round the court of the Tabernacle, were pitched the tents of the Levites, as being the tribe consecrated to its service. They were divided into three families, according to their descent from the three sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari; they took charge of every thing belonging to the Tabernacle, taking it down when about to remove, and rearing it again when the people encamped. The most exact order prevailed in their several offices; the Gershonites had the care of the curtains, the Merarites of the boards and pillars, while the Kohathites, at the head of whom was Eleazer, the son of Aaron, had the more sacred office of bearing the Ark, the altars, the vessels of gold, and all things used in the service of the Tabernacle. The Levites alone were permitted to touch any part of the holy edifice; and death was the punishment if any other Israelite attempted to perform their office.

"And they departed from the Mount of the LORD three days journey: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the. three days journey, to search out a resting place for them. And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp. And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, "Rise up, LORD, and let their enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee." And when it rested, he said, "Return, O LORD, unto the many thousands of Israel."

In this manner the Israelites pursued their journey through the desert, and passing by Taberah,* encamped at a place afterwards called Kibroth Hataavah. Here the people murmured because they had no flesh to eat. They loathed the manna, and said, "We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick. But now our soul is dried away there is nothing at all besides this manna before our eyes."

"And Moses said unto the LORD, wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant, and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon

me."

"Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people, for they weep unto me saying, Give us flesh that we may eat. I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me."

"And the LORD said unto Moses, gather unto me seventy men of the elders of Israel, whom thou knowest to be the elders of Israel, and officers over them; and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation, that they may stand there with thee. And I will come down and talk with thee there: and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee, and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the

At Taberah the people murmured; and, in consequence, fire broke out in the camp, which was stayed at the prayer of Moses.

people with thee, that thou bear it not thyself alone."

"And say thou unto the people, sanctify yourselves against to-morrow, and ye shall eat flesh: for ye have wept in the ears of the LORD, saying, who shall give us flesh to eat? for it was well with us in Egypt; therefore the LORD will give you flesh and ye shall eat. shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; but even a whole month," until it be loathesome unto you: "because ye have despised the LORD which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, why came we forth out of Egypt?"

"And Moses said, The people among whom I am, are six hundred thousand footmen: and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month. Shall the flocks and the herds be slain for them, to suffice them; or shall all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, to suffice them? And the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD's hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not."

The food came as foretold. Quails fell a second time round the camp in extraordinary abundance, and continued thus for a month. The people, disregarding the threatened punishment of their crime, ate greedily of the flesh, fell sick, and numbers died.

The appointment of the seventy elders, relieved Moses in part from the burden of governing the

people; and this council of elders is considered by the Jews to be the origin of their Sanhedrim: but there is no mention of this famous tribunal till after the return from the captivity.

From Kibroth Hattaavah the Israelites moved on to Hazeroth, where another rebellion broke out against Moses. This was more afflictive than any former one; for it was not caused by the idle murmuring of a fickle people, but arose from unkind and jealous feelings, in those who ought to have been his support and comfort. Miriam, jealous of the wife of Moses, whose rank in the tribes would no doubt be superior, or at least equal, to her own, and Aaron, probably urged on by her, spake against Moses, and said, "Hath the Lord indeed only spoken by Moses, hath he not spoken also by us? And the Lord heard it."

Then Moses, Miriam and Aaron were suddenly commanded to appear before the Tabernacle: and the cloud stood in the door of the Tabernacle; and a voice from the cloud reproved the murmurings of Miriam and Aaron. When the cloud departed from the Tabernacle, "behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow. And Aaron looked upon Miriam, and behold, she was leprous."

"And Aaron said unto Moses, Alas, my lord, I beseech thee lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly, and wherein we have sinned. Let her not be as one dead." Immediately, Moses, who appears never to have resented an injury offered to himself, prayed unto God

Z

that He would heal her; his forgiving prayer was heard, and Miriam was restored: but she was shut out from the camp seven days, like a common leper, and the people journeyed not till Miriam was brought in again.

CHAPTER XIII.

SPIES SENT TO VIEW CANAAN. THE ISRAELITES MURMUR AND RETURN INTO THE WILDERNESS. THE SABBATH BREAKER STONED.

THE Israelites proceeded from Hazeroth to Kadesh Barnea, a place on the borders of the desert, situated to the south of the Promised Land. Their toil now seemed to be over, and their reward was in sight; but before entering a strange country inhabited by hostile nations, Moses was commanded to send spies to view the land. Twelve men were accordingly selected, one from each tribe, who were to go up and see the land, what it was, and the people that dwelt therein, whether they were strong or weak, few or many; and what the land was, whether it was fat or lean, and whether the inhabitants dwelt in tents or strongholds; and they were to bring some of the fruit, for it was the time of the first ripe grapes.