Miriam, as a prophetess (Exod. xv. 20, 21) and sister of Moses, took the first rank amongst the women of Israel. Her name stands first in the record; upon her only punishment fell, ver. 10. We may conclude, then, that she was the leader in this sedition. Aaron gave way to her urgency, as he had previously given way to that of the people, Exod. xxxii. Jealousy had probably been long smouldering, when a simple circumstance fans it to a flame. This was the second marriage of Moses with a Cushite woman. This could scarcely be Zipporah, (Exod. ii. 21,) for she was a Midianite; and Miriam could scarcely profess to be aggrieved at a marriage which had taken place more than fifty years before. The probability is that Zipporah was now dead, and that Moses had recently married a daughter of Ham, a step which was not illegal, save in relation to the Canaanitish tribes, but yet was calculated to irritate the national feeling of the Jews. Miriam felt, moreover, that her influence over Moses was greatly lessened by this alliance. Moses, in recording the event, was moved by the Spirit of inspiration to refer to his own meekness to explain how it was that he took no steps to vindicate himself, and why the Lord so promptly interfered.

MOSES VINDICATED. - V. 4-9. Suddenly,-in wrath, ver. 9. The Lord now Himself explains the great difference which He had put between Moses and other prophets. To them God spoke in a vision or dream. But Moses" is faithful in all Mine house;" as God's vicegerent over the whole people, Heb. iii. 1-6. To him God spoke without the intervention of any third person or thing, Exod. xxxiii. 11; Deut. xxxiv. 10. For him, there was an appearance, "the similitude of the Lord." But "no man hath seen God at any time," John i. 18; 1 Tim. vi. 16; Exod. xxxiii. 20. Nor was the appearance a mere emblematic representation, like that in Ezek. i. 26, but some manifestation which Moses Knew to be that of the Deity Himself. Hence the appeal in the close of ver. 8.

THE PUNISHMENT OF MIRIAM.-V. 10-16. The hideous appearance and destructive progress of leprosy is hinted at in the words of Aaron, "Let her not be as one dead," ver. 12. "Leprosy was nothing short of a living death a dissolution little by little of the whole body, so that one limb after another actually decayed and fell away. "-Trench. Moses prays for her, and she is healed, ver. 13. But if her earthly parent had treated her with contumely, (ver. 14, with Deut. xxv. 9,) she would feel for a time humiliated; how much more when God has expressed His great displeasure with her. So according to the law of the leper, she is excluded from the camp seven days, Lev. xiii. 4, 5.

REFLECTIONS.-1. He that would serve God, must be prepared to serve Him alone.-"A man's foes may be "they of his own household," Matt. x. 36. It was so with Jesus, John vii. 5. Even a child must learn to serve God, though brothers, sisters, and school-mates stand aloof from him.

2. Consider this example of meekness, with Ps.xxxvii. 11; cxlix. 4; Matt.v.5.— Jesus is the greatest Example, Matt. xi. 29. We can only learn it of Jesus, for naturally we grow passionate under injury, and are filled with resentment.

3. God is the Vindicator of the meek. -See how God "spake suddenly," ver. 4, with Rom. xii. 19.

4. Consider this example of forgiveness, -ver. 13. It is so easy to rejoice in the suffering of those who have wronged us. Jesus taught us differently, Matt. V. 44, 45; Luke vi. 28. Jesus did differently, Luke xxiii. 34.

QUESTIONS.-How would Miriam have great influence in the camp of Israel? Who joined her in this sedition? What was the cause of it? On what grounds did they pretend to be equal with Moses? How was the meekness of Moses shown? Who appeared to still the sedition ? How was the honour of Moses greater than that of Miriam and Aaron? How was Miriam punished! How was that punishment removed? How was she humiliated in the presence of all the people? Show how this Lesson illustrates the virtues of meekness and forgiveness.

INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY.-Having blessed Manasseh and Ephraim, Jacob summons around him his twelve sons, the ancestors of the twelve tribes of Israel.

In an inspired song he foretells the future of the peoples that shall spring from them. His sayings are (1) prophecies; they relate to the last days," i. e. ultimately to the time of the Messiah, but they also refer to the temporal destiny of the tribes: (2) benedictions, some of the forecasts sound like curses, but it was a real blessing not to be excluded from the chosen family, as Ishmael and Esau were.

- means

GENESIS xlix. 5. Levi, "joined." Many of the blessings are connected with the signification of the names. Brethren,-alike in character and destiny, partners specially in one crime. Instruments of cruelty, etc."their swords are weapons of violence," (Margin). A sword should be used only for defence. O my soul, etc.-Jacob thus expresses his abhorrence of, and innocence of any participation in, their sin. Secret.. assembly,-hold no communion with them, neither in work nor word. Honour,-reputation, character. In their anger, etc.,-ch. xxxiv. 26. A man,-in a general sense, men and women. Digged down a wall,-undermined the foundations, that they might murder the inhabitants of the house or town. Cursed, etc.-"Jacob does not curse their persons, but their passions; not the men, but their sin." I will divide, etc.-"Shameful divisions are the just punishment of sinful unions and confederacies." Compare ch. xi. 4, 8. As regards Simeon, the prophecy was fulfilled by their inheritance falling to them in the midst of Judah's, (Josh.

The teacher should explain that Jacob's blessing is poetry; this accounts for peculiarities of form, for repetitions, etc.

VOL. VII. NEW SERIES.-February, 1872.

xix. 1, 9,) and by their subsequent migrations, (1 Chron. iv. 38-43). A Jewish tradition, too, says that many of the Simeonites became scribes and schoolmasters, and were thus scattered all over the country. As to Levi, see Num. xxxv. 2, 6-8; Josh. xiv. 4; xxi. 1-40; Deut. xii. 12. But, as a reward for the Levites' zeal, (Exod. xxxi. 26-29; Num. xxv. 10-13,) the curse was converted into a blessing, Num. xviii. 20; Deut. x. 8, 9; Josh. xiii. 14, 33. Judah-means "praised." The predictions concerning him have their highest fulfilment in Christ. Praise thee. -Ps. lxii. 15. Thy hand..enemies, primarily accomplished in David's victories, but finally in Christ's conquest of sin and Satan, Ps. cx. 1; Acts ii. 34, 35; Heb. i. 13; 1 Cor. xv. 25; Col. ii. 15. Thy father's children, etc.-For first fulfilment, see 2 Sam. v. 1-5; for final fulfilment, Ps. lxii. 11; Phil. ii. 10. The sons of God by adoption worship Christ, "the Firstborn among many brethren." Judah is a lion's whelp, etc. -The standard of the tribe of Judah was a lion. The lion is the emblem of strength, courage, and royalty. Judah was always a warlike tribe, and of it were the kings. But Jesus is the true "Lion of the tribe of Judah," Rev. v. 5. "Grappling with the powers of darkness, we see Him as a lion tearing the prey ascended above all heavens, as a lion going up from the prey and seated at the right hand of God, as a lion couchant, or at rest after his toils, where it is at the peril of the greatest monarchs to rouse Him up."- Fuller. Ps. ii. 8-12. And as an old lion. -Rather as a lioness, which, specially when robbed of her whelps, is fiercer than the male beast The sceptre, etc. -The government, symbolized by the

P

sceptre. Nor a lawgiver,-Ps. Ix. 7. Compare Isai. xxxiii. 22. From between his feet,-i. e., the place of Judah's feet, the footstool of his throne shall always be the seat of law. See Isai. lx.: I will make the place of my feet glorious."

Until Shiloh come.-Shiloh,

the Messiah; it means either the Sent, or the Peacemaker. "Till the captivity, all along from David's time, the sceptre was in Judah, and from thence governors of that tribe, or of the Levites that adhered to it, and became incorporated with it, which was equivalent, till Judæa became a province of the Roman empire, just at the time of our Saviour's birth, and was at that time taxed as one of the provinces, Luke ii. 2. And at the time of His death the Jews expressly owned, 'We have no king but Cæsar.'"-Henry. And unto Him, etc.-John xi. 52; xii. 32. Binding His foal, etc.-A prediction of the fruitfulness of Judah's heritage; vines should be so common, so strong, and so fertile that asses might be tied to them for stakes, and laden with their produce. Wine and milk were emblems of plenty; milk should be abundant on account of the excellence of the pasturage and the number of the cattle. A comparison with Isai. lv. 1, and lxiii. 1-4, shows that there is an ulterior reference to the Messiah, His conquest of His enemies, and the peace and plenty of His reign. Zebulun, etc.-Josh. xix. 11. Zidon,-not the town but the district. Ass.-Eastern asses are handsome, high-spirited, and swift, as well as patient and serviceable. Compare Judges v. 10; 2 Sam. xvi. 2. Issachar was an agricultural tribe, preferring the fruitful toils of peace to the spoils of war, and taxation to resistance. Dan-means judge. A serpent, etc.,-the tribe would be crafty and subtle. Possibly the prophecy has a malign significance; the serpent was Satan's agent and symbol, the

tribe of Dan introduced idolatry into Israel, Judges xviii.; the name of Dan became synonymous with idolatry, and is omitted from the list of tribes, Rev. vii. 4-8. I have waited, etc.-A pious ejaculation of the patriarch's, in view of his approaching end.

REFLECTIONS.-1. Of how great value is a father's blessing!-God Himself respects and confirms it.

2. Time does not wear out sin.-Simeon and Levi had done the wicked deed years before their father's death, but the guilt and the consequences of it clave to them then, and to their children after them for many generations.

3. Avoid bad company; have nothing whatever to do with wicked persons. Don't be curious about their secrets."O that I may never know what the wicked people do." St. Paul says, "I would have you simple concerning evil." "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

4. Note specially the prophecy concerning Judah, and how it is all fulfilled, or being fulfilled, in Christ. We live now under the rule of King Jesus.

5. Commerce and agriculture are both honourable pursuits.

6. There is room and duty in the world for persons of different dispositions.-To make the Israelitish nation, Zebulun the trader and Issachar the farmer were needed as much as Judah the soldier and governor.

7. Good men are not afraid of death. -they can speak of it as "salvation," Rom. xiii. 11.

QUESTIONS.-What did Jacob say of Simeon and Levi? why? How was the prophecy about Simeon fulfilled? and about Levi? Why was Levi's curse changed into a blessing! What did Jacob say of Judah? To Whom did he then refer as well? How were the prophecies accomplished about the tribe? How about Christ? Are they all fulfilled yet? Give and explain the blessing on Zebulun, Issachar, Dan. What does the last sentence in the lesson mean?

mighty works and words of Jesus, and wonders who He is. At length he concludes it must be John the Baptist risen from the grave. Herod had married his brother's wife, for which sin John had

Matt. xiv. 1, 2; Mark vi. 14–16; Luke ix. 7-9. At that time,-when Jesus commissioned the seventy, and wrought the miracles related in previous chapters. Herod,-Antipas, son of Herod the Great. Tetrarch,-the ruler of a fourth part of a kingdom. Herod the Great had bequeathed Galilee and Perea to this son-about a quarter of his dominion. Tetrarchs were called kings by courtesy. Perplexed,-was as much terrified as astonished. some, their suggestion chimed in with his own conscience. Elias,-who was to be the precursor of the Messiah, Mal. iv. 5. Others, Jesus was the subject of general conversation. prophet, or as one of the prophets,—either an old prophet raised from the dead, or a new one equal in every respect to the old. Appeared,-Elijah could not rise again, as he did not die. And

Of

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Herod said, etc.-He first questioned who it could be, and finally decided it must be John risen; yet Herod was a Sadducee, and professed to believe there is no resurrection. Therefore mighty works.-Compare John x. 41. Desired to see him,-to satisfy his doubts. The common people could see Jesus at any time.

THE DEATH OF THE BAPTIST.Matt. xiv. 3-12; Mark vi. 17-29. Laid hold on John,-partly to silence John's reproofs, partly to screen him from Herodias' vengeance. Put him in prison,-where he remained about eighteen months. His brother Philip's wife,-Philip was still living, and Herodias was also Herod's niece. Married her, having put away his own wife, the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia. Had said,-used to say; said it frequently, as well as sternly and boldly. It is not lawful, etc., contrary to the Levitical law though Philip had been dead, as Herodias had a child. Had a quarrel,

-bore a grudge; lit., "fastened upon him" with eager, unrelenting hate. Killed, not satisfied with ought less than his death. Observed,-preserved; i. e., from Herodias' malice; influenced by fear of John and of the multitude, and by fondness for his preaching. that Did many things,-everything John advised but one. Gladly.-Ezek. xxxiii. 32. He was charmed with John's rough eloquence, to which all that was good in him responded. By glad hearing and partial heeding, he sought to compromise with his conscience. Convenient,- for Herodias' purpose. Estates,-persons of a high station. The daughter of Herodias,called Salome; her father was Philip. Danced,- -a solo dance in the manner of the East. Ask,.sware, first a promise, then an oath. Possibly she affected to doubt his word. Half of my kingdom, a proverbial expression, Esther v. 6; vii. 2. Before,-i. e., before she made the request. Straightway with haste,-lest Herod's excitement should have worn off, and his mind have changed. By and by,—lit., as soon as ever it can be done. Here, -that there might be neither delay nor evasion. Charger,-a large dish, that she might conveniently carry it to her mother. Exceeding sorry,—for reasons given above. Oath's sake, etc., -better broken than kept. He would rather commit murder than acknowledge himself foolish and rash. Executioner, one of the guard. In prison,

probably at night. His disciples,faithful to the last. Corpse,-headless. Told Jesus, so that John's death brought them to Him.

REFLECTIONS.-1. Conscience, like its Author, is no respecter of persons.-It is as powerful over King Herod as over Joseph's brethren.

2. Men cannot help believing in another world. -The Sadducee Herod, who professed to believe neither in angel nor spirit, nor the resurrection of the dead, thought the dead John had risen. Terror and surprise revealed his secret sentiments.

3. Read James ii. 10. It was of no use for Herod to do many things, while he left the one thing undone.

4. It is quite possible to enjoy teaching and preaching, to form good resolutions, to do many good things, and to be lost