night when those of the Egyptians were destroyed.

The first-born males, both of man and beast, were to be regarded as peculiarly belonging to the Lord, and were required to be solemnly presented and dedicated to him. A price, however, was, afterwards, appointed for the redemption of the former; thus significantly representing the price which was to be paid for the ransom of the soul, even the precious blood of Christ. The firstling of a clean beast was not to be redeemed, but sacrificed; while that of an unclean beast might be either redeemed or exchanged, but, if not, was to be killed.

From Succoth, the second day's march brought the Israelites to Etham, "in the edge of the wilderness." Dr. Robinson, in his invaluable Biblical Researches, remarks that "the Israelites, after passing the Red Sea, are said in Exodus to have gone three days' march into the desert of Shur; but in Numbers the same tract is called the desert of Etham. Exod. 15: 22; Num. 33: 8. It hence follows," he adds, "that Etham probably lay on the edge of this eastern desert, perhaps not far from the present head of the gulf, and on the eastern side of the line of the gulf or canal. The direct course of the Israelites to Sinai would have led them around the head of the gulf, and along its eastern side; but they turned' and marched down the western side, to the vicinity of Suez."

This second day's journey, like that of the first,

was a short distance. Such an immense multitude, with their flocks and herds to be driven along in the course, could travel but slowly, and needed frequent haltings for refreshment and rest.

A very singular and miraculous appearance, always made their route plain to them. It accompanied them, as we have reason to believe, quite to the promised land, pointing out the exact course which they should take, and the places also for encampment and repose. By day, it was a pillar of a cloud, and, by night, a pillar of fire, stretching up high in the heavens, moving and resting, as the Israelites were to move or rest. In addition to this, it was, during the day-time, a most grateful covering, protecting them from the scorching heat of the sun that burns with intense power in those sandy deserts; and refreshing them and their cattle with the moisture which gently distilled from it.

It was the encouraging symbol of the divine presence, and of the constant guidance and protection of God. Isaiah most beautifully alludes to it, in one of his prophecies of the blessings of Christ's kingdom. "The Lord will create upon every dwelling-place of mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night: for upon all the glory shall be a defence. And there shall be a tabernacle for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm, and from rain."

And the same Jehovah, my young friend, will overshadow you with his protection, and be your guide and keeper, if you will put your trust in him. You may follow other guides, but they will always mislead you. You may seek for other aid, but it will always disappoint you. In God alone, through Christ, can you find the wisdom, and strength, and grace, which you need for your direction and support, through the journey of life to the heavenly Canaan.

How miserably the Israelites would have wandered from the course of safety, if God had not been their guide and defence! And how surely you will wander from the path of duty and peace into that of endless ruin, if you do not have the same Almighty Protector! Put yourself under his protection. Go to him, in the name of Christ, and beseech him to afford it to you. Then you will be safe; now, and for ever.

CHAPTER XXII.

The Israelites encamp between Migdol and the Sea. Pharaoh overtakes them.

If the above supposition as to the locality of Etham is correct, (which we have much reason to believe,) then the direct route for the Israelites from this place, would have been eastward around the head of the Red Sea. This is the course of the caravans at the present time, and would have been theirs, on their third day's journey, if God, to answer his own purposes in the destruction of Pharaoh and his army, had not led them another way.

In obedience to the orders of Moses, who had received the divine command to that effect, and following the cloudy pillar which moved as their guide and shelter, the Israelites took a course quite different from the usual one. They turned off, in a south-west direction, to "encamp before Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baal-zephon,-by the sea."

Three miles from the present city of Suez, is a fountain enclosed by a strong building, from which large supplies of water are drawn by oxen, and

turned into a tank without the building. It is called Bir Suez, or Well of Suez. That this was also a watering-place, at the time when the Israelites were on their march, is very probable. Near it, therefore, would have been a very convenient place for encampment, at the end of their third day's journey. This supposition, too, corresponds well with the unusual direction which they were required to take. It agrees also with the import of the word Migdol, which signifies a tower, or fortified place. Such a fortification would, in all probability, be placed there, to protect the fountain from the predatory tribes in the neighborhood; and between. this and the sea, we may suppose, that the encampment of the Israelites was formed.

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The precise location of Pi-hahiroth and Baalzephon, or their correspondence with any modern towns, must be left in uncertainty. The probability is, (if we are right in considering Bir Suez to be the same with Migdol,) that Pi-hahiroth lay at or near Suez, and Baal-zephon a little eastward of this. The encampment, then, between Migdol and the sea," was before Pi-hahiroth, lying toward the east, and over against Baal-zephon still farther in the same direction. In this position, the Israelites would have the sea in front; the mountains of Attaka on their right; the desert in their rear; and no way of escape, so far as human sagacity could discover, should the Egyptians pursue, and press