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of success in wrestling with and overcoming an angel. Esau went to dwell in Mount Seir, since called Edom.

B.C.

Joseph sold to the Ishmaelites by his envi- 1728 ous brethren.

Joseph interpreteth the dreams of Pharaoh 1715 Jacob sends his sons to buy corn

Jacob goes into Egypt....

Jacob, his 64 sons and grandsons, one granddaughter Sarah, one daughter Dinah, who, together with Joseph and his two sons, amount to 70 persons, were settled in Goshen; being shepherds they lived distinct from the Egyptians, because "every shepherd is an abomina

tion to the Egyptians *."

Jacob died

He was buried in Canaan.

The promise con

tained in these words, "I will surely bring thee up again," refers most probably to his posterity, which is often spoken of collectively under the name of the Father; or else it refers to the place of his burial. He foretold that Christ should descend from Judah, and also the future condition of the respective tribes of his children.

1708

1706

1689

*Gen. xlvi. 34.

B.C.

1635

Joseph died, aged 110, in Egypt

He uttered a prophecy of their deliverance from the Egyptians, and of their fetching up his bones* to Canaan.

Pharaoh imposed tasks upon the Israelites. 1573 About 60 years after the death of Joseph the midwives were ordered to destroy the new-born children: they refused, and then all the males were ordered to be cast into the river.

Moses born (son of Amram, by Jochabed, 1571 both of the tribe of Levi). By the contrivance of her daughter, Jochabed was appointed by Pharaoh's daughter as nurse to her own son Moses, who was brought up in the palace.

Moses fled into Midian, in consequence of 1531 having slain an Egyptian, where he married Zipporah, daughter of Jethro, a priest, who had probably been instructed in the knowledge of the true God by Abram, during his sojourn.

God spoke to Moses out of the bush, on 1491 Mount Horeb. To encourage Moses to undertake the mission of delivering his people from Egyptian bondage, God caused his rod to be

* Gen. 1. 24, 25.

come a serpent, and his hand leprous and clean again. On his way to Egypt he met Aaron, by his appointment, who had acceded to God's request, that Aaron should be his companion and spokesman. By their miracles the Israelites were convinced, and worshipped God.

Ten plagues. 1st. Water into blood; 2nd. Frogs; 3rd. Lice; 4th. Flies; 5th. Murrain: 6th. Boils and blains; 7th. Thunder, &c.; 8th. Locusts; 9th. Darkness; 10th. Destruction of the first-born; were all inflicted upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would submit to let the Israelites go.

B.C.

The Passover instituted, in commemoration 1491 of the destroying angel passing over the houses of the Israelites in the last plague, and sparing their first-born. It was to be eaten in haste, with their loins girded, their shoes on, and their staff in hand; the blood was to be sprinkled on the lintel and door-posts. The Lamb without spot or blemish is typical of Christ. The Israelites borrowed (asked) and the Egyptians lent (gave) them their valuable jewels, &c. At the Red Sea, or sea of Edom (which signifies red) adjoining the land of Edom,

B.C.

Pharaoh overtook the Israelites on the sixth 1491 day after they set out, and was drowned with all his host in the Red Sea. The Israelites passed not in a direct course, but through the deserts of Arabia, between Jordan, the mountains of Gilead, and the Euphrates, a pillar of cloud guiding them by day, and a pillar of fire by night. The word wilderness is synonymous with our word country, and does not mean a complete desart. They experienced a great many miraculous supports from God during their journey; particularly that of being supported by manna during the whole time of their residence (forty years) in the wilderness of Sinai, in Arabia Petræa, where they arrived three months after having left Egypt. At this time Moses' wife and two children were brought thither to him. Moses appointed Judges to manage all inferior and common matters, reserving the supreme government to himself. God renewed his promises to the Israelites, and the two tables of the Law given.

1491

The Israelites promised to obey God, who 149 spoke to them out of the midst of clouds and smoke, and fire, and thunderings, and declared the Ten Commandments. Moses wrote the

words of the Lord, and read them to the people, who promised obedience, ratified by a sacrifice which Moses made, with the blood of which he besprinkled them. After going up into Mount Sinai, and remaining forty days and nights, he received the Tables written by the finger of God *. Moses' countenance was glorified by a kind of divine light, which thus constantly reminded the Israelites of his divine authority. He was also directed to make a tabernacle for public worship, in which was placed the Ark of the Covenant +. Then Aaron was anointed High Priest, and his sons priests by Moses. He also appointed seventy Elders, after leaving Mount Sinai (when they had remained a year) and gone to Kadesh-Barnea, near Canaan. From the formidable accounts given of this place by ten of the twelve spies who were sent to view it, the people murmured against God, and were sentenced to wander forty years in the wilderness, until all who

B.C.

Moses was forty days in Mount Sinai twice; having broken the first set of tables, when he found the Israelites during his absence had made an idol, by God's direction two other tables were written upon in the same manner as before.

For which see Part V.

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