plies, they reproach Moses for his ill conduct and neglect of them. Moses meekly rebukes them, and cautions them not to reflect on him, for in so doing they affronted the Lord. But thirst inflaming them, they regarded not his cautions, and grew more mutinous, charging him with a design of bringing them out of Egypt, to kill them with thirst. These complaints and reproaches deeply affected Moses, who immediately addressed himself to God for relief in this distress, expostulating with him thus: "What shall I do with this people? Thirst "makes them impatient, and they are ready to stone me." Considering the many instances of God's providence, notwithstanding their present necessity, the Israelites had no reason to distrust: However, the Lord had compassion on Moses, and did also pity and bear with the people. "Give order to the people (said he) to march; and take thy rod, with which thou didst smite the river, and take "the elders of the people with thee, and go thou on be"fore; and behold, I will stand before thee upon the rock "in Horeb, and thou shalt strike the rock, which shall "yield water for the people to drink."*

Moses did as God commanded, and in memory of the mutiny of the Israelites he named the place Massah and Meribah, which signify Temptation and Strife. But before the people could move from Rephidim, they were put upon another trial; for an army of the Amalekitest was at their heels, and ready to attack them. Moses thereupon ordered Joshua, a valiant young man who

"

It is proper to observe that St. Paul refers to this circumstance, and declares it to be a type or emblem of the Saviour, 1 Cor. x. 3,4. They did all eat the same spiritual meat; and did all drink the same spiritual drink, (for they drank of that spiritual rock that followed them; and that rock was Christ)”—that is, "it was a representation of Christ, the rock of ages, the sure foundation of his people's hopes, from whom they derive those streams of blessing, which follow them through this wilderness of mortal life, and will end in rivers of pleasure at the right-hand of God for ever." So Dr. Doddridge on the text.

† Amalekites. These were a people descended from Amalek, the grandson of Esau. See Gen. xxxvi. 12.

always attended him, to draw out a party of choice men against the next morning, and to give the Amalekites battle; and, said he, "I will stand on the top of the hill, with "the rod of God in my hand." Joshua obeyed, and having drawn up his men, Moses, in the morning, while the two armies engaged, went up to the top of the hill, taking Aaron and Hur with him; and holding up the rod of God, as an ensign in his hand, Israel taking courage from thence, prevailed; but when through weariness he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. Therefore Aaron and Hur, observing that Moses' hands, through a continued waving of the rod, were grown feeble and weary, took a stone, and placed it under him, and standing on each side, held his hands up steadily till the going down of the sun; in which time Joshua routed the Amalekite army, and put them to the sword. This good success in their first martial enterprise, very much encouraged Joshua and the Israelites; and that so remarkable an action might be transmitted to posterity, God commanded it to be recorded in a book, and bade Moses rehearse it to Joshua the General, to animate him to future service; for, saith the Lord, "I will utterly put out the remem"brance of Amalek from under heaven." And for a memorial of this victory, Moses built an altar, to sacrifice thereon for it, and called it Jehovah Nissi; * because, said he, the Lord hath sworn that he will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.

By this time the Israelites were come near the place where God first appeared to Moses in the burning bush, and not far from his father-in-law Jethro's habitation; who having heard of all that God had done for Moses and his people Israel, and understanding they were now near him, took his daughter Zipporah, Moses' wife, with their two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and brought them to him to the Israelitish camp: where, after mutual salutations and embracings, Moses gave Jethro a particular account

Jehovah Nissi. That is, The Lord is my banner, as he declared by holding up his rod and his hands.

of the Lord's dealing with Pharaoh and the Egyptians in defence of Israel, and of all that had befallen them during their march thither. Jethro, being a devout* man, testified his joy by rendering solemn praise to God, and acknowledging his sovereignty, offering at the same time a burnt offering and sacrifices of thanksgiving to God; in which Aaron and all the elders of Israel joined with him, and feasted together.

During Jethro's stay in the camp, he observed the great weight of business under which Moses laboured, in hearing the complaints, and determining the differences, of so great a people; and therefore, being a wise and experienced prince himself, he advised his son-in-law to substitute certain subordinate officers, properly qualified, men of sincerity and ability, such as feared God and hated covetousness, to be rulers; some over thousands, some over hundreds, some over fifties, and some over tens; who should hear and determine all smaller matters among the people, and refer the greater and more weighty causes only to him: assuring him, that if with God's approbation he followed this advice, it would be better both for the people and himself. Moses approves of this counsel, and immediately puts it in practice, to the great ease of himself and the people. Jethro seeing things thus settled, takes his leave of his son-in-law, and returns to his own land.

Three months after God had delivered his people from the tyranny of the king of Egypt, they left Rephidim and encamped in the Wilderness of Sinai before the Mount of God. Here God called for Moses, who going up to it, received a command to remind the Israelites, that they ought to consider the tender love of God to them, which had so eminently and frequently appeared in their deli

• Devout. Jethro being descended from Abraham by Keturah his second wife, though not of the seed of promise, it is evident that he worshipped the true God; and therefore Moses refused not to marry his daughter.

+ Months. This was in the beginning of the month Sinan, containing part of May and June.

verance and preservation; and that though they had murmured and distrusted his providence, yet if now they would be obedient and keep his covenant, he would take them into his protection, and that they should be his people, a priestly kingdom, and a holy nation. Moses having communicated this to the elders and people, they unanimously answered, that whatsoever the Lord had commanded them, they would obediently perform. Moses returned the answer of the people to God, who said to kim, "I will come to you in the darkness of a cloud, that "the people may see something of me, when I shall speak "to you, and may always believe you." Then he commanded him to direct the people to cleanse themselves, and to wash their garments during two days, and to be ready on the third day, when the Lord would descend,* in the sight of all the people, on Mount Sinai; that he should mark out bounds about the mountain, which none was to pass before the trumpet began to sound. These were the preparatory solemnitiest to the Lord's giving the Law; after which followed divers judicial laws, together with some ceremonials, and backed with promises of blessings upon the people's obedience.

All which Moses wrote in a book, and then read it to the people; and, by God's command, brought up Aaron with his two sons, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, so near that they saw the Divine Majesty, yet they were not smitten by it, but survived the sight. This was some wonderful representation

"Descend. It must be observed here, and likewise in other places of the same nature, that the Scripture, suiting itself to man's common way of speaking and thinking, assigns such things to God, as are only proper to the effects. It is said that God descended on the mountain, because he made his presence more visible there by sensible and surprizing effects. It may be also said, it was an Angel descended from God, who spoke to Moses, and gave the Law; but the text expresses, Exod. xix. 20. that it was God himself, who descended upon the top of Mount Sinai.

+ Solemnities. See Exod. from cb. xix. to xxiv.

Law. Which contained the Ten Commandments, from thence called the Decalogue.

of God, (perhaps intended to denote the future incarnation of the Redeemer) and they were permitted to eat and drink in his presence.

The next time Moses went up to the mountain, which* was likewise then at the command of God, he took with him none but Joshua, directing the elders to tarry for them till they should return, and referring them to Aaron and Hur, for assistance and advice, in any difficult case that might be brought before them. Moses had no sooner ascended the Mountain of God than a cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord abode upon it like a devouring fire, in the sight of the children of Israel. The seventh day, God called Moses from the midst of the fire, and he entered the midst of the cloud, and went further up the mount, and remained there forty days and as many nights, without any bodily nourishment. During which time he received the tables of stone, wherein God himself had written the Law; which was a token of its peculiar excellency, and designed to be a standing proof to the people that they were under the immediate government of God. Moses was also instructed at the same time, how the tabernacle, in which he was to be worshipped, should be constructed. He likewise described the Sanctuary, the Table for the Shew Bread, the Altar of Frankincense, the Altar for the Burntofferings, the Court of the Tabernacle, the Laver to wash in, the Ark, the Candlestick, the Priestly Vestments, and taught him how the priests were to be consecrated, what part of the offering they were to take, and how the perpetual sacrifice was to be offered. God likewise pitched upon the very men to undertake the building, Bezaleel of the tribe of Judah, and Aholiah of the tribe of Dan. In fine, he recommended the keeping of the Sabbath, and having ended the discourse,† gave Moses two tables of

Which. See Exod. xxiv. 19.

+ Discourse. See the particulars from the twenty-third to the thirty-second chapter of Exodus.