the Dead Sea, but the Edomites refused to grant them the privilege. So they turned their faces southward for a long journey around Edom. When they came to Mt. Hor God told Moses to take Aaron to the top of the mountain, and after conferring the High-priesthood upon Eleazar, Aaron's son, Aaron died, and Israel mourned for him eighty days (Num. 20:22-29).

(4) The Fiery Serpents. — This was the last punishment for murmuring. Israel had learned that God would punish those who would complain against his goodness. God graciously provided a means of escape from the poisonous bites of the serpent, and Moses was bidden to lift up the brazen serpent (Num. 21:4-9).

V. RESULTS OF THE WANDERING.

1. Unity of the Nation.— When they came out of Egypt the Israelites were a disorganized people, used only to hard servitude under the Egyptians. Forty years' experience of meeting enemies, suffering hardships and marching as one host to the same land with common dangers, common temptations and with one hope and one purpose. Such experience united the tribes and made them one nation, ready to meet any nation of the world.

2. Religious Progress.

(1) Institutions of Worship. — (a) The Tabernacle and all its services, (b) The Feasts, Passover, commemorating the event of the Exodus; Pentecost, the giving of the law; Tabernacles, the life in the wilderness.

(2) The Written Law. — They received God's Law at Mt. Sinai and it was given them for a guide in their conduct.

(3) The Strengthening of Faith.—In Egypt they were surrounded with idols, but their experiences of God's care for them in the wilderness confirmed their trust in Jehovah. Though many times the mass of Israel fell into idolatry, God always found among them a remnant who feared and trusted him.

QUESTIONS.

• How much time is covered by this part?

• When was the passover kept?

• Where was the blood sprinkled?

• What happened to every household in Egypt?

• What did the Egyptians give Israel for their service when they left?

• What number came out of Egypt?

• Where was the pillar given them and what was the purpose?

• What command did Moses give when the Egyptians met them at the Sea?

• What did the cloud do for Egyptians and what for Israel?

• What did the Israelites first do after being delivered?

• How was the water sweetened?

• Where did they get the quails and manna?

• How long did each continue?

• Give the rule to be followed with the manna.

• Where did Moses strike the rock for water?

• Describe the battle with Amalek.

• How were the people prepared to hear God?

• Describe the giving of the law.

• Why not touch the mountain?

• What did the people promise?

• How was the golden calf made?

• Who made the calf and what for?

• What did Moses do with it?

• What did the breaking of the tables of the law signify "

• How were the people punished?

• Why build a tabernacle?

• Where did Moses get the pattern?

• What prominence was given the Levites and why?

• What was the work of each family?

• How long was Israel at Mt. Sinai?

• Why were the people punished at Taberah and Kibroth-hattaavah?

• What was the rebellion of Miriam and Aaron?

• Why were the spies sent and what was their report?

• What their punishment and how did they receive it?

• When and where did Miriam and Aaron die?

• What was the disobedience of Moses and Aaron?

• What was the purpose of the brazen serpent?

• What are the results of the wandering?

• Name the institutions of worship.

• What did they have to guide them as a people?

• How was their faith strengthened?

REVIEW.

I. The Exodus from Egypt.

II. Early Experiences in the Wilderness.

1. Bitter Water Sweetened.

2. Bread Provided.

3. Water Provided.

4. Enemies Repulsed.

III. A Year at the Mountain.

1. The People Prepared.

2. The Law Given.

3. The Idol Worshiped.

4. The Tabernacle Erected.

5. The People Numbered.

IV. The Journey to Canaan.

1. The First Year;

(1) Meeting at Taberah,

(2) Lusting for Quails,

(3) Rebellion of Miriam and Aaron,

(4) Rejection of Israel at Kadesh-Barnea.

2. Thirty-eight Years' Punishment, Koran's Rebellion, Budding of the Rod:

(1) Death of Miriam,

(2) Sin of Moses and Aaron,

(3) Death of Aaron,

(4) The Fiery Serpents.

V. Results of the Wandering.

1. Unity of the Nation.

2. Religious Progress:

(1) Institutions of Worship:

(a) Tabernacle Services,

(b) The Feasts, Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles,

(2) The Written Law,

(3) The Strengthening of Faith.