DEPARTURE OF THE ISRAELITES.

HERE was no delay in their departure.

And the

people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading-troughs being bound up in their clothes upon their shoulders. And the children of Israel did according to the word of Moses; and they borrowed of the Egyptians jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment. And the Lord gave the people favour in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they lent unto them such things as they required: and they spoiled the Egyptians. And the children of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand on foot that were men, besides children. And a mixed multitude went up also with them; and flocks and herds, even very much cattle. And they baked unleavened cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Egypt, for it was not leavened; because they were thrust out of Egypt, and could not tarry, neither had they prepared for themselves any victual.'-Ex. xii.

N the fourteenth chapter of Exodus, we find that the obstinacy of the king of Egypt, in refusing to let the children of Israel go, was somewhat encouraged by the untoward temper of that people themselves. Pharaoh's was not the only hard and rebellious heart which resisted the instruction and the evidence supplied by the signs and wonders wrought by almighty power, before their eyes. Perhaps the king of Egypt knew this, when he determined to pursue the Israelites into the desert. 'But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the [Red] sea. And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid : and the children of Israel cried out unto the Lord.' The goodness and forbearance of the

GATHERING MANNA.
GATH

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Almighty were exercised in their behalf. The Lord troubled the hosts of the Egyptians, and impeded their chariots, so that they failed in their object. To prevent their safe retreat, the Lord, who had miraculously laid dry the channel of the Red Sea to afford a passage to the Israelites, caused the waters to return to their place, when the Egyptian army followed them thither: and the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. And the waters covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh. And there remained not so much as one

GATHERING MANNA.

S by a strong hand and a stretched-out arm the
Lord wrought deliverance for His people, by bring-

ing them out of the land of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage; so by a constant succession of miracles were they sustained, supplied, and directed in the desert,

E

where otherwise they must quickly have perished with want and fatigue. Bread fell short amongst them; and then, forgetful of what God had done for them, they murmured against their leader. Notwithstanding their ungodly complainings, and the punishment which they deserved, food was sent from heaven. 'And it came to pass, that at even the quails came up, and covered the camp; and in the morning the dew lay round about the host. And when the dew that lay was gone up, behold, upon the face of the wilderness there lay a small round [white] thing on the ground;' and the people said, 'It is manna.'-Ex. xvi.

R

MOSES SMITES THE ROCK.

ND all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the

Lord, and pitched in Rephidim; and there was no water

MOSES SMITES THE ROCK.

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for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the Lord? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us, and our children, and our cattle, with thirst? And Moses cried unto the Lord, saying, What shall I do unto this people? they be almost ready to stone me. And the Lord said unto Moses, Go on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thine hand, and go. Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. And he called the name of the place Massah, and Meribah, because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not?'-Ex. xvii.