BALAK'S SACRIFICE.

WHEN Balaam arrived at the capital of Moab, Balak went as far as the confines of his dominions to meet him, and having gently upbraided him for the reluctance he showed in accepting his invitation, the prophet, in reply, stated, that although he had come to Moab at the king's bidding, still he could say nothing prophetically but what the Almighty should dictate. Balak, however, relying upon Balaam's love of money, had no doubt that he would utter a favourable prophecy; he consequently took him to the high places consecrated to Baal, whence he might behold in the distant plains, the encampments of Israel. When they had reached the place of sacrifice, Balaam said unto Balak, "Build me here seven altars, and prepare me here seven oxen and seven rams. And Balak did as Balaam had spoken; and Balak and Balaam offered on every altar a bullock and a ram." " When the sacrifice was completed, the prophet retired to ascertain the Divine answer, and upon his return, communicated to the king of Moab, the impossibility of cursing his enemies, and concluded by magnifying their prosperity. Disappointed at the issue of this first essay, Balak, imagining that by going to another place his desire might be accomplished, took Balaam to the top of Mount Pisgah, where the sacrifice of seven bullocks and seven rams was repeated, still with no better success; the result was, as before, a blessing from the lips of the prophet instead of a curse. Mortified at this unexpected result, he made a third attempt by again changing the place and repeating the sacrifice; the issue, however, was precisely similar, which so enraged the king of Moab, that he upbraided Balaam with blessing those enemies whom he had especially sent for him to curse. The time chosen by the Artist is the first sacrifice upon the high places of Baal.