(j) At the command of J”, Moses and Aaron instituted the Passover, which was observed for the first time* . . . The Israelites marched out of Egypt into the wilderness, Ex 1239. 38, 43-51 131. 3. 20,
(k) At the command of J”, Israel turned back and encamped by the sea, that J” might harden Pharaoh’s heart, and make him pursue Israel. All of which happened. Still, at the command of J’, Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, the waters were divided, and the Israelites ‘ went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand and on their left.’ The Egyptians pursued into the sea, but Moses again stretched out his hand over the sea, and the waters returned and overwhelmed them; while the Israelites reached the further shore in safety, Ex 141. 2. 4. 8, 9. lSac. 16-18, 214. 21.- 23, 26. 378. 288, 29
(n) (ο) In the wilderness the Israelites hankered after the flesh-pots of Egypt, and murmured against Moses and Aaron; J” sent them manna in the morning, and quails in the evening, Ex 16'-* δ. 7. 9-14. 15b. 16b. 31+
(q) After sundry journeys (Ex 17!* 191- 3), the Israelites came to the wilderness before Sinai. The glory of J” dwelt on Sinai, hidden for six days in a cloud, but (apparently) manifested on the seventh like fire gions through the cloud. On the seventh day J” called Moses into the cloud (Ex 241%>-185), where he received instructions as to the tabernacle and its furniture, and the priests and their vestments and duties, Ex 25'-31!7.+
Moses came down from Sinai with the two Tables ; his face shone so that he veiled it§ when he spoke to Aaron and ‘ the princes of the congre- gation.’ He gave the Israelites J”s commands, which they executed with great zeal; the taber- nacle was constructed, furnished, and consecrated. The glory of J” filled it, and the cloud covered it (Ex 34*405),|} Aaron and his sons were consecrated as priests, and entered upon the work of their office; but two of the sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered before J” ‘strange fire, which He had not commanded ; and fire went forth from the presence of J” and devoured them.’ From time to time J” revealed various laws to Moses at Mt. Sinai, which make up the Book of Leviticus.
Moses and Aaron proceeded to organize the nation and its worship. A census was taken showing the number of the adult males, apart from the Levites, to be 603,505; a census of male
* P’s account of the Death of the Firstborn, implied in Ex 12!2, has been omitted.
t Rv adds in vy.17-30.3234 details as to the amount gathered, the observance of the Sabbath, and the placing of a ἮΝ οἵ manna before the Testimony, t.¢. the Tables in the Ark. Unless this chapter originally stood after the narrative of the events at Sinai (so Addis and Bacon), the reference to the tables is an anachronism due to an oversight.
t P contains a large number of laws revealed by J” to Moses, and promulgated by him to the people. It is not necessary to enumerate these in an article on Moses. See under Hexarsoce in vol. ii. p. 868.
§ According to 2 Co 313 Moses veiled his face that the Israelites might not see the glory away.
ἢ Part or all of Ex 344058 belongs to late strata of P ; and Leviticus contains material from various strata; see Exopvs, Lsviricus.
444 MOSES
Levites, young and old, taken later, showed them to amount to 22,000, Nu 11--1010 5
(t) On the 20th day, of the 2nd month, of the 2nd year, the cloud was taken up from over the Tabernacle, and the Israelites left the wilderness of Sinai, according to J”s commandment given through Moses, Nu 10"-*,
(y) Korah and 250 princes attacked Moses and Aaron for claiming a sanctity superior, i.e. an exclusive priesthood, to that of the rest of the congregation. This claim, apparently, was made by ‘Moses and Aaron as Levites (so v.7, which has been transposed from v.® ‘Ye take too much upon you, ye sons of Levi’).¢ Moses proposed that Korah and his company should ofliciate before J” as priests, that He might show His will in the matter. They did so, and appeared supported b all the congregation. J” threatened to destroy all Israel, except Moses and Aaron; but, at the inter- cession of Moses, the congregation were allowed to separate from Korah and his 250 princes, who were devoured by fire from J”. The congregation mur- mured and were smitten with a plague, which was stayed by an atoning oblation of incense made by Aaron, Nu 16! te Korah. 2-7, 18-24. 27 to side. 85. 41-50 + Merales rods, one for each tribe, being placed before the Ark, Aaron’s rod budded to show that the tribe of Levi was chosen for the priesthood. J” ordered that Aaron’s rod should be kept always before the Ark, Nu 17.
(aa) In the wilderness of Zin, the people, lacking water, murmured at Moses and Aaron. J” bade Moses take Aaron’s rod from before the Ark.§ Moses did so, gathered the congregation together before the rock, saying, ‘Hear now, ye rebels; shall we bring you forth water out of this rock?’ He smote the rock twice with his rod, and the water gushed forth. But J” rebuked Moses and Aaron for lack of faith, and told them that they should not be allowed to lead Israel into Canaan. Parts of Nu 201 3:18}