Israelites took their journey from Elim, and came unto the wilderness of Sin, "between Elim and Sinai," Exod. xvi. 1. It was immediately after they had entered this desert that the miraculous supply of quails and of manna from heaven was furnished them, ver. 2-16. The children of Israel journeyed from thence, and came to Dophkah, Alush, and Rephidim, Exod. xvii. 1; Numb. xxxiii. 12-14. Of these two former places we can only know the relative situations: the latter was in the vicinity of Mount Horeb. Much interest is attached to this station. Here the miraculous supply of water from the rock took place; and here the Israelites were, for the first time, attacked by their implacable foes the Amalekites, Exod. xvii. 8-13. Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, visited him also at this station, and, by his advice, judges were appointed to assist the Jewish leader in his judicial capacity, Exod. xviii. Their next encampment was in the Desert of Sinai, where many events of the deepest importance occurred. From Mount Sinai, which some identify with Mount Catherine, in the chain of mountains called El Tyh, the Almighty made known his will, through the medium of Moses, to the assembled multitude below. Here the decalogue was given, and the covenant made, Exod. xx. 1—17; xxiv. 7, 8. See also Exod. xix. and the succeeding chapters, to which the reader is referred, rather than any attempt made to present a summary of them. The worship of the golden calf also took place here, by which act the covenant recently made by the people was broken by them, Exod. xxxii.; Neh. ix. 18. The Almighty, ever merciful and gracious, however listened to the prayers and mediation of Moses, renewed the covenant, and received them into his favour again, Exod. xxxiv. After this the people were numbered, Numb. i.; the tabernacle erected, Exod. xl. 17; and Aaron and his sons consecrated, Lev. viii. 6. At this place also the sacrifice of atonement, which was the first offering for Aaron and the people, was made, Lev. ix.; the second passover celebrated, Numb. ix. 5; and Nadab and Abihu destroyed for offering strange fire unto the Lord, Lev. x. 1,2; Numb. iii. 4.

The Israelites next removed to the Desert of Paran; the first station in which great and terrible wilderness" was Taberah, a name given to the place because here many of the people were destroyed by fire from heaven for their complainings, Numb. x. 12; xi. 3. Their next station was Kibroth Hattaavah, or Tophel, which was also derived from a similar cause; the name being given to the station because the people lusted for flesh, and died while the quails, which had been miraculously supplied them, were yet in their mouths, Numb. xi. 34; xxxiii. 16; Deut. i. 1. Thence they came to Hazeroth, Numb. xi. 35; Deut. i. 1; at which place the sedition of Miriam and Aaron occurred, Numb. xii.; and from whence they journeyed to Rithmah, Rimmon Parez, Libnah, and Kadesh-barnea. It was from this latter place that spies were sent to view the Promised Land, from whose evil report the people were so intimidated and unmindful of the promises they had received, and the Divine protection they were under, that they rebelled; for which they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness forty years, and the Amalekites were also permitted to punish them, Numb. xxxii. 8; xiii. 2-26; xiv.; xxxii. 13; xiv. 45. The rebellion of Korah also took place here, and the budding of Aaron's rod, Numb. xvi. ; xvii. 1-10.

The retrograde movement of the Israelites carried them back southwards through the same wilderness of Paran; but, by a more eastern route, nearer Mount Seir to Ezion-gaber, on the eastern gulf of the Red Sea. The stations enumerated are Rissah, Kehelathah, Mount Shapher, Haradah, Makheloth, Tahath, Tarah, Mithcah,

Hashmonah, Moseroth, Bene-jaakan, Hor-hagidgad, Jotbathah, Ebronah, and Ezion-gaber, Numb. xxxiii. 21-36. What space of time was spent in these several encampments we are not informed. The cloud resting on the tabernacle, when and where that moved thither they followed, and rested where it rested; and "whether it were two days, or a month, or a year, that the cloud tarried upon the tabernacle, remaining thereon, the children of Israel abode in their tents, and journeyed not: but when it was taken up, they journeyed," Numb. ix. 22. It appears probable that they wandered to and fro through all the regions of El Tyh, frequently perhaps, in the course of the thirty-eight years, returning to the same stations where they knew from experience that pasture might be found for the flocks. At length they were directed to journey forward again. From Eziongaber, or Dizahab, Deut. i. 1, and at the southern part of Mount Seir, they turned northwards up the Desert of Sin, or El Abrah, on the western side of that mountain, and separated from the Desert of Paran by a ridge of hills. This course they pursued to Mount Hor, or Seir, on the edge of Edom. Here Aaron died, Numb. xx. 23-28; xxxiii. 37, 38; and the Israelites tarried here to bury him, and to mourn for his loss. At this place they were attacked by king Arad, a Canaanite, who took some of them prisoners, but whose territories were afterwards delivered into their hands, Numb. xxi. 1-3.

If the Israelites could have traversed the Desert of Sin, they would have obtained a shorter and better passage across Mount Seir, or through the land of Edom, to Canaan; but they were again to be taught submission. The Lord saw fit again to lead them a toilsome way. Nothing was left them but to return to the plain of Ezion-gaber, and to make the circuit of the mountain on the southern side. The next encampment mentioned after their return from Mount Hor is Hashmonah again, at which a notable event now occurred. The people murmuring against God and his servant Moses, they were bitten by fiery flying serpents; and the faithful were saved or cured by looking at the brazen serpent, that wondrous emblem of the Redeemer crucified, to which our Lord himself refers: "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life," John iii. 14, 15: see also John xii. 32; Isa. liii. 10.

In marching northwards, the Israelites were ordered not to molest the nations of the Edomites and Moabites, through whose territories they were to pass, Deut. ii. 4-9. At first these nations refused them a passage, but afterwards the Lord interposed, and they went unmolested to the stations of Punon and Oboth, by the way of the plains of Eloth and Ezion-gaber, not far from the head of the Elanitic Gulf, Numb. xxi. 4-10; Deut. ii. 29. At the next station, Ije-abarim, they reached the borders of Moab, and next passed the valley and brook Zered, going quietly onwards through Ar, in the territory of Moab, and pitched over against the children of Ammon on the other side of Arnon, Numb. xxi. 12-15. Their next station was Beer, or Beer-elim," the well of the princes," as it is called by Isaiah, (xv. 8,) because God there supplied them with water, Numb. xxi. 16-18. At the succeeding station, Jahaz, they overthrew Sihon and all his people, taking from him all his cities, from Aroer, which is by the brink of the river Arnon southwards, even unto Gilead northwards, Numb. xxi. 23-32; Deut. ii. 32-36.

The Israelites turned away from the Ammonites eastwards, to attack Og, the king of Bashan, who had previously leagued with Sihon, and defeated him and all his people at Edrei, taking from both all their territories on this side of Jordan unto

Mount Hermon northwards, and bounded eastward by the great wilderness which reached to the river Euphrates, and westwards by the land of the Ammonites, and the remnant of the land of the Moabites, Numb. xxi. 24 ; Deut. ii. 26—37; xxix. 7 ; Judg. xi. 21. These conquered lands and "cities of the plain" being fit for pasturage, were allotted, at their own request, to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, which abounded in cattle, on the condition of their assisting the other tribes in the conquest of the Promised Land westwards of Jordan, Numb. xxxii.; Deut. iii. 8-20. It was from hence the next station was called Dibon-Gad, in order to distinguish it from another Dibon belonging to the Reubenites, Josh. xiii. 17. Dibon-Gad was on the northern borders of the territories of Sihon, Numb. xxi. 30. Thence they turned back again to Almon Diblathaim, or Diblath, on the edge of the wilderness of Kedemoth, Ezek. vi. 14; from whence they proceeded southwards to Mattanah, and thence westwards to Nahaliel and Bamoth, in the valley belonging to Moab, into which they entered peaceably, and proceeded northwards again to the top of Pisgah, or "the hill," which looked towards the wilderness eastwards, Numb. xxi. 18-20; Deut. xxxiv. 1. They crossed the mountains westwards, and pitched their tents in the plains of Moab, on this, or the eastern, side of Jordan, opposite to Jericho, and abode in Shittim, or as it was afterwards called Abel Shittim, or "the mourning of Shittim," from the slaughter of the Israelites there in the matter of Baal-peor, which was the same as Chemosh, the obscene divinity of the Moabites, Numb. xxv.

A general muster of the Israelites now took place, soon after which Moses uttered his last pathetic exhortations to the people, and appointed his successor Joshua, Numb. xxvi. 2-4; Deut. i. After this, the prophet ascended the mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, from whence he was indulged with a view of the Promised Land. He saw it, and was glad; but a better portion was reserved for him. Whilst viewing this earthly Canaan, he was removed to Canaan above, where all that is lovely and enduring is enjoyed, Deut. xxxiv. 1—8.

But, though Moses was denied an entrance into this earthly Canaan, the people of Israel were not. Faithful to his promise, God, by his servant Joshua, led them from Abel Shittim, which was on the banks of the Jordan, down to the water's edge, and there again exerted his Almighty power on their behalf. He divided the waters, and the people passed over right against Jericho, Josh. iii.

Thus have we traced the journeyings of the Israelites through the wilderness. In it the true believer may discover a lively type of his own pilgrimage in this wilderness-earth. And he may take comfort from thence; for as the Almighty fulfilled his promise towards that people, bearing with their infirmities, and subduing all their foes, so surely will he bear with and protect him, and finally bring him to that good land to which he aspires, and whither his Redeemer is gone before the heavenly Canaan.

No. V.

CANAAN, ILLUSTRATING THE BOOKS OF JOSHUA AND JUDGES. THE children of Israel reached the Promised Land, the boundaries of which are accurately described, Numb. xxxiv., about B. c. 1608; but they were not to enjoy immediate rest. Before any division of the land took place, they were employed in

the reduction of the numerous independent kingdoms into which Canaan was then divided. These would appear to have been so many insurmountable obstacles in their path; but the Almighty had promised that he would drive these nations out before them, and his word never fails. Led onward by Joshua, their Divinely appointed leader, in the first campaign the Israelites reduced all the open country, and several of the towns in the southern division of the Land of Promise, which Joshua describes by the hill country, the south, the vale, the springs; "from Kadesh-barnea," (eastwards,)" even unto Gaza," (westwards,) "and all the country of Goshen," (southwards,) “even unto Gibeon," (northwards,) Josh. x. 4-42. In the ensuing campaigns the Israelites subdued the northern powers, who were assisted by the Jebusites of the hill country, (southwards,) and reduced the land as far as Great Sidon, (northwards,) and the valley of Mizpeh, (eastwards,) except the fenced cities, among which were Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod, or Azotus, in the land of the Philistines. In the sixth year, the first division of the lands took place, when the tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and half Manasseh, obtained their portions. These, added to the eastern tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh, settled in the lands of the Amorites, Moabites, and Midianites, conquered by Moses, completed the settlement of these five tribes. But the Israelites now appear to have grown remiss in their exertions to take possession of the country, for Joshua thus reproved them: "How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you?" Josh. xviii. 3. Thus stimulated, they renewed their conquests; and, finally, the seven remaining tribes obtained their allotments, as minutely described, Josh. xviii. xix. The division thus established, continued to be the only one known to the Israelites for upwards of five hundred years, until after the death of Saul. It must not be supposed, however, that they obtained entire possession of the land. On the contrary, a large portion of the history of this period is filled up with their conflicts with the previous inhabitants of Canaan, more especially the Philistines, who remained in possession of their five lordships, and whose country extended southwards towards Egypt.

The relative situation of the twelve tribes will be seen in the Map. The tribe of Levi, who would make a thirteenth, being selected for the immediate service of God, possessed no lands, but were dispersed among the other tribes; while that of Joseph, being divided into two, (see Josh. xvi.,) completed the twelve. Forty-eight cities were appropriated to the residence of the Levites, thence called Levitical cities, with the tenths and first-fruits of the estates of their brethren. To the Kohathites were allotted twenty-three cities, (thirteen of which were properly sacerdotal, inasmuch as they were assigned to the sons of Aaron, to whom the priesthood was exclusively confined;) to the Gershonites, thirteen; and the Merarites, twelve. Six of these Levitical cities were asyla, or cities of refuge, Numb. xxxv. 6; whither the man who had slain his fellow "unwittingly" might flee and find an asylum from his pursuers, and be secure from the effects of private revenge till cleared by a legal process. To this end the Israelites were commanded to "prepare a way," or make good the road," that every slayer may flee thither" without impediment, and with all possible expedition, Deut. xix. 3. The rabbins inform us, that at every crossroad was set up this inscription, "Refuge! Refuge!" It was probably in allusion to this circumstance that the holy Baptist is described as "the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight," Matt. iii. 3. He was the Messiah's forerunner, and in that character was to remove all obstacles to men's flying to Him as their asylum, and obtaining the salvation of God.

B

It may be mentioned, that the sites of only a part of the places in this Map can now be precisely or positively identified. Among those that are clearly known, are Jerusalem; Acco, now Acre, or Akka; Shechem, now Nablous; Joppa, or Jaffa; Hebron, and Gaza: all of which are towns or villages of some importance. Ashdod is reduced to an inconsiderable town, and Bethlehem is a village with only three hundred inhabitants. Of Askelon, Bethshan, Jericho, Bethel, and Heshbon, nothing remains but mouldering ruins; and of Jezreel, Megiddo, Tirzah, and Shumenall places of interest to the Christian-no traces can be now discovered. Time, which mutilates and destroys all earthly things, has laid them prostrate!

No. VI.

THE KINGDOMS OF DAVID AND SOLOMON.

CANAAN was not entirely possessed by the Israelites until several ages after they first passed the river Jordan. The remnant of the original inhabitants, however, who had contested with the people during the time of the Judges, and of Saul, the first monarch of Israel, were subdued by David. This prince, desirous of completing its reduction, first turned his arms westwards, against the Philistines, whom he subdued, taking from them Gath and its territory, 2 Sam. viii. 1; 1 Chron. xviii. 1. He next turned eastwards, and subdued the Moabites beyond Jordan, and rendered them tributary, 2 Sam. viii. 2. From thence he proceeded northwards, and subdued the Syrians of Zobah and Damascus, extending his conquests to the Euphrates, as promised to Abraham, Gen. xv. 18; 2 Sam. viii. 3-10. After this he proceeded southwards, and defeated the Edomites, fulfilling thereby the prediction of the future subjection of the family of Esau to that of Jacob, Gen. xxv. 23; xxvii. 29, 40; Numb. xxiv. 18; 1 Chron. xviii. 12, 13; 2 Sam. viii. 14. This was the most important accession which the Hebrew territories received, inasmuch as it gave them the command of one of the arms of the Red Sea and the port of Ezion-gaber; from which, in conjunction with the Phenicians, those expeditions were made to Ophir and Tarshish, which imported into Judea the various productions of foreign lands, 1 Kings x. 2—18. Thus was the Promised Land put into the entire possession of the Hebrews by David, of whose son and successor it is said, "And Solomon reigned over all kingdoms from the river" (the Euphrates) "unto the land of the Philistines, and unto the border of Egypt," 1 Kings iv. 21. This monarch made a new division of the land, separating it into twelve provinces or districts, and placing each under a peculiar officer. The names of these, and also of the cantons over which they presided, will be found 1 Kings iv. 7—19.

One important feature in this Map is Tadmor, in "the wilderness," which was founded by Solomon, 1 Kings ix. 18, and is known to the Arabs at the present day by the same name. The situation of this once famous city is in a small oasis of the desert, abundantly supplied with pure water, which renders it probable that it was a place of resort to caravans travelling from the east to Phenicia and Asia Minor. The Hebrew name of this city signified a palm-tree, whence the Greeks called it Palmyra," the city of palms." Its ruins show that it was one of the most glorious of all ancient cities. The usual approach to them is from the west, through a valley about two miles long, at the termination of which, thousands of Corinthian pillars,