. 3, Jfoses's Public Career. — Tlius, after the solitude of pastoral life, where he was appointed to ripen gradually for his high calling, he was now unexpectedly and sud- denly sent back among his people, in order to achieve their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. Overruled antl encouraged by the above remarkable interview with Jehovah, he resumed his journey into Egypt, where nei- ther the dispirited state of the Israelites nor the olisti- nate opposition and threatenings of Pharaoh were now able to shake the man of God, Supported by his broth- er Aaron, and commissioned by God as his chosen in- strument, proving, by a series of marvellous deeds, in the midst of heathenism, the (iod of Israel to be the only true God, Moses at last overcame the oiiposition of the Egyptians (Exod, v-xii"). According to a divine decree, the people of the Lord were to (piit Egypt, un- der the command of Closes, in a triumiibant manner. The punishments of (Jod were poured down upon the hostile people in an increasing ratio, terminating in the death of the firstborn, as a sign that all had deserved death. See Bauer, llebr. Myth, i, 274 sq,, and Am- jTihrl. ICrklar. tier dlte.it. Wunderfieschichte, ii, 174 sq,; RosenmilUcr, Morr/enl. i, 275 sq., and Sc/iol. i, ii ; J. Bryant, Obseri: on the Plagues inflicted on the Ki/iiplians (Lond. 1794) ; L. Berfholdf, De'reb. a Mose in ..Kf/i/pt. f/esti^ (ErL 1795) ; Eichhorn, in the Comment, iSoc. O'oU.
MOSES
681
MOSES
reg. iv, 35 sq. The formidable power of paganism, in its contiict with the theocracy, was obliged to bow be- fore'the apparently weak people of the Lord. The Egyptians paid tribute to the emigrating Israelites (Exod. xii, 35), who set out laden with the spoils of A-ictory. See Harenberg, in the Biblioth. Brem. vii, 624 sq. ; Kanne, Biblische Untersuch. ii, 267 sq. ; Heng- stenberg, Pent, ii, 520 sq. ; Justi, Ueh. die den Aegypt. abgenommenen Gerdthe (Frckf. 1771) ; August!, Thed. Blatter, i, 516 sq.; Zeibich, Vern. Betracht. II, i, 20 sq.). B.C. 1658. The enraged king vainly endeavored to de- stroy the emigrants. Moses, firmly relying upon mirac- ulous help from the Lord, led his people through the Red Sea into Arabia, while the host of Pharaoh per- ished in its waves (Exod. xii-xv). See Ked Sea, Pas- sage OF.
After this began the most important functions of Mo- ses as the lawgiver of the Israelites, who were destined to enter into Canaan as the people of promise, upon whom rested the ancient blessings of the patriarchs. By the instrumentality of Moses, they were appointed to enter into intimate communion with God through a sacred covenant, and to be firmly bound to him by a new legislation. Moses, having victoriously repulsed the attack of the Amalekites, marched to Mount Sinai, whera he signally punished the defection of his people, and gave them the law as a testimony of divine justice and mercy. From Mount Sinai they proceeded north- ward to the desert of Paran, and sent spies to explore the Land of Canaan (Numb, x-xiii). On this occasion broke out a violent rebellion against the lawgiver, which he, however, by divine assistance, energetically re- pressed (Numb, xiv-xvi). The Israelites frequently murmured, and were disobedient during about forty years. In a part of the desert of Kadesh, which was called Zin, near the boundaries of the Edomites, after the sister of Moses had died, and after even the new generation had, like their fathers, proved to be obsti- nate and desponding, Moses fell into sin, and was on that account deprived of the privilege of introducing the people into Canaan (Numb, xix, 12). He was appointed to lead them only to the boundary of their country, to prepare all that was requisite for their entry into the land of promise, to admonish them impressively, and to bless them. It was acx-ording to God's appointment that the new generation also, to whom the occupation of the country had been promised, should arrive at their goal only after having vanquished many obstacles. Even before they had reached tlie real boundaries of Ca- naan they were to be subjected to a heavy and purifying trial. It was important that a man like Moses should have been at the head of Israel during all these provi- dential dispensations. His authority was a powerful preservative against despondency under heavy trials. Having in vain attempted to pass through the territory of the Edomites, the people marched around its bounda- ries by a circuitous and tedious route. Two powerful kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, were vanquished. Moses led the people into the fields of Moab over against Jericho, to the very threshold of Canaan (Numb, xx-xxi). The oracles of Balaam became, by the instrumentality of Moses, blessings to his people, because by them they were rendered conscious of the great importance of hav- ing the Lord on their side. Jloses happily averted the danger which threatened the Israelites on the part of Midian (Numb, xxv-xxxi). Hence he was enabled to grant to some of the tribes permanent dwellings in a considerable tract of country situated to the east of the Iliver Jordan (Numb, xxxii), and to give to his people a foretaste of that well-being which was in store for them. JMoses made excellent preparations for the con- quest and distribution of the whole country, and con- cluded his public services with powerful admonitions and impressive benedictions, transferring his govern- ment to the hands of Joshua, who was not imworthy to become the successor of so great a man. B.C. 1618. For details of these incidents, see Egypt; Ex-